Looking
for a feel good movie that will have you laughing out loud? Pitch
Perfect 2 is just that movie! It seldom takes itself seriously. I give
it an A.
The
Bella's are back, and they are better than ever. After a leotard mishap
at the President’s birthday celebration, the team needs to get their
act in gear and win the International Competition. But the girls have a
lot on their minds and their singing suffers for it! In order to win,
they need to regroup and recharge and learn to harmonize again.
Rebel
Wilson is the new Lucille Ball or Carol Burnett. Her comedic skills
showcase physical comedy as well as amazing wisecracks. Then there’s the
Acapella hosts, John and Gail! They have no filters or tact. Some of
the most outrageous lines are theirs! In fact, Elizabeth Banks who
played Gail is actually the director of the movie! And without spoiling
anything, there are some wonderful guest appearances! Keep your eyes
peeled!
Having
not seen the first movie, I didn’t feel like I was missing out on
anything. This movie stood on its own. The message of girl power and
working together is one that everyone needs these days. While the movie
does feature some raunchy adult humor, most children won’t understand
it. So don’t be afraid to bring your whole family.
When
does intelligence occur? Can a robot think for him or herself? The
premise behind Ex Machina is a study in when does sentient life begin? I
give it a B+.
Caleb
is an upcoming hot programmer who wins a week retreat with the CEO only
to find out that the trip isn’t what it seems. When there, he’s asked
to determine if a sexy robot is really sentient or just running her
programming. Ava becomes more than just a robot to Caleb. She worms her
way into his mind.
This
movie is twisted, with mystery and surprises. Viewers won’t see them
coming. It keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat because you
learn to not trust anyone at face value. It’s a very intellectual movie,
and does have a large amount of drinking and nudity (I felt bad for the
young child who’s family brought him).
I
found the movie to be intriguing but I hated the CEO. He wasn’t a nice
person and each time he came on the screen, I wanted to see him hit with
a club. There wasn’t anything redeeming about him. He’s supposed to be
the CEO of a Google like search site but comes off as a bully with a God
complex. Without spoilers, I also was disappointed with the ending, too
contrite and quick to wrap it up, leaving the main character at a loss.
We’ve
waited over a year to see the latest Avenger’s movie, but they don’t
give us all the answers. Only more questions. I give Avengers: Age of
Ultron an A. From the very first scene, Joss Whedon keeps you on the
edge of your seat with amazing action. There are whole towns demolished
in this Marvel movie.
Tony
Stark is afraid that another alien race will come to Earth again
putting everyone in danger. So he creates an artificial intelligent
program to protect the world, but of course something goes wrong. Trust
breaks among the Avengers team. Too many alpha males.
Ultron
sees the human race as flawed and that only through elimination, will
life be better. He believes machines and himself to be better than
humans. And it will take the whole team-along with some old favorites to
defeat him.
Age
of Ultron gives moviegoers a glimpse at the past of the Black Widow and
a look at Hawkeye’s secret life. It also introduces us to two new
characters: Quicksilver and his sister The Scarlet Witch. Of course Stan
Lee has a cameo and many hints of future events in upcoming movies are
implied. Snarky comments abound and this movie has as many laughs as
action moments. Those were some of my favorite moments.
I
loved the movie but it didn’t live up to the hype or maybe my own
expectations. I felt let down at the ending, maybe it’s because we don’t
really have a happy ending or that it doesn’t feel like they triumphed.
But I am anxious to see what the future Marvel Universe movies hold.
Directed
and starring Russell Crowe, The Water Diviner brings to life one man’s
search for his missing sons during World War I. I found it enthralling
and give it an A.
Joshua
Connor is a man so in tune with the land that he can find water beneath
the bedrock. When his sons are reported killed in WWI, he tries to move
forward but his wife is unable to handle the loss of her sons. When she
dies, he finally agrees to bring them home, even though it means
heading to Turkey which is still involved in major conflicts. The Water
Diviner is based on real life inspired events and will have you wanting
to know more about the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
It’s
hard to categorize this movie. It’s a war piece, it’s a romance, it’s a
sweeping epic…it’s all those things. Along the lines of Brad Pitt’s
Fury, it doesn’t hide the harsh realities of battle, nor does it glorify
it. We do see a seldom seen part of WWI, the point of view of the
Turkish people and their amazing history.
Russell
Crowe does a nice job sharing small pieces of the big picture as the
movie unfolds and you find out more and more, like a hidden picture or
puzzle. The Water Diviner will have you reaching for a tissue but will
also make you laugh out loud with the outrageousness of the Grandfather
and believe in a second chance at love and redemption.
Paul
Blart attends a security conference in Vegas which is just the thing to
help him get over the loss of his mother and his new bride leaving him.
I suggest that if you want to lose your money, go to the casino rather
than this movie. I give Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 a D.
I
grew up watching great physical comedians from Lucille Ball to Carol
Burnett, from Jerry Lewis to the Chevy Chase. Kevin James isn't one of
them. He tries to be funny as a mall security guard who thinks more of
himself than reality is in this story written by James and produced by
Adam Sandler. Yet the story was trite. Bad guys are stealing the Wynn
art collection to get back at losing money at the resort and only Blart
and his band of guards can stop them.
I
know that the first Mall Cop was a cult favorite but in this story all
the typical comedic parts are there from the bad guy with two different
colored eyes who thinks he’s crazy, to James’ stumbling , bumbling
accidents. There’s a fight with a bird while a man continues to play the
piano and a chase scene on a modified Segway. Gun’s that misfire as
well as all the bad guys being such horrible shots to miss everyone!
I
didn’t even crack a smile during the movie and while I saw a lot of
YOUNG children at the theater, I wouldn’t recommend it for children
under 10. Better yet, go spend the money to take the kids to see
Cinderella again or take them to a picnic lunch.
“Love
requires sacrifice... always”…Nicolas Sparks’ movies are guaranteed to
pull at your heartstrings and The Longest Ride does just that. Much like
his movie The Notebook, this story shows flashbacks of another
relationship, which mirrors Sophia and Luke’s blooming relationship. I
give the story a B+.
There
were two reasons I wanted to see this movie- Scott Eastwood and to see
how Mr. Sparks’ cowboys compare to my own cowboys in the best-selling
western romance books Cowboy Up and Cowboy Up 2.
Luke,
a champion bull-rider who is sidelined with an injury tries to regain
his top standing the Pro-Bull Riding circuit. Sophia’s an art student
who’s leaving for an internship in NYC in two months. The two are
opposites who connect. We see their love story play out amongst the
letters and remembrance of Ira (played by Alan Alda) and Ruth’s
relationship.
Scott
Eastwood looks so much like his father that you close your eyes and
you’re watching The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly if it was a sappy
romance. The bull-riding scenes will have you gasping and wishing for
your own sexy cowboy. But the storyline is predictable and while it does
have a happy ending, like most Nicolas Sparks’ movies, it leaves you in
tears. I liked Ruth and Ira’s romance more than Luke and Sophia’s.
Their love was one that stood the test of time, sacrifice, and even
death. Alan Alda is perfect for this role!
The
Longest Ride refers to being married forever...this movie is sure to
appeal to women who love romance and believe in the strength of love, so
see it with your girlfriends.
