Jul 31 2015

Movie Reviews 101 Midnight Horror – Devil’s Due (2014)

Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett

Writer: Lindsay Devlin (Screenplay)

Starring: Allison Miller, Zach Gilford, Sam Anderson, Roger Payano, Vanessa Ray, Bill Martin Williams, Geraldine Singer

Plot: After a mysterious, lost night on their honeymoon, a newlywed couple finds themselves dealing with an earlier-than-planned pregnancy.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Been Here, Seen This

Story: Devil’s Due starts a Biblical reference talking about the antichrist. We meet Zach McCall (Gilford) being questioned in a police station claiming he didn’t do it. And flashback to watch a man filming a party from outside a window, I get the feeling this may well be a found footage type film. Oh look they have a dog, I bet it will end up getting killed during the film. It turns out Zach was trying to she Samantha (Miller) the day before their wedding. Time for the wedding, with shaky cams *sigh* but we do learn Samantha was in foster home meaning no parents, I wonder if this will be important?

Now we watch the honeymoon and let’s see something original the Samantha wants to see a palm reader, never seen that before *rolling eyes*. The palm readers warn about the danger, because no palm reader goes you are destiny for greatness. Return home the newlyweds find out they are expecting a baby. During the pregnancy we start to see strange things happen to Samantha even though the baby seems perfectly healthy. Good job Zach has been filming everything so he can re-watch everything that has been happened since they got married to find out the answers.

Devil’s Due manages to copy every possible cliché and film itself to look like a paranormal activity sequel here. As you can tell by the tone in the first to paragraphs I got tired of this very early and for about 1 hour10 minutes it is all the same as something we have seen before. The final fifteen minutes are a little bit more acceptable mainly because stuff actually happens, while the hauntings all look the same we do get some good scares and a conclusion to the story, well we get some sort of ending, we also get to the potential sequel idea with another asshole with a camera who just got married. The fact this film just copies every single she is having the devil’s baby cliché I cannot rate this highly. (2/10)

Actor Review

Allison Miller: Samantha McCall newlywed and pregnant lady who has been impregnated with the antichrist. We watch how she starts loving before becoming different during the pregnancy. Allison does give us the standard devil carrying mother performance with nothing standing out. (4/10)

Zach Gilford: Zach McCall the husband who is obsessed with filming everything and is being questioned by police because of the events in the film. Zach gives us the standard asshole filming every minute of his life character. (3/10)

Support Cast: Devil’s Due has a supporting cast that includes Zach’s family and a priest but they all do very little and offer nothing to the overall storyline.

Director Review: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett – Matt and Tyler have watched so many of these films they thought they would just copy them all. (2/10)

Horror: Devil’s Due doesnt end up using enough horror until the final act and by then the suspense is lost. (3/10)

Settings: Devil’s Due keeps everything looking like an everyday situation which tries to add to the horror. (5/10)
Special Effects: Devil’s Due uses cheap effects that are easy to see when it comes to finally being used. (3/10)

Suggestion: Devil’s Due is one to avoid, the chances are you have seen this idea before and you don’t need to see it again. (Avoid)

Best Part: Final Act.

Worst Part: The Rest

What Could Have Been Better? – Try something original.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: It is left open for one but I hope not.

Post Credits Scene: No

Similar Too: The Devil Incarnate

Oscar Chances: No

Box Office: $36 Million

Budget: $7 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 29 Minutes

Tagline: Fear is born

Trivia: There are numerous cult symbols hidden throughout the movie.

Overall: Devil’s Due is just another she is having the antichrist movie we are tired of seeing now.

Rating

Best Friend’s Birthday Pick – Space Jam (1996)

Director: Joe Pytka

Writer: Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick, Timothy Harris, Herschel Weingrod (Screenplay)

Starring: Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight, Theresa Randle, Danny DeVito

Plot: Michael Jordan agrees to help the Looney Toons play a basketball game vs. alien slavers to determine their freedom.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Classic Animation

Story: Space Jam starts in 1973 with young Michael Jordan shooting hoops well past midnight with his father talking about his dreams of becoming a basketball legend. Skip through the credits and Jordan’s (playing himself) career we see him retire to take up baseball. When Swackhammer (Voiced by Danny DeVito) wants something new for his planets people he wants to take the Looney Toons back to his planet.

We see how Michael Jordan’s baseball career isn’t going smoothly and he gets a new publicist Stan Podolak (Knight) before the Nerdlucks fly over the real world stadium entering into the Looney Toons world meeting Bugs Bunny. The Looney Toons challenge the Nerdlucks to a game of basketball, where if the Nerdlucks were to win they would take the Looney Toons back to their home planet. The Nerdlucks decide to play dirty and take the talent from basketball stars leaving disabled.

When the Nerdlucks reveal their new look as Monstars the Looney Toons decide they need help and look to recruit Michael Jordan the best in the business. What followers in training for the match that will decide whether the Looney Toons will stay free or have to return with the Monstars.

Space Jam is one that will always be loved by the kids, the Looney Toons are huge well big not as popular as the release of this film, Michael Jordan is and will forever be known as an icon of basketball. Mixing these together works very well because we get a sports movie and an animated movie, that teaches the ideas of working as a team and overcoming your own fears. Sure I might be looking too deeply into this film but the big word about this film would be ‘FUN’. (7/10)

Actor Review

Michael Jordan: Michael Jordan playing himself as the retiring basketball star who decides to take up baseball but is struggling to make an impact. Michael has to play with the Looney Toons for their freedom in the most difficult game of his life. Michael goes into acting and does what you would expect from a sports star, but don’t forget this is a basketball film so he fits in very well. (7/10)

Wayne Knight: Stan Podolak is the publicist that is hired to look after Michael Jordan in his baseball career and ends up becoming part of the team. Wayne shows he is the actor in this film with good comic timing. (7/10)

Animated Characters: Space Jam has all the Looney Toons that have good comical moments and the villains are all very well created through out.

Director Review: Joe Pytka – Joe does a good job directing a family fun film that is still enjoyable after nearly 20 years. (7/10)

Animation: Space Jam has a good mix of animation and real world which still looks good today. (8/10)

Comedy: Space Jam has good comical moments all the way through the film which helps the enjoyment. (8/10)

Family: Space Jam is one the whole family can enjoy. (10/10)

Sports: Space Jam has to go down as one of the best basketball films of all time. (9/10)

Settings: Space Jam creates the settings used for the basketball game very well even though it is in an animated world. (8/10)
Special Effects: Space Jam uses great effects to keep the mix of real and animated world together. (9/10)

Suggestion: Space Jam is one that everyone could sit down and enjoy with their family. (Family Film)

Best Part: The Game.

Worst Part: I don’t know the basketball players who lost their skills showing me that it has dated.

Funniest Scene: Lola’s entrance.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Box Office: $230 Million

Budget: $80 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 28 Minutes

Tagline: Get ready to jam

Overall: Fun Family Film that is still one for all to watch.

Rating

Jul 31 2015

New Releases – 31st July 2015

Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate – an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF.

My Guess for Rating – 80%
My Anticipation Rating – 80%
Will It Be Number One In UK? – Yes

Hot Pursuit An uptight and by-the-book cop tries to protect the outgoing widow of a drug boss as they race through Texas pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen.

My Guess for Rating – 30%
My Anticipation Rating – 5%
Will It Be Number One In UK? – No

Beyond the Reach A high-rolling corporate shark and his impoverished young guide play the most dangerous game during a hunting trip in the Mojave Desert.

My Guess for Rating – 60%
My Anticipation Rating – 50%
Will It Be Number One In UK? – No

7 Cases Two retired bank robbers agree to one last job. A face from their past steals their proceeds and divides the cash into 7 Cases…. each one is left with someone they know. If they take a case, the victim dies… if they don’t get there in time… the victim dies…. if they tamper with the traps…they all die… Their day goes from bad to worse as they encounter all the faces from their past and have to make some heartbreaking decisions. Steven Berkoff plays the vindictive ‘Lawson’ who is playing with the protagonists…

My Guess for Rating – 50%
My Anticipation Rating – 50%
Will It Be Number One In UK? – No

Movie Reviews 101 Pick of the Week – Mission Impossible Rogue Nation

Jul 31 2015

What is Spring (2015) Really About?

Spring is the latest film that will be up for this style of review and remember these are spoiler heavy.

Lead character’s mum dies in opening sequences well this sounds Guardians of the Galaxy.

Evan our main character let’s out frustration on mouthy aggressive man in a bar.

Evan’s best friend goes all Seth Rogen on him by suggesting sympathy sex.

In trouble with the Storelaw running to the new country Italy to escape all the problems his home life has left him with.

British drunk portrayed as loud mouth aggressive swearing drunk cliché.

Stranger from another land meets beautiful native with instant attraction.

Mystery beautiful girl has a secret that Evan doesn’t see coming.

Not sure if she is a vampire, werewolf or something else but whatever she is she needs blood.

Romantic angle is surely going to go badly as the story unfolds.

A stupid American asks girl in Italian street if they speak French.

WHAT THE BEEPING HELL IS THAT?

WHY ARE YOU NOT AFRAID OF WHAT EVER IT IS?

Are Beauty and the Beast the live action version.

Love wins, I think.

Spring really was a brilliant film.

Jul 30 2015

Home (2015)

Director: Tim Johnson

Writer: Tom J Astle, Matt Ember (Screenplay) Adam Rex (Book)

Starring: (Voice Talents) Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Matt Jones, Brian Stepanek, April Lawrence

Plot: Oh, an alien on the run from his own people, lands on Earth and makes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Cute and Charming Animation

Story: Home starts with Oh (Parsons) a member of the Boov an alien race who keep moving home and there new home is targeting Earth as they continue to Gorg. The Boov relocate the humans as they hide out and continue their lives on Earth but Oh clearly standing out as different but keeps excited about everything. We also meet human Tip (Rihanna) who along with her cat are trying to find her mother after the Boov invasion.

When Oh accidentally gives away the location of the Boov to the Gorg he has put their entire species in danger become enemy number one. When Tip and Oh end up teaming up they have to avoid the Boov authorities while learning about the truth about what they both see really are about.

Home fills the expectation of an animated movie that will appeal to all, it ha messages that will end up having meaning for all that people are capable making mistakes. The film has a constant charm when Tip and Oh are together but I do feel like the Captain Smek lowers the tone of the overall story. This is a simple film story but does feel like it took a lot of ideas from different films. (6/10)

Characters Review

Oh: Oh is the Boov that just wants to make friends with everyone but his style always ends up putting him in trouble. When he gives away the location from their enemy he has to hide and become friends with a human girl to save his own species before it is too late. Over his adventure Oh learns the lesson about being different and standing up for what he believes in. oh is a great character that shows that being different isn’t a bad thing. (8/10)

Tip: Tip is the plucky kid who gets left behind when the Boov relocate the humans, she is scared and alone with just her cat, when she teams up with Oh to find her mother. She has mixed feelings as the adventure starts but by the end they become friends. Tip is a good character that shows how independent the age is. (7/10)

Captain Smek: Captain Smek is the leader of the Boov and always runs but is idolised by Oh, his ways have shown the Boov to be cowards and his mistake is what caused the problems the Boov face. He is a typical captain that is cowardly till the end. (7/10)

Support Character: Home has supporting characters that end up being generic and used for basic attempts of laughs but really don’t add too much to the film.

Director Review: Tim Johnson – Tim gives us a basic animated film that has a great message but lacks too much originality. (6/10)

Adventure: Home puts our characters in an adventure that they could never have managed to go on in their wildest dreams. (9/10)

Animation: Home gives us high quality animation level that fits into the modern world of animation. (9/10)

Comedy: Home does lack the level of comedy I feel it requires but does have some simple laughs (4/10)

Sci-Fi: Home brings us a good race of aliens showing that we don’t always have to fear an alien species. (7/10)

Settings: Home uses iconic settings for the characters that don’t seem to end up adding too much to the story. (5/10)

Suggestion: Home is one to try because it does have a charm about it but lacks that little something to make it great. (Try It)

Best Part: Jim Parsons was a great choice for Oh.

Worst Part: Supporting characters are very weak.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: Maybe a few. (3/10)

Chances of Sequel: No.

Post Credits Scene: No.

Similar Too: Lilo and Stitch

Oscar Chances: Noo

Box Office: $172 Million

Budget: $135 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

Tagline: Worlds Collide

Trivia: Gratuity ‘Tip’ Tucci, voiced by Rihanna, is the first human black protagonist in a feature film by DreamWorks Animation. However Will Smith‘s character in Shark Tale (2004), though a fish, was written and portrayed as stereotypically black, potentially making him the company’s first black protagonist, regardless of species.