A Walk Among the Tombstones

MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, disturbing images, language and

 brief nudity. 

(Definitely recommend checking out kidsinmind.com).

Run Time: 113 minutes

My Rating: 1/5

So last night my wife and I went and saw Universal's A Walk Among the Tombstones, directed by Scott Frank and starring Liam Neeson.  This crime, mystery drama is based upon the book of the same name.  The movie is about Matt Scudder (Liam Neeson), an ex-cop turned private detective, who is hired by a drug dealer when his wife is kidnapped, killed, and chopped up into small peices.  As Matt investigates the crime further, he realizes that there is more than meets the eye in this case and when the drug dealer's friend's daughter gets kidnapped he only has a few hours to save her or she could suffer the same fate as the others.  

This film is a typical Liam Neeson movie.  Ever since his 2009 blockbuster Taken, when his action career got revived, Liam Neeson has played in the exact same movies.  You know what is going to happen and no matter how bad it looks Liam Neeson will end on top.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't consider that a bad thing.  I personally really like Liam Neeson and that is really one of the reasons why I wanted to go see A Walk Among the Tombstones.  I have to admit though that I was pretty disappointed.  The action wasn't all that great, like other Liam Neeson movies, and I felt that the story line moved slowly and there were a lot of little subplots that really deteriorated from the movies plot as a whole. 

When I first saw the trailer for this film I was intrigued by the crime drama aspect of the film, but unfortunately I felt that it didn't really live up to what I was looking for.  It was boring and bland and really overreaching in some aspects.  There just wasn't anything about the acting, action, or story line that really was captivating.  Who knows maybe I can only handle one Liam Neeson film a year because I loved Non-Stop, which came out in February.  Unfortunately for A Walk Among the Tombstones it really failed in reaching any sort of potential that it could have had.  

So I definitely wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone, which honestly really shocks me.  Personally for me it was a waste of my time and my money to go see this movie.  If you really want your Liam Neeson fix then stay home and watch another one of his films because to be honest it is the exact same and by far better than what this film has to offer.

Thanks again for reading and if you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know.  

The Boxtrolls

MPAA Rating: Rated PG for action, some peril and mild rude humor.
Run Time: 97 minutes
My Rating: 3/5
Well hello again everyone, I just got out of Focus Features and Laika's The Boxtrolls.  I can honestly say this is the first time in a long time that I have walked out at the conclusion of a movie and be completely speechless.  Now I am not saying that is a good thing or a bad thing.  The Boxtrolls is about a boy named Eggs, who grows up underground in the sewers of England with the boxtrolls, miniature creatures who characterize themselves with boxes that they wear.  Suddenly their home under the city is being threatened by Archibald Snatcher, portrayed by the magnificent (Ben Kingsley), who is trying to destroy the boxtrolls in order to gain power and authority in the small English village.  It is up to Eggs, his new friend Winnie, and his family of boxtrolls to save their lives and to finally become heroes instead of the monsters that they have been portrayed to be.
There are many good things that The Boxtrolls has to offer.  The stop-motion animation is amazing.  This is from the same animated studio that brought both 2009's Coraline and 2012's Paranorman.  I was a huge fan of Coraline and so I was excited to see the film.  The animation did not disappoint.  Now I know that this type of animation isn't for everyone and that is fine, it is unique, but personally I really like it.  If you are still wary about animation I recommend this short behind the scenes clip of the movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2f1tCI9YbY
Besides the animation, The Boxtrolls brings many important values and life lessons to the table.  One value that it presents is the love of family.  It shows multiple sides of family issues.  It shows what happens when families get ignored, what happens when families get in trouble, and what happens when family is all you've got.  These issues bring much spirit and life to the film.  Another value that the movie brings is the fact that power never brings happiness.  There are so many symbols of what the movie's villain sees as power and each one of these symbols are only material possessions.  The movie shows that these symbols of power don't bring happiness, but in the end are the undoing of all that is great.
Though there are many great things to say about The Boxtrolls, but I have to admit that while I was watching the movie I saw that this show definitely isn't for the faint at heart.  Though the animation is spectacular, there are some instances in the film where some kids may be frightened or grossed-out by what they see.  Some of the characters eat bugs and one character gets bloated because things that he eats.  These things happen sparingly throughout the film, but if you have kids that have weak stomachs, then you should be cautious about the film.  Also another thing that parents should know is that the movie doesn't really have much to offer comedy-wise for kids.  There is a lot of humor in the film that really only adults will understand.
Overall, I liked The Boxtrolls.  It wasn't the greatest animated film that I have seen, but it definitely kept me entertained.  I am sure kids will enjoy it better than parents, but it is a good family movie at a time where there isn't much out for the whole family to watch.  To be honest, I don't expect The Boxtrolls to be the next big animated feature event, but it will be an entertaining movie for the kids.
Thanks again for reading and if you have any questions or comments just let me know.  Have a great weekend!!!

This Is Where I Leave You

MPAA Rating: R for language, sexual content and some drug use. (Recommend seeing kidsinmind.com for more details).
Running Time: 103 minuts
My Rating: 2/5
So my wife and I just got back from Warner Bro's This is Where I Leave You, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, and Rose Byrne.  I'd like to start my review by stating the movie's tagline..."Welcome home. Get uncomfortable."  Let me just say being uncomfortable is right.  Just minutes into the movie the uncomfortable feelings begin and they don't end until the credits roll.  The movie is about a family that is finally under the same roof again after 10 years.  They are brought together in mourning the recent death of their father.  One brother is divorcing his wife for cheating on him; one brother and his wife are trying to get pregnant, the youngest brother has never grown up, the sister is still in love with her ex and her husband never gives her the time of day and the mother has too many secrets up her sleeve and is not afraid to be frank and open whenever she wants.  All of these aspects come to the forefront of the movie at some point and it just makes for one awkward situation after another.  Unfortunately these awkward situations get less funny as the time goes on.  
When I first saw the trailer for the movie, I was really excited.  I for one love Jason Bateman and Tina Fey and to see that they would be in the same movie together I was really happy.  The trailer also made the film out to be a comedy, but let me just say that it is far away from a straight out comedy.  There is a lot of drama which really threw me for a loop.  The comedy styling of two of my favorite comedians wasn't able to be up to their full potential.  So maybe I didn't like the film because I was expecting something different, but putting that aside the movie never really lived up to its potential.  Also I feel like the movie was just a repeat of last year's Oscar nominated movie August Osage County starring Meryl Streep, but unfortunately for This is Where I Leave You, it didn't have the same touch or power as the former Oscar nominee.
Now don't get me wrong there was a lot of things in this film that worked.  The chemistry between the cast works perfectly.  Let's be honest, the cast is awesome.  Some of my favorite actors and actresses, but unfortunately the story and script just didn't provide them with the quality of work they deserve.  Also my wife really enjoyed how real the family was to life.  They aren't your squeaky clean family, which shows a great life lesson that not everyone is perfect and everyone has their own problems and secrets no matter what they may decide to show on the outside.
Overall, the show wasn't for me.  Whether it was because I was expecting something different or because the show really wasn't that good, I still wouldn't recommend this show.  But as always it is your decision and you can make your own choices.
Thanks again for reading and if you have any comments or suggestions I would love to hear them!!!

The Maze Runner

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, including some disturbing images.

Run Time: 113 minutes

My Rating: 4/5

Hey everyone,

So this weekend my wife and I went and saw 20th Century Fox's The Maze Runner - an Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi Thriller based upon the New York Times Best-Selling Young Adult Book of the same name, by author James Dashner.  The movie was directed by Wes Ball.   

The Maze Runner is about a group of teenage boys who are trapped in what is called "The Glade." They have no recollection of their past lives.  The only thing that they remember is their name.  Once a month a new boy comes into "The Glade" and adapts to their lifestyle.  They have established a community where each boy does their duty.  "The Glade" is surrounded by a giant maze that opens and closes each night.  During the day some of the boys enter to maze to try to find a way out.  At night the maze is inhabited by "Grievers," mechanical beast-like creatures, whose stings can be deadly.  For 3 years the boys have lived like this until one day a boy named Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) comes into "The Glade" and then everything changes.  He holds a secret that may help the boys get out of maze, but the only setback is if he can remember it.  

Personally, I thought The Maze Runner was great.  It was a nice, refreshing experience into the Young Adult genre.  One thing that makes it so refreshing is the male protagonist, something that has been greatly missed in the genre since Harry Potter.  Women protagonists have dominated the genre for years with the successes of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Twilight franchises.  The movie provides great suspense throughout the film and an appealing story line that makes the 2 hours seem like a breeze.  In fact I was on the edge of my seat most of the time.  The movie's cast is excellent.  None of the actors starring in the film are hugely well-known and sometimes their dialogue drags them down, but overall they make the story.  They are believable, memorable, and together they definitely make the movie.  

For those that have read the book, there may be some disappointment.  I just read the book at the beginning of the year and I loved it.  There are some changes that you should be aware of, especially regarding the climax of the film.  I don't want to give away too much since if I do I will greatly spoil the movie, but just know that if you have read it the book, expect some major differences.  This was one reason that I didn't like the film, but I also understand that not everything in the book can be put into the movie.  

Overall though I thought the movie was well-made and very entertaining.  I personally would see this movie again.  It was just announced that the sequel, The Scorch Trials, will be adapted and coming to screens exactly a year from now on September 18, 2015.  

Thanks everyone for reading and if you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know.