"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

Oscars 2016: Did the Academy get it right?

Happy Leap Day! The 88th Annual Academy Awards have come and gone. Earlier in the year, I did my predictions on who would win in the 6 major categories. (Check it out here) Today's blog I will be revisiting those predictions and saying if the Academy got it right in my humble opinion. I will also give my thoughts on the host, Chris Rock, and my overall thoughts on the night as a whole. Without further ado, let's get started.

Host: Chris Rock

Personally, I really enjoyed Chris Rock's opening monologue. He did a very good job balancing the need to address the #OscarsSoWhite dilemma while making the speech more enjoyable instead of sounding like a political rant. I thought the jabs he threw at both Will and Jada Smith were the perfect examples of how he perfectly balanced throughout the monologue and the night. My favorite bit of the night was the "Black Actors Get Roles in White Movies". (Watch Here) This sketch was both hilarious and confronted the diversity issue that shadowed over this year's Oscars. Overall, even though the ratings for the show were the lowest in 7 years, I thought Chris Rock did a fabulous job hosting this year, and frankly, this was one of the more enjoyable Oscars to watch in the past couple of years. Chris Rock gets a solid two thumbs up for his performance.

Best Supporting Actress

My Pick: Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

2016 Winner: Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

My Take: This was an easy layup for the Academy in this category. Alicia Vikander could have been nominated for her performance in Ex Machina this year as well. But she rightfully won for her magnificent performance in The Danish Girl. To co star next to Eddie Redmayne is a difficult task within itself, but to utterly outshine him is almost unfathomable to believe. Vikander did exactly that as she steals the movie away from Redmayne. Overall, The Danish Girl was a bland movie, but her performance is what keeps your attention drawn to it. So it is easy to say that I am very pleased the Academy got this one right and Alicia Vikander completely deserved her first ever Oscar.

Best Supporting Actor

My Pick: Sylvester Stallone, Creed

2016 Winner: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies

My Take: Here lied my biggest beef with the Academy on the night. While I knew it was not a lock Stallone would win the award, I was shocked he lost to the actor I had ranked 4th out of 5th in the category. Not to insult Rylance, he did deliver a very good performance, I thought the performances of Stallone, Hardy, and Ruffalo were all better and more compelling than his. Stallone took a historically one note character and delivered a performance that showed the character of Rocky had layers instead of being the Italian boxer known for screaming Adrian. Tom Hardy, one could say outshines DiCaprio in The Revenant, while Mark Ruffalo gave the best performance in the film that won Best Picture. It was disappointing to see Creed, a movie snubbed in so many categories, get snubbed in the one category it was nominated for.

Best Actress

My Pick: Brie Larson, Room

2016 Winner: Brie Larson, Room

My Take: Just like the Supporting Actress category, this one was another slam dunk for the Academy. In the beginning of Oscar season, it was Cate Blanchett, Carol, who was getting all the Oscar buzz for her performance, but as we got closer and closer to the awards show, Brie Larson was gaining more steam and winning all the awards. Rightfully so because she is just magnificent in Room and it was really no contest between her and her counterparts. Brie Larson wholeheartedly deserves her first Oscar and I look forward to seeing what she does next in her career. No complaints to the Academy from me on this one.

Best Actor

My Pick: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

2016 Winner: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

My Take: Leo gets his first Oscar and now all the "No Oscar for Leo" memes are dead. While it wasn't his best performance in The Revenant, there was not much competition this year in the Best Actor category against him. It's funny how things work sometimes. Many believe he should have won for many of his other brilliant performances, and he wins for the one that is not even his best. As I've said before, I think Tom Hardy is the best part of The Revenant. So it is kind of funny Leo gets his 1st for a movie he is not even the best part of. Anyway, no complaints for the Academy as this one was pretty easy to get and congrats to Leo for getting his 1st Oscar he was so badly overdue. 

Best Director 

My Pick: Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
2016 Winner: Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant

My Take: Even though I got this one wrong, I am not overly upset with the decision of the Academy. The one thing I will never understand though is how Best Director and Best Picture do not go hand in hand. If you were the best director, one would think your movie was the best of the year. I personally went with McCarthy for Spotlight because when I think of directing, I think of the ability of telling the most compelling story. To me, the story of The Revenant was the film's weakest point. The cinematography and performance were both more of standouts than the story of the film. In the terms of story telling, I thought Tom McCarthy did the better job. But again, The Revenant was such a beautifully shot film, I can see why Inarritu won.  

Best Picture

My Pick: Spotlight

2016 Winner: Spotlight

My Take: The Academy absolutely got this one right because Spotlight was by far the best film of the year in that category. Director Tom McCarthy does an amazing job telling the story of the Boston Globe reporters uncovering the scandal going on within the church. The ensemble cast all give fantastic performances, 2 of which were nominated for awards this year, and the movie delivers a heavy story with ease. This one was an absolute shoe in for the Academy and I am very glad they got it right.

The 88th Annual Academy Awards Show

Overall, this years Oscars were very enjoyable to watch but yet again are too long for their own good. One thing they can do to help this problem is taking out the performances. There is not much need for us to listen to the songs up for Oscars. They do not give us a taste of any of the others up for an award, then why do we need that for the songs? If people want to hear the song that is up for an award, they can go online and listen to it. In the end, host Chris Rock was one of the better ones in the past few years which made this years Oscars were much more fun than the previous 2 years.

My Score for the 2016 Oscars:  8/10 - FUN/ENTERTAING

"Eddie the Eagle" *Non-Spoiler* Review

Eddie the Eagle is a fun, heartfelt, and entertaining film that is not a waste of time. The movie tells the true story of ski jumper Eddie Edwards and the bumpy road he took to get to the Olympics for the national British team. The film has you rooting for Eddie the entire movie and enjoying every second of his journey. If there is a movie that is very comparable to Eddie the Eagle, it would have to be the 1993 film Cool Runnings. A fun fact, both movies happen during the same Olympics and Eddie the Eagle gives a nice little nod to that. Taron Egerton (Eddie Edwards) and Hugh Jackman (Bronson Peary) are the movie’s two leads and they both deliver admirable performances. Both have very solid chemistry between each other and make you buy into their relationship. Jackman’s Peary is a former Olympian who never took ski jumping seriously and now is known more as the drunken failure. Both leads have to come over obstacles and people trying to stop them to get where they ultimately want to go. Eddie’s parents (Jo Hartley & Keith Allen) play big parts in his story and are 2 different sides of a coin when it comes to his dreams. Both actors are phenomenal in their roles and make rooting for Eddie that much easier.

Conclusion: Not knowing the story of Eddie Edwards, the film Eddie the Eagle does a very good job showing what he had to go through to achieve his dream of becoming an Olympic athlete. Eddie the Eagle is enjoyable to watch and does hit an emotional chord with the audience as he fights through the people telling him he cannot do what he wants. Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman give fantastic performances and sell you on their coach/student friendship. Overall, Eddie the Eagle is a fun time at the theaters. The movie will not blow you away but you certainly will be entertained.

MY SCORE:         6.8/10 – FUN, ENTERTAINING

*The Oscars are tommorow, I will do a post Oscars reaction blog*

"Deadpool" *Non-Spoiler* Review

The Mirk with the mouth makes his big screen debut and he will leave you smiling ear to ear from the beginning to the very end credits. Calling Deadpool a homerun would be selling this movie short; it is that good of a film. This movie is action packed, heartfelt, and most of all, just pretty damn funny. Ryan Reynolds (Wade Wilson) absolutely kills it as Deadpool. He was born to play this role as he brings the charisma and energy needed to pull off this type of character. You can see how much passion he had for this character through his performance. Not to be outdone, T.J. Miller (Weasal) is comedic goal in his supporting role. When he and Reynolds are on screen together there is rarely a moment where you will not find yourself laughing. The main story of Deadpool is Wade Wilson going through surgery as a last ditched effort to beat his terminal cancer diagnosis and save his life with his girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). The relationship between Wilson and Vanessa works perfectly. Unlike in some other superhero films, the romance between the main protagonist and the kidnapped woman actually works to the advantage of this film. Baccarin delivers a great performance and gets you to care about not only her, but the relationship she is in. Finally, villain Ajax (Ed Skrein) is a formidable foe for the hero. While he probably won’t go down as memorable and his motives are not made quite clear; he is the perfect villain for the first installation of the Deadpool franchise. Yes, this movie is that good, it definitely will get a 2^nd and 3^rd.

Conclusion: Deadpool has set the bar high for the many superhero films that are following later in 2016. The movie holds nothing back and is one hell of an entertaining time. Ryan Reynolds makes his case for the most perfectly casted superhero, and T.J. Miller is comedic gold whenever he is on screen. Director Tim Miller successfully gets you to care for Wilson’s girlfriend and the villain serves his purpose. One of the best aspects of this movie is the fact it does not take itself seriously. It knows exactly what it is and what its purpose is. I cannot say enough just how much fun it was to watch this film. My anticipation was high for this movie, and it surely did not disappoint. I highly recommend seeing Deadpool. You will have a blast with this one.

MY SCORE:         9/10 – AWESOME 

"Hail, Caesar!" *Non-Spoiler* Review

The Coen brothers are back with their new film Hail, Caesar and they successfully bring to life Hollywood in the 1950s. Everything from the outfits everyone wears to the movies the industry was making; the Coen brothers did a tremendous job making you feel as if you too were in the 50s as well. Unfortunately for them, they completely forgot they were making a film instead of just paying homage. Without being too harsh, Hail Caesar may be one of the most pointless movies you will ever watch. The story of the movie is just flat out weak. Not only is the story scattered throughout the movie, it is more in the background of what is actually going on in the film. Without giving away spoilers, Hail Caesar is about movie star Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) being kidnapped and studio head, Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), must do whatever it takes to get him back….or at least that is what the trailers intended you to think it was about. There are so many subplots to this film, you lose track of what is going on and exactly when the film will get to its point. There are so many stars that are utterly wasted in this movie; Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, and Jonah Hill all have a max of just 2 scenes. Again, the trailers touted such a prestigious cast, yet they were sparingly used. The lone bright spot of the film was Josh Brolin. If there is any reason to see the film it is for his character and his portrayal of that character. He is the one you will spend the most time with and the only one you really get to know….well sort of get to know. This is no knock on George Clooney, but his character is the next biggest character, but there is nothing that stood out in his performance or with his character. Do not worry though, there is one or two scenes that will make you laugh.

Conclusion: Hail, Caesar fooled us all with its marketing campaign showing off a star studded cast immersed into a fun comedy, thriller trying to get back a kidnapped star. The film was the exact opposite by focusing too much time on the subplots and really not letting the cast flaunt their talents. The Coen brothers do an excellent job capturing the essence of the industry in the 1950s, while Josh Brolin delivers the only decent performance. Yes, there are some laughs when it comes to Hail, Caesar. But in the end, you will want the movie to be over with. And when it is over, you will leave the theater wondering what the hell did you just watch. If you know the answer, please let me know.

SCORE:      4/10 – DON’T WASTE THE MONEY

Most Anticipated February Films

The month of February is upon us and that means it is time for me to give you the top 3 films of February I am most looking forward to. February is usually a slow month for films but luckily for us we have some interesting ones hitting the theaters. I was unable to do this for January because of the big blizzard that hit which kept me inside for several days. As always, I base my anticipation off of cast, trailers, director, and story. I also added a new feature to this where I will give you a number out of 10 based on how excited I am for the film. Remember, feel free to comment below and tell me which February movies you are looking forward to the most. Without further ado, here are my top 3 most anticipated February films!


3) Eddie The Eagle
    Release Date: February 26
    Director: Dexter Fletcher
    Cast: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Christopher Walken, Tim McInnerny, Jo Hartley, Rune Temte
    Trailer: Eddie The Eagle Trailer

Eddie the Eagle just beat out Hail Caesar for me based on my reaction to the trailer. Just a few weeks ago I hadn't even heard of this film and I stumbled upon the trailer while on YouTube. The trailer to Eddie the Eagle just hit an emotional chord with me that immediately had me interested in the story. I do not know the story of Eddie Edwards and what happened to him in his quest to become an Olympic athlete, but what I do know is that the trailer did a damn fine job in getting me to want to know what happens and also had me rooting for Eddie by the end of it. Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service) and Hugh Jackman (X-Men) are the 2 leads and they have both historically been able to turn in very good performances. But as I stated above, it really was the trailer for this film that got me. If not for that, Eddie the Eagle would have been an after thought for me.

Anticipation Level - 5


2) Triple 9
    Release Date: February 26
    Director: John Hillcoat
    Cast: Teresa Palmer, Gal Gadot, Kate Winslet, Aaron Paul, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Chiwetel Ejifor, Norman Reedus
    Trailer: Triple 9 Trailer #2

Triple 9 falls under the genres crime and thriller. The trailers certainly do a good job at establishing that. What has this movie up to number 2 on my list is the magnificent cast this movie has to offer. There is a load of trophy winning talent on the cast list. Now just because the movie has an excellent cast, does not mean it will be a successful movie. There will be a lot of pressure on the writer Matt Cook and director John Hillcoat to deliver the best possible story and put the actors in the best situations to give us the performances all of them are capable of doing. The only negative I have on this film is I do not like how the trailers pretty much gave away whose on the good side and whose on the bad side. I think my anticipation level would have been a lot higher if I went into the film with knowing who is on which side. Other than that, it does look like this could be a surprise hit in the slow month of February.

Anticipation Level - 5.5


1) Deadpool
    Release Date: February 12
    Director: Tim Miller
    Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Karan Soni, Ed Skrein, Michael Benyaer, Brianna Hildebrand, Taylor Hickson, T.J. Miller
     Trailer: Deadpool Trailer #2

No surprise here. Of course Deadpool is my most anticipated movie for the month of February, I mean what else could have been? For the longest time I have been dying to see this character on the big screen and in just over a week we are finally getting that. The marketing to this film has been incredibly brilliant and has done nothing to derail me of my excitement and expectations of the movie being fun and overall good. Ryan Reynolds has had many flops over his acting career (Green Latern) but this was the role he was made for. He was Deadpool earlier in the God awful Wolverine movie but was the only saving grace. But now, he finally gets to play the character without his mouth sewn shut. The fact that FOX was able to let this be rated R is just icing on the cake. The trailers have been funny, action packed, and have done their job. I have high expectations for this movie and hoping that FOX can finally get a superhero movie right that isn't named X-Men. Deadpool's marketing has done everything right. Now let's see if the movie itself is any good.

Anticipation Level - 8.5

*Remember, feel free to share this blog and comment below to tell me which February movies you are looking forward to the most as well. Also, be on the look out, I will be starting to write movie news related blogs and other movie related blogs in the near future. Thank you!*

"Kung Fu Panda 3" *Non-Spoiler* Review

Kung Fu Panda 3 is a fun, heartfelt, and comical film that you will be able to enjoy. I am a fan of the first two Kung Fu Panda films, and while this one did not reach the quality of those, it is still a fun time to watch. Po (Jack Black), Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Lui), and Crane (David Cross) are all back and now have to face an enemy like no other, Kai (J.K. Simmons). The film’s main focus is on Po understanding what it is to be a Panda and finally realize who he is. One of the main sources of comedy in the movie comes from the triangle relationship of Po and his adopted father and blood father. The back and forth between the 2 is really enjoyable. The flaws with Kung Fu Panda 3 are the story and really lack of development for characters. The story of Kung Fu Panda 3 is all over the place. There are a lot of holes in the movie and some plot points happen so quickly or randomly you are left scratching your head. Also, there are points in the movie that go directly opposite of what is said in the beginning of the film as well. Finally, character development is a weak spot in the movie. None of the major characters really go under transformation and come out a different person or even seem to have learned a lesson like characters usually do in kid movies. The villain was the weakest of the franchise and his motives were not made entirely clear.  Having said all that, understanding that Kung Fu Panda 3 is a movie for kids, it succeeded at what it intentions were; a fun movie going experience.

Conclusion: While Kung Fu Panda 3 has its story holes and lack of character development, it has enough laughs and overall enjoyment to be a good movie. If you are a fan of the original two, you will enjoy this one as well. The characters are still their fun, goofy selves and make for a fun time at the movie theater. Having seen the movie in a theater packed with parents and young children, it is definitely a family and kids friendly film. So if you have little kids, take them out to see it, because they will enjoy it….and you probably will too.

SCORE:                 6.5/10 – FUN MOVIE

A Look at our 2016 Oscar Nominees

Award season is upon us movie fans. As you all probably saw, last week the nominations for the 88th annual Oscars were released. The big news is the lack of diversity in this years awards. It is such an issue that actor/director Spike Lee and actor Jada Pinkett Smith are both boycotting them this year. Diversity is a problem in this year's Oscars because I do believe that there definitely could have been some African-Americans nominated this year. Even with all the drama, I will be tuning in on February 28th to see who takes home which award. So for those of you who will be watching the Oscars with me, I will be breaking down the 5 major categories and giving you the people I thought were snubbed, and also I think should win. Without further ado, let's get started!

Best Picture Category 

The Big Short

Bridge of Spies

Brooklyn

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Room

Spotlight

Film Snubbed: Creed

My Winner: Spotlight

My Take: First and foremost, I have unfortunately not seen The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, and Room, so I cannot make a judgement on any of those films. But from what I am reading, they all mostly belong on there with maybe the exception of Bridge of Spies. I have seen the rest and all but one deserve to be nominated. I finally gotten around to see the supposed movie of the summer, Mad Max: Fury Road, and I was completely underwhelmed. Yes, the movie was beautifully shot, but is that all it requires to be nominated for Best Picture? After the film was over, I could not wrap my head around the love and praise of this movie. There is no plot, the action sequences are overrated, and Charlize Theron's character was the only interesting thing about the movie. I got really bored of Tom Hardy's mumbling real quick. For the record, I have not seen the originals so my opinion is based on this film alone. How Mad Max was nominated over a film like Creed is beyond me. Creed had the better plot, story, characters, and I would even take the 2nd boxing match over the action in Mad Max. Creed gave us a character to care about and told the story of Adonis Creed to near perfection. Okay, I am done whining now. Finally, my pick to win Best Picture is Spotlight. The movie was my 3rd favorite of 2015, and it did a perfect job of making this huge story easy to follow and always keeping us engaged. The cast was stellar and the direction of Tom McCarthy was brilliant. It is just a stunning film. 

Best Actor

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo

Matt Damon, The Martian

Michael Fassbenber, Steve Jobs

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Biggest Snubs: Will Smith, Concussion; Michael B. Jordan, Creed

My Pick: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

My Take: This is a tough category to try and predict. From what I am hearing it is a 3 man race between Fassbender, DiCaprio, and Redmayne. I would be perfectly fine with any of the 3 winning because all of them turned in tremendous performances in their respective movies. I went with Leo because his movie was the better of the 3. His performance was not that much better than the aforementioned 2 but the deciding factor was quality in movie, and hey, why not just give it to Leo already? It would be rather funny to see him win for a performance that was not even his best, and also for a film where he is possibly out shined by his co-star Tom Hardy.  My snubs of Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan are for 2 completely different reasons. If you have been reading my blog, you will know Creed was my favorite movie of 2015, and the film simply does not work without Michael B. Jordan's performance. In Will Smith's case, he is the name I am hearing a lot when people talk about diversity in the awards. A lot of people think he could replace Bryan Cranston in this category. Honestly, I'd put Jordan in over Cranston and Matt Damon. But that's just me.

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett, Carol

Brie Larson, Room

Jennifer Lawrence, Joy

Charlotte Ramplings, 45 Years

Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn  

Biggest Snub: None

My Pick: Brie Larson, Room

My Take: I will openly admit I have only seen the film Joy out of all these films. But I have heard nothing but great things about the rest of the nominees in the category. Jennifer Lawrence will definitely not be winning an Oscar for Joy as all the buzz has been around Cate Blanchett for Carol, and Brie Larson for Room. In all the award shows leading up to February 28th, Brie Larson has been piling up the wins for her performance in Room. So that would indicate to me, that she is the favorite to win this award. The main reason I did not put my snub for this category is because I could not think of who to put in this list. Between Cate Blanchett and Brie Larson, no matter who wins, a very talented actress will be going home with a shiny new toy.

Best Supporting Actor

Christian Bale, The Big Short

Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight

Tom Hardy, The Revenant

Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies

Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Biggest Snub: Samuel L. Jackson, The Hateful Eight

My Pick: Sylvester Stallone, Creed

My Take: Is it really a surprise who my winner is? While I think Stallone will be pushed hard by Tom Hardy, I am hoping Rocky comes out victorious in the end. Not only did Stallone give the best performance of the year, it was his best performance ever. Now that he did not have to worry about writing and directing, he could just focus on acting. He delivers an epic performance and was the best part of Creed. Tom Hardy is going to be hard to beat; he did act toe-to-toe with Leo in The Revenant and was my 2nd favorite performance behind Stallone. His character was both chilling and gripping. Without a doubt, Samuel L. Jackson deserves to be recognized for his performance in The Hateful Eight. The tricky part with his character is he can be seen as both a lead or supporting. In the end, it doesn't matter to me because he should be on either list. He was just too damn good to be left off. His performance draws your attention and leaves the biggest impact on you in such a great film. It is really a crime The Hateful Eight is not recognized more. 

Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight

Rooney Mara, Carol

Rachel McAdams, Spotlight

Alicia Vikander. The Danish Girl

Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Biggest Snub: None

My Pick: Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

My Take: Again, I think they did a great job with actresses categories this year. All nominated gave tremendous performances and would be really hard to take out for another to be put in. It is why I have no snubs for the category as well. My pick of Alicia Vikander is no sure thing thanks to the buzz Kate Winslet and Rooney Mara are getting for the respective performances. But to me, Alicia Vikander had by far the best performance out of the nominated. While The Danish Girl had its dull moments and pacing issues, Vikander's performance left no room for criticism. She and her partner Eddie Redmayne carry the film. In a way, The Danish Girl is her movie because she outshines her co-star in this one. You felt for her character and really cared about what she was going through. Her performance was attention grabbing and had such a big presence in a movie that was about such a big issue.

Best Director

Adam McKay, The Big Short

George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

Alejandro G. Inarittu, The Revenant

Lenny Abrahamson, Room

Tom McCarthy, Spotlight

Biggest Snubs: Ryan Coogler, Creed; Todd Haynes, Carol; J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Quentin Tarrentino, The Hateful Eight

My Pick: Tom McCarthy, Spotlight

My Take: The Best Director category is a 3 horse race between Inarittu, Abrahamson, and McCarthy. I saw 2 of the 3 movies and I can tell you that while Inarittu, who won last year's Best Directing Oscar for Birdman, did a stunning job on The Revenant, it was just not a superior film to Spotlight. And while actors have a big stake in the outcome of a film, no one is a bigger reason and no one has the most pressure to make a film work than the director. While The Revenant is visually beautiful, there are dull moments in the story. Spotlight does not have a single boring moment and McCarthy does a fabulous job keeping the audience engaged throughout the film. As for my snubs, of course Creed's Ryan Coogler is a snub. What more can I say about Creed? Not many expected it to be a good movie, and Coogler made it great. A lot of people are clamoring for Todd Haynes to get the nod for Carol. I have not seen the film but many of those people clamoring are ones I trust. Tarantino deserves a nomination for his masterful job with The Hateful Eight.  And finally, as you've read above, Mad Max being nominated is a joke. So if George Miller was nominated? Why couldn't J.J. Abrams be as well? He made the better movie and had a much more difficult task of successfully satisfying millions of Star Wars loyalists. 

*Remember, feel free to comment below and tell me who you think was snubbed or who should win in their categories. I will be doing a Post-Oscars blog to give my take on all the winners. I will hopefully get to see all the films nominated so I can give you better thoughts on the winners. Enjoy!*

"Ride Along 2" *Non-Spoiler* Review

Ride Along 2 will give you a few laughs but in the end will leave you with the question, “What the hell did I just watch”? The two leads, Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, show that they still have tremendous chemistry together. They play off each other very well and they will sell you on their brother relationship. Unfortunately, Ice Cube is not really strong in the comedy aspect of the movie, so it makes Kevin Hart carry the load for humor in the film. That can be a good thing but also a bad thing. While Hart will make you laugh at times, his act sometimes gets old and stale and will test your patience with the film. Director Tim Story (Fantastic Four) does an awful job in his use of actress Olivia Munn(Magic Mike), as she is just there for sexual appearance. Without getting into spoiler territory, that is her sole purpose to the story, sexual appeal. Ken Jeong (The Hangover) is also a bit wasted as well. His character is not really fleshed out, you do not learn much about him or his motives, and most of his jokes fall flat and lifeless. The plot also is your most generic plot for a buddy cop film. Benjamin Bratt plays the most cliché type of villain role in the film, and while he is the best part of the movie (which is not saying much), there is really nothing special about his character. Finally, the editing in Ride Along 2 may have been one of the worst editing jobs you will see in a film for quite some time. There were times where the characters mouth was moving, seen from a side shot, and the words you hear do not match what his mouth is saying. That is just laziness, pure and simple as that.

Conclusion: Ride Along 2 will make you laugh a few times but all in all, you will want to get off this ride as soon as possible. It is always hard to make a good sequel to a comedy, and it is even harder when the 1^st film is awful. Ice Cube and Kevin Hart have good chemistry, while Benjamin Bratt gives an admirable performance. Other than that, all is bad for Ride Along 2. The story makes no sense what-so-ever, and the plot is as generic as one could get. Olivia Munn is regulated to just eye candy, and for the first time in a while, Ken Jeong is not really likeable in a movie. The editing is god awful, but is all this really surprising for a sequel to a pretty bad comedy film? Save your money, Ride Along 2 is not worth it.

SCORE:    3.7/10 - AWFUL

*Coming Soon: My thoughts on the Oscar Nominees for the big categories! Who shouldn't have been nominated and who got snubbed?*

Top 5 Most Anticipated Films of 2016

Welcome back everyone! Today will be my final "Most Anticipated of 2016" list as now I will focus on non superhero movies. This list was a little tougher to put together because we really don't know a lot about some of the 2016 fall movies coming out and really only have trailers for the big summer block busters and the films that are hitting in early 2016. As usual, I base my anticipation level based on the director, cast, story of the film, and any trailers that have been release for the movie. As always, feel free to comment below and tell me which 2016 movies you are most excited for. And....Here...We...Go.



5) Assassin's Creed
    Release Date: December 21, 2016
    Director: Justin Kurzel
    Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Brendan Gleeson, Jeremy Irons, Michael Kenneth Williams, Ariane Labed

For those of you who do not know what Assassin's Creed is, or have never even heard of it before now, it is a movie that based upon a video game franchise called, yep you guessed it, Assassin's Creed. The story of the games and the movie is a certain individual, through revolutionary technology, is able to unlock the memory of his assassin relative and relive those moments. Simply put, he is able to go back through time as his ancestor. One of the main reasons I am excited for the film is because I am a fan of the video games and love the stories they are able to tell. My excitement was heightened when they broke the news that Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs) really wanted to make the movie and was going to find a director who had as much passion about the movie as he did. He found a good one in Justin Kurzel (Macbeth). I have not had the fortune of seeing Macbeth yet, but everything I have heard about it is nothing but glowing praise. Kurzel, Fassbender, and Marion Cotillard were all involved with Macbeth so that gives me hope for Assassin's Creed. Plus, when you can add the talents of Brendan Gleeson and Jeremy Irons, it can be nothing but a good thing.



4) Finding Dory
    Release Date: June 17, 2016
    Director: Andrew Stanton
    Cast: Ellen DeGeneres. Albert Brooks, Idris Elba, Diane Keaton, Dominic West, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy, Ed O'Neill
    Trailer: Finding Dory Teaser Trailer

Pixar takes us back into the deep blue sea as some of our favorite characters get their long overdue sequel. Pixar has really never let us down when it comes to movies. I can confidently say I love every single movie Pixar has put out. Yes, some might not be the strongest, but they are usually a fun time and I can always count on getting something out of the movie. I get hated on for this a lot, but even though I loved Finding Nemo, it is probably my least favorite Pixar film (Not counting Cars 2). Now that does not mean I hated it. It just means that there were others I would have rather seen get sequels first (Incredibles 2 cannot come fast enough). I know you probably hate me right about now for saying that, but stick with me. I am still excited as hell to see Finding Dory. The teaser trailer they dropped brought back all the feels and memories I had from watching Finding Nemo 13 years ago. Wow I feel old after typing that one. The original 3 cast are back along with some stellar additions like Idris Elba, Diane Keaton, and Ed O'Neill. While Finding Nemo may have not been on the level of Toy Story, it is a damn good movie and I cannot wait for this upcoming sequel.


3) The Jungle Book
     Release Date: April 15, 2016
     Director: Jon Favreau
     Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Emjay Sethi, Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley. Lupita Nyong'o, Christopher Walken, Neel Sethi, 
     Trailer: The Jungle Book Trailer #1

The Jungle Book propelled itself up my list the moment I saw the first trailer. Wow, was it visually stunning! This movie is done in all motion capture using some sort of new technology and it shows. It really looked like I was watching a real tiger chase Mowgli to the edge of the cliff. The voice over by Scarlett Johansson as Kaa is beautifully done. As we all know, Johansson is no stranger to doing voice work, her voice work in the movie Her was almost nominated for an Oscar. She is not the only star in this movie though; Bill Murry, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley, Lupita Nyong'o and Christopher Walken all seem to fit their characters perfectly. I really never got into the story of The Jungle Book as a kid, but damn that trailer had me hooked so much that I watched several times afterwards. Director Jon Favreau lends me a ton of faith in the Disney film as he has turned out several critical hits such as Iron Man, Chef, and Elf. I cannot wait for the next trailer for The Jungle Book and luckily do not have to wait much longer to see the film. This movie will be visually stunning and open the door for so many things down the road when it comes to CGI.



2) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
    Release Date: November 18, 2016
    Director: David Yates
    Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Erza Miller, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, Katherine Waterson, Ron Perlman, Samantha Morton
    Trailer: Fantastic Beasts Trailer #1

After a 5 year long hiatus, we are finally going back into the wizarding world of Harry Potter. After Deathly Hallows Part2 was released, I did not think I would ever see a Harry Potter film again. It was a pretty sad film because even though I had not read the books, they were movies I grew up on and it was always a family experience each year going to the theater. Now with David Yates directing, whom has directed four Harry Potter films, and J.K. Rowling writing the screenplay, we are back and it feels awesome. While some may be hesitant about Rowling making her screenplay debut on such a big movie, do not fear because she had plenty of say and input on how to write the screenplay for all 8 Potter films. So I am almost certain she knows how to write a good screenplay when it comes to wizards. Then we got that cast and it is thrilling to see. Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne is the lead role and is a lock to give a grade A performance. He is joined by young comer Erza Miller, who will have his own Flash movie, and some quality actors in Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, and Ron Perlman. We do not know much about the characters in the film, but man, did that trailer not have that Harry Potter feel to it? It was nice and refreshing being able to see people flicking their wands and casting spells again.

MY NUMBER 1 MOST ANTICIPATED FILM OF 2016 IS......

1) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

    Release Date: December 16, 2016

    Director: Gareth Edwards

    Cast: Felicity Jones, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Forest Whitaker, Jonathan Aris, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen

If you have no idea what Rogue One is about and how it relates to the Star Wars saga you are not alone. When I first heard the announcement of Rogue One I was left scratching my head wondering what in the hell it was about. I will gladly inform you that Rogue One tells the story of the rebel soldiers who were able to steal the plans to the Death Star. So essentially Rogue One takes place before A New Hope but after Revenge of the Sith. This film was not number 1 on my list until after I saw The Force Awakens. Yes, I know that goes against the criteria I base my list on but after seeing Star Wars multiple times, I cannot deny that I love being able to dive into the Star Wars universe. So anytime I am able to jump in, I will be extremely anticipated for it. Also the 2 main leads of Felecity Jones and Mads Mikkelsen are just too talented not to get excited for. Jones was nominated for an Oscar last year when she starred opposite Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything. Mikkelsen always delivers a menacing villain and is just overall a fantastic acting talent. Director Gareth Edwards directed Godzilla (2014), and while there were issues with the film, I did enjoy it enough to have me thinking positively about him helming this project. If Rogue One wasn't a Star Wars film it probably wouldn't be number 1, but luckily for us, it is.

So there are my top 5 films I am looking forward to the most in 2016. Comment below and tell which ones are on your list! Remember to like and share so everyone can get in the conversation. Thank you!

Most Anticipated Super Hero Movies of 2016

Welcome back everyone as today I will give you my most anticipated superhero movies of 2016. Now there is 7 total films coming out this year, most of which you have probably already heard about. As you will find out, I am a huge superhero movie fan. The reason I am doing a separate list for them is because they would all be in my top 5 so I figured I'd do a separate list so I could focus on other films in my next list. When it comes to the whole DC/Marvel thing, I will admit that I am more of a fan of Marvel but that does not mean I don't like or look forward to anything of DC. So let's get started with my most anticipated superhero movies of 2016!


7) Gambit
    Release Date: October 7, 2016
    Director: Doug Liman
    Cast: Channing Tatum, Lea Seydoux

In all likeliness Gambit will not be coming out in 2016 at all. When original director, Rupert Wyatt, dropped out, it send FOX's mutant property into a frenzy. Then finally, they landed Doug Liman to helm their stand alone film. While it is not a huge step down from Wyatt (Liman did direct Edge of Tomorrow), it certainly was not a positive sign for the movie. Personally, I was never a big fan of the character Gambit. I really never connected to him, nor did his powers ever wow me. I like Channing Tatum, but I don't know if I like him that much to lead his own superhero movie. How does he stack up against his fellow X-Men counterparts? Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, and Jennifer Lawrence. They are all better actors then Tatum. The only other actor attached to the movie, Lea Seydoux (Spectre), has not really had a lot of a big roles yet in her young career. She was good in Spectre, but a comic book film is a totally different beast. So those are the main reasons I am the least excited for Gambit. But as I said earlier, do not be surprised if this movie gets pushed back to 2017.


6) X-Men: Apocalypse
   Release Date: May 27, 2016
   Director: Bryan Singer
   Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Olivia Munn, Evan Peters, Nicholas Hoult
    Trailer: X-Men: Apocalypse Trailer #1

I really enjoyed X-Men: Days of Future Past. Without giving anything away, even though it has been out for almost 2 years, the ending showed us how the present day X-Men ended up. So with X-Men: Apocalypse being set in the 1980s, do we not know how this movie will already end? Plus, this film will be the 1st X-Men movie not to feature Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in any capacity. That is just a bummer for everyone involved. The main reason this film is so low on my list is because I am just becoming more and more complacent with the X-Men movies. What I mean is, while I do not get all that excited when I hear a new one is coming out, I will still go see it, and will gladly admit that they are generally good movies. The 1st trailer for X-Men: Apocalypse felt as generic as of a superhero movie trailer as it can get. We've seen it a hundred times, a powerful mutant wants to destroy the unworthy of existence human race. Oscar Isaac's Apocalypse looks weird but I am sure he will deliver a solid performance like always. That is one thing the X-Men franchise always has going for it; a very solid cast.

5) Deadpool
    Release Date: February 12, 2016
    Director: Tim Miller
    Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Rachel Sheen
    Trailer: Deadpool Red Band Trailer #2

This is where my list got difficult. The next 3 movies on my list could shuffle at any point in time. As of right now, Deadpool comes in at #5 on my list. This is by no means a bad thing for the Ryan Reynold's led film. I think the marketing for this movie had been absolutely amazing. The two red band trailers FOX has put out have been hilarious. I am glad that the studio had the guts to make Deadpool a rated R movie. This was the role Ryan Reynolds was born to play. As some of you may recall, he played Wade Wilson (Deadpool's alias) before in Wolverine: Origin. He was the best part of that film until they sewed his mouth shut. And if the trailers are any indication, he will more than make up for that in this film. All the jokes hit, T.J. Miller looks as if he will be equally funny as well. Some of the best parts of the trailers are when Deadpool breaks the 4th law and talks to us, the audience, directly. My only cause for concern with Deadpool is the director. He does not have much experience, and this is really his first major movie. That is a lot of pressure. 

4) Suicide Squad
    Release Date: August 5, 2016
    Director: David Ayer
    Cast: Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Cara Delevingne, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman
    Trailer: Suicide Squad Trailer #1

Suicide Squad really took me by storm when the 1st trailer was released online. While it did not reveal anything about the movie, it still gave us our first good look at Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn and Jared Leto's Joker. I am a big fan of director David Ayer from his latest movie Fury. That movie was beautifully shot and the story was told well as the character were fleshed out. With Suicide Squad, he will have even more interesting characters at his disposal to play with and a pretty cool story he can tell as well. In the trailer, Robbie's Harley Quinn steals the show and Will Smith's Deadshot is 2nd in screen time. If I was a betting man, I would venture to say that those two will be the 2 biggest characters in the film. While I am not a fan of how Jared Leto's Joker looks. He is an Oscar winning actor, who transforms into the character he plays. It may be hard to imagine a Joker better than Heath Ledger's, but Jared Leto has the acting chops to not disappoint and bring a new version to the big screen. All in all, Suicide Squad has a fantastic cast, except Jai Courtney (hurtful but true), that will be able to showcase their talents come August.

3) Doctor Strange
    Release Date: November 4, 2016
    Director: Scott Derrickson
    Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen, Scott Adkins, Amy Landecker, Michael Stuhlbarg

I will just come out and admit it right away. Marvel's Doctor Strange rocketed up my anticipation list the moment they announced Benedict Cumberbatch was play Stephen Strange. I am a huge fan of Cumberbatch (Sherlock is my favorite show) as he has been fantastic in everything he has been in. He was also nominated for an Oscar for his performance in The Imitation Game. My excitement for Doctor Strange was only heightened when Marvel recently released images of Cumberbatch as Strange. (Click to see images) Look at the rest of that cast. Not only is that the best cast of any super hero movie, it may be one of the best cast of any movie in 2016. Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) plays the main villain and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) plays a character whom he describes as both good and bad. Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton) plays The Ancient One who trains Cumberbatch's Strange and Rachel McAdams (Spotlight) character is still unnamed but is important to the story of the movie. I have my pauses on director Scott Derrikson (Sinister) but Marvel has shown it is able to get directors who don't have much of a track record and deliver great movies (see Russo Bro's Captain America: Winter Soldier). I could go on forever about this one but have to get to my top 2.



2) Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice
    Release Date: March 25, 2016
    Director: Zach Snyder
    Cast: Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Gal Gadot, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Holly Hunter, Laurence Fishburne
    Trailer: Batman v. Superman Trailer #3

We finally get to see Batman take on Superman on the big screen. That is really the main reason Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is so high up on my list. If I went by my regular standards for ranking my anticipation for movie (cast, director, trailers, and story), this film would probably have dropped down to number 5 or 6. Now before you go off on me, let me tell you why I have it so high. The 2nd trailer to this movie, which was shown at comic con (See here), left me in awe. It did not give away the story but showed off the conflict between Batman and Superman. The casting of Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne was perfect. I was a bit skeptic at first, but when I first saw him as Batman, all my fears about him went away and I predict he will be the best Batman we see on the big screen. And finally, how could I not get excited about seeing Batman take on Superman? The 2 biggest superheros going at it. What's not to love? Well, let me tell you what I don't love. I am not a fan of Zach Snyder. The 300 movies have cool action sequences, but they are not movies that I watch when I see they are on. Watchmen was boring as hell, and I thought he did a mediocre job with Man of Steel; A movie with so much potential. The 3rd trailer for Batman v. Superman showed too much of the story for my liking, and I do not like the cast of Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luther. Honestly, he has been my least favorite parts of all the trailers. Other than all that, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is a movie I am extremely excited for. 

 
THE SUPERHERO MOVIE I AM MOST EXCITED FOR IS.....



1) Captain America: Civil War
  Release Date: May 6, 2016
    Directors: Joe & Anthony Russo
    Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Olsen. Tom Holland, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Chadwick Boseman, Daniel Bruhl, William Hurt, Martin Freeman
     Trailer: Captain America: Civil War Trailer #1

What's not to be excited about when it comes to Captain America: Civil War? The Russo brothers are back and now are tasked with telling the story of 2 Avengers (Captain America vs Iron Man) pitted against each other. The Russo brothers directed my favorite Marvel film to date, Captain America: Winter Soldier. They did such a tremendous job making a Captain America movie feel like a 1970s political spy thriller. Also, look at that cast. It is amazing to think that we are lucky enough to get such a-list talent in superhero movie. What makes Civil War so big is that we have now had 7 years of watching most of these characters mold into who they are. We care about these characters and are invested into them. Captain America: Civil War deals with everything that has happened in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) to this point. The government wants to control superheroes and that pits the 2 biggest against each other. Another big point of this film is we will finally get to see the 1st ever big screen appearance of Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman). He looks absolutely fantastic in the trailer and plays a major part in this film. The biggest aspect of the movie, Spider man will make his 1st appearance in an MCU movie as well. Tom Holland plays the web slinger who will have a minor role in the film but I would not be surprised if it was an important one. Ever since Iron Man, we have all been wondering and dreaming about Spider-man interaccting and fighting alongside The Avengers. Well come May 6th, those wishes will finally come true. Marvel has a tremendous track record, and with so much to look forward to with Captain America: Civil War, it is sure to be a hit.

 So there you have it. My most anticipated superhero movie list. Do you agree? Tell me what your list is down below. Also, coming soon is my top 5 most anticipated movies of 2016 (non-superhero). Look out for that. Enjoy!

My Top Movies of 2015

With 2015 having come and gone, it is now time to look back at my top 5 movies of the year. I had the fortune of seeing some very good films, and the misfortune of watching some not so good films. Now this list is a personal top 5, meaning I may have a film with a higher score ranked higher than some on my list. Remember, feel free to comment below and give your personal top 5 movies of 2015. That is one of the best things about movies, everyone has different opinions on each movie. Without further ado, here is my top movies of 2015!


5) Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation
    Director: Christopher McQuarrie

This one really surprised. Tom Cruise is back in the newest installment of the M.I. franchise. Rogue Nation gets off on a running start with one of the best openings to an action movie. Returnees Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Jeremy Renner all give amazing performances and their chemistry with one another is still at its peek. Newcomers,Rebecca Ferguson and Alec Baldwin both hold their own and add new dynamics to the M.I. franchise. Rogue Nation had the difficult task of following up Ghost Protocol, but it outdoes its predecessor in every aspect of film making. The film had a great blend of action, humor, and emotion. Rogue Nation has some of the best action sequences of the year (Cruise hanging onto to a flying plane), and was truly the gold standard of summer movies for the year 2015. Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation is OnDemand now, and I highly recommend watching it.

MY SCORE:  9/10 - GREAT


4) The Martian
    Director: Ridley Scott

The Martian was in my 2nd most anticipated fall movie only behind Star Wars. Man oh man did it not disappoint me at all. This movie was far funnier than I originally thought it was going to be. Matt Damon absolutely kills it as stranded astronaut Mark Watney. Beginning to end, The Martian is just a blast to watch. The supporting cast of Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Jeff Daniels, Michael Pena, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan, and Chiwetel Ejiofor all give outstanding performances and elevate the film to an even higher level. The Martian is also a visual spectacle to behold. The film made me feel as if I was on Mars, stranded alongside Watney as well. Another aspect that stuck out in the movie was its soundtrack. It brought some levity and this sense of humanism in a film that mostly set in space and on a distant planet. The Martian is another movie that is available now, and is a must watch.

MY SCORE:   9/10 - GREAT


3) Spotlight
    Director: Tom McCarthy

The story of Spotlight was immensely gripping and had my attention throughout. Spotlight tells the story of a team of reporters from the Boston Globe, uncovering the massive molestation scandal and cover-up involving the local archdiocese. I will easily admit that Spotlight had the best story and performances of the year, Micheal Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdam, Brian James, Liev Schreiber, and John Slattery all give award worthy performances. The cast ensemble carries the film and left me in awe. The events the movie covers are so disturbing and made my stomach turn. Tom McCarthy does an excellent job portraying what the reporters had to fight through just to get the story told. Spotlight is a film that I had to sit back and decompress afterwards because of the heaviness of the story but how beautifully it is told and shot. Spotlight came out of nowhere for me, but it certainly was quite the experience.

MY SCORE:   9.2/10 - GREAT


2) Star Wars: The Force Awakens
    Director: J.J. Abrams

The movie I was the most anticipated for did not let me down at all. The 3 trailers we got leading up to December 18th were perfect. They did not reveal anything about thStar Wars more than once and I can confidently day that it really does get better after each viewing. The feelings I get when I see the old characters show up never go away, along with the goosebumps that arrive on my arms when I hear the classic Star Wars melody played during the film. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is just an absolute awesome movie going experience and just a great film all together. The new cast of Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac give us hope that, even though they most likely won't live up to the job Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher did, they will definitely do a great job in their own perspective. The Force Awakens does a tremendous job setting up the next 2 movies that it leaves me anxious already for Episode 8 in May 2017.
e story but at the same time made me even more hyped for the movie. I have seen

MY SCORE:    9/10 - GREAT


MY #1 MOVIE OF 2015 IS.......


1) Creed
    Director: Ryan Coogler

Yes, you read that right. Creed is my favorite movie of 2015 because it delivered a phenomenal story with a fierce emotional punch. Like Star Wars, Creed is a reboot/sequel to a very successful franchise. Also like Star Wars, Creed hits a lot of the same beats that of the original movie of that said franchise. I will be the first to admit that on 1st watches alone, Creed hit me harder emotionally than Star Wars. I am not even a big boxing fan, but director Ryan Coogler shot the fight scenes perfectly that they grabbed my attention immediately and had me feeling as if I was in the stands watching as well. The best part of Creed is that it does not feel like a boxing movie at all. Michael B. Jordan makes us all forget about the horrendous Fantastic 4 with his outstanding performance, but only to be overshadowed by Sylvester Stallone. Stallone gives an Oscar worthy performance (it is still weird saying that) as Rocky battling an opponent tougher than any he had faced in the ring. Being from Philly, it was easy to get the emotional impact of the film. Creed was shot brilliantly and the story had very few holes. I thought Creed did a great job by not feeling like a Rocky movie. Yes, Rocky was in it and the best part, but it didn't feel like his story at all. Kudos, Mr. Coogler.

MY SCORE:   9.25/10 - GREAT

There you guys have it; my top 5 movies of 2015! What did you think? What were some of your favorite movies of the year? Let me know below! Reminder, be on the look out for my Most Anticipated 2016 Movies. There will be 2 lists, a superhero movie list and all other movies list. Have a great night!