Well, without much notice (except with my close friends) I completed my 2nd
ever Movie May! For the second time I
watched a movie every day in the month of May, the last time I did this being
exactly two years ago in 2014. This time
I watched films that totaled 57 hours and 41 minutes, so I watched 2 hours and
45 minutes more of films than last time.
That's like two extra films! And
like last time I didn't always finish the film the same day but I started a new
one each day.
Also, I gave them an average rating of 7.35, as compared to 6.67 last time. Either I saw fewer crappy films or I've become more lenient, or both. I watched 7 films on Netflix (4 less than last time), 12 films that Amanda or I already owned (6 more than last time), 8 that I rented either from DVD.com (AKA Netflix in the mail) or RedBox/DVDXpress (3 fewer than last time), 2 in theaters (1 less than last time) and 2 that I borrowed from a friend (Thanks Lowen!).
Without further ado, the list of movies I watched in order and my short reviews of them:
May 1: The Joneses - 6/10
So these four people are paid to pretend to be a family and try to get people to buy the cool stuff they have. Is that even legal? All in all though it was decent. It did drag on at times, but I enjoyed certain parts. I always like a recognizable cast which included David Duchovny, Demi Moore, and Amber Heard. But the cast wasn't enough to keep me interested the whole time.
May 2: Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation - 8/10
Tom Cruise has still got it. There will come a point in time he's too old for the role of Ethan Hunt, but not yet. The plot did get a bit confusing at times and there were some things that made me shake my head, but all in all it kept me intrigued. The opening with Tom/Ethan hanging onto the door of the jet is as good as it gets. And the stunt where he drops into an underwater security vault is incredible.
May 3: Ant-Man - 7/10
While I really enjoyed it and I laughed at least 10 times throughout the film, I didn't find it to be that well-made of a superhero film. I was skeptical of Paul Rudd as the title character, but I turned out to love the choice. There were a few head scratchers and plot holes like if Hank Pym has the ability to make anything larger, why does he have trouble doing ANYTHING? Anyway, this was like a tamer version of Deadpool. Still funny (maybe not as much so), but the lead character in red and black with a semi-dark past.
May 4: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back - 6/10
I don't know what it was... but if a movie that's supposed to be funny doesn't make me laugh, then I don't enjoy it. It was all right. I cared for the characters. It was more amusing than anything. It's just over the top comedies always fall flat with me. But I loved all of the cameos and big names in this film, from Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher to Jason Biggs and James Van Der Beek.
May 5: Kingsman: The Secret Service - 9/10
Wow, this film certainly did to spy films with Kick Ass did for super hero films. If you like action movies and don't mind a bit of gore/violence, this film is definitely worth a watch. Taron Egerton is fantastic in the lead role and the cast was filled out with tremendous talent including Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, and a small role from Mark Hamill (again!). I'm very glad to see they're making a sequel. The camera work and the choreography in this film both top notch.
May 6: Ted 2 - 7/10
I'm not sure if it was as good as the first, but it was close. I laughed a few times, but not as much as I would've hoped. Just another typical Seth McFarlane comedy--I tell ya, his humor doesn't surprise me or make me laugh that hard anymore. Time for some new material, Seth. But at least with the story I was invested in the characters, for the most part. They don't need to make a Ted 3 unless Seth has a very clever idea.
May 7: Across the Universe - 8/10
I watched this because 1) I had been meaning to for years and 2) a friend recommended it to me and I gotta say I enjoyed it. The Beatles covers they did were spot on, and I really felt what it was to be like to be young and in the heart of the Vietnam War era. My favorite covers were "I Get By with a Little Help from my Friends" "Let it Be" and "Come Together". I had no idea Joe Cocker played the bum that sang the beginning part of "Come Together".
May 8: A Teacher - 3/10
I only watched this because I was pressed on time and it was only 75 minutes long. Fortunately it was only 75 minutes long, because it was not that good. Everything in the technical categories (Cinematography, editing, music) was poor and it just ends with the teacher being upset that the school found out about her relationship with her student. Very lackluster film.
May 9: Captain America: Civil War - 9/10
Affectionately called "The Avengers 2.5", CA: CW definitely lived up to the hype. I don't think it quite exceeded anyone's expectations, but the fight scenes were a delight to watch. The pacing was a bit off and it was a tad too long, though. Also, it seemed like just a bit too much of fan service, trying to make the fan of every superhero happy. But it excelled in the technical aspects and the Russo brothers did another great job.
May 10: Everest - 7/10
Everest was kind of a letdown for me, to be honest. Although, to be fair, that was mostly because I was expecting more shocking deaths (from falls, avalanches, etc.) than ones were they slowly die from the cold or lack of "O" (oxygen). It was nice to see that it was based off a true story. The rating isn't lower because this was the first movie of the month to make me tear up, when Rob (Jason Clarke) was talking to his wife Jan (Keira Knightley) for the final time. Very well done, great acting. Although it was puzzling how two of the climber's wives (Rob's wife Jan and Beck's wife Peach) were played by well-known actresses (Peach being played by Robin Wright). They had small parts and I think could've easily been played by an unknown to save money.
May 11: The Peanuts Movie - 7/10
This was a cute, family-friendly movie. Hard not to root for Charlie Brown. But the adventures with Snoopy and his writing/flying just seemed unnecessary and pointless, but how else were they going to include fan-favorite Snoopy into scenes? Also, the naivety of the characters, especially Charlie Brown, reminded me of the old kids Nickelodeon shows like Rugrats and Hey Arnold, where we see just how much children have to learn about the world.
May 12: The Bourne Identity - 8/10
Yes, I have never seen any of the "Bourne" films. The first one was actually pretty good. It's a good idea to use for a plot to have your main character have amnesia, that way we learn along with him what his name is, what he did, etc. Chris Cooper again was typecast as the asshole (See also October Sky, American Beauty)--is he even capable of playing a nice guy? I also didn't understand Clive Owen's character or his motives... like why did he want Mombosi dead? But good action that kept me engaged, for the most part.
May 13: Beautiful Creatures - 5/10
I only watched this because of Alden Ehrenreich and how he was cast as Han Solo, just like for the last Movie May I watched "Inside Llewyn Davis" for Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver. Unlike Inside Llewyn Davis, however, this was not that good. As for Ehrenreich, I think he looks more like a young Jack Nicholson than a young Harrison Ford. But we'll see. His acting was good, though. But the film itself was only so-so at best, as supernatural love stories don't really interest me that much. Found myself losing interest on multiple occasions.
May 14: The Jungle Book - 8/10
I was impressed with the CGI and voice acting talents in this film. Neel Sethi played a really good Mowgli as well. Not sure if it was quite appropriate for kids, but at least they kept the violence to a minimum. They sang snippets of some of the original's songs, but what's the point if you're not going to do the whole thing? Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this film more than I thought I would and I think they did about as good of a job as they could have with a live action remake. Some of the voice casts (Bill Murray, Christopher Walken) were PERFECT.
May 15: Lincoln - 7/10
Holy crap was this long. But I will say Daniel Day-Lewis is well deserving of his Oscar. To anyone who's seen House of Cards, this was basically like a really, really long House of Cards episode, with Lincoln instead of Underwood. The pacing was so slow and drawn out, and there wasn't a ton to get excited about. I guess it gets a 7 for DDL's performance alone. He was tremendous.
May 16: Peep World - 7/10
As opposed to Lincoln, this film was too short and could have used more depth. But the cast, fantastic. Michael C. Hall, Rainn Wilson, Sarah Silverman, Kate Mara, all terrific. Also, to finish on a sort-of climax was a bit cliché for the 2010's. Leave it up to our imagination? Gee, thanks. Too many loose ends we are left wondering about, but the acting and cast kept me engaged.
May 17: The Bourne Supremacy - 7/10
I didn't like this one quite as much as the first one (Identity), but it was decent nonetheless. I lost interest a few times and the plot here was more confusing than the first one. But it had an exciting opening act and the chase scenes, especially the last one in Russia, were very well done.
May 18: Concussion - 8/10
Will Smith was outstanding as Bennet Omalu, a doctor who emigrated from Nigeria. There were actually times I forgot it was the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The only thing that ever gave it away was his appearance. I wish they had a little more backstory, and the casting of Luke Wilson as Roger Goodell... I mean... seriously? His brother Owen would've been a (slightly) better choice. But this is a must watch for any NFL fan.
May 19: Sex Tape - 6/10
So the premise wasn't too bad, maybe a bit out there, with a couple trying to get back the copies of their sex tape. But it was a little over the top for me. And being extorted by a 10 year old? Give me a break. But it did have some funny moments and Rob Lowe stole the show, in my opinion. His bad haircut and narcissism made him quite the character. But not worth watching again... at least not for a while.
May 20: Raiders of the Lost Ark - 7/10
Like the Bourne movies, I had yet to see an Indiana Jones movie... and I gotta say I wasn't THAT impressed. The classic Indy theme was easily the best part, and the traps and action scenes may have been ahead of their time, slightly, but I often found myself losing track or losing focus of the film. I liked the scene where Indy carjacked the truck that had the Ark. But the plot didn't keep me hooked. Maybe on future viewings I will like it more.
May 21: Daddy's Home - 5/10
I found myself caring for Brad (Will Ferrell), but once he had his drunken rant and antics at halftime of the basketball game, I was done. Also, driving a motorcycle through a home (up a set of stairs!?) and out the window, only sustaining a few cuts and bruises? And the story of how he wasn't able to have children.... even if that was possible for him to lose his fertility that way, wouldn't he be able to sue? So many head shaking moments, not enough laughs.
May 22: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - 9/10
Boy is this movie trippy. Basically, Joel (Jim Carrey) is hurt his ex-girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) erased him from her memories and he does the same so he can move on, but in the process regrets his decision and while he is dreaming tries to find some way to get himself to remember her before it's too late. The things that happens in this dream state are on par with Inception with how freaky and imaginative it is. I give this film a 9 for that alone. It was a little hard to follow at times, trying to keep track at what point in their relationship the scene is from, but multiple well-deserved viewings would help.
May 23: Reservoir Dogs - 9/10
Yes, I hadn't seen this Tarantino flick yet (nor the Kill Bill movies), but this marks the fifth of his movies I've seen. Basically every one of his movies can be summed up like this: Almost everyone dies. The end. Anyway, drama and acting phenomenal, and I of course didn't guess the rat right (I was thinking Mr. Pink). The torture scene with "Stuck in the Middle with You" was iconic and it's too bad this film was only 99 minutes long. Hard to believe this was QT's first motion picture as director, seems like it was done by an experienced director.
May 24: Groundhog Day - 9/10
A classic Bill Murray/Harold Ramis film I didn't see as a kid, but I'm glad I waited because I know there would be a few things I wouldn't have understood as a kid. I love the concept--what would you do if you lived the same day over and over, with no tomorrow? The story arc goes from confusion to contempt to acceptance. I wish there was some explanation why it happened to him, but it's not a big deal. I can't imagine anyone else in the lead role.
May 25: White House Down - 7/10
Out of the two White House is under attack films in 2013 I enjoyed this one more (than "Olympus Has Fallen"). The people attacking this time are mostly Americans, upset at the President or country for various reasons. The explosions/CGI could've used a bit of work, and was Jamie Fox the best casting? He doesn't seem... authoritative enough. Will Smith would've been a bit more believable. But the 2 hour and 11 min film kept me engaged the whole time.
May 26: Captain Phillips - 10/10
Ok, it's not a perfect film, but it had everything I wanted: Drama, action, good acting, a few heartbreaking moments, you name it. Hanks was brilliant as usual. It's too bad we didn't get to see Hanks reunite with his wife, but we've seen that in movies before and we know how it goes. I just remember feeling stuffy as if I were in the lifeboat with Hanks and the Somalis. Very well made film. I felt like I was along with the crew (and then just Captain Phillips) the whole time.
May 27: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - 7/10
Definitely hard to watch at times, with the burning sacrifice, the eating of the gross things, and many other instances of bad guys dying horrific deaths. But I enjoyed it just as much as RotLA, maybe even more so. Instead of Nazis and Egypt it was Chinese and India. Don't see what Indy sees in "Willie", as she was very high maintenance and not the least bit helpful. I really liked Short Round, he was a nice and welcome addition.
May 28: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure - 7/10
I knew going in not to take it too seriously, and I'm glad I didn't because I definitely enjoyed it. It's too bad Alex Winter hasn't had nearly the career Keanu Reeves had, but at least one of them did. Not exactly historically accurate or believable, I still found myself rooting for Bill and Ted despite them being a couple of knuckleheads. George Carlin was really good as their mentor, Rufus. Too bad he wasn't able to be his usual vulgar self, haha.
May 29: 2001: A Space Odyssey - 9/10
Yep, I had never seen this. At first I was thinking of how boring and sometimes uneventful it was, but after reading about the film afterward and understanding what was going on, I gotta say, WOW. I didn't understand the monoliths at first because they always seemed so out of place, but I guess that was the point. This is definitely a film you need to watch more than once, but at 2 hours and 29 minutes in length, that's no easy task. It did get really trippy at times, making me go, "Woah...". HAL was definitely creepy. Having seen Star Wars dozens of times, I can say this film has special effects that rival it (and sometimes even surpass it--despite coming out 9 years earlier!). It was way ahead of its time and didn't do that bad of a job of portraying future technology.
May 30: It's Such a Beautiful Day - 8/10
Again, another film I watched because I was pressed on time, at only 62 the shortest film of the month. It's so odd, but good. A stick figure named Bill has strangely unusual things happen to him. The film kind of blurs the difference between stick figure and reality to great effect. The ending for me was the best, though, because it really made me think. Love movies that do that.
May 31: Still Alice - 8/10
First off, Julianne Moore definitely deserves her Oscar for this performance. She was brilliant. Baldwin and Stewart were very good, too. But it's pretty depressing and ends abruptly. Her speech was probably the highlight of the film. She wasn't suffering, but she was struggling. This film probably portrays Alzheimer's disease better than any in recent memory.
And now like last time, I will give out awards based on the films I saw this month! First are the awards you would see at the Oscars.
First up is Best Picture. And here are the nominees:
Captain Phillips
Captain America: Civil War
Lincoln
Reservoir Dogs
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Groundhog Day
2001: A Space Odyssey
Still Alice
Every film I rated a 9 or higher is here, with a few that were less (Lincoln, Still Alice) making it thanks to stellar acting performances. The award goes to....
Reservoir Dogs! Turns out, none of QT's films have won best picture, so Reservoir Dogs wins despite it not being the highest rated film (Captain Phillips was).
Best Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis: Lincoln
Will Smith: Concussion
Bill Murray: Groundhog Day
Jim Carrey: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Tom Hanks: Captain Phillips
Wow, what a great set of actors. I don't think there's a weak one in the group. Each actor carried his film. But the award goes to...
Daniel Day-Lewis! He won the real life Oscar so he almost wins by default. Will Smith is a close runner up.
Best Actress:
Evan Rachel Wood: Across the Universe
Sally Field: Lincoln
Kate Winslet: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Julianne Moore: Still Alice
Andie McDowell: Groundhog Day
Good performances, much better female performances than last time. The award goes to...
Julianne Moore! Unlike for best actor, this one wasn't that close.
Best Supporting Actor:
James Spader: Lincoln
Alec Baldwin: Concussion
Samuel L. Jackson: Kingsman: The Secret Service
Barkhad Abdi: Captain Phillips
Steve Buscemi: Reservoir Dogs
Three of these actors were "upstaged" by the lead role actors (Spader, Baldwin, Abdi). But who will get the award? It goes to...
Steve Buscemi! To me, he stole the show, almost. He wasn't the main character but I almost felt like he was with his command of the scene.
Best Supporting Actress:
Maggie Gylenhaal: White House Down
Joey King: White House Down
Keira Knightley: Everest
Kirsten Dunst: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Kristen Stewart: Still Alice
Much better female performances in the supporting category than last year, too. The award goes to...
Keira Knightley! She didn't even appear in the same country as her co-stars but she was magnificent.
Best Song:
I Want To Be Like You: Jungle Book (Christopher Walken)
With a Little Help from My Friends: Across the Universe (Ensemble)
Come Together: Across the Universe (Joe Cocker, Ensemble)
Let it Be: Across the Universe (Ensemble)
Yikes, I didn't see many movies with musical numbers, other than Across the Universe. Anyway, best song goes to...
"Let it Be"! When I watched this, I teared up. Watch it here to see why:
Best Direction/Cinematography:
Steven Spielberg: Lincoln
Steven Spielberg: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Paul Greengrass: Captain Phillips
Stanley Kubrick: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Matthew Vaughn: Kingsman: The Secret Service
Spielberg nominated twice, but does he win? Best Director goes to...
Stanley Kubrick! Spielberg, despite having a 40% shot, doesn't win. 2001 was just so ahead of its time and innovative.
Best Special Effects:
Ant Man
Captain America Civil War
The Jungle Book
Kingsman: The Secret Service
2001: A Space Odyssey
This is a tough one. The award for Best Special Effects goes to...
The Jungle Book! The first real surprise winner! After reading about how Baloo's hairs and how each FRAME of the film took FIVE HOURS to render the hairs on Baloo's body... just incredible the time and dedication they put in.
Now for the non-Academy Awards!
Best Action Scene:
Tom Cruise hanging on to an airplane: Mission Impossible Rogue Nation
Colin Firth killing dozens in a church set to "Free Bird": Kingsman: The Secret Service
All of the superheroes fighting: Captain America Civil War
Indy hijacking a truck with the Ark: Raiders of the Lost Ark
All of these had my heart pumping, but the award goes to...
Colin Firth's ass-kicking in Kingsman! If you're a fan of violence and fighting you have got to see this scene. INCREDIBLE.
Funniest Film:
Ant Man
Ted 2
Peep World
Sex Tape
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
What was the funniest film to me? It was...
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure! Party on Dudes!
Best Death Scene:
Chris Penn, Lawrence Tierney: Reservoir Dogs
Michael Madsen: Reservoir Dogs
Jason Clarke: Everest
Samuel L. Jackson: Kingsman: The Secret Service
James Woods, White House Down
Only one sad death here, but will it win? Best Death Scene goes to...
Michael Madsen, Reservoir Dogs. I gotta be honest, I did not see it coming. Not at all. Thanks to Tim Roth's character, Madsen was PUT DOWN. About to burn a cop alive.
Best Kiss:
David Duchovny and Demi Moore: The Joneses
Matt Damon and Franka Potente: The Bourne Identity
Bill Murray and Andie McDowell: Groundhog Day
Wow, I didn't watch too many films with memorable kisses in them. Best kiss goes to...
Bill Murray and Andie McDowell in Groundhog Day! Well, he worked and worked at it but finally was able to get her to fall for him.
Best Couple:
Jude and Lucy in Across the Universe
Joel and Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Jason and Marie in The Bourne Identity
Phil and Rita in Groundhog Day
Best couple goes to...
Joel and Clementine! Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) realized their mistakes not too late and were fortunately able to salvage something of their almost erased relationship.
Now onto the Razzie style awards. These dishonor those performances that made me shake my head.
Worst Film:
A Teacher
Beautiful Creatures
Daddy's Home
I didn't see too many bad films this time. But the one clearly the worst was...
A Teacher. Next Movie May I'll make this award more of a competition, lol.
Worst Actor:
Will Brittain: A Teacher
Jason Segel: Sex Tape
Mark Wahlberg: Daddy's Home
Mark Wahlberg: Ted 2
Yikes, Marky Mark nominated twice. Worst actor goes to...
Will Brittain. At least I cared for Mark's character each time.
Worst Actress:
Cameron Diaz: Sex Tape
Lindsay Burdge: A Teacher
Amanda Seyfried: Ted 2
Alice Englert: Beautiful Creatures
Can "A Teacher" complete the trifecta? Worst actress goes to...
Lindsay Burdge! Yes they can. I was kind of glad she was miserable at the end.
Worst Special Effects:
White House Down
Beautiful Creatures
Daddy's Home
And now, for worst special effects, and this year they weren't that bad, but the worst of them was...
Daddy's Home. I know, a comedy. But that one shot of the motorcycle (with Will Ferrell hanging on for dear life) going up the stairs, flying out the house (creating a hole), landing on the car and off... just horrible. I cringed super hard at that and for that one scene alone that film deserves worst special effects.
Well, that's it for Movie May, 2016! And a special announcement...
I will be doing Summer Movie Season 2016! Watching a movie EVERY DAY is tough, sometimes making it hard to make plans with anyone. So, instead for Summer Movie Season (SMS for short), I will be watching around 2 movies a week. For 16 weeks starting the week of June 5-11 and ending the week of September 18-24, I will watch 32 movies (perhaps more), averaging two a week. I realized I still have a lot of DVD's I recently acquired I need to watch (Finishing the Bourne and Indiana Jones series, for one), and since I restarted my Netflix/DVD.com DVD's in mail I'll be getting at least one of those a week. Also, this summer movie season is packed and I know I'll be hitting the theaters at least 3, 4 times this summer.
There is a week August 21-27 I will be in Southern California for pretty much the whole week on vacation, so I won't watch any that week, but I will make up for it by watching more than 2 films some weeks.
Also, I gave them an average rating of 7.35, as compared to 6.67 last time. Either I saw fewer crappy films or I've become more lenient, or both. I watched 7 films on Netflix (4 less than last time), 12 films that Amanda or I already owned (6 more than last time), 8 that I rented either from DVD.com (AKA Netflix in the mail) or RedBox/DVDXpress (3 fewer than last time), 2 in theaters (1 less than last time) and 2 that I borrowed from a friend (Thanks Lowen!).
Without further ado, the list of movies I watched in order and my short reviews of them:
May 1: The Joneses - 6/10
So these four people are paid to pretend to be a family and try to get people to buy the cool stuff they have. Is that even legal? All in all though it was decent. It did drag on at times, but I enjoyed certain parts. I always like a recognizable cast which included David Duchovny, Demi Moore, and Amber Heard. But the cast wasn't enough to keep me interested the whole time.
May 2: Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation - 8/10
Tom Cruise has still got it. There will come a point in time he's too old for the role of Ethan Hunt, but not yet. The plot did get a bit confusing at times and there were some things that made me shake my head, but all in all it kept me intrigued. The opening with Tom/Ethan hanging onto the door of the jet is as good as it gets. And the stunt where he drops into an underwater security vault is incredible.
May 3: Ant-Man - 7/10
While I really enjoyed it and I laughed at least 10 times throughout the film, I didn't find it to be that well-made of a superhero film. I was skeptical of Paul Rudd as the title character, but I turned out to love the choice. There were a few head scratchers and plot holes like if Hank Pym has the ability to make anything larger, why does he have trouble doing ANYTHING? Anyway, this was like a tamer version of Deadpool. Still funny (maybe not as much so), but the lead character in red and black with a semi-dark past.
May 4: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back - 6/10
I don't know what it was... but if a movie that's supposed to be funny doesn't make me laugh, then I don't enjoy it. It was all right. I cared for the characters. It was more amusing than anything. It's just over the top comedies always fall flat with me. But I loved all of the cameos and big names in this film, from Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher to Jason Biggs and James Van Der Beek.
May 5: Kingsman: The Secret Service - 9/10
Wow, this film certainly did to spy films with Kick Ass did for super hero films. If you like action movies and don't mind a bit of gore/violence, this film is definitely worth a watch. Taron Egerton is fantastic in the lead role and the cast was filled out with tremendous talent including Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, and a small role from Mark Hamill (again!). I'm very glad to see they're making a sequel. The camera work and the choreography in this film both top notch.
May 6: Ted 2 - 7/10
I'm not sure if it was as good as the first, but it was close. I laughed a few times, but not as much as I would've hoped. Just another typical Seth McFarlane comedy--I tell ya, his humor doesn't surprise me or make me laugh that hard anymore. Time for some new material, Seth. But at least with the story I was invested in the characters, for the most part. They don't need to make a Ted 3 unless Seth has a very clever idea.
May 7: Across the Universe - 8/10
I watched this because 1) I had been meaning to for years and 2) a friend recommended it to me and I gotta say I enjoyed it. The Beatles covers they did were spot on, and I really felt what it was to be like to be young and in the heart of the Vietnam War era. My favorite covers were "I Get By with a Little Help from my Friends" "Let it Be" and "Come Together". I had no idea Joe Cocker played the bum that sang the beginning part of "Come Together".
May 8: A Teacher - 3/10
I only watched this because I was pressed on time and it was only 75 minutes long. Fortunately it was only 75 minutes long, because it was not that good. Everything in the technical categories (Cinematography, editing, music) was poor and it just ends with the teacher being upset that the school found out about her relationship with her student. Very lackluster film.
May 9: Captain America: Civil War - 9/10
Affectionately called "The Avengers 2.5", CA: CW definitely lived up to the hype. I don't think it quite exceeded anyone's expectations, but the fight scenes were a delight to watch. The pacing was a bit off and it was a tad too long, though. Also, it seemed like just a bit too much of fan service, trying to make the fan of every superhero happy. But it excelled in the technical aspects and the Russo brothers did another great job.
May 10: Everest - 7/10
Everest was kind of a letdown for me, to be honest. Although, to be fair, that was mostly because I was expecting more shocking deaths (from falls, avalanches, etc.) than ones were they slowly die from the cold or lack of "O" (oxygen). It was nice to see that it was based off a true story. The rating isn't lower because this was the first movie of the month to make me tear up, when Rob (Jason Clarke) was talking to his wife Jan (Keira Knightley) for the final time. Very well done, great acting. Although it was puzzling how two of the climber's wives (Rob's wife Jan and Beck's wife Peach) were played by well-known actresses (Peach being played by Robin Wright). They had small parts and I think could've easily been played by an unknown to save money.
May 11: The Peanuts Movie - 7/10
This was a cute, family-friendly movie. Hard not to root for Charlie Brown. But the adventures with Snoopy and his writing/flying just seemed unnecessary and pointless, but how else were they going to include fan-favorite Snoopy into scenes? Also, the naivety of the characters, especially Charlie Brown, reminded me of the old kids Nickelodeon shows like Rugrats and Hey Arnold, where we see just how much children have to learn about the world.
May 12: The Bourne Identity - 8/10
Yes, I have never seen any of the "Bourne" films. The first one was actually pretty good. It's a good idea to use for a plot to have your main character have amnesia, that way we learn along with him what his name is, what he did, etc. Chris Cooper again was typecast as the asshole (See also October Sky, American Beauty)--is he even capable of playing a nice guy? I also didn't understand Clive Owen's character or his motives... like why did he want Mombosi dead? But good action that kept me engaged, for the most part.
May 13: Beautiful Creatures - 5/10
I only watched this because of Alden Ehrenreich and how he was cast as Han Solo, just like for the last Movie May I watched "Inside Llewyn Davis" for Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver. Unlike Inside Llewyn Davis, however, this was not that good. As for Ehrenreich, I think he looks more like a young Jack Nicholson than a young Harrison Ford. But we'll see. His acting was good, though. But the film itself was only so-so at best, as supernatural love stories don't really interest me that much. Found myself losing interest on multiple occasions.
May 14: The Jungle Book - 8/10
I was impressed with the CGI and voice acting talents in this film. Neel Sethi played a really good Mowgli as well. Not sure if it was quite appropriate for kids, but at least they kept the violence to a minimum. They sang snippets of some of the original's songs, but what's the point if you're not going to do the whole thing? Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this film more than I thought I would and I think they did about as good of a job as they could have with a live action remake. Some of the voice casts (Bill Murray, Christopher Walken) were PERFECT.
May 15: Lincoln - 7/10
Holy crap was this long. But I will say Daniel Day-Lewis is well deserving of his Oscar. To anyone who's seen House of Cards, this was basically like a really, really long House of Cards episode, with Lincoln instead of Underwood. The pacing was so slow and drawn out, and there wasn't a ton to get excited about. I guess it gets a 7 for DDL's performance alone. He was tremendous.
May 16: Peep World - 7/10
As opposed to Lincoln, this film was too short and could have used more depth. But the cast, fantastic. Michael C. Hall, Rainn Wilson, Sarah Silverman, Kate Mara, all terrific. Also, to finish on a sort-of climax was a bit cliché for the 2010's. Leave it up to our imagination? Gee, thanks. Too many loose ends we are left wondering about, but the acting and cast kept me engaged.
May 17: The Bourne Supremacy - 7/10
I didn't like this one quite as much as the first one (Identity), but it was decent nonetheless. I lost interest a few times and the plot here was more confusing than the first one. But it had an exciting opening act and the chase scenes, especially the last one in Russia, were very well done.
May 18: Concussion - 8/10
Will Smith was outstanding as Bennet Omalu, a doctor who emigrated from Nigeria. There were actually times I forgot it was the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The only thing that ever gave it away was his appearance. I wish they had a little more backstory, and the casting of Luke Wilson as Roger Goodell... I mean... seriously? His brother Owen would've been a (slightly) better choice. But this is a must watch for any NFL fan.
May 19: Sex Tape - 6/10
So the premise wasn't too bad, maybe a bit out there, with a couple trying to get back the copies of their sex tape. But it was a little over the top for me. And being extorted by a 10 year old? Give me a break. But it did have some funny moments and Rob Lowe stole the show, in my opinion. His bad haircut and narcissism made him quite the character. But not worth watching again... at least not for a while.
May 20: Raiders of the Lost Ark - 7/10
Like the Bourne movies, I had yet to see an Indiana Jones movie... and I gotta say I wasn't THAT impressed. The classic Indy theme was easily the best part, and the traps and action scenes may have been ahead of their time, slightly, but I often found myself losing track or losing focus of the film. I liked the scene where Indy carjacked the truck that had the Ark. But the plot didn't keep me hooked. Maybe on future viewings I will like it more.
May 21: Daddy's Home - 5/10
I found myself caring for Brad (Will Ferrell), but once he had his drunken rant and antics at halftime of the basketball game, I was done. Also, driving a motorcycle through a home (up a set of stairs!?) and out the window, only sustaining a few cuts and bruises? And the story of how he wasn't able to have children.... even if that was possible for him to lose his fertility that way, wouldn't he be able to sue? So many head shaking moments, not enough laughs.
May 22: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - 9/10
Boy is this movie trippy. Basically, Joel (Jim Carrey) is hurt his ex-girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) erased him from her memories and he does the same so he can move on, but in the process regrets his decision and while he is dreaming tries to find some way to get himself to remember her before it's too late. The things that happens in this dream state are on par with Inception with how freaky and imaginative it is. I give this film a 9 for that alone. It was a little hard to follow at times, trying to keep track at what point in their relationship the scene is from, but multiple well-deserved viewings would help.
May 23: Reservoir Dogs - 9/10
Yes, I hadn't seen this Tarantino flick yet (nor the Kill Bill movies), but this marks the fifth of his movies I've seen. Basically every one of his movies can be summed up like this: Almost everyone dies. The end. Anyway, drama and acting phenomenal, and I of course didn't guess the rat right (I was thinking Mr. Pink). The torture scene with "Stuck in the Middle with You" was iconic and it's too bad this film was only 99 minutes long. Hard to believe this was QT's first motion picture as director, seems like it was done by an experienced director.
May 24: Groundhog Day - 9/10
A classic Bill Murray/Harold Ramis film I didn't see as a kid, but I'm glad I waited because I know there would be a few things I wouldn't have understood as a kid. I love the concept--what would you do if you lived the same day over and over, with no tomorrow? The story arc goes from confusion to contempt to acceptance. I wish there was some explanation why it happened to him, but it's not a big deal. I can't imagine anyone else in the lead role.
May 25: White House Down - 7/10
Out of the two White House is under attack films in 2013 I enjoyed this one more (than "Olympus Has Fallen"). The people attacking this time are mostly Americans, upset at the President or country for various reasons. The explosions/CGI could've used a bit of work, and was Jamie Fox the best casting? He doesn't seem... authoritative enough. Will Smith would've been a bit more believable. But the 2 hour and 11 min film kept me engaged the whole time.
May 26: Captain Phillips - 10/10
Ok, it's not a perfect film, but it had everything I wanted: Drama, action, good acting, a few heartbreaking moments, you name it. Hanks was brilliant as usual. It's too bad we didn't get to see Hanks reunite with his wife, but we've seen that in movies before and we know how it goes. I just remember feeling stuffy as if I were in the lifeboat with Hanks and the Somalis. Very well made film. I felt like I was along with the crew (and then just Captain Phillips) the whole time.
May 27: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - 7/10
Definitely hard to watch at times, with the burning sacrifice, the eating of the gross things, and many other instances of bad guys dying horrific deaths. But I enjoyed it just as much as RotLA, maybe even more so. Instead of Nazis and Egypt it was Chinese and India. Don't see what Indy sees in "Willie", as she was very high maintenance and not the least bit helpful. I really liked Short Round, he was a nice and welcome addition.
May 28: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure - 7/10
I knew going in not to take it too seriously, and I'm glad I didn't because I definitely enjoyed it. It's too bad Alex Winter hasn't had nearly the career Keanu Reeves had, but at least one of them did. Not exactly historically accurate or believable, I still found myself rooting for Bill and Ted despite them being a couple of knuckleheads. George Carlin was really good as their mentor, Rufus. Too bad he wasn't able to be his usual vulgar self, haha.
May 29: 2001: A Space Odyssey - 9/10
Yep, I had never seen this. At first I was thinking of how boring and sometimes uneventful it was, but after reading about the film afterward and understanding what was going on, I gotta say, WOW. I didn't understand the monoliths at first because they always seemed so out of place, but I guess that was the point. This is definitely a film you need to watch more than once, but at 2 hours and 29 minutes in length, that's no easy task. It did get really trippy at times, making me go, "Woah...". HAL was definitely creepy. Having seen Star Wars dozens of times, I can say this film has special effects that rival it (and sometimes even surpass it--despite coming out 9 years earlier!). It was way ahead of its time and didn't do that bad of a job of portraying future technology.
May 30: It's Such a Beautiful Day - 8/10
Again, another film I watched because I was pressed on time, at only 62 the shortest film of the month. It's so odd, but good. A stick figure named Bill has strangely unusual things happen to him. The film kind of blurs the difference between stick figure and reality to great effect. The ending for me was the best, though, because it really made me think. Love movies that do that.
May 31: Still Alice - 8/10
First off, Julianne Moore definitely deserves her Oscar for this performance. She was brilliant. Baldwin and Stewart were very good, too. But it's pretty depressing and ends abruptly. Her speech was probably the highlight of the film. She wasn't suffering, but she was struggling. This film probably portrays Alzheimer's disease better than any in recent memory.
And now like last time, I will give out awards based on the films I saw this month! First are the awards you would see at the Oscars.
First up is Best Picture. And here are the nominees:
Captain Phillips
Captain America: Civil War
Lincoln
Reservoir Dogs
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Groundhog Day
2001: A Space Odyssey
Still Alice
Every film I rated a 9 or higher is here, with a few that were less (Lincoln, Still Alice) making it thanks to stellar acting performances. The award goes to....
Reservoir Dogs! Turns out, none of QT's films have won best picture, so Reservoir Dogs wins despite it not being the highest rated film (Captain Phillips was).
Best Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis: Lincoln
Will Smith: Concussion
Bill Murray: Groundhog Day
Jim Carrey: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Tom Hanks: Captain Phillips
Wow, what a great set of actors. I don't think there's a weak one in the group. Each actor carried his film. But the award goes to...
Daniel Day-Lewis! He won the real life Oscar so he almost wins by default. Will Smith is a close runner up.
Best Actress:
Evan Rachel Wood: Across the Universe
Sally Field: Lincoln
Kate Winslet: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Julianne Moore: Still Alice
Andie McDowell: Groundhog Day
Good performances, much better female performances than last time. The award goes to...
Julianne Moore! Unlike for best actor, this one wasn't that close.
Best Supporting Actor:
James Spader: Lincoln
Alec Baldwin: Concussion
Samuel L. Jackson: Kingsman: The Secret Service
Barkhad Abdi: Captain Phillips
Steve Buscemi: Reservoir Dogs
Three of these actors were "upstaged" by the lead role actors (Spader, Baldwin, Abdi). But who will get the award? It goes to...
Steve Buscemi! To me, he stole the show, almost. He wasn't the main character but I almost felt like he was with his command of the scene.
Best Supporting Actress:
Maggie Gylenhaal: White House Down
Joey King: White House Down
Keira Knightley: Everest
Kirsten Dunst: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Kristen Stewart: Still Alice
Much better female performances in the supporting category than last year, too. The award goes to...
Keira Knightley! She didn't even appear in the same country as her co-stars but she was magnificent.
Best Song:
I Want To Be Like You: Jungle Book (Christopher Walken)
With a Little Help from My Friends: Across the Universe (Ensemble)
Come Together: Across the Universe (Joe Cocker, Ensemble)
Let it Be: Across the Universe (Ensemble)
Yikes, I didn't see many movies with musical numbers, other than Across the Universe. Anyway, best song goes to...
"Let it Be"! When I watched this, I teared up. Watch it here to see why:
Best Direction/Cinematography:
Steven Spielberg: Lincoln
Steven Spielberg: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Paul Greengrass: Captain Phillips
Stanley Kubrick: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Matthew Vaughn: Kingsman: The Secret Service
Spielberg nominated twice, but does he win? Best Director goes to...
Stanley Kubrick! Spielberg, despite having a 40% shot, doesn't win. 2001 was just so ahead of its time and innovative.
Best Special Effects:
Ant Man
Captain America Civil War
The Jungle Book
Kingsman: The Secret Service
2001: A Space Odyssey
This is a tough one. The award for Best Special Effects goes to...
The Jungle Book! The first real surprise winner! After reading about how Baloo's hairs and how each FRAME of the film took FIVE HOURS to render the hairs on Baloo's body... just incredible the time and dedication they put in.
Now for the non-Academy Awards!
Best Action Scene:
Tom Cruise hanging on to an airplane: Mission Impossible Rogue Nation
Colin Firth killing dozens in a church set to "Free Bird": Kingsman: The Secret Service
All of the superheroes fighting: Captain America Civil War
Indy hijacking a truck with the Ark: Raiders of the Lost Ark
All of these had my heart pumping, but the award goes to...
Colin Firth's ass-kicking in Kingsman! If you're a fan of violence and fighting you have got to see this scene. INCREDIBLE.
Funniest Film:
Ant Man
Ted 2
Peep World
Sex Tape
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
What was the funniest film to me? It was...
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure! Party on Dudes!
Best Death Scene:
Chris Penn, Lawrence Tierney: Reservoir Dogs
Michael Madsen: Reservoir Dogs
Jason Clarke: Everest
Samuel L. Jackson: Kingsman: The Secret Service
James Woods, White House Down
Only one sad death here, but will it win? Best Death Scene goes to...
Michael Madsen, Reservoir Dogs. I gotta be honest, I did not see it coming. Not at all. Thanks to Tim Roth's character, Madsen was PUT DOWN. About to burn a cop alive.
Best Kiss:
David Duchovny and Demi Moore: The Joneses
Matt Damon and Franka Potente: The Bourne Identity
Bill Murray and Andie McDowell: Groundhog Day
Wow, I didn't watch too many films with memorable kisses in them. Best kiss goes to...
Bill Murray and Andie McDowell in Groundhog Day! Well, he worked and worked at it but finally was able to get her to fall for him.
Best Couple:
Jude and Lucy in Across the Universe
Joel and Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Jason and Marie in The Bourne Identity
Phil and Rita in Groundhog Day
Best couple goes to...
Joel and Clementine! Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) realized their mistakes not too late and were fortunately able to salvage something of their almost erased relationship.
Now onto the Razzie style awards. These dishonor those performances that made me shake my head.
Worst Film:
A Teacher
Beautiful Creatures
Daddy's Home
I didn't see too many bad films this time. But the one clearly the worst was...
A Teacher. Next Movie May I'll make this award more of a competition, lol.
Worst Actor:
Will Brittain: A Teacher
Jason Segel: Sex Tape
Mark Wahlberg: Daddy's Home
Mark Wahlberg: Ted 2
Yikes, Marky Mark nominated twice. Worst actor goes to...
Will Brittain. At least I cared for Mark's character each time.
Worst Actress:
Cameron Diaz: Sex Tape
Lindsay Burdge: A Teacher
Amanda Seyfried: Ted 2
Alice Englert: Beautiful Creatures
Can "A Teacher" complete the trifecta? Worst actress goes to...
Lindsay Burdge! Yes they can. I was kind of glad she was miserable at the end.
Worst Special Effects:
White House Down
Beautiful Creatures
Daddy's Home
And now, for worst special effects, and this year they weren't that bad, but the worst of them was...
Daddy's Home. I know, a comedy. But that one shot of the motorcycle (with Will Ferrell hanging on for dear life) going up the stairs, flying out the house (creating a hole), landing on the car and off... just horrible. I cringed super hard at that and for that one scene alone that film deserves worst special effects.
Well, that's it for Movie May, 2016! And a special announcement...
I will be doing Summer Movie Season 2016! Watching a movie EVERY DAY is tough, sometimes making it hard to make plans with anyone. So, instead for Summer Movie Season (SMS for short), I will be watching around 2 movies a week. For 16 weeks starting the week of June 5-11 and ending the week of September 18-24, I will watch 32 movies (perhaps more), averaging two a week. I realized I still have a lot of DVD's I recently acquired I need to watch (Finishing the Bourne and Indiana Jones series, for one), and since I restarted my Netflix/DVD.com DVD's in mail I'll be getting at least one of those a week. Also, this summer movie season is packed and I know I'll be hitting the theaters at least 3, 4 times this summer.
There is a week August 21-27 I will be in Southern California for pretty much the whole week on vacation, so I won't watch any that week, but I will make up for it by watching more than 2 films some weeks.
So, I will check in around September 24, 25, with my reviews
of the movies I watched for SMS and of course, my awards! See you guys then!
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