Woodlawn

MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements including some racial tension/violence
Run Time: 123 Minutes
My Rating: 5/5
Sorry this post is coming so late, but school has been crazy.  With that being said, on Monday my daughter and I saw Pure Flix Cinema's Woodlawn starring Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings Trilogy), Nic Bishop (USA's Covert Affairs), Sherri Shepherd (NBC's 30 Rock), Jon Voight (Holes), and newcomer Caleb Castille.  It tells the inspiring true story of a high school football team in Alabama who must battle against racial tensions among each other and the town, when the school becomes one of the first schools to be racially integrated.  However, after a religious motivational speaker comes to talk to them, they realize that as they turn their lives towards Christ and find that race shouldn't matter, miracles do happen.
So I absolutely loved this film.  It had an excellent story and an excellent cast.  As stated above, this is based on a true story and it is truly inspiring.  There is no way that one can leave the theater without having a great new attitude about life, people, and Christ.  If this film does one thing, it shows how important Christ and his teaching can change lives and attitudes and the fact that this is a true story even makes it better.  It gives a spectacular message and I love how professional athletes and really anyone can contribute Christ's teachings to their success.  With that being said, the cast does a fantastic job.  They all give spectacular performances and truly deserve praise for what they were able to accomplish.  I am always impressed by the great casts that these Christian films are able to have and this one is no different.
I really have no criticism for this film.  If I had to say something, it may have felt a little long, but it didn't bother me as much as some other films have this year.
Overall, I loved this film.  I think everyone needs to see it.  It is probably one of the best sports movies to come out in a long time.  This year has had some pretty spectacular Christian films and this one is no different.  If you want to be inspired, this is the film for you.  I promise you that you will not leave disappointed!!

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Goosebumps

MPAA Rating: PG for scary and intense creature action and images, and for some rude humor
Run Time: 103 Minutes
My Rating: 5/5
Hey everyone, I have been super busy the last few days, but Monday night I saw Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation's Goosebumps starring Jack Black (School of Rock), Dylan Minnette (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day), Odeya Rush (The Giver), Ryan Lee (ABC's Trophy Wife), and Amy Ryan (Bridge of Spies).  It tells the story of Zach Cooper, who after moving to a new town with his mother meets his beautiful next-door neighbor Hannah.  Zach eventually learns that Hannah's strange father is R.L. Stine, the author of the bestselling Goosebumps books.  However, it turns out that R.L. Stine is so strange because the monsters in his books are real and he protects everyone by keeping his manuscripts locked.  Now, after Zach accidentally unleashes the monsters, he must team up with R.L. Stine in order to put them back in the books where they belong.
So I loved this film.  This was one of my favorite movies of the year and probably one of the most entertaining films of the year.  Having grown up reading the Goosebumps books, it was fantastic seeing all the characters that gave me nightmares as a child on the big screen.  It was the Goosebumps books that got me hooked on horror and I honestly believe that this is a great film to introduce kids to the horror genre as well.  This film is just entertaining, while still keeping true to the source material.  I could not have imagined a better way to adapt the Goosebumps series and as a fan, I was truly satisfied.  The film has so many great aspects to it, that in my opinion, there really is no flaw to it.  One thing that really surprised me was the cast.  When I first saw that Jack Black was in it, I was afraid that he would be able to capture the greatness of the Goosebumps series, but I was wrong.  He does a great job and works so well with the younger cast.  I see a bright future for this young cast and after this film, their future seems even brighter.
So if you couldn't tell, I can't say enough good things about this film.  This is one of the films that I am going to use to introduce my kids to the horror genre.  This is everything I would have wanted in a Goosebumps film and everyone that was in my theater seemed satisfied.  This is a great film for parents and kids alike.  If you have time, you have to see this film because it is one of the most entertaining films you will see all year!!!

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Bridge of Spies

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violence and brief strong language
Run Time: 141 Minutes
My Rating: 5/5
Hey everyone, sorry for the double-post, but yesterday I saw Dreamworks SKG and Fox 2000 Pictures' Bridge of Spies starring Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips), Amy Ryan (NBC's The Office), and Mark Rylance (The Gunman).  It tells the fascinating true story of a lawyer, James Donovan, during the Cold War, who is assigned to defend a Soviet Union spy living in the United States.  After the trial, Donovan is asked to be involved in intense negotiations between the Soviet Union for an exchange and release of the captured Soviet Union spy and a Russian captured CIA U-2 spy plane pilot.
So this was a fantastic film and one of the best films of the year. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have created another amazing collaboration that shows that these two together are unstoppable. Tom Hanks gives a spectacular performance as James Donovan and truly does this man justice.  James Donovan is an American hero and I am so happy that his story is being told and it is done in an awe-inspiring way.  In all reality, every actor does amazing and each one deserves to be considered for acting awards.  Also, Steven Spielberg has a spectacular vision for the story and his craft is absolutely perfect.  In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with this film and the emotion that this film brings is unnerving. Spielberg provides such incredible images and life to this story that it is impossible not to like this film.  By the end of Bridge of Spies the audience is just in amazement at this incredible story.
Like I said above, there is nothing wrong with this film.  The 2 hours and 21 minutes go by so fast, you almost wish that wasn't over.  The acting, directing and writing are praise-worthy and definitely worth your time.  This is one of the best films of the year and will go down as an instant classic. This is a film for all to see and if you love history, you will absolutely loved this film!!!

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Crimson Peak

MPAA Rating: R for bloody violence, some sexual content and brief strong language
Run Time: 119 Minutes
My Rating: 3.5/5
So Friday night I saw Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures' Crimson Peak starring Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), Jessica Chastain (The Martian), Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers), and Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim).  It follows the story of Edith Cushing who finds the man-of-her-dreams in Thomas Sharpe. After a family tragedy, she marries Thomas and moves in with him and his sister, Lady Lucille Sharpe.  Now Edith finds herself struggling as the ghosts of the house's past start to haunt her providing a deadly message for all involved.
So I loved this film.  In my opinion, this is one of the best horror films that has come along in a while.  This is one of the first big-budget horror films in many years and it was nice seeing a true spectacle in the genre.  Not to say that the genre isn't an art (because I love the genre), but seeing a studio and a director put so much money and faith in the horror genre truly resonated on the screen. This is evident in the immaculate costumes and set design.  Both of these are award-worthy deserve praise.  If the Academy look over this film in these areas, they a doing a great disservice. Also, it was great seeing recognizable stars.  Most recognizable stars seem to stay away from the horror genre because it isn't artistic enough, but all for leads in Crimson Peak show that there are great performances and great potential in the horror genre.  They all did fantastic and I applaud them for their performances and their willingness to enter the genre.
Though I absolutely loved Crimson Peak, I was shocked to realize that this truly isn't as much of a horror movie as it is a Gothic romance movie.  Yes, there are ghosts, and yes the film has its moments, but overall, the supernatural entities are just side characters and not the most important part to the story.  Though in the end I thought it was good, at first it kind of annoyed me that this wasn't going to be the straight-up horror movie I was expecting.  With that being said, this film is not scary. In fact almost all of the horror moments in the film are shown in the previews, which makes for a very uneventful (horror-wise) film.
Overall, I loved this film.  Even though it wasn't as scary as I would have liked it, incredible performances, a great script, and beautiful imagery truly turned it into a spectacle.  I encourage everyone to see this film because it really is a great story.  For those that are wary because of the horror aspects, you have nothing to worry about.  This is a fantastic era-piece drama that can truly satisfy both horror fan and non-horror fans alike.

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

99 Homes

MPAA Rating: R for language including some sexual references, and a brief violent image
Run Time: 112 Minutes
My Rating: 4/5
So today I saw Broad Green Pictures' 99 Homes starring Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spiderman), Michael Shannon (Man of Steel), and Laura Dern (Wild).  It tells the story of construction worker Dennis Nash who must come to terms with reality when his home is foreclosed and his family and him are evicted by real-estate broker Rick Carver.  With no place to go, Nash takes his mother and son to a run-down motel where others that have been evicted stay.  With no home or money, now Nash must do the unthinkable and begins working for Carver, diving into the world scamming and stealing in order to make quick cash.
So I thought this was an intense film that showed real life and was a great commentary on the nature of mankind.  It has fantastic performances and really it wouldn't be the same without its great cast. Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, and Laura Dern pile on the intensity and emotion creating some of the best acting work this year.  Unfortunately with this film being so small I don't see this film winning any major awards, but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't.  They bring this story to life and honestly show how life was during the 2010 housing crisis.  While watching you can't help but feel for all those people being evicted and hate the ones evicting him.  With that being said, it is very interesting to watch Andrew Garfield's character go from being evicted to the one doing the evicting.  In my opinion it is a great commentary on how quick people are willing to change if it means making money.  Money affects the way we live, act, and think; this film shows this and also shows what the eventual outcome is if we decide to focus our lives on it instead of the things that truly matter.
The one bad thing that I would say is that the film wasn't building up to anything.  After watching the film I have no idea what the climax was and how the film ended up where it did.  This makes it really hard to stay focused on the film because you don't know where the story is going.  The film seems long, but fortunately it is backed up by the incredible acting.
Overall, I thought this film was great and I would definitely watch it again.  The performances are incredible and deserve praise.  If you want a true-to-life story with a great life lesson, this is definitely for you.

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

Pan

MPAA Rating: PG for fantasy action violence, language and some thematic material
Run Time: 111 Minutes
My Rating: 2.5/5
So today my family and I saw Warner Brothers' Pan starring Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables), newcomer Levi Miller, Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), and Amanda Seyfried (Les Miserables).  It is a prequel to the Peter Pan tale we know and love.  It details how Peter arrived at Neverland and how he eventually came the hero forever known as Peter Pan.
So this film was just ok.  I really wanted to love this film, but unfortunately that just wasn't the case for me.  I liked it and think that for its target audience (children) it is a great film, but for those outside its target audience (adults) it will just be good, but not great.  For children, they will love the action and adventure that this film brings.  They will experience the magic of Neverland and learn that as long as they believe in themselves they can do whatever their hearts desire.  As for adults, they will enjoy the beautiful visuals.  The visuals are stunning and it really makes Pan worth watching.  For those that grew up with the animated Peter Pan, you will love seeing Neverland brought to life.  It is absolutely great to see.  Also, the cast does a very good job, especially with what they were given. This stuff makes the film bearable to watch.
Unfortunately for adults, the visuals and the adequate acting are the only things you will be liking about this film.  The thing that disappointed me the most was the story.  It was marketed as a prequel to Peter Pan, but for audiences, it leaves much to be desired.  I assumed that Pan would fill in all the loose ends on how Peter Pan and Captain Hook became the enemies they are today, but that was not the case.  This leaves the audiences with more questions than what they came in with, which isn't a good thing for this film.  I think the studio was expecting this film to be successful in hopes of making sequels, but the studio forgot that they needed to make something that audiences would want to see more of.  Unfortunately, that is not the case for this film.
Overall, I thought the film was good, but I was really disappointed with the final product.  However, kids will love it and really that's all that matters.  The target audience is definitely represented here and even though the parents that take them will be disappointed, it is a small sacrifice to see our children happy.  This may not be the best film, but for kids it is quite an enjoyable ride!!!

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

The Walk

MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements involving perilous situations, and for some nudity, language, brief drug references and smoking
Run Time: 123 Minutes
My Rating: 3.5/5
So today my daughter and I saw Sony Pictures and TriStar Pictures' The Walk starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception), Charlotte Le Bon (The Hundred-Foot Journey), and Ben Kingsley (Exodus: Gods and Kings).  It tells the incredible true story of Philippe Petit, the only man who dared to walk the immense void between the World Trade Center towers.  It shows how he was able to complete this amazing feat and how he brought life to the World Trade Center.
So I thought that this film was good, but not great.  This film has all the right aspects to make it great, but unfortunately it falls short in a lot of ways.  One thing that this film does right is the acting. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a great job, even though I might have been a little annoyed at first by his accent.  However, he brings his usual charm to the role and within minutes the audience has already fallen in love with him. You want him to accomplish his dream and it is because of the great acting by Gordon-Levitt.  Also, the cinematography is absolutely spectacular.  The camera angles and the camera movement definitely make this film great.  If it weren't for this, The Walk would be nothing. With that being said, you should know that if you are afraid of heights or get queasy at certain heights, this is not the film for you.  The cinematography is so good that it makes you feel like you are actually on top of the World Trade Center towers.  In fact there were some people in my theater that had to look away during the movie because it was so realistic.  I personally thought this added an extra-value element to the film, but I wanted to warn you before you saw this film.  Finally, it provides a great tribute to the World Trade Center towers.  I wasn't expecting this, but it was a nice element to the film that helped bring it life.
Though it had its great moments, the film's major flaw is in its story.  Don't get me wrong, it is an incredible story of an incredible feat accomplished by Philippe Petit, but the only thing worth watching is the feat actually happening.  All the build-up and backstory to the big event, is kind of boring.  In all reality if the film consisted of only its last 35-40 minutes then it would have been a fantastic film.  However, the backstory just drags on and it really doesn't bring any excitement to the audience.
Overall, I thought the film was good, but I wished that it would have been better.  This film had a lot of potential, but unfortunately it fell short.  With that being said, I would recommend this film just for the cinematography experience.  Honestly this is some of the best camera work I have seen in a long time and for that reason it deserves to be seen and praised.  It may not be the best film, but it is well-made and a great cinematic achievement.

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

Sicario

MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, grisly images, and language
Run Time: 121 Minutes
My Rating: 4/5
So today I saw Lionsgate's Sicario starring Emily Blunt (Into the Woods), Benicio Del Toro (Guardians of the Galaxy), Josh Brolin (Everest), and Victor Garber (CW's The Flash).  The film's director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners) tells a captivating, gruesome, and intense story of FBI agent Kate Macer as she experiences first hand the evils of the drug war along the United States and Mexico border.  To help her with her mission to stop one of the biggest drug cartel leaders, she must rely on the help of hitman who has is own agenda in stopping the war.
I thought that this movie was great. It was intense and visually stunning.  The cinematography is absolutely amazing.  The way the audience is able to experience and see the film is spectacular. It definitely provides a whole new perspective which makes for a thrilling experience.  Another great aspect is the story.  From the very beginning, the story captures your attention and never lets up.  Along with that, you must be aware that due to the content of the film, if you can't handle some gruesome images, then this is definitely not the film for you. Director Denis Villeneuve does not shy away from telling the story exactly as if it were real life, which means that some things in the film may be hard to watch.  Though that may turn a few viewers away from watching, I appreciate someone that is not afraid to share exactly how it is and make their work as realistic as possible.
With that being said, the film still has its flaws.  For one thing, it moves along at a really slow pace. This two hour film seems like it is a lot longer than it should be and there are some aspects of the film that really could be taken out, especially since they add no real value to the final product.  Another thing that really bothered me was Emily Blunt's character.  The marketing campaign made it seem like Emily Blunt's character was a strong-willed female action hero, but unfortunately she just gets in the way most of the time.  It is a real shame because the film could have thrived on its strong female character, but by putting her in the background makes it seem like a waste.  Emily Blunt has proved that she can be an action hero in Edge of Tomorrow and this is a great disappointment on all counts.
Overall, the film was actually really great.  This is definitely not for everyone, but for those that can stomach some of the images, you will not be disappointed.  This is an intense thriller and one that will leave you thinking a long time after you have left the theater.

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

The Martian

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some strong language, injury images, and brief nudity
Run Time: 141 Minutes
My Rating: 5/5
So today my daughter and I saw 20th Century Fox's The Martian starring Matt Damon (Elysium), Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), Jeff Daniels (HBO's The Newsroom), Michael Pena (Ant Man), Sean Bean (Jupiter Ascending), Kate Mara (Captive), Sebastian Stan (Ricki and the Flash), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave), and Donald Glover (NBC & Yahoo's Community).  It tells the story of Mark Watney, an astronaut, who during a manned mission to Mars is stranded there after his crew presumes him to be dead.  Now with little supplies, he must rely on his ingenuity in order to survive on a planet where it has been deemed uninhabitable. It is up to him in order to find a way to communicate with others and find his way home.
I loved this film.  It's probably the most entertaining, intense, and inspiring movie that I have seen all year.  This is definitely one of my favorite movies this year and my only hope is that everyone goes and experiences its greatness. One thing that makes it so great is its incredible star-studded cast. Each member of the cast deserves praise for their performances.  This is one film where I can honestly say that I wouldn't be surprised if any one of these amazing actors and actresses were nominated come awards-season.  I was quite surprised because usually films with so many stars tends to highlight only one of them, but this movie had a healthy balance of all the actors talents.  Even with Matt Damon being the main focus of the film, the other stars hold their own and make for a quite enjoyable movie-going experience.  Another great thing is its soundtrack.  The soundtrack has absolutely amazing songs and really enhances the quality of the film.  Finally, the story is breathtaking.  The movie is based on the best-selling novel by Andy Weir.  It is a fantastic original story and is truly captivating.  To be honest, on the outside it doesn't seem like this should be that interesting of a story, but somehow Weir does an amazing job at bringing in humor and intrigue.
As if you couldn't tell, I thought that this film was spectacular.  I can't wait to see it again.  If you want an intriguing, original story than this is for you.  I promise you that you will not be disappointed.  This is a great film for adults to enjoy and from what I have seen, it is so far my pick for awards season glory!!!

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

Hotel Transylvania 2

MPAA Rating: PG for some scary images, action and rude humor
Run Time: 89 Minutes
My Rating: 4/5
So today my daughter and I saw Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation's Hotel Transylvania 2 starring the incredible voice talents of Adam Sandler (Pixels), Andy Samberg (Fox's Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Selena Gomez (Getaway), Kevin James (Pixels), David Spade (Grown Ups 2), Megan Mullally (NBC's Parks and Recreation), and Nick Offerman (NBC's Parks and Recreation). The film picks up a little while after the first film ended.  Mavis and Jonathan are now married and have a little boy, Dennis.  However, much to Dracula's dismay, Dennis is almost five and his vampire fangs haven't grown in.  With only a week left until it is too late, Dracula and his friends try everything in their power to help Dennis or else Dracula may lose his family forever.
I thought this film was great.  I loved the first one and when I heard they were making a sequel, I was so excited!!  Fortunately, I was not disappointed.  There are so many great aspects to it, that it is honestly hard not to like it.  For one thing, the voice actors are fantastic.  They each bring their own personalities to their characters that allows the audience to relate and connect better with the characters.  It feels like the actors were having so much fun which makes this animated feature one to see.  Another great aspect is the script.  It does have its flaws, but overall, the script is hilarious and reminded my why I loved the first one so much.  Finally, the animation is gorgeous.  The film is beautiful to watch and a captivating piece of art.
Though I loved it, Hotel Transylvania 2 has one major flaw.  As I mentioned above, though the script is great and is hilarious, its major flaw is that it is too reminiscent of the first film.  The sequel tries to explain to the audience the exact same message that the first film portrayed.  Besides a different story line, Hotel Transylvania 2 seems way too familiar.  This is very disappointing to me and I wished the writers would have been a little bit more creative.
Overall, I thought it was a very entertaining time at the movies.  There were some great moments both for adults and for kids.  This is something the whole family will enjoy.  I would definitely recommend this to everyone.  Though this isn't the greatest animated film ever, it is still a clever film that will help bring the friendly Halloween spirit to your October.

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