If you're looking for an action and "turn brain off now" film, just don't watch it and spare us the 6-7 hearts review.
I for one, am very tired from 500$m crap like Indi Day and Marvel's poop. So I was very excited to watch this one.
This one is more like Spielberg's Encounters from the Third Kind. It's more about the characters in the film and the amazing journey they go through. It's mostly about the human behavior that will make you think.
While it's not an End of the World aliens movie like Battle: Los Angeles, it still offers great amount of military presence and plenty of stuff that's going on.
So if you actually want to care about an intelligent movie and use your head - go. Otherwise, go watch an X men.
Highly recommended for some audience 10/10.
2-feb-2017 edit: Just came out on Bluray and I saw it again. Definitely keeping my rating.
Watching again at July-2023, excited towards Dune II : Excellent. Excellent film. So called plot-holes listed here are negligible when the overall product is really thoughtful and masterfully crafted.
Oh hi trakt
I can't understand why there's such a low rating from critics and stuff. What were they expecting??
The scenery, wardrobe, makeup, everything is so beautiful and colorful. I felt like I was watching a play, a musical, everything was amazing. Emma Watson was a great choice for Belle, Gaston was perfect, the Beast was lovely as expected (Dan Stevens is a great actor - I might think Gaston was a little bit better though) and you're there for Lumiére. He stole the show for me. Ewan McGregor proves again he's the best, most versatile actor ever.
It is exactly the same as the animation, just some changes. It was a great movie overall, I cried like a baby the whole time (favorite 'Disney Princess' tale right here).
I can't understand why people wouldn't like it.
Damn. Just got back from watching Hereditary and I don't think that I've uttered "Holy shiiiiiiiit" under my breath so many times during a single movie. This movie took creepiness to the next level and really delivered as a horror flick with minimal "jump scares". I'd definitely recommend watching this with a nice big audience because it's without a doubt an "experience" you won't forget.
I just got back from a preview showing for the new Spider-man movie, and WOW. It is LIT (pardon my language). Soooooo funny with tons of personality and a surprisingly great depth of emotion in quite a few scenes (some tears may have been shed). I love this new take on the comic book hero origin movie and the entire film just screams originality. I wasn't 100% sure on the animated look before, but it really fits into the entire setting and "alternate dimensions" premise of the movie later, which injects a ton of creativity and potential into this new film.
After Sony released Venom, I thought that they should just stop trying with the Spider-verse. However, this new film and universe gives me a completely different perspective. I can't believe something like this came from Sony...
Possibly Shinkai's best work so far, and as a massive fan of both 5cm and Garden of Words I do not say that lightly. The animation is breathtaking as always but some scenes go beyond mere visual splendor and are just mesmerizing. The characters are so fun to be around and you'll find yourself rooting for them and hoping it all works out. I was slightly concerned when I saw the "boob fondling" scene in the trailer but even that becomes a genuinely charming gag throughout the movie, believe it or not!
As to be expected of Shinkai, the film also takes you on a roller coaster of emotional highs and lows and keeps you guessing how it will end until pretty much the last minute.
I cannot recommend this enough.
Just got back from the new Jumanji movie, and I had a lot of fun. All of the characters were great and they had fantastic chemistry together. I loved the Rock and Kevin Hart (back from Central Intelligence), but Jack Black really stood out with the funniest and most eccentric performance by far. The setup for the movie was solid (albeit a bit simple), and it served its purpose in giving us funny scenarios for the characters. This is definitely a fun movie to watch and just enjoy for some laughs and action especially if you haven't seen the trailer (the trailer spoils a few of the funny scenes). 7/10.
Wow. This was a lot better than what I was expecting. It's not the greatest movie ever, but a ton of fun for sure, and brings back a good amount of the charm of the original movie. Blows the sequels out of the water for sure.
I did not expect to like this one as much as I did! While I would say that the bucket for vampire movies is getting too crowded, I will certainly not fault an entertaining one for this!
The characters are rather quirky and it's shot mockumentary style (like The Office) which might be off-putting for some but you have at least give them credit for going through a variety of jokes here! Oh, and let's not forget Stu! Everyone loves Stu!
Like an NFT of a classic musical: it was technically well-made and looked really good but I got no emotion from it.
I thought that the movie was just alright until the last third where shit just went crazy. Just like Mima, I couldn't tell what was real or not. This was definitely a unique and awesome mindfuck. Satoshi Kon (Paprika, Millennium Actress, Paranoia Agent) is without a doubt a master of the psychological thriller genre. I just wish that he could have gotten the chance to create many more films.
This was a very beautiful and moving film by Makoto Shinkai. As the title suggests, it is a story about a growing separation and the effects it has on childhood sweethearts, Akari and, in particular, Takaki. Even though it was only an hour long, by the end I felt like I was truly feeling the pain and longing that had dominated Takaki's life for so long. I was initially disappointed by the ending (what can I say, I'm a sucker for happy endings) but after rewatching the film, I really appreciated that they didn't go with the cliché finish. Takaki not being reunited with Akari and finally deciding to move on from his past, which till that point held down and ate away at his life, was far more powerful and resonated with the themes of the film. The animation, art and music were beautiful like in all Makoto Shinkai works. I can't think of a better way to spend an hour of my time (except, of course, maybe sending a text to my long forgotten fling).
Mamoru Hosoda strikes again. In my opinion, this is his best overall work surpassing The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars. As Miyazaki and Ghibli seem to be slowing down a bit, Mamoru Hosoda is ready to take the torch. The concept of wolf children growing up in our world is something that I've never seen, but the themes of acceptance, finding your own path in live, and, of course, a mother's love are what truly hold and elevate this movie. The duality in the development of Yuki and Ame and where they want to end up in this world are the highlights of the film. I can't wait for the dub to be released. Go watch this ASAP.
This was a very well done romance movie and clearly shows that Goro Miyazaki is making strides as a director himself (Tales from Earthsea was just so convoluted). The characters are very nice (though nothing too deep) and the story goes at a nice (although at times slow) pace. The art and music are spectacular as one would expect from a Ghibli film. The only big thing that I'd like to add is to definitely watch this with the English dub. I actually found that it added a lot more to the experience with many extra added lines (there are seriously quite a few monologues/lines that are not in the Japanese version), a better translation and much more natural dialogue versus the Japanese subs (at least the retail Japanese ones that I think that I saw it with). This reminded me a lot of Whisper of Heart although not quite as developed as that classic. Anyway, this is a definite watch for any Ghibli or romance movie fan.
The progression of my face during "dat ending":
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) → (⚆ _ ⚆) → ( ಠ_ಠ) → (ಥ﹏ಥ) → (ಠ▃ಠ) → ┬──┬ ノ( ゜-゜ノ) → (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
I'm still left in shock...
I can't honestly say more about it than that in fear of spoiling it. It was a pretty nice and interesting take on the zombie movie genre and definitely something a little bit different (especially with that ending). Not sure how I feel about the movie as a whole so I'm gonna wait to fully digest it and let the ending settle in before a final rating. Probably a 7/10.
I'm not gonna lie. I laughed my ass off during 22 Jump Street (and so did the entire theater). While it might not have been as fresh as the first one, I enjoyed that the movie completely embraced the fact that it was a blatant money-making sequel and it made the movie all the better (essentially the complete opposite of how The Hangover/Crapover 2 handled it). It actually became quite a bit of the running joke and I nearly died during the credits. Hill and Tatum still have that amazing chemistry in this movie that we remember from the original and shared some pretty close and intense moments in their brolationship. This movie posed very real and deep questions that made me question my own bromosexuality and I loved every second of it. Definitely check this out if you enjoyed the first or love comedy.
Sword of the Stranger was definitely an unexpectedly great movie in my opinion. The relationship between Kotaro and Nanashi is developed very well (for a movie) and helps to drive the film forward. I loved the fluid animation and exciting choreography of the action sequences and the music always seemed to fit the mood. The climatic fight/battle-royal at the end was absolutely epic. While the plot was not too original, it served its purpose in getting Nanashi to kick ass and shut many mouths. And I actually liked how the ending was kept open showing how wounded Nanashi was after the battle and that there was no nearby town. I just hope that Nanashi didn't die (although all the hints show that he probably did with this being his last sacrifice).
I was kind of in the mood, so I watched this newest Netflix movie "When We First Met" with Adam Devine and Alexandra Daddario. Honestly, I kind of it enjoyed it. I'm a softie for romcoms, the Groundhog day mechanic and I love Adam Devine back from his Workaholics days, so this one was a fun watch. Don't expect anything breathtaking, other than some solid fun and shenanigans. I really liked the other female lead/co-lead as well (Shelley Hennig is her name). I haven't seen her in anything else before, but I'd definitely be interested in seeing more of her.
I have been wanting to watch A Ghost Story for the past month, so when my local theater started showing it a week ago as part of its Indie lineup, I couldn't wait. And I get why it has a 91% on RottenTomatoes and lots of positive reviews and all that but... man, is it a boring movie.
I get that it is a well-made with great editing, direction and some amazing long single-shot scenes. I get the poetic message that it is trying to send, and it does a good job with that. However, I just can't get over the fact that the entire movie is incredibly boring. I honestly could not wait for this movie to finish (which is tough to do with a movie that is less than 90 minutes long).
Imo don't watch this in theaters. Wait for it to come out on home video. At least you can fast-forward at home...
"El Psy Kongroo" has finally returned for one last finale (this is the official end to the series) and boy was it worth the wait. As an absolute lover of Steins;Gate (I'm possibly biased), this was a very fulfilling and emotional conclusion to the series and really did a good job of tying up loose ends and plot holes that still existed. As the original Steins;Gate was a story about the journey, struggles and decisions of Okabe through time, this movie gives Makise (one of my favorite tsunderes) a turn to shine and really emphasizes the feelings and conflicts of love that the current Steins;Gate world-line Makise was facing that were only touched upon in the OVA.
The continued development of the romance and the true revealing of feelings between the two time-crossed lovers were a treat, and the creators were able to give a more in-depth explanation of the reading Steiner ability and deja vu effect. I and, more importantly, Makise could also finally understand the pain that the current Okabe was still going through even though he had "saved" everyone which was a critical development in my eyes. I also really liked the difficult struggle between the "scientist" Kurisu and the "woman" Kurisu on the decision of whether to risk saving Okabe against his "wishes". The movie could have maybe touched a bit more on the other characters, but in 90 minutes, the resolution of the story between Makise and Okabe is the most important thing to nail down (and they definitely accomplished that).
It starts a bit slow (as do all Steins;Gate related things) but the emotional pay-off is well worth it in the end. You definitely have to have seen the series and OVA in order to get any of this. I loved the movie and it's a must watch for anyone who has seen Steins;Gate. This is the end that we have all been waiting for so don't delay and watch this immediately. Here's to one final goodbye and "tuturuuuu".
This is how a superman movie should be. Thank god no luther, no bullshit kryptonian island. A fight between kryptonians will result in mass destruction and high casualties. Zack snyder did everything right. Hopefully this will result in a great superman trilogy.
I went to go see Unsane tonight. Daaaaaaaamn. Soderbergh did a great job here. I can't believe the entire movie was shot on an iPhone. Crazy psychological thriller, and I really didn't know what was real or not for a good portion of the movie.
Definitely do NOT take a girl who is afraid of stalkers to see this movie. She will have nightmares for days after seeing this. Guaranteed. I even got freaked out as a guy.
Well this was definitely better than the first Hobbit film as there was no hour long goblin chase scene. I found the movie to be pretty enjoyable particularly the dynamic scenes between Smaug and Bilbo, and the extended character development of Bilbo and Thorin. The action was great fun although drawn out and unrealistic/ridiculous at times (like all Peter Jackson films). Someone just has to get Peter Jackson a damn editor already. I honestly don't know what other scenes he could possibly add on to a Special Edition version (but I know that he probably has a million). Still, I'll be ready for my final trip back to Middle Earth next year.
Man. Mind. Blown. This was one epic movie. SHAFT took this in a completely different direction than I originally anticipated. This sequel to the series (technically the movies if you listen to the creators) really delves into our favorite magical characters but the real star of this is Homura without a doubt. I truly realized (after reading explanations online of course) the extent of her pain, suffering and love that she went through in order to "save" Madoka. She truly develops and transforms as a character throughout this movie into someone even I didn't anticipate at all.
The animation, style and action are spectacular as always with this being a SHAFT production. While I thought that the first 30 minutes of the movie were a bit slow, shit immediately got crazy after that. And that ending... You'll have to see it for yourself. There were definitely some pretty confusing parts of this movie but after taking it all in (and some outside guidance), everything really does fit together and creates a fitting sequel to the series. I liken this as the End of Evangelion for the Madoka series. Now, I'm craving for some more magical girls goodness.
Damn, Redline was one epic movie. I can't believe it took me so long to check this out. The animation is out of this world (those 7 years of production did not go to waste) and the whole movie just oozes style. I'm not even a fan of racing but this had me at the edge of my seat the whole time. Also, that OST was just bumpin'. I'm still listening to REDLINE DAY (feat. Rob Laufer) from the credits as we speak (click below). Madhouse can do no wrong.
Just watched Mamoru Hosoda's new film Mirai and enjoyed it a decent amount. Beautifully made film with a lot of heart-warming themes, a very cool future/past interweaving dynamic and good development. Unfortunately, the biggest problem with this film is that it was kind of boring. No matter the amount of other great elements in a movie, if it is not entertaining, it's going to struggle a bit in my mind. I prefer Hosoda's other works to this where there is a bit of a more over-arching plot and driving story arch. Still, this is a nice movie to watch especially with your family.
I finally got around to watching Interstellar after all this time last night and boy... I thought that the movie was just fantastic. I'm kind of baffled at why there is so much hate for the movie. There are maybe a couple of plot holes and inconsistencies here and there while some things go beyond the scope of "believable science" but damn if it isn't one hell of an enjoyable movie.
It's definitely on the long side but I was so engrossed throughout the entire movie that I just didn't care. Great performances by the McCounaghey and Anne Hathaway in this one along with a fantastic soundtrack. Don't listen to all the hate and watch it if you're up for one hell of an adventure (albeit a long one).
Just came back from the first official showing. My mind was officially blown / "awoken". Simply amazing. Best movie experience that I've been to in a long time (ago in a galaxy far, far away). This is what a Star Wars movie is supposed to be like.
The fusion of the new cast and the old was masterfully done and I was on the edge of my seat the entire movie not knowing what was coming next. Adam Driver and Daisey Ridley absolutely stole the show in this one but I honestly ending up loving all the new characters. The only downside is that I have to wait until 2017 & 2019 to complete this "new" adventure. I am contemplating if I should freeze myself in carbonite to shorten the wait...
I may or may not be watching this a few more times in the coming weeks (while doing my little dance)...
http://i.imgur.com/ZN51S64.gif
I came. I saw. I feels'ed.
Goodbye Mushishi. Please come back to my life again at some point.
I watched Maquia: When the Promised Flowers Bloom last night and it was definitely a great and powerful movie. Well worth the trip and wait to watch it. It is an absolutely beautiful looking movie with some amazing characters, pretty interesting setting/world-building, and fantastically developed emotions and themes throughout. It was definitely a real tearjerker at times, especially towards the end.
There were a couple plot holes and things that were left unclear as to how and why they were happening/happened, but they were more minor concerns and quips on my end (don't really want to spoil them). They don't really hold you back from enjoying the movie. The ending was definitely an emotional whirlwind (I just didn't like one little part with Leilia), but well worth the journey and very well done overall. If your theater is still showing screenings this week (like in NYC) definitely check it out while you can. If not, pray for the BD release to come ASAP.