Movies Seen In 2016

[zakkrusz]

Spoiler

Arpeggio of Blue Steel: DC (8/10)
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Cadenza (9/10)
Batman: Bad Blood (8/10)
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (8/10)
The Boy and the Beast (8/10)
Deadpool (9/10)
Evangelion 3.0: You Can [Not] Redo (8/10)
Expelled From Paradise (9/10)
The Hateful Eight (9/10)
Tremors 5: Bloodlines (5/10)

Recently Seen:
Star Trek: Renegades (fan film pilot) (7/10)

Running Total: 11

 

[USS Fardell]

DVD
Streaming Service
Television Broadcast
Cinema

January:http://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/138634841415/movie-reviews-2016-january
February: http://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/140315860090/february-movie-reviews
March: https://plus.google.com/115245633245722817719/posts/SGPpFmzBVBc
April: http://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/143672082055/movie-reviews-2016-april


20 The Mummy
Rewatch. The first movie in the Mummy series. An Ancient Egyptian priest who commits an indescretion against the Pharoah. As punishment he is mummified alive... Thousands of years later, in the early 20th Century, a young librarian working for an Egyptologist, her brother and a revolutionary scoundrel find themselves looking for the City of the Dead. They also poke into something they shouldn't. They quickly find themselves overwhelmed with the threat that the creature, the ancient priest has become, presents.
This film is quite good, taking the threat that the Mummy presents seriously. Also the situation in Egypt at the time (both times) is well presented. The main characters are also well presented, being more complex than merely a damsel in destress, a scoundrel or an ordinary guy. Even the Mummy has characterization. It is quite enjoyable, there is nothing that I would object to in the presentation or story. 8.5/10.


21 X-Men Days of Future Past
Rewatch. An film based on an X-Men comics storyline. In the future, Mutants and those humans who help them are hunted by Sentinels, which can adapt to any situation, including Mutant powers. An audacious plan is made to send someone back to 1973 to prevent the assassination of the man who invented the prototypes. Therefore Wolverine is sent back to gain the help of Professor Xavier and Magento to prevent the assassination. But in the future, the Sentinels are still coming. Therefore it's a race against time, in more ways then one.
The character of Wolverine has come full circle, in that in the first two films it was Xavier who helped Logan face his past and move on from it. Now it's Logan who helps Charles move on, so that the future can change. This was presented really well. The continuation of the storyline from First Class is also good, the relationship between the younger Professor Xavier amd Magneto is developed further. 9/10.

 

[zakkrusz]

Spoiler

Arpeggio of Blue Steel: DC (8/10)
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Cadenza (9/10)
Batman: Bad Blood (8/10)
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (8/10)
The Boy and the Beast (8/10)
Deadpool (9/10)
Evangelion 3.0: You Can [Not] Redo (8/10)
Expelled From Paradise (9/10)
The Hateful Eight (9/10)
Star Trek: Renegades (fan film pilot) (7/10)
Tremors 5: Bloodlines (5/10)

Recently Seen:

Captain America 3: Civil War (9/10)

Running Total: 12

 

[Danny99]

1) Home – B+
2) Next – C-
3) A Walk Among The Tombstones – A-
4) Big Game – D+
5) Tomorrowland - C+
6) The Imitation Game - B+
7) Star Trek: Into Darkness - D+
8) Lila & Eve - C-
9) Homefront - B-
10) Red - B+

I was glad this movie didn't take itself too seriously. The plot of the secret agent getting double crossed has been done to death and needed another take.

John Malkovich is the real stand out here, even though him taking on an odd character and making him totally believable is nothing new for him.

 

[od0_ital]

Spoiler: Movies Seen in January, February, March, April

Stephen Fry: More Fool Me (2014) - Netflix Instant
An Ideal Husband (1999) - Netflix Instant
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) - Netflix Instant
The Hateful Eight - theater
Man on Wire - Netflix Instant
The Walk - DVD
The Martian - DVD
Drumline: A New Beat - Netflix Instant
Stephen King's Thinner - Netflix Instant
Swamp Thing - HuluPlus
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension - DVD
Sleeping with Other People - DVD
Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise - DVD
Batman: Bad Blood - DVD
Straight Outta Compton - DVD
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride - DVD
Deadpool - Alamo Drafthouse
Crimson Peak - DVD
Steve Jobs - DVD
Black Mass - DVD
The Bucket List - Netflix Instant
Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song - DVD
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison - Netflix Instant
Spotlight - DVD
The Good Dinosaur - DVD
The Night Before - DVD
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - Alamo Drafthouse
The Last Witch Hunter - DVD
10 Cloverfield Lane - theater
The Warriors (1979) - Netflix Instant
Wayne's World - Netflix Instant
Johnny English - Netflix Instant
Spy Hard - Netflix Instant
Zootopia 2D - theater
Creed - DVD
Legend - DVD
The Ten Commandments (1956) - theater
Larry Crowne - Netflix Instant
Jimmy Carr: Funny Business - Netflix Instant
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 2D - theater
Midnight Special - Alamo Drafthouse

Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping - Netflix Instant
Justice League vs Teen Titans - DVD
Captain America: Civil War 3D - Alamo Drafthouse

Watched the latest Patton Oswalt special just before news about his wife was reported. Pretty funny, especially the mess about My Little Pony.

Rented the animated "vs" movie from Hasting's the other day. It was okay, at least there was a reason for the fight between the two groups, and demonic influence always helps.

Was in Houston this weekend, and took the nephews to the Alamo Drafthouse in Katy for Civil War. It was enjoyed by all. And we stayed for the two bonus credit scenes.

I feel like I watched a couple of other movies, but can't remember...I know I've watched more tv shows, Halt and Catch Fire, The X-Files, and Game of Thrones.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

Captain America: Civil War IMAX 3D - This simply maybe the best Comic Book movie ever made. It's not just a great Comic Book movie, it's just a great movie. There are a few minor quibbles, nothing to big. What's funny, while I loved the movie. I still like Winter Soldier better, even though I consider this a better movie.

 

[USS Fardell]

22 Captain America Civil War (Spoilers!): http://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/144141601360/captain-america-civil-war-review

 

[tomalak301]

1) The Revenant (2015) - B+
2) Room (2015) - A
3) Tomorrowland (2015) - C
4) Deadpool (2016) - B-
5) Zootopia (2016) - B+
6) Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) - D
7) Eye in The Sky (2016) - B
8) Captain America: Civil War (2016) - B

link

Theater (7)
TV/Netflix (1)

 

[USS Fardell]

23 The Mummy Returns
Rewatch. The second film in the Mummy series, set in the early '30's. Thousands of earlier, a warlord named 'The Scorpion King' had conquered most of the world, but was ultimately defeated. In the present, O'Connell's son is placed in peril when an artefact locks onto his hand. Thus begins a chase through London when their son is abducted by a cult! This cult aims to resurrect the Scorpion King, so they could take over the world (Of course). The cult then leaves London, taking Alex, to Egypt.
These chases are well done. The choreography and stuntwork are well done. Of course that is not all that makes a film good. Nor are special effects and cgi. One cannot judge a movie on that alone. The various scenes in which these take place are well written, the emotions involved when one's child and or spouse are in peril are shown well. Brendan Fraser continues to play O'Connell well, easily showing his acting range. The same with Rachel Weisz and John Hannah for their roles. 8/10.

 

[Random_Spock]

Star Wars: The Force Awakens -- 7/10

I really liked it. Especially any of the really nostalgic scenes.

Spoiler: here be spoilers

Kylo Ren was really underwhelming. Could see why some fans didn't like him.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 -- 7/10

Pretty good. Thought that everyone did a good job in it.

 

[USS Fardell]

24 The Scorpion King
A spin off of the Mummy series. (A cinematic universe nipped in the bud?) The origin story of the Scorpion King from The Mummy Returns. The Scorpion King is a Sargonian who opposes the warlord Memnon who has conquered most of the known world with the assistance of a sorcoress with precognitive abilities. The Scorpion King (coming by the moniker during the following events) attempts to assassinate Memnon, but has to escape, taking the sorcoress hostage. Thus begins the downfall of that warlord.
An interesting movie, but ultimately not as good as the series of movies it is spun off from. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is good as Mathayus/'The Scorpion King' and Kelly Hu is good as Cassandra/'Sorcoress' but it is otherwise mediocre. However, it is still enjoyable. The battle scenes are well choreographed, and the writing is such that the various situations that the protagonists get into are believable. The stuntwork is also good. The introductory scene is good enough to draw watchers into the film.
7.5/10.

 

[Danny99]

1) Home – B+
2) Next – C-
3) A Walk Among The Tombstones – A-
4) Big Game – D+
5) Tomorrowland - C+
6) The Imitation Game - B+
7) Star Trek: Into Darkness - D+
8) Lila & Eve - C-
9) Homefront - B-
10) Red - B+
11) Eye In The Sky - A-

This was a complete departure from the usual mission-oriented war movie where there's an enemy or mission to conquer and it truly reflects the changing face of war and the politics involved.

I found myself screaming "shoot the friggin' missle" repeatedly, however. The idea of having two suicide vests and the high level terrorist trio there made it an easy choice for me and the dissenting view of the female cabinet minister came across more as whining then an impassioned plea.

 

[zakkrusz]

Spoiler

Arpeggio of Blue Steel: DC (8/10)
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Cadenza (9/10)
Batman: Bad Blood (8/10)
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (8/10)
The Boy and the Beast (8/10)
Captain America 3: Civil War (9/10)
Deadpool (9/10)
Evangelion 3.0: You Can [Not] Redo (8/10)
Expelled From Paradise (9/10)
The Hateful Eight (9/10)
Star Trek: Renegades (fan film pilot) (7/10)
Tremors 5: Bloodlines (5/10)

Recently Seen:
Batman Vs Robin (8/10)
Justice League Vs Teen Titans (8/10)

Running Total: 14

 

[USS Fardell]

25 The Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
The third film in the Mummy trilogy, set in the late '40's. Alex and a professor have discovered a mummified army of an ancient Chinese Emperor. Meanwhile, his parents are sent on a diplomatic mission to China while escorting an ancient artefact. It turns out that a Chinese general wants to raise the ancient Emperor using that artefact. The movie then turns into a race against time to prevent the ancient Emperor from using an enchanted pool in Tibet to gain immortality. There is also a will-they/won't-they romance sublot (with denial).
The Chinese setting is a shift from the Egyptian setting of the previous films. This is welcome as the second film's take on that setting wasn't as good as the first, and setting a third movie in Egypt may have been stale. (How many times could Imhotep come back, anyway?) However, this new setting is used to full effect. Talking about characters – Maria Bello's take on Evelyn was different than Rachel Weisz's. Not just the different character, the writing for the character is more action oriented than in previous films.
Brendan Fraser continues to impress as Rick. 8.5/10.

 

[Danny99]

1) Home – B+
2) Next – C-
3) A Walk Among The Tombstones – A-
4) Big Game – D+
5) Tomorrowland - C+
6) The Imitation Game - B+
7) Star Trek: Into Darkness - D+
8) Lila & Eve - C-
9) Homefront - B-
10) Red - B+
11) Eye In The Sky - A-
12) Transit - D+

Look up stupid criminals in the dictionary and you'll find the quartet from Transit.

There's chasing, shooting, swearing, redemption etcetera, just none of it is very well executed.

 

[USS Fardell]

26 Public Enemies
A film based on a non fiction book by Bryan Burrough about the events of John Dillinger's career as a gangster in the Great Depression. An interesting look at a turbulant period in American history, when John Dillinger's gang robbed banks, while being chased by FBI agents. It also chronicles the relationship between Dillinger and a waitress who he promises to run away with. This dramatisation is quite good, although there is quite a lot of violence. (Mainly gun fights, the gang vs. police, or the gang vs. the FBI.
Johnny Depp is good as John Dillinger, proving that he has range beyond portraying weird characters. He is a strong presence throughout the film, showing that the harshness that a gang leader in that time would have had to have to survive. It was easy to believe that this person would do what he did. Christian Bale is also good as the FBI agent who has been assigned by J. Edgar Hoover to the case. He shows the determination that an agent would have had to show during that period when such crimes were rampant.
The other actors, including Marion Cotillard, were also good in their roles. 9/10.

 

[tomalak301]

1) The Revenant (2015) - B+
2) Room (2015) - A
3) Tomorrowland (2015) - C
4) Deadpool (2016) - B-
5) Zootopia (2016) - B+
6) Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) - D
7) Eye in The Sky (2016) - B
8) Captain America: Civil War (2016) - B
9) The Jungle Book (2016) - B-

Jungle Book is sold mainly on the visuals. The scenery is amazing in this movie and the animals are pretty well done. I really liked how real the jungle felt, as a character and a setting. It can be a scary and lonely place and the kid who played Mowgli did a great job selling that. Also the acting was pretty good, especially from Murrey, Ilba, and Kingsley.

However, the movie itself doesn't bring anything new to the table in terms of storytelling. Heck, I cringed a little when they starting singing Bear Nessesities because I started to wonder why this even needed to be remade. Also the monkey scene was kind of lame and felt like it was padding the movie out. I wish the movie could have taken advantage of it being live action and told the story in a new way, respecting the book.


Theater (8)
TV/Netflix (1)

 

[tomalak301]

1) The Revenant (2015) - B+
2) Room (2015) - A
3) Tomorrowland (2015) - C
4) Deadpool (2016) - B-
5) Zootopia (2016) - B+
6) Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) - D
7) Eye in The Sky (2016) - B
8) Captain America: Civil War (2016) - B
9) The Jungle Book (2016) - B-
10) Iron Man (2008) - A- (Rewatch)

When I've done this the last few years, I wanted to keep it to films I've only seen one time. Well, after seeing Civil War, I wanted to finally do a MCU rewatch and decided might as well keep up to date with movies I do see again. With that being said, I started the rewatch with the original Iron Man tonight.

Iron Man is still a one heck of a great movie. With 13 films under the MCU umbrella, the original is chalk full of action and just all out fun. Robert Downy Jr. is awesome as Tony Stark, the egotist billionaire, and he and Pultrow have fabulous chemistry. When I originally watched this film, I know it was going to be the start of this universe of Marvel movies that was grow and kind of take a life of its own. It's great to go back to the beginning to see how it all started, and with Iron Man, it got off to an amazing start.

Theater (8)
TV/Netflix (1)
Itunes (1)

 

[od0_ital]

Spoiler: Movies Seen in January, February, March, April

Stephen Fry: More Fool Me (2014) - Netflix Instant
An Ideal Husband (1999) - Netflix Instant
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) - Netflix Instant
The Hateful Eight - theater
Man on Wire - Netflix Instant
The Walk - DVD
The Martian - DVD
Drumline: A New Beat - Netflix Instant
Stephen King's Thinner - Netflix Instant
Swamp Thing - HuluPlus
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension - DVD
Sleeping with Other People - DVD
Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise - DVD
Batman: Bad Blood - DVD
Straight Outta Compton - DVD
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride - DVD
Deadpool - Alamo Drafthouse
Crimson Peak - DVD
Steve Jobs - DVD
Black Mass - DVD
The Bucket List - Netflix Instant
Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song - DVD
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison - Netflix Instant
Spotlight - DVD
The Good Dinosaur - DVD
The Night Before - DVD
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - Alamo Drafthouse
The Last Witch Hunter - DVD
10 Cloverfield Lane - theater
The Warriors (1979) - Netflix Instant
Wayne's World - Netflix Instant
Johnny English - Netflix Instant
Spy Hard - Netflix Instant
Zootopia 2D - theater
Creed - DVD
Legend - DVD
The Ten Commandments (1956) - theater
Larry Crowne - Netflix Instant
Jimmy Carr: Funny Business - Netflix Instant
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 2D - theater
Midnight Special - Alamo Drafthouse

Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping - Netflix Instant
Justice League vs Teen Titans - DVD
Captain America: Civil War 3D - Alamo Drafthouse
The Peanuts Movie - DVD
Willow - DVD
Taken 3 - DVD

Rented a few movies from Hasting's this past week.

TPM was okay, not as good as I thought it would be, but not the incoherent mess it could have been.

W was disappointin', even by 1980s standards for fantasy epics. Made even worse, though, since it came from George Lucas & Ron Howard.

T3 was alright, better than the second one, for sure.

Got a plan to get to the movie theater in the next couple of days, for sure next week.

 

[USS Fardell]

Additional thoughts - re: Spider-Man regarding Captain America Civil War and previous cinematic outings.
http://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/144895439570/captain-america-civil-war-appended-discussion