SeñorMovie

Señor Movie Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 00:51:00 +0000

To read a spoiler filled review, click right here

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is directed by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo. Starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, Robert Redford, Cobie Smulders, and The Winter Soldier (spoiler free, remember?), we are brought back into the universe of Marvel superheroes.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a ride unlike the rest of the Marvel movies to date. Many have compared The Winter Soldier to a political thriller; however, I like to refer to it as a “political thriller on Super Soldier Serum”. The action in this movie is incredible and engaging. From hand-to-hand combat, to gun fights, to fighting in the sky, The Winter Soldier contains the most realistic action that has (and probably can be) depicted in a Marvel movie. Although there is certainly the dreaded shaky-cam during the fist-fights, it isn’t too overwhelming so as to take you out of the film and wonder what you’re watching.

The Winter Soldier opens with a scene that reminds one of the good-natured heart of Steve Rogers, and throughout the film it does not let go of that. Amidst the action and drama, the characters never lose touch of who they are and what they stand for. That’s where this movie really excels: keeping true to the characters. Not once is there a moment where I asked myself “why in the world would they do that?!”

The story does lend itself a bit of confusion, with some aspects of it straying away from the tone of the rest of the movie. A certain exposition scene in the middle of the film had me thinking “uh, what is this?” However, the story does well getting right back on course, keeping the audience invested and engaged, understanding the threat and what can happen if our hero fails.

Our actors are all giving 100%, delivering believable, realistic performances. Keep in mind there are no aliens or other dimension characters here. Everyone is human, and the performances are kept human. Newcomers Anthony Mackie (Falcon) and Robert Redford deliver solid performances, although I think Redford outshined Mackie throughout the film (it IS Robert Redford, though.)

The character of the Winter Soldier is exciting, menacing, threating, and just a bad-ass! When he comes on screen, the film goes up a notch in excitement, leaving one to want more Winter Soldier. As cool as he is, though, he is not in the movie enough. My impression of the Winter Soldier throughout the movie is that he is more of a weapon than a character/person. You learn about his past, but with very minimal dialogue, the Winter Soldier lacks substance.

Filled with exciting action, intriguing villains, well written dialogue, likable characters, and top-notch effects, The Winter Soldier delivers on every note.

I give Captain America: The Winter Soldier 8.7/10 Señor thumbs up

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater!

Make sure to follow me on Twitter, @SenorMovie and like my Facebook Page for more.

Señor Movie Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier SPOILER discussion

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 00:43:00 +0000

In my spoiler free review I said that The Winter Soldier is filled with high-action and great characters. There are many reasons why I think this, and also some things that I think went wrong in the movie.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t really enjoy Captain America: The First Avenger. It annoyed me, mostly because of the cheese character that was Captain America. However, he has really proven himself in this movie. Not only is he a total badass (his hand-to-hand fighting was way cool to watch) but he was a fresh take on a hero. Unlike other Marvel stand-alone movies, Steve Rogers was not concerned with the safety and well-being of a girlfriend. Tony Stark had Pepper, Thor has what’s her face, but Steve Rogers is concerned about the safety and freedom of everyone on Earth. He is focused.

And am I the only one who thinks he looks crazy cool in his dark blue uniform? It’s clean and modern, and doesn’t make him look ridiculous (*cough* The Avengers uniform *cough*).

Now let’s talk about The Winter Soldier AKA Bucky Barnes. I mention in my other review that, even though The Winter Soldier is really cool and delivers some amazing action scenes, he lacks substance. Apart from a few flashbacks, we get almost no dialogue from The Winter Soldier. He’s a weapon, a puppet, being used by the main villain of the movie, Hydra. His lack of substance and his role in the film doesn’t warrant the subtitle of the film to be The Winter Soldier. A friend of mine stated that without The Winter Soldier, we wouldn’t get the struggle of Steve Rogers discovering the truth about his friend, affecting his character throughout the movie. While I agree with that point, it is more of a side problem than the actual problem in the movie. The Winter Soldier, I feel, is underused. The after credits scene where we see The Winter Soldier discovering his true past gives me hope that we’ll get more out of this character in the future films that he is to be in.

Now speaking of villains, let’s talk about the biggest flaw in this movie for me: Hydra. I will say, the way Hydra is used in this film is commendable. Secretly pulling the string of SHIELD and almost completely pulling through with their whole plan was great to discover. It was another fresh approach to comic book villains, where Hydra (through Pierce, through SHIELD) wasn’t just one bad guy telling the world he wants to be king. However, the exposition scene with Dr. Zola in a computer was unsettling. It reminded me of the corniness that was The First Avenger. And why would Zola reveal the whole plan to Captain America and Black Widow? It reminded me of something taken from an Austin Powers film: villain with an accent talking through a computer, revealing “the secret algorithm that will kill every living person on Earth with a big laser, muahaha.” I rolled my eyes and hoped that the movie would get back to form, which it did.

A final thought on that: I really think that Warner Brothers must hate Disney even more, since the WB film Transcendence, about a scientist whose mind is put into a computer, releases later this month.

Let’s talk about Nick Fury. In the movie he is killed off for a bit, but then it is revealed that he faked his death to avoid being hunted further. Points to Fury for being capable and intelligent, points deducted from Disney/Marvel for still not bringing themselves to killing off any of their characters. Even Agent Couslon was brought back for the Agents of SHIELD tv show. This movie, however, made me really like Nick Fury. His action scene before getting bopped by The Winter Soldier was incredibly fun and showed his competence in the field.

Oh, did anyone else notice that the scripture written on Nick Fury’s tombstone was Ezekiel 25:17? The same scripture famously recited by Samuel L. Jackson in Quentin Tarantino’s movie Pulp Fiction. Gotta love the power that Sam Jackson has in the movies he appears in.

Now, many people are talking about the chemistry between Black Widow and Captain America. It’s true, they had great chemistry and worked well together, but I’d like to say that I’m impressed with decisions Black Widow made near the end of the film. Exposing all of SHIELD’s secrets, and therefore hers, to the public was a great way of showing just how committed this character is to trying to do good. Major points to Black Widow.

Another problem I had with this film, and with the other phase 2 films to be released so far, is the fact that it is not acknowledged where the other members of the Avengers are when it matters. The problems occurring in The Winter Soldier are in the middle of Washington. Nick Fury is “dead” and SHIELD is going crazy, but where is Iron Man? I understand that Tony Stark/Iron Man cannot make an appearance in The Winter Soldier due to his contracts with Disney/Marvel, but then there must be some sort of explanation why Black Widow or Nick Fury can’t call up Bruce Banner or Tony Stark. Also, where is Hawkeye? In The Avengers, Hawkeye and Black Widow are very close, but here he is not even referenced.

Yes, we like to see our heroes handle their situations on their own, but at least letting the audience know why others cannot help in certain situations will lead to an even stronger and cohesive universe.

Finally, the first end credit scene was great. We are introduced to Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. Although they are the children of Magneto from the X-men comics, it seems in this Cinematic Universe they have been the subjects of tests. Warner Brothers and DC are sure to be keeping an eye on how Quick Silver is handled in The Avengers: Age of Ultron, to see if speedsters can be accepted by movie goers. My guess: yes, they can be accepted.

One final Easter Egg was the very, very, quick reference to Steven Strange, AKA Doctor Strange, another Marvel comic hero. It’s now certain that we’ll get to see Doctor Strange in phase 3 of these Marvel movies.

So these were my thoughts on Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Hope you enjoyed!

Make sure to follow me on Twitter, @SenorMovie and like my Facebook Page for more Señor

Señor Movie Trailer Review: The Drop

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:33:00 +0000

The Drop follows Brooklyn bartender Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) as he funnels money through his bar for local gangsters. As shown in the trailer, things go south when his bar is the victim of a robbery and Saginowski now finds himself in the middle of an investigation that involves those around him.

Being a fan of Tom Hardy, of course I had to check out this trailer, and I really like what I see. Hardy pulls out a Brooklyn accent and looks to be doing really well in this well.

This story is also incredibly intriguing. Usually, these kind of movies deal with either the cops or the gangsters. However, The Drop seems to want to focus on the middle man of the gangster world operations. I like this approach to a classic genre of film, as it can tell the story of the 'every man', in this case, Tom Hardy's character, and the consequences of doing what he does.

A particular theme I enjoy about the trailer is the way of treating people, and how you are treated. Hardy's character brings up how being tough is not enough, and Gandolfini's character talks about being respected in his heyday. I'm looking forward to see how this plays out throughout the course of the film.

Of course, this is also James Gandolfini's final performance on film before passing away. I'm glad that his final film brings him back to a genre similar to The Sopranos, where Gandolfini made a name for himself.

As fan of this type of movie, I'm looking forward to September 19, when The Drop hits theaters.

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater!

Make sure to follow me on Twitter, @SenorMovie and like my Facebook Page!

Señor Movie Trailer Reviews: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 02:19:00 +0000

So the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are coming back to the big screen!

My thoughts? ---- Meh.

Now, don't get me wrong. I want this to be a good movie. I want to be drawn into the characters that are the Ninja Turtles, because I wasn't a fan of them as a child. I understand the appeal and I know about the turtles, but because I never grew up with them I'm not attached to them like other hardcore fans, so I'd like to be introduced into this world of fighting mutant turtles and want to stay there. I want to be blown away and see a property that has many fans appeal to them, and to mainstream audiences.

That said, this just looks like Transformers with the Ninja Turtles in place of the autobots. Sure, the action looks cool, and you have the exciting, adrenaline pumping music, but what else is there to latch onto in this trailer? Megan Fox looks exactly the same as in every other movie she is in, and the story sounds like it was taken from The Amazing Spider-man. The rest of the trailer is filled with action shots, quick cuts, and explosions.

Granted, it is the first trailer and it's setting the tone of the film, but until I see more of this film in trailers and clips, I'll maintain caution.

I guess the question now is: who will win the 'Michael Bay' battle? Transformers 4, or TMNT?

And will you be there August 8th to eat pizza with the Turtles?

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater!

Make sure to follow me on Twitter, @SenorMovie and like my Facebook Page

Señor Movie Trailer Review: Jupiter Ascending Official Trailer 2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 04:17:00 +0000

Jupiter Ascending, starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis, looks.... interesting?

So from the trailers we can pick up that Mila Kunis' character is galactic royalty, and Channing Tatum is protecting her from those who want to kill her. We are also informed that there is a much bigger machine in motion outside of Earth. Queue the space special effects and classic Wachowski visuals.

If there's anything that will make me buy a ticket for this film, based on the trailers, it'll be the visuals. While the story does seem interesting, I'm taken out every time I see Mila Kunis on screen. Don't get me wrong, I like Mila Kunis and I think she's a good actress; I just don't see her fitting this role. Something just doesn't seem right, but I can't quite put my finger on it, yet. Channing Tatum, however, I can see pulling off his character. I like that they aren't playing off his good looks, but more his physical capabilities.

I do have to say, though, that those flying shoe things would be so cool to have.

One question I always have when it comes to these space stories, though: why does it seem like the whole universe knows English? I'd like to see a movie that has a good explanation for this. Maybe Jupiter Ascending will give me an answer.

So I'm on the fence about Jupiter Ascending, will you be there July 18 to watch it?

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater!

Make sure to follow me on Twitter, @SenorMovie and Like my Facebook Page

Señor Trailer Reviews: Hercules

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 03:23:00 +0000

Hercules, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, looks like it'll be one crazy ride. The trailer makes this movie look like a promising action flick, with crazy mythical monsters and a hero with arms the size of watermelons.

While it's difficult to say if this movie will have a compelling story, that isn't really something audiences will expect when they go to see this movie. After the supposed train wreck that was The Legend of Hercules earlier this year (I say supposed, because I avoided that film), audiences are sure to be looking for an action packed Hercules movie with an action star.

That brings Dwayne Johnson into the mix. Honestly, I can't really see any other actor today pulling off this role. He has the physical presence, the on-screen charm, and, from this trailer, the yell of a warrior.

One of my issues with this trailer, however, is the CGI. It doesn't really look real, and, just like in my X-Men: Days of Future Past trailer review, I hope the special effects can be cleaned up for the release of the film.

So while I'm not overly excited about this film, I think it'll be nice to walk into what seems to be an action filled, adrenaline pumping theater experience. Let's just hope they manage to bring a sophisticated enough story to balance out the action.

So are you going watch Hercules on July 25?

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater!

Make sure to follow me on twitter @SenorMovie and like my Facebook Page

Señor Trailer Reviews: X-Men Days of Future Past Official Trailer 2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 02:17:00 +0000

If you have yet to check out this trailer: DO IT NOW!

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't particularly super excited for this movie. I was excited, but not so much. However, after seeing this second trailer released just a few days ago... man, oh, man, I'm really looking forward to May, 23.

We get some great action shots of our favorite heroes, as well clear looks at the Sentinals. And do we even see storm die? Most speculation on the internet is that this happens early on into the film, and is one of the many, many reasons why our favorite X-man, Wolverine, must go back in time to change the present.

The big question on everyone's mind, however: will this result in a change to the actual universe, or to a split time universe? Along with time-travel movies comes a slew of questions of how time is affected in that particular movie's universe.

Nonetheless, it is great seeing both Xavier and Magneto back at it again, making the trailer even more epic with their voice overs.

The post apocalyptic world that is being created does look a bit too much like a set, and some special effects aren't really up to the standards we've been spoiled with today. Hopefully they are cleaned up in the editing room. One other thing I've noticed, and which I hope doesn't happen: it seems as though the older Xavier and Magneto spend their time in the film in what looks like a stone temple. I hope they have other things to do in the film besides talking to each other while waiting for Wolverine to come back to the present.

One thing I sure do love about his trailer, however: Michael Fassbender as Magneto. He looks like he is killing it in this movie and really complimenting Ian McKellen's Magneto. His character is by far the one I'm most looking forward to watching.

So are you excited for X-men: Days of Future Past? I sure am.

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater!

Señor Movie Review: Divergent

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 22:51:00 +0000

Plot

Starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Miles Teller, and directed by Neil Burger, Divergent is based off the 2011 Veronica Roth novel of the same name.

Tris (Woodley) lives in a post-war Chicago where the population is split into 5 groups, or Factions, in order to maintain peace. Each Faction has its own set of qualities which set it apart from the others, and at a certain age, the youth take a test to determine which faction they fit into. Tris, however, is a Divergent, meaning she is a free thinker and does not fit into any Faction. This threatens the faction system and therefore must be killed. After trying to hide by fitting into one of the Factions, she and Four (James) discover a plan to overthrow the current government, and must stop it before it is too late.

Review

Keeping up? Yeah, it's a little bit confusing when hearing the plot for the first time. But we'll get to that in a minute.

Divergent is another novel-based adaption in a long line of young-adult-novels-turned-to-films, following Vampire Academy, Mortal Instruments, Percy Jackson, and others. So is Divergent any different? Yes. Surprised? I sure was. But let's see what sets it apart from the others.

The acting, first of all, is very solid throughout the entire cast, and all the actors are there to play ball. Shailene Woodley, who has been having trouble really making her mark in Hollywood, delivers a believable, committed performance as the lead. She doesn't overdo any aspect of her character, yet she doesn't let you forget that she is there. Theo James, tasked with playing the tough, serious, emotionless character, does so well. Like Woodley, he doesn't overdo the tough act, although there are times his voice does get a bit monotone. The rest of the cast also delivers a good performance; no sore spots or characters that pull you out of the film.

The world is also very well realized in Divergent. You actually find yourself believing in the setting and that these Factions could actually exist in a post-war world, which is a very big deal for the success of this story. However, that being said, the story is a little confusing at first. Keeping up with which Faction is which, aside from the story's main two, is difficult throughout the film; the names certainly don't help either.

Little things here and there also bothered me throughout the film: the design of the weapons looked incredibly childish, the annoyance of some characters, some cheesy moments, and some parts of the film that probably could have been left out, and the long run time of almost 2 hours 20 minutes. However, having not read the book, I am not sure how important to the series every scene in Divergent are.Of course, there are very similar aspects to the story which remind you of other young adult novels, but there are enough differences to not make you think you've already seen this a thousand times before.My biggest complaint is that I wish the movie wrapped up in a more solid fashion.

With solid acting, an intriguing story, a believable world, and a lead character you end up caring about, Divergent is a film to check out. Watch out for the sequel Insurgent, set to release in 2015.

I give Divergent 7/10 Señor thumbs up!

What did you think of Divergent? Want a sequel? Make sure to let me know on twitter! (link on the left)

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater!

This Week In Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 03:08:00 +0000

In this new segment, we'll take a look at the news stories making movie news headlines in Hollywood and my opinion on the matter. So let's get this started....

The Oscars

With the Academy Awards wrapping up last Sunday, we saw who our big winners were and who left empty handed. However, the biggest story is Lupita Nyong'o taking home the best supporting actress award. I was a great supporter of Nyong'o winning the award. I've read many opinions that Nyong'o did not deserve the award, but that it should have gone to Jennifer Lawrence. While JLaw's performance in American Hustle (a film which won no awards) was good, it was not special, unlike her performance in Silver Linings Playbook last year.

From the most anticipated movie awards of the year to...

The MTV Movie Awards Nominees

So the MTV movie awards released their nominations.... yeah, not really news, but I do want to touch on something (well, two things)

First, who decided that the cast of Catching Fire fighting mutant monkeys was a better than fight than Superman vs General Zod? or Iron Man and his suits vs Killian? or one of the shoot outs in Lone Survivor?

Second, who decided that Mila Kunis was a better Villain than... well... ANY other villain this year???

At least the nominees for best hero include the big three comic book heroes of 2013.

Maybe we'll see this next guy become the next big hero...

The Mask of Zorro Reboot!

Seeing how I am SeñorMovie, how could I not talk about this? Growing up on 1998's Mask of Zorro, I always had a soft spot for Antonio Banderas. Unfortunately, he won't be returning for the reboot. So will this new 'Zorro' reboot be a success or a another failed reboot? The producers are stating they want to give this new film "The Dark Knight" treatment (and who doesn't want to emulate what The Dark Knight did for vigilante movies?). Does this mean we'll be ditching the humor of The Mask of Zorro and be treated to a memorable (hopefully Hispanic) villain? We'll just have to wait, as the script is still being written.

Speaking of comic book movies....

The Amazing Spider-Man Releases Clips and New Posters

Stop releasing so much, Sony!! I've already started avoiding new images and trailers for this movie because I'm pretty sure I'd be able to piece the entire movie together by how much they've released. But if you want to watch these clips (narrated by Stan Lee), here's the link to the Schmoes Know website, where the clips are conveniently located on one page.

http://schmoesknow.com/three-new-amazing-spider-man-2-clips-narrated-by-stan-lee-mild-spoilers/

Check out this awesome poster, though! It's really cool, but does anyone else think it looks like a video game cover?

Speaking of video games...

The Last of Us Headed to the Big Screen

The popular and acclaimed video game about zombie survival The Last of Us has gotten the green light by Sony, Naughty Dog, and Screen Gems. With Director Sam Raimi attached to the project, can we expect a movie that will make video game adaptations legitimate? While I didn't play the game, I'm hoping the film proves to be successful, along with the Assassin's Creed adaptation that is in the works. It'll help further the interest in video game film adaptations, and maybe, just maybe, some day we'll get a Halo movie. Who knows, maybe video game adaptations will become the billion dollar generating movies that comic book movies have become.

This has been SeñorMovie news, I'll see you at the theater!

Follow me on twitter @SenorMovie and check out and like my Facebook page (link to the left of the screen) DO IT ;)

The 86th Academy Awards - Señors Predictions!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 04:09:00 +0000

The Nominations

Best Picture - 12 Years a Slave
Head to head against American Hustle, the historical significance of the this movie is what I think will push it ahead of the competition.

Best Director - Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)
Introducing new technology, incredible effects, and delivering a wonderful theater experience makes Alfonso Cuarón my top pick.

Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey
Winning other awards for the same category, such as the Golden Globes, Matthew McConaughey has remade his acting career, proving the actor that he is.

Best Actress - Amy Adams
Nominated for the same category before, but with no wins, Amy Adams may see herself taking home the win. I think, despite her competitors, it's Adam's turn for the gold.

Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto
Along with his co-star Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto won this category in the Golden Globes, ad has proven with his performance that he is a respectable actor, worthy of Academy recognition.

Best Supporting Actress - Lupita Nyong'o
Her very first Oscar nomination, Lupita Nyong'o is going to head to head with Hollywood's favorite girl, Jennifer Lawrence. Although Lawrence took the Golden Globe, Lupita Nyong'o took home the SAG award, proving this is going to be one to watch. I personally think, given the performance of
Nyong'o and last years win for Lawrence, Nyong'o will take the gold home

Best Animated Feature - The Wind Rises

Cinematography - Gravity

Costume Design - American Hustle

Original Score - Thomas Newman (Saving Mr. Banks)

Best Original Song - "Original Song" (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)

Production Design - 12 Years a Slave

Visual Effects - Gravity

Adapted Screenplay - 12 Years a Slave

Original Screenplay - Her

These are my predictions for this years Oscars! Who do you think will win? Who are your favorites? Let me know in the comments! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and like my Facebook page :D

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theaters!

Señor Review: The Monuments Men

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 20:20:00 +0000

Based on true events, The Monuments Men stars George Clooney, Matt Damon, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, and Jean Dujardin. As WWII comes close to an end, Frank Stokes is tasked with making a team, known as The Monuments Men, to travel through Europe and rescue pieces of art before the Nazi regime steals and/or destroys the works of art. With the preservation of history and culture at stake, The Monuments Men will risk their lives to save as many paintings, statues, and drawings possible.

Going into this film I was not expecting an Academy award worthy film. Or a thrilling action film. I actually didn't really know what to expect from this movie. I wasn't dreading watching this movie and I wasn't particularly excited either. After watching the movie, I still feel the same way: I don't hate it, but it wasn't very good either. The best way to describe this movie is that it is just...bland.

While the performances are good (with remarkable actors, at that), there is no connection made with any of the characters on screen. The movie suffers from an over abundance of characters, actually. There is no time dedicated to each character to truly get to know them on a personal level, as the movie jumps from one set of characters to another, and to another. Writing this review, I didn't even remember the name of the supposed main character played by George Clooney, less the names of the other characters. There are no exciting, or engaging, characters; they are just there, pushing the story along. The characters themselves are boring.

Before the film was released I had heard others commenting that it looks like Oceans 11 during WWII, and while watching The Monuments Men I definitely felt that vibe, but only in some parts of the movie. The movie changes tones very often throughout: from an interesting historic piece, to an Oceans imitation, to a comedy, to an overly dramatic film, and back to a historic tale. This was my biggest problem with the movie: it didn't decide what it wanted to be. It kept trying to be too many different things and that kept pulling me out of it, and thinking, "Huh? What just happened?"

One thing I did like about the story was the idea of "is art worth the lives of these men?". An interesting concept that was explored throughout the film, and executed quite well.

I would have very much loved to see this movie utilize its amazing cast in a better way. Better character development, a consistent tone, and even a better score would have propelled the performances of the cast. While there's nothing that detracts from the movie, there certainly isn't very much that gives it life.

I give The Monuments Men 3.5/10 Señor thumbs up.

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater!

Señor Review: Robocop

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 02:34:00 +0000

Robocop stars Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, and Abbie Cornish, and is a remake of the classic 1987 film of the same title. Directed by José Padilha, Robocop is the story of Detroit police officer Alex Murphy (Kinnaman) who is given a second chance at life when disaster befalls him. Funded by enterprise OmniCorp, Murphy is made half human-half robot, to become the greatest crime fighting officer on the streets, known as Robocop.

First of all, I want to stress that for my review I'll be looking at this movie separate from the original. Having been released over 20 years ago, the original 1987 film was made for a different audience, a different generation.

That being said, I was surprised by this movie. I liked it more than I thought I would. Now here's the thing: I walked into this movie expecting a less than impressive remake, similar to that of 2010's Total Recall. But what drew me into this film was the level of sophistication on screen. When it was announced that this remake of Robocop would be receiving a PG-13 rating, the internet went abuzz about how Robocop needs to be rated R. While I don't agree with this opinion, I did go into the film expecting a movie at the content and subject matter level of a PG-13 film. However, Robocop successfully portrays real world issues, human emotion, and corporate motivation. The first 10 minutes or so of the film left me very impressed, with so much social commentary happening within such a short amount of time.

Things such as the consequences of this extreme situation, both personal to the lead and to the public in general, are not overlooked just to give way for action and explosions. The motivation of OmniCorp to create Robocop are given an air of legitimacy, as opposed to the only reason being because "it's cool". Even the underlying message of how marketing and the media are shaped for the public speaks true, and at times very humorous, to real life. There is a weight to the film. It's not just a shell of a film, which is what I had been expecting.

Also, the acting was believable. There are parts of the film that would seem corny or farfetched if it wasn't for the acting of Joel Kinnaman as Robocop. He sells his performance really well, along with the rest of the cast. Gary Oldman, in particular, is very convincing as the doctor in charge of the Robocop procedure. The script isn't rushed and not filled with cheesy lines or one-liners. As I said before, it's surprising the amount of sophistication that went into the film.

Now, this movie isn't perfect, even though I enjoyed it. There are parts that drag, and it's a bit slow moving at the beginning. While it's cool and fun to watch this half-man-half-robot fight, the action doesn't seem to have the same weight as the social commentary in the film. The CGI is impressive and as a viewer you are cheering for Robocop, but it doesn't go beyond that. There are also things that happen in the movie that go unexplained, or rather, are given a very quick, unsatisfactory explanation.

All in all, Robocop is an enjoyable time. It goes further into itself than other remakes have, dealing with political, social, and business issues. It creates a believable world and believable characters. Although there are bumps along the way, Robocop is a valiant effort at bringing a classic film to this generation and putting it in a modern context.

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater!

Señor Reviews: The Lego Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 04:29:00 +0000

The Lego Movie stars Chris Pratt as the voice of Emmet Brickowoski and Elizabeth Banks as the voice of Wyldstlye. The Lego Movie has Emmet, a normal, average, unspecial lego construction worker, face his fate, as foretold by a prophecy, to save the Lego universe in which he lives from the evil President Business (voiced by Will Ferrell), who plans on attacking the Lego universe with his weapon, the Kragle. Along the way, Emmet is guided by Wyldestyle and Vitruvius (voiced by Morgan Freeman), master builders determined to help save the Lego universe; he also meets varoius characters, including Batman, a Unikitty, Superman, and many many more.

To say this is a fun movie is very much an understatement; just as fun and imaginative actual Lego are, The Lego Movie explodes with clever animation, funny moments at every turn, and characters easily lovable. This world built entirely of Lego sucks you into the movie early and keeps you there for the rest of the ride; and it really is a ride. Exciting chase sequences, explosions in action scenes, and cheesy love moments are scattered in this film, and the best part is that the movie KNOWS it's doing this! The Lego Movie pokes fun at all the Hollywood clichés we know from other movies, but does in such a way that doesn't make the viewer immediately recognize that it is. This is something I especially loved about the movie.

The characters also are very easy to enjoy in this movie. Immediately after meeting Emmet, the hero, you already like him. And that goes for every character in this movie. The movie is filled, FILLED with Lego characters, so much so that one is left even looking for more. All the voice actors are clearly having fun with their roles, totally up to the task of bringing these little people to life and making them larger than life. Notable performances go to Will Arnett as Batman, Liam Neeson as Bad Cop, and of course, Chris Pratt as Emmet.

A great aspect of The Lego Movie is its sophistication, as well. It's easy to see the parallels of this society's issues and that of the Lego universe, but never beating you over the head with it. It doesn't ever forget to have fun. The references and little Easter eggs here and there with a multitude of characters, and the heart throughout the movie, especially during the last few scenes, truly make this movie a great experience for everyone. The Lego Movie captures the heart and imagination of the viewer, and always has fun.

Did you see The Lego Movie? What did you think? Excited to see it? Comment down below!

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater!

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Breaking: "Batman vs Superman" Casting! Lex AND Alfred!?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 19:32:00 +0000

That's right, movie goers: 2016s Man of Steel sequel has 2 new official castings!

Jesse Eisenberg is Lex Luthor.

Jeremy Irons is Alfred Pennyworth.

What does this mean?! Well, for one, WBDC really does love to shock everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) with their casting. But let's address the Alfred (Batmans Butler) casting: Awesome. Really, could you ask for more? Irons is a respectable actor with years under his belt. After Michael Caine played the butler to the Caped Crusader for the Dark Knight Trilogy, one could have only hoped that, should he return to the new DC cinematic universe, a man suitable for the role would be cast; it seems the internet is pleased with Irons. So no problem there.

But...

Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor?? The internet is on fire right now (and that's an understatement). Left and right people (like the Affleck/Batman casting) are debating and taking a side. Good casting? Bad Casting? Warner Bros. has lost their mind?!

Now I'll be the first to admit I was blown away by this news. After having heard the rumors of Joaquin Phoenix playing Luthor, or maybe Denzel Washington, THIS news is out of nowhere!! (Kudos are deserved, however, for the entire MoS2 team for keeping this under wraps). And while I'm a bit sad that we won't get to see Phoenix play the iconic villain, I have to say, after thinking about it a few minutes, I'm being won over by this choice.

Director Zack Snyder according to Variety magazine, says, "What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions"

Therein lies the key to this new casting: A villain beyond the confines of the stereotypical villain; complicated and sophisticated; new and unexpected directions. This is not going to be your grandpas Luthor.

Both Snyder and writer David Goyer have said they want to portray this universe as though it were in the real world. And really, REALLY, what kind of person is, like Lex Luthor, billionaire, genius, ahead of the curve? Bills Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk. THESE are the modern day Lex Luthors (if they were to exist). Because of this, I can completely see the reason behind this casting.

What do you think of the new casting? Love it? Hate it? Don't care?

This has been Señor Movie, I'll see you at the theater.

Checkout the Variety article online: http://variety.com/2014/film/news/jesse-eisenberg-cast-as-lex-luthor-in-supermanbatman-jeremy-irons-set-as-alfred-1201079902/

Señor Reviews: Lone Survivor

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 23:32:00 +0000

Based on the true story of U.S. Marine Marcus Lurtrell, Lone Survivor recounts the events of a failed SEALs mission, and the fight to survive against all odds.

Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, and Ben Foster play the 4 U.S. SEALs in Lone Survivor, tasked with an assassination operation. However, when the mission fails, the 4 fight against a small army of Taliban soldiers.

To begin, this is an intense movie. The beginning of the film sets up the main plot. The characters are introduced, with a real life look into the training of U.S. soldiers, as well as the back stories of the 4 main characters. This story building greatly influences the attachment a viewer feels towards the protagonists. As a result, the viewer is sucked into the action on a more personal level, hoping each of them survive the ordeal, even though it's obvious, given the title of the movie, that this won't be the case.

On that note, the action in this movie is really something. While many blockbusters and high action movies are full of flashing lights and exaggerated effects, it's clear that the director, Peter Berg, wanted to stay as true to reality as possible. The audience is immersed in the action, with cringe worthy, heart pumping moments. The danger that these 4 faced is felt throughout the majority of the film. This leads to the make up; a phenomenal job done by the make up and effects department, as each injury looks incredibly real. The four main actors, lead by Wahlberg, portray the SEAL team members respectably, showing the chemistry needed to create a believable on screen team.

An important aspect of the film is that of "who is the enemy?". While someone may think that this film may feed the idea that it's "us versus them", or "America versus the Middle East", the third act of the film showcases the side of war that many overlook: the fight happening over there. It's shown that villages in the Middle East struggle on a daily basis with the Taliban; that these are a specific group of terrorists, creating problems all over, and that it is in fact them versus the world.

Overall, Lone Survivor is a respectable film, gripping action, good acting, and a story easy to follow. It shows the ordeals that many Navy SEALs have to go through, and depicts all sides of the story.

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater.

Breaking Señor! MoS Sequel Delayed??

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 05:19:00 +0000

In a slew of Academy Awards news and reviews by the masses, WB and DC announced that their highly anticipated sequel to 2013s Man of Steel, will be pushed to release on May 6th, 2016, 10 months later than the original July 17, 2015 date.

What does this mean? Well for one, we have to wait a heck of a lot longer to see our favorite caped heroes on the big screen. But there is so much more between the lines. Along with this new release is the fact that WBDC has now taken its top contender from titan filled 2015 summer blockbuster line up. The sequel to Man of Steel was set to go toe-to-toe with 2 other large (and intimidating) franchises: The Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Star Wars Episode VII. Now that "Batman vs Superman" is no longer a 2015 film, many, myself included, are almost certain that WBDC realized they may come out in third place, and noped right out of there. Will this new release date mean a better showing for "Batman vs Superman"?

While the initial reason, or rumored reason, for the delay was that Ben Affleck, who will be portraying Batman, injured his leg. New releases by WB, however, now reveal that they are looking to flesh out the film to be able to fully realize the story and film.

This seems like a great reason to delay the film. My heart is torn on the subject however. Like many fans of the DC universe, I was eagerly awaiting this sequel to Man of Steel. Batman AND Superman together on the big screen? Sign me up; I want it now! But if the delays mean an even better film, well I can't complain about that. After all, being the first time these two iconic characters share the silver screen, along with appearances by other DC heroes, this needs to be a home run of a movie.

Only time (10 extra months, actually) will tell if this was the right move for WB and DC.

This has been SeñorMovie, see you at the theater!

Let's Talk: 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 23:30:00 +0000

Bienvenidos, fellow movie goers!

Welcome to the first ever blog of SeñorMovie. Let's cut to the chase: movies! Who doesn't like movies? And so our journey begins.

I thought about doing a review for a movie I recently watched, Lone Survivor, but I think I'll leave that for my next post.

Today I'll discuss 2013 in movies: Star Trek: Into Darkness, Iron Man 3, World War Z, American Hustle, Man of Steel, Oz, Fast and Furious 6, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Great Gatsby, The Wolf of Wallstreet, the list goes on and on. What do I think of this year? It was.... pretty good. Although I would like to think that every movie is worthy of recognition, sadly that's not the case. But let's talk some notable things about 2013.

Highest Grossing Movie (Worldwide Box Office): Iron Man 3.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I did not like this movie. I still remember the excitement after seeing The Avengers, "what's next?!?!" What came, however, was a movie filled with silly one-liners, a weak villain, and a twist, that although was a good twist, was incredibly unnecessary. I could further delve into my dislikes of the movie, but this isn't a movie review. I understand why this movie generated the amount of money it did. It appealed to the masses, but I like to look further than just the conventional things that make a movie popular.

Highest Grossing Film (Domestic Box Office): The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

After having read the trilogy of books, and seeing the first film (which was just alright), I was excited to see what I think is the best of the three books on the big screen. And man, was I impressed. After having completely changed the team behind the camera, Lionsgate really came through with a powerhouse of a film. Along with being a solid film, with great reflections of modern day society, the film helps the progression of powerful female leads in movies. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to this years Mockingjay Part 1.

Summer Comic Book Movies

Before we continue, my readers should know I am a big fan of comics and an even bigger fan of the films. The obvious winner in dollars is Iron Man 3. Following the billion dollar movie were other comic book movie adaptations: Man of Steel, The Wolverine, and Thor: The Dark World. These films did not disappoint at the box office, with many other reviewers on the web putting them in different order of favorites. Overall I enjoyed 2013s comic movies (with the exception IM3). My personal favorite was Man of Steel, followed by Thor, Wolverine, and IM3. One thing for sure: there are sequels coming for these movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Universe, and the X-Men Universe.

Fall Academy Awards Contenders

After the recent Golden Globes results, it's pretty plain to see who the front runners are. My personal favorite Oscar contender is American Hustle, and the race is neck and neck with 12 Years a Slave, another highly regarded film. I have yet to watch Her, although I heard many good things about it and am looking forward to it. It'll be exciting to see the results at the Oscars, and I'll be sure to post about it. Will this be the year Leonardo DiCaprio finally gets an Oscar? Will it be for his most controversial film yet?

2013 Summarized

2013 was a good year in movies. Hits (Iron Man 3), misses (The Lone Ranger), and surprises (Now You See Me), and everything in between. The loss of actors and the rise to fame of others. We believed a man can fly, we watched a tank tear a highway to bits. There was space travel, cowboys, and monsters attending post secondary institutions. Norse Gods, mutants, and racers. A year full of diversity and powerful performances. To see a great tribute to movies of 2013, watch this video by The SchmoesKnow Intern, 2013: The Year in Movies Bring it on 2014!

This has been SeñorMovie, I'll see you at the theater!