Pixels

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some language and suggestive comments
Run Time: 105 Minutes
My Rating: 3/5
So today my wife and I saw Sony Pictures Releasing, Columbia Pictures, and Happy Madison Productions' Pixels starring Adam Sandler (Blended), Kevin James (Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2), Michelle Monaghan (The Best of Me), Peter Dinklage (HBO's Game of Throne), Josh Gad (The Wedding Ringer), and Jane Krakowski (NBC's 30 Rock).  The film was directed by Christopher Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone). The film tells the story of Brenner, a 1980's arcade gamer, who is called by the President of the United States to save the world when an alien race attacks the world using the form of video games such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.  Now, him and his "nerd" friends have to use their special talents that everyone mocked them about in order to save the world and all of humanity.
So before I review this film, I have to admit that I am actually an Adam Sandler fan, so I am a little biased when it comes to his films, however I know that there are a lot of people out there that don't like Adam Sandler and if you are one of those people, do not go see this film.  You will not like it, so don't even bother.  However, with that being said, I actually liked this film, but it is not the best Adam Sandler film.  Though the film has its moments and typical Adam Sandler humor, the best part of this film is by far the incredible tribute to the classic 80's arcade games.  Though I did not grow up in the 80's, I vividly remember playing these games when I was young and seeing them all on the screen truly put a smile to my face.  That was the best part of the film and is the only fathomable reason why you should watch this film if you are not an Adam Sandler fan.
Even though I did like the film, the thing I did not like about it was the ineffective way that the incredible cast was used.  I thought that a lot of the actors talents were extremely underutilized and they could have achieved so much more.  I think they could have done so much more and it was a real shame seeing their talents being completely wasted.
Overall, I thought this film was very entertaining and quite enjoyable.  Like I said above, I am biased and this film is definitely not for everyone.  However, this film pay a great tribute to classic 80's arcade games and it will truly bring a smile to your face seeing it.

Thanks again for reading!!!  If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!

Paper Towns

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some language, drinking, sexuality and partial nudity - all involving teens
Run Time: 109 Minutes
My Rating: 3.5/5
So today I also saw 20th Century Fox's Paper Towns starring Nat Wolff (The Fault in Our Stars) and Cara Delevingne (Anna Karenina).  The film is adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name by John Green (The Fault in Our Stars).  It tells the story of Quentin, a by-the-book senior in high school, who has been in love with his neighbor, Margo, for as long as he can remember.  One night before graduation, he has the best night of his life as he travels around town with Margo.  However, after that night, Margo has disappeared without telling anyone.  Now, Quentin and his friends must go on a road trip, following the clues left behind by Margo, in order to find her.
So I thought that this film was good, but not great.  I definitely think that this film is not as good as last year's John Green adaption, The Fault in Our Stars, but I do think that it is an entertaining film with a great message.  The film is quite entertaining and that mainly has to do with its young cast. Nat Wolff had a supporting role in last year's The Fault in Our Stars and he takes over as leading man with great ease.  He is very fun to watch and is a very likable person.  He along with the rest of the cast definitely blend well together and it truly looks like they are having the time of their lives on screen.  That makes the film worthwhile to watch and definitely watchable.  Also, the film has one of the greatest cameos that only the true fans will enjoy.  I also think that this film has one of the greatest messages from a movie this year.
Though I thought the film was great, there were still some things that I did not like about it.  For one thing, there were moments in the film that dragged on for a little bit too long.  Also, for me not reading the book before seeing the movie, was not a fan of the ending.  It just wasn't what I was expecting, so if you haven't read the book, just beware that the film may not end exactly the way you think.  That is not entirely a bad thing, I just wasn't expecting it and so it was just a big shock.
Overall, I thought the film had great elements and was put together well.  This is definitely a film for the fans of John Green, but most general audiences will be entertained.  I would probably watch this film again, just because the cast is so likable.  This is great counter-programming for this summer and definitely a fun, enjoyable film to watch.

Thanks again for reading!!!  If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!

Southpaw

MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, and some violence
Run Time: 123 Minutes
My Rating: 4.5/5
So today my wife and I saw The Weinstein Company's Southpaw starring Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler), Rachel McAdams (Aloha), and Forest Whitaker (Lee Daniel's The Butler).  The film tells the story of Billy Hope, a boxer, whose life spins out-of-control after the unexpected death of his wife.  While trying to deal with the grief of losing his wife, Billy begins making decisions that eventually lead to his daughter being taken away from him and put under the control of child protection services. So with his life completely in shambles, Billy turns to trainer Tick Wills in order to put is life together and bring his daughter back home.
So personally, I really enjoyed this film and everything about it.  I was really intrigued from the moment I saw the trailer and saw Jake Gyllenhaal's physical transformation; I was not disappointed. The story was amazing and it moved at a great pace.  The absolute best part of the film is the cast. They all do a spectacular job and they truly bring this film together.  Jake Gyllenhaal's performance is so captivating and it is hard not to watch him on the screen.  I honestly believe that he has an excellent chance of getting an Oscar come next year.  I thought that he should have been nominated last year and after this performance I don't know how the Academy can disregard him again.  It would be a true shame because he gives one of the best and probably his most emotional performance of his career and definitely pulls the audience along for an incredible ride.
In my opinion, the only reason this film didn't receive a perfect score is because the film was too formulaic and too predictable.  This is your typical underdog sports film.  There is a lot more drama in this film than most, but from the very beginning of the film you know exactly what is going to happen.  However with that being said, the film does entertain and makes you truly cheer for the underdog.
Overall, I loved this film and would definitely see it again.  This is a film that I think all sports fans need to see.  This is an incredible film with some of the best acting of the year.  Jake Gyllenhaal gives a breathtaking performance and it is one that should be seen by all.

Thanks again for reading!!!  If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!

The Vatican Tapes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for disturbing violent content, and some
sexual references
Run Time: 91 Minutes
My Rating: 0/5
So last night I saw Lionsgate and Lakeshore Entertainment's The Vatican Tapes starring Michael Pena (Ant-Man), Dougray Scott (Taken 3), John Patrick Amedori (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), and Olivia Taylor Dudley (Transcendence).  The film tells the story of Angela Holmes who gets caught up in the ultimate battle between good and evil.  When strange events start occurring around her after her 27th birthday, she is suspected of being possessed by a demon.  However after further examination it is determined that the demonic force inside of her is stronger than anyone could have imagined. So, it is up to Father Lozano in order to not only save the soul of Angela, but also save the entire world.
So this movie was horrible.  I can't believe I wasted time and money in order to go and see this pathetic excuse for a film. When I first saw the trailers, I was quite intrigued.  It honestly looked like it had so much potential as a horror film.  I mean, my wife and I were watching a movie a few months ago and this trailer came on and I saw people leave the film because of this trailer.  So I came in with somewhat-high expectations and I was severely disappointed.  First off, the film takes a long time to build up the suspense and the story in hopes that the final act of the film will suffice it enough to satisfy the viewers.  Unfortunately, the final act is not satisfying and all the suspense that was built is destroyed when the audience finds out that they have already seen the entire third act in the trailer. This film brings nothing new to the genre and is really just a disappointment on all grounds.  Not even the cast can save this mess of a film.  This film should never have been made.  It looks like the director was trying too hard to set up this film for a sequel, that he forgot to actually make this film good enough to warrant a sequel.
This film is probably the worst film I have seen all year.  Do not waste your time with this film because it will be 91 minutes that you will never get back.  There are so many better films out there and even if you are a horror fan, this is definitely one that you should never see!!

Thanks again for reading!!!  If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!

Trademarks and Film in Real Life

Hey everyone, so this is a follow up to my article Understanding Legal Issues in Film Part 3: During Filming.  The article talked about how during filming, most filmmakers if they are not careful have issues with Trademarks.  I also talked about how some filmmakers during filming agree to place a company product in the film in order to finance a movie, known as Product Placement. So I thought I would provide some examples for you to see what I mean.   I have been wanting to write this post for a long time, but I have been waiting for a more recent Trademark case and Product Placement example to write about.

The first case talks about a film that I recently reviewed Mr. Holmes.  In the lawsuit, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle is claiming that the film's distributors as well as the publishing company infringed on the Sherlock Holmes trademarks because even an elderly Sherlock Holmes is still a derivative work that is still in their intellectual property.  Along with an elderly Sherlock, the lawsuit sites to Sherlock's magnifying glass, pipe, and hat all fall under a Trademark infringement.  I don't know if I truly agree with this lawsuit.  For one thing, I want to know why the lawsuit is happening now, when the book that the film is based on has been on published for over 10 years.  If this was something that Arthur Conan Doyle's estate truly cared about, they could have solved this matter over a decade ago.  For more information on this lawsuit, you can read the article here.

The next film I want to talk about is the worldwide phenomenon Jurassic World.  This film is a great example of Product Placement.  Here are just a few of the many products that helped financed the film: Starbucks, Mercedes, Brookstone, and Ben & Jerry's.  Now, many people are saying that Jurassic World went way too far.  Though I may agree with some of the things that people are saying, the truth is that if we want to see films such as this one, there has to be a way to fund it.  So we can't keep complaining about it or expensive movies like these would never have the financing that it needs to be created.  For a complete list of the product placement in Jurassic World, see here.

Well I hope you enjoy.  These are just a few of the examples that I could find regarding Trademarks and Product Placement in film.  What I want to emphasize is that 1) make sure that you do your research before you add something to a film in case there is a registered Trademark; and 2) Product Placement can be a great way to finance a movie, but too much product placement can cause problems as well.

Thanks again for reading!!!  If you have any questions, comments or ideas just let me know!!!

Mr. Holmes

MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements, some disturbing images and incidental smoking
Run Time: 104 Minutes
My Rating: 2/5
So today my wife and I saw Roadside Attractions' Mr. Homes starring Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings Series), Laura Linney (The Truman Show), and newcomer Milo Parker.  The film tells the story of a retire Sherlock Holmes who decides to spend the rest of his days in his home in Sussex with his housekeeper and her son.  However, as he spends time there, he is haunted by his last case made famous by his partner Watson. Unfortunately, Holmes' memory isn't quite as it used to be which leads to even more anguish as Sherlock tries to tell the true story before he dies.
So this film was very interesting and definitely not what I was expecting it to be.  This is definitely not your average Sherlock Holmes film, which is ok, but I just want you to be aware of that before watching.  This is a completely different Sherlock Holmes. Here, Sherlock doesn't have the quick wit and the high intellect, but he is more quiet and contemplative.  It appears as if Sherlock has lost the drive he once had. Though this gives the film a new perspective of the man Sherlock, it also creates a slow-paced drama with not a lot of substance.  The film tries to tell multiple stories at once and with the slow-pace of the film, it makes the film hard to watch and the true meaning of the film lost until the last few moments. It makes the audience question why the film was even made in the first place and even the ending isn't as satisfactory as one would like.  It all just seems jumbled together.
Though the film has its flaws, its true saving grace is the cast.  Ian McKellen does a spectacular job as Sherlock Holmes.  In fact, I wouldn't mind seeing him actually play Sherlock again if the script was better.  I truly believe that Ian McKellen has a good shot of an Academy Award come next year. He truly is amazing in this and I hope that he gets a little recognition for it.  The other cast members do great as well and if it weren't for them, this film would be completely unwatchable.
Overall, this film was just ok.  I probably wouldn't watch this film again, but that is just my opinion. If you like more dramatic films, then this is definitely for you.  If you are Sherlock Holmes fan, I warn you that this is not the Sherlock Holmes that you are accustomed to and you should be careful before spending too much money on it.  With all that being said, though the film falters at times, it has incredible acting and a great lesson to be learned.

Thanks again for reading!!! If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!

Ant-Man

MPAA Rating; PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
Run Time: 117 Minutes
My Rating: 5/5
So today my wife and I saw Marvel Studios' Ant-Man starring Paul Rudd (Admission), Michael Douglas (Last Vegas), Evangeline Lilly (ABC's Lost), Corey Stoll (Non-Stop), Bobby Cannavale (Chef), and Michael Pena (End of Watch).  The film tells the story of Scott Lang, an ex-convict, who is recruited by Dr. Hank Pym shortly after his release from prison.  Swearing off crime for good, Hank asks Scott to do one more job for him. Unknown to Scott is the fact that this one last job could save the world.  So with the help of Hank's Ant-Man suit, Scott must find his inner hero in order to save the people that he loves.
I absolutely loved this movie.  Marvel has done it again and provided us with a film that is truly spectacular.  This is one of my favorite Marvel movies and in my opinion so much better than the Avengers: Age of Ultron.  This is a huge statement for me to say because I loved that movie.  The thing that I liked most about this film was that it reminded me why I fell in love with Marvel movies in the first place.  Before the big theatrics with Avengers, Marvel was trying to set up a universe and telling origin stories of some of its characters. This movie takes us back to the origin story format in order to introduce us to a new superhero.  This is definitely a much smaller scale movie than what we have come to expect during Marvel's Phase 2 of movies (anything following the Avengers), but it is a nice change and definitely a great change of pace.
There are so many reasons to love this film.  For one thing it is absolutely hilarious.  Paul Rudd does an amazing job and he is probably one of my favorite characters and actors in the Marvel Universe.  I was a little skeptical when he was first cast, but I can officially say that I was wrong.  Another reason why I loved this film is that it is a true family film.  This film has something the entire family will love.  I know the rating says PG-13, but I promise you that younger kids could watch this with no problem.  If you want to get your kid into the Marvel Universe, this is a great film to start them on. In fact, they will probably like this film better than most other films out right now.
Overall, I thought this film was amazing.  I will definitely see this film again and again.  From the very beginning of this film I was already wondering when i could go back and see it for a second time.  This is a great film and one that you should definitely see.  In my opinion, other than Inside Out, this film is the best film that is out right now.  Marvel has done it again and this is one that you definitely should not miss.

Thanks again for reading!!  If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!!

Self/less

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence, some sexuality, and language.
Run Time: 116 Minutes
My Rating: 2.5/5
So tonight my wife and I saw Endgame Entertainment's Self/less starring Ben Kingsley (Ender's Game), Ryan Reynolds (The Proposal), Matthew Goode (The Imitation Game), and Victor Garber (Titanic).  The film tells the story of a very wealthy businessman who discovers that he is dying from cancer.  Fearing death, he undergoes a radical medical surgery that promises him immortality by transferring his consciousness into a younger body.  However, his new life is not as it seems when he begins to discover the true origin of his new body.
So before I begin, if you have never heard of this film, don't be alarmed because the only reason I even knew this film existed was seeing a poster hanging up in our movie theater.  I saw no trailer or anything that promoted this film except for that one poster.  My wife and I decided to go and see it just out of pure curiosity of what this film could be and after seeing this film we know why this film wasn't advertised as much.  The film was just ok.  This film is very formulaic and is very predictable. I honestly believe the reason why we never saw a trailer for it is because if we had it would probably ruin the whole movie.  The movie starts out with so much promise and intrigue, but then it quickly becomes a movie where you already know exactly what is going to happen.  With all this being said, I was still entertained in this film.  Even though I knew exactly what was going to happen, I still enjoyed myself while I was watching it.  Also another thing about this film is that the ending was very anticlimactic.  I was expecting so much more out of the end, that I was kind of disappointed with how easy it was for the good guys to come out on top.  I thought that it would be very different than what it was.
However, probably the greatest thing about this film is the cast.  They all actually do a very good job and without them holding this film together, it would have been very dull.  This may not be their greatest acting accomplishments, but together they absolutely save this film from destruction.
Overall, the film was good, but not great.  I probably would only see this film again if it was at a dollar theater or if I was renting it from Redbox.  If you are just looking for a movie to go and see that will keep you entertained, then you might enjoy this film.  I am not saying that this film was bad, it was just predictable and very formulaic, especially for a science fiction film.  This film had such an interesting concept and I just wished that there was more to it.

Thanks again for reading!!!  If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!

Minions

MPAA Rating: PG for action and rude humor
Run Time: 91 Minutes
My Rating: 3.5/5
So today my wife and I saw Illumination Entertainment's Minions the spin-off to their hugely popular Despicable Me franchise. The film stars the voice talents of Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side), Jon Hamm (AMC's Mad Men), Michael Keaton (Robocop), and Allison Janney (Spy).  The film tells the story of everybody's favorite yellow creatures, the Minions, before they teamed up with their current master Gru.  It follows three of the Minions, Kevin, Bob, and Stuart as they search for their next leader.  After attending Villian-Con, they are recruited by the greatest villain of all time, Scarlet Overkill, to steal the Queen of England's crown. However, Scarlet gets more than she bargains for when she sends her new sidekicks to do her bidding.
Personally, I thought this film was great.  The film knows exactly what it is and it makes the most out of it.  It doesn't try to overreach and this is definitely the film that audiences want to see.  From the very first Despicable Me, everyone fell in love with the Minions and now, after much clamor, they are finally getting their own movie.  So you shouldn't be surprised that when you see this film it is just the Minions doing stupid things over and over again. That is not to say that it isn't funny because it is, but you just shouldn't be expecting anything else going into this movie.  The film is hilarious though and it has laughs for both kids and adults. With that being said, I personally believe the Minions were not the best part of the show.  In my personal opinion, I was more intrigued by the excellent voice-work of Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm.  They are excellent in this film and the reason why this film is so good.  I never pictured Sandra Bullock doing something like this, but she succeeds in every way possible.  She and Jon Hamm are definitely the reason why I would go see this film again.
So even though I thought this film was great, the reason I am not giving it a better review is because there just is nothing new to it.  I was hoping for the greatness of the Despicable Me movies, but it just wasn't there.  Also, I have also seen better animated films.  There is nothing wrong with this film by any means, but I was just expecting more.  However, in all reality if it weren't for the incredible voice actors, this film would not have gotten the rating that it did.
Overall, I thought this film was very entertaining and one that the whole family will enjoy.  The kids will be entertained the whole time.  This film doesn't have any deeper meanings like the other animated film out right now, Inside Out, but it does have very funny moments.  I would definitely see this film again and recommend that everyone see it!!!

Thanks again for reading!!!  If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!1

The Gallows,

MPAA Rating: R for some disturbing violent content and terror
Run Time: 81 Minutes
My Rating: 3.5/5
So today I saw New Line Cinema and Blumhouse Productions' The Gallows starring Cassidy Gifford (Gods Not Dead) and newcomers Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, and Ryan Shoos.  The film tells the story of a group of friends who sneak into their high school after hours, the night before the school's production of 'The Gallows' in order to destroy the set.  However, they get more than what they bargain for when the spirit of a student who accidentally died 20 years earlier starts haunting them and killing them one by one.
So from the moment I saw the first trailer for this film, I was excited to see it.  Fortunately, the film lived up to all my expectations.  This film is creepy and for me to say that actually means something. Horror movies usually don't creep me out, but this one did.  I know that this film probably won't receive a sequel, but if it does I honestly believe that Charlie (this new spirit) could be the next horror icon.  The filmmakers did such a good job with this film and I believe that this is the best horror film of the year so far.  This film had so many things going for it and probably has one the best endings for a horror film ever!!!  The one thing that I was quite surprised about was the cast.  The actors are relatively newcomers and they did great.  I was quite impressed and wouldn't mind seeing them in future films.
Though I thought the film was great, the film still had its bad moments.  Fro one thing, the film took a while to get started and to set up what was going on.  The opening scene was great, but then the film wasted to much time setting up the rest of the story that by the time the horror actually started there just wasn't enough time left.  Also, I am kind of sick of the found-footage horror genre.  I understand that it is a great way to save money, but the genre has just gotten old.  When it was first released, the genre was so new and exciting, but now there are so many films that do this that it has just been overused.
Overall, I thought that the film was great, but it still had its flaws.  This is a great film to watch if you want to get into the horror genre and a great horror film for those that already love the genre.  I would definitely watch this show again and it is definitely one that you should go see!!!!

Thanks again for reading!!! If you have any questions, comments, or ideas, just let me know!!!

My Top 10 Movies That Celebrate America

Hey everyone, Happy 4th of July.  I hope that everyone is enjoying their holiday.  So since it is the 4th of July, I thought my next Top 10 list would be about movies that I believe celebrate America and its heroes.  I know there are some movies on this list that will be controversial for some people, but that's what happens when everyone has their own opinion.  Anyways I hope you enjoy my list and I hope that these movies will help you appreciate and celebrate America and its heroes just a little bit better.


10. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action
So to start of my list, I thought I would start off with the American superhero himself.  The film takes place during the World War II era.  Steve Rogers, a sickly but determined American, gets rejected again for military service. However, things change when he is recruited for a special project. Proving his courage, he undergoes the experience to turn his weak body into its maximum human potential. Though at first misused as a propaganda mascot, when his fellow countryman are in danger, he answers the call to help them.
Captain America is a great film to watch to get into the patriotic move.  He is the only superhero out there that truly encompasses all of values that Americans hold dear.  Captain America teaches all of us what America really stands for and shows us that we need to support our country.  If you are a superhero fan then this is a must watch this holiday!!!

9. The Patriot (2000)
MPAA Rating: R for strong war violence
The next film on my list is The Patriot starring Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger. The film tells the story of the Martin family during the country's war with Great Britain in 1776.  When Benjamin Martin's farm is destroyed during the war, Benjamin is torn between protecting his family and protecting his new, young nation.
The thing I love about his film and the reason this film is on my list is because I love the perspective it takes on our fight for freedom.  We always focus George Washington and all the other founding fathers when we talk about our fight for freedom, but we never focus on the individual Americans and their families who also risked their lives for the country we love.  These people fight and continue to fight for the country we love and these people need to be celebrated.

8. An American Tail (1986)
MPAA Rating: G
Next on my list is the animated classic An American Tail.  The film tells the story of a Russian mouse who emigrates to America for a new and better life. On his way there, he gets separated from his family.  Now as he is trying to find his family, he has to learn to navigate this new land with new rules and new friends.
This is a great animated film and one I think the whole family will enjoy.  The reason this film is on my list is because it truly resembles the creation of our country.  I know we sometimes forget that in our country's humble beginnings we were all immigrants trying to navigate this new world.  This film shows us a little bit of what it was like for these new people in this new country.  This film shows the hope that people have of a new life when they come to America and teaches all of us how good we actually have it here.

7. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
MPAA Rating: R for intense prolonged realistically graphic sequences of war violence, and for language.
The next film on my list is the award-winning film Saving Private Ryan starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and Vin Diesel.  The film tells the story of the Allied troops during the 1944 invasion of Normandy.  When the Allies are attacked while getting to shore, 3 brothers are killed and their mother has to receive 3 heartbreaking telegrams.  However, when the troops figure out that the fourth brother is still alive, they make an incredible journey in order to find him and bring him home to his mother.
This film is absolutely amazing and one of the best war films ever made.  The film shows how united our troops are and how they would do anything for their friends.  We as Americans need to be more united and do things for our fellow countryman. Also, our troops sacrifice everything for us and we need to appreciate what they do for all of us more!!!

6. The Pursuit of Happiness (2006)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some language
Next on my list is Columbia Pictures' The Pursuit of Happiness starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith. The film tells the incredible true story of Christopher Gardner who is forced to live out on the streets with his son after he loses his job.  With life seeming grim, he takes a job as a stockbroker, but unfortunately he needs to go 6 months without pay before he can see an real reward.
This is such a powerful film and one that I believe is one that whole family should see.  In America we talked about the "American Dream," but none of us can really determine what that dream is. However, after watching this film, we find out that the "American Dream" is about hope and knowing that if we do good and work our hardest, this country will give us a great reward.  We as Americans lose sight of that hope sometimes in our every day life, but we need to hold onto that hope or else America is not better than any other country.

5. Top Gun (1986)
MPAA Rating: PG
The next film on my list is Paramount Pictures' Top Gun starring Tom Cruise, Meg Ryan and Tim Robbins.  This film tells the story of Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell who after saving his wingman is sent to "Top Gun" Naval Flying School.  There he fights with the attitudes of other pilots and the tainted history of his family.  However, he strives to overcome all of this in order to be the best pilot he can no matter how many toes he has to step on along the way.
This film is fantastic and one of my all-time favorite films.  However, the reason this film is on my list is because of its effect that it had on the American populations.  When this film was released into theaters, there was a 35% rise in enlistments that year.  Also this film caused many Americans to have higher confidence in the military after the Vietnam War.  So after everything this film did for our country how can we not celebrate its accomplishments on this holiday.

4. Apollo 13 (1995)
MPAA Rating: PG for language and emotional intensity
Next on my list is the incredible true story of the 13th Apollo mission to the moon.  The film stars Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, and Ed Harris. This launch took place in 1970 right after America had already achieved their lunar landing goal.  So with little excitement about this launch, something goes horrible wrong that may cost these astronauts their lives. However as America pulls together to support their countrymen, a new found hope and unity is placed upon the hearts of the American people.
This is another incredible film about the importance of America.  During this time period America was all about space exploration.  There were many astronauts and still are many astronauts that risks their lives in order to expand our understanding.  This film reminds us the dangers that these people face so that we can know more about what is in our universe.  It also shows how America pulled together when their countrymen needed it most.

3. Rocky IV (1985)
MPAA Rating: PG
The next film on my list is MGM's Rocky IV starring Sylvester Stallone and Talia Shire.  The film is the fourth entry in the Rocky series and follows the heavyweight champion of the world, Rocky, as he trains Apollo Creed for an exhibition match against the Russian Ivan Drago.  However, when Apollo is brutally killed in the ring by Drago, Rocky takes the blame upon himself and vows to avenge his friends death.
So during the time this film came out tensions between Russia and the United States were at an all-time high.  Unfortunately this film didn't do anything to ease those tensions.  However, the reason this film is on my list is the shear joy it is to see Rocky come out victorious in the end.  Seeing the flag draped over his shoulders and seeing America so passionate and unified makes this film one great way to celebrate America!!

2. Miracle (2004)
MPAA Rating: PG for language and some rough sports action
Next on my list is Walt Disney Pictures' Miracle starring Kurt Russell and Patricia Clarkson.  The film tells the incredible true story of one of the greatest moments in American history.  In 1980 at the Winter Olympic Games, a ragtag group of young, American athletes come together in order to represent their country.  However, they are faced with the daunting task of competing against the juggernaut from the Soviet Union.  With the world watching them, the team is able to show the world that miracles do exist.
This is by far one of my favorite sports moves of all time.  This film has it all and is a fantastic way to celebrate America.  Al Michael's famous question "Do you believe in miracles?" still continues to ring in the ears of all Americans.  This film tells the story of a single event that unified Americans more than they have ever been united before.  This film will bring on the tears and have you fall in love with America all over again.

1. American Sniper (2014)
MPAA Rating: R for strong and disturbing war violence, and language throughout including some sexual references
Finally, the last film on my list and my number one movie to celebrate America is Warner Brothers' American Sniper starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller.  The film is based upon the book of the same name and follows the true story of Chis Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. history.  It follows him in his early years as a simple Texan just wanting to be a cowboy, through his training to become a Navy Seal, his four tours in Iraq, and finally his life after his time in the war.  The film focuses on his relationships with his wife and also those that he served with.
This if by far one of the best films I have seen all year.  It is also probably the most controversial film on my list.  This film came out early this year to mixed reviews from those in favor of the war and those against it.  This film also made a lot of people debate about what truly makes hero.  In my opinion those fighting for our freedoms overseas are true heroes.  It takes courage, strength, and bravery for them to do what they do.  We owe them our lives and this film shows us why we should. This is a fantastic film and one that I believe every should see.

Thanks again for reading!!  I hope you all enjoyed this list and you enjoy your holiday.  These are the films that I feel best celebrate America.  You might have your own films and I would love to hear them.  Just send me an email or comment below in the space below.  Also, if you have any ideas for other Top 10 lists I am all ears!!!!  Have a great holiday and God bless America!!!!!

Terminator Genisys

MPAA Rating: PG - 13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and gunplay throughout, partial nudity and brief strong language.
Run Time: 126 Minutes
My Rating: 3.5/5
So today I saw Paramount Pictures' Terminator Genisys starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator), Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty), Emilia Clarke (HBO's Game of Thrones), Jai Courtney (Insurgent), and J.K. Simmons (Whiplash).  The film is the fifth film in the Terminator series.  It follows the story of Kyle Reese as he is sent by the leader of the human resistance, John Connor, to the year 1984 to protect Sarah Connor, John's mother.  However, the past isn't how it should be and now due to unexpected circumstances, they now have the near-impossible mission to reset the future.
So I thought that this film was very entertaining.  There was a lot of action, but it definitely is not the best chapter in the Terminator series.  With that being said, the film still has its good moments. Probably one of the best things about the film is Arnold Schwarzenegger.  He definitely makes this film worth watching and is really the person that keeps this film afloat.  He brings so much action and comedy to the film that its a wonder how this franchise could go on without him.  The other thing that makes this film so great is its relevancy in our time.  The Terminator franchise has always talked about how machines will end up taking over the world, but this film takes it to a whole new level.  In our day, we cannot go anywhere without our technology.  This film exploits that and shows just how dangerous it can be if we rely on our technology too much.
Though the film had its moments, the film still had its flaws.  Probably its biggest flaw is its lack of appeal to the mass audiences.  If you haven't seen the other Terminator movies then you will be completely confused during this film.  The Terminator films are confusing on there own, but this one just makes the crazy timeline even crazier.  This wouldn't be a problem, but it could be a turn off to the average moviegoer.  Also, besides Arnold Schwarzenegger, the rest of the cast kind of fall flat.  I don't blame them, I mean none of them really got the opportunity to shine with the script.
Overall, I thought the film was good.  It had excellent action and a great message.  However, with that being said, I would not have liked this film as much if I hadn't seen the other ones.  If you are wanting to try out the franchise for the first time, this is not the film to start out on.  However, if you are a fan of the franchise, you will be pleased with this entry.  It is supposed to be the start of a new trilogy and if that is so, this film starts off the trilogy with a bang!!!

Thanks again for reading!!!  If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

MPAA Rating: PG - 13 for sexual content, drug material, language and some thematic elements
Run Time: 105 Minutes
My Rating: 1.5/5
So last night I saw Fox Searchlight Pictures' Me and Earl and the Dying Girl starring Thomas Mann (Beautiful Creatures), Olivia Cooke (A&E's Bates Motel), Nick Offerman (NBC's Parks and Recreation), and Connie Britton (ABC's Nashville).  The film tells the story of a boy and girl who become friends after she finds out that she has cancer.  As their friendship grows, they find that though they may not have a lot of time together, they can still learn a lot from one another.
So I am not going to lie, I was really disappointed in this film. Before seeing this show, I had heard a lot about it.  It got rave reviews during the Sundance Film Festival and a lot of people have liked this show.  So I don't know if I just wasn't in the mood or what, but I honestly did not like this film.  I was so bored and actually I had thought about leaving during the film.  This never happens when I am in the theater, so the fact that this of all films was the one to do this completely baffles me.  There were many things that I did not like about the film.  For one thing, the film was just weird.  You can definitely tell that this film came out of Sundance.  There are a lot of weird moments in the film that I thought distracted the audience from the film's true goal.  Also, I thought the film brought nothing new to the table.  There was nothing that made me truly excited to continue watching the film.
Though this film wasn't for me, there were still some things that the movie did well.  The actors were fantastic.  This film definitely showed off each actors strengths and I honestly think that it was the reason why I continued watching the film.  They were the only thing that made the film watchable and the only reason I can think of that people liked this film.
So as you can tell, I really did not like this film.  I don't know why, but this film was just not for me. If people were to ask me if they should see this film, I would tell them to stay far away from this film. I am shocked that I am actually saying this.  This is the type of film that I usually love and beg people to go see!!  However, in my opinion there are so many better movies at the theater right now and if you have the choice between seeing this film and going and seeing another film for a second time, go to the other film!!

Thanks again for reading!!  If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!