Watching movies over the summer? Still
hard to do. With work and play, I found
not much time to watch movies, but I did what I could. The unfortunate thing to me is though that I
didn't really watch any films that wowed me (in a good way). No film scored higher than an 8/10 with
me. And I know I said I would watch 32
movies, but I only got to 22.
Yikes. I'm sorry. And there will be no awards, seeing as there
weren't too many quality films nor films in general. But here are my reviews nonetheless.
Labyrinth - 7/10
Pretty much what I expected. I thought it would have a few more musical numbers, but the one prominent one it did have, "Dance Magic Dance", was catchy and enjoyable. Hard to believe Jennifer Connolly was only 15 during the making of this film. Felt a bit too childish for an adult, but too scary for kids. But it had some good morals and interesting and wise life lessons.
X-Men First Class - 8/10
Never before had I seen an X-Men movie, but this one I really enjoyed. I think I liked the casting most of all, with Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy perfectly cast. Not sure if I'll ever watch the original X-Men films because I keep hearing how characters are different, relationships change, etc. But this one had great CGI and the early flashbacks added some good depth to the characters.
22 Jump Street - 5/10
I shouldn't have watched this movie while I was so tired, because I kept dozing off. Couldn't tell if I was that tired or if the movie wasn't that interesting. I just expect more from an action comedy, I guess. I also realized that I had already seen the final few minutes of the film already when it was on TV. Just overall not that enjoyable of an experience for me, and I don't recall laughing, either. Maybe a tiny bit during the "My name is Jeff" line.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows - 6/10
Didn't see the first in this new TMNT series, but they did a fairly decent job making me not feel too lost. I thought the Turtles were cool and the CGI was a bit better than I expected, but there were too many things with the film that made me shake my head, such as Casey Jones getting kicked into a car, causing a HUGE dent, and getting up with no visible damage. Also Shredder for me was a disappointment. But the movie kept me entertained throughout, and the credits sequence with the classic TMNT theme song was awesome, so at least there's that.
Now You See Me 2 - 6/10
Not sure I liked this one quite as much as the first. But it was decent enough, with most of the tricks impressing me, although I did see the final one coming, sort of. Lizzy Caplan was a welcome replacement for Isla Fisher. Daniel Radcliffe, however, was sorely underutilized. He played one of the most famous magicians in fictional history in Harry Potter yet he technically isn't seen performing any magic in this. Was a bit disappointed.
Lolita - 6/10
A remake of the 1960s version based on novel... wasn't that entertained by it. Jeremy Irons is good, and his voice just has a velvety smoothness that makes him very easy to listen to, and smart of any director to include narration when he has a lead role. The fact that this almost 20 year old movie was set in the 50s really made it feel older than it is... today it looks/feels like it was made in the 80's.
Finding Dory - 8/10
I thought this was a very good follow up/sequel to Finding Nemo. Didn't seem to quite have the magic the first one did, but it still was very enjoyable and heartwarming. I didn't like how much the fish and Hank the "Septopus" were out of the water, and Hank driving a big truck and NOT hitting anything? Really? Other than that it was very well made and I definitely want to watch it again.
Thor: The Dark World - 6/10
Wasn't too impressed with this Thor sequel. So Loki's not dead (called it), what a surprise. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first, but it did have some nice moments. For me, Kat Dennings stole the show. She either was the black sheep or the star, either way the performances of Hemsworth, Portman, and others really lacked. We'll see how "Ragnarok" is.
R.I.P.D. - 7/10
A lot of people say this is bad, and I can kind of see why, but I found it to be pretty enjoyable. I laughed several times. And whenever a movie introduces a new universe/concept you have to give it some credit. Reynolds and Bridges worked well together and I'd love to see them team up again, even if it's not in the R.I.P.D. universe.
Independence Day: Resurgence - 6/10
Kind of a letdown, I gotta say. It never really wowed me, but kept me entertained at least. Not having Will Smith hurt a bit, and Liam Hemsworth is not a suitable replacement, in my opinion. No A list stars in this one, so it felt kinda like a "B" movie. Too many predictable moments. But I like the idea of an intergalactic war, something we'll see in ID3. That premise seems to be intriguing and makes for a more interesting plot than, "They're back".
10 Cloverfield Lane - 8/10
I definitely found this movie intriguing. It had me going back and forth between whether or not Howard (John Goodman) was telling the truth. Turns out he was sort of right, but he knew he was lying. I'm usually not a fan of movies that change genres, and this one definitely seemed to, going from thriller to possibly horror to sci-fi. I definitely would like to see a sequel, see what happens to Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).
The Butterfly Effect - 8/10
Ok, I gotta admit I have seen this before, but two things: One, it had been about 10 years, so I had forgotten most of it. Two, I hadn't seen the Director's Cut, so having a different ending almost makes it a different movie. I gotta say though, with the Director's Cut ending, it's very sad. Evan (Ashton Kutcher) can go back to past moments in his life, and he does to right before his birth, and he is somehow able to choke himself with the umbilical cord, ending his life. Not a huge fan of this ending, which kept me from giving it a 9, but otherwise this movie was fantastic, some of Ashton's best work.
Maggie - 4/10
Never have I seen a more boring Zombie movie. I cared very little for the characters, and Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't in it as much as he would appear to be based on his billing. There were only a few moments I was completely focused on the film, one of them being when Maggie (Abigail Breslin) cuts off her decaying finger. Yikes. Other than that, I found little value in this film.
Requiem for a Dream - 3/10
Hate on me all you want, but I couldn't stand this movie. I believed Jared Leto and Jennifer Connolly as a couple, and I liked the score by Clint Mansell, but that's it. I just could not enjoy this film other than that. It's really a film that you have to find the deeper meaning behind, and needless to say I failed to do so.
The Help - 8/10
While I felt my attention ebbing away at times, I thought the acting was good and the costumes/sets were all very well done. I thought it was a bit too long and the pacing was a bit drawn out, but that's what you get with period films, often ones based on books.
Suicide Squad - 7/10
Joker was sorely underutilized and the plot was a bit simplistic, but I did really enjoy it. Will Smith was terrific as Deadshot and Margot Robbie was PERFECT as Harley Quinn. They did a decent enough job making us root for the bad guys, basically, which is not an easy task.
The Incredibles - 8/10
Techincally I had already seen this, but I don't think I had in its entirety and it had been awhile. Sue me. Anyway, this was a very well done family-friendly film by Brad Bird and I'm glad to hear they're making a sequel.
The BFG - 7/10
I thought Spielberg did a really good job, bringing to life Roal Dahl's children's book. The part I didn't like was the Queen and her staff going along with everything, including drinking the BFG's green liquid (she didn't even know what it was!). But if you can get past the believability factor, it's enjoyable and fun for the whole family.
The War Zone - 7/10
What a disturbed family. Anyway, I thought the pacing was decent and my emotions kind of went in stride with Tom's, but it was a bit too messed up, even for me. Colin Farrell had like, one scene? But the acting was VERY good, from Lara Belmont to Tilda Swinton to Ray Winstone.
Blair Witch - 5/10
Never having seen the original "Blair Witch Project" I went into this with few expectations and I was still disappointed. The fate of most characters is left up in the air, and this mysterious "witch" is still mysterious. It did have some heart-pounded moments that kept me on the edge of my seat, but that's about it.
The Aviator - 8/10
I think Leo deserved his first Oscar win here, but other than that there wasn't a ton I was impressed by. Cate Blanchett's acting was really good as well. It was fun to see the lives of the real actresses, which I presume were fairly accurate. But I just couldn't bring myself to care for Howard Hughes that much. But whenever Scorsese and Leo get together they always make a quality film. This just happens to be my least favorite of theirs.
Knock Knock - 5/10
Boy those b*****s were CRAZY. Killing a man's friend and ruining all of his belongings, probably ruining his marriage, only because he gave into their HUMONGOUS advances. Sure. Anyway, aside from the believability, it was a bit funny at times, but the kind of funny where it's so bad it's funny, like Keanu's acting at times. It kept me engaged throughout so at least it was entertaining, but the ending left a bit to be desired, like the wife confronting him. But the son's line at the end... not much tops, "Dad had a party!"
Well, thanks for reading! As you can tell I love doing short reviews of films, and if my heart is in it more (And if I have enough time) I may do another movie spree, maybe Movie May 3 next year? Still have plenty of films I own I still haven't watched!
Labyrinth - 7/10
Pretty much what I expected. I thought it would have a few more musical numbers, but the one prominent one it did have, "Dance Magic Dance", was catchy and enjoyable. Hard to believe Jennifer Connolly was only 15 during the making of this film. Felt a bit too childish for an adult, but too scary for kids. But it had some good morals and interesting and wise life lessons.
X-Men First Class - 8/10
Never before had I seen an X-Men movie, but this one I really enjoyed. I think I liked the casting most of all, with Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy perfectly cast. Not sure if I'll ever watch the original X-Men films because I keep hearing how characters are different, relationships change, etc. But this one had great CGI and the early flashbacks added some good depth to the characters.
22 Jump Street - 5/10
I shouldn't have watched this movie while I was so tired, because I kept dozing off. Couldn't tell if I was that tired or if the movie wasn't that interesting. I just expect more from an action comedy, I guess. I also realized that I had already seen the final few minutes of the film already when it was on TV. Just overall not that enjoyable of an experience for me, and I don't recall laughing, either. Maybe a tiny bit during the "My name is Jeff" line.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows - 6/10
Didn't see the first in this new TMNT series, but they did a fairly decent job making me not feel too lost. I thought the Turtles were cool and the CGI was a bit better than I expected, but there were too many things with the film that made me shake my head, such as Casey Jones getting kicked into a car, causing a HUGE dent, and getting up with no visible damage. Also Shredder for me was a disappointment. But the movie kept me entertained throughout, and the credits sequence with the classic TMNT theme song was awesome, so at least there's that.
Now You See Me 2 - 6/10
Not sure I liked this one quite as much as the first. But it was decent enough, with most of the tricks impressing me, although I did see the final one coming, sort of. Lizzy Caplan was a welcome replacement for Isla Fisher. Daniel Radcliffe, however, was sorely underutilized. He played one of the most famous magicians in fictional history in Harry Potter yet he technically isn't seen performing any magic in this. Was a bit disappointed.
Lolita - 6/10
A remake of the 1960s version based on novel... wasn't that entertained by it. Jeremy Irons is good, and his voice just has a velvety smoothness that makes him very easy to listen to, and smart of any director to include narration when he has a lead role. The fact that this almost 20 year old movie was set in the 50s really made it feel older than it is... today it looks/feels like it was made in the 80's.
Finding Dory - 8/10
I thought this was a very good follow up/sequel to Finding Nemo. Didn't seem to quite have the magic the first one did, but it still was very enjoyable and heartwarming. I didn't like how much the fish and Hank the "Septopus" were out of the water, and Hank driving a big truck and NOT hitting anything? Really? Other than that it was very well made and I definitely want to watch it again.
Thor: The Dark World - 6/10
Wasn't too impressed with this Thor sequel. So Loki's not dead (called it), what a surprise. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first, but it did have some nice moments. For me, Kat Dennings stole the show. She either was the black sheep or the star, either way the performances of Hemsworth, Portman, and others really lacked. We'll see how "Ragnarok" is.
R.I.P.D. - 7/10
A lot of people say this is bad, and I can kind of see why, but I found it to be pretty enjoyable. I laughed several times. And whenever a movie introduces a new universe/concept you have to give it some credit. Reynolds and Bridges worked well together and I'd love to see them team up again, even if it's not in the R.I.P.D. universe.
Independence Day: Resurgence - 6/10
Kind of a letdown, I gotta say. It never really wowed me, but kept me entertained at least. Not having Will Smith hurt a bit, and Liam Hemsworth is not a suitable replacement, in my opinion. No A list stars in this one, so it felt kinda like a "B" movie. Too many predictable moments. But I like the idea of an intergalactic war, something we'll see in ID3. That premise seems to be intriguing and makes for a more interesting plot than, "They're back".
10 Cloverfield Lane - 8/10
I definitely found this movie intriguing. It had me going back and forth between whether or not Howard (John Goodman) was telling the truth. Turns out he was sort of right, but he knew he was lying. I'm usually not a fan of movies that change genres, and this one definitely seemed to, going from thriller to possibly horror to sci-fi. I definitely would like to see a sequel, see what happens to Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).
The Butterfly Effect - 8/10
Ok, I gotta admit I have seen this before, but two things: One, it had been about 10 years, so I had forgotten most of it. Two, I hadn't seen the Director's Cut, so having a different ending almost makes it a different movie. I gotta say though, with the Director's Cut ending, it's very sad. Evan (Ashton Kutcher) can go back to past moments in his life, and he does to right before his birth, and he is somehow able to choke himself with the umbilical cord, ending his life. Not a huge fan of this ending, which kept me from giving it a 9, but otherwise this movie was fantastic, some of Ashton's best work.
Maggie - 4/10
Never have I seen a more boring Zombie movie. I cared very little for the characters, and Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't in it as much as he would appear to be based on his billing. There were only a few moments I was completely focused on the film, one of them being when Maggie (Abigail Breslin) cuts off her decaying finger. Yikes. Other than that, I found little value in this film.
Requiem for a Dream - 3/10
Hate on me all you want, but I couldn't stand this movie. I believed Jared Leto and Jennifer Connolly as a couple, and I liked the score by Clint Mansell, but that's it. I just could not enjoy this film other than that. It's really a film that you have to find the deeper meaning behind, and needless to say I failed to do so.
The Help - 8/10
While I felt my attention ebbing away at times, I thought the acting was good and the costumes/sets were all very well done. I thought it was a bit too long and the pacing was a bit drawn out, but that's what you get with period films, often ones based on books.
Suicide Squad - 7/10
Joker was sorely underutilized and the plot was a bit simplistic, but I did really enjoy it. Will Smith was terrific as Deadshot and Margot Robbie was PERFECT as Harley Quinn. They did a decent enough job making us root for the bad guys, basically, which is not an easy task.
The Incredibles - 8/10
Techincally I had already seen this, but I don't think I had in its entirety and it had been awhile. Sue me. Anyway, this was a very well done family-friendly film by Brad Bird and I'm glad to hear they're making a sequel.
The BFG - 7/10
I thought Spielberg did a really good job, bringing to life Roal Dahl's children's book. The part I didn't like was the Queen and her staff going along with everything, including drinking the BFG's green liquid (she didn't even know what it was!). But if you can get past the believability factor, it's enjoyable and fun for the whole family.
The War Zone - 7/10
What a disturbed family. Anyway, I thought the pacing was decent and my emotions kind of went in stride with Tom's, but it was a bit too messed up, even for me. Colin Farrell had like, one scene? But the acting was VERY good, from Lara Belmont to Tilda Swinton to Ray Winstone.
Blair Witch - 5/10
Never having seen the original "Blair Witch Project" I went into this with few expectations and I was still disappointed. The fate of most characters is left up in the air, and this mysterious "witch" is still mysterious. It did have some heart-pounded moments that kept me on the edge of my seat, but that's about it.
The Aviator - 8/10
I think Leo deserved his first Oscar win here, but other than that there wasn't a ton I was impressed by. Cate Blanchett's acting was really good as well. It was fun to see the lives of the real actresses, which I presume were fairly accurate. But I just couldn't bring myself to care for Howard Hughes that much. But whenever Scorsese and Leo get together they always make a quality film. This just happens to be my least favorite of theirs.
Knock Knock - 5/10
Boy those b*****s were CRAZY. Killing a man's friend and ruining all of his belongings, probably ruining his marriage, only because he gave into their HUMONGOUS advances. Sure. Anyway, aside from the believability, it was a bit funny at times, but the kind of funny where it's so bad it's funny, like Keanu's acting at times. It kept me engaged throughout so at least it was entertaining, but the ending left a bit to be desired, like the wife confronting him. But the son's line at the end... not much tops, "Dad had a party!"
Well, thanks for reading! As you can tell I love doing short reviews of films, and if my heart is in it more (And if I have enough time) I may do another movie spree, maybe Movie May 3 next year? Still have plenty of films I own I still haven't watched!
