Lucy

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 25 July 2014
Running Time: 89 Minutes
Staring:  Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Min-Sik Choi
Rating? R
SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS
IMDB: 6.4 of 10
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics: 66% Audience: 47%
MY RATING: 5

STORYLINE
A woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables of her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.

MY REVIEW:
The premise seemed pretty solid at the beginning. A relatively sexy woman kicks the asses of a ton of people. Yeah, that's what I thought too. Kind of overplayed. Kind of just okay. Not great. Not horrible.

This is where the spoilers are gonna start. Scarlett Johansson is tricked into bringing a case full of drugs to some crime syndicate in Korea. She's supposed to collect the money and go, but that's when things turn for her. I still had some pretty good vibes at this point. Then the crime lords sew up a few kilo's of the drug in her gut in order for her to smuggle it out of the country. So, the drug bad break and this drug comes crashing into her system, and makes her mentally and physically stronger than ever before or even what she could ever think of. Then her entire goal is to race to a scientist who she thinks can save her.

This is where it starts to love me. I can't get past the premise. This whole 10% of the brain thing is such a giant load of crap that it took me out of the movie. I get they were pandering to the group of people who actually believe that they only use 10%. But no. That was it for me. I THOUGHT!

So, now with crazy brain, Scar Jo becomes a X-Man and goes medieval on a ton of people. She can knock people over with a wave of her hand. She can stop time. Ridiculous!

The last few minutes of the movie are the most head-shakingly horrible. This movie really sort of checkmates itself. It's just thrill-less, with no real danger or suspense.
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Come Back to Me

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 25 July 2014
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Staring:  Jon Abrams, Andrew Beckham, Jeanette Branch
Rating? R
SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS
IMDB: 5.8 of 10
MY RATING: 3

STORYLINE
Sarah and Josh are married suburbanites. After a car accident, Sarah suffers blackouts and ends up pregnant even though Josh is sterile. As her life spirals she hides a camera in her home and unlocks a horrific secret with far-reaching consequences.

Based on the Resurrectionist by Wrath James White

MY REVIEW:
This is a lukewarm version of a very nasty and twisted novel.  It was okay if I'd never read the book, but just knowing what was in the book The Resurrectionist by Wrath James White and seeing it not be exactly what was in the movie was saddening. It felt to me that it was stripped of so many things other than the basic plot line. Luckily for the film, it was redeemed by not discounting the end and completely changing the concept of the finale.

This is less of a horror movie and more of a lifetime afternoon scare fest. The main character, Dale {Nathan Keyes} is the creepy neighbor and the instigator of the unpleasant occurrences is underdeveloped on the screen. One little flashback and one discussion with Dales Mom.  I don't even think that you could put onto film the words from his book. We only know that Dale can bring back the dead. He uses his power to sexually assault people, kill them, and bring them back to life and have no memories of the assaults. Dale is twisted. Pretty intensely twisted.

It just feels like there is something missing from the movie. I guess had I never read the book, I wouldn't have missed these pieces. Between the plot holes and the lack of care for the characters.. just not what I had hoped for.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Date: 11 July 2014
Running Time: 130 Minutes
Staring:  Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Andy Serkis, etc.
Rating? PG-13
SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS
IMDB: 7.7 of 10 Link
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics: 90% Audience: 88% Link
MY RATING: 8

MY REVIEW:
You know, I was prepared to dislike this movie ever so mildly. I mean, I liked the first one, but it was not exactly my style. I was wrong.

I am typically ultra-ultra-judgemental of most movies, so when I say that hollywood has been putting out mediocre to abysmal movies, I mean, most of them are ehh.

The storyline is pretty interesting and the CGI is well done. The action scenes are really the piece that draws you in and they do feel realistic, even though you KNOW they are CG.

I won't go into any detail about the movie itself, just know that this was a pretty amazing film.

The Purge: Anarchy

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 18 July 2014
Running Time: 103 Minutes
Staring:  Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford...
Rating? R
SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS
IMDB: 6.5 of 10
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics: 56% Audience: 57%
MY RATING: 7

STORYLINE
Sequel to The Purge. Three groups of people are trying to survive Purge Night, when their stories intertwine and left stranded in the Purge trying to survive the chaos and violence that occurs.

MY REVIEW:
This is the most un-sequely sequel that I ever seen! I did like the first one. It was anarchic, violent and fun. I feel that this was more along the line that I was hoping for in the first one. The director looks closely at the theme of class hierarchy that was completely void in the first.

It was a a pretty decent ride for the whole movie. I mean, it wasn't the greatest movie, but for what it was, it was good. (Hence the 7 instead of a 9).

In this sequel, we get to see more of what happens outside in the annual purge and it's awesome. There is definitely a sense of how the different classes are dealing with the purge. Some can afford the luxuries of bars and professional security and some, cannot and are the prey to wealthy.

The interesting part is the idea of the three groups eventual meeting. How they work together even though they are trying to survive. It's unique and it's definitely different from the other dumb horror movies out there. It was definitely worth a watch!

Jersey Boys

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Date: 20 June 2014
Running Time: 134 Minutes
Staring:  John Llyod Young, Erich Bergen, Michael Lomeda, etc.
Rating? R
SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS
IMDB: 6.9 of 10 Link
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics: 52% Audience: 63% Link
MY RATING: 8

MY REVIEW:
This was a brilliant movie that took a hard look a the cost of fame and the pain that comes from being famous.

I thought I knew the story of the Four Seasons and Frankie Valli but BOW was I wrong. This was an amazing telling of the dramas that the young boys went through.

I never knew much about the Broadway musical until hearing about this movie. I went with an older girl friend to see it after work and it was awesome.

John Lloyd Young, the guy who played Frankie Valli was really good. AND he sings! Great period piece and wonderful artistic direction. Funny and dramatic at the same time. NOW, I want to see the play!

22 Jump Street

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Date: 13 June 2014
Running Time: 112 Minutes
Starring: Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill
Rating: R
SPOILERS? Yeah, but not too much.

REVIEWS
IMDB: 7.1 of 10 Link
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics: 85% Audience: 78% Link
MY RATING: 8 of 10 Solid movie

MY REVIEW:
This is a pretty easy review. If you liked the first one, you'll like the second one. The best part was the clever nods to the movie makers being super aware that they were just making the same movie again. I do have to say there were some very clever bits that just made me laugh out loud... Ice Cube's office is a GLASS CUBE! The teasers at the very end in the credits for 23, 24, 25---30 Jump Street.

Edge of Tomorrow

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 6 June 2014
Running Time: 113 Minutes
Staring:  Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton
Rating? PG-13
SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS
IMDB: 7.9 of 10
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics: 90% Audience: 90%
MY RATING: 7

STORYLINE
A military officer is brought into an alien war against an extraterrestrial enemy who can reset the day and know the future. When this officer is enabled with the same power, he teams up with a Special Forces warrior and tries to end the war.

MY REVIEW:
What I really liked about this movie is that it did not assume that I was a mindless idiot watching a movie that I would never understand if they didn't spoon-feed the details to me. It's smart and entertaining. I really enjoyed this movie!

Tom Cruise played a very un-Tom-Cruise like character and does a really good job in the role. He's interesting and brings a certain life to the character that just makes sense. I liked the casting.

Emily Blunt is a good sidekick, but could never have held the whole movie alone, so that made sense. Her character was likable and interesting and seemed to be well-written and deep. Bill Paxton was I think a brilliant cast for the hard-assed sergeant.

I think the flow and plot of the movie are good, enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. Some of the twists seems to feel forced, but it all makes sense in the end.


It's enjoyable and entertaining, so I give it a strong 7.

Maleficent

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 30 May 2014
Running Time: 97 Minutes
Staring:  Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, etc.
Rating? PG
SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS
IMDB: 7 of 10
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics: 49% Audience: 71%
MY RATING: 4

MY REVIEW:
I gave this movie a shot. I was really town since I did love the original story of Sleeping Beauty as a kid. I am not sure why, but this was the only Disney story that I really liked.

Cinematography was AMAZING.. which is why there is a 4in my rating instead of a  2! Angelina Jolie was stunning and the costume she was was a real masterpiece!

The movie seems to fly over the reason that Maleficent is WHO she IS! TO me, there movie fails to paint her in the true dark light that she was in the movie. She's just not the same to me. Not really evil. It feels to me that they were trying to say, no, she's not really evil, just misunderstood. I did;t like that at all!

And, who did they change the names of the fairies!! This was just a slap in the face to the story to me.  I was not a big fan of how they were portrayed. Not really the same story.

Elle Fanning did a wonderful job as Aurora. I think she was perfectly cast. Sweet and a good fit!

Just didn't pull all the right strings for me.

Godzilla

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 16 May 2014
Running Time: 123 Minutes
Staring:  Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston
Rating? PG-13
SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS
IMDB: 6.5 of 10
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics: 74% Audience: 67%
MY RATING: 6

MY REVIEW:
I wanted this movie to be awesome. I really did. I have always been a big fan of Godzilla Movies. I thought that I was going to get darker view of the old version. What I ended up with was a generic cookie-cutter military movie that was just far less that I wanted. It was good, but not great.

It was the ending that really ruined it for me! It felt like the movie wanted me to make the call if Godzilla was good or bad. That's just not what Godzilla is supposed to be. He is a force of nature that cannot be controlled. Godzilla is just supposed to "BE" nit thought up into something else.

Character development... A little flawed for me. I liked Bryan Cranstons character, it seemed that he was well developed and made sense. Everyone else just seemed like they were reading the lines as asked.

It summed to turn a little confection for me at times as thought the movie itself didn't know what it was supposed to be.. thriller, horror, science fiction, a hero movie... etc. Just seemed to be less cohesive.

I think it was a good movie. Overhyped and the trailers made the movie look very different from the movie that I saw.

Neighbors

GENERAL INFORMATION
Release Info: 9 May 2014
Running Time: 97 Minutes
Staring:  Seth Rogen and Zac Efron
Rating? R
SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS
IMDB: 6.4 of 10
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics: 73% Audience: 64%
MY RATING: 7

STORYLINE
After they are forced to live next to a frat house, a couple with a new baby do whatever they can to take them down.

MY REVIEW:
I KNEW what this was going to be when I bought the ticket. I mean it's starring Seth Rogan. It wasn't going to be an Oscar Award Winner...

That being said, I think it was pretty decent. Not the best thing, but definitely there were others that sucked a lot worse! There was just enough to make it funny and a few things that were just not really well written, but the idea get across in a pretty funny way most of the time. Some of the jokes fell flat, but it's not that big of a deal. Solid 7.