Office Christmas Party Review

Office Christmas Party Review

If you just look at the title of “Office Christmas Party” you should have an idea of what to get. The movie’s main focus is getting to the Christmas Party that everyone at the office has every year. However what you might not expect is that this party might be the most insane and destructive party in movie history. 

The best way to describe “Office Christmas Party” is it’s a combination of Office Space, Project X, and Bad Santa. It is crude, loud, insane, bizarre, and destructive. However, it is also at times really funny thanks to some great performances and some really insane scenarios. But at other times the movie drags with a mediocre plot and some really lame characters. 

The story is pretty basic. Carol Vanstone (Jennifer Aniston), the CEO of a company called Zenotek, is threatening to fire forty percent of the staff of the Chicago branch as they have not made enough money. Josh Parker (Jason Bateman) and her brother Clay (T. J. Miller), the Chief Technical Officer and the manager of Zenotek's Chicago branch, then convince her that if they can partner with Walter Davis (Courtney B. Vance) then they would not let anyone go. 

However Walter rejects their offer as he feels Zenotek is not a great place to work.  The two then decide, with the help of Tracey (Olivia Munn) who is the head of technology, that they would invite Walter to their annual Christmas party to show him that Zenotek is a great place. So now it is up to everyone at the Chicago branch to throw the most awesome party ever. What they do not expect is that the party ends up turning into chaos. 

The best part of the movie is some of the performances. T. J. Miller is great at playing the manager who likes to party hard but also cares about his workers. Jason Bateman is also pretty good at playing the straight man to T. J. Miller’s crazy antics. I also bought Jennifer Aniston as the heartless and evil CEO who makes children cry. We also get funny performances from Olivia Munn, Courtney B. Vance, Kate McKinnon, Rob Corddry, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph.

I also was kind of amused by how insane the movie would go. At the party there is an ice slide, people throwing things out of windows, a guy riding a horse, and the Iron Chair from Game of Thrones. Walter even swings across the office with Christmas lights. There is even a surprise cameo from someone related to Chicago. 

The biggest problem with the movie, however, is with the story. The set up for the movie is fine but there were some subplots in the movie that I felt were either lame, underdeveloped, or unnecessary. There is a subplot around the third act of the movie about a pimp named Trina (Jillian Bell) and a prostitute that few really unnecessary. 

There is also a romance between Jason Bateman and Olivia Munn that I felt could have used a bit more development. I also thought most of the other characters were kind of lame like Fred (Randall Park) whose joke is he does not talk like a normal person. Also, some of the jokes just seemed like easy gross-out humor. 

“Office Christmas Party” is a pretty disposable film unless the premise really excites you. While it does have some funny performances and jokes, it also has a average story and some unfunny characters. If you want a film to watch around the Holidays while drink this would definitely be the film. Other than that say to yourself “Office Christmas Party” and you will know if this movie is for you.

Grade: C+

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Review

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Review

It feels so good to be back to the world of Harry Potter. 

‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’ is an exciting film that gives us a new adventure in the world of JK Rowling, who wrote the script. The film is packed with chases, mysteries, fights, and lots different and creative looking creatures. Like the other Harry Potter films, it makes me want to leave the world I am in now and go into the wizarding world. Even though the film does not tell us a lot new information about the Harry Potter universe it is still a welcomed edition to the Harry Potter film series.

 

The story takes place in 1926, about 70 years before the Sorcerer of Stone, and centers on a wizard named Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who nurtures a collection of creatures to show that they are not dangerous to the wizarding world. One day when he is visiting New York the creatures get lose because of a mishap with a nonwizard, or muggle/No-Maj, named Jacob (Dan Fogler). 

Now it is up to Newt and Jacob to find the creatures before chaos ensues, with some help from fellow wizards Tina (Katherine Waterston) and Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol). At the same time, there seems to be a conspiracy involving Percival Graves (Colin Farrell). He is one of the directors at The Magical Congress of the United States and is trying to find something called an Obscurus for power. 

What stands out about this movie the most is even though it is a prequel, it does not rely on the past eight Harry Potter films. Usually, in prequels, there would be a bunch of references and callbacks to the films before it and this would distract from the main story. The biggest examples would be the Star Wars prequels and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. However in ‘Fantastic Beasts’, there aren't many call backs to the other Harry Potter films so I feel the film stands on its own.

One of the best elements of the movie is the performance. Eddie Redmayne is very likable as someone who is very naive but is also hiding something significant. I also enjoyed Dan Fogler as Jacob as he is both the comic relief of the film and our eyes through the film since he is a regular guy learning about the wizarding world as we are. Katherine Waterston is also great at playing the person who is the most focused and Alison Sudol is great at playing the sister who is alway upbeat. Colin Farell is also as good as usual, playing the obvious villain who is hiding behind the scenes.

I really enjoyed the creatures who are creatively designed and they each have their own personality. The creatures are designed like different animals except with a distant abnormal feature like a rhino with lava in his nose or a giant eagle. They even have their own personalities. There is a creature called a bowtruckle that is anti-social and there is a creature called a niffler, that looks like a mole, that like anything shiny like gold.

However the biggest issue with the film is with the story structure and the pacing. The films main focus is on the story on capturing the beasts but at the same time, it wants to focus on this subplot involving Percival Graves trying to find the Obscurus with a boy named Credence (Ezra Miller). Even though I liked the story line involving the beasts, I felt the story line involving Percival Graves and Credence was rushed. So when we do get to the climax of the film there is less weight to the situation.  

I also felt a lack the character development in the film. Other than Jacob, it does not seem like the characters really go through a character arc. Newt is the same as he was at the beginning of the movie, and whenever it seems like we about to learn more about Newt it only gives us hints. Since this film is going to be the first in a series of five ‘Fantastic Beasts’ films I do sometimes get the feel that this film is a set up for the next five movies. 

What ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’ wants to do is bring the audience back into the Harry Potter Universe and set us up for a new series of films. While there are a few bumps, I feel that the movie succeeds. It is fun, exciting, and is full of surprises. I would recommend this film to Harry Potter and non-Harry Potter fans, as I feel the movie does not rely on the other films as I said before. I think that the real magic of the film.

Grade: B+

Trolls Review

Trolls Review

"Trolls" is a fun and vibrant film that will put a smile on your face. The film is like a sugar rush with the colorful sceneries and characters and upbeat contemporary songs. Even though the film is based on the troll toy line, the film is able to tell a cohesive story even with some logic leaps. While it is not great, Trolls still an enjoyable time.

The story is about a troll named Poppy (Anna Kendrick) who, along with every other troll, is incredibly happy and energetic. The exception is Branch (Justin Timberlake) who is  always in a negative mood and is alway afraid that they will get attacked by the Bergens, a group of monsters who can only be happy by eating a troll. However, one day, when the trolls are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their escape from the Bergens, they are attacked and some trolls are captured by a Bergen name Chef (Christine Baranski). So now it is up to Poppy and Branch to rescue them before they are eaten. 

The best element of the film is the animation. The backgrounds are very creative and the character designs look nice as well. I also really like the textures of the characters and backgrounds that have a woolen feeling to them like a toy play set. The color palate is also very bright and multicolored like Candy Crush. However, the animation shines most in the musical scenes with elaborate set pieces and energetic dance sequences. 

The voice cast is also a lot of fun. Anna Kendrick is very likable as Poppy as you buy her as a character who is both happy and optimistic. Justin Timberlake is also pretty solid at playing a grump who is always negative, even though he seems a bit miscast. Christopher Mintz-Plasse was perfectly cast as King Gristle Jr., the spoiled and lazy king of the Bergens. Christine Baranski also stands out as Chef, whoo is the evil mastermind behind the scenes. We also get performances from Zooey Deschanel as a Bergen maid named Bridget, Russell Brand, James Corden, Gwen Stefani, and John Cleese. 

I even liked the songs. The film mostly does covers of other songs like “September” and “Sound of Silence”, and is produced in the upbeat style of Glee. There are some original songs like “Hair Up” and “Can't Stop the Feeling”, which will never leave your head. Also, I think the best scene in the movie is when Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick sing “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper.

However, the biggest issue with the film is the film's simplicity. Because all the characters do not have much of a personality outside of their one personality there is a lack of real emotional depth. Also, because the story is so basic and predictable there is a lack of real suspense. 

The film also at times also has a hard time of finding the right note when the tone is dramatic. There is a scene in which Branch talks about how his grandma died and it is done in an incredibly over the top way with “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler. Instead of the scene being an emotional moment, it comes across as unintentionally funny. There is also a subplot about Bridget having a crush on King Gristle Jr., which I did not care about since it is pretty underdeveloped and I don't care about either of the characters. 

Some elements of the story are also a bit of a stretch even though the story is mostly cohesive. The idea that Bergens have to eat trolls to be happy is a very out of left field and does not really make any sense. It seems like the filmmaker really struggled to put a story together around troll dolls so they randomly came up with this concept.

Even though I like the songs I really felt a lot of the songs where out of place since the lyrics are not in the context of the movie. It works in a movie like Pulp Fiction but when you have characters randomly bursting into song and singing covers, it’s really distracting. Also, there were some very odd song choices like Mo Money Mo Problems and Clint Eastwood by the Gorillaz, which isn't even that popular. 

"Trolls" is obvious aimed more for kids in elementary school than a college student like me. It’s very upbeat, simple, and has a nice message about being happy and optimistic. However, I still had a good time watching it. If you want to see a film with real emotional depth and dark themes, this is not for you. If you want to see a film that is bright and happy, give it a watch.

Grade: B-

Ouija: Origin of Evil Review

Ouija: Origin of Evil Review

When I came into to see Ouija: The Origin of Evil my expectations were pretty low. It is the sequel to a film that was not well received and it did not help that the trailers looked incredibly generic. Also, sequels in the horror genre usually suck, look at Exorcist II or Blair Witch 2. So I was expecting to be bored or angry at this movie. I actually turns out that Ouija: The Origin of Evil is an ok horror film that actually knows how to play with it’s premise. While it definitely has it’s flaws, overall the film is a decent flick for Halloween season. 

The story starts in 1967 Los Angeles, where we see a single mother named Alice Zander (Elizabeth Reaser) who is a fake séance who scams people by making them think that they are talking to their dead loved ones. She is also helped by her two daughters, the oldest is Paulina Zander (Annalise Basso) and the youngest is Doris Zander (Lulu Wilson). One day Alice buys a Ouija board for her act but in the process invited an evil spirit into the house. Then when Doris is taken over by the spirit after she tries to contact her dad, it seems she can speak to people on the “other side”. However, once Alice uses Doris for her business and to speak to her dead husband, all hell breaks loose. 

What I liked about this movie is the setup. Normally in these movies, there would a contrived reason for why the character would unlock the evil spirits. However, in this scenario, it makes sense that our main characters would accidentally unlock evil spirits since Alice works in a business that involves spirits, even if it is all fake. Also, it is a business that has run through Alice’s family so it makes sense.

However the element that shocked me the most were the characters and the performances. At first, it seems that Alice Zander is unlikable since she is scamming people. Then it seems she is stupid for messing with evil spirits when she realizes they are real. However, she actually becomes more sympathetic because we learn that she has good intentions, as she feels it brings people inner peace to believe that they are talking to their dead loved ones. Even though we see that Alice should not mess with spirits it is understandable that she would mess with them as it allows her to talk to her husband. 

Also the character is more likable thanks to Elizabeth Reaser’s performance. I also really liked Lulu Wilson as Doris who plays a character who starts off as an innocent little girl and then turns into someone who is emotionless. I even liked Henry Thomas (who was the little boy from ET by the way) as the Pastor Father Tom who tries to help the Zanders. Annalise Basso is just ok as Paulina as see just plays your typical adventurous teenager who for some reason seems to have the same facial expression throughout the movie.

I also really enjoyed the 60’s ascetic of the film. The film’s cinematography has a very grainy feel to it like it was filmed with film strips. We also see some burn marks on the screen which also makes us feel like we are watching a film from the 60’s. The setting and costumes also look very 60’s and the music has a 60’s vibe.

However the biggest issue with the film is the lack of suspense and scares. There are a few jump scares that make you jump up a little bit but that is about it. While I did want to know what happened at the end I was not really scared of the evil spirit. I think the main reason is he never really does anything that would make you feel his dangerous presence. Until the end, all he does is help Alice and do strange things like write up random messages. 

Also it does not help that the CGI is laughably bad. When CGI was used, the people in the theater and I were laughing. There is also a romance between Paulina and some older guy which I did not care about since there is zero development for it and the romance is incredibly clique. 

Another problem is that there any many details in the ending that do not make any sense. I am not going to spoil what they are but there are strange twists that are never explained at any point through the film.  

Overall the film is a nice surprise with good characters, good performances, and a good set up. While it lacks scares, I would still say the film is entertaining enough to complete your Halloween.

The Accountant Review

The Accountant Review

Have you ever wanted to see a movie that is a combination Rain Man and Jason Bourne? Well here is the movie. The Accountant is an amusing movie that is both awesome but at the time a little confused. It has a really intriguing story and some great performances but suffers from a bit of identity crisis. When you add everything up together you get a movie that is entertaining but flawed. 

The movie is about an accountant named Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) who is an accountant. He suffers from a mild case of autism which allows him to be very fluent with numbers but also makes him very anti-social and unemotional. While he is living in a small-town CPA office, he makes a living by being an accountant for criminal organizations. 

One day Christian takes a robotics company as a client run by Lamar Blackburn (John Lithgow). However, when he discovers that there is an inconsistency with the numbers, which involves millions of dollars, he gets suspicious. As he learns more about what is going on, more people mysterious are killed around Christian are killed. Now Christian needs to find out what is going on while we also learn more about Christian’s past. At the same time the director of financial crimes at the Treasury Department, named Raymond "Ray" King (J. K. Simmons), assigns a young analyst named Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) to track down Christian.

The strongest element of this movie to me is the performances. Ben Affleck does an amazing job playing Christian Wolff who is a math genius but is anti-social and unemotional. Throughout the movie Affleck able to play an unemotional genius and then in a second he can transform into someone who is emotionally unstable. 

J. K. Simmons is also great as the head of the Treasury Department, playing a character who has gone through a lot and ready to retire. Anna Kendrick also plays a fellow accountant, named Dana Cummings, who gets interested in Christian Wolff and also gets thrown into the mystery. Jon Bernthal (who you might recognize as The Punisher from the Daredevil Netflix show) also wonderfully plays an assassin and has an interesting connection with Christian Wolff. There are also some great performances from John Lithgow as the head of the robotics company, Cynthia Addai-Robinson as the analyst trying to hunt down Christian Wolff, and Jeffrey Tambor as a friend of Christian Wolff who taught him a lot about working with criminals. 

I also really like the story which is a dark mystery that has many twists in turn. Through Christian Wolff, we see clues of what is going on piling up until we get to the very end in which we learn what is really going on. I even enjoyed the use of flashbacks to show Christian’s past which shows how he became who he his. We see flashbacks of how his dad made him fight through his disability, both literally and figuratively. 

What also stood out was the cinematography. The film has a dark tint to it like a neo-noir which sets the tone of the film. We have the sense that we are in a city full of corruption and violence even with people trying to stop it. 

The action sequences are also some of the highlights of the film. They are shot in style of Jason Bourne, with quick jump cuts showing each hit that the two fighters lay upon each other. Except the fights are much more brutal and more bloody.

However there were some issues with the film. The biggest problem I had was the weird shifts in tone. At some point, it seems like the movie wants to be a fast paced action mystery with the gritty fight scenes involving Christian Wolff beating up bad guys. 

But at the same time, the film also seems like the director wants the film to be a disability empowerment fantasy with a message about fight through disability. At the beginning of the film, we see a young Christian Wolff trying put together a puzzle and then we find out it is a puzzle of Muhammad Ali. I think the director is trying to symbolize how Christian is fighting through his disability. I honestly feel that the grounded and fanciful tones really do not match.

There are also moments in the first half of the movie in which the pace of the film slows down and drags. Many scenes have characters going through exposition in very monotone voices way longer then they should. At someone point, I got really bored during these scenes. Also I didn't care about the Marybeth Medina subplot since so little time is spent on it.

With that being said, I still was entertained by the Accountant. I think it is a film that is both intense and engaging, but I just thought it could have been better. I know that there will some people who will really not enjoy this film because of the tone shifts and the occasional slow pacing. But if you can deal with that, I think the Accountant is a film that is worth checking out.

Grade: B

Masterminds Review

Masterminds Review

The funniest part of Masterminds was when one of the two people with me in the theater walked out in the middle of the movie and never came back. That should tell you something right there. Masterminds is an incredibly stupid film that doesn't really do many things right. It’s not funny, insightful, romantic, or entertaining. It is just a giant waste of time which is a shame because of all the talent involved with the film. However, sometimes it takes some truly talented people to make a truly terrible movie.

Our story is loosely base on the real life Loomis Fargo Robbery in North Carolina, 1997. It focuses on David Scott Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) who is one of the best employees in Loomis Fargo. However one day Kelly Campbell (Kristen Wiig), who David has a crush on, asks David for help to rob from Loomis Fargo because he works there. He says yes after she seduces him. Lead by Steve Chambers (Owen Wilson), David and the gang steal 17 million dollars and after that crazy hijinks issues. 

What is really disappointing is the waste of talent. Every character in this movie is either annoying or incomprehensibly stupid. I like Zach Galifianakis but in this movie he has maybe the worst southern accent I have ever heard and for some reason he has the haircut of Benny Andersson from ABBA. Also, David is really hard to root for because he stupidly follows the robbery plan and for one second doesn't think about how this might not end up badly for him. I understand that he was blinded by love but it was pretty obvious that he was being manipulated and anyone could have figured that out. Kelly is pretty unlikable because she is manipulating David’s emotions so she and Steve can get some money. I might have been able to understand her better if we could understand why she is manipulating David but I don't think she has a very good reason. Kate McKinnon plays David’s fiancé and acts in a very mellow and creepy way like she is about to kill someone. It honestly comes across more unsettling than funny or entertaining. Leslie Jones plays a police officer and is barely is in the film. I will say that Owen Wilson is pretty decent as Steve Chambers and I even like Jason Sudeikis as the bounty hunger Mike McKinney. However like many of the characters in the movie they make unbelievably stupid decisions. There is even a twist about Mike McKinney that will make you want to facepalm yourself.

Throughout the film we see a romance developing between David and Kelly. However, it seems that this romance is based on the fact that David thinks Kelly is hot and rebellious. I also think the filmmakers want us to want these two to get together based on the fact that David’s fiancé is a creep. So when there were dramatic scenes between the two characters I really did not care. 

All of this would be acceptable if the movie was funny but it wasn’t. We get fart jokes, sex jokes, poop jokes, pop culture jokes, genitalia jokes, hair jokes, and Mexican stereotype jokes and none of them are funny. Most of the jokes are lazy, easy, and bottom of the barrel gags. There are even long stretches in the film in which there isn't a joke and you just sit there and get bored.

I get the feeling that the filmmakers were trying to make a film sorta in the vein of something like the Wolf of Wall Street. A film in which we watch greedy and manipulative people get money and success, and laugh at their shenanigans. However, that film works because it naturally showed us how greed and the American way made the characters power-hungry and insane, which would lead to some drama and some comedy. In Masterminds, I think it’s trying to do the same thing except that this movie would throw in unfunny gags which feel unnatural and forced.

I did like some things in this movie. Like I said earlier, I like Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis. There are even some scenes in which I chucked in, like a scene with Jason Sudeikis and a gun. However, overall Masterminds is a terrible film with really stupid and annoying character that we don't care about and mostly unfunny jokes. Humor is subjective and if you think this is your kind of movie then I guess I can’t stop you. Even though there are much better things to do than see this movie. All I can say is that even though the movie is called Mastermind, it definitely was not made by masterminds.

Grade: D-

The Beatles: Eight Days A Week Review

The Beatles: Eight Days A Week Review 

What can be said about the Beatles that hasn't been said already? They are the greatest and most influential artist of all time and have sold more albums than anybody else. Artists from U2, to Wu Tang Clan, to Ed Sheeran have all claimed that the Beatles were a huge influence on them. Songs like All You Need is Love and Hey Jude are still as popular now as they were when they first came out. They are one of the only bands in which most people can name each of the four members: John, Paul, George, and Ringo. To many and to me The Beatles are bigger than music, they are a part of our lives. So as a huge Beatles fan myself I was excited to see this film. However what this documentary does is focus on an aspect of the Beatles that is really hard to capture, the perspective of the Beatles as a whole. Being a Beatle sounds like a dream come true but after you watch this you see what being a member of the Beatles is truly like. The film is enlightening, exciting, and is a must watch for Beatles fans and even for people who have never heard of the Beatles.

The film was directed by Ron Howard who has directed films like Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind. This is his second music documentary as he previously directed the documentary Jay-Z: Made in America. While Ron Howard isn’t considered to be documentary filmmaker he does a wonderful job and seems to really understand the Beatles. 

In my opinion, the best aspect of the documentary is how we get the perspective of the Beatles: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The film mainly focuses on the Beatles from 1963 to 1966 which is considered the height of Beatles popularity or Beatlemania. Throughout the film, we get video footage, pictures, and audio of each of the Beatles that gives the audience the feeling of chaos and pressure that the Beatles must have felt. We see the Beatles going through a quick cycle of doing TV appearances, concerts, clubs, and writing songs as the Beatles are becoming more popular. At one point they are doing 25 concerts in 30 days and have to go through the cycle in a single day. Ron Howard gives us this perspective visually by making most of the frames of the Beatles and audiences at a close up shot to show how confined the Beatles were to the cycle. We also see the audiences grow and get crazier throughout the film to level that nobody had ever seen. In one scene we learn that 7,000 concert-goers rushed the stage during of the Beatle’s concerts and many people had to go to the hospital. We see plenty of girls screaming and fainting throughout the film. Then we find out that the Beatles have to perform in stadiums with the humongous and uncontrollable crowds the Beatles are getting. It results in the concerts being so loud that the Beatles can’t even hear themselves. I think a lot of credit has to go to sound mixer who is able to let us hear the loudness and insanity of fans while also letting us hear the music. This all leads up to the climax of the film at Shea Stadium in which the Beatles perform in front of 55,600 people which is the biggest and loudest concert the Beatles have ever performed. Ringo even said he had to look at John Lennon’s butt to keep in rhythm. This would eventually lead to the Beatles, especially George, to get sick of touring.  

We also see the Beatles grow and develop as a band. At the beginning, we see the Beatles as a scrappy band from Liverpool, England. Then we introduced to two important figure in the Beatles story, Brian Epstein and George Martin. Brian Epstein was the one who visioned the Beatles as a classy band and George Martin was the one who disciplined them in the studio while also letting them be themselves. We also see this evolution through the Beatles music. As Beatlemania is happening we see the band start writing songs with more simple lyric as they would have less time to write songs. We also get audio of them performing in the studio which was their escape from their tours. Then we see the Beatles experiment with drugs and make more personal songs like Help. Near the end, as the Beatles get sick of doing the same music over and over again, we see the Beatles mix with different sounds and even change their look with Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Near the end of the movie see the Beatles escape their clean image by making an album cover of what looks like dead babies and of course John Lennon’s famous “we’re more popular than Jesus” statement. We also see that the Beatles got closer touring because they could related and stick with each other. In fact, I think once they stopped touring, the band began to drift apart. 

Then we also have context from fans of the Beatles who were there at the time through interviews. We get interviews from people like Sigourney Weaver and Elvis Costello who were fans of the Beatles. There are also shots that Ron Howard shows from the fans perspective to make you feel like you are watching the Beatles live. 

There is even some historical context put into this movie as well. Near the beginning of the film we are shown that it was a somber time with John F. Kennedy shot in 1963 and with the Vietnam War going on. This gives the viewer context into why people gravitated towards the Beatles cheerful music. We also get context into the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s. What made the Beatles unique for the time is they believed that their concerts should not be segregated. That and their humorous personalities made them universally loved. This is best shown in the interviews with Whoopi Goldberg who say she saw the Beatles as colorless and people who she would want to be friends with. Some people even said they were a menace to society in the film.

If I had a problem with the movie it would be that I would have liked to have explored more about the background of each of the individual Beatles more and what drove them. We get some scenes that do that. There is a scene in which we learn that both John and Pauls mom's died which lead to their strong bond and I would have like more scenes like that. 

Other than that I think this is a great documentary that explores the touring days of the Beatles. I think the title Eight Days a Week is perfect because it shows how the Beatles felt while going on tour. They felt like there were eight days a week for them. This is a much see for any Beatles fan or any fan of movies. Now excuse me while I relax after A Hard Days Night and listen to the Beatles Eight Days A Week.

Grade: A

Sing Street Review

Sing Street Review

Sing Street is a absolutely wonderful film that perfectly captures the spirit and joy of self discovery and the power of music. The movie perfectly is a perfect combination of coming of age, teenage angst, and romance while our main character are discovering how to make music. The film is also a really enjoyable throw back to the 80s. It’s sincere, funny, heartwarming, sad, and profound at the same time. I can’t think of the last movie that I connected with so much. I smiled and laughed throughout the film. When I saw this movie I felt like the main character was me. I usually don't like to throw around the phrase timeless classic but for this movie I think it is appropriate. 

The story is about a boy named Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who live in Dublin in 1985. He is going through a rough time since his parents fighting all the time and he has to go to a Catholic School named Synge Street CBS, where he is picked on and the principle is a humongous jerk. Then Conor meets a girl named Ralphina (Lucy Boynton) who he falls for. To impress her he tells her that he is a part of a band and that he wants her to be in one of their videos. Because of this Conor forms a band with Eamon (Mark McKenna), who Conor writes the songs with, and some other young musicians. He also gets his friend Darren (Ben Carolan) to become the band’s manager. They name the band Sing Street, which is pretty obvious. With the advice of Conor’s older brother Brendan (Jack Reynor) we see throughout the movie Conor and Sing Street evolve as a band. 

The strongest part of the movie is the writing. The movie is written and directed by John Carney who was in a band and understands the perspective of musicians which is shown in his other movies Once and Begin Again. We see this in Sing Street as we see Conor evolve musically and as a character. At the beginning of the movie Conor is a quiet kid who has no identity and lives in a trashy neighborhood. He also is going to school with bullies and an authoritative Principle. He starts a band mainly to impress Ralphina but he can’t sing and can’t write songs. However throughout the movie we see Conor find an identity through the music that his brother Brendan gives him which includes 80’s bands like Duran Duran and the Cure. We also see Sing Street from a band that can't write songs to a band that can write songs in a heartbeat. John Carney also perfectly shows Conor’s creative process as we see him writing lyrics that reflect his life and we see him figuring out the melodies and rhythms with Eamon. My favorite scene in the movie is when Sing Street are performing and Conor imagines them performing in the prom scene from Back to the Future and it perfectly shows Conor’s creativity. That moment perfectly encapsulates how music is a powerful outlet for an artist. 

Another great aspect of Sing Street is the romance. Conor forms Sings Street because of Ralphina and most of the songs he writes are inspired by her. What makes the romance interesting is that they both learn more about each other by being with each other. At the beginning of the movie Conor doesn't know what he is going to do with his life but Ralphina is planning to be a model and go to London with he boyfriend. Then as Conor grows as a musician Ralphina starts to question what she wants.

Each of the actors do a great job at playing their characters. Ferdia Walsh-Peelo does a great job at playing a kid that discovers himself and so does Lucy Boynton as Ralphina. Both have amazing chemistry together. Jack Reynor also does a great job playing Conor’s slacker brother who was once an aspiring musician but now lives his dream through Conor. Aidan Gillen, who is Petyr Baelish from Game of Thrones, plays Conor’s dad and Maria Doyle Kennedy, who is also an Irish Singer, plays Conor’s mom and they both do a great job. The supporting actors do a great job from Don Wycherley as the principal to Mark McKenna as Eamon. 

The most shocking element of the movie is the fact that the songs are really good. Usually in movies like this the band would do cover songs or generic songs. However Sing Street mostly do original songs and they are all really catchy. Some songs will make you dance like Drive It Like You Stole It, some will make you cry like To Find You, and some will make you smile like Up. 

There are also some really funny moments throughout the movie. In one scene Conor is talking to his brother Brendan about Ralphina’s boyfriend. Then Brendan asks Conor what he was listening to and Conor says Phil Collins. Brendan then say he will not be a problem and says “No woman can truly love a man who listens to Phil Collins”. I laughed so hard when I heard this.

I honestly cannot think of any issues with the movie. I think it is a perfect movie. On the surface it looks like a generic coming of age story but with some great acting, writing, directing, and music it becomes something more. The best way to describe this movie is it is a much better version of The Commitments. To me this movie isn't just about the journey of someone who wanted to form a band but a story about someone fulfilling their dream and discovering themselves. I know that sounds cheesy but I think it is something everyone can relate to. I would recommend this movie to anyone, even to people who don't like musicals. Overall I think Sing Street is charming, mesmerizing, and heartwarming movie and it is by far my favorite movie of the year. If you haven't seen it see it right now. Who knows, the movie might make you want to start a band or want to fulfill your dreams. That’s how I felt after seeing this movie.

Grade: A+

Kubo and the Two Strings

Kubo and the Two Strings Review

If I could only describe Kubo and the Two Strings in one word, it would be “magical”. The movie is a masterpiece with amazing stop motion animation, mystical mythology, and engaging and relatable characters. It’s like a Hayao Miyazaki made into stop motion. The film is made by the stop motion animation studio Laika who have also produced Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls. However Kubo and the Two Strings might be their most impressive accomplishment. It’s a wonderful movie and it is one of the best films of the year. 

The story is about a boy named Kubo (Art Parkinson) who lives with his sick mom as they hide from Kubo’s evil grandfather, Raiden the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes), who wants to catch him. Kubo learns how to move paper by using a magical instrument and he tells story with moving origami to get money. However one night, Kubo is found and is force to run away. Now he is forced to find the armor that his father once wore so he can fight his grandfather. At the same time Kubo learns more about his father who was the greatest samurai warrior in all of Japan. Also on his journey he comes across a monkey and a beetle voiced by Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey.

The first thing that definitely stands out about this movie is the animation. Stop motion animation always looks great and this is the best use of stop motion animation I have ever seen. The character animation looks seamless and you get real emotions from the characters designs. Also Kubo use moving origami throughout the movie, and the movement and creation of paper origami really lends itself to stop motion animation. I also was amazed by how the water in the movie seamlessly blended with the models and sets that were made for stop motion. At the end of the credits we see a model being built for the movie which makes you appreciate the animation even more. The lighting in the movie is also amazing and brings a sense of mysticism to the movie.

The movie also provides the viewer with great and well developed characters. Kubo is a great protagonist because he is hard worker and is always optimistic. We also learn and see everything from his point of view and we see him grow as a character. Kubo is played by Art Parkinson, from Game of Thrones fame, and he does a great job. Kubo’s mom is also a great character because we see the lengths she goes through to keep Kubo safe ever since he was a baby. Monkey is also a great character who is understandably stern and overprotective of Kubo. Beetle however is a perfect contrast to Monkey and the chill personality is perfectly personified by Matthew McConaughey. Rooney Mara plays the Sisters, who are Kubo’s aunts, and her performance is very chilling. George Takei is also in the film which is never a bad thing.

Even thought the story is a very simple hero’s journey, it works because of the mysticism and sense of uncertainty. Throughout the movie there is a sense of mystery to the villains which brings more weight to the movie. The stories told by Kubo’s mom also perfectly add to the mythology. We also see magic when our main characters battle monsters and spirits. What surprised me about the film was how funny it was. There is a lot of witty banter between characters, especially between Kubo, Monkey, and Beetle. The film also has a great message about family and always staying connected with your ancestors. This is perfectly shown in the climax and the finale of the film. 

The only issues I have with this film is that a part of the film involves character that suffer memory loss which is a little confusing. I also wish that Raiden the Moon King was a little more intimidating since the film builds him up so much. He’s not bad but I wish he was better. However those are the only issues I have. 

Kubo and the Two Stings is one of the best animated movies I have ever seen. It has wonderful animation, spectacular characters, and interesting mythology. I would recommend this movie for anyone. There are some scenes that might scare some kids but the movie is very family friendly. If you haven't seen Kubo yet, see it as soon as possible. I guarantee you’ll be blown away. 
Grade: A

Sausage Party Review

Sausage Party Review

The best way to describe Sausage Party is it’s Toy Story, Foodfight, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, and Pineapple Express, and if you see the film you will know why. I was definitely interested in seeing this film because of the funny trailers but there might be a lot hinging on this film. It’s an R rated animated film and the last time an R rated animated film got this much of a wide release was maybe the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie which came out in 2007. I don't even remember the last time an original R rated animated film got a wide release. The reason R rated animated film or even PG-13 ones do not get a wide release is the stigma that animated films are just for kids. Unless it’s based off of a popular property like South Park or Aqua Teen Hunger Force it will probably never be greenlit. They will either get a limited release like Waltz with Bashir or underperform like Beowulf. If Sausage Party does really well it would possibly open the door for R rated and PG-13 animated movies that are original. So how is the movie? I ended up liking it but it does have quite a few issues scattered throughout the movie. 

First lets go over the premise of the movie. In a supermarket with talking food, everyone waits to be taken by the “Gods” (who are actually humans) to a paradise outside the store. Our main character Frank (Seth Rogan) is excited because he want to be inside Brenda (Kristen Wiig) who is a hot dog bun. Then when they fall out of the shopping cart after being bought, Frank and Brenda try to head back to hot dog stand with Sammy Bagel Jr. (Edward Norton) and Kareem Abdul Lavash (David Krumholtz) coming along. However through many unfortunate events Frank learns that the paradise story was made up and food are actually eaten. While Frank tries to warn everybody a character named Douche (Nick Kroll) is planning for his revenge on Frank and Brenda for knocking him out of the shopping cart.

The best thing about the film is the premise. When you here the premise you can tell it is a parody of Pixar since in Pixar films the audience get the perspective of something that human don't have a perspective of like Toys, Bugs, Fish, Rats, and even Emotions. In Sausage Party we get the perspective of food except a really dark perspective. The film even parodies Disney by having a musical number in the beginning and the movie’s score is composed by Alan Menken. Ya. The guy who wrote the music to films like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. However the most intriguing aspect of the premise is that it’s an allegory for religion. The food see the humans as Gods and they believe that if they are good they will go to paradise or outside the supermarket even though it is not. Even though the film is pretty blatant  about it’s message about questioning religion and pushes it in your face, it does make the premise more interesting then just a dumb comedy about food being eaten.

There is even some funny voice casting. Seth Rogan and Kristen Wiig fit their character’s perfectly. Nick Kroll makes a great bad guy. Michael Cera plays Barry who is a a deformed sausage and is basically Michael Cera the insecure loser. Salma Hayek plays a taco because of course and Edward Norton unrecognizably plays a bagel. There are also fun performances from Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, and Paul Rudd.

The animation is fine. You can tell they didn't have the biggest budget for animation but the style works for the film.
To me the humor is kind of hit or miss. I think the funniest scenes are when we get jokes about the food’s perspective. When we get jokes like a Saving Private Ryan joke about food being dropped on the ground and jokes about food being eaten I think the movie is at its funniest. However when the movie resorts to sex jokes and puns I usually didn't laugh because I felt they were way to easy. I honest didn't find jokes about Brenda’s buns that funny. There were also some scene that were unnecessarily gross and just for shock. I will say that there is a pun in the movie that made me laugh really hard. Also the ending of the movie made me laugh really hard even though it was really disturbing. I do however wish that we spent more time out of the supermarket since some of the best jokes are out of the supermarket.

But my biggest problem with this movie was I didn't really care about any of the characters since they felt more like jokes then characters. Frank is an ok main character but it is hard to feel for a character whose main characteristic is he wants to get with Brenda. Brenda’s not that interesting since he characteristic is she looks fresh. Sammy Bagel Jr. and Kareem Abdul Lavash are just ok characters even though they aren't really that vital to the plot. The other food characters are just there to make jokes. The only character I really cared about was Barry because you feel bad that he is deformed so you did not want him to die. There is also a gum who is a parody of Stephen Hawking who was pretty cool.

Another aspect of this movie that I probably need to talk about are the stereotypes. Throughout the movie there are a lot of different stereotypes for different kinds of food. The Asian food are Asian stereotypes, the German food are Nazis, the Tequilas are Spanish stereotypes, a box of Grits that’s a Black stereotype, and many more. Sammy Bagel Jr. and Kareem Abdul Lavash, who argue all the time, also are a Jewish and Palestinian stereotype. They didn't bother me to much but I can understand how someone could be extremely offended by this.

There is a moment in which I wonder who can talk in this universe since non food can talk. However that is more of a nitpick. 

Watching Sausage Party is like watching a 14 year old immature food fan fiction with some ideas. Considering that this was written by the same guys who wrote Superbad and Pineapple Express I am not shocked at all. This is one of the most raunchy films I have ever scene. It makes Family Guy look like Spongebob. However I do feel this might have worked better as a short film instead of a movie. But in the end I did laugh quite a bit during Sausage Party so I would recommend people go out and see it. Just know what your getting into. Also this is definitely not a family animated film like Frozen or Inside Out. If you take a kid to this you will scar them for life. I would say this film is for people over the age of 17. Will we get more animated movies for adults because of this movie? I don't know. All I can say is I am never going into Stop and Shop the same way ever again. 

Grade: B-

Star Trek Beyond Review

Star Trek Beyond Review

RIP Anton Yelchin

Star Trek Beyond is a really fun adventure flick that takes us back to the Star Trek universe. It has everything you would want in a summer blockbuster and is one of the better movies in an underwhelming summer. Watching this movie made me feel like I was watching a long episode of the Star Trek: The Original Series which is definitely not a bad thing. We see our main characters discover unknown territory and we see each character go through their own adventure. But at the same time, we get a story and conflict that makes the movie feel cinematic at the same time.

Our story this time is about the Kirk and the Enterprise landing on a mysterious planet after they were attacked by surprise. Everybody is separated and most of the Enterprise has been captured. However we then find out that assault was caused by Kroll, an alien dictator who plans to steal an ancient artifact that is on the ship of the Enterprise to take over the galaxy. Now it is up to Kirk, Spock, a new character named Jaylah, and the rest of the crew to stop Kroll.

For the record, I am not a big Star Trek fan. I am definitely more of a Star Wars fan. I however do like the JJ Abrams films, even Star Trek Into Darkness (which I still don't understand why it’s hated by Star Trek fans). I also do know a bit about Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation. So I like Star Trek but don't love Star Trek. 

The best thing about Star Trek Beyond like the other films in the JJ Abrams reboot are the characters. Chris Pine (James T. Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Spock) reprise their roles, and perfectly contrast the brashness of Kirk and the discipline of Spock. They have less screen time together then in the other two films but when they do show up on screen together it is a treat to watch. Karl Urban (Leonard McCoy), Zoe Saldana (Nyota Uhura), John Cho (Hikaru Sulu), Anton Yelchin (Pavel Chekov) also return and all do a great job. Simon Pegg (Montgomery Scott) also returns and has a bigger role in the movie when compared to the other movie. This isn't that much of a surprise since he is one of the writers of the movie. We also get a new character named Jaylah (Sofia Boutella) who is both complex and badass. Kroll is also played perfectly by Idris Elba who makes the character intimidating and intriguing at the same time. 

The action scenes are also great. The film is directed by Justin Lin who is best know resurrecting the Fast and Furious franchise so he definitely knows how to do action. We get a lot of great space battles and fight scenes with 360 angles and quick cuts. It is also interesting to see no lens flares which is JJ Abrams’ signature.

I also love most of the special effects. There are many creative designs for the aliens especially Jaylah. The effects perfectly capture the environment of space and they also capture the environment on each planet like Yorktown where the Enterprise live. 

There are some problems with the movie. I do think it is a bit rushed. I would have like to have seen Kroll get some more development as a character and I would have like to have seen more to Kirk’s and Spock’s arcs in the movie. I also think the design of Kroll and his men could have been more intimidating and creative. There is also a character who is just there to give up the ancient artifact and die, and I usually hate character’s like this. 

Overall I still found Star Trek Beyond to be a blast. If you enjoy the JJ Abrams Star Trek movies, then I think you will definitely enjoy Star Trek Beyond. I think the Star Trek fan’s who were disappointed in Star Trek Into Darkness will enjoy this movie since it is like an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. Even if you have never seen a Star Trek show or movie, you can still enjoy it because it stands on its own. I will say that I think that Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness are better films. But that is not taking anything away from Star Trek Beyond because I think Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness are great. So see it if you haven't already. Live Long And Prosper!

Grade: A-

Batman: The Killing Joke Review

Batman: The Killing Joke Review
WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

The most admirable thing I can say about Batman: The Killing Joke is it’s ambition. Not only does it try to adapt Alan Moore’s graphic novel but it also tries to expand on the novel by giving a character arc to Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl to raise the stake of the movie and to get us to know about Barbara Gordon before she gets crippled since one of the criticisms of The Killing Joke is Barbara Gordon is only a plot device. And while this is interesting in theory Barbara’s arc does not work and it ends up ruining the story of the Killing Joke. While Batman: The Killing Joke does have some great redeeming features, it is also kind of a mess.

The story for the most part follows the graphic novel. The Joker, who escaped from Arkham Asylum, goes to Commissioner Gordon’s house to show that good people are just like him by giving Commissioner Gordon one bad day. He does this by shooting his daughter Barbara in the spine and forcing Gordon to watch pictures of his daughter after she was shot in the spine to make him go insane. At the same time we see flashbacks to the Joker’s origin or his one bad day, and we see Batman trying to hunt down the Joker. Also for more than half of the movie we see a story about Batman and Batgirl hunting down an up in coming crime boss named Paris Franz who has a thing for Batgirl before we see the Killing Joke story. That is where thing get really messy.

Ok first lets start with the good aspects of this movie. Both Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill return to play Batman and the Joker and they both perfectly encapsulate the character that they are both famous for playing. Mark Hamill actually does a really good job of playing the Joker before becoming the Joker in the flashbacks. Tara Strong (who is one of the greatest voice actors of all time) also returns to play Batgirl and I think she gives the best performance in the movie by perfectly capturing the young and strong personality of the character. The character designs are also detailed and drawn in Bruce Tim’s signature design. What I also love is how when the movie gets to the Killing Joke section it perfectly capture the graphic novel. Each scene is a shot to shot carbon copy of the panels in the novel from the frames to the dialogue. We see the Joker become the Joker and we see the Joker go to the extreme to show that people are just like him. So in that way the movie is a perfect representation of Alan Moore’s graphic novel.

However there is a section at the beginning of the movie that is not in the Killing Joke but instead is a story about Batgirl. In theory this isn't a bad idea because the story could make care more about Batgirl and make her more than a victim of the Joker’s plan. What they with Batgirl however ruins the movie. One of the problems with this section of the movie is it does not feel like a part of the Killing Joke. It feels like it’s own movie that is separate from the Killing Joke. We see Batgirl go through her arc and then it wraps up with her quitting as Batgirl. Then the screen turn dark and then Wa-Lah, we get the Killing Joke which is about the Joker’s story arc. So when I watch the movie I wonder who the movie is about. Is about Batgirl, Batman, or the Joker. I think the filmmakers want the movie to be about all of them but the movie doesn't really do a good job at that. It’s a Batgirl movie first, then a Joker movie, and Batman’s story is somewhere sprinkled throughout the film. That is why the entire film feels uneven. There are moments that sort of tie to the Killing Joke like how Paris Franz is obsessed with Batgirl which is similar to how the Joker is obsessed about Batman but it still feels like it should have been it’s own separate movie.

But that’s not the only problem. For many years the Killing Joke was accused of being sexist because it took the only female hero in Batman and made her a victim for the plot. I think the filmmakers knew this and dedicated the first part of movie so she is more than just the Joker’s victim. However what they did not only makes Batgirl kind of unlikable but it also gives more credence to the people that said the Killing Joke is sexist. In the movie, Batgirl is told by Batman that she cannot handle the Paris Franz case because it is dangerous and she continuously complains to Batman about it. Paris Franz also seems to have a crush on Batgirl which would unnecessarily bring up the fact that she is a female superhero. It doesn't help that she keeps falling for his traps. Then to make things worse, when Batman and Batgirl are argue on the roof of a building Batgirl fall on Batman and then they have sex. I am not joking. It’s as creepy as it sounds. How on earth does the audience take Batgirl seriously when she’s horny for Batman? This also makes Batman a bit unlikable. Not only has Batman always been more of a father figure for Batgirl but I would think it isn't the best idea to have sex with your best friends daughter. Then Batgirl quits because she can't handle the stress of being Batgirl and her desire to be with Batman. How inspiring. So now when we get into the Killing Joke section of the movie it’s kind of hard to look at Batman and Batgirl the same way. 

Another issue is some of the animation. Even though most of the character designs are great the character animation at times is not that fluid. The backgrounds are ok but kind of generic and sometimes the animation styles would change. The style is very straight the DVD quality which makes me think that this was originally going to be a straight to DVD movie and then they decided to put it in theaters for two days at the last minute. 

After seeing the movie I thought to myself who is this the movie for. Is it for Batman fans or non Batman fans? I don't think non Batman fan can get into this movie because of the messy structure and not knowing about the rivalry between Batman and the Joker. But I don't think the movie is for Batman fans because I think most Batman fans would be creeped out by Batman and Batgirl having sex and they would want to see the Killing Joke. Is this a bad movie. I wouldn't say that, but is a humongous disappoint considering that this is an adaptation of the Killing Joke. If you really want to see this movie, get it on DVD and skip the Batgirl story. I think it is decent movie with just the Killing Joke. I honestly think that instead of calling this movie Batman: The Killing Joke, it should called The Killing of the Killing Joke.

Grade: C