Perks of Being a Wallflower

I know that this movie came out a while ago, but I saw it on TV a couple of weeks ago and thought it was amazing.  Perks of Being a Wallflower is definitely a must-see.

The movie takes place in the early 1990s and you get some nostalgia (i.e. mix tapes) from seeing it.  This is just one of the things that makes this movie amazing.  The movie touches many different issues that might affect teenagers in different eras.  But, the main story revolves around a kid that struggles with finding his place in high school.  He narrates his thoughts throughout the movie in letters to his friend.

Every young actor in this movie delivers great performances, especially Emma Watson and Logan Lerman.  Logan Lerman was so much better in this movie than his performances in either of the Percy Jackson movies.

The movie does get a little dark and sad, so I would suggest not watching this if you are a little down in the dumps.

+ Logan Lerman and Emma Watson are amazing
+ Nostalgia
+ Good drama with good issues
+/- Not really a good or bad thing, but some parts of the movie are a little depressing and hard to watch

Overall score:  90

Thor: The Dark World

So far, there haven't been too many sequels in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). We've had Iron Man 2 and Iron Man 3, but that's about it. You could maybe count Avengers as a sequel, but that's a stretch. So, it was hard to say how the universe would fare in the sequel category outside of movies starring RDJ. Thor: The Dark World is very well done. 

I can't say that I enjoyed it as much as the first (one of my favorite of the MCU movies), but I enjoyed it almost as much. The movie has everything. Love story, humor, a good plot, and characters that are easy to love. The characters are may be why I have enjoyed both Thor movies so much. Thor's fellow Asgardians, Darcy, and Erik Selvig are all very rich supporting characters. Along with Thor, Loki, and Jane, you get to experience these characters perhaps more than the first movie. 

The one downside I saw to this movie was the villains. I honestly didn't care about the dark elves as much. I didn't understand them at all. It was a little disappointing as I felt Christopher Eccleston could do more, and the Marvel movies have had pretty good villains so far. 

This is definitely a movie to go see in theaters. I will likely return to see it again if possible. Make sure you stick around through the credits as there are two post-credits scenes. One is about 5 minutes in and might possibly tease a future movie. The other is both funny and a nice conclusion to the movie. 

+ Action

+ Best supporting cast of any superhero movie

- Lack of intriguing villains

+ Lots of fun

Overall score: 89

Carrie

I don't know that I've ever seen the full movie of the original Carrie. The remake was a good movie to see around Halloween (or any time of year) though. 

The story isn't the best and some of the scenes of gore and self-mutilation bothered me a bit. I had to look away a few times. But, the movie does have it's bright spots. Julianne Moore's acting is superb as always. The message about bullying is pretty good and fits well into present day. 

This is definitely a movie to watch even if you don't see it in theaters. In fact, I would say this is one probably better for a rental. 

+ Julianne Moore

- too much gore (personal preference)

+ good modern day remake

Score: 74

Captain Phillips

I've heard a lot of great things about Captain Phillips and I had to see it for myself.  You would have a hard time going wrong by seeing a Tom Hanks movie anyways.  He's an amazing actor and this movie gives him a lot of room to show his talent.

If you don't know much about the true story upon which this movie is based, that's fine.  Honestly, I didn't know much about this story beforehand.  Outside of the movie being about Somali pirates, I had very little knowledge of the story.  Did all of the crew survive?  Did they catch the pirates?  I had no clue.

Every minute of this movie had me guessing what was going to happen next.  It was like living the situation in real time.  If you're looking for action though, this movie isn't for you.  This is more about the drama of the moments.

One thing that I found odd is that you don't necessarily feel bad for the pirates, but the movie does a good job of humanizing them.  You can see their pain and their struggle in the situation.  Their acting made me very surprised that this was their first movie (first acting job for all per IMDB).

Tom Hanks' performance is the one that took the cake.  The last ten minutes of the movie deserve a best actor nomination for Tom Hanks.  I won't spoil the movie for you, but the entire movie is worth it for those last ten minutes.

The movie won't win a Best Picture award, nor will it likely deserve it.  However, this is a must-see movie.  You will probably be okay waiting until video for this one, but it's definitely worth seeing.

+ Tom Hanks acting
+ Suspense
+ Unknown actors performing well

Overall score: 90

Kick Ass 2

I really enjoyed Kick Ass, the first movie.  So, I really looked forward to the sequel.  It had Jim Carrey and most of the original cast.  However, the more I found out about the movie, the less interested I was.  I found out that Matthew Vaughn, the director of the first one, was not directing the second one.  Jim Carrey refused to promote it.  Every now and then, there would be something that would make me less excited for the movie.  So, by the time I saw this movie, I had low expectations.

I would say it met those expectations.  I enjoyed the movie, but it was not nearly as fun as the first.  I hate when movies tend to up the violence when doing a sequel.  It usually means that the story is not that good.  I'll admit the first movie was very violent, but I didn't enjoy the violence in this one as much.  I think it was because it lacked the story behind the violence.

There is an extra scene after the credits, so if you see this, make sure you stick around (maybe).  It leaves it open for a possible sequel; however, I don't think I would want to see another sequel.

+ Hit Girl
- No story
+ Jim Carrey
- would have liked to see more Jim Carrey

Total Score: 62

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

Several years ago, I went to see Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.  While it wasn't a great movie, it was fun and I enjoyed it enough to start reading the book series from which it was based.  The first book was different than the movie, but I was willing to forgive the movie because movies are rarely like the books.  If you are interested in the books, they are like Harry Potter based on Greek & Roman mythology.  I love mythology.

I thought, due to the differences between book and movie, it would be hard to continue the series based on the books.  Then, they announced a sequel.  I even heard that it stayed true to the books.  It did right the course of where the first movie strayed from the books.  Unfortunately, it just wasn't fun.

About halfway through the movie, I wondered how much of the movie was left.  That's a bad sign.  Luckily and unluckily, they left out some of my favorite parts of the book.  Luckily because it made the movie shorter.  Unluckily, it may have made the movie more enjoyable.

Don't get me wrong.  I enjoyed some parts of the movie.  Nathan Fillion's role as Hermes was enjoyable, but not enough to save the movie.

I would recommend this more for children, but it's one you may want to wait until DVD to rent.  Don't worry about waiting through the credits; there isn't anything at the end.

+ Nathan Fillion
- Lack of the star power from the first movie (Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman and more)
- Lack of the fun from the first movie
- I got a little bored.

Grade: 52 (Not terrible, but I'm not interested in seeing it again)

We're the Millers

This was definitely a movie I was looking forward to this summer, one of the few comedies that I was excited to see this summer.

I'm very happy I went to see it. I laughed a lot. Jason Sudekis is becoming one of my favorite comedic actors. I was glad that it was a solid performance in his first lead. I enjoyed seeing Emma Roberts in a slightly different role than she's played. Jennifer Aniston has found her niche in these comedies. Like Horrible Bosses, she delivers. In fact, if you enjoyed Horrible Bosses, this is right up the same alley. 

This isn't a movie that I'm going to run out and buy, but it is definitely one I'll watch over and over on TV. If you're looking for a funny movie to see in the theatre, this is it. But if you're just looking for a good summer movie, I might wait until video and see one of the blockbusters instead. 

+ Jason Sudekis

+ Jennifer Aniston

- the plot seemed a bit off from what I was expecting after they crossed the border

- they crossed the border too soon

Score: 82

The Wolverine

Pleasantly surprised. Since X-men 2, I've waited for a good showing of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. I should rephrase that. I've been waiting for Wolverine to be in a good movie. X-men 3: The Last Stand was not very good. It had a few bright spots, but overall was a bit of a letdown. I then had hopes for X-men Origins: Wolverine. It was better than X-men 3, but I still felt like it was missing something. 

The Wolverine is what comic fans and movie fans alike have been hoping for. It had a great story and lots of great action. My favorite scene was the train fight scene. Seriously, it was something straight out of a Bond movie. The story had a love story, humor, action and everything you could really want in a good movie. They even create a good challenge for a man that can heal every wound, making it near impossible to kill him. 

It was a big surprise to me, but even more surprising was how much my wife enjoyed it. It was a good balance of story and action, unlike most of the movies this summer which have gone a little heavy on the action, especially in the last 30 minutes. You still get your climactic final scene, but you don't have to worry about it dragging on for what may seem like forever. 

One of the best parts of the movie comes after the first two minutes of credits, so stick around for a bit after the credits start. You don't need to stick around long after that though. Nothing happens at the very end of the credits. 

+ the bad-a$$ness that we've been waiting to see from Logan

+ cool train fight scene

+ a good story with good conflict

Score: 88

Red 2

I loved the first Red. It was a fun movie. So, I was really looking forward to this one. While I didn't enjoy it as much as the first, it was still a fun movie to see. 

We see a lot of the same characters, as well as some new ones. They still make jokes about their age compared to younger spies.

The plot left a little to be desired compared to the first, but if you don't focus on it to much, you'll enjoy the movie nearly as much. 

+ a similar stunt to the Bruce Willis getting out of the car stunt in the first movie, my favorite part

- I love Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones, but I liked Morgan Freeman more

+ Mary Louise Parker = funny

+ Byung-hun Lee = awesome action

Grade: 80 (a sequel is rarely as good as the original, but this one makes a good attempt)

Pacific Rim

Monsters versus giant robots...'nuff said! But is it? 

This movie was everything I expected and more. Guillermo del Toro, the director, makes very visually stimulating movies. This was no exception. While you have to suspend belief for the concept of this movie, you may actually believe that giant robots manned by two pilots is actually in our future. 

The only thing this movie lacks is more of a story. There is some story, but not much of one. It actually took me too long to figure out that two characters were father and son. 

I saw this movie in IMAX 3D and I think it was worth it. You should also stick around through the credits as there is an additional scene after the initial credits. 

+ Giant robots

+ Giant monsters

+ Giant robots fighting giant monsters

- Lack of narrative

Regular score: 84

Guy score: 93

Despicable Me 2

I love the first Despicable Me. It was clever and funny. The sequel wasn't nearly as good as the original, but still one of my favorite movies this year. 

The movie focused a lot on its prime marketing creations: the Minions. Those scenes were hilarious even if not always needed. But, the kids stay interested that way. There are plenty of laughs to be had  by the adult audience as well. There are things that that kids won't even understand that we (adults) will think are hilarious. All-4-One, YMCA, and more...

There is plenty of good stuff during the credits and it's actually one of the only reasons to see the 3-D version. 

+ Funny movie for kids and adults

- Not as good of wit and story as the first movie

+ Minions

+ Minions

Overall score: 83 (setting the curve)

The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger was one of my most anticipated movies this year. Did it live up to the hype? Sort of...

This was a fun movie that had some really good parts. If you like Pirates of the Carribean, this movie is along the same lines. It's the same kind of humorous action we see in those movies. 

I loved the memories of my childhood watching Tonto, the Lone Ranger, and of course Silver. The movie even uses the William Tell Overture in the final action sequence. It's sad that listening to the music now makes the movie seem campy, but I loved the faithfulness to the original. I also enjoyed the Princess Bride style of storytelling. 

The movie isn't great, but it's fun. I laughed and enjoyed the action. It was everything I wanted from it. There is some after credits stuff, but you can leave when you see Tonto start wandering through the desert. 

+ Memories of my childhood 

- A bit corny

+ Fun action

- I stayed the entire time watching Johnny Depp walk through the desert

Overall score: 79 (Passing)

The Heat

Honestly, I wasn't that interested in this movie. Like Identity Thief, I didn't think this movie looked very good from the previews. Like Identity Thief, I was wrong and actually liked it. 

This is a fun, mindless movie. If you look at it closely, the story isn't that great. It is fun though and that's why we go to the movies.  The story is your basic mismatched "buddy cop" movie like 48 Hours, Beverly Hills Cop, Rush Hour or Lethal Weapon. Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock play their pretty standard roles. I laughed out loud and that's really the biggest thing you need with a comedy. 

If you're looking for a good comedy for a date or eventually a night at home (when on DVD), this will fit the bill. I look forward to seeing the sequel soon. 

+ Fun

- Story not the best

+ Good team up

- Having the same name as the unspeakable NBA team in Miami

Overall Score: 74 (Passing)

This is the End

Maybe, after seeing the greatness of Man of Steel, it was a bad idea to go see this movie.  This was the worst movie I've seen in the theatres in a long time.  It's really too bad because I was looking forward to seeing this movie.

The movie begins with a very long unfunny intro about Seth Rogen picking up his buddy Jay Baruchel from the airport to hang out for the weekend.  It continues with them getting high and watching 3D television (maybe if the movie was in 3D, it would have been fun).  They then head to James Franco's house for a party.  There are lots of cameos and I'm sure some inside jokes along with actors not really acting the way they act in real life.  I'm sure this is all very funny to some people.  Not me.

The movie continues with Seth and Jay going to the convenient store to pick up cigarettes and that's when the apocalypse begins.  They hurry back to James Franco's house where almost everybody that would have helped make the movie funny dies.  They quote a few passages from Revelation to explain that it's the end of the world and what is supposed to happen.  Since they quote specifically the dragon portion, I expected at least a How to Train Your Dragon joke at Jay's expense. 

Overall, a pretty dumb movie that I'm glad I only spent matinee price to attend. I would recommend waiting for the cheapest at home version if you are even interested in this movie. In my mind it's not worth the time. Also, nothing in the credits either. 

Man of Steel

I had really high hopes for this movie. That left a lot of room to be disappointed. I'm happy to say I was not disappointed. This was possibly one of the best origin story superhero movies I've seen. 

The movie tells the origin of Superman in a way that has never been done before now. It makes sense and feels like we get THE Superman for a modern age. The movie gives us a foe that Superman can truly fight. It also gives the "Ultimate Boy Scout" true moral dilemmas that give the character growth like we've hardly seen in a superhero movie. 

I will say that I wish we would have connected more with some of the other characters besides the Kryptonians and Lois; however, there is plenty to explore there in future movies. 

The movie is long, almost 2 1/2 hours, but you don't notice it. You also can save yourself the time of sitting through the credits unless you're dying to see who the second editor is (his or her name is in the credits for a reason); there is no scene post-credits. Go see this one on the big screen, although outside of the first 15 minutes on Krypton, it may not be worth the 3D. Really, it's your call on that one. 

My wife said every time she looked over at me, I was smiling. You can not ask for much more when you go to the movies.