More Movies I Saw During Summer 2014

In chronological order, here is a list of the movies I made time to see during mid-to-late summer 2014:  

The Fault in Our Stars 

Grade: B+

How to Train Your Dragon 2 

Grade: A

22 Jump Street

Grade: B+ 

Transformers: Age Of Extinction 

Grade: C-

Lucy

Grade: A

Guardians of the Galaxy

Grade: A

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles  

Grade: D

 

Let's Be Cops

Grade: B

The Giver  

Grade: B+

 

Thanks for reading! 

Movies of May & early June

In chronological order, here are reviews of the blockbusters of May and early June 2014.

Happy reading!

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Image property of Columbia Pictures

Andrew Garfield and Jamie Foxx take the lead in the newest release of Columbia Pictures's Spider-Man reboot.

From comedy to action and romance to suspence, this film packed a punch in the box office.
 
Grade: B





Neighbors

Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne and Zac Efron's performances in this May 9 release were outstanding to say the least.

The lovable cast made for a hilarious film about an unlikely neighborhood kerfuffle.

Absolutely one of the funniest movies in theater since 21 Jump Street.      

Grade: A

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Image property of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

 

As a companion piece to 2011's X-Men First Class, this film proved to make a decent addition to the X-Men series.  

Hugh Jackman serves as our guide to the story as he must make a journey through time to save the day.  

Overall, a fun and exciting movie (even if you haven't seen all of the previous X-Men films).

Grade: B- 

 

 

 

 

 

A Million Ways to Die in the West

 

 Seth MacFarlane sets foot in new territory as an onscreen actor with this May 30 release.  The comedy, which takes place in the "Old West" also features a fabulous cast, including:
Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Neil Patrick Harris and Sarah Silverman.  

While the plot lags at times, the Family Guy-esque comedy kills! (If that is what you are into.)

 Grade: B- 

 

 

 

 

 

Edge of Tomorrow

Image property of Warner Bros. Pictures 

 

Hollywood powerhouse Tom Cruise teams up with the talented Emily Blunt to tell a story that can be described as Groundhog Day meets sci-fi.  

The duo take on an alien race invading earth and they have time on their side.

(Also, for those of you who have seen the film and have experienced one of Bill Murray's finest, here is a link that may make your day: Edge of Groundhog.)

Grade: B 

 

 

 

 

Up next:

Reviews of mid-late June releases, including:

The Fault in Our Stars, How to Train Your Dragon 2, 22 Jump Street and Transformers: Age Of Extinction. 

 

Thank you for reading! 

 

Brief Reviews of Late Winter and Spring Films

It's great to be back! To get a jump start, here is a brief rundown of some of March and April's biggest films (from newest to oldest).

The Other Woman 
This chick flick brings together three unlikely friends when they find that they are all being cheated on by the same man.  Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann and Kate Upton bring down their shared love interest (played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) quite hilariously.  It was fun, but it won't be winning any real awards.   
Grade C+

Transcendence
In a slightly futuristic world, Dr. Will Caster (played by Johnny Depp) is assisted by his wife in preserving his intelligence and personality in a supercomputer.  When an anti-technology activist group sets out to overthrow Caster's computer, it appears that the technology will never be stopped.

While it is set in the future, there is something 80s-retro about the film's style, which made for a great a-typical movie.   
Grade A- 

Oculus
Karen Gillan and Brenton Thwaites star as siblings Kaylie and Tim Russell, respectively, in this contemporary horror film.  The two set out on a suspenseful mission to prove that their parents were possessed and killed by a supernatural phenomenon.

This film managed to be something a little different from other recent horror movies, thus it should be applauded, but it could have benefited from a bigger budget.
Grade B-

Captain America: The Winter Soldier
A fascinating sequel to the first Captain America film follows the hero, Steve Rogers, as he becomes acclimated in modern society and faces ghosts from his past.

It was a solid, entertaining Marvel movie.   
Grade B

Noah 
In this interpretation of the "Noah's Ark" Old Testament story, Russell Crowe stars as both a protagonist and antagonist in the role of Noah.  Other cast members include Jennifer Connelly (Noah's wife), Anthony Hopkins (Noah's grandfather), Douglas Booth (Noah's son), Logan Lerman (Noah's son) and Emma Watson (Noah's adopted daughter). 

What made this film worth watching was its cinematic style, which included aerial views and stop motion features.
Grade A

Divergent
In the film adaptation of the book that has been compaired to The Hunger Games, Shailene Woodley takes center stage as the strong female character, Tris.  In her world, people are divided by "faction" and have jobs based on their personal values.  The film begins with her faction placement test and follows her struggle as she sees her society becoming corrupt.

The film has a great story and decent acting. 
Grade A- 

Muppets Most Wanted
The worst Muppet movie ever? Could be.  In the follow-up to the super successful 2011 film, the Muppets go on a world tour and are fooled by a Kermit the Frog look-alike.  While it featured actors such as Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais and Ty Burrell, it lacked the friendly, sing-along nature of its predecessor. 
Grade C-

Mr. Peabody & Sherman
In this animated film, Mr. Peabody, the world's smartest time-traveling dog (yep, you read that correctly) is the adoptive father of a boy named Sherman.  The duo makes for an entertaining dynamic, one adventure at a time.  What really makes the film worth watching, in addition to its family-friendly narrative, is the voice cast, which includes Ty Burrell, Ariel Winter and Stephen Colbert.
Grade B

300: Rise of an Empire
The wonderfully gory complement piece to 2006's 300 answers all of the questions that arose eight years ago.  The mood, tempo and style of the film all coincided to create a world of battle that has to be seen to be believed.     
Grade B+

Non-Stop
Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore and Michelle Dockery star in this mid-air thriller, in which an air marshal takes action when his flight is compromised.  The film keeps the audience guessing until the last moment and manages to have a decent storyline. 
Grade B

Thank you for reading! Look for my review of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 next!

Temporary Hiatus

Hello readers,

Movie reviews will be back next month!

My sincerest apologies for the hiatus. It's been a rough semester, as I've been working on my senior thesis.

Looking forward to writing again!

Best,
The Girl with the Movie Blog

That Awkward Moment

That Awkward Moment

Image property of Virgin Produced

Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan star in this Jan. 31 release.  The rom-com follows the love lives of three twenty-something guys struggling to find the line between happiness and independence.

The film opens with Efron's character, Jason, explaining "that awkward moment" when the the partners in a new relationship have to answer the dreaded question: So, where is this going?

That Awkward Moment proves to be better as comedy than as a dramatic piece of cinema.  This comedy element is really brought to the forefront of the film when the three male leads are on screen together.  From their outrageous "only-a-best-friend-could-say-that" moments to the way they are able to console each other in the rough patches, Efron, Teller and Jordan make a convincing bff trio. 

Where the story gets a bit iffy is when Efron's character, Jason, meets Ellie (played by the primarily B-movie actress, Imogen Poots).  While the two are cute together initially, Ellie proves to be a bit too quirky to be a believable love interest for the creative and studly Jason.  In addition to this drawback of the film, its story pushed a bit too hard for a response in the parts that would be considered dramatic, but it still manages to teach good lessons without being overly preachy. 

All of that being said, the movie featured an original story and compelling character development.  While it may not have been worth the price of a movie ticket, it's worth renting once it comes to Redbox.


Thank you for reading!

Double Feature: Lone Survivor & Shadow Recruit

Lone Survivor

Image property of Weed Road Pictures

Lone Survivor is the true story of four Navy Seals sent on a mission in Afghanistan.  While the Jan. 10 release was one of the most emotionally powerful narratives within recent years, the film format may not have been as suitable as the 2009 book, which may have been able to provide a more thorough description of the portrayed events.  What is even more disappointing is that the film opened with a spoiler of who the "lone survivor" ends up being, which removes some of the potential for a more compelling story.

All that being said, this film is very commendable based on the very realistic action and raw acting of the cast, which includes Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch and Ben Foster.  While there were no intense special effects, the film's intensity and use of gunfire created a mood that was honestly terrifying. 

As the film progresses the cast's talents really begin to shine once the four Seals are discovered by a few Afghan civilians and the crew needs to decide how to deal with their suddenely compromised operation. While some dramatic moments were lacking, the compassion found in unexpected places certainly made up for it.

What makes this film unique and worth watching is the fact that it told more than one story about Afghanistan (in the sense that it portrayed non-Taliban citizens).

Is this film worthy of an Oscar? Probably not.  Is it a great narrative that is worth experiencing? Yes, absolutely.

Grade: B+


Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Property of Paramount Pictures

This Jan. 17 release tells the story of Jack Ryan, often referred to as the American James Bond.  In this film Ryan, a creation of espionage-plot writer Tom Clancy, is a data analyst and CIA field agent sent on his first assignment in Russia.

In typical international-spy-movie fashion, the plot really picks up after it becomes clear that there is an issue that needs some extreme fixing.  In this case it is that members of the Russian government have come up with a plot to tank the value of the American dollar and of course Ryan is assigned to the case and begins trying to find a way to save the day.  


While the film doesn't quite measure up to recent spy films, from MI 4: Ghost Protocol to Skyfall, it certainly provides a decent story with a good amount of quality action sequences, villainous plots and heroic gestures. 


The casting for this film was satisfying.  With Ryan portrayed by Chris Pine, his fiance played by Keira Knightley and his mentor played by Kevin Costner, this movie has a solid cast, especially considering the fact that Kenneth Branagh took on the role of the villain.

Something interesting about the acting in this film is that Knightly's character, Cathy, is an American.  While the actress did a great job in the role, it would have been a more entertaining performance if she were speaking in her typical English accent for which she is known and loved.


As a whole, Shadow Recruit is an entertaining but somewhat unoriginal movie. 

Grade: B-

American Hustle

American Hustle

Some of the best actors of the early 21s century take the screen in this Dec. 20, 2013 release about a conman and his "business partner" forced into working for an FBI agent when faced with a dilemma. 

The conman himself, Irving Rosenfeld, is played by Christian Bale.  It seems as though Bale was born to play nearly every role in which he's cast, and this movie is no exception.  When Bale plays Irving, the actor who once played Batman is nowhere to be found; instead the screen displays a character that has come to life through the star's superior acting abilities.

While Amy Adams plays his business partner and lover, Sydney Prosser, the sensational Jennifer Lawrence plays Irving's wife, Rosalyn.  Adams' performance certainly left something to be desired, but Lawrence's portrayal of a nonsensical, jealous-type almost makes up for it. 

What makes this story unique is the manner in which it's told, in the sense that the story is narrated through voice overs from three different points of view: Irving's, Sydney's and that of the FBI officer in charge of their work, Richie DiMaso, played by Bradley Cooper.  (Cooper's acting, by the way, was good, yet not quite as impressive as his performance in Silver Linings Playbook.)

In addition, this film is a fun watch because of the amount of attention that was paid to creating a convincing setting of the late 1970s.  While the actors, directors and producers deserve quite a bit of respect in the making of any film, this one owes a lot to the amazing work done by the costume designers, as well as the hair and makeup artists.  (Also, the soundtrack and cinematography made for an all around immersive viewing experience.)

All of this being said, this film (in my opinion) isn't quite worth an Academy Award, but it's certainly worthy of recognition for it's unique story and illustration of how hustling is not only applicable to money, but also to relationships and personal identities.  

Grade: B+

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Image property of
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

 Ben Stiller stars in and directs this Dec. 25, 2013 release about a daydreamer-turned-adventurer and his journey to become the man he always wanted to be.

As the film begins, Walter Mitty is a man living a tragically dull life who had just begun using an online dating site to get a chance with the girl of his dreams, Cheryl Melhoff played by Kristen Wiig.  All the while, Mitty's imagination goes wild with all of the sweeping romantic gestures he could make to win her over.  The casting of Wiig in this role opposite Stiller was phenomenal.  The duo have very believable chemistry, which is just one reason why this film is so worth watching.

When Mitty's job at Life Magazine in the photography department requires him to track down the publication's star photographer, Sean O'Connell played by Sean Penn everything changes, and quite possibly for the better.  The storyline of Mitty's once seemingly adventureless life is suddenly transformed into an nearly unbelievable series of serendipitous escapades.  This not only makes for one of the most interesting tales in recent cinema, but a very exciting viewing experience. 

From the way scenic views of Iceland and Greenland all the way down to the way the opening credits are incorporated into city landscapes and street signs, this film is one of the most aesthetically pleasing experiences of 2013.  Not to mention, it has a great soundtrack.  (Actually, even the dramatic silences in this film are perfection.)      

Beyond the great casting and astounding views, the writing for this movie is full of thoughtful notions and ironic humor (always a good combination).  What makes this film unique is that, while Mitty's love story is an important part of the plot, his relationship with his family, particularly his mother, is also very key to the overall storyline.  The one and only Shirley MacLaine takes the screen as Edna Mitty, his sweet, hip and aging mother, who looks out for him even when he doesn't think he needs it.  Her character paired with the background stories she tells about Mitty as a young man are why this movie is the perfect mix of sentiment and whimsy. 

What really makes this movie worth watching are its lessons: learn to trust, build courage and take chances to create a life that's worth living.      

This is one of those movies that's absolutely worth seeing in theaters.  It is a feel-good film that's inspiring and fun.

Grade: A

Anticipated Sequels: Anchorman 2 & Hobbit 2

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Property of Paramount Pictures

Will Ferrell takes the screen again as Ron Burgundy in Anchorman 2, alongside his news team cast mates: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and David Koechner. 

The first half of this film moves slowly and is quite different from it's precursor.  This lull, however, served a purpose, as it was introducing Burgundy and his audience to a whole new era: the 1980s and the dawn of the 24-hour news cycle. 

Once the film gets over it's lull, the classically ridiculous plot finds its wings and the second half proves to be just as goofy and outrageous as the first film.

Plus the new cast members in this installment were great.  From James Marsden as Burgundy's rival news anchor to Meagan Good as his boss-turned-love-interest, the entertainment factor multiplied with each interaction. 

In addition, the untouchable sweetheart of comedy, Kristen Wiig makes the perfect addition to the cast as a love interest for Carell's character, Brick Tamland.

As if it weren't good enough already, this movie even has a take-home message: the 24-hour news cycle and its constant need for sensationalism corrupts quality news, and even someone as block-headed as Burgundy understands.  Although this sounds like a serious issue to pursue in a comedy, the film manages to call out the relevant problem by using entertainingly irrelevant humor.  (A triumph.) 


If that hasn't sold you yet, remember that epic fight scene between the San Diego news teams in the first Anchorman?  Well this one has an even better fight scene.  Not kidding!

For those readers who aren't hardcore fans, this movie is worth renting.  For those of you who couldn't wait to see the trailers, go see it in theaters while you still can!

Grade: B



The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Property of New Line Cinema

This film was certainly an impressive piece of cinematography, as the journey sequences, casting and acting are all great features.  At the same time, however, there aren't enough similarities to the first installment in the Hobbit series.  

Just my personal opinion here: there were far too many fight scenes in this film, which makes me believe that the makers of this movie are wearing the story thin.  (This is truly unfortunate, as it is supposedly one of the best stories of all time.)

All this being said, if this movie is worth seeing in theaters for anything, it is Smaug, the dragon character voiced by the talented Benedict Cumberbatch.  The character is very impressive, both as a character and a product of special effects and animation.

Grade: C+

The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Jordan Belfort in the Dec. 25, 2013 release of The Wolf of Wall Street, based on a true story about the luxury and corruption in the life of one 1980s stockbroker.  

The Scorsese-directed film has a three-hour runtime, which is quite fitting for the enormous number of scenes and storylines that are part of the cinematic experience.  That, however, does not mean that there are no lulls in the complex plot.  The sequencing could have benefited from a more streamlined edit to reach a larger audience (but it's hard to decide what scenes could be cut, as they were all of the highest caliber). 

Looking past the lengthiness, this movie captures the performance excellence that has come to be expected from DiCaprio.  The context of a wealthy character becomes the star in 2013, as he portrayed the legendary equally charming and mysterious Gatsby and most recently the Wolf of Wall Street, a man who becomes obsessed with both his wealth and himself. 

While DiCaprio is the star of this film, Jonah Hill certainly has his fair share of screen time as Belfort's business associate, Donnie Azoff.  Hill seems to be type cast once again as a goofy beta-male in this film, but with that being said, there is no better actor for the role of inappropriate best friend.

In terms of other male characters in this film, Matthew McConaughey makes less than a half-hour appearance as young Belfort's original boss and mentor on Wall Street.  While the character was McConaughey's classic cool-dude-gone-arrogant, the film could have been more succinct with the star appearing in more than just the beginning.  


The female lead of this film, Margot Robbie, gave a performance as Belfort's trophy wife that is worth watching.  While DiCaprio's performance is always hard to live up to, Robbie's acting was both flawless and raw.  This film has definitely put her on the list of stars to watch in 2014.  


The story is entertaining, from the tales of how Belmont started his business in an old garage to his drug-crazed parties.  This film is worth watching, but maybe not in theaters (since it is a pretty big time commitment). 

Grade: B-

Saving Mr. Banks

Saving Mr. Banks

Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks star this Dec. 20 release about author Pamela L. Travers' negotiations with Walt Disney prior to the production of Disney's 1964 release, Mary Poppins.  

This was one of 2013's best films in terms of story, casting, acting, scenery and costuming, and here is why:


Thompson plays Travers, an Australian author of the 1934 book Mary Poppins, who struggles to accept any adaptations Disney and his producers wish to make to her original story.  Through a series of flashbacks to Travers' childhood, it becomes clear as to why she is so particular about the portrayal of her characters, as they are based on her beloved parents and governess.

While the process of conceptualizing the Disney classic film is both fascinating and educational, the storyline about the young Travers and her relationship with her father is what makes the movie touching.  Colin Farrell plays the role of her whimsical father.  Although Farrell is most often cast in bad-boy type parts, he does a phenominal job playing a father to a strong, yet impressionable young girl.   

Hanks' performance as Disney is marvelous.  From his charisma to his passion for the unique, Hanks really captured the mannerisms and character of the legend.  While it wasn't as big of an accomplishment as Hanks' role in Captain Phillips, this role showed his abilities as one of America's most seasoned actors.  

Thompson's performance, however, was nothing short of Oscar-worthy.  The British actress known for her roles in Sense and Sensibility and Love Actually, truly was P.L. Travers in every way, in the sense that the actress became a translucent vessel, while the character came to life. 

The supporting actors in this film also gave a phenomenal performance, especially Paul Giamatti in his role as Ralph, Travers' upbeat driver.  His cheery attitude juxtaposed with Travers' seemingly constant negativity made for a delightfully unpredictable combination. 

Other honorable mentions go to Bradley Whitford, B.J. Novak, and Jason Schwartzman playing the men who tried with all of their might to convince Travers' to make her Mary Poppins into the film it is today.

A minor critique of this film is that, for a film about the process that led to the making of Mary Poppins, however, there was hardly any portrayal of the governess upon which the character was based within the flashback scenes. But this was hardly enough to ruin any part of the film. 

In addition to the great casting and acting, this film captured the essence of the eras in which it was set, the early 1900s and the 1960s.  From the landscapes and lighting to the costumes and accents, this movie has a way of transporting its audience to another period of time. 

Grade: A