Chris Reviews 2013 in Movies

2013 has been one of my least favorite years as far as movies are concerned. Pretty much every single movie that I was looking forward to, did not live up to my expectations. Of course there have been exceptions but as a whole it seems to have been a pretty lame year for film fans. These lists are just based off the movies I had a chance to see so keep that in mind before you attack me in the comments about a particular film not being on the list.

5 Best Movies-

The Worlds End-

One of the few movies I was looking forward to that did not let me down. I got a chance to see this as a marathon of all 3 of the Pegg, Frost and Wright films and it was probably my favorite movie theater experience of the year. It manages to create the same fun and humor as Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead while also featuring and interesting Sci-fi premise.




Captain Phillips-

Probably this years best Thriller as Paul Greengrass crafts a gripping drama about a pirate attack on a US Cargo Ship. Its a fascinating film that will keep you entertained throughout and Tom Hanks gives his usual solid performance. This is probably 2013's Hurt Locker for me in that I really like it a lot but it will likely win more awards than I think it should.

Pacific Rim-

While it didn't quite live up to my expectations, I still had a blast! Pacific Rim is a truly creative Sci-fi action movie that features some spectacular visuals and a lot of exciting Monsters and Mech fighting. If it wasn't for a weak script this would likely have been my favorite movie of the year but I still like it for what it is... a fun, big budget, B-movie.

Spring Breakers-

This movie is definitely not for everyone. It is an oddly structured, almost experiential film that you will either love or hate. I loved the style and once i got passed that I discovered a rather fascinating critique on the millennial generation. That being said the best part of this movie is James Franco as Alien the really shitty gangster. Oh and it features Gucci Mane as James Franco's former best friend turned rival.

Filth-

This was my surprise movie of the year. This is an awesome Scottish film based on a novel by Irvine Welsh who wrote Trainspotting. James McAvoy gives a phenomenal performance as a detective on the edge of insanity who is trying to earn a promotion. Its an insanely fun film that rides the perfect balance of dark comedy.





5 Worst Movies-

 21 & Over-

A bland and unoriginal college comedy movie. I watched this at 2 in the morning, which is the perfect time for movies like this and still thought it was boring.

Bad Grandpa-

Normally I don't like Jackass movies at all but the trailers looked really funny so I went and saw it. Unfortunately almost all of the funny gags where in the trailer and the rest was pretty lame. The film tries to make a narrative out of this with an extremely generic father and son road trip movie but it just doesn't work.

Warm Bodies-

The Twilight of Zombie movies.......enough said. 

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug-

While I had my issues with the first Hobbit movie I still enjoyed it. Sadly the sequel does not improve upon the first film and the Hobbit is set to become this generations Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. The story feels extremely stretched, the acting is mediocre at best, the actions scenes are tedious and it feels as if the franchise has lost its magic. The one bright spot is Smaug, but 20 minutes of a cool CGI dragon can't make up for the numerous other flaws.

Star Trek Into Darkness-

I have been a huge Star Trek fan for pretty much my entire life. I have watched all the shows, have all the movies on blu-ray, read some of the books etc. So  I like to think I have a firm grasp on what Star Trek is and this movie is not Star Trek. It is a Star Wars fans attempt at making a Star Trek movie. Not only is this not a Star Trek film but its just a bad movie in general. The script is a piece of shit and really is just a bunch of action scenes spaced perfectly apart to keep an audience entertained for 2 hours without any real substance. I could go on a rant about how much I dislike this movie but suffice it to say this is my least favorite movie of the year!

 Guilty Pleasure Movies-

 Bullet to the Head-

Man this movie bombed at the box office but it was a hell of a lot of fun. If you are into the old school 80's action movie genre like me this was the movie for you. Stallone kicks some ass, Jason Momoa is a cheesy bad guy and Sarah Shahi is the hot chick in Walter Hill's (The Warriors) directorial comeback.

Olympus Has Fallen-

Another old school action cheese fest that I had a lot of fun with. I still have not see White House Down but I have heard that Olympus Has Fallen is the better of the two attack on the White House films. Sure the story is pretty shitty but Gerard Butler is solid as the lead with some good one liners and there are some pretty great action scenes. To be honest a lot of why I like this is probably related to being nostalgic about these old school, overly dramatic and patriotic action movies from the 80's and 90's but I can't help what I like.


Summary-

There are some movies I still really want to see such as 12 Years A Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street so those may get added to my top list. If you want to see a comprehensive ranking of all the movies from this year look to the right side of the screen and there is a tab labeled 2013 Rankings. That list is always being updated, even after the year is over. I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts about this year in movies and lets hope for a better year in 2014!

-Chris "Da Franchize" Hart 

Kevin's Best and Worst Movies of 2013

It's the end of the year and time to review the best and worst films of 2013.  I didn't get to see as much as I had hoped to, nor did I have a lot of time to write many reviews, but I got a pretty good glimpse of the year and have seen enough to make a fair list.  2013 was a horrible year for films, generally speaking.  Hopefully next year will be better.  However, there were a few that were memorable and will stick with me for some time. 

Best Movies of 2013

My favorite film of the year was The Wolf of Wall Street.  It was almost an instant 5 out of 5 for me.  I didn't read a whole lot about it before I saw it and I went in with no expectations.  I didn't know what to expect.  The Wolf of Wall Street is packed with hard partying, bad choices, and lots and lots of money, all of which catch up to Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio.  Scorsese has done his fair share of bio films, and this one certainly doesn't disappoint.  I wouldn't say this film is better than The Departed, but it is certainly more fun and DiCaprio's performance steals the show. 

The Place Beyond the Pines was another favorite of mine.  This film has resonated with me since I saw it in theaters in March.  It's a film that hits hard on the theme of choices and consequences, and how they affect others.  Some of the best things about this film include the cinematography and the realism of the portrayals of the characters.  Ryan Gosling gives his best performance since Drive, although I wish he had been in more of the film.  This movie is oddly structured, which is another complaint I have about it.  It seems to get weaker as it progresses, but it is still a solid crime drama that is well worth a watch.  

I was really excited to see Don Jon, but was ultimately disappointed upon the first viewing.  However, after watching it a second time, I was able to accept the film for what it was and really dive into the message behind the film.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt is great in this film as writer, director, and star.  The film is bold in style and content, including screening ACTUAL porn footage, which is something I've never seen before in a feature film.  

I laughed my ass off when I watched This is the End for the first time.  Not only is it a hilarious apocalyptic film, but it also presents some serious themes toward the climax of the film.  I loved every character in this film and there was great chemistry between the leads.  I can easily say this is the best comedy of the year, and definitely Seth Rogen's funniest movie since Pineapple Express. 

I went with my parents to see The Kings of Summer at the Esquire theater.  I was a bit reluctant because independent films can be weird and saturated with stylistic cues, but I was pleasantly surprised with this one.  It was funny, touching, and memorable.  I enjoyed this because it plays out as a fantasy about kids living on their own, which everyone has had.  Things go south eventually, but it sure is fun to watch and to see some new stars be born.

 Yes, it is overrated, but Gravity had some fantastic technical achievements.  The sound and visuals were stunning.  Alfonso Cuaron is known for his unique visuals, and Gravity doesn't disappoint in that aspect.  I just thought this film was overrated.  Children of Men was better, in my opinion. 

Worst Movies of 2013

The worst movie of the year has to be Gangster Squad.  With such a talented cast, I can't help but scratch my head and wonder how this movie was so bad.  Not even the cast could make this watchable, and I ended up leaving the theater just before the halfway mark. 

The Great Gatsby was awful as well.  I am a huge Leonardo DiCaprio fan.  I will watch just about anything he's in, but The Great Gatsby is just painful to watch.  Literally.  I have no idea why Baz Luhrmann is so insistent on making so many jump cuts in so few seconds.  It hurts my eyes to watch his movies and I couldn't sit through this one.  Also, when Jay Z music is playing as non-diegetic sound in the film, I can't help but shake my head and mentally put this on the shit list for movies this year. 

Olympus Has Fallen was weak.  I interpreted it as a wannabe Die Hard that tried to be funny but wasn't.  Gerard Butler is okay, but the heavy CGI and unimpressive action sequences kept this from being a good film.  I never saw White House Down, but having two White House attack films within four months is also tiring.  This was just a prime example of a bad action film for explosion junkies. 

Sadly, Only God Forgives was a humongous disappointment.  I had high hopes for the dark crime drama directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, the mastermind behind Drive.  It was visually captivating, but the poorly written dialogue and sloppy script made this a difficult watch.  I am still looking forward to Refn's next work, though, whatever it may be. 

Oz the Great and Powerful was not great nor powerful (yes, critics used that same line, lame…).  I had no expectations going in, but it was just a disappointing film all around.  The first few scenes were done well, but as it went on, it seemed to get away from itself, especially in the climax.  James Franco helped make the film more watchable, but it is ultimately one of the weaker films of 2013.

As I said before, 2013 has been a bad year for films.  There were a few strong films and even one gem, but compared to years past, this year is a dud.  My hope is The Wolf of Wall Street will win an Oscar or two, hopefully from Leonardo DiCaprio's wild and energetic performance.  That would be historic.  I haven't seen 12 Years a Slave, Captain Phillips, or Nebraska, and I am watching The World's End as I post this.  But this is just my year end list and I intend on watching those films before the Oscars roll around.  I will likely update this list, but this is what I have for now.  

Chris Reviews The Worlds End

I apologize for taking so long to get this review up because I did see this film opening night. In fact I went to see the entire Cornetto Trilogy at AMC Theaters. It was a hell of a good time because I love Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz and after watching both of those films the bar was set pretty high for The Worlds End. Was It able to top both of those excellent films or is it simply the 3rd best film in a great series? Obviously you should read below to find out.....

The Good-

If you love Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead then you will not be disappointed. The humor is right in line with the previous entries in the Cornetto Trilogy. This time they tackle the Sci-fi/Alien Invasion genre and despite some cliché moments they do a fairly good job at creating a film that works both as a comedy and as a film that fits in the Sci-fi genre perfectly. Another fascinating element of this movie is that it works as a critique on modern society. The prologue of the film really takes a twist on the genre and makes a depressing statement about human nature. So this film not only is enjoyable on a basic entertainment level but on an intellectual level as well.

The Bad-

There was not much that I disliked about this film. The only major issue that people seem to have is with the third act. It definitely is the weakest part of the film as it really is just one jumbled action scene after another. That being said I think the mistakes of the third act get redeemed at the very end of the film. Other than that I did not have any major complaints.

Summary-

All in all this is not only an excellent Comedy but a pretty damn good Sci-fi film. Is it the best in the Trilogy? I think that really depends on your personal opinion but for me it is a close 2nd behind Hot Fuzz and my favorite film of 2013! I highly recommend this film to everyone!

MY RATING-

4.5 out of 5

-Chris "Da Franchize" Hart

Chris Reviews The Heat

I'm going to be honest, I really had no desire to see this film. I have never been a fan of Melissa McCarthy because she uses the fat/gross out humor in every role she plays, the story looked generic as hell and Sandra Bullock has never been an actress that I particularly liked. Despite all of that I went because my Grandma really wanted to see it and that's what good Grandsons do. Did this film play out exactly as I expected or was it a pleasant surprise? As usual you should read below to find out....

The Good-

This was a competently made action/comedy film that was solidly entertaining throughout. There were several jokes that worked well and had me laughing out loud. I actually liked Sandra Bullock in this as well which is probably a first. My favorite part of the film were the usual comedy film cameos, specifically Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as a Eastern European hooker/drug dealer and Thomas F. Wilson (Back to the Future) as the police chief.

The Bad-

This is about as formulaic as a buddy cop film can get. It really does not break any new ground with the exception of the struggles of women in the police force story line. It telegraphs every plot line so badly that there really is no suspense throughout. There are also a number of bad jokes that just annoyed me (The Albino guy in particular) and Melissa McCarthy is still one of my least favorite actresses in Hollywood. She plays the exact same character you have ever seen her in and it is not one that I like.

Summary-

This film was much better than I expected but It also had every problem that I expected it would have. Is it the worst movie I have seen this year? No, but it is yet another mediocre film that 2013 has been so generous in giving us. I would only recommend this if you are seeing it at the cheap theater or getting it at Red Box.

MY RATING-

3 out of 5

-Chris "Da Franchize" Hart
 

Chris Reviews 2 Guns

I was not expecting much of this movie going in. The trailers made it look like just another generic summer action film, but it did have an interesting cast. I mainly went to go see it though, because I decided I need to force myself to see more movies this year even if they are mostly crap. So did this film exceed my expectations or become yet another bland summer action film? Obviously you should continue reading to find out.

THE GOOD-

The chemistry and performances are the selling point of the movie. I like both of these actors and they work well together and provide some good humor. I also enjoyed seeing Edward James Olmos as a Mexican Drug Cartel leader. The action sequences are solid although nothing spectacular.

THE BAD-

This was yet another terribly written action film. While there was a mildly intriguing premise it was so mishandled that it made it borderline unwatchable. It attempted to be an overly complex crime film about a DEA Agent and a Naval Intelligence Agent who accidentally rob a CIA slush fund bank and the CIA wants their money back. I was not sure if this was supposed to be a criticism of government corruption or if it was just supposed to be a ridiculous over the top action film. That was one of the main problems is that it struggled balancing comedy and seriousness which is a key element of a good buddy cop film. None of the action scenes had much weight because it seemed like it was all just a big joke. There were also numerous plot holes and random things that would happen that were never addressed. Outside of the lead actors there really was not much to like from the performances either (Paula Patton was pretty terrible). Essentially this movie contains almost every problem that a bad summer action film features.

Summary-

This is just another poorly written summer action film that you watch and forget 10 minutes after you walk out of the theater. Sure the lead actors give solid performances and provide enough charisma to make the film watchable but that's about it.

MY RATING-

2.5 out of 5

-Chris "Da Franchize" Hart

Chris Reviews The Wolverine

X-Men has always been one of my favorite super hero franchises. I have seen every film in the theaters, watched the cartoons, have read some of the comics and have a general knowledge of the major story arcs and characters from the comics. Obviously I was going to see this but having been really disappointed in Wolverines last solo outing, I came into this with a fair amount of skepticism. Was that skepticism warranted? Read below to find out......

The Good-

This is one of the more interesting story arcs for Wolverine. He is brought to Japan to say goodbye to a dying powerful Japanese business man who he saved from the nuclear blast at Nagasaki during World War 2. The man offers him a chance to end his immortality by transferring it to him. This comes at the same time that Wolverine is struggling with the aftermath of the events of X-Men: The Last Stand in which he had to kill the love of his life Jean Grey. There are some very interesting dream sequences he has where he is talking to her throughout the film that ground the character and make him human. Despite wanting to join her in heaven (or whatever afterlife you believe in) he turns down the offer and the man dies. The Granddaughter of the man is now set to takeover the business instead of her father. Thus a story of a family feud/power struggle over the business ensues and Wolverine attempts to protect the girl despite somehow losing his powers. There are some pretty awesome action sequences as the addition of Samurai/Ninja fighting is a nice change of pace to the usual superhero fights. Hugh Jackman gives another good performance as Wolverine, providing enough charisma and comedy with his fighting skills to keep audiences entertained. The direction by James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma, Walk the Line) is pretty good and he is able to create one of the more visually interesting super hero films.

The Bad-

While there is a lot of things I liked about this film there is an equal amount of problems I had with it. The primary issue being that the plot is extremely over complicated. There are numerous side stories that are easy to get lost in and it all comes crashing down in the third act. I was completely lost and confused for the final 30 minutes of the film as it tries to set up a typical "final battle" sequence that makes no sense. The film also tries to do a big villain reveal at the end but it is telegraphed so bad that there is no impact. That is indicative of a larger problem with the film in that the villains are VERY weak. The character motivations are so confused and flip flop often, some of the secondary villains are unnecessary (Viper is probably the worst Marvel movie villain ever) and they are all very incompetent. This is probably one of the worst third acts of a movie I have seen in years and it kills the many positives this movie had.

Summary-

After a promising first 2 acts the film completely collapses on itself and makes what could have been an above average super hero film simply mediocre. That being said it is a vast improvement from X-Men Origins: Wolverine and is an adequate filler movie until we get X-Men: Days of Future Past next year.

MY RATING-

3 out of 5

-Chris "Da Franchize" Hart  

Star Wars Prequels: A Retrospective

Like any kid born post 1977 I grew up a huge Star Wars fan. I remember getting the VHS box set, seeing them re-released in theaters in the 90's and owning tons of action figures. So in 1999 when The Phantom Menace came out I was beyond excited. I was 7 years old at the time so if you have seen the film you should know that I was the target audience. At the time I loved the film, I bought the collectors edition VHS, acquired as many action figures as possible and had lightsaber fights in my friend Danny's basement while listening to "Duel of Fates" from the soundtrack. Then when I was 10 years old Attack of the Clones came out and once again I was the target audience. I was equally excited for its release and while I did not enjoy it quite as much as the first I still had a great time. Then when I was 13 Revenge of the Sith came out and that became my favorite of the prequel trilogy. I periodically have revisited the films but never really looking at them critically. So I thought I would go back and watch them from a critical perspective and see what I thought. So lets get to it!

Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (1999)

I know that adult fans of Star Wars at the time this was released had a very negative reaction to the film. I was only 7 when it came out so I was the target demographic and thus really enjoyed it. It was a smart marketing strategy by the executives because they knew the Star Wars fans would see it but they wanted to lock in another whole generation of fans at a young age. Clearly it worked as the film grossed over 1 billion dollars worldwide and 2 more films were made. So the question is, do I still enjoy it or are fans of the franchise justified in their dislike for it?

The Good-

The big selling point of this movie has to be the visual effects. There are some truly exhilarating action sequences that look great. The entire end action sequence is very enjoyable as we get a large land battle, a space battle and a memorable lightsaber battle against fan favorite villain Darth Maul. The Pod Racing sequence I remember was a big selling point at the time (I remember there being a video game) and it still holds up pretty well. There are a lot of interesting characters that are introduced as well such as Darth Maul, Mace Windu and Captain Panaka although they are not used enough. This also features a fantastic score by John Williams that I remember buying right after the film came out.

The Bad-

The premise of the film is really bland as it essentially boils down to a dispute over the taxation of trade routes that escalates to war. I understand that in the larger context of the trilogy this is just a part of the Palpatine's master plan but this is the least interesting part of it. The lack of a central character to follow is another stumbling point and makes it hard to get invested in the story. There are also a lot of terribly written characters, Anakin is an annoying brat and the actor playing him is awful, Jar Jar Binks may be the most irritating character ever conceived in the history of cinema and Qui-Gon Jinn is a surprisingly incompetent Jedi despite being played by Liam Neeson. All of the kid humor in the film is really irritating and makes it tough to watch at times. This is also where George Lucas's poor story decisions really become problematical as he diminishes "the force" to simply being a something that lives in our cells (wtf?) and he completely misuses Darth Maul and kills him off too quickly.

Summary-

This is a film that is full of poor writing, plotting decisions and acting that feels directionless at times. That being said it has just enough entertainment value from the action sequences and John Williams score to keep me interested and thus I can't hate it. It is more of a disappointment than anything else as I feel that there was probably a better story they could have done. All in all this is a very mediocre entry in the franchise.

MY RATING- 

3 out of 5         

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

I have very mixed memories about this film. I remember thinking that the action scenes were pretty cool with some bad ass moments for cool characters (Mace Windu, Jango Fett etc.) but I also remember being bored by the romance aspect of the story. I was never as excited about this film as I was about Episode I though. Its Box Office success would seem to reflect that as it "only" made $649 million worldwide while Episode 1 grossed over $1 billion. Is this the inconsistently entertaining entry in the series that I remember? You are about to find out.

The Good-

The action sequences are much improved from the first film. I particularly enjoyed the speeder chase on Coruscant, the Obi-wan Jango Fett fight and the big final battle. These action sequences seem much more polished than what we saw in Episode I with much improved visual effects. The film feels much more mature and does not feel like it is targeted towards kids as much. The characters are much more compelling this time around and there continues to be very intriguing secondary characters (ex. Jango Fett). The main reason I found this a more interesting film to watch is that the story was much more interesting. It is all about the buildup to the start of the Clone Wars, Anakin growing into a powerful Jedi but also the warning signs of what is to come and the beginning of the Emperors plans to take over the Republic finally coming to fruition.

The Bad-

George Lucas just sucks at writing dialogue! For every moment of fun, there is an equally horrendous amount of bad romance dialogue between Padme and Anakin. That entire story arc just takes you out of the movie because it is so cheesy and annoying but at the same time taking itself way to seriously. I also just did not like the actor playing Anakin (Hayden Christensen) in the first place and it really took away from my interest in the character. Natalie Portman was not particularly good in this either but I think there is only so much she could have done because her character was so poorly written. The film also lacks a good lightsaber fight which I think is necessary for a good Star Wars film. There are a number of good action sequences but the only lengthy lightsaber fight is at the end where Count Dooku cuts off Anakins arm, wounds Obi-wan and then fights Yoda and flees. It was cool to see Yoda fight for a few minutes but watching his CGI character constantly flipping around got annoying after a while. It seems like one of those ideas that sounded really cool when they were writing it but just flops in actuality.

Summary-

This is such a frustrating film, at times it is exciting and entertaining and at other times irritating and borderline unwatchable. I think the story was heading in the right direction as some of the casting was spot on and it features another fantastic score by John Williams. Where the film really falls apart though is Anakin's story arc which is unfortunate because the entire purpose of the prequel trilogy is to tell his story. Lucas miscast the character yet again and never seemed to have a good grasp on how to write him. So while this movie has its moments I'm not sure I can rate it any higher than Episode 1.

MY RATING-

3 out of 5

 Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

This seems to be the only film of the prequels that people respected. I remember this being the first film of the prequels to have that "epic" feel that the original Star Wars films had and the critics would seem to agree. While it still did not top Episode 1 in the box office, it still did quite well raking in over $848 million worldwide. Was this as good as I remember it? Obviously you should continue reading to find out.

The Good-

As I mentioned above, for the first time in the trilogy there is an "epic" feel to the story. From the opening scene you are instantly hooked, as we see an epic space battle occuring over Coruscant and Obi-wan and Anakin attempting to rescue Chancellor Palpatine. This was probably the most exhilarating sequence of the prequels although there are other moments that come close in this film. There are also a number of good lightsaber fights (Anakin killing Count Dooku, Mace Windu against the Emperor, Yoda against the Emperor) but none come close to the big one between Anakin and Obi-wan. I think it is the best lightsaber fight of the prequels and is in the discussion with the ones from the original trilogy. The pacing of the action sequences is spot on and the visual effects are the best of the series. I also enjoy this film a lot because the Emperor gets a lot of screen time and he just has such a commanding presence (not to mention he is my favorite character in the series). So this film clearly features the best action sequences and plot of the prequels but it also finally is able to connect on an emotional level that they had been unable to do in the previous 2 films. The movie just has a lot more weight to it and thus the viewer is much more involved in the story.    

The Bad-

There are still a lot of dialogue issues that bother me but significantly less than Episode II. While I don't particularly like Hayden Christensen as Anakin, he definitely turns in a better performance. There are a some minor nitpicks of things that happen in particular scenes or plot continuity issues with the original trilogy but nothing that detracted from the experience to much.

Summary-

I really enjoyed this film and it is clearly a vast improvement from the previous films in the series. Sure there are still things I don't like about it but in comparison to Episodes I and II this is a freaking masterpiece.

MY RATING-

4 out of 5

OVERALL SUMMARY-

So are the prequels worth going back and watching? I think they are but only if you are going to watch them with the Original Trilogy as well. I don't think they hold up well as a standalone series but rather as additional content to watch if you are in the mood for Star Wars. What do you guys think? I would love to hear your thoughts on the Star Wars prequels in the comments below! Thanks for reading!

-Chris "Da Franchize" Hart

Chris Reviews Pacific Rim

So this was probably my most anticipated movie of the year. I have always been a fan of monster movies such as Godzilla, Rodan, Reign of Fire (Dragons count) and even Cloverfield so this was something I was going to see no matter what. Did this manage to meet my expectations as a bad ass monster movie or is this just another disappointing Summer Blockbuster that have been so typical of 2013? As usual read below to find out....

The Good-

Oh yeah this is a hell of a lot of fun! This is a film that does exactly what it promises which is huge scale, bad ass Mechs vs. Monsters mayhem! I love the fascinating and unique universe that Del Toro has created with this and as with any Del Toro film it has some fantastic production design that will blow you away! This is a film that the bigger of screen you see it on, the better the experience. That is because when the fights between the Jaegars (Robots controlled by people) fight the Kaiju (monsters) the scale is so huge that you have to watch it on a big screen to really appreciate it. Unlike the Transformer films fight sequences which I thought were boring and confusing, these big fights are spectacular, engrossing and easy to understand.

The Bad-

Notice I did not mention anything positive about the writing or acting? That is because those two things are what hold this film back from being so much more. I think the premise is fascinating and unique (although there is one aspect that is extremely derivative of every Alien Invasion movie) but the characters are very flat, and the story arc is pretty basic. Most of the movie this works okay because you are watching some bad ass Robots fight Monsters but when people die there is just no emotion behind it. Part of the problem is that the story and universe is just so huge that it is damn near impossible to develop every character. I just can't help thinking that this could have spectacular had it not been for weak character development.

Summary-

This is the type of film that would have blown me away as a kid. Considering that I thought Reign of Fire was the shit growing up, I can't imagine how much I would have loved this film then. Now that I am a lot older and much more critical of films it is harder for me to look past the flaws of a film like this. That being said I still had a great time and this was probably the first film this year that I really got sucked into and just went along for the ride. This is the type of Summer Blockbuster I wish we got more often instead of bullshit like Grown Ups 2 and The Internship.

MY RATING-

4 out of 5

-Chris "Da Franchize" Hart

Kevin's List of 10 Awful Movies

I go out of my way to watch bad movies. For every good movie I watch, I try to watch at least one or two bad ones. It is important to do so when studying film so you can notice the difference between a good film and a bad film. I rarely come across a movie that I absolutely hate, but it happens from time to time. Below, I've made a list of the movies that I wouldn't watch again if you paid me. Unlike my list of favorite films, these are on a pretty exact ranking system. These movies
are so bad, they are painful to watch. Do not watch these movies!



10. Max Payne

This is at the bottom of the list because I've tried watching it at least three times, and I have come to dislike it more each time. I am a fan of the video game, but the movie is terrible. I've tried to like it, but it's just not happening, folks. It is way different than the game. It is bizarre and muddled, and makes almost zero sense. Ludacris stars in this movie, if that tells you anything. This is a MAX PAYNE to sit through.

9. The Spirit

 I watched this recently and I went into it knowing it was going to be bad. The writing, action, and storyline is terrible and just comes across as laziness from the creative team. For instance, there is a scene where Samuel L. Jackson breaks a toilet over a guy's head and laughs hysterically, then says "Toilets are always funny!" Yes, it's a bit campy but it's not enough to make it worth sitting through. Avoid at all costs.

8. The Strangers

The Strangers is a dark, gruesome and pointless horror film that leaves you scratching your head at the end wondering why you wasted your time watching it. There is very little dialogue in the film and the characters are as flat as they come. Not to mention, the film has countless jump scares which are the bowels of horror films. I would tell you to watch this film to understand what I mean, but you would be wasting 90 minutes of your life doing so.



7. Hard Candy

Hard Candy scored well with critics but there is a major flaw with it. Ellen Page (can't stand her) tortures a "pedophile" until (spoiler alert) she convinces him to kill himself. The writers did not put enough effort into making the victim seem like a bad guy. I was honestly hoping he made it out alive. I could tell they were trying to make him seem like a perverted sicko that needed to die, but it just wasn't working. Disturbing, to say the least.

6. Natural Born Killers

I'm not a fan of Oliver Stone as a filmmaker or a person, but I've seen some of his films and this is certainly his worst. A weird spinoff of Bonnie and Clyde, this film is over the top and luridly violent in a way that is just off-putting. I can't stand Woody Harrelson, which makes this film even more of a painful ordeal. There are also some weird lighting issues in the third act of the film that hurt your eyes. Stay away from this garbage.

5. Snow White and the Huntsman

Of course, a girl dragged me to the theater to see this one. Snow White and the Huntsman, starring the talentless Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth, is more of an endurance test than a film. How long can you sit in your chair and bear this awful crap? This film is unexciting, terribly acted, and slow-paced. The worst part is there are rumors going around that there will be a sequel. For the love of God, no.

4. Project X

The only thing this movie has going for it is the boobs. Project X is shot using the mockumentary film style which as most of you know, I hate. The worst part is, it doesn't seem to serve any purpose to the story. It's as if the director was like "Okay, we're filming this with a webcam because it'll look like it actually happened." The actors have a lot of fun with the film, but as a viewer, you will not.

3. Clerks

As a filmmaker, it is important to make aesthetic decisions with your work based on the effect or mood you want to invoke on the viewers. I was wondering why the filmmakers decided to make this entire film in black and white and came up with nothing. I even Googled it and looked through several websites and found nothing. Pointless. Additionally, the dialogue is sloppy and the acting is poor. This is considered a cult film but I am clearly not part of that cult.



2. The Last House on the Left

This movie is just flat out disturbing. I felt uncomfortable throughout the entire film. It's a twisted revenge film that has the parents of two murdered teens taking revenge on their captors. I don't have a whole lot to say about this film other than it really turned my stomach and wasn't enjoyable to watch, enough to the point where it is the second worst film I've ever seen.

1. Taken 2

Taken 2 is the worst movie I have ever seen in my life. You are probably wondering why. Yes, it's a generic, typical modern action film and it's not good, but how is it the worst? Look at the first Taken. It wasn't good but it wasn't bad, either. This film is a prime example of Hollywood bending over backwards to make money from a cheap ass sequel. The story is crap. The action sequences are crap. The acting is crap. I could have made a better film. So, not only do I hate this film but I also hate the reason why it was made. I can talk about this movie all day but I'm getting worked up just typing this. Save your time and skip this piece of trash.

Kevin's Top Movies

I've been meaning to do this for a while but haven't had the chance to sit down and do it. Below, I've compiled a list of my favorite films in a very loose order. Of course, this always changes as I watch new films and come to like films on this list more than others, but as of now, this is a rough outline of what my favorite movies are. This is by no means an exact ranking. Keep in mind, to balance this out, my next big post on this page will be a list of my least favorite movies. Enjoy.

Pulp Fiction

If you know anything about me, you know this what I generally refer to as my favorite film. There's not a whole lot I can say about this film that hasn't already been said. It's classic Tarantino. It is well-written, colorfully violent, and quotable. I love this movie more with each viewing, and I was even lucky enough to see this in theaters once. This is a timeless film that will always be considered one of my favorites and will certainly stay in my top 3. One might say this film is even better than a foot massage.



A Clockwork Orange

Welly, welly, welly, welly. A Clockwork Orange is a film that will most likely have a permanent spot in my top 3 films. This is a bizarre film and is goes to extremes in style and writing. Upon viewing this for the first time, I hated it. However, after days of letting it process, it became my favorite film and I continue to think about its meaning. Darkly comic and tragic, A Clockwork Orange is Stanley Kubrick's masterful adaptation of the book by Anthony Burgess and is an unforgettable work of art. Great bolshy yarblockos, I love this film!!!

 Django Unchained

 The D is silent, hillbilly. When I found out Tarantino was making a western, I was disappointed and was hoping for more crime films from him. However, I was blown away by this brutal revenge film. I loved this because it has DiCaprio (one of my favorite actors) as well as Christoph Waltz, who proved himself as a strong antagonist in Inglourious Basterds and now a strong protagonist in this. It took me three viewings to decide that this was Tarantino's second best film. This has the most memorable soundtrack of all QT's films and has some bloody awesome gunfight scenes (pun intended). This is certainly my favorite revenge film.

 The Indiana Jones Trilogy 

Note that it says "trilogy". As Chris mentioned, real fans of the series don't even acknowledge the existence of the fourth film. I grew up watching these films and have come to love them as my favorite adventure films. I'd have to rank Raiders as my favorite Indiana Jones film, but they are all pretty equal on my list. This is Harrison Ford in his prime, and these films feature unforgettable scores, memorable characters, and exciting action sequences.

  
The Lion King

Of all the films on my list, The Lion King is the only one that I want to watch immediately after I finish it. It's one of the only animated musicals that I can tolerate, let alone love. This was the first movie I remember watching as a child and my love for this film has not burned out over the years. The Lion King is a simple yet universal story that breaks cultural barriers and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Not to mention this is one of the best-looking and sounding Blu-rays that I own!

Looper

This is one of those films that 10% of people have seen, so I get really excited to "own" this movie and introduce people to it. This is my favorite type of Sci-fi film. It features a dark, futuristic landscape that is just skewed from the world we live in today. Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives a strong performance as a young Bruce Willis, and the mind-bending story keeps you thinking until the end. The film doesn't get tangled up in its own logic, which is also a plus. While the ending may be predictable, it is a great film that stands as one of my favorite in the sci-fi genre.

Drive 

I always thought Ryan Gosling was just eye candy for girls, but he proved himself as a cold-hearted getaway driver in this visually striking film. I absolutely loved the soundtrack to this film, and it actually opened me up to a genre of music that I hadn't even been exposed to before. This is one of those movies that I just needed to see, and when I finally came across it, I fell in love with it instantly. The best part of this film is how 90% of it is subtext. This is writing and directing in its prime, which is what filmmaking is all about.

Hobo with a Shotgun

This is another film that not a whole lot of people have seen. Independently filmed in Canada, Hobo with a Shotgun is a gory, over-the-top good time if you aren't squeamish. The best part of this film is Ivan and Slick, two henchmen set out to kill the Hobo. They are hilarious in everything that they say and do. Some people think I am twisted for liking this film, as it features burning a bus full of school children and a blowing away criminals with a pump-action shotgun. However, vibrant color correction, comic-book-type characters, and hilarious one-liners make this a dark but thrilling exploitation film.

Inglourious Basterds

I hate jumping on the Tarantino bandwagon but he makes some damn great films. This ranks as my third favorite Tarantino film. It is a classic revenge fantasy that is more cathartic than anything, as a vividly violent finale keeps you cheering til the end. As all Tarantino films go, it is darkly comic and brutally violent, but you can't help but love every minute of it.





50/50

I never thought a movie about cancer could ever be funny, but this one pulls it off. 50/50 walks a fine line between drama and comedy, and does so perfectly. There are scenes in this film that have me rolling on the ground in laughter, while other scenes had me tear up. Yes, this is one of the few films that made me cry. The scene when Adam goes into surgery really hit home for me as I went through a similar experience, so I definitely have a personal connection to this film. This is well worth a watch and it's unbelievably underrated.




The Departed

This movie has just recently been "promoted" to my favorite films. It took three viewings of this film for me to consider it a favorite, but the payoff was well worth it. This is definitely one of the best crime movies out there. Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jack Nicholson give career-defining performances. After watching it with some friends, I have come to love it even more after realizing how many hilarious lines are in this film. Not to mention the ending is clever and goes to show that Martin Scorsese is a very capable storyteller.

Collateral

I'm not a huge fan of Tom Cruise in any sense, but he is phenomenal in Collateral. I was also introduced to how good Jamie Foxx is, as well. Collateral is filmed in the digital cinema style, which isn't really my preference, but it definitely makes the film unique. This is an exciting and tense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the film. Sorry about the cliche saying there, but I don't know what else to say about this movie.

 

Sin City

Visually striking and over-the-top, Sin City works best because it feels like you are watching a comic book. It serves as an exploitation film as well as a neo-noir film. The dark humor is bizarre and hilarious and characters seem to survive anything, but it makes it fun and cartoon-like. I do wish it was a little bit funnier, but overall this is a great film that dark visually and thematically.




 The Shawshank Redemption

A near-flawless film about friendship. I have a guilty pleasure for prison films and this is definitely the best one. Great performances all around and some funny and memorable lines make this a fantastic film. There is a lot to learn from the way the characters act and treat each other in this film and is just all-around inspiring.




 
Star Wars

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....I watched these movies on VHS. I am lumping the original three films into this as I cannot single out one that I like more than the others. Much like Indiana Jones, this series is tainted because of the prequels. What can I say about Star Wars that hasn't been said? If you were a boy and you had a childhood, you watched and loved these movies. This is as mainstream as sci-fi gets, but it is a good entry into the genre as it shows some of the best it has to offer. Watch them, you must.




Walk the Line

Johnny Cash is one of my favorite musical artists so of course I love this movie. You don't even have to be a fan of his music to appreciate the drama and the life story of Johnny Cash. At the very least, you will learn something about the life of a musical legend and have a good time doing so.




 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

I have only seen this movie once (although I plan on watching it again in the next week) but I freakin' love this film and I expect it to shoot up in ranking on this list. Ennio Morricone crafts an unforgettable soundtrack that compliments the dark story of three outlaws racing to get gold during the Civil War. Exciting all the way to the end of this 3 hour masterpiece. After watching Django Unchained, I went on a Western kick starting with this movie and I've discovered that it is possibly my favorite genre. 

The Shining

Redrum!!! The Shining is by far my favorite horror film. Halloween (John Carpenter) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) are up there, although I don't consider them among my favorite movies. The Shining builds tension and releases it rather than relying on cheap jump scares, which is the cheapest form of thrills in modern cinema, in my opinion. I love the atmosphere Kubrick creates, as well as the numerous tracking shots in this film. Jack Nicholson gives the best performance of his career (or at least matches One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) and is part of one of the most frightening sequences in all of cinema.

 The Grey

Yet another film that makes Liam Neeson a badass. This is probably my favorite survival film (127 Hours is a close second). This film does a fantastic job of making you feel like you are stranded along with the cast in the dead of winter. As they slowly get killed off, you feel more and more isolated and alone. The only enemies in the film are the wolves and the cold, which also makes this film unique. The only thing I don't like about this film is the sound mix. Dialogue scenes are quiet while tense scenes are too loud. It's more of a technical problem than anything, but still an issue, nonetheless.

 Black Dynamite

I found this gem on Blu-ray.com. It was in the deals section and I had never heard of it, I just thought the cover art was cool. It had good reviews on Rotten Tomatoes so I decided to give it a shot. This is a hysterical homage to 70s blaxploitation-type films and definitely has a unique vibe to it. It also has the most hilarious plot of any film I've ever seen. This is a low-budget, fun film that is a great late-night watch with your buddies.

Mulholland Dr.

I've watched this movie twice and I still don't fully understand it. Apparently, you have to watch meticulously to connect everything and there are "Easter Eggs" within the film. There are blogs that over-analyze this film and people still don't get it. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense but I love this film purely because every scene is so damn captivating. Additionally, this film has a very unique visual style that makes it very surreal, and it's unlike anything I've ever seen in a movie before. The acting is cheesy and it is a bit jumbled but I really like this film and I hope it gets a Blu-Ray release soon!


American History X

A great movie about the effects of violence and racism. There are strong performances across the board, especially from Edward Norton. I can't really talk too much about this film. It's one of those movies you just have to see to understand why it is in my list of favorite movies.





Pinocchio

I like this film for a number of reasons, but the biggest one is nostalgia. This was a movie I loved as a kid so watching it brings me back to my childhood days. This film is beautifully animated and it makes you appreciate how well it is made considering how old the film is. I love the themes in the film, as well. It's a good film to show your children because it teaches them about the qualities that are important to being a man.

GoldenEye

I'm not a huge Bond fan but this is my favorite of the series (Skyfall is a close second). Most of the film is filled with practical effects, yet it is modern enough to where it's not too cheesy. There is nothing notably spectacular about this film (however it is certainly the best Pierce Brosnan Bond film), but I like it because of the locations and the numerous action sequences, including driving a tank through the streets of Moscow. This is your run of the mill Bond film, but I feel it is done better than most.

District 9

Initially, I hated this movie, but after a second (and third) pass, I came to appreciate it more. I like the world that is created here. Aliens live with the rest of civilization, and in an awkward fashion, humans ask them to leave. Then things go south. I'm not a fan of the "mockumentary" film style but it seems to work in this case (for the most part). The film has a few issues but overall is a strong entry to the sci-fi genre.





Take the Money and Run

 Yet another film that kills me inside because it's not on Blu-Ray. This movie is so clever and funny. It's a perfect example of classic, clean comedy about the life of an inept bank robber. One of my favorite scenes is when Virgil slides a note demanding money and the bank tellers can't decipher what it says. Highly recommended.





That concludes my list of favorite films. As I said before, this list is always changing and is always being updated, and this is by no means an accurate ranking. I love all of these movies....some more than others, but they all have a special place on my shelf. They have changed how I watch movies and also help me spot the bad ones. Thanks for reading, and keep a look out for my next post on the worst movies I've ever seen.

-Kevin Millward-