tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68464011171538687772024-02-20T11:32:56.181-08:00Jake's Movie ReviewsLara Kennardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03619378820641098955noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-76593897644603883432019-03-06T21:13:00.002-08:002019-03-06T21:13:16.131-08:002018 Catch-Up<br />
Okay, I know what you're thinking... you're still doing these things? Well, the answer is yes and no. Yes, with this post I can now say that I am still doing these things. No, because for the last 12 months I have not done any of these things. Wait, where was I going with this post? Oh yeah, I'm trying to catch up on movie reviews for all of the films I saw from last year that I didn't get around to reviewing officially. Don't worry, though, I'm going to keep them brief. One or two sentences max. Okay, maybe three or four... It's going to be tough, but I will force myself to keep it brief.<br />
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(DISCLAIMER: I didn't get to go to the theater as much as I would like, so some movies I may have saw in full at the cinema, I decided to stop watching once I realized they were bad. That's why you won't see any reviews for films less than 3 stars. The lesser ones would have been: <i>A Wrinkle in Time</i>, <i>Pacific Rim: Uprising</i>, <i>Mama Mia: Here We Go Again</i>, and <i>Tomb Raider</i>. Just in case you think I like all movies indiscriminately.)<br />
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With that introduction out of the way, should we start in chronological order? Yes, we should!<br />
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<u>Black Panther</u></div>
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I thought this would be an underrated movie... boy, did I miscalculate that one! Still, it's very entertaining, well-acted and surprisingly meaningful for the mostly formulaic Marvel properties. Michael B. Jordan's "Killmonger" is the best Marvel villain ever... at least until the next Marvel movie came out. I really, really liked Black Panther, and I am going to nudge it up to <b>4 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Ready Player One</u></div>
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I never could get through the book, but I'm glad I could still be surprised (though I hear there are significant changes), because Spielberg recaptures some of his vintage blockbuster magic with this bombastic visual spectacle. Loved the Alan Silvestri score to bring in that nostalgic 80's vibe, even if the references are a bit too obvious and the story is at times lacking. I'm giving it a solid <b>3 STARS</b>!</div>
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This was a surprise hit, and unfortunately I waited too long to see this and had the end twist spoiled for me. However, that didn't impact my enjoyment of the film. The suspense is still unrelenting, and the conceit of silence as a means for survival is perfectly staged for an incredibly tense experience. I'm fascinated to see where the sequel goes. A very solid <b>3 1/2 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Avengers: Infinity War</u></div>
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They did it. Somehow, they were able to take all of these movies and characters and mash them up into a comprehensible and exciting to the point of exhaustion movie-going experience. It's unlike anything we've ever seen before, and strikes the perfect balance of humor, dread, adrenaline, and shock-value. Best Marvel villain ever award goes to Thanos. Can't wait to see what awaits us in Avengers: End Game. This one gets a no-brainer <b>4 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Solo: A Star Wars Story</u></div>
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I don't care what anyone says, I really enjoyed Solo, and I like more every time I see it. It's fun, fast-paced, familiar enough, but puts a few spins on the backstory we thought we knew. Alden Ehrenreich does much better than most people give him credit for, considering the whining I was hearing from Star Wars fans prior to the film's release. Definitely an underrated film in the series, and I would say it deserves much more love than it received. I'm giving it <b>3 1/2 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Ocean's 8</u></div>
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Maybe not the most groundbreaking movie, but I think it was good enough to wash the bad taste of the new Ghostbusters reboot from the mouths of those who hated the idea of women taking over male-centered movies. The cast is great, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying their chemistry and the twists and turns of their heist. I would definitely come back for an Ocean's 9. <b>3 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Incredibles 2</u></div>
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Was it worth the wait? Sure, I would say so. Just because it wasn't as good as the first one doesn't mean it wasn't a good movie. I really enjoyed this sequel, and thought that the exploration of Jack-Jack's powers, the extension of how supers could be re-integrated into society, and the continual insights into domestic life for a retired superhero were all executed very well. It's not as fresh as it was, but still a highly enjoyable experience. I'm giving it <b>3 1/2 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom</u></div>
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I LOVED the first Jurassic World movie, so I was dying to see how they would handle the destruction of Isla Nublar in this highly-anticipated sequel. Though that was the best part of the movie, I still found myself enjoying the philosophical debates of cloned animal rights, the tension of being hunted in a small area by a vicious, genetically-modified monster, and the ridiculous villains getting what was coming to them. A clear step down, but one that I still enjoyed. Solid <b>3 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Ant-Man and the Wasp</u></div>
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For the 3rd Marvel movie of the year, it was still surprisingly fresh. Part of that is due to the clearly comedic tone of this character compared to the world-ending stakes of Infinity War. It was a nice change of pace to just go on a small adventure with the smallest superhero. Very funny throughout, a fairly predictable villain (though she had a really cool power), and a good way to build on the hype for End Game. I'm giving this one a slightly generous <b>3 1/2 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Mission Impossible: Fallout</u></div>
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Easily the best action film of the year in terms of in-camera stunts and fight scenes, this franchise somehow found a way to top itself with Fallout. Tom Cruise is still fantastic in this role, and the addition of Henry Cavill is a well-timed shake-up in the proceedings. This is a thrill ride that will keep you guessing and have you marveling at how devoted Cruise is at capturing authenticity in action scenes. I'm giving this one a slightly generous <b>4 STARS</b>!</div>
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Not a film for the faint of heart, but also much funnier and purely entertaining than I expected. The premise of a black police officer going undercover to join the KKK has the feel of a heist film, and Spike Lee gives it the same energy you would expect from an Ocean's film. Having said that, it's also incredibly powerful, and gives you several gut-punches that remind you how prevalent and horrifying racism still is in our country. Definitely worthy of <b>4 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>A Star is Born</u></div>
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My wife saw this without me at first, so I had to wait until it was available to rent before I could see it. Definitely worth the wait, and easily my favorite movie of 2018. So much emotional resonance in a story that has been told so many times, and the music is absolutely incredible. The acting is on another level, particularly from the somehow-still-surprisingly talented Lady Gaga. I'm only a little ashamed to say that I cried like a baby in this movie. A very strong <b>4 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Bohemian Rhapsody</u></div>
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I wasn't sure how this movie would portray a singer whose voice no Hollywood actor could possibly replicate. They did the smart thing and used Freddy Mercury's actual vocals, but that doesn't at all minimize the mesmerizing performance of Rami Malek, who deservedly won an Oscar for his work in this film. It told me things I didn't know about Queen, while also hitting the stuff we all wanted to see. It's definitely a bit too simplistic at times, but still worthy of <b>3 1/2 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Creed II</u></div>
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I was really looking forward to this film, but slightly worried at the same time after hearing they would try and bring back the Drago family into this series. I shouldn't have been worried at all. This film is just about as good as its predecessor, and met all of my expectations. Michael B. Jordan is not only more ripped than I've ever seen him, but he's truly at the top of his acting game here as well. Plus, this movie found a way to end a climactic fight in a completely unique way that I don't think anyone could see coming. There are a lot of emotional payoffs as well, and for characters you might not expect. I have no problem giving this <b>4 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald</u></div>
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As maybe the biggest Harry Potter nerd that I know, seeing this movie was high on my to-do list for 2018. There's been a lot of anger directed at this film, but I think that we should give J.K. Rowling the benefit of the doubt with some of the unanswered questions this film raises. The main things this movie needed to get right were Grindelwald and Dumbledore, and both Johnny Depp and Jude Law came to play. They've set up some very intriguing stuff for the next few films to follow up on, and I can't wait to see what Rowling creates next. I'm giving this a controversial (to some) <b>3 1/2 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Mary Poppins Returns</u></div>
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What a wonderfully charming movie this turned out to be! My wife and I re-watched the original before going to the theaters, and I think it really helped us appreciate all the details the filmmakers painstakingly included with this long-awaited sequel. Emily Blunt deserved at least an Oscar nomination for this magnificent performance in a truly iconic role. The music is inventive, fun, and at times heartbreaking. The visuals were magical, and it recaptures the feeling evoked in that original film for a new generation, which is fitting for this story. I'm giving this a solid <b>4 STARS</b>!</div>
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<u>Aquaman</u></div>
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The last film I saw in 2018 may not have been the best one, but it was certainly the most unique. The visuals alone for this film are worth the price of admission, as you're taken to other-worldly vistas filled with every sea creature imaginable (and a few that are unimaginable). The story may be a little too familiar, but it's done differently enough to remain enjoyable. The villains do sink this film for me, though not to the point where I dislike what I'm seeing. Not better than Wonder Woman, but better than Justice League, this film deserves at least <b>3 STARS</b>!</div>
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So that's it! Hopefully that makes up a little for my extended absence. I became a dad last year, and haven't had a lot of free time to devote to my passion for movies. I've been missing it lately, though, so I had to put something on this lonely blog before it faded completely into non-existence. Let me know what you thought of these movies! Are there some movies I still need to catch up on from last year, or did I already see everything worth seeing? Thanks for reading, and I'll try to be back soon!</div>
Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-58380798295910157332018-03-04T13:17:00.001-08:002018-03-04T13:18:43.856-08:00Most Anticipated Films of 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're now pretty deep into 2018, which begs the question, "Why are you just writing this blog post now?" Well, there's not really a great reason for that. It's just tough to find a couple of hours uninterrupted to write a post like this. That's not to say that I haven't wanted to. I've had this list in mind since before the new year even began. With that in mind, I am going to be listing my most anticipated films for this year as if I haven't seen any of them (which remains true for almost all of them). These aren't necessarily the films that I think are going to be the best, but rather these are the ones that I am the most excited to see. To give you an idea of how deep this year's slate of films is, here are some movies that didn't make the list: <i>X-Men: Dark Phoenix</i>, <i>Deadpool 2</i>, <i>Pacific Rim: Uprising</i>, <i>Venom</i>, <i>A Wrinkle in Time</i>, and <i>Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2</i>. This looks like it's going to be a record-breaking year at the box office, and hopefully we'll get some unforgettable moments at the theater as well. With that, let's get into my list!<br />
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<b>Ocean's 8 (6/8/2018)</b></div>
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While Ghostbusters failed to recapture the magic of its predecessor for most audiences, it looks like Ocean's 8 won't have a problem living up to expectations. With a star-studded cast (as is tradition for any true Ocean's movie), and a fresh take on the familiar tropes of the series, I think <i>Ocean's 8</i> is going to be a pleasant surprise for most movie-goers this summer.</div>
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<b>Mortal Engines (12/14/2018)</b></div>
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To be perfectly honest, I had no idea what <i>Mortal Engines</i> was before I heard that Peter Jackson was attached to produce it. Then I did a little research about the story, and that plus the visuals of the teaser trailer and the talent behind the production got me incredibly interested in what this movie could be. Yes, we do have to wait until December before it comes out, but I have a suspicion it's going to be worth the wait.</div>
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<b>Mission Impossible: Fallout (7/27/2018)</b></div>
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How do they keep making these movies so freaking good?! I think I can speak for almost all human kind when I say that Mission: Impossible 5 had no right to be as great as it was. I mean, what franchise keeps improving this far along, particularly with an aging star like Tom Cruise at the helm? Well, by continually inserting fresh blood behind and in front of the camera. With returning stars and new actors to the franchise (like Rebecca Ferguson and Henry Cavill respectively), I think this has the potential to be up there with Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation as one of the Best M:I movies to date.</div>
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<b>Ready Player One (3/29/2018)</b></div>
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This movie has been on and off my list for a little while now. It was initially on the list when I heard that Spielberg was involved in the story... then off the list when I tried reading the book. However, there was enough potential in the concept and enough pure visual nostalgic insanity occurring in the trailers that I can't help but want to see this. It could end up being a complete and utter mess, but it could also be an incredibly fun time. Let's hope for the latter, but either way we only have a couple of weeks to wait!</div>
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<b>Ant-Man and the Wasp (7/6/2018)</b></div>
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It pains me to leave this one off the list, but it's hard for me to get too excited about movies that seem like they're treading pretty familiar territory. Of course, I made that mistake with Spider-Man: Homecoming last year and it ended up being fantastic. Hopefully Ant-Man and the Wasp will exceed my expectations in a similar way. I think bringing back Michael Douglas is a stroke of brilliance, and the chemistry between Evangeline Lilly and Paul Rudd looks stronger than ever. Marvel seems like they can do no wrong since the release of <i>Thor: Ragnarok</i>, so let's hope they can keep their streak alive.</div>
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<u>Most Anticipated Films of 2018</u></h2>
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<b>#10 Aquaman (12/21/2018)</b></div>
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I know, a lot of people have been disappointed by the DCEU so far... I just haven't been one of them. Sure, <i>Justice League</i> had its problems, but no one can say that <i>Wonder Woman</i> wasn't a great movie. As someone who liked what Jason Mamoa did with his character in JL, and as a believer in what the DC films can be, I think Warner Bros is going to prove yet again that their stand-alone films are rock solid. They brought in a proven director of popcorn action with a vision for how they can film underwater movements like we've never seen before. We haven't seen anything from it yet, but I think <i>Aquaman</i> is going to take a lot of people off guard - in a good way - when it finally comes out in December.</div>
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<b>#9 Mary Poppins Returns (12/25/2018)</b></div>
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While Disney has been a little hit-or-miss with me in regards to their live-action adaptations and modern retellings of old classics, I still think there's a lot to be excited about when it comes to <i>Mary Poppins Returns</i>. For one thing, Emily Blunt is an incredibly talented actress, and the fact that this is following up with Michael's children years after the original tells me that they've put some thought into how this might progress after the original. Perhaps most encouraging of all is the involvement of musical genius Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was most recently responsible for the tremendous songs in Moana. As it won't be released until Christmas, it may be a while until we get a proper first look at the film... but I'm willing to bet this is one we won't want to miss this holiday season.</div>
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<b>#8 Christopher Robin (8/3/2018)</b></div>
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Okay, I have very personal reasons for why I'm looking forward to this movie. For one thing, I am a huge fan of Ewan McGregor. Not only for his work on Star Wars, but also for <i>Big Fish</i>, which is one of my all-time favorite movies. Also, this director is responsible for another of my all-time favorite films, <i>Finding Neverland</i>. Pair that with the story of an older Christopher Robin who has lost his imagination, and you can bet this is going to be right up my alley. I'm probably going to cry like a baby during this film, and I am perfectly okay with that. Of course, I don't expect <i>Christopher Robin</i> to be one of my all-time favorite films, but I think there's a good chance it could be one of the best of 2018.</div>
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<b>#7 Incredibles 2 (6/15/2018)</b></div>
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Pixar is in a class of its own, and I think most people have been desperately awaiting a sequel to <i>The Incredibles</i> for at least 10 years now. It took familiar dynamics of superhero movies and did something completely unique with it, and that was even before the superhero craze took over Hollywood. Imagine how much material they have to work from now that we're getting almost ten of these movies each year! If the teaser trailer is any indication, I think all of our waiting will pay off once this movie hits theaters this June. I can't wait!</div>
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<b>#6 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald (11/16/2018)</b></div>
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As a borderline fanatic of the Harry Potter books, I had little problems here and there with each of the big-screen adaptations. However, when I finally had the opportunity to be surprised in the theater by a movie set in the wizarding world when <i>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them</i> came out in 2016, I thought it was the best Harry Potter movie ever. Now that the sequel is on the horizon with promises of a young Dumbledore recruiting Newt Scamander to help hunt down Grindlewald, I think this has the potential to top the original. If screenwriter J.K. Rowling has proven anything, it's that she has a knack for getting better and better with each progressive story she writes.</div>
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<b>#5 Creed 2 (11/21/2018)</b></div>
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This year is full of sequels to movies I love, and <i>Creed 2</i> is no exception. The story of Adonis Creed coming to terms with his late and estranged father's legacy was an incredibly heartfelt one, but it also didn't lack in the adrenaline-pumping fight scenes that we've come to expect from the Rocky franchise. Now that <i>Creed 2</i> is coming with a story that forces Adonis to confront his father's killer (Drago) and go up against his just-as-intimidating son, I couldn't stop myself from putting this in my top 5. Michael B. Jordan continues to prove that he is an A-list talent, and with Stallone arguably at the top of his game, I think this will continue to push this franchise into new and exciting directions.</div>
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<b>#4 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (6/22/2018)</b></div>
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<i>Jurassic World</i> was one of the most financially successful films of all time, and with that comes the potential for backlash. While it certainly experienced plenty of that, I haven't lost any appreciation for what that film brought to the table. It was nostalgic and fun, but also had a touching message that I think was lost on a lot of people. <i>Fallen Kingdom</i> looks like it's ratcheting up the crazy action, and taking these genetically recreated dinosaurs to brand new places... literally and figuratively. I don't know how you can watch the trailer and not be hooked. It's a horrifying prospect, and one that will only lead to more terrifying things to come.</div>
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<b>#3 Black Panther (2/16/2018)</b></div>
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Remember when I said I would rank these as if I hadn't seen them? Yeah, this is the one I was talking about. I'll write an official review soon, but based on the material that I saw leading up to its release, I thought this had the potential to be one of Marvel's best movies ever. Don't worry, it meets those lofty expectations. Chadwick Boseman was one of the best parts of <i>Captain America: Civil War</i>, and I knew his character's standalone film would be fantastic if it could live up to what was merely teased in that film. Michael B. Jordan is fantastic in the movie as well, which I predicted prior to walking into the theater. Now the pressure is on <i>Infinity War</i> to clear the bar that <i>Black Panther</i> has just raised.</div>
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<b>#2 Solo: A Star Wars Story (5/25/2018)</b></div>
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Anyone who knows me will tell you that I'm one of the biggest Star Wars fans they know, but for a while I wasn't that excited about the prospect of a Han Solo movie. I guess I just had a hard time envisioning what that would even look like. Obviously I knew what events were likely to occur in a movie about a young Han Solo, but that doesn't necessarily lend itself to an obviously compelling story. Having said that, it was the visuals in the trailer released for the Super Bowl that got me really excited to see this movie. Director Ron Howard does have a lot of credibility, and the Star Wars brand in general continues to earn its stellar reputation. If I could boil my excitement down to one moment in the trailer, it would be the stand-off between Solo and an unknown enemy. The camera is focused on Han's blaster, and it looks like the coolest version of a western set in space that I could have imagined. I think Alden Ehrenreich is going to be awesome as Han, as long as people can give him a chance to reinterpret the character. The rest of the cast looks incredible as well (especially Donald Glover as Lando), but I think it's John Powell's score that I'm most excited about. If his magnificent work on <i>How to Train Your Dragon</i> is any indication, we're in for a real treat. In the immortal words of Han Solo, "Bring it on! I prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around!" Okay, so the last part of that wasn't as applicable, but you get what I mean.</div>
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<b>#1 Avengers: Infinity War (4/27/2018)</b></div>
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As if anything else could possibly usurp the superhero movie to end all superhero movies. Marvel has been building up to this moment for almost ten years now, when Nick Fury first approached Iron Man in a post-credits scene about the "Avengers Initiative". Now, we have dozens of characters from over 18 movies that are colliding for an extravaganza of epic proportions. This is the culmination of the Infinity Stones that have been collected since the first Avengers film hit theaters in 2012, where Thanos first appeared and smiled at the prospect of courting death by attacking Earth. Josh Brolin looks to be an intimidating presence that even the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, or many many others cannot withstand. Just watching the trailer gave me goosebumps, and knowing that Alan Silvestri (who penned the now iconic Avengers theme) is returning to score this movie tells me that these are the first of many. The Russo brothers appear to be at the top of their directing game after <i>Captain America: Civil War</i>, and I think they may have just reached new heights with Infinity War. The only thing I'm dreading is the near certainty that at least one character we love is bound to be a victim of Thanos's hostile takeover of this world. Outside of a Star Wars movie, I can't think of a movie I've been as excited to see in recent memory. Thank goodness they moved this up a week so I don't have to wait quite as long!</div>
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That's what we've got to look forward to in 2018, and it's a pretty incredible list! After what <i>Black Panther</i> did, I have no idea what film is going to make the most money (besides <i>Avengers: Infinity War</i>, obviously), and I really don't know which is going to be the best in terms of quality. The nice part is that we all get to just go out and enjoy all of these films without having to worry about how good it is or isn't. Movies are all about entertainment, and that looks to be abundant in this year's slate of films. Let me know what movies you're looking forward to in the comments! Thanks for reading!</div>
Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-41268979020372617962017-12-31T14:47:00.001-08:002017-12-31T16:00:24.061-08:00Best Films of 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yet again, the year ends and I find myself wishing I had time to catch up on all of the potentially great films I've missed. <i>Logan</i>, <i>The Post</i>, <i>Baby Driver</i>, <i>Downsizing</i> and <i>Wonder</i> are among those that would have surely been contending for spots on this list if I had been able to see them. However, I can't wait to see all of the year's films before making my list. It's been far too long since I've even written an actual review, so I can't miss my annual recap of my favorite movies of the year. With all of that out of the way, here is my list of the best films of 2017!</div>
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<b>#10 Blade Runner 2049</b></div>
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One of the most beautiful films of the year, Blade Runner 2049 follows up the sci-fi classic that is its predecessor and arguably tops it. Denis Villeneuve is a masterful director, and combined with legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins they've created an astonishing visual work. The story is fascinating as well, and though it does tend to drag in places, the gorgeous camerawork is enough to keep my attention when the pacing lags. Harrison Ford is hardly in the film, but when he's there it's a true highlight. Ryan Gosling can seemingly do no wrong as well, and his portrayal of the replicant hired to hunt down other replicants is a subtle balance struck with expert precision. </div>
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<b>#9 Thor: Ragnarok</b></div>
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Easily the funniest film of the year, not to mention of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor: Ragnarok is an incredibly enjoyable time at the theater. It doesn't rest its laurels entirely on its comedy, however, as it takes some of the riskiest chances of any superhero film to date. Chris Hemsworth has never been so charismatic, and his interplay with Mark Ruffalo is one of the highlights of the film - not to mention the iconic fight between Hulk and Thor in the arena. Even if I hadn't seen the jaw-droppingly awesome trailer, this movie makes me incredibly excited to see next year's <i>Avengers: Infinity War</i>. If only it was May already!</div>
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<b>#8 War for the Planet of the Apes</b></div>
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One of the most stark and serious films of the year is also one of the most stunning. Taken on as a character piece where the titular apes are far more human than the homo-sapiens they are battling, this film shows a fascinating side of conflict that isn't always seen on screen. Director Matt Reeves is at the top of his game here, and though it may not entirely earn the final moments of the film, he ends this trilogy on an incredibly strong note. It's a shame that Andy Serkis won't be nominated for his remarkable work as Caesar, which has somehow gotten better with each successive film. They'll have to settle for an Oscar for Visual Effects at this year's Academy Awards. </div>
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<b>#7 Murder on the Orient Express</b></div>
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I am shocked that more people haven't gravitated to this movie. Gorgeously shot and impeccably acted, this ensemble piece takes unexpected turns at every opportunity and never fails to entertain along the way. Kenneth Branagh not only directs this film expertly, but he also acts the crap out of the lead role, detective Hercule Poirot (and creates enormous mustache envy at the same time). It's funny at all the right moments, but also doesn't shy away from the more sinister nature of the subject matter. I was thrilled to hear that they are moving forward with the sequel, "Death on the Nile". If it's anywhere near as good as this film then we're in for another fantastic ride.</div>
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<b>#6 Justice League</b></div>
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Okay, I know this one is going to be a bit controversial, but I can't deny that I thoroughly enjoyed <i>Justice League</i>. Some of the complaints are a bit ridiculous (Superman's mustache is way overblown), and many people are inexplicably denying the entertainment value in front of their faces. I mean, how awesome is that scene when the League is having to go against its strongest member? (Trying to avoid spoilers.) Joss Whedon did a fantastic job of taking Zack Snyder's film and giving it a fresh and light-hearted take that is far easier to digest than some of the previous films in the DCEU. Each character gets their moment, and the interplay between them makes me anxious to see them band together again soon.</div>
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<b>#5 Spider-Man: Homecoming</b></div>
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I'm not sure if I was as pleased with any other film from start to finish as I was with the latest iteration of Spider-Man. I had a smile on my face the entire time, and thought all of the humor worked marvelously (no pun intended). Tom Holland is a wonderful Peter Parker, and I can't wait to see where his character goes in future MCU films. Does it lack the seriousness of the best Marvel films? Perhaps, but not every film needs to be the exact same. Spider-Man doesn't need to have the complexity or weight of Captain America. Despite that, it still manages to solve the chronic villain problem Marvel keeps having, with a great performance by Michael Keaton as the Vulture. Tony Stark's inclusion was also a perfect fit, and the budding mentorship he has with Peter works better than I could have imagined.</div>
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<b>#4 Coco</b></div>
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This was one of the biggest surprises of the year for me, though I suppose it shouldn't have been. Pixar seems to have a never-ending supply of imaginative and emotionally resonating stories up their sleeves, and <i>Coco </i>is no exception. Taking a holiday that many of us Yanks don't really understand could have been a bit of a risk, but I found the Day of the Dead tradition a fascinating canvas on which to tell a heartfelt story of family and forgiveness. The animation is gorgeous, and the music is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes (especially at the very end). There is nobody better than Pixar when it comes to animation for the whole family, and <i>Coco </i>is a perfect example of that.</div>
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<b>#3 Wonder Woman</b></div>
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Speaking of surprises, I wasn't expecting Wonder Woman to be so inspiring! Just watching my wife light up as Amazonian warriors charged into battle made me love this film even more. Heck, even I get a little teary-eyed when she goes through No Man's Land. How can you not? Anyway, Gal Gadot is perfectly cast as the iconic hero, and her portrayal of not only strength and ferocity but also of compassion is what makes this truly special. She's a hero that everyone can and should look up to, particularly in our current climate. This movie made me look forward to future DC films even more, and it catapulted Wonder Woman to being perhaps my favorite member of the Justice League. Let's hope they can recapture the magic in Wonder Woman 2.</div>
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<b>#2 Dunkirk</b></div>
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Anyone who knows my taste in movies could tell you that I was dying to see <i>Dunkirk </i>in theaters, if for no other reason than it was Christopher Nolan's next project. I've seen and deeply admired everything he's made throughout his career, but what he did with this movie was unlike any of his previous films. Coming in at a lean 90 minutes, <i>Dunkirk </i>is a nonstop battle scene that literally doesn't ease up until five minutes before the credits roll. Much of that is due to Hans Zimmer's heart-pounding score, which is a literal ticking clock that builds tension relentlessly throughout the film. If you've ever wondered what the people fighting in that awful battle felt like, watch this movie. The stunning work done in camera is unlike anything you've seen before, with massive ships sinking, real fighter planes soaring, and countless soldiers scurrying. The manner in which the story is told is very nonlinear, which is a Nolan trademark, and rewards repeat viewing. One can only hope that this breaks the streak of Nolan getting ignored by the Academy. All signs point to him breaking through with a Best Director nomination, and possibly even a win. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! </div>
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<b>#1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi</b></div>
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And here it is... the most controversial selection of my top 10 list. But you know what? This is my list of favorite films of 2017, so if you don't agree with it go make your own list. For me, no movie has been as fascinating, as surprising, as mind-blowing, or as investing as The Last Jedi. The complications of Luke's mysterious past, the conflict of dark and light within Ben Solo/Kylo Ren, the desperation for survival of the Resistance, and the ultimate destiny of Rey all hang in the balance as every character is pushed to the breaking point. Rian Johnson has taken all of our preconceptions and predictions for this movie and turned them all on their heads. Taking risks is something that more filmmakers need to embrace, though doing so is resigning to the fact that you will not please everyone. It's taken me two viewings and a couple of weeks to reflect on this film before I've fully been able to even process all that I've seen. However, this is a movie that I can't wait to see again and again, to immerse myself in the chaos of a Rebellion on the rise and a changing of the guard for good and evil. It also has the coolest fight scene of the year, which you will definitely know when you see it. <i>Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi </i>is the most intriguing film, the most polarizing film, but also the most exciting and entertaining film of the year. Whenever I think of 2017, I will think of The Last Jedi, which makes it number one on my list.</div>
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So there you have it! What were your favorite films of 2017? Let me know in the comments section below. It's been a great year for movies, and I think next year is going to be another great one. I'll be hopefully getting some more reviews of these films out in the next couple of weeks, but I wanted to get this list out while it was still 2017. Look for my most anticipated films of 2018 to come out tomorrow! HAPPY NEW YEAR!</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-55560790122983742592017-09-10T14:42:00.000-07:002017-09-10T14:50:31.585-07:00Dunkirk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow, what a unique movie-going experience this turned out to be! I'm not going to pretend that I wasn't expecting this to be great. Christopher Nolan is my favorite director working today, and he has yet to disappoint me. I thought <i>Interstellar </i>was a masterful work of sci-fi with mind-bending concepts explored in a thrilling and eye-popping way. I was also one of the few who thought that <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i> was the best of the Batman trilogy, which is an opinion that I mostly still hold. Then there's <i>Inception</i>, which may be my favorite movie of all time. I honestly can't think of a single flaw in that masterpiece of a film. So yeah, I obviously have a great deal of admiration for Nolan has accomplished, but with that also comes increasingly lofty expectations for his latest efforts. Could he possibly live up to his own high bar with this unusual WWII film?<br />
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<i>Dunkirk </i>tells three different experiences simultaneously, though each is told in a different timeline. The Mole, which is the dock at which all of the ground troops are awaiting rescue on Dunkirk beach, takes place over the course of a week. The sea, which follows a small civilian vessel that is embarking to help as many British soldiers stranded on the beach as possible, takes place over a single day. Finally, the air tells the story of Spitfire pilots who are trying to ward off as many enemy planes as possible from raining down destruction upon the helpless soldiers. The events of this last story take place in just one hour.<br />
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I feel like that's plenty of explanation about the plot, particularly since this really isn't a plot-heavy movie, unlike many of Nolan's previous films. With <i>Dunkirk</i>, he's taken himself completely out of the box we've placed him in with complicated narratives involving twists and turns that introduce us to dozens of characters and usually lasts well over two hours. I for one was stunned to read that <i>Dunkirk </i>would only be a little over 90 minutes in length, a little more than half the running time of Nolan's previous directorial effort. However, the running time was as intentional as every other aspect of this brilliant movie. Nolan knew that the tension would be so palpable and unrelenting that he couldn't put the audience through it for too long. There's hardly a moment of relief from the building suspense of each character's struggle to survive, which is really what this movie is about.<br />
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I don't know that I've ever seen a movie quite like <i>Dunkirk</i>. Everything looks so authentic and real, from the sinking ships to the aerial combat. And why does it look so real? Because he filmed almost all of it in camera! The Spitfires were really airborne and there were IMAX cameras mounted to the wings in order to get the truest possible portrayal of what those pilots experienced. This might detract from some people's enjoyment of the film, as it can occasionally result in camera shakes and disorienting angles that could be unpleasant to weaker stomachs.<br />
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The noise of the film might also put people off, like the moment the first enemy plane comes on screen and we hear the building roar of the engine like a monster about to strike. Each gun shot sounds like it's happening right in your ear, and the explosions are thunderous and literally seat-shaking. However, what I love is that there's hardly any embellishment to the combat or destruction. The guns from the Spitfires don't cause fire balls to erupt from the enemy cockpits upon impact, but rather a trail of smoke appears as the plane slowly glides toward a violent crash on the surface of the water.<br />
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I could go on and on about the technical wonders this film achieved, but I'm sure it will be recognized by the Academy soon enough. This film might be light on story, as the few people who didn't like it will be quick to point out, but that's entirely by design. Nolan wasn't interested in making a movie that people had already seen dozens of times before. Instead, he pushed the boundaries of what could be done and put us in a terrifying environment with the characters in his story so we could experience their fear in the face of almost certain death. I'm perfectly fine with the fact that we didn't get long backstories about each person we encounter. To paraphrase what one character says at the end of the film, sometimes survival is enough.<br />
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Honestly, I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that this was a spectacular film, and one that isn't short on emotional payoff either. Once again, Hans Zimmer delivers with a heart-pounding score that perfectly accompanies the ever-rising intensity on screen. Just go and listen to the incredibly ferocious track "Supermarine" to see what I mean. I've seen some pretty great movies already this year, but so far <i>Dunkirk </i>stands head and shoulders above the rest as my favorite of the year. If you still can, I BEG you to see it in IMAX. It's unlike anything you've ever seen in the theater. Nolan has done it again, and I think this could be his year where the Academy feels the same way. I give <i>Dunkirk </i>a resounding 4 stars.<br />
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-84933496096870877442017-09-10T13:50:00.000-07:002017-09-10T13:50:03.268-07:00Beauty and the Beast (2017)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been six months since I saw this movie, but I figured I should probably type out my thoughts while they were still in my head.This is the first movie of the year that was on my list of most anticipated films of 2017, and man was I looking forward to <i>Beauty and the Beast</i>. The original animated movie holds such a special place in my heart that I was both eager and a bit uncertain about the live-action adaptation. There was a good chance they would continue with their excellent track record of late with <i>Cinderella </i>and <i>The Jungle Book</i>, but they could also fall back into <i>Maleficent </i>territory. Would they use this as an opportunity to expand on the story, or would it be a shot-for-shot remake of the Academy Award-nominated original?</div>
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Well, a little of both. Some parts of this movie are translated directly from the cartoon, and a lot of that has to do with the on-the-nose casting. Luke Evans completely steals the show as the arrogant and unintentionally comedic Gaston, and Emma Watson does a great job of portraying the humanity and the courage of Belle that was done so strongly in the original movie. Despite the seemingly perfect casting of Josh Gad as Lafou, however, I found his performance to be a bit underwhelming. For how goofy and cartoonish he can be, I felt he was far more subdued than his character deserved. Not only that, but his character was a bit too sympathetic for my taste.</div>
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Despite my love for the original film, I found that my favorite parts of this live-action retelling were the additional scenes of backstory telling us about Belle's mother and how they came to this "provincial life". Unfortunately, it felt like the rest of the film was a slightly watered down version of what we'd already seen. The characters weren't as fresh as their animated incarnations, and the drama wasn't quite as compelling as one would hope such a "tale as old as time" to be. </div>
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However, what they lack in originality and plot intrigue they mostly make up for with production design and visual spectacle. The manner in which they brought this story to life was truly wondrous to behold on the big screen, even if some of the characters weren't as anthropomorphized as I would have liked. The beast's design took a little getting used to, but I didn't have a problem with the changes they made to his appearance. His movements were smooth and natural looking, for the most part, and I think Dan Stevens did a great job of conveying both sides of his personality.</div>
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Overall, I can't deny that I was somewhat disappointed with the movie. I haven't been that impressed with director Bill Condon in general, and this did nothing to change my mind. The performances and the technical achievements were really what pulled this over the line into a positive review, but without those I would have been pretty infuriated with what Disney had done to this beloved animated classic. From what I've gathered, my opinion is fairly controversial (even if my star rating seems to contradict that), and I hope others were able to get more out of this film than I did. For me, however, I thought this movie was just okay. It definitely didn't reach my expectations, and there's a reason why I still haven't bought it on Blu Ray. I give Beauty and the Beast a slightly generous 3 stars.</div>
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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is rated PG for some action violence, peril and frightening images</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-75226843417034923862017-07-18T08:07:00.003-07:002017-07-18T08:07:43.315-07:00Spider-Man: Homecoming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, I know that at the beginning of the year I didn't put this film in my most anticipated list for 2017. I didn't think there was anything particularly new that they would bring to the table with yet another Spider-Man reboot. I get it, I was wrong. Obviously I had a feeling Tom Holland was going to be awesome in the role, having already seen him pull it off spectacularly in <i>Captain America: Civil War</i>, and with the addition of Tony Stark it looked like they were trying their hardest to appeal to as many fans as possible. The trailers for this film looked really fun, but I didn't really get the vision that Marvel had for <i>Spider-Man: Homecoming</i> until I sat down in my seat to watch it on the big screen. But what was that vision, and how well did it end up working?</div>
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Adrian Toomes is a construction worker who was hired by the city to clean up the wreckage following the incident in New York when the Avengers fought off an extraterrestrial army. However, as they're beginning their work, a third party entity arrives on the scene and claims to be taking over the project. Toomes is obviously upset, as he's bought trucks and hired hundreds of men for this project, the loss of which could cost him his house. In an act of desperation, he keeps some of the alien technology recovered from the site and begins reverse-engineering it into super weapons that he sells on the black market. Several years later, Peter Parker is still waiting for a call back from Tony Stark after being thrown into an epic battle with Captain America and his friends. In the meantime, he fills his evenings by doing (or trying to do) good deeds around the neighborhood... that is, until he stumbles upon an ATM heist by a group of thieves utilizing technology he has never seen before.</div>
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Okay, so that sounds like a lot of the plot so far, but in reality it only encompasses about twenty minutes of the film. The backstory and setup for this story is done incredibly economically, and I love that we start out with the villain's origins rather than Peter's. Let's be honest, no one needs to see the spider bite or Uncle Ben's murder again, and thankfully that isn't shown in this film. Sure, the spider bite is eluded to, and there's a passing mention of Aunt May going through a tough time, but that's all the pathos that we get here. While some people might see this as a flaw (for some incomprehensible reason), I find this streamlined origin story to be refreshing. His origins here isn't about how to deal with his new powers or how to overcome his sorrow, but it's about how to navigate his social life while trying to do whatever it takes to become an official member of the Avengers.</div>
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Peter's teenage hubris makes him take incredible risks along his path to Avenger-dome... if that's a word... and his decisions in general are relatable and true to his level of maturity. He thinks and acts like an authentic teenager, which is a nice perspective to have for a story about a teenager. You wouldn't think that would need to be called out as a compliment, but so many films fail to accomplish that simple task that I feel the need to make that point. The way he opens up to those who are in the know about his powers and seeing their reactions to it are a nice change of pace as well, having never seen anyone actually know his identity in previous Spider-Man movies... besides love interests or villains.</div>
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One thing I was a little nervous about was the seemingly forced inclusion of Tony Stark in this story. However, after seeing how he's integrated I have to say that they've seamlessly incorporated this character without having him overwhelm the story or take too much focus away from Peter. He's a self-professed father figure to Peter, and it's a dynamic that works incredibly well. Their chemistry is organic and believable, and Tony's blase attitude is both endearing and reasonably frustrating when seen from Peter's perspective. This is why it's so great that Spidey is in the MCU, because he can now interact with other characters we love and form relationships that expand his character in ways we've never seen before on the big screen.</div>
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Of course, the hero is only as good as his villain, and the MCU has a history of underwhelming bad guys. Plus, who really cares about The Vulture? Well, somehow they managed to pull off a version of this baddie that was true to his comic book design, but also not as silly as it easily could have looked. It's not just his appearance that made him great, however, as the legendary Michael Keaton takes this character to another level with a grounded, gritty performance that also makes us feel a certain level of sympathy for him. His situation is one with which the audience can relate, and thankfully he doesn't already have a personal connection to Peter (which was starting to get ridiculously implausible in the previous movies).</div>
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Ultimately, this is a massively enjoyable and highly entertaining superhero flick that takes the character in uncharted territory when it seemed that every area had been explored to death. Turns out it was the same territory that was just being revisited over and over again, and thankfully it seems we're in safe creative hands for the foreseeable future. Tom Holland is the perfect iteration of Peter Parker and Spider-Man, bringing the humor and the action to live while making us feel for the character at all the right moments. This is not only one of the best films of the year so far, but it's one of the best MCU films ever released. As of right now, I would put it 2nd only to <i>Captain America: The Winter Soldier</i>, which is incredibly high praise. Definitely go and see this movie, you won't be disappointed. I give <i>Spider-Man: Homecoming</i> a solid four stars.</div>
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SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-69766741619608786802017-06-05T16:26:00.001-07:002017-06-05T16:26:48.081-07:00Wonder Woman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finally! If I could write a one word review, I think that would be it. Not only has DC been waiting to have a major release get near universal praise as well as box office success, but the character of Wonder Woman has been around for over 75 years without any theatrical adaptation whatsoever. During that time, we've gotten six major Superman films and eight major Batman films, not including the infamous team-up we got last year (that just so happens to debut the title character from this film). A lot was riding on <i>Wonder Woman</i>, and Warner Bros was in the midst of a PR nightmare after their first two releases failed to win over the majority of fans or critics. As a result, the future of their cinematic universe rested on the very capable shoulders of this Amazonian demigod, and I am thrilled to report that she did not disappoint!</div>
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That's as much of the plot as I'll go into right now. I've heard some people complain about the protracted nature of this setup, but I for one appreciated getting as much detail as possible about Diana's backstory, as this is the first opportunity most audiences have had to hear it. The design of the island is incredible, and it's legitimized by tremendous performances from Connie Nielsen (Hippolyta) and especially Robin Wright, whose ferocity and passion brings gravitas to this character and this world in general. It's kind of a shame that we don't spend more time here, but at least it's comforting to know that the best parts of the film are yet to come.</div>
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Who I was most impressed by was Chris Pine and Gal Gadot. Not only do they have wonderful chemistry together, but they also provide two tricky sides of female-led superhero films that desperately need to work - the male sidekick and the female protagonist. In so many films highlighting a strong woman, they feel the need to undermine the male characters at every turn. Thankfully they've embodied a female character so strong and powerful that they don't need to weaken the men around her. She stands out plenty as it is. Gadot is perfect for this role, portraying Diana's courage and compassion in equal measure. Not only is she by far the greatest female superhero we've ever had, but she's probably one of the best superheroes ever put on screen period.</div>
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As a huge fan of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, I was relieved that they didn't try to shy away from the connect between that film and this one. There are direct references to the snippets of backstory provided in that film about Diana Prince, and the Hans Zimmer-composed theme from that film is repeated here at all the right moments. Though there aren't a ton of tie-ins to the rest of the DCEU (which is probably a good thing), I still left this theater dying to see more of Wonder Woman in the upcoming <i>Justice League</i> film. Seriously, November cannot come quickly enough.</div>
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Overall, I don't really have any complaints about this movie. Sure, the third act gets a little CGI-heavy, but I would actually argue that it's far less so than most of the superhero films of the last couple of years. There were so many moments in this film that gave me chills that I have to recommend seeing this movie in theaters to everyone who reads this. I was so excited for all of the women in our theater (especially my wife, who has been looking forward to this movie forever), and seeing the reaction from women on social media has only heightened the experience. </div>
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It's about time we got a female-led superhero film, and thankfully it stands out as a great superhero film regardless of gender. I am so glad they are bringing Patty Jenkins back to direct the sequel. She was able to create a well-rounded character in Diana that was powerful, but also distinctly feminine. Too often those are seen as a contradiction, and I love that this movie portrays a far more truthful take. I give Wonder Woman four stars, and I can't wait to see it again!</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-44158321961342884362017-05-26T14:33:00.002-07:002017-05-26T15:26:17.439-07:00Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finally we have another major release to talk about! April has been a very long month in that regard. As someone who has never seen a Fast and the Furious movie, I've been biding my time for <i>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2</i> since <i>Beauty and the Beast</i> came out in March. From here on out we're getting a blockbuster a week until the end of summer, and I couldn't be happier! It's been almost three years since the first Guardians of the Galaxy was released, and given its unexpected success it was surprising that Marvel took their time churning out this hotly anticipated sequel. But how did this film measure up to the heightened expectations after the surprise success of the first film?</div>
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Well, it was always going to be tough for this film to match up to its predecessor. There was almost no expectations for Guardians when it first came out, and that made it seem that much better to most audiences. How could a movie with a talking raccoon and an anthropomorphic tree possibly be any good? It was sort of a catch-22 by producing a sequel to that film, as it was almost guaranteed to make a bunch of money, but would almost certainly disappoint by comparison. To sum up my review, that was exactly what happened.</div>
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Where the humor mostly seemed naturally integrated into the story of the first film, in Vol 2 the balance seemed to be way off from scene to scene. Sometimes the humor would overpower the story entirely, and other times there would be some truly dramatic scenes that could have benefited from a bit of levity. Not only was the ratio a bit off at times, but the level of humor was cranked to a level that seemed almost desperate in certain moments. The first movie did a great job of weaving humor into the plot to provide comic relief in what could otherwise have been a dark and somber affair. That's not to say that this movie isn't funny. Indeed, it may have funnier moments than even the first film. There are just waaaay more jokes here than there probably needed to be.</div>
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The linchpin for this film's success was the father-son dynamic between Chris Pratt and Kurt Russell. I for one was surprised to see that Marvel was willing to disclose this information in the trailer for the film, as they're normally so cagey about what details they are willing to divulge in marketing materials. However, that wasn't the biggest surprise of this film, so perhaps they didn't feel the need to keep it close to the vest in this case. Either way, Kurt Russell was perfectly cast as Peter Quill's father, (aka, Ego The Living Planet). Not only do they both have a similar swagger that makes them so likable, but they also have the acting chops to sell some father-son bonding moments that could easily come off cheesy.</div>
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There's a lot going on in this film, and not enough time to delve into all of it. Besides, I like to keep my reviews relatively spoiler-free, so I'll refrain from going into any more plot details. Suffice it to say that this is a fun, colorful, and exciting film that furthers the story of these characters and sets us up for potentially many more movies that could spin off from what happens here. The more Marvel makes these films, the more I'm beginning to realize that there seems to be a ceiling and floor that the MCU is capable of filling with the quality of their films. That guarantees a certain level of quality for each outing, but also prevents anything truly great from getting through their filters. The Captain America films seem to be the anomaly here.</div>
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Anyway, I really did enjoy this film for the most part. I found parts of it disingenuous, and the action scenes were played in hyper-speed, but it was undoubtedly entertaining. Perhaps this was Disney's intent, but it made me really excited to ride the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout attraction at Disneyland as soon as possible. Though I didn't think it measured up to the original, I think it's a pretty solid entry into the MCU. Hopefully Marvel doesn't fall in love with the box office this film is going to garner and transform all of their properties into clones of the Guardians (as I'm fearing for Thor: Ragnarok). All-in-all, I think this movie deserves a solid three stars.</div>
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GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 2 is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and brief suggestive content</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-81611509364082168152017-05-04T16:25:00.003-07:002017-05-04T16:25:49.577-07:00Kong: Skull Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been so long since this movie came out that I've actually seen it twice. As a huge fan of the 2014 <i>Godzilla </i>reboot (not to mention of the creature in general), I couldn't wait to see where Warner Bro's was going to take this expanding movie universe. Being as keyed in to movie news as I am, I've known for months and months now that they were building towards a King Kong vs. Godzilla movie (though <i>Godzilla: King of Monsters</i> is obviously the next on the docket). With that in mind, I went into Kong: Skull Island with a lot of optimism.</div>
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I'll spare you the plot details, as it's pretty sparse, but suffice it to say that the government agency known as Monarch (as seen in <i>Godzilla</i>) is looking for an excuse to go and explore this mysterious island, dragging a military escort, a professional tracker, and a war photographer along for the ride. The result is obviously cataclysmic and horrific for the entire party, and mayhem ensues for the following two hours.</div>
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That may sound like I'm giving the plot short shrift, but I actually found it to be a serviceable excuse to have an adventure where Kong is discovered. Some of the ties to the greater shared universe being built here work better than others, but for the most part they do a satisfactory job with the world-building. It's very reminiscent of Jurassic Park, to the point where Samuel L. Jackson even repeats his immortal line, "Hold onto your butts."</div>
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This cast is tremendous, and I'm honestly a bit shocked they were able to wrangle in so many A-listers for a seemingly run-of-the-mill monster movie. Of course, the King Kong legacy is an appealing one for actors, and I'm sure they were offered plenty of compensation for their hard work. Overall, the acting was just okay for me. I wasn't expecting much, though. These kinds of films aren't designed to be showcases for acting prowess. In fact, I wouldn't go into this film with snacks of any kind. You probably won't have much of an appetite after some of the gruesome things that happen on screen.</div>
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Ultimately, this was a fun and a bit forgettable, with the most exciting thing coming after the credits when we hear the iconic roar of Godzilla accompanied by cave paintings of the legendary beast fighting his nemeses. Really, they accomplished what they needed to here by reintroducing us to the titular monster, getting us to like him, and setting up a shared movie-verse where we can see him interact with other creatures we like. It's got some interesting <i>Apocalypse Now</i> homages, and the intensity was ratcheted up to 11 from start to finish. For that, I'm giving Kong: Skull Island three stars.</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-12242016995854234992017-05-04T16:11:00.000-07:002017-05-04T16:11:01.547-07:00The Lego Batman Movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have a ton of movies to catch up on, so this will have to be a bit abbreviated. As anyone who read my review of <i>The Lego Movie</i> could tell you, I thought that was a top-notch animated film on the same level as the <i>Toy Story</i> movies. How could they possibly make another movie that met our increased expectations with as much wit and heart as they were able to pull off with the original? </div>
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Well, they didn't quite do it here, but they came incredibly close. Batman is such a storied franchise that the amount of material for satire is overflowing. They have decades of films, comics, and TV shows to play off of, and they do it expertly throughout this movie. The jokes come at such a rapid rate, that I'm sure I only caught about 75% of them, and they still accomplished the most difficult yet essential requirements for an animated movie - having it be as entertaining for adults as it is for children.</div>
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The voice cast is tremendous, with Will Arnett being the obvious standout (reprising his role from the original <i>Lego Movie</i>), but newcomers Ralph Fiennes and Michael Cera as Alfred and Robin respectively are perfect additions that work perfectly in this world. Zach Galifianakis is great as the Joker as well, and Siri's on-the-nose portayal as the computer (or 'Puter) is a terrific bit of stunt casting that always made me giggle.</div>
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I'll wrap up this review by saying that the animation is incredibly clever, the humor is pitch-perfect, and the story is surprisingly heartfelt. No, it isn't as surprising and multi-layered as <i>The Lego Movie</i>, but it comes close to reaching that height, which is probably better than I could have reasonably expected. It may have gone a little long for an animated film with the pace it was trying to maintain, but that's more of a nitpick than a genuine complaint.</div>
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The year is early, and though I didn't think it was worth the full four stars, I still think it's the best film I've seen so far this year (I'm seeing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 tonight, though, so that could change). That's a bit of a spoiler for my other reviews yet to come that I'm catching up on, but so be it. The point is, <i>The Lego Batman Movie</i> was a highly enjoyable time at the theater, and I won't hesitate to give it three and a half stars. Go see it in the dollar theater!</div>
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THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE is rated PG for rude humor and some action</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-54731862447907220132017-05-04T15:50:00.002-07:002017-05-04T15:50:45.182-07:00Split<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow, that was quite the hiatus. This movie has been out for a while, and since I have so many movie reviews to catch up on, I'll be keeping this brief. Shyamalan has been a point of curiosity for me ever since he went from a tremendous run of hits to a deplorable stretch of misses over the last twenty years. I've been pulling for him, though, as <i>The Sixth Sense</i>, <i>Unbreakable</i>, and <i>Signs</i> are all tremendous thrillers that I've seen multiple times, and I even enjoyed <i>The Village</i> for what it was. So when Split started to get some positive buzz, I hoped that it would help pull M. Night out of his self-imposed obscurity and back into the spotlight as the ambitious and talented filmmaker that I believe him to be.</div>
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Like I said before, this is going to be an abbreviated review, but let me say that if you're going into this film hoping for a suspenseful experience, you definitely won't be disappointed. Shyamalan has a real knack for creating unsettling scenes and taking on dramatic material with artistry and creativity. That hasn't always been the case, but he certainly brought his A-game here. If anything, it may be too unsettling for its own good (let alone for a PG-13 movie) and tackles some pretty dark material, but it all comes together by the end of the film.</div>
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Obviously the best thing about this movie is James McAvoy's transformative performance as the dissociative identity disorder sufferer whose personalities are conspiring to unleash something truly terrible on three unsuspecting girls he has kidnapped. His sudden transitions from personality to personality is incredible to watch, and worthy of whatever acting accolades he has in his future. This is all the more exciting thanks to the sequel plans Shyamalan has announced on his Twitter account, but we won't get into that here.</div>
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Bottom line, this is a suspenseful and at times tragic story of what could have been a laughable premise if another actor were attempting to pull of what McAvoy does here. Shyamalan is back on his game, and I'm actually excited to see what the next film delivers, particularly based on that final scene that changed the way I viewed this movie entirely. Not for the faint of heart, but Split is still worthy of a solid 3 stars. Check this one out on Red Box when you get a chance!</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-26775416107359479802017-01-02T16:50:00.000-08:002017-01-02T16:56:07.823-08:00Most Anticipated Films of 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's a new year, which means we have a whole bunch of exciting new movies to look forward to over the next twelve months! As with all years, I can't include all of the films I'm anticipating on this list. For example, I've had to exclude the new <i>Mummy</i> remake with Tom Cruise (even though it looks pretty intriguing), Stephen King's <i>Dark Tower</i> adaptation starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, and original films like <i>The Circle</i>, starring Tom Hanks and Emma Watson. So which movies did make the list? You'll get my top 10 list in a second, but first here are some honorable mentions.</div>
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I know, it's sort of goofy... but this hits a major area of nostalgia for me. As a kid in elementary school, I used to rush home every day so I could watch the Power Rangers on TV in my Red Ranger outfit. Yeah, I was that kid. I had friends who had massive toys of the Zords, and story arcs like the Green Ranger turning evil and then coming back as the White Ranger were legendary to me. I'm not sure how this adaptation will do, but I like what I see so far from this teaser trailer. Color me hopeful that we'll finally get a decent Power Rangers film on the big screen.</div>
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Beware, this trailer contains horrific violence... If you've seen any of the previous Alien movies or Prometheus, then you should know more or less what you're in for, but don't click the play button on this trailer lightly. As a fan of the first two Alien films as well as Prometheus, I was excited to see where they would take the future story lines (even if I was disappointed by Neill Blomkamp's sequel story getting nixed). This looks like we're getting some truly horrific stuff with the Xenomorph back in all its glory. Hopefully this continues the upward trend for Ridley Scott. It may even be too intense for me, but it definitely looks intriguing.</div>
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<b>Kong: Skull Island (3/10/2017)</b></div>
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I was a HUGE fan of 2014's Godzilla film, and after hearing that Kong: Skull Island was in the same universe was enough on its own to get me excited to see it. Throw in the talents of Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman, and the rest of the star-studded cast, and this promises to be an incredibly fun and exciting adventure. Luckily we only have to wait until March to get this film, so be sure to mark it on your calendars.</div>
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<b>The LEGO Batman Movie (2/10/2017)</b><br />
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After absolutely loving the original LEGO movie, I was on board for whatever they were going to come out with next. Admittedly, I was hoping it would be a straight sequel to that movie instead of a spin-off. However, the trailers instantly reassured me that this would have the same witty humor and clever self-awareness that the original movie had, while focusing on one of the standouts from that film. As long as the film delivers what is promised in the trailer, I'm sure no one will be disappointed.</div>
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<b>Spider-Man: Homecoming (7/7/2017)</b><br />
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I know, I can't believe it didn't make the top 10 list either. The thing is, I've already seen a lot of Spider-Man films at this point, and while I can't wait to see his first standalone as an official part of the MCU, it's slightly less exciting than what some of the other films this year are offering. Still, the trailer for this movie was fantastic, and Tony Stark's inclusion is already proving to be a stroke of genius. Plus, I think Michael Keaton's addition may be the biggest up-side this movie has, which is saying something. Do I expect this film to be better than some of the others on my list? Absolutely. I'm just a little more excited for those ones at the moment. This still looks terrific, though!</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Most Anticipated Films of 2017</span></u></b></div>
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<b>#10 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (5/26/2017)</b><br />
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I know, the Pirates series hasn't been on a great streak lately... however the new directors have some indie credit and experience working in ocean-centric stories. To be honest, I've always had a bit of a soft spot for this franchise (<i>At World's End</i> may be my favorite of all of them), but there are certainly things to be excited about here. For one thing, we're getting Will Turner and potentially Elizabeth Swan back in the story, as well as presumably their son. It's been ten years since the third film was released, which is significant if you remember how that movie ended. Not only that, but we also get another villainous turn from the extremely talented Javier Bardem. And come on, that trailer looks really good, you can admit it.</div>
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<b>#9 Thor: Ragnarok (11/3/2017)</b></div>
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This is the first film on this list without a trailer released (but not the only one, of course), and it may be hindering some of my excitement for the movie. Marvel seems to be knowing what they're doing, however, and I'm sure I'll be dying to see this film once we get a little closer to the release date. Thor has had the most problematic sequel of all of the Avengers, so hopefully they can right the ship with <i>Ragnarok</i>. According to the cast (Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban, etc.) and the potential inclusion of the Planet Hulk story, it appears they're looking to do just that. </div>
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<b>#8 Blade Runner 2049 (10/6/2017)</b><br />
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Blade Runner was a highly influential film, despite being a bit of a flop at the time of its release back in 1982. Given that this sequel is brought to us by the director of <i>Arrival</i> (which I still can't wait to finally see), I've got a lot of hope that this can be the rare 20+ year-old sequel that actually delivers. It doesn't hurt that Ryan Gosling is in the starring role and that Harrison Ford is reprising the Decard character from the original film. This has the potential to be something truly special, and based on the teaser trailer I think there's a good chance it could live up to that potential.</div>
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<b>#7 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (5/5/2017)</b></div>
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Obviously this was going to make an appearance on my list. Both of the trailers we've had for this film so far have been exceptional, showing that we're still getting the same entertaining space-travelling action film as before, but with some new dynamics for the characters to play off of. I'm also really excited to finally get some answers about Star Lord's dad (being played by the terrific Kurt Russell). The reason this isn't higher up on the list is that we haven't really seen how this will be that different from the first one yet, but I'm sure we will in future trailers.</div>
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<b>#6 War for the Planet of the Apes (7/14/2017)</b></div>
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This is a film I've been craving ever since I got out of the theater where <i>Dawn of the Planet of the Apes</i> was playing in 2014. We've got Matt Reeves back directing this film, and from the trailer it looks like it's going to be an all out war (which is fitting, given the title) between the humans and apes. I'm not sure what the plans are for future films either, so anything is possible here. Are they going to follow the trajectory of making this a build-up to the original Planet of the Apes, or will they give us some crazy twist? Probably the former, but I wouldn't put anything past this series. Can't wait to see what happens with Caesar and the rest of the apes we love this summer!</div>
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<b>#5 Wonder Woman (6/2/2017)</b></div>
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You know, in almost any other year this would be either number one or two on my list. The trailer to this looks so incredible that it almost brings tears to my eyes when I watch it. About freakin' time that we got a Wonder Woman movie! The action looks incredible, and I love the World War I setting. It looks like a combination of Marvel's Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, which I think will take the best aspects of each of those films and put it into something totally new and even more iconic. I wish this was coming out sooner than June, but I daresay the wait will totally be worth it!</div>
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<b>#4 Beauty and the Beast (3/17/2017)</b></div>
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I know this looks like a shot-for-shot remake of the 1991 animated film... but what's wrong with that? Besides, I think there are going to be new elements introduced in this film that we haven't dealt with before. For example, where are his parents? What do the townspeople think of this decrepit castle? I can't wait to see this story brought to life in live-action form, and the cast they've chosen seem born to play their respective roles. I would have been worried about this film before seeing what Disney did with <i>Cinderella</i> and to a lesser extent <i>The Jungle Book</i>, but they've proven that they can reimagine a beloved animated classic while giving it an extra dose of their patented magic. Can't wait for this! </div>
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<b>#3 Dunkirk (7/21/2017)</b></div>
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Talk about movies that would normally get the top spot in any other year. Christopher Nolan is my favorite director working today, so I would see anything he decided to make. However, the fact that he chose to tell this powerful story makes it somehow even more special. I'm sure it will garner a significant number of awards attention, despite its unorthodox summer release, but that doesn't really matter that much to me. I just can't wait to see how Nolan will portray this significant event that most of us Yanks aren't that familiar with. The imagery looks beautiful and yet dreadful (in a good way), and one can only guess what his frequent collaborator Hans Zimmer will add with his score.</div>
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<b>#2 Justice League (11/17/2017)</b><br />
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Yet again, this would definitely have taken the top spot in any other year. 2017 is just that exciting! I was a much bigger fan of <i>Batman v Superman</i> than most people, so the idea of having to wait a year and a half to see how Zack Snyder would follow up that story was almost too much for me to handle. The teaser trailer is certainly promising, even given the conspicuous absence of The Man of Steel. I have a really good feeling that Warner Bros is going to make some serious noise this year, and the inclusion of Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg into this team up is surely going to result in standalone films for each of them as well. I seriously cannot wait for this movie!</div>
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<b>#1 Star Wars: Episode VIII (12/15/2017)</b></div>
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Was there any doubt? I don't think there is another film I'm looking forward to more in the next three years than Episode VIII. After <i>The Force Awakens</i> completely knocked it out of the park, I remember wishing I could go directly out of that theater and into the sequel. We haven't had an official trailer yet, and we don't even know what the title of the film is... but this is Star Wars! There are so many things I want to know, and the last year of speculation has been killing me! Where did Rey come from? What has Luke been up to? Who is Supreme Leader Snoke? Will Kylo Ren get his revenge? So much to look forward to here, and it's still a whole year away.... that's kind of depressing. Still, this is far and away the movie I'm looking forward to most in 2017, and I doubt I'm alone in that. It's probably the last time we'll see Carrie Fisher as General Leia, and while that does put a damper on things, I'm sure they'll give the character a noble send off, either here or in Episode IX. John Williams is returning to score the film as well, which may be the thing I'm looking forward to most, believe it or not. December might as well be a galaxy far far away at this point, but at least I've got the rest of this list to tide me over until then.<br />
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So there you have it! What are the films you're looking forward to most in 2017! Let me know in the comments, and don't forget to follow my blog so you get notified of all my reviews in the future. </div>
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Thanks for reading and have a great new year!</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-26503375698628330522017-01-01T19:03:00.000-08:002017-01-01T19:17:24.157-08:00Best Films of 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow, another year is in the books, and while few would call 2016 one of their favorite years ever, it's tough to argue that the movies were a total bust. In fact, there were so many good movies released this year that I'm hard pressed to narrow it down to 10. Of course, as usual there are several great films that I didn't get a chance to catch up on this year. The most likely to feature on this list would have been <i>Arrival</i>, <i>Hidden Figures</i>, <i>A Monster Calls</i>, <i>Sully</i>, and <i>Patriot's Day</i>. I'm sure I'll get to them soon, but I didn't want to wait for that to release my annual list of my favorite things from the past year in film. Hope you all enjoy!<br />
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<b>Finding Dory</b><br />
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In my review I stated that I was sort of reluctant for Pixar to make a sequel to the beloved<i> Finding Nemo</i>, but they've proved once again that they seem to be back on the right track. While I couldn't quite put it on my top 10 list, this still gives me hope that future sequels I care greatly about (<i>The Incredibles 2 </i>and <i>Toy Story 4</i>) will be handled with an equal level of care.</div>
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<b>Jason Bourne</b><br />
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This trailer was so exciting to me that I would have been there opening weekend no matter how poorly the finished product turned out. Luckily, I found the film to be a worthy follow-up to the near perfect trilogy of Bourne films Matt Damon already gave us. While it wasn't quite at the same level of excellence (hence its exclusion from the top 10), its still one of the most exciting and topical action films of 2016, and therefore deserves a mention at the very least.</div>
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<b>X-Men: Apocalypse</b></div>
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While the critical response wasn't quite what I was hoping to see, I still had relatively high expectations for the sequel to 2014's <i>Days of Future Past</i>. Click on the title for my full review, but I felt they more or less accomplished what they set out to do here. The continued screen time of Quicksilver alone is enough to get this film an honorable mention from me. Check it out if you haven't already had a chance.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Top 10 Films of 2016</span></u></b></div>
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<b>#10 Doctor Strange</b><br />
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Marvel did it again with their newest and strangest (sorry about that) hero to date. Cumberbatch fits the titular doctor like a glove, and the trippy imagery combined with a fascinating new dimension to the Marvel universe makes this a shoe-in for a spot on my top 10 list. It's easily the best character introduction film since the first <i>Iron Man</i> back in 2008, and it gets me incredibly excited about what Marvel has in store for the rest of Phase 3.</div>
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<b>#9 10 Cloverfield Lane</b></div>
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This is a film that slipped by everyone's radar this year, as it wasn't even announced until the first trailer debuted mere weeks prior to its theatrical debut. Its inclusion in the Cloverfield storyline isn't a hinderance to this movie at all, but merely adds another layer of intrigue to an already suspense-filled story. Add ot that the tremendous performance of John Goodman in a very different kind of role, and I can't imagine anyone not being at least curious to see what happens. I definitely recommend it.</div>
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<b>#8 Deepwater Horizon</b></div>
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The trailer for this movie looked very powerful, yet I wasn't exactly itching to catch <i>Deepwater Horizon</i> the moment it was released in theaters. Perhaps it's the horrific nature of those events, but I had a feeling it would be an utterly depressing affair. While I can't say it was an altogether fun experience to watch, it was certainly a gripping and harrowing film that puts certain things into perspective. I teared up a few times when I realized that the horrors portrayed here actually took place. Another great collaboration between Peter Berg and Mark Whalberg. Bring on <i>Patriot's Day</i>!</div>
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<b>#7 Zootopia</b></div>
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Disney seems to be supplanting Pixar a bit in the animation department these days. Zootopia looked interesting and fun from the moment I heard Jason Bateman's clever monologue in the initial teaser trailer. However, I wasn't expecting it to be so culturally relevant and socially sophisticated. Disney has a great knack for creating likable and relatable characters, and that is certainly the case here. Apart from being a bit predictable near the end, I thought this movie was a total triumph!</div>
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<b>#6 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story</b></div>
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Shocked that it's not higher on the list? I am, considering the hype I heard prior to seeing <i>Rogue One</i> on opening night. Don't get me wrong, I still really really liked this film, and I'm sure that on subsequent viewings I'm going to like it even more. The rag-tag group of rebels we follow are brave, loyal and offer the perfect amount of comedy relief. My biggest gripe about the film (the score) has been remedied (see below for more on that), and the ending was so exhilarating that I can't imagine how anyone could dislike it. A great start to the Star Wars standalone films!</div>
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<b>#5 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them</b></div>
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As an enormous Harry Potter fan (the books first, but I liked the movies too), I was excited to finally see a movie set in the wizarding world where I didn't already know what was going to happen. It also didn't hurt that JK Rowling was returning to pen the script for <i>Fantastic Beasts</i>. The result was an expansion to the mythology that didn't rely too much on fan service and yet introduced us to new characters that I'm excited to follow in future sequels. Warner Bros, you have another blockbuster franchise on your hands with this one. </div>
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<b>#4 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice</b></div>
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BvS was easily the most divisive movie of 2016, and I therefore struggled to decide where to ultimately place this film in my list. To be honest, there are things I like more about this film than the #3 pick, but there are certainly a couple of things I would change as well. Ultimately, I thought this was a criminally underrated film, and one of the best superhero films in years. The script is a lot more complex and thought-provoking than people give it credit for, and Ben Affleck's Batman is a terrific new take on the character that I can't wait to see play out in the DCEU.</div>
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<b>#3 Captain America: Civil War</b></div>
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Marvel's sequel to the game-changing Captain America: The Winter Soldier is as entertaining as it is challenging. This isn't exactly the feel-good movie that The Avengers was, but it does have some unparalleled moments of spectacle as well. Like I said, this was a tricky one to place, and it's really a coin-flip between this and BvS for me. However, the gut-wrenching plot twist that ignites this Civil War is so brilliantly executed that I had to give this one the slight edge over its DC counterpart. The drama is every bit as captivating as the action, and that's no easy task. Well done, Russo brothers.</div>
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<b>#2 Moana</b></div>
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I would have never predicted that two movies excluded from my most anticipated films of 2016 list would take the top two spots. Disney pulled off a record-breaking year at the box office, but <i>Moana </i>is surprisingly my favorite of all of their blockbuster releases. The princess stories may seem a bit played out at this point, and yet Disney somehow brought us something refreshing and new to occupy an area that we didn't realize was lacking. The animation in this film will take your breath away, and the music is phenomenal (more on that below). I didn't think Disney could top what they did with Zootopia, but they actually pulled off something far greater. To me, this is the best Disney animated film (excluding Pixar) since <i>The Lion King</i>. Yeah, it's <i>that </i>good! </div>
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<b>#1 La La Land</b></div>
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Here we are, at the number one spot of my list and it's one that I never saw coming. I hadn't even heard of <i>La La Land</i> at this time last year, but I'm sure everyone will be hearing plenty about it soon. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are the best on-screen romantic pairing in decades, and their chemistry is even better here than it was in their first collaboration, <i>Crazy Stupid Love</i>. Read my review for my full thoughts on the film, but suffice it to say that the creativity is running over in this completely original musical that effortlessly blends comedy, drama and romance. It's destined to be an instant classic, and don't be surprised if it brings home a ton of Oscars in a couple of months. Do yourselves a favor and check out <i>La La Land</i> as soon as possible - The Best Film of 2016!</div>
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<b><u>Worst Movie of 2016</u></b></div>
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<b>Independence Day: Resurgence</b></div>
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Wow... was this movie a disappointment. I don't want to rag on it too much, but given how optimistic that first trailer made me, I was really let down by what Roland Emmerich and his team threw together here. Clearly they took a lot of time to come up with this sequel, but I fear it's one of those cases where they took too much time and overthought every element to the point where nothing comes together as a cohesive story. The effects are pretty great, but there's an unfortunate lack of city-destroying mayhem that was such a staple of the original. Add to that their half-witted attempt to shoehorn a sequel storyline into this concoction, and you get what was easily the worst film I saw all year. Please don't waste your time or money on this one.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Top 10 Scores of 2016</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">As is my tradition, I've also included a list of my favorite scores from this past year. I feel like even the most beautiful music in movies goes unsung (pardon the pun) by the general public, so hopefully this list will help someone gain a little appreciation for the artistry that goes into a score. Enjoy!</span></div>
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<b>#10 The Jungle Book</b></div>
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(John Debney)</div>
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To be honest, the most memorable part about this score is the original theme interspersed throughout this soundtrack. Having said that, there are some new compositions here that make it a worthy listen. The film may have been a slight disappointment for me, but this music is pretty solid.</div>
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<b>#9 Doctor Strange</b></div>
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(Michael Giacchino)<br />
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Giacchino is probably the most prolific Hollywood composer working today, which is why he's on here twice. His work on Doctor Strange may be a bit reminiscent of his Star Trek theme, but the overall sound is so unique that I never really drew that comparison until someone pointed it out. The Middle-Eastern flair he enriches the melodies with sets this film apart as the most peculiar in the Marvel universe, which is only a good thing.</div>
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<b>#8 Arrival</b></div>
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(Johan Johannsson)</div>
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I haven't seen the movie yet (though I'm dying to), but I couldn't be held back from checking out this score. Johan Johannsson has done great work with <i>Sicario </i>and <i>Prisoners</i>, and he continues that ingenuity with his effort for Arrival. It's a moody theme that conveys the magnitude and power of an alien invasion, while also highlighting the mysterious nature of an extraterrestrial encounter. This will probably go higher on my list after seeing the film, and I can't wait to hear what he comes up with for <i>Blade Runner 2049</i> next year.</div>
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<b>#7 Captain America: Civil War</b></div>
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(Henry Jackman)</div>
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Henry Jackman is one of my favorite composers working today, and while I wasn't quite as taken with his score for <i>Civil War</i> as his extraordinary work on <i>The Winter Soldier</i>, I still think it heightens the complicated emotions that this particular story desperately needs. Just this one song is haunting, triumphant, and exciting at all the right moments, and I give Jackman a lot of credit for not relying too much on his previous work. Hopefully Marvel brings him back for <i>Avengers: Infinity War</i> in 2018!</div>
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<b>#6 Suicide Squad</b></div>
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(Steven Price)</div>
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I feel like this score is a bit overshadowed by the soundtrack, but the music by Oscar-winning composer Steven Price is one of the best parts of the film! Soundtracks that don't include original music aren't that appealing to, as you can get that music in a lot of places. The only place that you can hear Price's multi-layered score is in the movie, and that makes it far more special. There are hints of his terrific work on <i>Fury </i>in this score, but it's definitely more melodic and fun, which is a perfect fit for a superhero film. Give this one a listen!</div>
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<b>#5 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story</b></div>
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(Michael Giacchino)</div>
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If you've read my review, then you know that one of my big sticking points with this movie was the score. I couldn't appreciate it because I thought it didn't match up to the work by John Williams. While that may be true, I've since really come to love the work that Michael Giacchino has done here. It's all the more impressive when you realize he had about four weeks to write this score from start to finish (most composers get about four months). The score is a beautiful combination of tragedy and triumph, which isn't a sound we're necessarily accustomed to in Star Wars. However, it's perfectly fitting for the story being told in <i>Rogue One</i>. If you're underwhelmed by this like I was, PLEASE give it another chance! I'm loving it more and more each time I hear it. Now I think of it, #5 might not be high enough on this list...<br />
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<b>#4 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them</b></div>
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(James Newton Howard)</div>
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James Newton Howard is a great composer, but I was a little nervous about how he was going to follow John Williams' footsteps (seems to be a lot of that this year). While he doesn't give us the same thing Williams did, it's a great fit for how JK Rowling approached this spin-off. Howard puts the same magic in the score, though the themes are all original and just as lovely in their own right. There was a lot to live up to, but Howard absolutely nailed it. Check it out for yourself!</div>
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<b>#3 La La Land</b></div>
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(Justin Hurwitz)</div>
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You know a score is good when you're flooded with multiple emotions at once as soon as you hear it. That's exactly what Justin Hurwitz accomplished with this brilliant music. Not only are the songs in this film terrific, but the background score perfectly complements all of the other expertly-executed aspects of this masterful film. I defy anyone (especially if they've seen the film) to listen to this clip above and not feel something. It's a medley of all the themes of the film, so you can see hear what I'm talking about for yourself. Seriously a work of art, in every sense of the word.</div>
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<b>#2</b> <b> Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice</b></div>
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(Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL)</div>
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Full disclosure: Hans Zimmer is my favorite composer working today. One of the main reasons is that he somehow finds a way to do things he's never done with each new score he writes. Batman v Superman is no different. There is so much to digest with this score, from the thunderous action scenes, to the heartbreaking flashback of Bruce watching his parents die, it's all captivating and instantly gripping. There are only so many words I can use to describe it, so take a listen to the selection above and hopefully you can appreciate it for yourself.</div>
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<b>#1 </b> <b>Moana</b></div>
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(Mark Mancina & Lin-Manuel Miranda)<br />
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This may be a bit of a cheat, but I'm including original music (both lyrical and instrumental) into this category. With that in mind, it's impossible not to give the top honor to Moana. Lin-Manuel Miranda is a bona fide musical genius, and his talents are on full display with his work in Disney's latest animated film. The emotion at times is overpowering, with the vocal performance and the beauty of the melody blending perfectly the accentuate the experience of the character. Seriously, do yourself a favor and give this clip a listen. This isn't even the best version of this song in the film, and it's improved even more within the context of the movie. Look for this song to definitely be nominated for an Oscar too, by the way.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Top 5 Action Scenes of 2016</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">I don't know if I'll be able to find these clips, but I at least wanted to give a shout-out to all the best action scenes of the year. Let me know if you agree!</span><br />
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<b>#5 Mirror-verse Duel (Doctor Strange)</b></div>
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One of the coolest visual spectacles of a visually mind-bending film, this duel is the first time we see the full extent of the sorcerers' powers (both good and evil).</div>
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<b>#4 Ending Car Chase (Jason Bourne)</b></div>
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In a movie that falls just short of its predecessors, this is one action scene that goes to a whole new level. Watch as Jason Bourne relentlessly pursues a stolen SWAT vehicle that tears its way through Las Vegas.<br />
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<b>#3 Airport Brawl (Captain America: Civil War)</b></div>
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One of the best superhero throw-downs ever filmed, this battle showcases the powers of each of our heroes while pitting them against other heroes. It's really an impressive scene, so just take a watch and enjoy!<br />
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<b>#2 Batman Warehouse Fight (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)</b></div>
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This is where we finally get to see Batman fighting in all his glory, ferociously taking down Lex's thugs in order to save Superman's mother. The choreography is impeccable, and we finally get to see Batman fighting in wide shots so we can fully appreciate his dominance.<br />
(*Note: This is the R-Rated Ultimate Edition clip, so there is a bit more blood than the theatrical cut.)</div>
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<b>#1 Final Battle (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)</b><br />
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This one is too recent to have a clip online, but the glorious space battle between the Rebellion and the Empire as Jyn and her friends attempt to steal the Death Star plans below (in an equally exciting battle) is one of the best of the whole Star Wars saga. It's beautiful, but may be topped by the following scene that I can't discuss so as to avoid spoilers. Just go see the movie in theaters so you know what I'm talking about.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Top 10 Trailers of 2016</span></u></b><br />
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I'm not going to offer commentary on these. Just watch the trailers that I thought looked the most exciting prior to seeing the actual movie. This is a pretty interesting thing to reflect on in order to understand the power of marketing. Some of these movies definitely didn't live up to their potential (ID4: Resurgence, or TMNT 2... both of which capitalize on nostalgia), while others reflected the quality of their respective film quite accurately. Take a look and let me know which trailer was your favorite!<br />
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<b>#10 La La Land</b><br />
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<b>#9 Jason Bourne</b><br />
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<b>#8 Doctor Strange</b><br />
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<b>#7 X-Men: Apocalypse</b><br />
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<b>#6 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows</b><br />
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<b>#5 Independence Day: Resurgence</b><br />
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<b>#4 Suicide Squad</b><br />
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<b>#3 Captain America: Civil War</b><br />
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<b>#2 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice</b><br />
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<b>#1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story</b><br />
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Well, that's it for this year! What were your favorite movies/scores/action scenes/trailers from 2016? Let me know in the comments below. Hope you guys enjoyed this post, and don't forget to check back tomorrow for my Most Anticipated Films of 2017!</div>
Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-76777149134910628282016-12-28T15:02:00.000-08:002016-12-28T15:02:30.064-08:00La La Land<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a unique and joyous film this is! I wasn't that aware of <i>La La Land</i> until the first trailer came out a few months ago, but I was instantly intrigued by the concept. It's been a long time since we've seen an original musical made for the big screen, and with these two fantastic leads (both of whom shined in 2011's <i>Crazy, Stupid, Love</i>) I knew it had the potential to be something special. Throw into that mix Damien Chazelle's directorial follow-up to the critically-acclaimed <i>Whiplash</i>, and it was clear that this had Oscar contender written all over it. So does it live up to this tremendous potential?</div>
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Mia is a struggling aspiring actress, working in a cafe on the Warner Bro's studio lot in Hollywood and consistently getting passed over for every role for which she auditions. Meanwhile, Sebastian is a talented jazz pianist with dreams of opening his own Jazz bar where he wouldn't be beholden to the pandering demands of the general public. Working odd gigs to make ends meet, Sebastian keeps bumping into Mia (sometimes literally), and in order to escape an awkward situation, she finds herself wandering a deserted LA street to find her parked Prius, joined by Sebastian, and the two begin to discover a growing spark between them...</div>
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I've already seen this movie twice, and I had very different (though equally enjoyable) experiences each time. There's a lot to take in here, but the story is simple enough for each viewer to get as much out of it as necessary. While it's fairly familiar on the surface, there are nuances and flourishes that you just can't absorb in a single viewing. <i>La La Land</i> brandishes such a confident artistry that you can't help but marvel at what's on the screen. The production design is impeccable and calls back to the golden age of Hollywood without being too heavy-handed with its references. There hasn't been a movie like this in decades, but the drama and the emotion stands heads-and-shoulders above its predecessors.</div>
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These are top-tier artists at the absolute peak of their craft, from the director, to the cinematographer, to the composer, to the extraordinary lead actors. There have rarely been two actors with as much screen chemistry as Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, and their love story is so expertly told that even the most cynical viewer can't help but root for their relationship to succeed. Stone has the perfect blend of insecurity and strength, with a healthy dose of larger-than-life personality and charisma. The sheer difficulty of the role is formidable to say the least, requiring her to act like an aspiring actress portraying real emotions in an audition that gets unceremoniously interrupted in the middle of a crying scene by utterly ambivalent casting directors, but Stone absolutely nails it.</div>
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No less impressive is Gosling, who always portrays a subtle, underplayed humor that I really gravitate towards. Sebastian's emotions aren't as apparent as Mia's, which makes sense given their different career paths, but his passion for his music infected me in the audience, let alone the other characters on screen. He does a tremendous job of internalizing a complex set of conflicting emotions, while also providing levity at all of the perfect moments. Most remarkable of all, however, is the fact that Gosling trained to actually perform all of the piano pieces in this film himself. They both learned to tap dance as well, and though I'm sure the numbers are fairly rudimentary, their dance scenes are pretty magical to watch.</div>
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There is so much more to discuss, but in order to preserve the experience I'll leave it there for now. I will say this movie is surely going to surprise a lot of people. It's more thought-provoking and hits emotional depths that may not be expected from a musical, and the ending will definitely challenge the viewer in a unique way. The film's title certainly eludes to its function as an incredible love letter to the culture of Los Angeles, but also hints to the pains, the triumphs, the thrill and the heartbreak of pursuing your dreams. It's a beautiful work of cinematic art that is destined to be a classic, and I really hope the Academy Awards show it the love it deserves. I recommend <i>La La Land</i> to everyone, and therefore give it the year's strongest of four star ratings. Go see it immediately!</div>
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LA LA LAND is rated PG-13 for some language</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-12835527808036984092016-12-20T13:10:00.000-08:002016-12-20T13:10:00.782-08:00Rogue One: A Star Wars Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Everyone who knows me could tell you that I'm a HUGE fan of Star Wars. If you need proof, just check out the reviews I've done for the prequels. Even a lot of Star Wars fans don't like those films. So it was surprising to me when I was making my list of most anticipated films of 2016 last year that <i>Rogue One: A Star Wars Story</i> wasn't at the #1 spot. I mean, I had just seen <i><a href="http://jakennardmoviereviews.blogspot.com/2015/12/star-wars-episode-vii-force-awakens.html" target="_blank">The Force Awakens</a></i> and was on possibly an all-time high in my fandom for the property. However, perhaps due to its exclusion from the saga storyline (at least in name), I wasn't finding myself as hyped for it as previous Star Wars films. Don't get me wrong, I purchased my opening night tickets as soon as they were available, and even purchased the collectible metal popcorn bucket with the Death Trooper and AT-ACT walkers on it. As the release date came closer and closer, I started to get more and more excited... but was that anticipation rewarded with a satisfying experience?</div>
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Galen Erso has fled the Empire and is living a life of solitude with his wife Lyra and daughter Jyn. He had been tasked by his former friend, Orson Krennic, to create a super-weapon for the Empire's latest and greatest battle station - The Death Star. However, upon realizing the magnitude of the weapon and the deep-seeded corruption within the Empire, Galen defected with the belief that they would never find him on his humble farm. Unfortunately, the film begins with Director Krennic landing his Emperial Shuttle on the remote planet of Lah'mu. With the aid of his black-clad Death Troopers, Krennic coerces Galen into returning to his work on the super laser. Foreseeing the futility of any resistance, Galen had already instructed Jyn to flee the area and join up with their ally, Saw Gerrera, who would raise her for the next fifteen years...</div>
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This movie did have a lot to live up to, as the first standalone film in the Star Wars universe. Not only that, but there was a lot going against this film as well. There were no recognizable or known characters that the general public could look forward to seeing (outside of Darth Vader, who plays a very small part in the film), and the story is based on something to which we already know the outcome. However, none of these were as big of a turn off for me personally as the lack of John Williams returning to score the film. His music has become synonymous with Star Wars, and while Michael Giacchino is a terrific composer in his own right... there's only one John Williams. </div>
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Did any of these apparent deficits really impact the film in a negative way, though? Well, yes and no. The characters were certainly strong enough to build a story around, and even though we know that the Rebellion does steal the Death Star plans (as it's stated in the opening crawl of <i>A New Hope</i>), we didn't know the individual fates of any of the characters in this story. Jyn Erso is a great protagonist for us to follow, as she's got a bit of a mysterious and checkered past, not to mention the complicated emotions surrounding her relationship with her father. Throw into that Cassian Andor, played terrifically by Diego Luna, who has some moral ambiguity as well, and there's plenty to digest in this film from a character standpoint. </div>
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The rest of the characters are supporting ones, but they each provide a necessary and enjoyable aspect to the ensemble. K-2SO might be the most enjoyable of all of them, which is saying a lot. His humor and humanity is right in line with C-3PO, but with the strength and imposing stature of Chewbacca. Even the villains are terrific, with Ben Mendelsohn portraying menace and a subtle desperation in equal measure. His rivalry with another well-known Emperial official is fascinating to watch, and his never-ending quest for every bit of glory and power he can reach makes him somewhat relatable as well. Of course, the obvious stand out in the villain department is Darth Vader, whose limited screen time is made up for with some truly iconic moments. Seeing him command the screen once again is worth the price of admission on its own.</div>
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However, the one thing that did have a negative impact on this movie was Michael Giacchino's score. I'm a huge fan of Giacchino (<i>Up</i>, <i>Jurassic World</i>, <i>Super 8</i>,<i> Inside Out</i>, <i>Star Trek</i>, etc.), and I was incredibly curious to see what he would bring to this universe. The moment the film began, though, I could tell that something wasn't quite right. Not only was the lack of opening crawl and Star Wars fanfare a bit jarring despite already knowing that would be the case, but the subsequent musical choices didn't evoke any of the same feelings that I'd previously felt from John Williams' previous works. Normally this wouldn't be that big of a deal, but having a memorable score in a Star Wars movie is pretty pivotal. Apparently he only had four and a half weeks (instead of the normal four and a half months) to write this score, which is a monumental feat. As such, I am willing to give this score another chance. I'm planning to listen to it more over the next couple of weeks until I watch this movie again to see if it improves my experience. As a Star Wars fan, I've found that it's important to stay open minded.☺</div>
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The action in this movie is truly spectacular, and benefits from the biggest screen on which you can possibly see it. A lot of the battles are ground-based, which is unlike most of the previous action set pieces we've seen in the other films. We get involved in the action, and there's a very gritty <i>Saving Private Ryan</i> element to the battles that portray the wars in Star Wars unlike we've ever seen them. Having said that, the space battle might be even more impressive. <i>The Force Awakens</i> had aerial battles, but it wasn't entirely based in space except for a couple of shots during the assault on Starkiller Base. Given that, it was nice to see another space battle involving Star Destroyers, X-Wings and TIE fighters, especially when it's done so well.</div>
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Some of the most beautiful shots in this movie are actually the destruction scenes caused by the Death Star. Seeing the cataclysmic damage from the perspective of characters on the planet's surface is mesmerizing, and makes the magnitude of the Empire's actions that much more despicable. It's easy for them to justify these attacks from a safe distance on their observation deck, but seeing the horror up close really sells the urgency of the Rebellion's efforts to find those plans as soon as possible. Throw into that Jyn's conflict at confronting her father along the way (which is very Star Wars) and it's no wonder Lucasfilm was so eager to tell this story.</div>
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To wrap this up (since there's not much else I can say without going into spoiler territory), this movie was a very enjoyable experience while not quite living up to the expectations I had for it. I'm glad I took a few days to process it before writing this review, as it's a film that requires a bit of digesting in order to fully appreciate what was seen. The acting is great, the visual effects are groundbreaking, and the tie-ins to the broader Star Wars story are plentiful without being too obvious. If you're willing to delve into the story even further, I would highly recommend James Luceno's prequel novel, <i>Catalyst</i>, as it introduces you to Galen Erso's work and his relationship with Orson Krennic in much greater detail.</div>
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If I had to rank this one, it would probably fall right between <i>Revenge of the Sith </i>(#6) and <i>A New Hope </i>(#4), which is fitting as that is where it takes place chronologically. It's a really good movie, but I was hoping for a truly great one. Given the quality of the other films I've seen this year, there's no doubt it will make the top 10, but it may struggle to get into the top 5. Stay tuned for my top 10 list in a couple of weeks to find out for sure. I'm going to give this a strong three and a half stars, with the caveat that it could potentially improve with multiple viewings. I definitely recommend you go see it!</div>
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ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of sci-fi violence and action</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-53815227714553868302016-12-19T17:10:00.001-08:002016-12-19T17:10:40.873-08:00Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're back with the Star Wars saga, and though Rogue One is already in theaters, I couldn't review it without first talking about the most underrated film in the franchise, <i>Revenge of the Sith</i>. This was the first Star Wars movie that I was old enough to buy my own ticket, drive myself to the theater, and even skip a day of school to wait in line on opening night. I had seen every trailer, TV spot, and featurette that had been released, and I was beyond ready to see how the prequel films would be able to tie into the original trilogy. Beyond that, however, my curiosity was at its peak for Anakin's turn to the dark side, which was promised by the film's title.</div>
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<a name='more'></a>First, I'm going to get geeky for a second, because I have to defend this movie's opening crawl a little bit. Many people claim the phrase "there are heroes on both sides" makes no sense in the context of the Clone Wars. How could the Separatist droid army possibly have any heroes? What people fail to realize is that the Separatist movement isn't just a cabal of a handful of dissenting voices, but in <i>Attack of the Clones</i> we hear that many systems are breaking away from the Republic and joining the Separatists. To the people on the Separatist side, General Grievous or Count Dooku would certainly appear to be heroic as they lead the resistance against what is seen as an increasingly corrupt governing entity.<br />
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Enough about the crawl, let's talk about what happens after the crawl. Man, is that opening space battle amazing to behold! We follow Anakin and Obi-Wan as they fly past an early generation Star Destroyer and enter into an eye-popping melee directly above the capitol system of Coruscant. The screen is packed with incredible visuals, and we can only watch in awe as the two ships navigate through the dangerous battle toward General Grievous's ship, where Palpatine has been "captured". It's a great opening, but the action scene that happens once they've landed is perhaps even better, as the two Jedi unleash their lightsabers upon the awaiting battle droids with a precision and skill we have yet seen, even by the likes of Darth Maul.</div>
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If there's one thing this movie does better than any other Star Wars before or since, it's the lightsaber duels. Not only have we never seen a Star Wars movie open with a lightsaber fight, but it is easily one of the best ones of the series... and it gets topped twice more later in the same film! We see just how powerful Anakin has become as he handily defeats Count Dooku, who had previously gotten the better of Anakin in <i>Attack of the Clones</i>. The choreography is terrific, and we see a glimpse of darkness in Anakin as Palpatine goads him into decapitating the disarmed (literally) and defenseless Sith Lord.</div>
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Across the board, the action is top-notch in Revenge of the Sith, and even the acting has taken a step up as well from the previous movies. Hayden Christensen is much more relaxed and confident in the role, Jar Jar is reduced to a single line ("Excuse me"), and Ewan McGregor is perhaps the best he's ever been in this series. The dialogue scene between where Obi-Wan is delivering the council's mission for Anakin to spy on Chancellor Palpatine had me riveted, which has never happened before in this entire prequel trilogy! They do quite a bit to set up the growing tensions between these two characters, while also solidifying the bond that will make their ultimate conflict all the more tragic.</div>
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We also get to see some subtle (and some not-so-subtle) manipulations by Palpatine as he attempts to sway Anakin to the dark side of the Force. Ian McDiarmid is a fabulous actor, and he's chewing up the scenery in every line of dialogue he has here. It's a welcome change of pace for the formerly stoic and unemotional performance we'd previously seen from him. I still hold the theory that this entire plot (namely the death of Padme) is being orchestrated from Palpatine from the get-go. How else would he know about her death, or that they were even romantically involved? There's a really good video that goes into more depth about this theory, which you can see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_xQhaGIZqw&index=3&t=9s&list=PLqBJxT06y34pTHv5KXo_llz5ShdMU8dFV" target="_blank">HERE</a>. I don't know that guy, but he seems really smart.</div>
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Anyway, I could go on forever about this movie, but I'll spare you the really geeky details about Darth Plagueis (yes, he is the father of Anakin Skywalker, or so it is strongly hinted in the James Luceno novel of the same name), Order 66, or the reason why Anakin cut off Mace Windu's hand. Suffice it to say that this movie is dark, exciting, unnerving, and a little depressing... but all in a good way. There are some obvious problems with some line readings later on in the film that are tough to defend, but overall this is a pretty masterful film that ties up a lot of loose threads between the prequels and the original trilogy. The climactic lightsaber battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan is one of the high points of the entire saga, and the conclusion of that fight easily the most tragic. This is easily the best of the prequels, and I'm going to give it a well-deserved three and a half stars. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned from my review of <i>Rogue One</i> very soon!</div>
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STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some intense images</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-18379535061663120682016-12-15T12:11:00.001-08:002016-12-15T12:11:18.975-08:00Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm back with another Star Wars review in anticipation of this week's <i>Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. </i>As I stated in my review of <i>The Phantom Menace</i>, I am one of the defenders of these prequel films... but I can still recognize the obvious problems. However, I do feel that the rhetoric on these movies has gotten way out of hand over the last ten or so years, so hopefully I can provide some semblance of balance to this predominantly one-sided argument. After what felt like an eternity following the exhilaration of seeing Episode I in theaters, I was dying to see how this story would progress in the next film. Seeing an older Anakin Skywalker, some mysterious Mandalorian (which means he looks like Boba Fett), and a title like Attack of the Clones in the trailer, I found myself itching to see what would happen in the continuation of the Star Wars saga.<br />
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Honestly, as a 15 year old this was the perfect movie for me. I was just at that angsty teenage stage in my life, and could therefore relate somewhat to what Anakin was going through. As an adult, however, there are certainly some issues here that cannot go unnoticed. Once again the acting is a bit stilted, and though I think Hayden Christensen has the perfect look to be Anakin Skywalker, his line readings don't quite reach the same amount of their potential.<br />
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Unlike most people, I'm a bit of an apologist for Hayden, as I'm also one of the few people who has seen his terrific performance (yes, you read that right) in a little film called <i>Shattered Glass</i>. I more or less go with his anger bubbling beneath the surface, even if it is a bit oversold at certain moments. Natalie Portman isn't as bad in this one, though she's still a bit flat for my taste. The one constant in this prequel trilogy is Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan, who adds some much-needed levity to the proceedings as he takes his next step toward Alec Guinness's iconic portrayal of the Jedi Master.<br />
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Of course, the major problem with this film is the pacing. There are plenty of interesting ideas and plot points, but Lucas draws the mysteries and emotional payoffs out just a little too far. It's not that big of a revelation that Jango Fett is the one behind the assassination attempt of Senator Amidala, and yet there are interesting mysteries that aren't ever explained in the films, such as who Master Sifo Dyas is and why he paid for a clone army in the first place. Of course, if you're a huge Star Wars nerd like I am, you've probably learned the answer in the no-longer-canon, but excellent book by James Luceno, <i>Darth Plagueis</i> (more on that in the next review). Anyway, the mystery is a bit stretched to fulfill this movie's runtime, but with expanded universe material available to fill in some of the gaps, I can more or less forgive this shortcoming.<br />
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So how does <i>Attack of the Clones</i> build on the mythology? Well, we learn that Jedi are forbidden to show attachments, such as romantic love. This is explained during the inevitable love story shown between Anakin and Padme. The only reason this love story even remotely works is because both of the actors are undeniably attractive people. Beyond that, I don't really get why they would have any kind of emotional attachment to each other. Neither of them really even has a personality, so trying to get them to play off one another in order to engender our interest is a losing battle. This is easily the biggest problem in the movie, and it's the primary reason I'm docking the score an entire star.<br />
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Even with these problems, it's overall a better film than <i>The Phantom Menace</i>. Not only are we rid of Jake Lloyd's cringe-worthy performance, not to mention the insufferable antics of Jar Jar Binks, but we also get a darker tale of the dark side growing in power and influence. This influence is overtaking both Anakin and the Republic as a whole, all thanks to the complicated machinations of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. We also get the start of the Clone Wars, which is iconic to any die-hard Star Wars fan from its brief mention in <i>A New Hope</i> way back in 1977. Finally, we get a terrific battle sequence and a pretty cool lightsaber fight that ends in a slightly downtrodden stalemate. There are too many good things in this movie for a Star Wars fan not to enjoy it, though it will probably leave the casual viewer wanting.<br />
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Episode II is a bit of a mixed bag, if I'm being perfectly honest, but despite its flaws, it still has some iconic moments in the Star Wars saga that cannot be discounted. It's a necessary journey to take in order to understand the nature of Darth Vader as well as the gradual descent into darkness of the Republic as it morphs into the Empire. There may be a bit too many call-backs to the original trilogy, but these are fanboy complaints. Most people will smile rather than roll their eyes when they see C-3PO and R2-D2 bickering, or when they hear the name "Fett" associated with a feared bounty hunter.</div>
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I'm definitely a biased reviewer, but to me there is no reason not to recommend <i>Attack of the Clones</i>. The action scenes alone are worth seeing, even if the movie as a whole may overstay its welcome. I'm therefore giving this film three stars. Check back with me soon for my reviews of <i>Revenge of the Sith </i>and <i>Rogue One: A Star Wars Story</i> (which I'm seeing tonight)!<br />
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STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES is rated PG for sustained sequences of sci-fi action/violence<br />
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-64708537200032333462016-12-02T12:00:00.000-08:002016-12-02T12:00:00.159-08:00Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome back to FlashBack Friday! Yes, <i>Rogue One: A Star Wars Story</i> is a couple of weeks from debuting, and I cannot wait! I've wanted to review the Star Wars films ever since I started this blog six years ago (I can't believe it's been that long!), and I even tried and failed to do so last year for <i>The Force Awakens</i>. I'm still planning to get all of these reviews out in the next couple of months, they may just be released in a rapid-fire manner. Like the Indiana Jones movies, no other film franchise was as influential to my childhood as Star Wars. If you've read my brief bio on the right side of this page, you know that I would intentionally stay home from school pretending to be sick so I could re-watch <i>The Empire Strikes Back</i> for a fiftieth time. In short, these movies are VERY important to me!<br />
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So much mystique and myth surrounded this series as a child, and I remember speculating endlessly with my older brother about the mysterious prequel trilogy that was supposedly coming (we also speculated about the sequel trilogy, but more on that later). I was 12 years old when Episode I was finally released, and true to our tradition, my brother took me to see it on opening day. And HOLY CRAP did I love it as a 12 year old! There were familiar characters I recognized, and the visual effects were mind-blowing! Even Jar-Jar wasn't a problem to me at the time. In fact, I found his goofy antics oddly funny at that age... though I honestly thought his whole androgynous look was a bit off-putting.<br />
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But enough about my 12 year-old review. What do I think about it 17 years after its release? Well, I've gone through a few different iterations in my reaction to The Phantom Menace over the years. There have been moments when I hated this film as much as anyone, and then times where I've completely overlooked its flaws. However, going to each of these extremes has eventually settled me into a more neutral position, which I think is a pretty fair perspective for George Lucas's first theatrical return to the Star Wars saga since 1983.<br />
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First off, I can't escape some of the nostalgia involved with this film. Despite seeing The Phantom Menace over a dozen times, I can vividly recall my initial reaction to seeing all of these scenes for the first time. Hearing the first mention of "Obi-Wan", seeing the first glimpse of lightsabers, and witnessing the groundbreaking technology on display in this opening scene is permanently implanted on my memory. While our current visual effects have moved far beyond this point, I still appreciate the jump into hyperspace this movie took compared to its contemporaries, and can't fault this opening even now.<br />
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On my first viewing, the opening crawl passed in such a blur, that I didn't focus on the dreaded "taxation of trade routes" that has since become the butt of a lot of jokes. This political subplot wasn't a problem for me at the time, and nor is it a problem for me now. I can appreciate the depth of the universe being created by Lucas, and though the story can get a bit convoluted, seeing it as an adult (with the ultimate direction of this prequel trilogy firmly in mind) helps me to give the politics in this movie a pass. Almost all of the new aspects brought into this movie enrich the world and deepen the mythology that I love... with a few major exceptions (midichlorians, Jar Jar Binks, etc.).<br />
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A problem I didn't originally have with the movie was the acting. Back then, I didn't pay much attention to line deliveries or believability. My bar for acting was that if they remembered all their lines, they did a good job. Now, however, I have a much more refined eye for the craft... which means I can recognize how dull most of the performances are in this film. Natalie Portman in particular is utterly bland in her role as the teenage Queen of Naboo. One could make the case that she's simply portraying a stately politician who wants to keep her emotions in check. That may be true, but it isn't exactly interesting to watch.<br />
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As bad as she is, though, the worst acting by far in this film is Jake Lloyd. I know he's gotten a TON of hate, and I don't want to add to that stink pile. It wasn't entirely his fault. Sure, he wasn't good, but George Lucas was the one who chose him and failed to extract a better performance out of the 9 year-old boy. We see this again and again when actors who are otherwise talented and engaging (Samuel L. Jackson, Liam Neeson, etc.) go completely under-serviced by their director. One of the rare exceptions to this overall lack of acting prowess is Ewan McGregor's performance as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. He only improves as the movie goes on, but he's easily the most charismatic presence in this entire movie.<br />
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Another thing I have grown to dislike about <i>The Phantom Menace</i> was Lucas's incessant need to force in numerous characters from the original trilogy. Why is C-3PO here (let alone built by Anakin Skywalker)? Why do we have to give R2-D2 a heroic introduction in the middle of this story? Why is Jaba the Hutt here with Bib Fortuna by his side decades prior to <i>Return of the Jedi</i>? Why do we have to bring Yoda into this movie just to say Anakin is afraid and shouldn't be trained? So many unnecessary call-backs to the original trilogy that interrupt this narrative and distract us from the story on which we should be focusing.<br />
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Again, I am a Star Wars fan, and have mostly come to terms with these complaints. However, I have to acknowledge them when taking an objective (and, by its very nature, critical) look at this film. Even though there is plenty to complain about here, there is also a lot of entertainment value. Despite its seeming lack of importance in the story, I still enjoy the podracing scene as well as the Nintendo 64 game it inspired. It's a fun way to show Anakin's abilities and also display the visual effects at their very peak.<br />
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The lightsaber scenes are also incredibly fun, and the updated style of fighting was kinetic and a striking improvement over the duels in the original trilogy. Nowhere is this more apparent than during the climactic battle with one of the coolest Star Wars villains ever, Darth Maul. Their battle is an iconic moment of this saga, and the double-bladed lightsaber is still awesome after all these years. I'm happy they haven't gone back to it in the theatrical films, which keeps its appearance here special.<br />
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I could go on for pages and pages about this film, so I'm going to force myself to wrap this review up. Despite the low score, I still have a place in my heart for <i>The Phantom Menace</i>, and will undoubtedly watch it many more times in the years to come. This series is beloved as far as I'm concerned, and perhaps that's why I can look past the flaws all over this movie to find the good that adds value to the Star Wars mythology. Thankfully this trilogy will get better, and while I do struggle with the acting and the contrived story elements with unnecessary ties to the original trilogy, I'm still going to give this movie two and a half stars. Only for the least discerning or most hard-core and forgiving of Star Wars fans. Come back next week for my review of Attack of the Clones as I continue my Star Wars retrospective!<br />
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STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE is rated PG for sci-fi action/violence<br />
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-37893646614773472492016-11-18T13:14:00.001-08:002016-11-18T13:14:29.124-08:00Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's another film that was on my most anticipated list for 2016, and I'm happy to say that I am not embarrassed by that decision like I am with a few of my other choices (ahem, <i>Independence Day: Resurgence</i>...). I don't know how to address the magnitude of my fandom for the Harry Potter universe, except that it's 2nd only to my love for Star Wars. I've read the books more times than I care to admit, and I was able to watch every one of the films during their opening weekend of release (except for <i>Order of the Phoenix</i>, but I was out of the country). With that in mind, I was a bit reticent to jump fully on board with this idea when it was first announced, and it was only after watching the teaser trailer that I began to imagine how fun another entry into the Harry Potter series could be.</div>
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In 1926 Newt Scamander is travelling to the United States for the first time, carrying with him a mysterious briefcase filled with magical creatures. There he encounters a small procession of No-Maj's (non-magical humans) that are being warned of the dangers of witchcraft. This comes in the wake of several mysterious occurrences of destruction around the city, and many New Yorkers are beginning to turn to supernatural explanations as a result. </div>
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Matters aren't improved when one of Newt's magical creatures escapes into a bank and begins quietly wreaking havoc, he breaches the Statute of Secrecy by performing magic in plain view of a No-Maj named Jacob, who just failed to procure a loan for his bakery business. Once the creature is recaptured, however, Newt is apprehended by an Auror named Tina, and in all the kerfuffle, his briefcase is swapped with Jacob's, who accidentally unleashes several of the monsters from captivity...</div>
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Seems like a pretty straightforward plot, right? Well, it's actually a LOT more complicated than that. This is all being set in the height of Gellert Grindelwald's reign of terror, and all of the magical community is struggling to respond to the panic his dark deeds are inciting. As such, we're separated entirely from the familiar events (and even terminology) that we have grown so accustomed to in the previous 8 films. </div>
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As is surely common knowledge by now, the screenplay was written by J.K. Rowling herself, and given that she is the creator of the entire wizarding world, I was shocked at how restrained she was in her screenwriting debut. Unlike George Lucas or even Peter Jackson, who couldn't help including a myriad of call-backs and references to their previous works to bank on audience nostalgia, Rowling opts for entirely new creations to hook us into this story. We know this is in the same world as the Harry Potter films, but it introduces new concepts, characters and creatures into this world that we love just as much as the familiar ones. It's a bold move, and it paid off perfectly.</div>
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The characters are not only fantastically (pun-intended) written, but the actors chosen to bring them to live did an incredible job. Eddie Redmayne in particular brought so much humanity, sincerity, and quirkiness to the part that I found myself wishing I could have seen his years at Hogwarts as well. Not only that, but his love of the magical creatures in his care is infectious (Hagrid would have loved him), and I thought the message of animal conservation was powerful yet subtle enough not to pound you over the head. Newt Scamander is the type of character whose passion consumes his life, and the way Redmayne portrayed that struck me as very authentic. I can't wait to see what his character brings to the future sequels.</div>
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I was also impressed with the balance this film struck with its tone. In some moments we're laughing at the cuteness of the creatures or the bizarre situations the characters found themselves, and at other times I was legitimately unnerved by the dark places in which this film occasionally lurks. (Take the PG-13 rating seriously here, folks.) Rowling wasn't afraid to go after heavy material, and the story is all the stronger for it. There are metaphors here as timely and powerful in their own right as the Dementors were, and the potential connection they have to the rest of the wizarding world is fascinating to consider. </div>
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One of the benefits of watching FBAWTFT - yes, even as an acronym it's a mouthful - is not knowing what is going to happen! As an unabashed lover of the Harry Potter books, there was no way the films could ever live up to my expectations. However, with a new film in the wizarding world that isn't an adaptation of any previous material, I was finally able to experience it without the preconceived notions of what was on the page. Not only that, but it effortlessly sets up a new franchise without falling into the trap of not being a satisfying experience on its own. Yet another reason to be impressed with the writing talents of J.K. Rowling.</div>
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Even though I loved this movie, there are a few very minor things that were a bit distracting. For one thing, I found the CGI characters a bit unnecessary at certain times, and some of the ending scenes stretched out a bit too long for my taste. However, none of that is enough to drop Fantastic Beasts' score by even a half-star, in my opinion. For every weakness it had, there were twenty other brilliant strengths that more than made up for it. One of those strengths is James Newton Howard's beautiful score, which recaptures that magical feeling of the Harry Potter films, while creating its own themes that I hope carry on into future installments. Go check out the opening music by clicking <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBOMpfxsUpk" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you want to get an early taste.</div>
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Ultimately, this was not only another great installment into the Harry Potter canon, but simply a great film. The visuals were stunning and brimming over with imagination (much of that thanks to Rowling's incredible creativity, of course), and the story was as layered and thought-provoking as any of the Harry Potter films before it. I had a smile on my face from the moment the Warner Bro's logo came flying at us in typical Harry Potter fashion, and for any fan of the wizarding world I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. For all of those reasons (plus many others that I can't get into, lest I spoil the movie), I'm nudging it over the line and giving it four stars.</div>
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FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM is rated PG-13 for some fantasy action violence</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-86475937331240932432016-11-09T14:19:00.002-08:002016-11-09T14:19:30.553-08:00Doctor Strange<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's a lot going on in the world right now, so let's focus on something fantastical and imaginative to distract us! Marvel has continually risen the bar for superhero movies, integrating sub-genres into their films that keep their formula as fresh as possible throughout the last 8 years. I've been looking forward to this movie ever since it was announced, though I was a bit disheartened when I first saw how some of the imagery looked so similar to my all-time favorite film, <i>Inception</i>. Still, the other trailers seemed to emphasize the mystical nature of the story rather than the mind-bending aspects, and my anticipation and expectation for the movie rose steadily as a result. After so many traditional superhero films from the prolific studio, I was ready for something completely different. Some might even say <i>strange</i>... Can I get away with that?</div>
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Dr. Steven Strange is a narcissistic and world-renowned neurosurgeon who eschews any surgeries that have a low rate of survival so as to not sully his "perfect record" in the operating room. However, on his way to a speaking arrangement his reckless driving while looking at his cell phone causes him to collide with another vehicle and careen off a cliff. The impact shatters the bones and shreds the nerve endings in his hands, leaving him physically incapable of returning to his surgical work. In a desperate attempt to regain his abilities, he seeks out a formerly paraplegic patient who has regained the use of his legs despite the injury being pronounced inoperable. This sends Strange off on a journey across the world to seek the hidden mystical knowledge that can restore him to his former glory.</div>
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This movie sends us off in a fascinating direction from the very beginning, as we see a group of extremists invading a library to steal a page from a book of mystical arts. From there, the Ancient One (played spectacularly by Tilda Swinton) chases the group, led by the villainous Kaecilius, into a city-bending battle in which the Ancient One displays her magical prowess and sends the survivors fleeing to lick their wounds. The way this movie portrays the mystical powers is a great marriage of martial arts and a visually-stunning effect you might see in a typical Marvel film. That combination gives these magical elements a semblance of grounding that makes us believe that this is something our hero can eventually learn to wield. It also succeeds in setting this brand of magic apart from the style in which the characters in the Harry Potter universe use their magic, which is important to differentiate from the upcoming (and great-looking) <i>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them</i>.</div>
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I already mentioned Tilda Swinton, but let me elaborate just a bit by saying how invested in her character I was from the moment she steps on screen. Not only are her action scenes incredible, but the precision with which she delivers her lines is mesmerizing. If I was ever to learn the mystic arts, I would want her to teach them to me (even if some of her methods are a bit extreme). As for our title character, I think Benedict Cumberbatch is great as the up-and-coming Sorcerer Supreme. He's intelligent enough to completely pull off the arrogant surgeon, while also able to project vulnerability to the point where we can go along with him on this soul-seeking journey. The character is intentionally unlikable at the beginning of the film, but the humbling that Strange encounters both physically and mentally elicits a huge change in his motivations. Cumberbatch throws himself into this role, and his considerable talents help bring this character his own life on the big screen.</div>
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If I had to criticize this movie I'd say that I wish there was a bit more resolution with the love story between Strange and Christine (played by an always-charming Rachel McAdams). While I appreciated the scenes they had together and thought their chemistry was pretty strong, there just seemed to be one scene missing between them that gave us some kind of closure. I'm sure that the following movies will follow up on this, but I was a little disappointed we didn't get just a bit more of it in this one. While the humor was mostly used correctly and executed well, there were a few times that I thought it interfered a bit with the flow of the story. Hopefully Marvel will be able to refine their tone just a bit depending on the character of focus going forward.</div>
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Ultimately, this was a fantastically fun film with trippy imagery, great performances, and a terrific introduction to one of my new favorite Avengers. Do yourselves a favor and see this movie in IMAX 3D, which I rarely recommend, but this one is definitely worth it. Also, please stay throughout the entire credits, as there are 2 post-credits scenes that you will not want to miss. This movie is probably in the top 5 Marvel films and is easily the best character origin story since the first <i>Iron Man</i>. I thought this movie was incredibly entertaining, and I'm going to give it three and a half stars (but really knocking on the door of four stars). I can't wait to see what Marvel gives us next year!</div>
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DOCTOR STRANGE is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action throughout, and an intense crash sequence</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-3380878439483670142016-11-04T13:20:00.000-07:002016-11-04T13:30:44.491-07:00The Magnificent Seven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a fun movie this turned out to be! I'm not gonna lie, I was a little worried about going back to the theater to see a Western movie. Historically, the last couple of big-budget Westerns haven't turned out to be all that great (<i>The Lone Ranger</i> and <i>Cowboys & Aliens</i>), though I kind of enjoyed them at the time. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have seen this movie at all if it hadn't been for the intriguing casting of Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt; both actors I don't usually associate with the Western genre. I've personally never been a huge fan of Westerns, and have always been more drawn to the idea of the sci-fi/Western mashups (though they rarely pan out). However, with such a likable cast, I felt this would be worth my time despite my aversion to the genre.</div>
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Rose Creek is a peaceful mining town that is on the verge of an attack. However, not being equipped to defend themselves, the townspeople are quickly overpowered by the group of bandits who place their own men in charge of the town until further notice. Desperate to rid themselves of these violent thieves, Emma Cullen tracks down warrant officer Sam Chisholm to come to their aid and enact vengeance for her husband's murder. After hearing the name of the corrupt industrialist who has invaded their town, he agrees to put together a small band of gunslingers to take back their land. He's joined by gambler Faraday, sharpshooter Goodnight Robicheaux, knife-wielding Billy Rocks, adept tracker Jack Horne, Comanche warrior Red Harvest, and Mexican outlaw Vasquez. While they initially see some success taking out the skeleton crew currently keeping the town folk hostage, they need to come up with a better plan for when Bogue's army comes to town in seven days.<br />
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Like I said at the beginning of this review, this movie was a ton of fun to watch, and the reason for that is almost entirely due to this charismatic cast with amazing chemistry. Denzel Washington is fantastic in a Western, which was a curiosity of mine going into the movie, and he's the perfect leader for this eclectic group of outlaws.Chris Pratt is as charming and funny as ever, but remains a credible action star with some standout moments in the final battle. I genuinely like all of the characters in this group (Vincent D'Onofrio's Jack Horne is so quirky that it's mesmerizing), but my favorite has got to be Red Harvest, the Native American warrior whose brand of bow-and-arrow fighting is some of the coolest action in the movie. Not only does he look awesome, but he has possibly the best moment of the entire movie.<br />
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Overall, this is a highly entertaining movie with solid acting and exciting action that keeps the audiences attention throughout its 2 hour run time. I don't have a ton of complaints about what the film gave us as a whole, and according to a friend of mine, it's an improvement over the 1960 original (which is based on a 1954 Japanese film, <i>Seven Samurai</i>). However, there's really nothing to take with you after this film is over. My friend and I usually spend some time talking about the movie we just watched, but this time there wasn't a whole lot to discuss. It's pretty hollow when you look at what's actually happening, as is usually the case in a story about revenge. That being said, it's definitely worth a watch, and I would give it a solid three stars.<br />
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THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN is rated PG-13 for extended and intense sequences of Western violence, and for historical smoking, some language and suggestive material<br />
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-11210378191245579062016-11-01T14:18:00.002-07:002016-11-01T14:18:51.090-07:00Pete's Dragon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Time for some catch-up reviews. A live-action version of <i>Pete's Dragon </i>was never something I was dying to see, and not being a huge fan of the original, I wasn't really even planning on seeing this in theaters. However, at the behest of my lovely wife, we decided to go see this film at our local theater a couple of weeks after it opened (yeah, it's been a while). The reviews were generally favorable, and from what I remembered of the film, it seemed like it would be an enjoyable enough time. To put it more bluntly, I wasn't expecting much from this film, and I would say that it pretty much met my expectations.</div>
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Pete's family is moving to a new town, but on the way they swerve off the road to avoid hitting a deer and Pete wanders off into the nearby forest. There he is confronted with a pack of angry wolves, who only back off once the massive fur-covered dragon appears behind the frightened boy. Time goes by, and only due to the deforestation of the area, does Pete get exposed to civilization once more. The family that finds him as a girl his age, and he starts to feel more and more at home in his natural habitat. Unfortunately, there are other people that may only be interested in exploiting his magical winged friend...<br />
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I'm not going to prolong this review, as I've got a lot to catch up on, but honestly there isn't a whole lot to talk about here anyway. Pete's Dragon is a pretty innocuous and reasonably enjoyable experience. It's clearly designed and targeted for a younger demographic, but it's so innocent and heartfelt that it's hard to dislike anything that goes on in this film. Technically, it's not what I would consider groundbreaking (the obvious and unnecessary green screen shots were borderline laughable at times), and I question the decision to make the dragon furry instead of scaly. However, given that he originates from the North, it makes sense that he would need some protection from the cold.<br />
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The acting is passable, with a few cringe-worthy moments, but nothing that would take younger audiences out of the movie. As for Elliot himself, he's cute in a certain sense, but I never really connected with him all that much. Before you go accusing me of being jaded and cynical, I will readily admit that I shed a few tears over the animated fish in Finding Dory earlier this year. It doesn't seem like it would be that hard to endear the audience to a magical dragon, and I feel it just wasn't quite there with Pete's Dragon.<br />
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So is this a bad movie? No. Why did I give it two and half stars if I didn't "dislike" it, per se? It was just such a safe movie that brought nothing to the table that I haven't seen over two decades ago in Free Willy, let alone this movie's far superior counterparts like this year's The Jungle Book. If you have younger kids, go ahead and rent this one, but don't bother going to a dollar theater. I didn't regret the time I spent seeing it, but I doubt I'll ever watch it again.<br />
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PETE'S DRAGON is rated PG for action, peril, and brief language<br />
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-60449529605188985612016-08-05T22:43:00.000-07:002016-08-05T22:47:21.516-07:00Suicide Squad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a strange year this has been for movies. Somehow DC has simultaneously been on a hot streak in terms of the quality of their product, but also on a bizarre down slope when it comes to the critical reception of their films. Luckily, both movies will make enough money that it doesn't make any difference. The fan reaction has been much kinder than the questionable critical consensus, and it seems that audiences are starting to take the Rotten Tomatoes score less and less seriously these days... which is how it should be. Personally, I've been really excited for this film ever since it was announced, and particularly after <i>Batman v Superman</i> I was desperate for anything DC related. With a very promising cast and a tremendous marketing campaign, I had a feeling this might take a lot of people by surprise.</div>
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Deep within the fortified chambers of Belle Reve Penitentiary, the most dangerous criminals in the world are being kept. Amanda Waller, director of intelligence agency A.R.G.U.S., is responsible for their incarceration, biding her time until she's able to obtain clearance to use the meta-humans to accomplish impossible operations. Joining this team known as Task Force X are Deadshot (impeccably aiming marksman), Harley Quinn (psychotic girlfriend of the Joker), Captain Boomerang (a violent jewel thief from Australia), Killer Croc (a monstrous, reptilian-skinned cannibal), El Diablo (a former gang member with powers of pyrokinesis), and Enchantress (a demonic entity possessing the body of an archaeologist). They're all given an explosive implant in their necks to prevent them from disobeying orders, and are taken into an otherworldly catastrophe in Midway City to rescue an anonymous person of great importance...<br />
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This story isn't that complicated, but the complexity comes into play when the backstories of every member of the team take place. The most relatable and sympathetic of these is probably Deadshot, played superbly by Will Smith. He hasn't been in a ton of good movies lately, so this is a welcome return to form to the charismatic leading man we all know and love. Another standout from this cast is Margot Robbie as the love-struck and utterly psychotic Harley Quinn. She's so oblivious and carefree to the dangers around her, while also being able to hold her own in a fight, that it's impossible not to find yourself rooting for her. Her origin story is pretty fascinating as well, particularly due to the inclusion of a new and suitably electrifying portrayal of the Clown Prince of Gotham himself, Joker. Jared Leto took this character into his very bones, and I for one could have used a lot more of him. However, I have no qualms with the ensemble nature of this story, as it suits a film entitled "Suicide Squad" perfectly. Let's just hope he becomes the primary antagonist of the upcoming Batman standalone film.<br />
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I've heard a lot of complaining about the editing being "a mess", but what some critics are failing to recognize is that this film is taking on the nature of its characters. What does that mean? It means it's freaking crazy! From the bright colors bursting in every frame to the creative art direction conveying information about each member of the Squad, I found this style to be not only effective, but downright infectious. The music choices are impeccable as well, with a wide range of eras and genres that perfectly complement the various characters as they go into battle. David Ayer had a difficult task when attempting to capture this tone of magnificent madness, but he pulls it off with flying neon colors.<br />
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The main villain of this story is the only place where I can find a legitimate flaw, and it isn't even one that lasts the entirety of the film. Enchantress is one of the most frightening characters I've seen on screen in quite some time, with her glowing gold eyes and her smoky, shadowy silhouette. Her demonic presence creeps me out, and I was a bit disappointed when she abandoned her frightening form for a less terrifying Aztec goddess-like getup. Having said that, I think there is another character that is possibly more villainous than even Enchantress herself - Amanda Waller. Of all the surprises I had in this film, Viola Davis's incredibly cold and ruthless performance was definitely one of the most impressive. Despite having more physically dominant characters all around her, she's still able to hold her own without breaking a sweat. I look forward to seeing this character return in future DC movies... though, if I'm being honest, I could say that about almost all of these characters.<br />
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I should add a slight disclaimer here, to all those who may be wanting to bring young children to this... you probably shouldn't. Not only is there a ton of violence and somewhat disturbing images, but there is also a lot of questionable language from all of the characters involved. The PG-13 should definitely be taken seriously in this case (and may be a bit too lenient), and with a title like "Suicide Squad" that should come as no surprise. Despite the harsh language or the brutality of the violence, this movie achieves a great balance by bringing a TON of really solid humor as well. It also has a lot of subtle moments of redemption for these characters, and perhaps the most surprisingly sympathetic was El Diablo, the heavily tattooed former gang member who's taken a vow of peace. However, when he finally breaks that vow, it's pretty impressive to see what he can do.<br />
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To sum up, this movie is an explosion of unbridled creativity and insanity, and it's incredibly fun as well. I've seen it twice already, and each time the majority of the audience has mirrored my sentiments. Seriously, I can't wait to see it again! It's certainly a crowd-pleaser, and one that is far too entertaining to spend time and energy attempting to pick it apart. DC has consistently given us movies that make us unbearably excited for the next one. I mean, did you see that <i>Wonder Woman</i> trailer?!? I wouldn't say that it was a perfect movie, by any means, but it keeps getting better every time I see it. Maybe one day I will be able to go the full four stars, but for now at least I'm giving it a very solid three and a half. Ignore the Rotten Tomatoes score and go see this movie!<br />
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SUICIDE SQUAD is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout, disturbing behavior, suggestive content and language<br />
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-79269755911393161252016-08-05T21:57:00.002-07:002016-08-05T21:57:28.173-07:00Jason Bourne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Of all the franchise movies coming out this summer, this is definitely the one I was least convinced would actually happen. For years now we've been hearing about how Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass have been trying to work out a story for the 4th film in the Bourne series, since apparently neither would return without the other. Even one of my favorite screenwriters, Jonathan Nolan, did a pass on a potential story and wasn't able to come up with anything he was satisfied with. So when it was finally announced that the pair was reuniting for a sequel to Bourne Ultimatum, I couldn't have been more excited. One day I'll have to review the Bourne series, but as I stated in my review of The Bourne Legacy, I am a huge fan of this franchise. With a great deal of optimism (tempered slightly by some mixed early reviews), I went into my screening last week anxious to see what the team had come up with over the last nine years.<br />
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Jason Bourne is out of the CIA's spotlight, and has been for years. He's keeping himself in peak physical shape, fighting in an underground boxing league until being approached by Nicky Parsons, a former ally in his conflict with Treadstone. She has been on her own crusade against the CIA, hacking into their files regarding their dark ops programs (particularly their latest effort, known as "Iron Hand") in an attempt to release the info to the public. Bourne still has one burning question about his past, and agrees to help Nicky in hopes that he'll be able to find out why he joined the program in the first place. However, CIA director Robert Dewey finds out about Bourne while attempting to stop Nicky from spilling the agency's secrets to the masses, and orders him to be taken out immediately.</div>
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While this does sound a lot like the previous Bourne films - and it admittedly shares many plot points and action scenes with the others in the series - it also has a few interesting and socially relevant twists to the formula that differentiates it from its predecessors. It still has discord and enmity among the CIA commanders, a frightening third-party assassin on Bourne's trail, and a mysterious moment in Jason's past that he needs to reconcile, but all of those elements are heightened in some form or another. Tommy Lee Jones is by far the most ruthless and enigmatic CIA leader that we've seen in a Bourne film, and the conniving ways he seeks to get the upper hand over his enemies (and also his allies) raises the tension for Bourne's mission even more.</div>
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There are obviously a few flaws in this film as well, though none of them were so bad that it tainted my enjoyment of the tropes we've come to know and love in this franchise. For example, Julia Stiles has some really stilted dialogue when she and Bourne are first reunited, though her acting takes a quantum leap a little later in the film when <b>**SPOILER ALERT!** </b>she is shot off the back of Bourne's motorcycle by the assassin and crashes to the concrete, stuck in the crosshairs of the sniper rifle while taking her last labored breaths.<br />
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One of the major criticisms of this movie was its supposedly ham-fisted insertion of the "relevant" subplot involving a social media empire being funded by the CIA in exchange for unlimited access to the information captured within it. While it may be a little contrived, I still found this part of the movie engaging as well, and found the CIA's response to their reluctance to comply frighteningly believable. Though Bourne is somewhat peripheral in that side of the story, his personal story involving his motivation to join Treadstone was interesting enough to keep me engaged. Just because the movie is titled "Jason Bourne" doesn't necessarily mean that every second of the film has to be revolved around him. All that I need out of a movie is an entertaining story, and this movie definitely provided that.<br />
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Ultimately, this is a pretty formulaic Bourne entry, but for those who love the franchise this isn't necessarily a complaint. I found the acting to be great, the action to be fast-paced and visceral, and the twists and turns just about as satisfying as the previous films in this series. I'll do my rankings of the series once I get around to reviewing the others, but this one is a solid effort all around. I give Jason Bourne a (maybe slightly generous) three and a half stars.<br />
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JASON BOURNE is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and brief strong language<br />
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6846401117153868777.post-16977678790423325982016-08-02T18:10:00.001-07:002016-08-02T18:10:51.573-07:00Star Trek Beyond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After loving the first two films in this rebooted Star Trek universe (or the Kelvin-verse, as I hear it's called), I was surprisingly not that excited about this movie. A lot of that has to do with the really abysmal trailer that was released earlier this year featuring the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" and making it seem like another installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise with the cast of Star Trek in the lead roles. As we'll get into, there's a reason why that song was played over that first trailer, though I'm not sure that justifies its inclusion... Once the positive reviews started rolling in, however, I had a renewed optimism that Beyond could live up the first two films, despite the departure of J.J. Abrams from his directorial duties.</div>
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James T. Kirk is facing a bit of a mid-life crisis on his birthday, which he avoids celebrating on the actual day due to his father's heroic death at the exact time of his birth. He's also growing weary of the 5 year mission they're engaged in, exploring the outer reaches of space and failing to gain much fulfillment from their efforts. While rendezvousing on a space port known as Yorktown, Kirk considers taking the position of Vice Admiral, which would ground him from space travel and place the command of the Enterprise in the hands of his first officer, Spock. However, before any of this can take place, a distress call is received at Yorktown of an alien race that is under attack. Having the only viable defenses to handle the situation, Kirk and crew once again board the Enterprise and respond to the call. However, it turns out to be an ambush, as a swarm of kamikaze ships barrage the Enterprise, forcing it to crash land on a nearby planet and marooning the crew in the process.</div>
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That's a pretty standard set up for a Star Trek story, which is both a strength and a weakness of this movie. The lack of ambition for this story is a bit disappointing, particularly given the solid foundation that was built by the previous two films. On the whole, there's nothing offensive or egregious about this plot (though one moment near the end comes dangerously close, in retrospect), but there was also nothing particularly great about this episode either. The villain is pretty generic, and the situation isn't anything we haven't seen a thousand times before in any of the television series. Some of the character development was interesting to see, but overall I can't think of much that we learned about anyone beyond (no pun intended) what we already knew. Honestly, I have a feeling that a viewer could skip this entry to the series without missing anything between <i>Into Darkness</i> and the upcoming 4th film currently being teased by J.J. Abrams.</div>
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On the positive side, there are plenty of interesting visuals, excellent makeup and prosthetics, and solid performances from the entire cast. Keeping the story as simple as possible does have some advantages as well, as we get to see characters interact in ways we haven't seen before. The problem is that these interactions are pretty disposable in the grand scheme of things. Clearly this movie was meant to be a tribute to the original series (being the 50th anniversary and all), but making it a cinematic event usually requires a story that justifies the format on which it's presented. I was hoping for a story with higher stakes and more spectacle than what we got, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the film was a total disappointment.</div>
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All in all, this was a pretty entertaining film, that doesn't emotionally rouse you, but won't leave you bored either. It has all of the expected tropes of a Trek film, and does what it can to keep them as fresh as possible. While it wasn't one of the most memorable entries in the series, it left me cautiously optimistic about the future of the franchise. Rumor has it that Chris Hemsworth's George Kirk will be playing a pivotal role, which is the type of story that befits a theatrical release. Director Justin Lin did a decent job of stepping into J.J.'s shoes without losing too much momentum, but I can't say that I was all that excited about what I was seeing. With that, I'm going to give <i>Star Trek Beyond</i> three stars.</div>
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STAR TREK BEYOND is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence</div>
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Jake's Movie Reviewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00919045648704657843noreply@blogger.com0