Avengers: Age of Ultron Review

Avengers: Age of Ultron is the newest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is once again directed by Joss Whedon and features a massive cast including Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Anthony Mackie, and James Spader. Yeah that is a lot of people to juggle in one film.

I have to start by saying this is the most fun I've had in a movie all year. Joss Whedon nailed it once again, and I actually find the fact that he managed to pull this movie off even more impressive than when he did the first one and here is why. The first one was a movie that had every single character set up from previous films including the villain and his plan. All Joss Whedon had to do was put them all together and balance them all while being true to how he wrote every single character. This time however he has to setup a new villain, Ultron, played by James Spader. Ultron was awesome, and he was something the MCU needed since most of the villains apart from Loki and the Winter Soldier really haven't been very memorable. Ultron is a fantastic villain since he is the type of villain that you can understand where he is coming from. He sees that the only way for peace is for him to eliminate the human race, since we are the cause of every problem that happens on earth. Frankly he isn't wrong, and that's what makes him so cool to watch. Plus James Spader just kills it as Ultron. I also like the fact that Ultron is a pretty sarcastic villain. He isn't the regular "mean" villain, he actually cracks some jokes from time to time. Villain aside, Whedon also brought in some other new characters. You have Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, who are twins with special abilities. Quicksilver can run extremely fast, and Scarlet Witch can get into peoples mind and do other telekinetic stuff. I thought they would feel unnecessary but they really bring a lot to the film. Specially since they are the ones that cause the Avengers to break in a psychological way. The other new character is Vision. I won't spoil anything about him, but the way they bring him in and how they handle him is perfect if you ask me.

The other heroes are handled even better than last time in my opinion. Their interactions are funnier, and they all get developed really well. The most surprising though was Hawkeye. I never expected him to have such a big part in the story. It was really cool seeing and knowing more of him since he kind of got the short end of the stick on the last movie. The action is done extremely well. You can tell what's going on at all times, and the CGI is seamless. It is tons of fun and I was never really bored. Even when there is no action on screen just seeing all these heroes interacting with each other is a blast, which really is a testament to Joss Whedons' writing skills.

My only minor complaint with the movie though is a small part of the film involving Thor. When you see the movie you'll know what I mean. It didn't feel like part of the film, and it really only was there to set up Thor: Ragnarok. But it really doesn't take up a lot of screen time from the rest of the movie so it really didn't bother me too much.

I loved Avengers: Age of Ultron. It was so much fun from start to finish, and really went in depth with all the characters this time around, which was something I wasn't expecting because of the huge amount of characters that are in this film. I still might say I like the first one a tiny bit better just for the fact that the first one was all set up from the start, so you get into it right from the start, but I'm still not sure. Definitely watch this on a movie theater, it really is a big screen experience. 5/5

Home Review

Home is an animated film starring Jim Parsons and Rihanna. The story takes place on planet Earth, where an alien race called the Boov invade the planet. However, a teenage girl named Tip manages to avoid capture and goes on the run with another Boov called Oh who also finds himself on the run. 

Home is a hard film for me to describe. It's a film that is kind of fun to watch, but once it ended and I stepped out of the theater... I almost completely forgot about it. The big problem that this film has is the fact that there really isn't anything particularly interesting about it. The characters aren't anything special, the script offers a few laughs but nothing really amazing, and the big sequences also left a lot to be desired. Something that I did really enjoy was the voice acting. Jim Parsons and Rihanna do a great job in their roles, even if Rihanna does sound a little older than the girl she is voicing. That's basically the only thing that I found to be really good in the film.

Home isn't a bad film, but it isn't a particularly good one either. It doesn't do anything out of the ordinary and is extremely predictable. Even the action sequences are kind of bland at times. It's fun while you watch it, but once it's over you won't think about the film again. Kids though will probably really have fun with it, but anyone else won't find anything mind blowing here. 2.5/5 

Furious 7 Review

Furious 7 is the seventh (!) installment in The Fast and The Furious series. The film follows Deckard Shaw who is Owen Shaws (villain from the last film) brother, as he tries to hunt down every single member of Doms team for revenge. This is the first film since The Fast and The Furious Tokyo Drift not to be directed by Justin Lin. It is instead directed by James Wan who has directed films like Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring. The film features a huge cast including Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Kurt Russel, Djimon Hounsou, and  Jason Statham. This film (as with the past couple of films) is all about over the top action. If you walk into this movie expecting an amazing plot and great acting then this movie is not for you.

This film is just filled with some awesome fist fights. Some awesome shoot outs. Fantastic chase scenes. It really is a very manly film. You even have girls dancing around in bikinis and booty shots everywhere. And it is all done in the most over the top way possible. The good thing is that all the action is very well done, and doesn't feature any shaky cam. James Wan really knows how to film action, which was one of my fears going into the movie because he is more of a horror movie director and had never done anything like this before. The movie is really non stop action, and it is an insane amount of fun to watch. The fact that the whole cast works so well together and actually feels like a family just makes all their interaction a lot more fun to watch. Jason Statham as the villain was really bad ass. Specially since he almost always shows up by himself. He doesn't need henchmen or others helping him, and that makes him even cooler.

My only two complaints are the fact that Dwayne Johnson is just in the movie during the beginning and during the end, and the fact that the plot is pretty convoluted. There are a ton of characters and a ton of things happening at once, but since this film really isn't about plot and character development it doesn't really matter too much.

Another thing that has to be discussed is Paul Walker. As I guess everyone knows he died in a car accident back in 2013 while the movie was still shooting. He did manage to complete 85% of the film, while the rest was completed with the help of his brothers and CGI. The CGI is pretty noticeable which might take some out of the movie, but it isn't too bad. One thing that I did love was the way they handled the characters exit from the films. It was done perfectly. But the best thing was the final scene. It was perfect and I can't think of a better way they could have ended the film.

 Furious 7 is a film that has to be watched on the big screen. It is over the top and ridiculous, but that's what everyone wants this films to be and it works. It is almost impossible not to have fun while watching it, and the way they handled Paul Walker was perfect, even if the CGI wasn't the greatest ever. Definitely watch Furious 7, it is simply awesome. 4.5/5

Focus Review

Focus is a film starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie. The movie follows a con-man (Smith), who is in the middle on a scheme when a girl (Robbie) from his past shows up and messes everything up. I enjoyed watching the film, although it does have a lot of problems. First of all the film changes from being a romance to being a dark comedy a lot. You never have a complete mix of the two. You´ll have a scene that is just completely romantic, and then you will go into a scene that is comedic. If scenes had elements of both it would have been perfect. Another problem is the fact that the film, the ending in particular, throws twist after twist after twist. If there was one or two twists it could have been ok. But there are like five of them, and it kind of gets annoying.

The movie does get a lot right though. The chemistry between Smith and Robbie is fantastic, which is crucial when the movie is kind of a romance. Smith is awesome as always, and he is the main reason the movie is entertaining to watch. If it had been another actor it might have not been as fun. There is also a fantastic scene during a football game. I hoped that there would be more scenes like that one in the movie. The film also seems far fetched at times, but it isn't too bad though.

Focus is a fun time but that's about it. There is nothing particularly mind blowing about it, and the fact that it doesn't really know if it's a romance or comedy brings it down at times. The saving grace of the film is Will Smith. That guy is fun to watch in everything he does (except After Earth). If you have a couple of hours to spare, you might have fun with this one. 3/5

Chappie Review

Chappie is the new sci-fi film by Neill Blomkamp. It stars Dev Patel, Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, a rap group from South Africa (more on them later), and Sharlto Copley as Chappie. The film is set in the near future. Android robots are being deployed to control crime in Johannesburg. The creator of this program is Dev Patel, and he is working on making a robot that actually has a consciousness. A robot that can have emotions and morals. This robot ends up being Chappie. Hugh Jackman´s character on the other hand is the creator of the Moose program. This are huge robot but they are controlled by humans via a neuron helmet back at the base, and he isn´t getting the funding he needs since Dev Patels´program is already working With this two characters the film presents two different stand points. Letting humans continue to do the work with technology aiding them, or letting technology take control over the situation in a more efficient way since they don't really have morals and won´t get emotional over any situation at all.

You would think the movie would actually have Dev Patel and Hugh Jackman going at it with their ideologies. That´s not the case. Here´s where the rap group I mentioned comes in and basically ruin what could have been a very different movie. They play gangsters, and they need to do a heist to pay off this other gangster or they will get killed. So they get control of Chappie to help them do this. Since Chappie is like a kid, everything that he is told is what he will learn. The gangsters basically teach him to fight, how to talk, and how to steal. So firstly this gangsters are extremely annoying. You just want them off the screen, but the movie focuses mainly on them. This whole plot derails the movie completely and also affects action scenes later on in the movie. When the action is going on you don´t really care if anyone gets killed because the people get screen time are basically huge ass holes for having what´s basically a kid do the dirty work for them. The action is entertaining but you just don´t care for the people involved, so there really is no tension when things are blowing up. And if you are at least expecting a lot of action to entertain you, just know that there are really just 2 action sequences in the whole movie. Jackman´s character is potrayed as an ass hole too, even though he does have some pretty valid points and it would have been interesting to have his character be more than just the bad guy. The only characters that you really care for are Patel and Chappie. Sharlto Copley as Chappie is really the best part of this film. All of the body language and the way he speaks really makes you feel for him when bad stuff happens to him. You forget he is a robot and actually feel like he is just a kid, which is pretty impressive.

Another strong point are the visuals in this film. Blomkamp really knows how to shoot a movie, specially action sequences, and it keeps showing in this film. The visual effects are also amazing, and every single robot looks like it´s actually there. The acting is also good, except for our annoying rap duo. This really could have been an interesting movie if it wasn´t for the weird plot choice Blomkamp chose to follow. I hope that he gets his shit together for Alien 5, because if this movie tells us something is that he is not headed in the right direction as a writer at least. 2/5

Whiplash Review

This is a truly amazing movie. Whiplash stars Miles Teller who plays a student jazz drummer. His dream is to become one of the all time greats, but first he has to face an abusive teacher played by J.K. Simmons. Most people think Whiplash is a movie that mostly revolves around music. I found it to actually be more of a psychological battle between Miles Tellers' character and J.K. Simmons' character. J.K. Simmons begins to really push Miles Tellers' character to the edge until he can't take it anymore, and so begins a battle of wits to see who will ultimately outwit who. 

First of all I have to say that Miles Teller was fantastic in this movie, specially since he can actually play the drums which really makes him perfect for the role. J.K. Simmons though is the absolute stand out of this movie. Imagine his character from the Spider-Man movies, completely bald and with the ability to curse now. That is basically his character in this movie and he is absolutely fantastic. You really do feel afraid of this guy at times, plus the insults that come out of his mouth are brilliant too. 

One of the great things about this movie is how it shows Miles Tellers' character having to struggle with various relationships.  His family doesn't understand why drumming is important to him. They would rather have him do something else like sports or having a regular job. Anybody who has a passion for any art form knows that explaining your love for your art to other family members is really hard, and most of the time they won't understand. It also shows how you can lose a ton of things just for the sake of being the absolute best in your craft. 

But the best thing by far is the way J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller clash in this movie. The conflicts are very serious since you have two characters that feel really strong about their opinions, and when they start going at each other you really see some very intense scenes and acting. The editing is brilliant too. It really makes the whole film very fast paced and exhilarating, specially when Miles Teller is playing the drums. It switches from Miles Teller to his double (for the harder parts) seamlessly. You really won't notice when it's him or when it's not him. 

This is a movie that absolutely must be seen in a movie theater since the sound is really freaking amazing. It definitely is not the same as watching it on a computer or a regular t.v. The ending of the film was absolute perfection in my opinion. If you love music, watch this movie. If you have a passion for art, watch this movie. If you love amazing acting, watch this movie. Whiplash really is an amazing movie. 5/5  

Kingsman: The Secret Service Review

It's been a while since I saw a ridiculously fun movie. Kingsman is directed by Matthew Vaughn and it is a spy movie, but it's not like the ones we see nowadays. It's an homage to the old ones. You have the main villain with an impediment of sorts (this time being Samuel L. Jackson with a lisp). An over the top villain who is missing limbs and instead finds them replaced with weapons (this time being blades instead of legs). You also have the gadgets and much more. What makes this movie so awesome is the fact that it also points out the cliches that all these types of movies suffered. It is very self aware of what it is and doesn't try to be serious like most films try to be now.  

The basic plot of the film revolves around the Kingsman, a secret organization who consider themselves the knights of the modern age. They are all gentlemen, dress extremely well, and can also kill anyone with virtually anything. So after one of their own dies, they are forced to find a new member that will help them stop a multi-billionaires evil plan. The main cast includes Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson, and the main star is Taron Egerton who is relatively a newcomer. Taron Egerton really surprised me since he actually makes his character feel like a relatable person who is going through a ton of different problems in his life. Colin Firth was also fantastic, specially since he did most of his own stunts which for his age is quite impressive. He also managed to play someone that is actually going through issues of his own, and not just the bad ass super spy in the movie. Samuel L. Jackson nailed the over the top villain role, and it was awesome that he added the lisp to his character. It really makes his character feel like an old school villain (without ever over doing it).

The best thing about the movie though is Matthew Vaughn's directing.  You can tell he loves old spy movies, but he also pokes fun at the stupid stuff in them. For those that don't know he also directed Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class, so you already know that this guy really knows how to make a really stylish action movie. Everything is shot extremely well without any shaky cam or multiple cuts. You can actually see that the actors are performing their stunts which is a huge plus for a movie like this. The choreography was great too, so the action scenes end up having a really cool stylish look to them. Matthew Vaughn also implements the over the top violence he used for Kick-Ass which really adds to the experience, specially when our blade legged villain appears. 

The music is also fantastic, and it goes hand in hand with the action scenes. You can tell that Matthew Vaughn worked really closely with the composer so that the action goes in rhythm with the music. The film´s humor was also another plus. A lot of the jokes are really crude and would have probably failed, but the way they are delivered in this movie actually manages to make them work. 

I really can't find anything wrong with Kingsman: The Secret Service. It is incredibly fun, well acted, has amazing over the top action scenes, and is actually not a predictable movie at times. I do recommend everyone to check this one out. It was really fucking awesome. 5/5