2 Guns (2013)

If you want to watch this movie, DON'T READ ANY OF THE DESCRIPTIONS OTHER THAN THIS ONE AND DON'T WATCH THE TRAILER. I was very happy I did not watch the trailer or read any descriptions prior to watching it. They give away WAY too much information. 

The story itself is cheesy and lacks development but the focus is the relationship between Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. Their chemistry is really good. Wahlberg tries too hard at some points but overall it's fun to see them together. They make you want more of them and less of the actual story.

Paula Patton's performance is off. Her facial movements are unnatural and too exaggerated. Her chemistry with Denzel is painful. Being the only significant female in the movie, it's disappointing she doesn't have a better presence; but her character and story line lacks a lot so it's not that big of a deal that she doesn't do a good job. 

By far the biggest complaint is the terrible lighting. It's entirely too dark at times.

2 Guns could have been more of a quirky and memorable movie had it been directed by the Coen brothers. It doesn't win any awards for quality or depth, but it's a decently entertaining movie. Worth a watch if you're in the mood for a slightly dark action comedy.

I usually put a video of the trailer here...BUT...read above!

True Blood Season 7 Final Season (2014)

For such an entertaining series, the final season isn't worth the film time. The first half starts out okay. Then there's a major shift with no satisfying explanation. No more crazy lunatic dying vampires, no more danger, no more action, and not a single creature other than vampires; no werewolves, shape shifters, la fay (other than Sookie), telepaths, witches...they just disappear from the story. There is a disconnect with all the characters and their stories. Tara's end story is down right embarrassing.

There is such a big focus on wrapping up Sookie's story, the entire season suffers. Although the True Blood series is based on the book series named after her, the show did a good job early on to get other characters involved. True Blood became more than just Sookie, but the final season doesn't respect their previous work.

Season 7 is by far the most disappointing of the entire series. It's like the entire cast, crew, writers, and producers all gave up prior to filming and droned through the final season out of contractual obligation. The main cause is the writing. It's just down right lazy.

You're better off stopping after season 6 and creating your own ending within your imagination.

Pain & Gain (2013)

Pain & Gain is supposed to be a comedy about criminal bodybuilders. In reality, it plays like a campy SNL skit. There are funny moments but there is an overall lack of chemistry between the entire cast. I then found out Michael Bay directed it and it all made sense. He's not known for creating the best onset atmosphere.

The Rock's character..excuse me, Dwayne Johnson's character, had potential and is the funniest of the bunch, but his talent was still overtaken by the heavy-handed directing and bad script.

Originally I thought the whole "this is true" bit was like Fargo where a part of the fake story is to pretend it was real. Then the ending with the pictures of the actual criminals came up and I looked it up. It's a sad and crazy story. Then in reflecting upon the movie I was disturbed. It's quite actually in bad taste to make a comedy out of two people being butchered and another being tortured for a month! The families did not approve of this version of the story and are all outraged. I would be as well and had I known this from the start, I would not have watched this out of respect to the victims.

If they wanted to make it a comedy, they would have been much better off angling it as a dark comedy where the seriousness of the killings don't seem so diminished. Any which way you look at it, even if it wasn't a true story, the movie was not made well and is disorganized.

A painful mess. I do not recommend it.

Cabin In The Woods (2013)

The Cabin in the Woods is not anything close to what I was expecting. It's going to be difficult to review this one without spoilers. I'll try my best.

Even though it has the same cheesy slasher premise, it goes to an interpretative level of artistic expression. There are layers to this that remind me of The Cube series, more specifically Cube Zero (2004); a film that I wrote a thesis about in college interpreting religious symbology in film and a highly recommended watch. ANYWAY, back to The Cabin in the Woods! It melds the entire slasher/horror genre into one story. It's quite crazy and creative.

It's still clearly a scary movie. I would not watch this alone! There isn't much else to say without giving away too much. The acting was unoffensive and Bradley Whitford is good as always. I was quite surprised to find out that Josh Whedon co-wrote the script, but after watching it you can definitely see his hand-print on it.

It's a scary, fun, and entertaining movie.

The Cabin in the Woods trailer:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1259521/

Ten Actors That Would Be A [WAY] Better Gambit Than Channing Tatum

I'm usually not upset about a casting decision. I didn't even blink when they announced Ben Affleck as Batman. However; recently there was an official announcement that Channing Tatum is slated to play Gambit from X-Men. I almost can't even say that without heaving. I have never been so upset about a casting decision...EVER! So as part of my self-imposed therapy, I have compiled a short list of actors that would have been a MUCH better choice than Tatum.

 Some on this list don't have very good acting skills but all of them are far and away better at acting than...you know who. 

This is not in order of preference.

NUMBER 10: Stephen Amell

Heartland (tv) & Arrow (tv)

He would bring a harder side to Gambit. He's got the body,  the jawline, and great physical ability too. I'm not sure how people would react to him playing two comic book characters at the same time (Green Arrow), and also not sure if there is any kind of back story intertwining Green Arrow and Gambit in the DC vs Marvel Universe battles. I know that fans have created mock battles between Green Arrow and Gambit so... *shrug*

NUMBER 9: Theo James

Golden Boy (tv), Divergent (film), Underworld: Awakening (film)

He's got the Gambit sex appeal and he's probably the best actor on this list.

NUMBER 8: Kellan Lutz

 Twilight series ("film") I know I know. He's not my favorite choice but I would still rather have him than Channing Tatum.

NUMBER 7: William Levy

Latin tv actor & DWTS runner up. He does have a noticeable Cuban accent. Although it wouldn't be the first time an actor had to learn a new accent for a role, he might have a hard time pulling it off.

 

NUMBER 6: Ashton Kutcher

That 70's Show (tv), Butterfly Effect (film), Two and a Half Men (tv)

He's probably a surprising pick to most but he looks like Gambit & he would most likely have the best chance of getting the accent spot on.

 

NUMBER 5:Matt Barr
One Tree Hill (tv), Hellcats (tv)
Not sure about his acting ability, but he's got the right...ahem...build.
 

NUMBER 4: Jamie Dornan
Once Upon a Time (tv), The Fall (tv)
He has officially been confirmed to play Christian Grey in The Fifty Shades of Grey. Need I say more?

NUMBER 3: Josh Duhamel
Las Vegas (tv), Transformers series (film)
Granted he might a little too old to be playing Gambit now, but he's only about 5 years older than Tatum.

NUMBER 2: Alex Pettyfer
I Am Number Four (film), Beastly (film), In Time (film), & -.- Magic Mike ("film")
I think he would be a great Gambit. He's got the acting ability and the look.

NUMBER 1: Jared Padalecki

Gilmore Girls (tv), Supernatural (tv)

Okay...so...he's not the greatest actor but O.M.G. he looks exactly like Gambit.

 I could list another 10 but you get the idea. #XMenFail

Gravity (2013)

I originally had no desire to watch this but the award's season got me. After winning so many awards for it's visuals and directing, I couldn't resist.

So far as the visuals, sound, and directing are concerned, I would agree with most of their assessments regarding those subjects. For instance, there is a moment when Sandra Bullock is crying and instead of her tears running down her face, they float away. It seems like an obvious detail that is needed, but the stunning part is the way these details mesmerize you. I attribute that to the director, Alfonso Cuaron. He wants you to see the details and so you see them.

It's not just teeming with visuals but with artistic expression as well. There is a religious undertone that, if you so choose, can interpret the symbology from beginning to end.

The details in the visuals almost make up for the lack of detail in the story. The story is awfully plain. It's as if Open Water (2003) turned into "Open Space" and was given a much much larger budget. I'm not at all surprised it wasn't even nominated for Best Screenplay at the Oscars.

What isn't surprising is Sandra Bullock. She rarely misses and she certainly doesn't miss here. Even her breathing is top notch. On the other hand, her counterpart George Clooney, is a little wonky. His performance doesn't detract that much so he's forgiven.

It's not a long movie, clocking in at 91 minutes, so give it a go! I would recommend it if you're looking for interpretation in art.

Gravity Trailer...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/?ref_=rvi_tt

Prisoners (2013)

Prisoners is not as good as I had hoped. It tries valiantly to be a clever puzzle but it's all too predictable. I see what they were trying to do but unfortunately Ben Affleck didn't direct this and it turns out too light.

The main focus is on Hugh Jackman's character, Keller Dover, as he desperately looks for his missing daughter, Anna, and her friend, Joy. The heavy focus on one girl is odd. There isn't enough screen time for Joy and her family; they're an afterthought, which is another disappointment because they had the powerful acting skills of Viola Davis as Joy's mom.

The first half of the movie is much faster than the second half. It's a noticeable drop off that would be forgivable if the storyline got stronger, but it runs out of steam quickly. I especially despise what they did with Maria Bello's character, Grace Dover, Anna's mom. Her very fast and over-dramatic decline is mostly unnecessary.

With the exception of Hugh Jackman, Viola Davis, and Paul Dano as Alex Jones, the acting leans weak. Jake Gyllenhall as Detective Loki, aka seemingly the only detective in town, doesn't do a bad job but just isn't good for this role.

Overall, I still wish for so much more from this movie. I do not recommend it.

Prisoners trailer:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392214/