"Captain America: Civil War" *Non-Spoiler* Review

Captain America Civil War is the latest installment into the Captain America franchise and it may be the best one yet. Following the success of its predecessor, Captain America Winter Soldier, this film had the task of trying to follow up one of the best Marvel movies. Directors Joe & Anthony Russo are back for their second time and they hit another home-run. Captain America Civil War pits the two biggest Avengers against each other as they fight it out over whether they should be governed by the United Nations or have their own freedom. Having been able to have seen all the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies; the emotion in this film strikes perfectly. Even though there are a lot of characters in this movie; this is very much a Captain America film and very much a sequel to Captain America Winter Soldier. The action in the film is the best action in any Marvel movie and some of the best action sequences I have seen in a comic book movie in a long time. The airport fight scene that is seen in the trailers is absolutely stunning. The scene is approximately 17 minutes long and had me smiling throughout the entire sequence. The final battle scene is no slouch either, as it is one where both protagonists have solid points to why they are fighting, and in the end, it is really tough to figure out who is right and who is wrong. There were 3 very big standouts in this film; Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man/Peter Parker, and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man. The three of them were absolutely great and were my favorite parts of the movie. The best of the 3 was Black Panther. He has a kick-ass introduction and proves throughout the movie that he will be a force to reckon with in future movies. Spider-Man is absolutely amazing and it is so fun and cool to finally see him interact with the heroes with the MCU. My one gripe with Spider-Man was, at times, his costume came off as too much CGI enhanced. Besides that, there were not too many complaints for this film. Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), the villain, isn’t the strongest villain, but in the end, this movie is about heroes against heroes. Finally, there were a couple times in the beginning action sequences that were shaky and made my head hurt. Other than those small complaints, Captain America Civil War is a magnificent addition to the MCU.

Conclusion: Captain America Civil War has every chance to fall apart but tells a masterful story driven by its characters. The film draws out your emotions as you watch to of the most beloved heroes fight it out for causes that are equally just. New comers Black Panther and Spider-Man are great additions to this universe and are 2 of the standouts in this film. Chris Evans (Captain America) and Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark) bring it and help make this movie one of Marvel’s best, and just one of the best superhero movies out there. Plus, with one of the best action sequences in a super hero movie, Captain America Civil War unquestionably nails it. This is one you will want to experience.

MY SCORE:         9.25/10 – GREAT

"Keanu" *Non-Spoiler* Review

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele team up in the comedy action film Keanu. Known for their comedic talents on their hit show Key & Peele, they decided to try out their talents on the big screen. Their first ever big screen appearance could not have gone that much better. Keanu is more of an action film than it is comedy. The movie will make you laugh, maybe just not as much as you hoped it will. That is not a bad thing because there are some good laughs in this movie. The story of Keanu is cousins Rell (Jordan Peele) and Clarence (Keegan-Michael Key) devise a plot to retrieve a stolen cat (Keanu) by posing as drug dealers for a street gang. As one could imagine, things get hectic and make for a very entertaining film. Method Man plays the lead drug dealer, Cheddar, and his crew consists of Hi-C (Tiffany Haddish), Trunk (Darrell Britt-Gibson), Bud (Jason Mitchell), and Stiches (Jamar Neighbors). The crew is the funniest part of the movie as they learn to adapt and take lessons from both Rell and Clarence. Key and Peele’s chemistry shines throughout the movie and the film keeps you smiling throughout the story. Luiz Guzman and Will Forte make short appearances in the movie and very well utilized in the film. While Keanu was not as funny as I hoped it to be, it is still a very entertaining and fun movie to go and see. It also does not hurt that the cat is one of the cutest cats out there.

Conclusion: Keanu stars comedians Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele and they deliver on almost every level imaginable. The movie has a strong supporting cast that will make you laugh, and more importantly, a story that you will care about. The film has surprise cameos and some unforeseen twists. While the movie comes up a tad bit short on the comedic side, it comes through everywhere else. Keanu is a rated R movie, but is very entertaining and is not a waste of your time or money.  Keanu may not be a “must-see”, but it is one you will want to see.

SCORE:                7.25/10 – ENTERTAINING/FUN                  

"The Jungle Book" *Non-Spoiler* Review

Disney’s and Director Jon Favreau’s live-action The Jungle Book is here and it is visually stunning. For those who do not know the story; Jungle Book is the tale of man-cub Mowgli, who is guided by Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear, as he tries to flee from Shere Khan the tiger. Besides Mowgli (Neel Sethi), everything in this film is CGI and you would be hard pressed to realize it too. It is really a testament to Neel Sethi’s performance because he makes you believe he is really jumping through trees, talking to animals, and avoiding mud slides. For his first ever Hollywood performance, he looked like an absolute pro doing it. The voice actors in the film are magnificently casted. Bill Murray as Baloo, Idris Elba as Shere Khan, and Sir Ben Kingsley as Bagheera all do remarkable jobs voicing their characters and fit them perfectly which makes the film that much more enjoyable. Also, Christopher Walken as King Louie and Scarlett Johansson as Kaa both have small roles but impacts are fully felt. My personal favorite voice performance, outside the main 3, was that of Lupita Nyong’o as Raksha. The emotion between Mowgli and the wolves is very well done throughout the movie. There is just so much to love about this film.

Conclusion:  The Jungle Book by Jon Favreau is a visual masterpiece but also has substance to go along with it. Neel Sethi makes an impressive debut and the stars that voice the characters all give grade A performances. The storytelling is done almost to perfection and you believe that this movie takes place in an actual jungle instead of a movie studio. The emotion is what makes this film standout out the most. Of course it doesn’t hurt to include a couple of classic songs from the original movie. The Jungle Book is a family-friendly film that will definitely please you.

MY SCORE:         9/10 – BRILLAINT

"The Boss" *Non-Spoiler* Review

The Boss starring Melissa McCarthy is exactly what you think it would be; a movie with a simple plot but sequences that will make you laugh. While The Boss is not exactly anything to brag about, it does have some redeeming qualities. The star Melissa McCarthy (Michelle Darnell) is back to playing the same type of role she usually plays. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but of course when you play the same role so many times; it is hard to really mess up a performance. There were two really big standouts, comedy wise, in this film; Tyler Labine (Mike Beals) and Cedric Yarbrough (Tito). The two bring it every time they are on screen and steal the show every scene. Kristen Bell (Claire) plays the classic cliché character in this movie as the former employee turn mentor role. Finally, Peter Dinklage (Renault) plays the extremely weird and awkward ex-lover and rival to McCarthy. The Boss tells the story of successful business woman, Michelle Darnell, road to redemption after she is thrown in prison for insider trading. The plot of the film is simple but it surprisingly does hit on a couple emotional chords. Unfortunately for the movie, most of it is not really that funny and only somewhat enjoyable to watch.

Conclusion:  The Boss is the classic Melissa McCarthy movie, so if you are a big fan of her and the films she makes, you will enjoy this one. While the plot is simple, two side characters will make you laugh the most. That is not to mean McCarthy does not hold her own. She has some very fun lines and scenes in the movie, and others…well not so much. The problem with The Boss is that we have just seen this movie so many times before and this does not do a good enough job making itself standout among the rest. On a positive note, that fight scene you see in the trailer is awesome and hilarious. Overall, The Boss is not a must see movie, but is one people could enjoy.

MY SCORE:         4.5/10 – OKAY

"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" *NON-SPOILER* Review

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice brings together two of the most iconic superheroes of all time to fight and brawl it out. Not really though. Batman v Superman is like that appetizer on the menu that looks absolutely delicious on paper, but once you get it, you immediately want to return it and get your money back. The movie advertises as the clash between two titans, and it continues to tease that concept for the first hour and 40 minutes of it. Finally, when the two heroes come to a head, it is one of the biggest disappointments ever. To name this movie Batman v Superman is a crime because the film is everything except that. The film starts out running and has your attention as we watch Bruce Wayne is Metropolis during the events of Man of Steel. After that, the movie is a god 2 hours and 15 minute snooze fest. Besides Ben Affleck’s Batman, not one character in the movie has any motive for anything they do. Director Zach Snyder never gives a reason as to why Lex Luther (Jesse Eisenberg) wants Superman dead. No one knows why Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) is even present in the film except for pushing forward with the DC Cinematic Universe. The story of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice tries to tell way too many stories; Man of Steel 2, Batman Solo movie, Batman v Superman, and setting of the Justice League. If Zach Snyder would have focused on just one of these stories, the movie could have been a whole lot better. Unfortunately again, when it comes to Zach Snyder, it is style over substance with this movie. The fight and section sequences are really cool looking, but the story and characters are so weak; no one really cares about what is going on. Lois Lane (Amy Adams) returns but is given nothing to do except just being Superman’s shoulder to lean on. The set-up of the other Justice League was cool but was completely thrown in there with no actual connection to the story the movie was telling. Now Batman v Superman was not all negative. Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman was absolutely a delight. He plays an older and brutal type of Batman and gets you excited for upcoming Batman movies. Jeremy Irons as Alfred was also very good. He was much underused, but when he was on screen, he stole the scene. The end battle scene with the trinity of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman was very exciting, but by that point in the film, you are already worn down by the previous 2 hours of boredom.

Conclusion: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a colossus let down. Batman is awesome, Wonder Woman looks cool in action but is not in it much, and they cast the perfect Alfred in Jeremy Irons. Other than that, there is not much to like in this film. Jesse Eisenberg is annoying as Lex Luther and has no motives what so ever. Doomsday just shows up at the end with really no warning from the film that he is even being made. The story is so bad in this movie; I would gladly take my money back and forget I ever watched this. Batman v Superman is a 2 hour and 35 minute film and over 2 hours of it is all talking. The movie is boring. The DC Cinematic Universe is off to a bad start; let’s hope the next few movies can make up for this disappointment. This is not a must see movie; in fact I’d say save your money on this one. Wait to see it when it is on TV.

SCORE:               4/10 – DISSAPOINTING AND BORING

"10 Cloverfield Lane" *Non-Spoiler* Review

10 Cloverfield Lane is the sort of but not really sequel to Cloverfield. The film tells the story of Michele (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) getting in a car crash only to wake up and find herself in Howard’s (John Goodman) bunker under his farm. The movie is 100 minutes long and for the first 90 minutes, it has you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. Director, Dan Trachtenberg, does a magnificent job of twisting and turning the plot so you never know what to expect. John Goodman is the real gem of the film as he turns in a beautiful performance as his character Howard is very hard to get a read on. Until the end of the film, you never know whether Howard genuinely cares about Michele and what is going on outside or is he just plain crazy? The other character in the film is played by John Gallagher Jr. He is really there for the lighter parts of the film but is still a bright spot for the movie. The first 90 minutes of this film were on the edge of your seat worthy but the final 10 minutes is really where it falls off. This is when the movie reveals the truth about what has really been going on outside the bunker and the reveal is quite underwhelming. Other than the final 10 minutes, 10 Cloverfield Lane is an entertaining film.  

Conclusion: 10 Cloverfield Lane is almost perfectly done mystery drama. The tension of never knowing what is going to happen next make your movie going experience that much more entertaining. John Goodman delivers a chilling performance as his character is the real standout in the film. This movie will be everything you want and more until the very ending. While some will enjoy the ending, it will definitely be a controversial. All in all, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a very enjoyable movie and worth the price of admission.

MY SCORE:         7.8/10 – VERY ENTERTAINING

"Zootopia" *Non-Spoiler* Review

Zootopia is a fun, entertaining, and very thoughtful animated movie. If there is one thing that sticks out the most from the film is how many serious themes are seen throughout. Zootopia hits on aspects of life such as value of friendships, always believing in yourself, and the deepest theme was tackling the issue of stereotyping. Yes, that is a lot for a PG movie directed at a young audience. But it is definitely not a detriment to the film. It really is what makes the movie that much more enjoyable to watch. During my viewing, I was in awe of how deep Zootopia was willing to dive. Zootopia tells the story of Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), who is a rabbit, but is willing to do whatever it, takes to fulfill her dream and break the “All rabbits are farmers” stereotype to become a police officer. Along the way she gets the help of Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a sly fox who has also been trapped by the typical “All foxes all sneaky stereotypes. Besides being a fun movie for kids to watch, stereotyping is really the major and powerful theme of the movie. I cannot say enough how much it greatly improved the film. Side characters such as Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), Mayor Lionheart (J.K. Simmons), and Mr. Big (Maurice LeMarche) all contribute to make the movie funny. The real scene stealer is Flash (Raymond S. Persi), the sloth who works at the DMV. He is the funniest part and is a part of one of the funniest endings to a movie I may have ever seen.

Conclusion: Zootopia starts off the animated year with an emphatic bang. It is a fun kid’s movie with some very deep thinking themes. The characters are relatable and are very easy to root for. All actors give great voice over performances and the story is compelling enough to keep you engaged with the film. Zootopia may have some of the funniest scenes of the year so far and will make you laugh. Overall, Zootopia is a kid’s movie that can easily be enjoyed by adults as well. The movie is a fun time and I strongly recommend seeing.

SCORE:               8.5/10 – VERY GOOD