"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