Thursday, December 31, 2015

While We're Young

Well written and directed by Noah Baumbach, While We're Young tells a very fascinating story of an older couple spending time with a younger and hipster couple. It captures the differences between young and old perfectly and has Ben Stiller in one of his best roles ever. Over all: 98%
Top list so far:
1. Kingsman: The Secret Service
2. While We're Young
3. Furious 7
4. Cinderella 2015
5. The DUFF
6. Project Almanac
7. Home
8. Chappie
9. Strange Magic

Furious 7

Furious 7 may be just a dumb action movie, but it's a smart dumb action movie that takes its crazy concepts very seriously, thus making the film and its predecessors fun to watch. With great action set pieces, serious acting from the best actors in Hollywood, and a heartbreaking finale that had to occur due to real life events surrounding Paul Walker's death that shows that the theme of family that the film always talks about doesn't just apply to the characters but the cast and crew as well. Though my one nitpick is that with all the stunts and death defying moments, there's barely any scratches on anybody except a small cut on Vin Diesel's head at the end, but it's just a small nitpick. Over all: 96%
Top list so far:
1. Kingsman: The Secret Service
2. Furious 7
3. Cinderella 2015
4. The DUFF
5. Project Almanac
6. Home
7. Chappie
8. Strange Magic

Home

Home is a DreamWorks animated film that has Rihanna and Jim parsons voicing the lead roles of a human and her alien friend. Though the film has very impressive animation and great voice acting, the story has been told before and at times can come off to childish. However that doesn't stop it from telling a story with some very important themes and lessons that a lot of kids can take away when watching. Over all: 78%
Top list so far:
1. Kingsman: The Secret Service
2. Cinderella 2015
3. The DUFF
4. Project Almanac
5. Home
6. Chappie
7. Strange Magic

Cinderella 2015

Disney's 2015 live action version of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella, that they already animated in 1950 has a couple of flaws but there are just as many wonderful things about it. Being directed by Kenneth Branagh is one of the strongest things the film has due to Branagh's reputation as a Shakespearean director. This helps him make a beautiful looking film that harkens back to the same time period as the film takes place in. Who best to play the title character's stepmother who starts out a little kind but then starts to show her roots over time than Cate Blanchett, an actress who can pull off any role given. One negative is that Cinderella is a bit bland at times and hard to relate to, but with Lily James great performance she still struggles and works hard to get where she goes to. Over all: 92%
Top list so far:
1. Kingsman: The Secret Service
2. Cinderella 2015
3. The DUFF
4. Project Almanac
5. Chappie
6. Strange Magic

Frozen Fever

Though not a feature length film, Frozen Fever is a Disney short that was shown before Cinderella and is a sequel to 2013's Frozen. Just like the original film, the short is just as beautiful to look at with a wonderful song and a timeless wonder that equals that as the film.

Chappie

Chappie is Neill Blomkamp's third feature film and the second that I've seen from his work. Though I haven't seen District 9 yet I did enjoy Elysium, and know that he mixes science fiction elements with social messages. With 9 he used aliens as metaphors for the apartheid, Elysium is all about overpopulation and health care, and Chappie deals with issues of rising organized crime as well as artificial intelligence. Though it has great ideas, a lot of times they're not as implemented well and can drag off at times. Blomkamp is an amazing storyteller and director but not all of his films have to use science fiction as metaphors for social problems. Over all: 75%
Top list so far:
1. Kingsman: The Secret Service
2. The DUFF
3. Project Almanac
4. Chappie
5. Strange Magic

The DUFF

The DUFF is a nice small little coming of age film with a very meaningful message that many can relate. It doesn't matter how many people would like you to change your appearance, its best to stay yourself. Great acting especially by Mae Whitman who perfectly plays a teenager in her mid-late '20s, and great comedic timing by Ken Jeong and Allison Janney. Over all: 87%
Top list so far:
1. Kingsman: The Secret Service
2. The DUFF
3. Project Almanac
4. Strange Magic

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Kingsman: The Secret Service is one of a few spy films that came out this year, and it's not only of the best of the spy films, but definitely one of the most fun films ever made. Fun, great action that homages both old school James Bond with a touch of modern Bond. With heads blowing up and people all over the world beating the snot out of each other, this film is beyond genius. Matthew Vaughn is a perfect director who manages to make Colin Firth a believable action star and Samuel L. Jackson a very quirky and funny villain that acts opposite of what he usually plays. Over all: 100%
Top list so far:
1. Kingsman: The Secret Service
2. Project Almanac
3. Strange Magic

Project Almanac

As my first found footage film to see in theaters, Project Almanac has a very interesting look at the mechanics of time travel. Well written and directed, with actors doing their best. Fun and funny, though with some minor flaws in handling the mechanics of time travel. Over all: 81%
Top list so far:
1. Project Almanac
2. Strange Magic

Strange Magic

Strange Magic is a very beautiful looking film with CGI that looks breathtaking and characters that one can relate to. Even though the story has been told before numerous times, the way it tells it is very unique. However, some problems do bog the film, such as how some songs ends and another immediately pops up without warning, and many songs being repeated. Over all: 70%
Top list so far:
1. Strange Magic

List of 2015 movies I've seen in theaters

Strange Magic
Project Almanac
Kingsman: The Secret Service
The DUFF
Chappie
Frozen Fever
Cinderella 2015
Home
Furious 7
While We're Young
The Age of Adalaine
The Avengers: Age of Ultron
Maggie
Mad Max: Fury Road
Tomorrowland
San Andreas
Spy
Jurassic World
Lava
Inside Out
Ted 2
Terminator: Genysis
Minions
Ant-Man
Pixels
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Fantastic 4
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
American Ultra
We Are Your Friends
Paper Towns
The Visit
Black Mass
Sicario
Hotel Transylvania 2
The Martian
Goosebumps
Bridge of Spies
Steve Jobs
Spectre
Cosmic Scrat-tastrophe
The Peanuts Movie
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
Sanjay's Super Team
The Good Dinosaur
Creed
Trumbo
Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens
Brooklyn
Reviews for each and list of best of these coming soon.