Fury

MPAA Rating: R for strong sequences of war violence, some grisly images, and language throughout. (Recommend kidsinmind.com)
Run Time: 134 minutes
My Rating: 4.5/5
So today my wife and I went and saw Columbia Pictures' Fury starring Brad Pitt (Mr. and Mrs. Smith), Shia Labeouf (Transformers), Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson series), and Michael Pena (End of Watch).  The film details the story of a Sherman tank crew during the final push of World War II in Germany.  They are led by their fearless leader Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) as they embark on a deadly mission behind enemy lines.  Soon they find themselves outnumbered and outgunned and as the odds continue to pile against them, they must face their most horrific test yet.
So I absolutely loved this film.  I thought the story was great, the actors worked great together, and the action was memorable.  The story takes place in World War II, Nazi Germany.  I for one love war films and this one is just as good as any.  The film focuses on the tanks in the war something that is unique to the genre and personally I thought it was great.  The film focuses on one crew in particular which makes the film even better because of its fantastic cast.  The actors make the film great.  They all have their own distinct personalities that they portray and the crew is so diverse that it makes you relate to the crew no matter what.  Another thing that makes the film great is the chemistry among the cast.  With this film being so depended on a single crew, chemistry is important.  Apparently the cast had to go through some rigorous training before filming and it brought the crew together incredibly.  Finally the action scenes in this film is amazing.  Now this film is very graphic in its depiction of war violence so if you have a weak stomach I definitely wouldn't recommend this film, but if you can handle it, this is definitely a movie you should see.  The final battle in the film is a work of art and just watching it is breathtaking.  The final 30 minutes of the film alone is worth the price of admission.
Now beware that the film is long, but it has a good balance of action and story line that makes it a good 2 hours of your time.  I definitely recommend this film.  It is spectacular and one that you don't want to miss.  It may not be the best war movie ever made, but it is definitely one that you should watch.

St. Vincent

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic material including sexual content, alcohol and tobacco use, and for language.
Run Time: 102 Minutes
My Rating: 3.5/5
Ok, so today I went and saw Chernin Entertainment's St. Vincent starring Bill Murray (What About Bob?), Melissa McCarthy (The Heat), and Naomi Watts (The Ring).  The film centers around Vincent (Bill Murray), an old Vietnam war veteran who is down on his luck.  He drinks all day, gambles all his money away, and doesn't care about anybody else.  His life turns upside down when Maggie (Melissa McCarthy), a single-mother going through a rough divorce, and her son, Oliver, move in next door.  Suddenly Vincent's life begins to change as he starts taking care of Oliver everyday after school.  Finally Vincent has someone that truly cares for him, something that he hasn't experienced in such a long time.  
So when I first saw the trailer for this film I was really excited.  I love Bill Murray and I think Melissa McCarthy is hilarious, so I was expecting great things from this film.  While I wasn't blown away by this film comedy-wise, the acting was incredible.  Yes there is some comedic humor throughout the show, but it isn't as profound as what you would expect.  Bill Murray gives ones of his best performances in years as the drunk, old Vincent.  At first as you watch Vincent go through his every day life, you can't help but be disgusted by him.  The way he treats others and the way he lives is life is hard to watch because you think that there is no way that you could have any sympathy for this guy.  However as the film goes on, Bill Murray's great performance makes you love Vincent even through all his flaws.  Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts give very powerful performances as well that completely change your perspective on them.
While the film's acting makings this film great, there are some parts of the story that create the film's biggest flaw.  In all reality though I love Naomi Watts, her character really doesn't have to be in the film.  Her character has some funny moments, but really distracts from the overall plot.  I see why they put her in the film, but I believe that the film could have been better if the character wasn't in the film.  It would have given the director more time to focus on the true meaning of the story.
Now is this the best film out in theaters right now? No!! However I do believe that this film is one that people should see.  Why?  Because the lesson taught in this film is priceless and something that we all need to remind ourselves of.  That is why you need to see this film.  It may not be the best film ever, but it is one that all should see.
Thanks for reading.  If you have any comments, ideas, or thoughts just let me know.

Men, Women, & Children

MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content including graphic dialogue throughout-some involving teens, and for language.
Run Time: 119 minutes
My Rating: 0/5
Ok, so my wife and I decided to go see Paramount Pictures Men, Women, & Children.  The film depicts the lives of parents, kids, and teenagers as they live life both in the real world and online.  That is basically the whole story.
When I first saw the preview for the film, I thought it looked very interesting and thought-provoking.  It reminded me of 2012's Disconnect starring Jason Bateman (a movie which I loved by the way and I think everyone should see it), but to my disappointment it wasn't anywhere near that kind of quality.  To be completely honest my wife and I walked out of the film within the first 10 minutes.  That is how horrible it is.  Seriously within those first ten minutes, a dad was looking as porn (in full view), a son was looking at porn, and a teenager was posing for immoral pictures to post on the internet which were taken by her own mother.  What a load of crap.  Now I know that with technology people can live different lifestyles than they normally live, but seriously there is no way that this movie depicts reality.  The thing I hate about these types of movies is that they say they are providing us with reality, but in reality there is so much good on the internet as well that never get depicted.  Yes this is film that shows the dangers that the internet can provide, but if we look at it with just that lens, then we are denying ourselves of all the good.
It is a real shame that this film turned out the way it did.  It stars an amazing cast with Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner, Ansel Elgort, Emma Thompson, and Judy Greer.  Such a waste of perfect talent.
There is a reason why this film is failing at the box office and I would suggest that people don't waste their money like I did.  Please stay away from this film, because there are so many better options out there.

The Book of Life

MPAA Rating: PG for mild action, rude humor, some thematic elements and brief scary images.
Run Time: 95 minutes
My Rating: 4/5
So last night my wife and I decided to go and see Reel FX Animation Studio's The Book of Life.  The film details the story of Manolo (Diego Luna), a young man who is in love with the beautiful Maria (Zoe Saldana), as he tries to live up to the expectations of his family as well as follow his heart.  Unfortunately for Manolo he is in competition for Maria heart against his best friend Joaquin (Channing Tatum).  However in order to win the love of his life, Manolo embarks on a grand adventure that spans three spectacular worlds where he must face his greatest fears.
Personally I thought the film was fantastic.  The content was unique, cast was great, the animation was breathtaking, and the story was so humorous   The film takes its cue from the Hispanic holiday "Day of the Dead."  This is something that hasn't really been touched in most mainstream American films, so it was really refreshing.  Now I am no expert on Hispanic holidays, but from what I know about the "Day of the Dead" the film was extremely accurate as to its concept.  This is a great film to take the kids to in order to bring more culture into their lives.  Along with the film being very culturally informative, the cast helps bring the film to life.  In addition to the three leads mentioned above the film also has the voice talents of Christina Applegate (Anchorman), Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Ice Cube (22 Jump Street), Gabriel Iglesias (Planes), Danny Trejo (Machete), and Cheech Marin (The Lion King).   This film is full of incredible talent and each actor makes their character their own.  Each character directly resembles that actors personality and with that it makes the film a more enjoyable experience.
Another great thing about the film is the animation.  As Manolo embarks on his journey through the three worlds, the animation just jumps off the screen.  The colors are amazing and it truly brings the worlds to life.  There is so much distinction between the three worlds that it is great to see the amount of effort that the the animators put in to making the film come to life.  Finally with such a great cast and impeccable animation, the film's true strength is in its humor.  The film is hilarious and throughout the entire film there is comedic relief.  Each character provides their own unique type of comedy which really makes the film even more spectacular.
Now for all the greatness that this film provides, it still has its shortcomings.  Probably the biggest shortcoming of them all is that the film is very cheesy at some points.  There are times when you just stare at the screen and you can't believe what you are seeing.  This is the most apparent shortcoming of them all, but it is easy to get past with the great things that the film provides.
Overall, I thought the film was amazing and I would recommend this film to anyone.  This is a great film that the kids and adults will love.  I personally think that this is probably one of the greatest animated features of the year.  I would definitely go see this movie again and I hope that y'all will give it a chance.  You won't be disappointed.
Thanks again for reading, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas, just let me know.    

The Judge

MPAA Rating: R for language including some sexual references.
Run Time: 141 Minutes
My Rating: 5/5
So last night my wife and I went and saw Warner Bros' The Judge starring Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Robert Duvall (The Godfather).  The film depicts the story of Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.), a big shot lawyer who returns to his childhood home after the death of his mother.  Hank has has never had the greatest relationship with his family, especially his father (Robert Duvall), the town's judge.  After the funeral, while returning home, Hank finds out that his father is suspected of murder.  It is now up to Hank to discover the truth of what really happened, while trying to get over old family feuds, in order to save his family from another heartbreak.
This film was fantastic.  This is the first film that I have given a perfect score and this one definitely deserves it.  The story is fantastic, the cast is spectacular, and the emotions are real.  The film has brought together an absolutely amazing cast.  Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall are great together.  The way that they interact with each other, it is like a match made in heaven.  The best part about the film is that they aren't the only ones that are great in it.  The cast also includes Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel), Billy Bob Thornton (Friday Night Lights) and Dax Sheppard (Parenthood).  Each actor brings something special to this film and makes their role worth remembering.
I think the thing that really makes the movie though is the emotion that the film brings and the issues that it arises.  This film is probably the most realistic film I have seen in a while.  The film really focuses on the family and the important bond there is between a parent and a child.  Sure we don't always see eye to eye with each other, but the bond that exists is strong.  In the film Hank and his father don't have the greatest relationship, but they don't even know why exactly.  They bicker back and forth, but it isn't until they let their guards down that they finally make some progress and tackle real issues.  For children all they want is to be appreciated and loved.  For parents all they want is some respect and love in return.  There are moments where both sides lose that for unexplained reasons and then they drift apart.  This film puts these things into perspective.  This film shows that bonds can be mended and differences put aside.
This film was amazing and I would recommend you go see it.  There is some language throughout the film to be worried about though.  This film is definitely worth watching and is something that will touch everyone.
Thanks again for reading.  If you have any questions, comments or concerns just let me know!!!!

Dracula Untold

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of warfare, vampire attacks, disturbing images, and some sensuality
Run Time: 92 minutes
My Rating: 4.5/5
So last night my wife and I went and saw Universal's Dracula Untold starring Luke Evans (The Hobbit), and directed by newcomer Gary Shore.  The film details the origins of the famous vampire Dracula.  It all starts with Vlad (Luke Evans), the prince of Transylvania, who declares war on the Turks when he won't give up his son and a thousand of other children of Transylvania to the Turkish army.  In order to prepare for war he seeks a terrible power that will help him defeat his enemies.  What Vlad doesn't know though is that this terrible power comes at such a dangerous cost and if Vlad doesn't learn to live with the consequences then he may lose everything he loves in the process.
Now many of you will be skeptical about my rating being so high, but this film was based on pure entertainment value.  From start to finish I was intrigued by the film and what it had to offer.  I will be honest there are some really cheesy moments and there are some moments when the acting isn't that great, but I came out of the film just really happy.  In fact to my surprise there were even people that clapped after the film.
Now for an actual  analysis.  The cinematography was fantastic.  The actions scenes were done amazingly and they were very entertaining.  Also the special effects are what make the movie.  With a film like this, special effects can make or break it, but in this film they definitely make the film.  Watching Vlad transform in to the infamous Dracula as he suffers through the consequences of what this actually means for him is very well done.
Finally probably the best thing about this film is the actual origin story.  The vampire Dracula has been around for decades, but the new take on the origin is somewhat unique.  This film completely makes the audience rethink about what they thought of the world's original vampire.  One thing that makes me excited about this film is the plan that this film sets in motion.  Thanks to Marvel and their introduction of the "Cinematic Universe," it has become the latest craze for Hollywood to create "cinematic universes" for their characters.  Universal is just the latest one to do this and personally I am really excited about this one.  Universal wants to reboot all their famous monsters and put them in the same universe and eventually have them all in the same movie.  Dracula Untold is supposed to be the film that sets up the whole universe and to tell you the truth if this universe does the same greatness as this film, then it is going to be awesome.
Overall all this is a great film.  If you are worried because of the horror aspect, don't be.  Honestly it is more of an action film then a horror movie.  I would recommend this film to anyone.
Thanks for reading. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions just let me know.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

MPAA Rating: PG for rude humor including some reckless behavior and language
Run Time: 81 minutes
My Rating: 4.5/5
So on my day off from school, I decided to go and see Disney's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.  I went in the theater expecting the worst and it turns out that I was completely wrong.  This film was great and I absolutely loved it.  The film is based off the children's book of the same name by Judith Viorst.  It details the lives of Alexander, a 12 year old boy, and his family.  Alexander has the worst luck possible and what makes it worse is that his family seems to be perfect and lucky in all aspects of life.  Finally when Alexander has had enough, he wishes that his family could experience just a piece of what he experiences all day, every day.  Well the wish works and the following day the family experience mishap after mishap.  While this day of terror continues to go on, it is up to Alexander and his family to try and make the most of their terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
So I grew up loving this book.  As a young child, it was one of the first books that I learned how to read.  So when I heard that they were going to make a movie of it, I was really excited about it.  Then I saw the trailer and I was really worried.  To me it looked very childish and just plain dumb.  I was completely wrong.  This film was hilarious.  Yes, some of the things that happen to this poor family are overreaching and would probably never happen to someone in real life, but that is ok, because for some reason it works.  There is something for the whole family humor wise and something that each member of the family will enjoy.  I was laughing so hard during the film and so was everyone else in the audience both young and old.  In fact some lady was laughing so hard she dropped her popcorn all over the floor. The thing that brings it all together though is the cast.  The cast is absolutely amazing.  Steve Carrell and Jennifer Garner are at their best and they are only complimented by what the supporting cast brings to the film.  
Another reason why I would recommend this film is because it is a film that everyone can relate with.  Each and every one of us has had bad days, where nothing seems to be going our way no matter what we do.  The thing that this movie teaches is that every bad day prepares us for some of the greatest days in our lives if we spend those bad days surrounded by the people that we love.
In my opinion, Disney has another hit on their hands.  It may not make as much as other films, but it is a movie that all will enjoy.  This is a great film for all ages.  Finally there is a film in theaters that the whole family can watch.
Thanks again for reading and if you have any comments or suggestions just let me know!!