Exists (due out October)

This is the first movie that I was lucky enough to screen long before its release in October. I went in tentatively as I have never seen a good movie that dealt with Bigfoot. Considering this was made by the man behind The Blair Witch Project, I should have figured if there was someone who could pull off a found footage type of film about Bigfoot, Eduardo Sanchez is that someone.

Don't want to give away too much of the story here. It's a simple set up: 20 somethings secretly go to remote location to party, one is obsessed with filming everything, they piss off Bigfoot, chaos ensues.

As I said I went into the theater a little nervous about how they were going to capture something as iconic as Bigfoot on film. The premise is a simple but believable one. And the suspense is palpable. Sanchez does a brilliant take on Spielberg shark tactic; let the audience build up this monster in their minds before you knock them out with the real thing. And the beast is fantastic. He also does a great thing by supplying a soundtrack to a found footage film but a subtle one and it doesn't take you out of the moment, it sucks you in. The acting can sometime feel forced but the suspense and fear is completely genuine. A-

Think Like A Man Too

To be honest I have never seen Think Like A Man.  I almost didn't see Too but did out of sheer boredom. I had heard nothing but the greatest about the original and I like both Kevin Hart and Micheal Ealy so I kinda had some hopes it would be good. I was worried that not seeing the original would make the sequel confusing. But no worries, the only thing I was confused about was why I was still so bored.



The old crew is back together. For a wedding! In Vegas! Cedric is still Cedric and obsessed with being the best Best Man. Candace and Micheal are getting married. Dominic and Lauren's relationship is strained by job offers. Jeremy and Kristen are married and struggling to have a baby. All this is being dealt with in the 24 hours before Candace and Micheal's wedding in which both the guys and girls will compete to see who can have the most outlandish bachelor/bachelorette party. Hijinks, of course, ensue.

I wanted to like this movie, but to be honest it was down right boring. It was predictable in all the wrong ways and original in none of them. Kevin Hart brings his fantastic energy to the screen but not even that can make this pop. One of the requirements of a RomCom is that second part: Comedy. It's not a Romantic Comedy if its not funny and rarely is the time that I even chuckled at Think Like a Man Too.  C-

Jersey Boys

I love most musicals. I love most movies directed by Clint Eastwood. I love most movies set in New Jersey. I love a lot of The Four Seasons songs and Frankie Valli's voice. I loved the trailer for Jersey Boys. As you can tell I had a lot of high hopes for this movie going in. I didn't just want to like it; I wanted to love it. And as I walked out I thought to myself....

There are three ways to get out of Jersey in the 50s and 60s: Join the army, join the mob, or get famous. For guys like Tommy DeVito, Nick DeVito, and Frankie Castelluccio there's only two. Tommy understands how unique Frankies voice is and he lets him join his trio so he can teach him everything Tommy knows. Add one songwriter and singer Bob Gaudio, change Frankie's last name to the more manageable Valli and you have the makings of a legend...

I thought to myself, the story was ok but the music was the best parts. It's an interesting story of relationships and the strain of fame but honestly as soon as the songs I stopped caring about what was going on. The story would have not been compelling without the music but the music can stand for itself. As far as bio pics go this was good and a faithful adaptation of the play but as far as cinematic experiences go, it was only okay. The best part was the rousing credits sequence at the end.

Movie B- Music A+

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Time for honesty: I didn't see the original How to Train Dragon when it came out back in 2010. I didn't see it even though I was told again and again how awesome it was. I didn't even think about seeing it until I saw there was a sequel coming out and the first review I read said the sequel was to the original what The Empire Strikes Back was to Return of the Jedi. After watching it I quickly realized it is one of the greatest, original animated movie of all time. So does the sequel measure up? In a word.....



It's five years after the Vikings who live in Berk made peace with the dragons. The tribes Chieftain Stoick wants his son Hiccup to start training to take his place as leader of the people. It's a job Hiccup wants no part of even though his now girlfriend Astrid tells him what an honor it is. Hiccup is more interested in exploring the unknown lands that can now be found with the help of dragons. But some unknown lands secrets should never be uncovered and on this adventure Hiccup will discover a battle raging between good and evil. A battle that strikes close to home. A battle that will force him to chose between being the man he wants to be or the leader he was born to be.

....YES! This is an incredible sequel. It is bigger, badder, and better. The stakes are higher, the dragons cooler, and the relationships that were discovered in the first installment are tested and strengthened. This franchise has the potential to be one of the greatest fantasy franchises ever. Period. The characters are realistic, developed, and people you can relate to. The first story was a story of a boy learning to grow up, this is a story of a boy who became a man and now has to face the responsibilities of manhood. As far as I can see, there are no hiccups in this story.    A+

22 Jump Street

Sequels are hard to do. Most of the time they are unasked for and unneeded. A lot of time they are simply a cash grab, a rehashing of contrived storytelling. Some of the time they are truly awesome. And then there is 22 Jump Street, a strange mash up of these two types of sequel.



After Schmidt and Jenko were so successful with the 21 Jump Street program, Deputy Chief Hardy figures why do anything different? This time though they are too old for High School so they enroll in college to root out who is dealing a new drug called WHYPHY. They quickly fit into classic college stereotypes (the frat jock, the art nerd) and drift apart. It's a little familiar and a little different.

To anyone who thinks that because Phil Lord and Christopher Miller went from 21 Jump Street to The Lego Movie, 22 Jump Street would be less crass the the original let me so no, it really isn't. I believe they actually cranked it up in this sequel, like everything else in the movie. That said, if you laughed at the first one, you will die with this one. Especially at one twist about halfway through the movie that I won't dream of spoiling but I will say for like 15 minutes the theater I was in needed oxygen we were laughing so hard. To sum up, if you don't like crass don't watch, if you don't mind and want laughs, this is the movie for you.
B+

The Fault in Our Stars

I don't usually like love stories. I don't usually like happy endings or the stories that get to happy endings. Give me dark and gritty and depressing stories. I hate Nicholas Sparks movies or those along that vein. I do love Shailene Woodley so when I heard she was going to be in a love story that was being adapted from some YA book I'd never heard of with the sappy title The Fault In Our Stars, I rolled my eyes and though guess I might see that. As soon as I watched the first trailer though I knew that this was not going to be your usual love story. 

Hazel Grace isn't depressed because of the cancer. She depressed because of the dying. It's tedious not being able to breathe. Her parents are understandably worried about her so they make her go to a support group "literally in the heart of Jesus." She goes to make her parents happy but eventually she meets a charming cancer survivor Augustus Waters. It isn't long before they're hanging out and flirting... Unfortunately dying doesn't wait for you to fall in love...

If there was ever a love story for me it would be this one. I don't think its a spoiler to say not to expect a happy ending. All the actors deliver beautifully especially Woodley, Laura Dern and Willem Dafoe. That might be messed up but its true. It also might be messed up to say for half the movie I was laughing at the droves of teen girls sobbing their eyes out around me but its true. I might not have a heart... luckily thought this movie does. It does hit you in the feels as often as possible but it's always believable and sincere. Unless you're me, bring a box of tissues. 

A-

Edge of Tomorrow

Tom Cruise is hit or miss usually. Last year he played in a syfy action movie about him getting kidnapped by aliens, cloned, takes over the earth, hangs with a British chick, sacrifices himself to save humanity and kill the aliens, except he doesn't. Not many people liked it. So Ole Tom does the old try, try again formula...



Aliens have landed on earth. They cannot be beat. Tom Cruise (cause lets be honest this is Tom Cruise) tries to charm his way out of being in battle to a hard nosed general and is promptly demoted and forced onto the battle field. Even though he doesn't know where his safety is he manages to kill two aliens. Unfortunately while killing that second alien he kind of blows himself up. Luckily the alien blood mixes with his. And luckily the aliens live the same day over and over again until they win and now Tom has this ability to try, try again...

I actually like Tom Cruise. I actually like Oblivion. I had high expectations for Edge of Tomorrow. Here is the bottom line. There are awesome beach attack scenes (imagine the opening of Saving Private Ryan except its aliens) Emily Blunt is amazing, Tom Cruise looks like he's having the time of his life, Bill Paxton is laugh out loud funny, the alien design is downright awesome: there's humor, action and sweet moments. There is a compelling story and the Groundhog Day like time loop never gets old. All of which feels like gets hamstrung by an underwhelming ending. I personally think Oblivion had a better ending. If you like action movies and Tom Cruise you will like Edge of Tomorrow, just lower expectations when it comes the the finale.

B+

A Million Ways to Die in the West

Crass. Funny. Rude. Hilarious. Offensive. All these words have been used to describe Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, Ted, and the controversial host of the 85th Academy Awards. Now he has released his second live action feature film (this time with him starring) After years of the same type of productions can we honestly expect anything different?



The American West in 1882 must have sucked. As the title suggests there was a whole lot of ways to die. Albert Stark just wants to be left alone on his sheep farm and live his life happily ever after with the girl of his dreams Louise. But then Louise breaks up with him after Albert refuses to get into a gunfight with another man and sends him into a deep depression. Now though there is a new girl in town, Anna. Albert, not knowing Anna is the wife of dreaded outlaw Clinch Leatherwood, befriends her. Add Clinch Leatherwood to that list of things that will kill you...


A Million Ways offers a glimpse into the west quite unlike any other before it. The movie is full of surprising and hilarious cameos. Any of first five words of this review could be used to sum up this movie and like I said, by now we should know what we are getting with a MacFarlane production. You will laugh, I guarantee it (I especially lost all control of my laughter during the Indian induced drug trip) but you also might find to many jokes revolving around body parts, fluids, and functions.

B

Maleficent

"Let us tell you an old tale anew and see how well you know it." This is the opening line of Maleficent and it might as well be the motto of Hollywood in recent years. Fairy tales have gotten quite the live action treatment in recent years... Fairy tales like Alice In Wonderland, Hansel and Gretel (Witch Hunters), Red Riding Hood, Jack The Giant Slayer, and Snow White (And The Huntsmen) Now Disney tries to explain and give a worthy back story to the most villainous of all villains: Maleficent! (sinister laugh here)

Maleficent was the biggest and strongest of all the fairies once upon a time. She had great wings and a charming personality. Then old Mal made the mistake of helping a rock stealing, mischievous human boy named Stefan. Wouldn't you know they hit it off. He even said he loved her. But then in order to become king, Stefan took her most precious possession: Her wings. As you can imagine this ticks Mal off considerably and is driven to a villainy that we can all almost understand. A crow here, a curse there, and presto bango we have the villain that has haunted kids nightmares for years...

Maleficent (the film not the character) tries so hard to be feminist and politically correct: a man literally steals our hero's (at the time) wings, the girl is lied to and used by evil man who wants to destroy the magical forest, even Prince Phillip can't wake the girl with true loves kiss. All this annoys the heck out of me because it robs Maleficent (both the film and the character) of the thing that makes her most memorable: her evilness. My mom never liked Disney's Sleeping Beauty because of how evil Maleficent was. To me her and Jafar from Aladdin made the perfect evil pair. Heck in the the animated movie Prince Phillip had to fight the dragon Maleficent turned into with the Sword of Truth and Shield of Virtue. Her crow was named Diablo. If you aren't getting it yet, Maleficent was a clear parallel of the Devil himself. I never questioned her motives or wondered at her back story: She was evil. Phillip was good. They fought, good won, happily ever after etc... In Kate Taylor's review of Maleficent on theglobeandmail.com she states: "The villains of fairy tales and comic books inhabit a Manichaean world of good and evil. Everyone from Lex Luthor to the original Maleficent (whose very name means doing evil) are wicked just because, teaching our children and the adults they become that bad guys are everywhere and killing them is not merely permissible but natural." 

That is my problem with Maleficent: There is no good, no evil, doesn't matter what you do, you can be redeemed. One of the last lines of Maleficent is that: "Maleficent wasn't a villain or a hero; She was both." Fairy tales were always meant to be lessons, warnings, and tales that taught children valuable lessons. Lessons about the danger and evil that exists in the world we live in. Lessons that should be taught to children. The lesson is this film perhaps is better unheard. Stick to the old tale and leave "anew" alone. 

C-