As with most young adult adaptations, Divergent runs through its course in a very straightforward manner. It comes off as a page-by-page presentation of Veronica Roth’s bestselling novel, highlighting major scenes with over-the-top music in an obvious attempt to convince people that those are character-building events. While I have other issues with the film (such as its lazy use of narration to set up the story at the beginning), I must admit that the whole premise is interesting. It was enough to keep me occupied for 133 minutes without much concern about how long it would last. The characters are one-note, but the two leads Shailene Woodley and Theo James give it their all. Not the best attempt to make a franchise out of a book, but certainly not the worst.
An effortlessly funny and character-driven space adventure
James Gunn’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ is a solid new entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It overcomes blockbuster tropes by infusing some nerdy goofiness into the mix. And with a compelling cast and a breed of humor rarely associated with superhero films, it’s a refreshing and welcome detour from the Thor, Cap and Iron Man sequels we had to get by on our way to the next Avengers.
Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits-Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand-with the galaxy’s fate in the balance. (C) Walt Disney
Batista was the bomb as Drax The Destroyer!
The characters are remarkably fleshed-out, each with their own charms. Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana are attractive specimens, exhibiting charisma like it was their superpower. Surprisingly, WWE superstar David Baustista (Batista) had the best comedic moments, while Groot and Rocket are likely candidates for bromance of the year. On a side note, the CGI work on those two anthropomorphic creatures is insane, and I can say the same for the overall visual effects of the film.
Tell me, how many times have you seen this scene?
On the downside, the plot is just as ridiculous as that of Thor: The Dark World, though I’d say the execution is more polished here and there are more things to adore and enjoy. However, its main weakness is that it’s kept short, probably because they want to reserve more material for the forthcoming projects. Marvel’s inability to conceal the bigger picture in any of their films leaves you craving for more yet at the same time makes you wonder if we’ll ever get a complete, standalone movie from them (to be fair, ‘Guardians’ doesn’t end with an obvious cliff-hanger, but it still gives off a vibe of a franchise starter). Most people will enjoy their assembly line of movies, but it will be an endless cycle of excitement and disappointment until something totally unexpected and amazing comes along. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ is not quite that, but at least it adds some variety to our future.
She’s Dating The Gangster is a legitimately funny and touching Filipino mainstream movie that’s more than just the cheesy teenage love story people have come to expect. My expectations were shamefully low coming in and I was prepared to have a good time regardless of its quality. But I had no idea I’d actually cry at some point! The build-up leading to that moment makes it work and there never was a dull part throughout the film.
Kathryn Bernardo is a cuter version of veteran actress Sarah Geronimo, and pretty boy Daniel Padilla knows what he’s doing. Their acting skills were okay but both have huge potential and I’m actually curious about their next project. It’s a good movie with a touching message and its problems are forgivable. What can I say… I was fooled by the marketing!
GRADE: B
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#475: Step Up: All In
This is probably my least favorite Step Up film among the three I’ve seen (The Streets, 3D, and this one). All in all it was okay – B for the Dancing, D for the Acting. There weren’t many wow moments for me but maybe it’s because they gave most of them away in the trailers so the element of surprise was gone. I also found the character motivations weak. The ending was fun though, and there were a lot of returning people from the previous films (Moose included). You might enjoy it more if you’ve seen Step Up 4: Revolution, but that’s just a guess.
Begin Again is a musical drama starring Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, and Adam Levine that’s as delightful to see as it is to listen to. It’s probably my 2nd or 3rd favorite film of the year, and a perfect movie for the #ForeverAlone. Just a simple love story really but enveloped in great music all throughout. No ridiculous romance angles or cliché storylines to be found here. The amazing sound system of the theater back at my hometown amplified my experience. So for those who missed it the first time around, I suggest you grab your headphones when you try this at home.
GRADE: A-
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#473: Earth to Echo
This sci-fi adventure features kids helping a tiny alien escape from planet Earth and go back home. Yeah, kinda like E.T. but in found footage format. Not much to tell about this movie. The story is been there, done that but the visual effects temper that feeling. Your enjoyment ultimately depends on how far you’re willing to believe in their adventure, but it’s more likely to be a hit for youngsters than grown-ups. The format gives it some novelty though.
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.~20th Century Fox
Motion capture and visual effects have really come so far. One look at Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and you could see the stark difference in believability compared to the old installments. The apes seemed so real! Not the scary kind of real, but the ‘you don’t even notice it’s fake’ real. You can connect with them, empathize with them. And sometimes they feel and act more human than the humans themselves.
The things they couldn’t do before are now achievable today. This film proves that and it’s quite impressive. Even my mom, who usually falls asleep in the theater, could not take her eyes off the screen (sorry mom haha!). It’s a different kind of blockbuster. It’s complex – emotionally, visually, and narratively. It’s a bit predictable, but it tackles societal issues in a captivating manner and director Matt Reeves does a great job in pacing the film up to the end. These feats are enough to help overlook its banal tendencies. And I think everyone can agree Andy Serkis’ is one hell of a performer. He is the star of the show and he deserves more credit. Hail Caesar!
Before I checked out Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, I finally saw the film that most people would argue re-launched the franchise in a promising way, and I’d agree. The first two acts of ‘Rise’ were incredible, presenting us with a compelling storyline involving the humans and apes. There’s a little bit of social commentary in the mix as you see the best and worst qualities of our own species, and the most extreme consequence of experimentation that’s far beyond our control.
The human characters (James Franco, Frieda Pinto, and Tom Felton) didn’t have much depth in them, but it’s the complete opposite for Caesar (portrayed by Andy Serkis), whose actions were completely captivating from childhood to maturity (I was going to say adolescence, but I’m not sure). The final scenes were a bit generic though, and it lost its steam because of that. Still, for a blockbuster with just a $93M-budget, they sure did a hell of a good job with the special effects. And the finished product my friends, is entertainment.
A post-apocalyptic drama that prioritizes characters over setting to tell a story.
With society in decline, the rule of law has disintegrated and life is cheap. Hardened loner Eric travels the desolate towns and roads of the scorched and dangerous Australian outback. When a brutal gang of thieves steals his car and only remaining possession, they leave behind the wounded Rey in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric gives chase. Determined beyond reason, unrelenting in the pursuit of his prey, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that matters to him. ~Wiki
The Rover presents the idea that not everything has to be about something. As those words are reiterated by Robert Pattinson near the ending I saw how it could be used to describe the film itself. Because most of the time, nothing is happening that requires much thought. Scenes of Guy Pearce and Pattinson talking in-between the tense moments is enough to keep you glued because you’ll want to discover more about their personalities and their motivations. The movie doesn’t give away anything about the ‘collapse’ of humanity unlike other doomsday offerings, and I’m glad it stayed that way as the focus remained on what matter the most: the people.
What began as nonsense eventually became an intriguing journey of two men seeking the same person for different reasons. It works because Pearce and Pattinson make it so believable, the latter in particular pulling off a career-building performance that will surely diminish skeptics who still think of him as Twilight’s Edward. It has solid, thrilling moments that make it a worthwhile theatrical offering and the cast alone is worth the price of admission.
A hundred minutes of entertainment and an extra hour of junk
I’m at a loss. I left the theater feeling I got my money’s worth, but I can’t get over the fact that Age of Extinction lasted two hours and forty-five minutes. In this day and age no one has the free time – or patience – to sit through a blockbuster that long. But it wasn’t boring at all. It was just too damn much.
It’s a shame, since the franchise’s fourth installment possessed some legitimately great moments, but any ounce of momentum it had heading into the finale vaporized once it became clear that the apparent ending was in fact, just the conclusion of the second act. By the time the real climax arrived, I was too tired to even care.
Yes, Michael Bay has delivered the ultimate studio offering that will please enough people to keep the series going. The effects are top-notch, as expected from a Michael Bay film. The action sequences are fresh enough and the writing more solid than before (the previous films set a low bar though). In addition, Mark Wahlberg is a huge improvement over Shia Labeouf. He has that machismo that adds a certain degree of believability and maturity to the Transformers universe. Can’t say the same for Nicola Peltz though; between her and Megan Fox the latter is the better actress. And that’s an understatement.
Bing Bings are taking over Hollywood. So which one do you prefer, Li Bing Bing (above) or Fan Bing Bing (Blink in X-Men Days of Future Past)?
But, don’t expect it to be anything other than a Transformers film. It’s better than the second, but no greater than the first and third (if you still remember them, I can’t blame you if you don’t). The scenes in China featuring the feisty Li Bingbing kept things fresh (she’s was actually good), but if I were the one calling the shots, I’d much rather cut an hour of it than witness a marathon of chaotic Bay-splosions over Hong Kong.
Occasionally funny buddy comedy with a high degree of self-awareness
There will always be summer movies like this each year: outrageously self-aware, filled with ad-libbed moments and offensive quips. What ultimately makes or breaks such a film is the chemistry between its leads. In 22 Jump Street’s case, Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill have undeniable rapport working together, and they fire up the jokes on-screen at the right moments.
Still, I had a feeling I’ve seen all this before. Oh yeah, I have…in 21 Jump Street! But at least they’re not hiding the fact that they’re doing the same thing all over again. And when you get to the end credits you can convince yourself that you had a good time watching it. For maximum laughs though have some friends along with you, as the saying ‘the more the merrier’ applies here.
The marketing says it all: live, die, repeat. They play that line over and over until you get used to it. Great, you just got spoiled with the plot – no point in seeing the movie then, eh? Well, that’s what I thought. You’d think these ads would ruin your experience in the theater. It does actually, at least for the first 15 minutes. Beyond that though, the events become tougher to predict. Soon enough you’ll be hanging by the edge of your seat, anxious to see what happens next.
That’s how the movie gets you. It hides itself within a smokescreen of mediocrity, but once it clears out you begin to see its true greatness. It’s not a dumb actioner, nor is it a sci-fi pretending to be intelligent. It’s a summer blockbuster that ironically favors substance over style, and boy is it more entertaining than watching stuff blow up for no reason!
Edge’s story is centered on Cage (Tom Cruise), an officer that unwillingly becomes stuck in a time loop during a war with an alien race. Short of options, Cage repeatedly lives and dies in order to find a solution to his problem. Fortunately, he meets Rita (Emily Blunt), an excellent soldier that may just be the key to make everything back to normal.
Get ready for Emily Blunt’s heart-pounding push ups…wew!
It doesn’t hurt that the actors you’re feeding the lines to are stars with a fairly high amount of charisma. Aside from Cruise and Blunt’s great showing, Bill Paxton does an excellent job as the hard-headed, no-nonsense Master Sergeant Farell. Christopher McQuarrie’s (Jack Reacher, MI:4) brilliant writing is magnified by their performances. It also gave room to some tongue-and-cheek humor that’s hard to pull off in a serious blockbuster.
Like I said, the movie relies a lot on the story and characters, which I enjoyed. The plot’s repetitive nature isn’t even a problem as each new day brings forth new and exciting experiences for Cage. However, the effects and action is nothing spectacular. That’s about the only reason why it didn’t completely amaze me. Edge of Tomorrow is much like a classic action game crammed into two hours: compelling, fast-paced and incredibly fun. You die again and again, but it gets better each time.
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