TheCinemaChick

Annabelle Comes Home...and should just stay there.

2019-08-06T15:15:00.001-07:00

What;s up everyone, I'm the girl who loves movies but for some reason still hasn't seen the latest Spiderman! You know me and love me (maybe, I don't know your life) as TheCinemaChick and I review movies a lot! I know, I know, my past few posts haven't had anything to do with movies or film or anything but hey, I'm allowed to take a break every now and then, aren't I? I like to think that I am. But, I had to write the blog about donations because I could not verbalize my thoughts at that moment so I had no choice but to write things down. That's just how it happens sometimes.
Besides, no one cares about my personal life or the things I'm dealing with. We're all here to have fun and talk about movies, so let's do just that! I know I've been talking about this film a little bit but it's time I actually take an in depth look at it. So without further ado, let's look at the latest, most disappointing offer from "The Conjuring" series. Let's talk about "Annabelle Comes Home".
If you don't know about this series, it's about the Warrens, who are paranormal investigators who try and help families all over the world with ghosts and demons. They come across the Annabelle doll and that causes a chain reaction of spooky events. I've enjoyed the series so far, because the last one honestly made me jump a few times. However, the movies have been declining in quality. The longer the series goes on, the less effort they seem to put into it. In all honesty, this last one did not seem like they really cared about the content. This was created as a cash grab. I really didn't enjoy it.
Here's the thing. They got incredibly lazy with so many elements. The script was uninspired, the special effects weren't that great and the acting was sub par. And to make things more awkward, they tried to stick a teen romance in the middle of it. I'm sorry, what horror movie does that? It had potential, but it was wasted on terrible horror tropes. There could have been so many ways this movie could have gone but no, they went with something that's been seen and done so many times before.
This time, we don't even have the Warrens on screen for long. They conveniently go out of town for something, leaving their daughter with the babysitter. I'm wondering if some budget cuts were made for this one because it felt cheap. However, the one thing that really got to me was the fact that they couldn't maintain a sense of consistency. Like, it's really not that hard to fix small things between takes. One of the most annoying things was just that, a little thing. There was a scene in a bedroom, where there's a rocking chair in the background. A blanket is draped over the chair and next shot, the blanket has fallen down. Next shot, it's back up. They seriously couldn't go back and take maybe ten seconds to fix this? Or when one of the main characters says a cake is burnt, but not even five minutes later, it looks perfect?
Small things like this irritate me. It shows that the crew is lazy and uninterested in this picture. If you don't want to put pride into you work and don't give a damn about the final product, why should I? Don't get me wrong, I understand that mistakes happen. Every movie has them but this was ridiculous.
I've liked the franchise up until this point. They tried a little too hard in this one and it fell so short it's not even funny, Not only was the set design a mess, the characters were one dimensional and they introduced a slew of new characters that probably will never get brought up again. Not only that, but the characters are interesting. I would love to learn more about them but no, they are relegated to cameos. The Bride is brought in and briefly explained. Show me more of that! Give me a movie about her! There's also a freaking werewolf?? I think it's a werewolf? It may have been a dog. I couldn't tell because it was a blur and never fully shown.
The plot was also easy to predict. Two teenagers in a creepy house with haunted objects and no adult supervision? Clearly, there will be shenanigans! I never got a sense of tension or fear. I wanted to be scared, that's the point of going to a horror movie, right? ? Give me a jump scare, give me a sense that I'm being followed, give me anything! Don't just rely on the tired old ideas because they aren't working anymore. And to make matters worse, there is going to be another Conjuring movie. Yes, apparently we are milking this series for all it has. Did we learn nothing from Insidious? The first one was good, then they started going downhill to the point where I stopped caring. Stop beating franchises to death like this. Let them go out on a good note for once.
And the ending made no damn sense! Jude, the daughter of the Warrens, is an outcast at school. They make this painfully obvious. It's a plot point they devote about twenty five minutes to. Yet, at the end, everyone who has shunned her at school shows up to her birthday party? Kids don't have a change of heart overnight like this. Let's be honest, some kids are assholes. The bullies won't just decide to be nice for no reason, but in this universe, she becomes popular? I know this movie isn't one for realism but can we get a little realism here?
I don't know guys. I was just so let down by this movie. It wasn't memorable and it couldn't capture the spooky feeling from the others. The franchise is rapidly losing steam and I can see why. I didn't see The Nun or The Curse of La Llorona, but my trusted friends at the movie theater said they weren't worth the money. Most people who did see them, hated them. Maybe I need to see them in order to appreciate this one, I don't know. I have no plans to see them in all honesty. I know, as a critic, I should keep an open mind, but this is getting out of hand. Give me something good for once. Give me a movie that will freak me out and make me think about it days later.
I'm TheCinemaChick and hopefully, I'll catch up on my reviews this week. Up next, Spiderman: Far From Home and Hobbs and Shaw!

Cora's Poetry Corner "Faithful"

2019-07-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

I worship a material god,
a deity I cannot please
though I am a faithful pilgrim.
I cling to the doctrine that I must worship
at an altar of regret, just so I may hear a few sweet
but stinging words that remind me of my worthlessness.
Though I yearn to break the bindings, forcing me
to stay in the comfort of my panic,
I remain in my misery because it is all I know.
My scripture comes in the form of pamphlets,
facts and information and side effects and warnings
because I must ingest gallons of holy water every day so I don't get poisoned
but also this pill may cause your suicidal thoughts to worsen
and maybe destroy your vision, but you'll be fine!
The Good Word tells me this will boost my serotonin,
it will also create more chemicals in my brain which will level me out
so it'll be like I never had borderline personality disorder at all, such a miracle!
Until all I know is blind faith, grasping for an answer I will never have
yet if I believe hard enough, I might have some relief from the demons in my head,
while also appearing normal, happy and smiling.
I remain devout, not question the sanctity of the doctors I come to trust
but following their medical sermons as if they are the bread I need to live.
The pill stop working
and I am left in a void of confusion and chaos, unsure of what to believe anymore
those medications were all I knew, they were my everything, how can I live without them, what will become of me?
Now I see what I've become.
No longer can I live off these precious gems.
With my eyes open, I leave the Church of Antipsychotics,
breaking the chain of my addiction
and discovering peace.

Hey guys, it's Cora! I know, still not a movie review, I fail to live up to the moniker I chose for myself, right? The thing about that...I'm also a writer. Poetry was my specialty and lately, I was inspired to write about my addiction to medication. I was on anti depressants and other psychiatric drugs for about 15 years and I honestly thought I needed them. I took them and loved how I felt, but I also felt bad. I began to hate relying on pills, to schedule my days around when I had to take what. I made the decision to stop taking all of my medicine. For a while, I was bad. I discussed it with my friend Shadow and...I regret who I was. I don't recognize that person now.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still flawed and I have bad days like everyone else. But being off all of those pills has made me infinitely happier. Maybe it's not the best decision for everyone, yet I feel like it was in my best interest to face my mental illness head on.

I'm not cured. I never will be. I fight it every single day and so far, I'm winning against my depression and anxiety.
I'm proud of who I am today.
And if Shadow could hear me say those words, well...I can imagine the smile on his face.

Can We Talk About It -- Struggling

2019-07-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I'm a little behind on my reviews right now but I need to address something and it's kind of a serious topic. So today, I am not coming to you as TheCinemaChick, the girl who's obsessed with film. Today, I am merely Cora Valentine, the girl behind the cinephile persona.

I'm going to get a bit personal today, so if you're not into a personal blog, that's fine, you can skip this one and wait until I finish the Annabelle Comes Home blog. I won't be offended. You see, I rarely talk about my personal life, because as I've said before, I prefer a degree of anonymity in my life. I enjoy separating my film critic self from my normal life. It helps me keep a balance. With that said, let's talk about something that happened to me yesterday, that I'm still in disbelief about.

For those who know me, truly know me, I don't ask for help. I was raised to believe that if you're struggling, it's your own fault and you have no choice but to save yourself. This has been my case for several months. I'm not in the best place, I won't lie. Yes, I work and see movies and visit friends when I can, but money is always extremely tight. I have not been able to guy groceries for a long time simply because I couldn't afford to do so. And when I did have some money, I would buy dog food because Hammy has to eat. I mean, I would eat at work, so I wasn't starving myself. At least, not all the time.

I also normally don't talk about my struggles because they're mine to deal with, not yours. So, last night, I was in a stream. A stream is when someone plays a video game and you watch, interacting with the player and a chat. I'm not saying I'm prominent in the streaming community, but people know who I am. I'm a moderator for three people, all of which I consider friends. In one particular stream, my friend Shadow, I admit that I haven't been eating and I've been scraping my money together to get food for my dog.

Geez...I'm going to start crying again...

Immediately, I had people asking if they could help. At least half a dozen people offered money or food or encouraging words. I declined all of them. As I said, I was told accepting help means you're weak or a failure. It's been drilled in my head for as long as I can remember. Taking donations or stuff means you can't support yourself. While I did desperately need the help, my pride wouldn't allow me to take any assistance. So, another person in chat said, "Hey, I'm going to help. I'm making a donation for you."

I'm not going to use their name or say how much they gave. That's private information really. Plus, I don't use names in here unless I have permission from that person. In this case, I don't know them. They did this out of the kindness of their heart. I got up and left the stream for a few moments because I'm human and needed to use my bathroom. I was gone for maybe five minutes since I figured I'd switch my laundry over as well. When I got back, everyone in the chat was calling my name. My phone was ringing and I was clueless. I had no idea that my world was about to change in the best way possible.

While I was up, the person made the donation and Shadow called me to let me know that he was sending the money my way. I cried several times as I am crying now. I have never seen such an amazing display of generosity. Words fail me as I try to talk about this. I am absolutely floored by this person's act of kindness. Thanks to this person, to Shadow's community, to the people I can proudly call my family...I am able to relax today. I do not have to worry about how I am putting gas in my tank tomorrow.

I am beyond thankful. I cannot express my gratitude enough. It makes me ashamed that I felt like I had to hide my life from the people I love. I have not been able to be open with them, as they have been with me. It also showed me that it's okay for me to say, "Hey, I'm struggling and I need help". Whether it's a few dollars or a kind word, asking for help is nothing something you should be ashamed of. Everyone has problems, everyone needs help, so there shouldn't be that negative stigma attached to it. I'm just now understanding and accepting that I cannot make it through life on my own.

This is the lesson I want everyone to learn before it's too late. I've caused myself so much stress and grief because of my stubbornness.
Please, don't go through the bad things alone. Find your family, learn to trust and swallow your pride. Struggling doesn't mean you've failed. It simply means you're doing your best and maybe, things aren't going right. It could be a bad day, a bad week or just a period of time when you're down on your luck. Don't be like me. Don't be too proud to talk to someone.

I can recall a time in high school, back in 2003, when I should have spoken up and didn't. My home life wasn't great. My parents fought constantly and I was suffering from severe depression. I was suicidal and had attempted to kill myself at least three times before I had turned eighteen. Instead of talking to a teacher or counselor about it, I kept it all inside. Right before I graduated, I spoke to one person about it, the teacher I talk about often in my blogs, Mrs. Whiteside. When she heard about my parents divorce and me having to move so quickly, she asked why I didn't tell anyone. I didn't think it mattered to anyone so it just never came up. Mrs. Whiteside sympathized with me in a time when I felt alone, scared and sadly, accustomed to suffering in silence.

You don't have to go through everything alone. I don't care what's going on in your life, ignore the fears and doubts you have and reach out to someone. If I had taken my own advice, I wouldn't have been forced into a mental hospital after my last suicide attempt in 2014. I could have saved myself several sleepless nights because I was up late crying about money or suffering from a bout of depression. So many panic attacks could have been avoided if I'd just stopped and said, "I'm not okay, please help me."

I also want to take this time to directly address my Shadow family. Yes, MY Shadow FAMILY. You guys know who you are. You heard me say what's going on in my life. You guys all know my struggles. There's still more I haven't told you, but I can never thank you all enough for the support and kindness you've shown me. Without you, I would be in a much worse place. I feel I have people I can trust, who won't judge me, who will honestly offer me the encouragement I need. I wish I could be a fraction of the people you are. My family. My friends. My support system. I love you all. Thank you for being there for me, for being my shoulder to cry on, for talking to me when I feel like I can't go on. To the person who donated to me...I am touched by your generosity. To anyone who's given to me, be it financially or emotionally, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I hope that I can one day return the kindness.

I want to do something for all of you to show how much you have all touched my heart. Maybe words aren't enough. I can barely keep my composure as I type this. I have spent the past few hours in disbelief because I didn't think I deserved such a show of kindness. And now, at the age of 34, I am realizing that everything I know is wrong. I do deserve love and kindness. I deserve this amazing family that has accepted me. So Shadow, Pink, Chris, Yuki, Nadina, Cati, Hvy...I know I'm forgetting so many names but I am sobbing like an idiot over here so my brain's a little foggy. I love you all. Thank you...for so much, for everything, for giving me a family, for giving me a home.

I know this post is a hot mess. I'm all over the place today. I genuinely cannot express how much each and every one of you has affected me.

My name is Cora Valentine. I am blessed with good friends, a good doggo and the most incredible family a girl could ever ask for. I have cried twice while writing this because I am so overcome with emotion.

Thank you all. For reading, for sticking with me, for seeing me through the tough times, for celebrating the good with me, for everything. I could not, and cannot do this alone. Thank you, dearest reader, for taking the time to read this.
I love you all,
Cora Valentine.

X-Men: The Dark Phoenix

2019-06-24T19:05:00.001-07:00

*Sighs*

Guys. This one...this one's going to be painful. I've found a movie that's going on my Worst Of for the year. And this is coming from my first ever fandom. AND it's one of my favorite story lines but once again, they manage to screw it all up. This is the second time we've gotten this specific plot but at least this one was closer to the source material. Even then, that's not saying much. There was so much wrong with this...before I get into it, let me tell you about something that happened to me. Maybe then you'll understand why I'm so disappointed.

As many of you know, I'm part of a trivia team. I go almost every Wednesday. Once or twice a month, the place has a theme. So far, I've competed in Game of Thrones and Marvel, both times I failed miserably. When I heard there was going to be a X-Men themed trivia night, I got excited. By the way, guess what I'm reviewing? Anyway, I love the X-Men. I have comics, graphic novels, visual guides, seen all the movies...I'm borderline obsessed. Seriously, I know more than the common person should know. My point is, this was my first fandom and I dove deep into it.

So, I won trivia last week. Not my team, literally me. I beat out all the other teams to win $50 and some various prizes. Like I said, X-Men is my thing. That's how much I love this stuff. So I was excited when I knew Dark Phoenix would be adapted into a movie. I mean, yes, we got the Phoenix story before, but we all like to pretend that X-Men: The Last Stand didn't happen. I could go on and on about how much I disliked that movie, but that's another story for another day.

Let's talk about the latest Dark Phoenix offering.

I don't even know where to begin with this one. It was plagued with rewrites, reshoots and lots of problems. And believe me, it shows. The story was choppy, the characters were one dimensional and a lot of it felt strange. The villain, if you can call it that, is barely even present and if you took it out, the movie might have improved. A lot of elements are introduced, then left unfinished and the movie feels incomplete. They don't really have a sense of finalty and as far as I know, this is the last movie in this current franchise.

Well...I did some research and they're going to do more movies. They want to focus on the younger mutants so...this *might* be good. I am worried about their next endeavor, "The New Mutants" because it was scheduled for release this year and was pushed back to next year. I really hope they don't mess this one up as bad as they have films in the past. Don't get me wrong, the first iteration of the X-Men movies were good. X-Men and X2 were actually good. The Last Stand was trash. The Logan films were both good and disappointing as the completely messed up Wolverine's backstory. Plus, there was some terrible CGI. Don't even get me started on the "introduction" of Deadpool. We don't talk about that. So when I heard they were doing an origin series, yeah, I was excited.

Needless to say, I'm disappointed.

I mean, come on. They hinted at a huge story line in the end credits scene in "Apocalypse". They teased Mr. Sinister. For those of you who don't know, Nathaniel Essex (the briefcase they showed had the name Esssex on it) is better known as Mr. Sinister. And if you don't know who this baddie is, well, sit down kiddies, I'll tell you. Essex is a villain who was so bad that even his wife knew it. She's the one who called him Sinister and the name stuck. Not only that, he had a massive role in another very popular mutant's life. Did you know that Remy LeBeau AKA Gambit was adopted? Mr. Sinister hired Remy do to some dirty work and trust me, this led to more shenanigans. But my point is, they had so many things they could have touched on but nope, they left all that ignored.

So what we got instead was a 114 minute snooze fest that couldn't live up to expectations. And no, I'm not being harsh because I'm an X-Men uber fangirl. I'm saying this as your average movie goer. To make matters worse, they give away huge details in the trailers. For instance, before I saw the film, I already knew Mystique would die because they basically already showed it to me. So when the scene rolled around, it wasn't shocking or heartbreaking because I was already aware of it. What could have been a beautiful send off for a beloved character was ruined. Yet, it then raises some questions. Mystique shows up in later films, the ones that are set in a more current time so...plot hole. And don't use the Days of Future Past logic. I mean, it could explain every plot hole but that would be such lazy writing.

Dark Phoenix had almost no enjoyable moments. In fact, it was quite forgettable. Nothing really jumped out at me or made me excited. It was mostly me being confused by the characters and not being sure what the actual story was. Was it an attempt to show Jean dealing with past trauma? Was it the Phoenix saga? Were we going to get a history of Genosha? Who were the other mutants on Genosha? Who were the mutants who went with Erik to New York? Is this why Kurt Wagner decided to become a priest?

While I'm discussing certain characters, I want to address something mildly spoilery. Nicolas Hoult plays a decent Hank McCoy, I'll give him that. However, in Apocalypse, he mentions he's created a drug that suppresses the mutant gene, allowing Charles to walk again or something. I don't remember, I haven't seen the film in a while. He uses it on himself to appear human, but that wears off. In Dark Phoenix, he's able to shift between his human and blue form, which is something that's never been addressed before? So is he a shapeshifter? Because he's always been big, blue, furry, Beast. I wish these things got clarified.

Now, let me touch on Vuk, the villain of the story. She's barely visible. We get a weak backstory about her people dying because of the Phoenix force and that's it. That's all we know about her. She has no other qualities to her, other than being bland. If Vuk had been removed, I wouldn't have minded. Seeing Jean struggle with her powers and inability to control them was enough story, but nope, we had to add an additional, somewhat pointless layer to it. Vuk and the D'Bari are maybe in 20 minutes of the movie. But we have no backstory so I can't view her as sympathetic. Vuk comes off as vengeful so I really couldn't find a reason to like her as a character.

I wanted to like this movie, I really did. But once again, the story was butchered. And now that Disney has acquired Fox, who knows what will happen next with this franchise. I mean, they've done a decent job with Marvel but Fox tends to be a bit more edgy with their choices. I don't know if this means we're going to have all future X-Men films watered down to make them more family friendly but I sincerely hope that is not the case. X-Men makes it a point to touch on issues that people don't want to discuss, like discrimination, racism and even homosexuality. It's always been this way. Don't believe me, have a look at my autographed copy of X-Men that has the first ever gay wedding on it's cover and yes, Stan Lee (God rest his soul) signed it.

So, New Mutants has the potential to be good, as all films do. The constant push backs have me worried because some times, many of the times, all the add ons can really destroy a film. For example, in Thor: THe Dark World, Loki was supposed to die. But, people reacted so negatively that they brought him back. And you all know I love Loki and Tom Hiddleston, but I though having him die in the noble way he did was perfect. Bringing him back felt like a mistake and honestly, he really didn't have anything to do in Ragnarok, then just got killed off again in Infinity War. Movies can't decide between being good and pandering to the audience. Not everyone is going to like your finished product, that goes for everyone. At least create something you're proud of.

Trust me, this is a lesson I've had to learn in a very hard way. It's the reason I lost all confidence in my skills as a blogger and film critic. I was trying to write things I thought people would want from me, not write what I wanted to. I made posts I wasn't proud of because I felt I had to churn stuff out. The truth is, I have to do things in my own time so I can be proud of what I'm posting online for you, my lovely reader, to read. Otherwise...why do what I do?

Dark Phoenix isn't the worst X-Men film out there. The Last Stand is. However, it still doesn't know what it wants to be and that was its downfall. Instead of creating something that was potentially amazing, we got a generic, confusing mess that didn't have a satisfactory ending. Hell, they left it wide open for a sequel.

Dear cinematic gods...don't let there be a sequel.

I know this review seems like it's been a little...off and maybe cut abruptly short, but I am rather ill at the moment. I've been working on this review for a week and I really wanted to finish it because I also plan to review Shaft, which I saw. My friend Sin surprised me and took me to see it, so I'd like to talk about that too.

Plus, I was talking to some other friends, Shadow and Pink, about Disney and princess and things like that and they gave me some very interesting ideas I want to talk about in a future blog. So, there's something for everyone to look forward to.

I'm Cora Valentine, better known as TheCinemaChick and if I had a mutant power, I'd be an empath.

Love you guys and I'll see you in the next blog.

GODZILLA!!!!!

2019-06-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone who reads blogs on the internets! My name is Cora Valentine, most of you know me better as TheCinemaChick because I'm a girl who reviews movies a lot! I meant to write this review last week but you know, sometimes things just slip away from me and I don't get around to doing them until the next week. I'm such a procrastinator, really. I admit to it.

But you don't want to hear about that, do you?

...do you?

Nah, we're gonna skip over my personal problems (for now) and focus on the movie that is causing me a mixed reaction. I was incredibly excited to see it but after seeing it, I honestly don't think it lives up to the hype. It's not a disappointment by any means, I just don't think it knows what it wants to be yet. There are so many messages and conflicts that are presented that it just got muddled. Unfortunately, it also caused the plot to suffer. While it was visually stunning and overall entertaining, it just didn't live up to the standards I had set in my mind for it.

Let's go back a bit before we dive into this new film, shall we?

I love the Godzilla movies. I remember watching the old claymation ones as a kid and honestly, I still love them. When I heard they were getting remade for a more modern audience, I was excited. There were so many possible stories and it could have done almost anything, but I feel it is holding back for some reason. The first Godzilla movie, which came out in 2014, was enjoyable. Fry, Butterfly and I all saw it together. We came to the general conclusion that it needed more Bryan Cranston in it. However, it had a cohesive plot that worked with the monster attacks. The plot didn't suffer for the action. I would say it was a solid film. Let's...let's just not talk about the Matthew Broderick film from 1998, okay? Can we all just agree to let it go and bury it in the sands of time?

Then, in 2017, we had another addition to this revamped monsters series. Kong: Skull Island was also enjoyable, however, it was also problematic. Bear with me on this one, it's going to get a little strange. Again, overall, I liked the movie. It was fun and set me up for future movies. The cast worked perfectly, with one exception. This is where I'm going to nitpick. I love Tom Hiddleston, I really do. He's one of my favorite actors but damnit, I got sick of seeing him in the Kong movie. I get it, he's a main character, but they shoved him so far to the front that he overshadowed the giant ape the movie was about! After seeing it with Fry, I told her that the movie was basically just Tom Hiddleston arm porn. They really wanted us to look at his arms as he fought in slow motion and I freaking HATED it. I loved the movie and it's post credit scene, but I could not stand Hiddleston in the film. And it's not his fault. He's the victim of poor writing and truthfully, I think they pushed him so far into the foreground as a cash grab. Put his face on something and people will eat it up.

Tom Hiddleston, you deserve better.

Which brings me all the way back to 2019 and the new release Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Again, I enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun with the film, even though the run time wasn't the best. I understand why it's well over 2 hours but there are times when it just drags and you feel the run time. For the most part, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen because there was so much going on. Now that I've time to think about it, I have some issues with the movie as a whole. As always, I'll try to be as spoiler free as possible. I won't talk about any major plot points, just stuff you've probably seen in the trailers.

Fry and I saw this last Tuesday and to my surprise, the theater was fairly empty. I thought there would be more people there since the summer movie season is in full swing now. It didn't bother me because no one was around us, so I admit, I cracked a few jokes during the film. I KNOW, I KNOW, I'M A HYPOCRITE! DON'T @ME!

Yes, I'm extremely, anti talking during movies. I make no secret of it. I am the person that will throw something at you tell you to STFU if you won't shut up. But the theater was empty except for like 3 people way at the top, okay? It's not something I do normally...except at Aladdin because I was singing along. Not helping my case, am I? Damn.

Anyway, this Godzilla picks up after the events of the last one. I'll admit, I must have forgotten a few details because I didn't remember this family from the last movie. But sure, they were there. Let's go with that. You've seen them in the trailer, Eleven is now the daughter of the woman from The Conjuring series. The thing is, and this might be a bit spoiler-ish, the characters don't really matter. There are maybe 2 you should pay attention to, everyone else is just there. First, we have Emma Russell, who is the...protagonist? Nah...she's more like an anti hero...I think...she's doing what she believes is right, but for the wrong person. She's inciting chaos because she believes her actions will bring about peace. What's that called?

Mrs. Whiteside, help me out here? I'm drawing a blank!

The other person you should remember is Ishiro Serizawa, played by the always amazing Ken Watanabe. Really, those two drive the plot. I mean...if you can call it a plot. I'll get to that in a moment. Emma and Serizawa are sort of on the same side because they both want to protect Godzilla. However, Emma choices end up screwing her over and basically, she's an idiot. Never ally yourself with the guy who identifies as any kind of terrorist. Even if it's Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance). Another problem with this movie: Charles Dance is clearly billed as the antagonist but he's barely in the film! I legit forgot he had a role until he popped up at the end. If you're going to highlight someone and push them as the bad guy, don't shove them so far into the background he's forgettable. That's what happened here. I didn't even know his character's name until I looked it up on IMDB.

Let's start off with what I enjoyed about Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The visuals blew me away. Props to the special effects team on this one. I was awed by how good they made the creatures look. Remember, I'm not a fan of CGI, but in this case, it worked out beautifully. Even then, the non animated scenes were also brilliant. They paid attention to small details and it worked. I was sucked in because there are moments on screen that are truly breathtaking. For instance, when they introduce one of the monsters, they way they did was so well done, I was speechless. I would even go so far as to say this may be a contender for Best Special Effects.

The cast was decent. Millie Bobby Brown managed to separate herself from her role in Stranger Things. I mean, I did look at her and think of Eleven, but that was only in passing. She is branching out and kudos to her. What is a kudos, by the way? Anyone? Help a girl out here? Anyway, I thought she did a great job and I look forward to seeing her future endeavors in the acting world. Charles Dance, though not very present, does give off the bad guy vibe. Granted, I don't know if it's because he's just born to play bad guys or if it's because I associate him with Game of Thrones. Like Brown, Dance also managed to shed the persona of the role he will forever be known for. Yet, he really didn't get a chance to shine as the villain, which is sad. You guys know I love a good villain. Maybe he'll have a bigger role in the sequel? (**MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT THERE**)

What didn't I like about this movie? The plot. They had a good solid plot in mind but they chose visuals and action scenes instead. Like, yes, I get it, you have to do this thing for that thing to happen, but they stop bringing up the thing! The catalyst for the war of the monsters disappears during the second act. While I love how good the film looked, I cannot believe they sacrificed what could have been a damn good story too. The second act is mostly just the (**SEMI SPOILERYISH**) introducing new monsters, having monster battles and the humans trying to kill said monsters. And no, I haven't said monsters enough.

Like, I didn't even get the names of all the titans they introduced, so I had to make up names for them. We get Godzilla, obviously. We get a slew of monsters I won't name so I don't spoil anything else for you but again, they are barely shown. Angry Fawkes (not the creature's real name but I don't know what it was so that's what I'm calling it) had one good fight scene before disappearing until the finale. Mega Mamoswine (again, no idea what it's called) was nothing more than a cameo. Same with the Muto from the last movie. It showed up once. Then we have Aragog's American Cousin, Gary. Who are these Titans? Why are the relevant? How did they get released? How were they captured or suspended or whatever? It's never mentioned! It's basically "Oh hey, there's Gary, let's release him". They never stop to explain how important, if they are important, these creatures are.

I get it though. You're on a time constraint, but it would take, what, like 4 minutes to give me some exposition? Not only that, you spend so much time setting up this family, only to basically ignore it and occasionally show some teen angst. Again, Brown did amazing but she can do better. And they give a huge middle finger to the audience because they set up one ending, then just go "Nah, let's just change it all up last minute". Again, it works, but why do it that way? It felt like a last minute re-shoot. And okay, I can buy that there might be an alternate ending, but it didn't feel organic to the character at all. She spent the entire movie trying to do a thing, realized she lost another thing then just up and did something else? I know it all sounds confusing but if you've seen the movie, you understand it. Or, I'll explain it to you in private so I don't spoil it for someone else.

Overall, I would say yes, see Godzilla: King of Monsters. It's a visual treat and it's just a lot of fun to sit through. Despite the weak plot and the lackluster characters, it wasn't too bad. I loved seeing all the monsters depicted on screen together. The CGI is just perfect and oh yes, the ending was well worth the two hour wait. Plus, they have really awesome call backs to their previous films. So you do see bits from the previous Godzilla and from Kong, which help tie the series together as a whole. Granted, my stupid self said, "so that means more Tom Hiddleston?"

Don't ask okay? Just let me have my moment.

There's also an end credit scene you need to stick around for! Fry and I were the only ones who wait because I said, "Kong had a post credits scene, this one's going to pull a Marvel and have one too, I just know it." And BAM, I WAS RIGHT! The employees at the theater confirmed it as they cleaned. And it's kind of important because it sets up the next film and if they are going off what they showed in that scene, then the next one is going to be so freaking good! The monster battle scenes were so good in this one, I can't wait to see what's in store for the next one.

Guys.
Guys!
GUYS!
So, I did a little research on the internet and apparently, the next movie is going to be a prequel, "Godzilla vs. Kong" which is slated for a March 2020 release! I just found all this out and got really excited. Wait, a prequel. That really does mean there's a chance for more Tom Hiddleston!! I just really love Tom Hiddleston, okay?

You know what, I'm satisfied with my review. I'm getting back into my own personal groove and it feels good. I feel like me again. And since, I've written a lot, I'm going to end things here. If you're curious, it took me an hour and 45 minutes to write this, this includes checking IMDb and the internet for various sources, proofreading and editing.

But I'm happy with how this has turned out. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

I'm Cora Valentine, AKA TheCinemaChick and in my next blog...I have some big news to share with everyone.

I love you all, thank you for sticking with me all these years, through my highs and lows, my many hiatuses and all my self doubt. Whenever I have someone asking what movie I'm doing next or when my next post will be, it makes me feel like I'm finally doing something right. Film is my passion. Thank you for sharing this with me.

In the immortal words of Eicca Toppinen of Apocalyptica: Take care of each other. Love each other. Love yourself.

See you guys next time.

Summer Movie Season 2019!

2019-05-29T13:03:00.002-07:00

GUYS!

It's almost June and you know what that means, don't you? It's time for the 2019 Summer Movie Season! For those of you who don't know or possibly have lived under a rock all your life or whatever, the summer movie season is when production studios launch some of their biggest titles. People are going on vacation or are out of school for a while, so this is when the movies see some of their biggest profits. I mean, yeah Avengers: Endgame kind of topped all the charts this year and nothing will beat that but we have some really good things coming out this year, so let's take a look at a bunch of films I want to see (and hopefully will!)

Ah, where are my manners.. I have to do my obligatory introduction! Hello everyone out there currently reading this! My name is Cora Valentine, some of you know me as TheCinemaChick, but either way, I'm your guide to what's hip and hot this summer!

Okay, you know what, that didn't feel natural. I'm not cool enough to try and talk like the teenagers do.

But, I digress. You get my point. There are a bunch of movies coming out this summer, some of which sound like absolute blockbusters, some of which might be worth a watch and some...well...let's be honest. There are some movies that just don't ever make the cut, doomed to fall into obscurity. Case in point, the Uglydolls movie. Don't remember that one? It came out around the same time as Avengers, maybe a few weeks before. It bombed so spectacularly that it was out of theaters pretty fast. The sad thing is, they marketed this movie so heavily. I saw dozens of commercials and they had a star studded cast as well. And even all that couldn't save this. In my defense, I don't know what an Uglydoll is. I'm pretty sure this movie was marketed at people much younger than me. Maybe my niece would have liked it. She's six.

I've already watched a few movies this year, some of them good, some of them just okay. Yet, some of the best stuff is yet to come so I cannot wait to visit my local theaters and see what the movies have to offer me this year. So, let's dive into a list of movies I want to see, probably review as well and enjoy. Here we go, in no real order, a list for you to read!

⦁ Godzilla: King of Monsters
I love the Godzilla franchise. I remember watching the old school claymation ones as a kid. I saw the last one with Fry and Butterfly, we all liked it. This one looks to top that one because literally, they are bringing all the monsters. I'm excited because it's been a really long time since we've had a good old fashioned monster smackdown around here. Based on the trailers I've seen so far, the special effects look pretty good. And you guys know I am so picky when it comes to CGI. In a handful of cases, it's done well and adds a lot of a film. However, many times it's painfully obvious that there are special effects and it really detracts from a movie for me. Then again, Fry says I've become a bit of a snob when it comes to cinema so...she's not entirely wrong there.

⦁ Spiderman: Far From Home
We all knew this one would be on here. I never miss a Marvel movie. And this one gives us our first glimpse of life, post Thanos. I really want to see what the MCU has turned into, now that we've seen that world change so dramatically. And we get to see how Peter is coping with that one major thing from Avengers. I won't spoil it because some of you may not have seen it, but you know exactly what I'm talking about. And we get a new villain and perhaps a new world we haven't seen yet. And no, this part isn't a spoiler because it's in the freaking trailer guys. Don't believe me, look it up. You guys know that I will not ruin a movie for anyone else, UNLESS the movie is so bad I don't think you should waste your money on it like I did. Don't be an idiot. Listen to me and learn from my mant cinematic mistakes.

⦁ The Lion King
I'm a little wary of this one. Disney has been hit or miss with their live action remakes. While I enjoyed Alice in Wonderland, I thought the sequel was awful. Beauty and the Beast, while visually stunning and well cast, failed to hit the mark. Many of cast members sang their own songs and many of them should have used a professional singer. Sorry, Emma Watson, I'm looking at you for this one. Speaking in a melodic manner does not constitute singing. Take it from the girl who's had a decade of professional training. Then, Aladdin surprised me because it was amazing. Quick side not: JUST BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE ROBIN WILLIAMS DOESN'T MEANT IT'S NOT WORTH SEEING! WILL SMITH DID A FANTASTIC JOB AND DISNEY HONORED ROBIN WILLIAMS IN A VERY TASTEFUL WAY. IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE "BUT IT'S NOT ROBIN WILLIAMS" PEOPLE, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GET OVER YOURSELF AND SEE THE MOVIE!!
**Ahem.**
I do like The Lion King. It was a favorite movie of mine growing up, but like I said earlier, CGI makes me wary. Since they couldn't use real animals in this, it's going to be very CGI heavy. However, the cast they have so far sounds amazing. Hell, James Earl Jones is back as Mufasa. That's freaking awesome! I do know that if I see this one, I'll be going solo since Fry has no desire to see it and my new movie buddy Sinat doesn't like live action remakes...even though we all saw Aladdin together. Yeah...
⦁ Hobbs and Shaw
Yes, I'm a fan of the Fast and Furious franchise. I've seen most of them and I've gotten to where I really like the cast. This is a spin off starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in a solo flick. While it looks like it might be a little cheesy and a little over the top, there were scenes in the trailer that made me really want to see it. I mean, it has Idris Elba, who I adore as an actor. And I don't think I've ever seen him as a villain, so this should be interesting. Plus, there was something from the trailer that spoke to my heart. In it, they go to "home", where it appears to be a lovely island nation. They don old school weapons like spears and do a traditional war dance. To some of you, it may seem odd. Remember, Dwayne Johnson makes no secret of his heritage. It's called a haka, a dance done to intimidate your opponent. For me, I went to a school where the majority of the students were Polynesian, so I learned a lot about their culture. Before every sports game, they would perform a haka. So as soon as I saw that haka on screen, I was sold.

⦁ Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Everyone knows by this point that I love horror. I have a huge collection of horro games, I love horror films...I just love scary stuff in general. I remember this book from my childhood. The macabre drawings always made me uneasy and the stories were so creepy. So naturally, I've read them all about ten times. Plus, Guillermo Del Toro is the one bringing this thing to the big screen and you know I love this man's work. He always finds a way to mix fantasy with horror with a touch of social commentary. I'm really hoping this movie does justice to the book series. And, I really hope it does scare me. It's been so long since a horror movie has actually been able to make me jump. I mean, Annabelle: Creation was good but...the main character had my name and the same disability as me so I couldn't take it seriously. According to that movie, I'm the root of all evil. Sorry?

⦁ It: Chapter Two
I loved the first one. I hate clowns. I love Stephen King. Pennywise makes me freak out but damn, you have to admit it was a good movie. It had me on the edge of my seat from the start. And it wasn't just pure horror. There were elements of romance, drama and a good coming of age film mixed in and they all worked together. Chapter Two takes place in the future, when all of the kids come back to Derry. I haven't read the book, so I don't know what to expect but if the trailer is any indication of what's in store, then I can't wait. I should probably buy the book so I can read it and see how it compares.

⦁ Downton Abbey
Confession time: I haven't watched all of the series. I don't particularly enjoy it. However, I promised Fry I'd finish the show and see the movie with her. I mean, I just didn't like watching a show about stuck up rich people being mean to the help. I deal with that enough at work so why would I want to see more of it? But, I don't go back on promises so I'll suck it up and see it. Who knows, maybe it'll be good.

So guys, let me know, what movies do YOU think I need to see? Is there something out there that you want to see but just aren't sure of? Let me know! I will sit through a movie for you so you don't have to potentially waste your money! If I can find it local, I'll go see it. Plus, it gives me a chance to broaden my cinematic horizons by seeing something I might not normally choose. I love getting feedback and suggestions, so please, feel free to talk to me. Find me on Twitter @TheCinemaChick, I'm on Discord and oh yeah, I have a page on Facebook where I post all my blogs! I don't bite...at first...kidding.

I'm TheCinemaChick and if you'll excuse me, I have a panicked pupper to attend to.

(We're about to have some storms come through and there's thunder, lightning, tornado warning...he's nervous. Some treats and belly rubs and he should be okay. Hammy is a spoiled old boy)

We're going to back to my childhood...I mean Agrabah!

2019-05-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

Hey, so, I haven't been active since 2017, but you know, I need that break. I got to a point where I was really burned out. I couldn't go to a movie without being hypercritical. Movies weren't enjoyable anymore. I tried making vlogs but honestly, I don't enjoy them as much. I wanted to step away so I could get back to a place where I could see a movie and enjoy them.
Fortunately, I am back to that place. I am able to sit through a movie and actually have fun again. Part of that is because I took time away from my blog, part of that is because I have been fortunate enough to make new friends who enjoy film as much as I do.
With that said, allow me to have a proper introduction.
Hello all you lovely people out there in Internetworldland! My name is TheCinemaChick and as you can tell by my moniker, I'm a girl who loves movies. I've been doing this little blog since 2012 and have no plans to stop again any time soon, Have I seen a lot of movies this year, absolutely. Will I see a lot more? Yes I will. I'm already making plans to see the new Godzilla when it comes out next week and at some point, I will see John Wick 3.
So, you're probably wondering what movie managed to revive me. What film was so good that it made me want to write again? Truth be told, it's a movie we've all seen before. I grew up in the 90s, like many of you did. So, like many people, I've watched all of the animated Disney films. Wouldn't you know, they remade a bunch of those classics. I have seen all of the live action remakes up to date. I liked Beauty and the Beast to an extent. The first Alice in Wonderland was good, didn't care for the sequel. Well, The Lion King is coming out later this year but Aladdin is back in theaters. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait.
Like a lot of people, I was apprehensive about seeing this one. I had the same prejudices. Robin Williams wasn't the Genie and I really wasn't sure Will Smith could measure up.
I was extremely wrong,
Will Smith absolutely shines as Genie in the live action flick. He brings some of that old school Fresh Prince attitude to the character. So yes, he is not Robin Williams, but instead brings a wonderful and exciting new take to this familiar character. He has a charm and sincerity about him that I really liked. While most of his scenes are done with CGI, I still enjoyed it because I could see elements of the animated movie in there, If the whole "But he's not Robin Williams" thing is what's stopping you from seeing this, do yourself a favor and get over it. You won't regret it.
The casting in general is also perfect. Normally, production companies tend to whitewash a movie. Let's never forget the live action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell. In this case, they didn't. They chose highly skilled actors who managed to truly embody their animated counterparts. Mena Massoud was brilliant as Aladdin. Naomi Scott shined as Jasmine. Not only that, but they really turned Jasmine into a badass. Instead of just being compliant, she has a voice and takes a stand for what she believes in. Hell, they even wrote new songs just for her.
The story is the same as it was back in the day. Jafar wants the lamp so he can have absolute power. Aladdin happens to be the diamond in the rough. You know, I feel it's okay to talk about the plot since the first version of this film came out so long ago. If you haven't seen it, where have you been all this time? Like, it's been shown on television thousands of times. Anyone who's ever had to babysit has had to watch this. It's a classic Disney animation now. Everyone should have seen it be now.
One thing I really liked is how this iteration of the story managed to combine Bollywod and hip hop. While the movie stays true to the Middle Eastern feel it's always had, there are some new, more modern elements added in. I don't want to give away too many of those details because they really were amazing to see. There are a few dance sequences in the film that honestly, were the best parts. The duet between Genie and Aladdin was worth the wait. I mean, I planned to see this movie so I could ooh and ahh over the costuming, but overall, I loved it. Yes, the costumes are breathtaking. I really want the chance to see them up close so I can admire the intricate details more.
If this is what we can expect from the Disney live action remakes, then sign me up. From the beginning, I was having fun. I sat with Fry and we were singing all of the songs because for us, this is nostalgic. Neither of us were fully on board going into the movie but after seeing it, we agree that it doesn't deserve all the negative press it's been getting. If you enjoy bright, colorful scenes, well fleshed out characters and a touch of nostalgia, Aladdin is definitely worth checking out. I'm glad I did because maybe if I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't be inspired to return to my passion. And yes, I consider film blogging to be one of the biggest passions in my life.
I know this review is going to seem a little short and maybe a little choppy but I'm getting back into the swing of things here. I'm ready to return to this blog, maybe look at getting my own domain again and who knows, maybe there will be a film so good, I can't even put it into words. I mean, it happened with Avengers: Endgame. I cried 4 times during that movie, no lie. But for now, I think I'm going to sign off and let you all enjoy the magic of the newly released Aladdin.
As always, I'm TheCinemaChick, I'm back in my natural element and for all you know, I have a magic lamp in my backpack. What three wishes should I make?

The Killing Joke

2016-08-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

It’s almost 1:30 in the morning and what am I doing? I’m writing my second review of the night! I’m the one you know as TheCinemaChick and I’m here to talk about movies! I’ve written my review of “Suicide Squad” so I figured, why not go on to another DC movie that has actually received more praise? I will have to put up a content warning because this one is much more controversial as well. It was in theaters for only one night, but it was also available to be watched digitally. It’s based on a one shot in the DC universe. If you haven’t guessed it by now, I’m talking about one of the most disturbing and violent graphic novels that has ever been written.

So without further ado, let’s get into “The Killing Joke”.

***WARNING! Spoilers ahead!***

**Trigger warning! This blog will mention violence, murder and rape.**

Now, this is one of those cases where I have read the source material before seeing the movie. I’m happy to say that they stay faithful to the graphic novel. While the first half hour is dedicated to something that has nothing to do with the original story, the last part blew my mind.

Parents, even though this is an animated movie, this one ain’t for the kiddies. Don’t let them watch this until they are much older. This seventy-seven-minute cartoon deals with murder, sex, torture and something that I will get to in a bit. I’m an adult and this left me feeling really uncomfortable. And I watched “12 Years a Slave”, which had some extremely disturbing content.

Like I mentioned, the first part of this was written for the movie’s sake. I guess to flesh out the running time a bit since the graphic novel isn’t that long. I want to say it’s probably only about forty pages, but don’t quote me on that. We get a nice little story about Barbara Gordon, the daughter of commissioner Jim Gordon. You might also know her as Batgirl, Batman’s partner in crime fighting. She fails to stop a robbery then gets too involved. A mafia man named Paris Franz (one of the worst possible names for a villain) becomes obsessed with her. Franz later tricks her into finding a dead body, who happens to the Franz’s uncle. In case it isn’t obvious, Paris killed his own uncle. Batman becomes concerned and tells Batgirl he doesn’t want her on the case anymore.

I have to admit, this part was almost perfect. Batman admits that he is worried about her mental health. She too is becoming obsessed with the case and it has caused her to make some dangerous and stupid decisions. If Batgirl keeps going down the path she is on, she will turn herself into a murderer, something he doesn’t want for her. This upsets her and they get into a very heated argument on a roof top. Then they have sex. And for the next roughly five minutes, this becomes the focus of the movie.

Normally, five minutes isn’t that long, but remember, this movie is barely over an hour long. Barbara and Batman stop talking and she regrets the sex. She actually apologizes for what happened. Even then, she gets right back into crime fighting. Barbara pretty much ignores everything Batman told her and goes after Franz alone. This time, he pushes her too far and she beats him to a bloody pulp. Only when she realizes what she’s done does she stop. Batgirl retires when she accepts that she’s going down the wrong path and walks away from being a vigilante.

Now, this is where the graphic novel comes into play.

Batman is called to Arkham because something seems off. There’s been a murder and people seem to think that The Joker is behind it. The problem? Joker has been locked away for a long time. During a little heart to heart, Batman learns that the person imprisoned is not the real man. Joker has escaped and left a decoy in his place.

The real Joker shows up at Commissioner Gordon’s apartment and shoots Barbara in the stomach. Because of the severity of the attack, she is left paralyzed. Gordon is then kidnapped while Joker strips his daughter naked and photographs her.

I’m going to paus here for just a moment. Remember that one thing I was going to save for later? Well, here it is. I was looking at some reviews and theories about “The Killing Joke”. Yes, it is sickening for a man to shoot a woman then take photos of her while she’s still bleeding and nude. I did read one possible idea that made me think. There are some people who believe that it’s not as innocent (and I use that term extremely loosely here) as it looks. The movie shows that Barbara is conscious while being undressed. There is a theory that Joker also raped her. I don’t know if this is true, but judging by what happens later, I think it might have happened. You’ll see what I mean.

Gordon is taken to an old amusement park and also stripped naked. He is forced to go on a carnival ride where he is shown the photographs of his injured, naked daughter. This is why I think Joker did indeed rape Barbara. Gordon already knew that his daughter was shot. He witnessed it. And being her father, he’s probably seen her naked before, though she was probably a child at the time. You know, he probably changed some diapers and bathed her. What could be more shocking that that? Seeing your child sexually assaulted at her most vulnerable moment. That’s what drove him over the edge. After the ride, he’s left in such a state of shock, he can’t even function. But, this is what Joker wanted: to drive Commissioner Gordon into insanity.

Then we go into a flashback. We get to see Joker’s origin story. He was an ordinary man trying to support his pregnant wife. Instead of being an engineer, he wanted to try and be a stand-up comedian. He fails miserably, unable to pay the rent. In a last ditch effort to get some money, he agrees to help some men break into the chemical plant where he used to work in exchange for money. While discussing this with the two henchman, he is informed that Jeannie, his wife, and unborn child have died in a freak household accident. Greif stricken, he is forced to continue with the heist.

At the plant, he is forced to wear a red mask and red cape so people think that he is Red Cape, a notorious villain in Gotham. Things don’t go as planned and the men are shot. Batman shows up to deal with the criminals. In the heat of the moment, the man in the red mask trips and falls into a vat of chemicals. He washes up outside, only to be completely disfigured. He is now the Joker we all know. The disfigurement and the loss of his wife send him into madness.

Back in the present day, Batman finds Gordon, shocked but still sane. Gordon then tells Batman that he has to bring Joker down, but to do it “by the books”. We go into the final confrontation between Gotham’s masked vigilante and the Clown Prince of Crime. It culminates in Batman offering to help Joker be rehabilitated but the latter refuses, believing it to be too late. Joker tells him a joke and they both laugh. If you pay attention, you’ll notice that after about a minute or so, you only hear Batman chuckling. It is not stated if he has killed Joker but rather, left open to interpretation.

The voice acting in this is superb. Mark Hamill is one the best Jokers to have ever appeared, or in this case voiced, on screen. He has this almost hoarse, breathy voice that sounds like he is teetering on the edge of madness. He even has the laugh down perfectly. I’ve seen a lot of the animated Batman shows and heard the different voice actors, but to me, Hamill is tops. Kevin Conroy is equally talented and amazing. I can find nothing bad to say about the people who lent their voices to this project.

Content wise, I can find some negatives. As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, this is not for the faint of heart. I read the graphic novel before watching this and it is one hundred percent faithful to the source material. It was well written, both in the book and on the screen. However, there is a lot of torture and violence. It is unsettling to see it and I was left highly uncomfortable after viewing the film. While it is tastefully done and you don’t see the worst parts of it, it is strongly hinted at so you know it happened. And while it isn’t clear what exactly happened to Barbara after her father was taken, I’ve presented one theory.

I have to admit, I liked “The Killing Joke” more than I liked “Suicide Squad”. The flashbacks added to the story and helped to make the Joker a sympathetic character. It also shows what caused him to go insane. In this case, it makes sense to me. Yes, it is hard to watch at times and they didn’t exactly do a great job with Barbara Gordon because she is stuck in the inferior role. Batgirl is treated more like a rookie who doesn’t know what she’s doing when compared to Batman. He even scolds her like a child.

But I would watch it again. It makes you think, it has a solid plot and there is room for interpretation. It’s also the most faithful adaptation I have ever seen. This is coming from the woman who took a class dedicated to adaptations in college. If you’re strong of heart, give this one a watch. If not, best stick to a summary of it so you don’t have to see the graphic scenes.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I just have one question. “Why aren’t you laughing?”

Suicide Squad

2016-08-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I’m TheCinemaChick and I’m actually motivated for once! That’s right, I’m in a great mood and I want to write, so let’s do this. If you’re wondering what I’m doing right now, I’m listening to a song called “Let Me Fall”, recorded by Josh Groban. I have to admit, I’m a huge fan of this man. I went to his concert a few years back and sat in the second row. His voice is like magic, that I can assure you. Plus, he’s really hilarious. He’s coming back into town this year, or early next year, I can’t remember when. I wish I could meet him, I really do. I used to sing a lot, you know since I was a total choir nerd, but these days, the most I do is singing along with radio. I’m not that good anymore because I am really out of practice but hey, that could change, you never know.

Ah, you’re not here to read about my never ending love of Josh Groban’s music are you? No, you’re probably thinking, “What movies have you seen recently? What’s good? What’s not? TELL ME!” I admit, that’s probably an exaggeration, but someone out there might actually be dying to know what I’ve seen.

If you’re that person, you and I are now best friends.

The truth is, I haven’t seen many movies lately. I unfortunately fractured my ankle, so I’ve been staying off it. I can go out and I’m able to walk, but it’s painful and sometimes just uncomfortable. So in the past few months, I’ve only seen four films. Two of them I loved, one I was left a little disappointed in and then there’s “Suicide Squad”. Hold your thoughts until the end, boys and girls. We’re going to talk about the latest DC movie.

I saw “Suicide Squad” with a group of friends that I’ve known for about half my life now. Like everyone else out there, the trailers had me pretty pumped. I was excited to see a movie about villains being put out there. I love Harley Quinn and the Joker. Those two are some of my favorite bad guys in out of all comic books. However, they are horribly dysfunctional, let’s admit that straight off the bat. That is not love, that is psychological abuse which caused Stockholm Syndrome. If you know anything about the history of these two, you will see just how horrible things are. Joker repeatedly abuses Harley Quinn, emotionally, mentally and physically.

That aside, I also had to keep the last DC movie in mind. I was also psyched to see “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and I ended up not liking that one. Don’t get me wrong, there are elements of that film that I absolutely adored. Ben Affleck as Batman? He was actually good! The introduction of the meta humans? Brilliant! Gal Gadot as Diana Prince, better known as Wonder Woman? Yes, please! My problem with that movie is that it was so long. Most of the movie was spent building up to the final battle, which ended up being a bit of a letdown. The humor wasn’t that great and fell flat in most places. Also, what was up with the random dream sequences? DC fans, explain the thing to me!

Note to everyone involved in future Batman movies: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE…stop retelling the story of his parent’s death! It has come up in every single Batman film and I don’t think it needs retelling. Even people who aren’t familiar with this franchise know that he’s an orphan due to tragic circumstances.

“Suicide Squad” is just a bunch of villains rounded up to defeat another bad guy who isn’t really all that threatening. I couldn’t really find another plot beyond that. And that’s being generous. Most of this movie is spent giving backstory on Harley Quinn and Deadshot. That’s what it focuses on all throughout. I can’t deny that Margot Robbie and Will Smith have really good chemistry on screen. If the other characters had that much screen time, I bet they’d be pretty awesome too. Seriously, everyone else becomes a background character. In the trailers, they make Slipknot out to be some really important person in reality (MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT) he barely gets three minutes of screen time. Why even have him if he’s just going to be wasted?

That is one thing that really, really bothers me. Why make a big deal about these people if you’re not going to use them properly? I’m not as familiar with DC comics as I am with Marvel, so I wanted to know all about these characters. Captain Boomerang looks like a madman and I wanted to know all about him. Katana has a sword that traps people’s souls in it. We get a brief glance into her history but even then, she’s relegated to a role that barely has her speaking. Excuse me, she was more badass that most of the people in this movie. Making her so insignificant is an insult to her.

Ok, I’m going to go on a little rant here. This movie has a whopping four women that share the screen. We have Harley Quinn, Katana, Amanda Waller and Enchantress. As I already stated, Harley is shoved into the forefront. Katana is stuck in the back, speaking only Japanese and letting team leader, Rick Flag, speak for her and Enchantress…I’ll get to her in a moment. Let me start off with Amanda Waller. She is played by Viola Davis, an actress I absolutely adore. In the film, Waller is straight laced, no nonsense, doesn’t beat around the bush. She gets to the point without making any excuses. I honestly thought she was one of the best characters in the whole movie. Davis brings this quiet intensity to the role that makes you want to hate Waller for using people the way she does, but at the same time, you have to admire that kind of tenacity.

Harley Quinn is portrayed as some kind of tragic romance story. I do like the nod to her origins as a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum. She did fall in love with the Joker and it turned into a tumultuous relationship. And in the games, comics and cartoon series, she is insane. However, she is not overtly sexualized. In some instances, she does have a somewhat sexy appearance, like in some of the video games, but come on. Why didn’t she get her Arkham Asylum outfit? And yes, they did briefly translate her original red and black costume into live action. I have to admit, it looked hideous. But, did we need to stick her in shorts so tiny they should be considered underwear? And did we have to see her getting dressed? She was pretty much only there to be a sex symbol. For the most part, Harley Quinn came off as stupid, love sick and useless.

And this is coming from someone who loves Harley Quinn. I hated this incarnation of her. I didn’t particularly care for Margot Robbie either. Half the time, she spoke as a normal person and then sometimes, a little of that Harley voice would come out. If you’ve seen the animated shows, you know what I’m talking about. I can’t stand it when actors can’t keep an accent. Either commit to the role or don’t. Then she spends the whole movie trying to be reunited with the Joker. She doesn’t care about anyone but him and at one point, abandons everyone to be with him.

Speaking of the Joker, why was he advertised so much? He’s barely in the movie! The movie is two hours long and he has maybe fifteen minutes on screen? I love Jared Leto, I really do. His music is awesome and if you haven’t seen “Dallas Buyers Club”, I highly recommend it. However, if you’re not into political movies about drugs and HIV and cross dressers, you should skip it. I wasn’t sure if I was even going to like him as The Joker because let’s be honest, he had some huge shoes to fill. People are still talking about the late Heather Ledger’s portrayal.

Heath Ledger was gone too soon. He was an amazing actor.

I liked Jared Leto’s portrayal of the Joker in this movie. To me, in reminded of the older versions, a la Cesar Romero and a little Jack Nicholson. This is not the dark, brooding Joker that Ledger brought us. This is the Joker that loves to have fun and really play with the people he intends to later kill. To me, he did a great job. Leto has gone completely unappreciated because he will always be compared to Heath Ledger. Both men did this character justice, just in different ways.

You know what we see more of than The Joker? Harley Quinn’s ass.

Now, let me talk about Enchantress. I know a few things about this character and I know that her story was messed up. She did not translate well to the big screen. This was my first time seeing Cara Delevingne in any movie. In my opinion, she was a horrible choice for main villain. First off, she’s barely wearing anything, so way to overly sexualize another character. Second, I don’t really know what her intent was. Ok, she wanted to change the world but how? I mean, she had the swirling cloud of doom for the majority of the film, but other than that, she didn’t do much. Third, what was up with that weird dancing? Seriously, it’s the climax of the film, she’s standing by her magic cloud and it looks like she’s just dancing to the music there. And she barely even puts up a fight. The climax was such a letdown.

The Joker and Enchantress were more like romantic interests than threats.

The final scene sets things up for a possible sequel. They are already planning on making a Harley Quinn standalone film, which…I don’t know how I feel about that. If “Suicide Squad” was any indicator, it’s just going to be another two hours of Margot Robbie being unable to pick an accent and showing off her butt in sparkly booty shorts. In the comics, Harley does leave The Joker and hooks up with Poison Ivy. They work well together. I would love to see the interactions between those two women. The thing is, Harley isn’t just a complete psychopath. She’s incredibly intelligent! I mean, she had a doctorate in psychology before all this mess got started! Show off her smart side!

Overall, I didn’t care for it. Just like “Batman vs Superman”, it takes too long to get to the point and I was left wanting something more. The plot is paper thin and rarely ever comes into play because they focus too much on Deadshot and Harley Quinn. There are a lot of flashbacks, which do detract from the action a lot. The Joker is completely wasted due to being under used. Enchantress comes across bland and boring.

Again…why did we need to see Harley Quinn’s butt so much?

I know this is all setting up for the future Justice League movie for the DCEU (DC Extended Universe). There is a cameo by Ezra Miller, which also made no sense. It didn’t add anything to the film or tell me more about his character, Barry Allen. Why was it there? To say “Look we promise better things are coming! Just hang in there and trust us!”

And this is coming from someone who also loves Ezra Miller!

I have seen the trailer for the “Justice League” but even then, I’m not terribly interested. I like the dialogue between Bruce Wayne and Barry Allen. I like the interaction between Arthur Curry and Bruce Wayne as well. It has the potential to be good. However…I’m so sorry DC, but your track record isn’t looking good.

Look at “Green Lantern”.

I really wanted to love “Suicide Squad” but with the messy editing, muddled plot and poorly written characters…I couldn’t. It has good moments but overall, I wasn’t excited about it. I also saw it in 3D, which was a waste of money.

You know how children have short attention spans so shows use bright colors and loud noises to keep their interest? That’s what this felt like. The movie knew it wasn’t good but look! Bright colors! Music! Action! Harley Quinn’s sparkly butt!

Overall, I’m mixed. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it. I just wish it had tried harder.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I’m a Marvel.

Zootopia

2016-03-04T22:01:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone out there! You know me best as TheCinemaChick and I talk about movies a lot. And I mean A LOT! I know, I know, I haven’t been active much as of late but you know, things happen and I need to lay low for a bit. Since that sounds shady, let me explain. I’ve just been busy and when I wasn’t busy, I was dealing with my bipolar disorder, which has been al out of whack lately. And, some really great things have happened but I’m not ready to announce that to the general public yet. No hints either. It’s something myself and only about…3 other people know and for the time being, that’s the way I’d like to keep it.

So, I have seen some films this year. I saw “The Fifth Wave” for my birthday, which was absolutely atrocious. I laughed inappropriately the whole time because well…I guess I’ll just have to write about it to explain it. Seriously, one of the worst of 2016.

I did see Deadpool and I’m on the fence about whether I should review it or not. I mean, it was such a popular movie that I don’t feel I need to touch on it. If you want me to talk about it, let me know! You know where the comment section is!

So, let’s move on to the movie of this blog. I’m talking about the newly released Disney animated film called “Zootopia”. I’m not sure how I feel about this film as of yet. The thing is, I loved the voice acting. They had a really good cast, including Ginnifer Goodwin as the main character, Judy Hopp. As per usual, the animation was astounding, but I’ve come to expect high quality animation from them so it’s really hard for them to screw up the visuals.

Let me step back here for a moment. I did in fact see “The Good Dinosaur”, which I DO NOT recommend. It’s aimed at children but it should not be. There are some topics in there that children just aren’t ready to deal with. I mean, you see the main character lose a parent in the beginning and there is a scene later where he has to explain death to a little human boy. I found that part extremely sad and I don’t think a little kid would want to hear about it. Also, yes, there is a drug trip. The dinosaur and his human pet eat some berries that have either gone bad or fermented and they hallucinate. I was uncomfortable watching it as an adult. Again, not for children!

See, I brought that up because I see this trend continuing. While “Zootopia” on the surface is a cute movie about a bunny joining the police force and becoming friends with a fox, I don’t think it’s for the little ones. I admit, it’s full of bright colors and snappy dialogue but honestly, today’s children are smarter than that. I think they are going to catch little bits of what’s meant to be a moral lesson. Plus, Disney is really relying on this whole “girl power, women can do anything” trend. The last few major movies that have come out, especially the animated ones have all dealt with independent young girls who can overcome anything.

I’m all for female empowerment, but we get it Disney. We learned this from Mulan, Frozen, Brave, Inside Out…the list goes on and on.

And the thing is, Judy is kind of bland and one dimensional. She only has one mode, eternal optimist. She doesn’t really grow or change over the course of the story. All throughout, she’s just the first bunny cop, something they repeatedly nail into your head. We get it! She made history! We don’t need to be reminded of it every fifteen minutes! And like I said, she’s just always cheerful and upbeat and optimistic, which in itself isn’t bad. But she doesn’t learn anything. The lesson I got from the movie is that I should learn how to “hustle” and bend the laws a little bit. And trust me, she bends the law to her advantage several times, then gets on the fox’s case for the slightest infraction of it!

To me, the most interesting character was the secondary lead, Nick Fox, voiced by Jason Bateman. He actually had growth and change as a character and he was much better than Judy. Yeah, ok, she starts off all shady but by the end of the film, I was rooting for him. His backstory was far more interesting than hers so he became more sympathetic. I could relate to Nick more than I could a determined bunny. Sorry guys, I’m just saying, the anti-hero (if that’s what we’re calling him) is far more interesting than the hero.

While the overall tone of the film is light for the most part, they cover some incredibly heavy topics. To start, Judy’s parents aren’t encouraging and supportive. She wants to be a cop, they tell her no, stay home and be a carrot farmer. Then there’s a joke about how many brothers and sisters she has, so yeah they had to include a joke about rabbit reproduction. They actually show some violence, which is new to me. Most of the time it’s implied or shown off screen. In this case, no if someone gets hurt, you see it. And oh my goodness, they really hammer home a message about racism. Judy is called “cute” at one point and she says it’s offensive because only bunnies can call other bunnies cute.

Dude, it’s the Oscars all over again! I watched the Academy Awards to see if Leonardo DiCaprio finally won the gold statue and I left feeling so horrible about myself! Seriously, almost everyone had some sort of social injustice to preach about. I had to hear about sexual assault and bullying and climate change…ugh! Celebrities…you can preach how we should change all these things all you want, I don’t see you making any real efforts to stop them. Just addressing the issue and raising awareness isn’t going to do anything if that’s all you do!

*sighs*

I’m okay.

Overall, “Zootopia” was pretty good. I liked most of the characters and the plot was good. There was a twist I didn’t see coming, but in retrospect, I should have. The ending was bland and predictable, which is true of a lot of films these days. I just went into it really wanting to like it but afterwards…I just couldn’t. I wasn’t as impressed as I had hoped. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see a movie that explores this world deeper and focuses on other animals, but I don’t want to see anymore of Judy Hopps.

Would I recommend this movie? Yeah, if you can swing a matinee for it. Take the kids as well, they’ll love the witty script and action scenes. There might be a few things you have to explain to him after the film because I honestly think a lot of more adult themes were slipped in.

Also. I know that Shakira was cast in the movie as Gazelle. Don’t get your hopes up. She’s not in the movie until the final ten minutes. She’s mentioned a lot and you get to hear her speak I think three times in the entire run time. Why promote her casting if you’re not going to use her? She was just shoved into the background.

One tiny spoiler. There is a huge Breaking Bad easter egg that had me laughing. You’ll know what it is when you get there. I was laughing pretty hard at that. I can’t spoil why it was so funny but trust me, it’s a good one!

Also, Alan Tudyk voices a minor character named Duke Weaslton…sound familiar? Since he played the Duke of Wesselton (always mispronounced as Weaselton) in “Frozen”? I see what you did there, Disney. Two thumbs up to that!

Again, overall, I don’t care for “Zootopia”. It lays on the social issues too much and relies on a bland, uninteresting character to tell the story. I’m also a little uncomfortable that they have a naturalist club in the film. Kids, if you don’t know what that is…ask your parents. I ain’t touching this one. It’s in the movie…where Tommy Chong is. Don’t know Tommy Chong? Again, ask your parents.

I’m TheCinemaChick and if I were in Zootopia, I’d like to think I’d be a ferret.

Southpaw

2015-07-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, you know me as the one, the only, the mysterious reviewer behind the keyboard, known globally as TheCinemaChick. Am I known around the world? Like, do people in Russia know who I am? I’m curious now. I know I’ve made a small name for myself in this area but like, are people in other countries interested in my blog? I know I can check my stats to see where the blog is viewed and all but I want to know about the people who are reading it.

So, if you’re living in a land that’s not America, let me know! I’d love to hear where you’re from!

I know, I have about a half dozen movies to review and that I once again and as always, really behind on things. Last week, I saw Marvel’s “Ant Man” which was much better than it looks. Seriously, I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. Let’s be honest, Ant Man isn’t exactly the first person you think of when you think of Marvel. No, you think about Iron Man or Thor or Hulk. Or, if you’re like me, you think about Loki, but I will not go into my reasons as to why I like Loki the best again. I feel I have gone into that more times than I need to.

Also, remember that promise I made in the last blog to have gummy bears in my purse? And how I threatened to use them if I saw someone on their phone? Well…I lied.

I used Reese’s Pieces instead. But I still got someone! This guy, who was probably two rows ahead of me took his phone out. And to make matters worse, it was right after there was a sign on the screen saying not to take pictures or record anything because this was a special screening. Are you really that stupid? The screen JUST SAID to put it away, why you are checking it now? You’ve been sitting there for at least ten minutes, you had plenty of time!

Oh! And another one of my lovely little pet peeves came into play. People, when the movie is playing, shut your mouths! I understand it’s a crowded theater, but some people are trying to hear what’s going on. I’m pretty sure I missed some dialogue that was vital to the plot because the guys next to me wouldn’t shut up. Dude, I don’t care that you have nachos nor do I care how good they are! I was perfectly happy with my tea and Reese’s Pieces. I mean, you are grown adults, learn the rules of the theater or stay home!

I should not have to say this in almost every single review I write lately.

The last thing I’m going to say before I get into the actual review is that you should not be taking your presumably ten or under child to this movie. I don’t care what your excuse is, this movie was rated R and would not have been good for a girl that age. It had a lot of swearing and violence and there are things no child should have to know about at that age. Hell, even the girl in the film didn’t need to see that and I know this was all fiction!

Enough about my anger and people at the theaters. Let’s get into the real reason you’re taking time out of your day to read this. Or night. I don’t care, as long as you read until the end. I don’t know, for all I know some of you are actually nocturnal. If you are nocturnal, are you an owl or a wolf or…some other creature that’s awake at night? Ah, an insomniac. I have insomnia sometimes but that’s not the topic of discussion here. Nope, we keep getting off topic.

Guys, you’re in for a treat tonight. I got to attend a special early screening of the move starring Jake Gyllenhaal. I haven’t seen much advertising done for this film which is a surprise to me. I actually didn’t have an interest in seeing it based on the whopping one trailer I’d seen but then I got this opportunity and I jumped on it. So me and Butterfly had free tickets to go see the movie “Southpaw” which doesn’t come out until this Friday. As with every movie that comes out now, there are some showing Thursday night. Why do they do this again? When I was a kid, which was an undetermined number of years ago, we had to wait until Friday to see a movie that was coming out. There were not midnight showings or this weird 7 PM Thursday thing.

And no, I won’t tell you my age. I’m old enough to purchase alcohol. Let’s leave it at that.

To my surprise, “Southpaw” was much better than I had thought it would be. I was expecting a sports movie with not a lot of substance but I was wrong. There is an actual plot, there are really amazing characters and they grow and change as the film progresses. To me, there is one character that stands out from the others and there is one glaring problem with the film but I will get to that in a moment so bear with me.

Our movie is about a professional boxer named Billy Hope. I’m not kidding. His name is seriously Billy Hope. It’s one of the worst names I’ve ever heard. I’m fairly certain that there is some not so subtle symbolism thrown in there with his name. One of those things like “When you have nothing else, you always have hope” sort of things. I imagine I’d see this little saying on a motivational poster. Well, Billy and his wife, Maureen, are happily in love and they have a daughter named Leila. Maureen wants her husband to speak at a charity thing, something bad happens and she dies tragically.

And no, I am not spoiling this. All the information I just gave you was in the trailer. I will even leave the trailer at the end to prove to you that I am not lying.

So of course, he can’t cope with his loss, more bad things happen and he finds himself falling from grace. Billy must now work his way back to the top with the help of an older and wiser mentor. While overall it’s a good film, the premise is completely predictable. It’s like every movie involving sports I’ve ever seen. The star falls from grace and must work his way back up to the top in order to redeem themselves. Boring. Overdone. Typical. Yawn.

And yes, I was rooting for Billy the whole time. I wanted him to get it all back, including his daughter. But as I watched, I realized there is a secondary theme going on throughout this film. While it is mainly focused on boxing, there is a subplot of grief. Billy and Leila must go through all the stages in their own way in order to cope with their loss. And for those who don’t know, the stage of grief are: Anger, Denial, Depression, Bargaining and Acceptance. I don’t think those are in the right order but you get my point. Billy goes through with all of them in his way while Leila deals with hers.

I have to warn you, the scenes with Leila are heartbreaking. She starts off so innocent but quickly has to grow up when she loses her mother. This kid sees things that no one, no matter what age you are, should have to see. The young actress who played her is named Oona Laurence and she was phenomenal. If I had a say in who should be nominated for an Oscar, this kid deserves a nod. I’m fairly certain she’s new to the acting world since I have never seen her name before but I really hope she continues on in the acting game. There were parts where I felt so bad for her. This is the one character I wanted to mention first because in my eyes, she was the best. I mean, yes the others were good but none of them managed to evoke the level of emotions she did.

I didn’t go into “Southpaw” thinking I’d enjoy it this much. I thought, “Well, the tickets were free so why not?” Then I sat through it and I was impressed. I think it’s striving for some Oscar recognition, which I can definitely see the possibilities. Though, I would guess it could get a nod for Best Supporting Actress for Oona Laurence, possibly Best Original Score (or is that a Grammy) because it was done by the late James Horner. I can also see Jake Gyllenhaal scoring a Best Actor nod, but not winning for his role.

This one will more than likely fall into my “Best of 2015” list because even though it’s not my type of film, it was incredibly well done. I felt emotional during it and I was never bored. The cast definitely put their hearts into and it shows.

“Southpaw” isn’t for everyone. I will admit that. But if you want something that starts off gritty, then just keeps your emotions in check until the end, I recommend it. I would say pay full price for it. Make it a date night movie. Just do yourself a favor and check it out.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I like to howl at the moon.

All opinions are mine. I have no ties to any theater and I am not affiliated with this movie. I just enjoyed it.

Also, I wasn't kidding about the murder being in the trailer.

Better Late Than Never: Mad Max

2015-07-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

What’s going on everyone, I’m that girl known as TheCinemaChick! I have a ton of laundry to do because I’m in the process of cleaning out my closet! I have a lot of clothes I forgot I even had so this should be tons of fun. And by tons of fun, I’m fairly certain I have a ton of clothes in there. They’re everywhere! I’m on a bit of a cleaning kick in general, in case you’re curious. I have my reasons, so let’s not get into that since no one cares about me sorting clothes!

Can we please, please, PLEASE talk about Mad Max and why it’s the most badass movie out there right now? I mean come on…Charlize Theron is the most awesome female around right now. And for all of you who think the film was a cop out because it wasn’t centered around Max…I don’t care! Can you not appreciate it as a great action/adventure movie? Visually, it was stunning. The plot wasn’t the best but it worked with everything going on. And hello, let’s also look at the costuming and how prefect it was to the setting? Not to mention how the music just worked with every single scene.

But first, let’s take a gander at everyone’s newest and most favorite character from this film, Guitar Guy! You’ve all seen him. He’s strapped to some speakers, playing a guitar that is also a flamethrower!

You see, in the nerd world AKA my home planet, we would refer to him as a bard. Bards play music in an attempt to rally his friends together and get them pumped for battle. Tell me that isn’t what Guitar Guy does! And I have no shame in admitting that I am a level 5 Cleric in Dungeons and Dragons. If you think that’s lame…I don’t care! You weren’t there when we went up against a half dozen trolls and guess what? I, the sweet little cleric, killed 4 of them with my now favorite spell, Inflict Wounds. Oh yeah, I’m awesome!

Ah, but enough about my nerd habits, let’s talk about the movie! Not going to lie, I absolutely loved it. I didn’t think I would since I didn’t really care for the cheesy older ones with Mel Gibson, but there was a lot of thought put into this one.

Let’s get one thing straight though. This movie isn’t about Max. This one is all about Furiosa. And you know what, I’m perfectly fine with this. Seriously, it’s not often that we get a chance to see an action movie with a female lead. For the most part, when I see a movie like this, women are either the damsels in distress of they are a sidekick. I admit, we did have this issue in the movie at first, but it turns out, most of the women in “Mad Max” are badass. Other than out main heroine, we have four minor girls who do some really awesome things.

Since the movie has been out a while, I feel I can go into the plot a bit. It centers around Furiosa who steals the four young brides of Immortan Joe, who is super creepy. I don’t know what he looks like or how he came to power but his costume made me uncomfortable. She wants to get them to a safer place but he won’t allow it. Enter Max, a living blood bag for a man named Nux. These people are insane. They follow Immortan Joe blindly, accepting him basically as a god. So when the girls are taken, the boys go after them.

Anyone remember watching “Wacky Races”? That’s what this movie reminds me of. Only for adults.

The visuals in this movie are fantastic, but that also causes its downfall. I saw the movie in 3D and the effects were amazing. However, they won’t really translate into normal television so some of it will be lost. On the big screen, when you see that steering wheel coming towards you, it’s breathtaking. This is what 3D films are meant to be. I loved that it did that instead of just making everything seem like it was in high definition.

You know, why are so many movies being converted into 3D these days? Is that just the trend? Honestly, for the most part, the special effects don’t change when it’s in a different format. I don’t see anything different between 2D and 3D. If I’m paying extra money for special effects, I want to see them, Damnit! I know it might just be me complaining about this but that’s just how I see it.

OH! Speaking of seeing a movie in the theater, can we once again talk about theater etiquette? People, if you are planning to see a movie, for the love of Red Vines, put your phone away! I am so sick and tired of trying to enjoy what’s going on when someone whips out a phone and starts texting. This person was older than me as well! You should know better by now! There are some teenagers who are smarter than you! I should not have to have this cell phone rant this many times. I am going to start carrying gummy bears in my purse and start pelting people with them if they don’t knock it off.

You think I’m kidding?

Watch me.

I know a lot of people are arguing that this can’t be seen as a Mad Max film because it’s not about Max. Some people are complaining that it’s a movie for feminists. Who says that’s a bad thing? We need more positive, strong female role models out there! I’m not saying you should take your ten year old daughter to this but come on…most of the movies out there have the women doing almost nothing. We need more of this.

I honestly have almost nothing bad to say about “Mad Max: Fury Road”. It definitely worth seeing. If you’re not going for the plot (which there isn’t much of one), go for the acting. See it for the gorgeous visuals and scenery. See it because there are some badass chicks who are smart and kick some major ass.

What are you waiting for?

Go out and see it!

…Well, after you read this.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I’m “Out of Control”

Get it? "Out of Control"? It's a song...here's the original video to enjoy as well...

Videos are from YouTube, no copyright infringement intended. If you like the band, they are called "Man With a Mission". This song features Zebrahead but go check out more of their music. You won't be disappointed.

Pitch Perfect 2

2015-06-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone in Internet Land, I’m the girl who throws popcorn at people on their phones during a movie, better known as TheCinemaChick! I’ve been so irritated by theater goers lately. I saw Mad Max and one person kept taking out their phone to text someone. News flash for you buddy, I can see you every time you do it! It’s a massive distraction and why aren’t you watching the freaking movie? You paid good money to see it in 3D, why waste it? Seriously, pocket the phone and watch! I should not have to be the one who must start throwing popcorn at you to make a point! You’re older than me! Have you never been to a movie before?

I know I’m ranting but how many times have I had to talk about this? Even children (for the most part) know better!

What have I been up to the past month, you probably aren’t wondering? Well, I’m glad I brought it up. I have been doing some teaching but the school year is now over, so I won’t be doing that again until August. Then, on top of that, I had several American Heritage Girl events to attend and help with. For those of you who don’t know what AHG is, it’s like Girl Scouts but it’s centered on the church. The easy way to put it is that it’s basically Christian Girl Scouts. I don’t remember if I’ve brought that up before or not, but now you know. I just finished up a week of vacation Bible school, which I have done for I think five years now. I started off with the two year olds, then went up to do arts and crafts and never looked back.

However…small children and crafts are a tricky thing. They get bored easily and it’s almost impossible to keep their attention for the forty five minutes we have them. We also have multiple rotations so we have may have a minute or two to clean up from one class and set up for the next. Fortunately, the other ladies I work with and I have a system. We got this down.

But I’m not here to talk about things that aren’t cinema related…even though I just did…Well, I’m here to talk about the movies I’ve seen recently. I’ve only got three so far, but I’ve been busy and money’s a bit tight right now, so I have to scale back for a while. Trust me, there are a dozen films I’d go see right now if I could, I just can’t.

Then there’s the movies I saw and wished I hadn’t spent money on. Like Pitch Perfect 2. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the first one. I still watch it from time to time. Anna Kendrick cracks me up, Rebel Wilson is a great comedic actress and the musical numbers are amazing. It made me want to be a part of an a Capella singing group. I admit, my choir days are over, but this made me want to start over and do more things with it. The group’s chemistry was really good. I wish the second one had been half as good.

I admit, the sequel does have some high points but for the most part, I just couldn’t enjoy it. Many of the jokes are offensive. There is a new girl named Florencia who I believe is supposed to be from Guatemala. Instead of making her a positive character, they made her into a walking stereotype. All of the jokes about her were racist. She talks about being traded for chickens or how she’ll be deported after college and die trying to sneak back in to America. SERIOUSLY. As a woman who is Hispanic, I am incredibly offended by this. I don’t appreciate jokes like that and I think they crossed a line with this one. Why did you think it was a good idea to include multiple jokes about this? It’s not funny, it’s just disgusting.

And, if you’ve seen the previews, you know what happens to the Bellas. They perform for the president and Fat Amy’s costume tears, revealing that she does not have underwear on. Here’s the second thing I had a major issue with. Why did it have to be the plus size girl? I know a lot of people think it’s funny to make fun of the fat girls, but we don’t like it. Not to mention, if there is a plus size woman in a movie, she’s either comedic relief or the ugly friend. She doesn’t get the good roles or the handsome lead actor. Larger women are reduced so that the skinny woman can take center stage. Fat Amy is another stereotype that I can’t stand. She has a few lines that I liked but for the most part, I hated her role this time. I mean, they couldn’t even give her clothes that fit properly! Why does every outfit she wear have to be so tight and short? The other girls get clothes that fit great, but not her. It’s like…everything you think about fat girls is Fat Amy. I wish Rebel Wilson had been given better clothes and less disgusting lines.

The plot itself is a mess. I understand the main plot is that the Barden Bellas have fallen from grace and would like to redeem themselves at the world championship. That story rarely ever comes out. Every now and then, the movie is like “oh yeah, we’re a singing group!” and gets back on topic. They have so many side stories going on that it detracted from the main one. There’s still the whole Beca and Jesse thing going on, we get more on the Fat Amy and Bumper love story then the new girl (they call her Legacy) and Ben have a romance as well. They wanted to do so much but they shouldn’t have. I wish some of the filler material had been cut out because it just didn’t fit.

To make matters worse, they tried to recycle ideas from the last movie to try and remind us that the first one was great. So now, instead of a riff off in the pool, we have a weird contest in some guy’s basement. The highlight of this scene is that the Green Bay Packers are in it. Okay, they’re terrible but it’s still funny. But it’s no different from the last one. And what really got me is that the Treblemakers are gone. The only returning members are Jesse and Ben. The rest of the group gets one musical number then you never see them again. Even the main rivals have been reduced so much that they are nothing but romantic interests. I can’t even really say this movie tries to promote female empowerment because it was just two hours of racism and vagina jokes.

I laughed a grand total of three times. I’m not joking. The final medley of songs was great and I really enjoyed it, especially when they brought out the past members of the Bellas to sing with them. It was a touching moment, one I think this movie needed more of.

My question now is, they establish that everyone but one girl graduates. There will be a Pitch Perfect Three coming out in the future but what’s going to happen with it? Are we going to look at the girls now that they’ve all left college? Are we going to focus on Legacy and her life as a Bella and a college girl? Will they explain why singing groups get houses on campus? There are a lot of things that never get answered. Continuity people! Use it!

In recent months, Fry has pointed out that I tend to be a little too critical when I discuss films, which I admit, can be true. However, when it comes to Pitch Perfect, I can’t help it. The movie had the potential to be just as good, if not better than its predecessor. Instead, they went back to the same plot, added some fluff and offensive jokes and called it a film. I also understand that movies are not catered to my specific tastes. I just also have the hopes that it will not rely on racist jokes or vulgarity to be good. And that’s what the problem is with this one. It relied on a tired formula without really adding anything fresh to it. And if you have to resort to race jokes, then you should have edited the script better.

Maybe I expected too much from Pitch Perfect Two. I admit, I did have high hopes for this one but it just never came together for me. In the end, I felt bad that I’d paid to see this. It wasn’t too terribly memorable and I just didn’t enjoy myself. I know it did quite well and I’m just one person, but I have no desire to see another film in this franchise. They should quit while they’re ahead or it’s just going to end up as another stale, formulaic two hour bore. That’s just my opinion and if you disagree, that’s fine by me. I’m just telling you what I think.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I’ve got two more reviews to go to be caught up.

Theater Reviews: Harkins Southlake

2015-05-11T18:15:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone out there behind a computer screen! Happy Monday from me, you’re (probably not) favorite reviewer, TheCinemaChick! I've had a rough weekend, so I’m setting aside a few things for now. Don’t worry, I’m still going to do my look at the summer movie season. You see, yesterday was Mother’s Day and for me, it’s not an easy day because I lost MovieMomma in 2012. I did go through grief counseling this year but if anyone else has ever lost a parent, you know how hard it is to have holidays like this. Yes, I have OtherMother and TenMom (KitKat’s mother has accepted me as her daughter and they live in Tennessee) but it will never be MovieMomma. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of the maternal figures in my life. There’s just no one else like your mother.

Enough about my sadness. I've been mulling this over in my head a while and I've decided that I want to take a look at the theaters I frequent. That’s right, I’m reviewing the theaters themselves. I've thought about what I would base my criteria on and I think I've got it. I’m going to base my opinions on the following five factors: Lobby/Hallway, Theater, Management/Staff, Snacks and Cleanliness. I've been to a lot of cinemas in the area and everyone’s got an opinion on which one they prefer. I can honestly say, I've been to some amazing places but there is one theater that I will never go to again. You’ll understand when I write about that one.

What’s my rating system? Let’s make one up…I suppose a five star system would work.

Also, keep in mind I am not affiliated with any of these businesses. I’m not employed at any of them. At most, I’m a patron. If they like what they read, fantastic. If they don’t, I’m sorry but I’m entitled to my opinions.

The first theater I want to visit, metaphorically, is Harkins Theater. It is in Southlake, Texas which isn’t too terribly far from me. It’s a bit of a drive, whether I take a highway or the back roads. But that’s not their fault. I’m more than willing to make the drive out there to see a movie. So, let’s look at each of my criteria, one at a time.

1. Lobby/Hallway

The building itself is fairly small. There’s just one long hallway and a medium sized lobby. Even when it’s full of people, it never feels like it’s small because there’s plenty of room to maneuver through the crowds. Granted, there are always those people who stop in the middle of the area to chat but that’s not anyone’s fault but their own. And remember, it’s hard for me to get around because I do require a cane to walk. I've never felt like I was going to be shoved aside or knocked over. And they are well lit, so navigation isn't an issue. Overall, I give it my highest rating, five stars.

2. Theater

The theater itself is bright both before and after the show. A lot of people leave as soon as the credits start, which is ok but if you’re like me, or it’s a Marvel movie, you wait. However, I've been to some theaters where you can’t see anything until well after the credits end. It’s like the want you to be in the dark, pun intended. A lot of the time, I am terrified to move around in a theater because it’s dark and having a cane, I need to see where I am stepping. I’m also visually impaired, so I can’t see outlines in dark places. I love that Harkins actually makes sure people can see where they are going. I personally feel safer going up and down the steps, knowing I can clearly see what I am doing.

Rating: Five Stars

3. Management/Staff

You know how some places have employees that just look like they’d rather be doing anything else at that moment? Or how it reflects in their attitude? I never see that with the workers at Harkins. I’ll admit, sometimes they do seem tired but they work hard and I cannot fault them for showing signs of exhaustion. They are genuinely friendly, gladly help out if you have a question and are incredibly helpful. I've had issues with an employee…never actually. And the management? Bravo Harkins management! You guys are the best. I went to a midnight showing and asked a manager about possibly going in like, 2 minutes earlier so I could get a seat. When he asked why, I explained how most people rush in at once, run past me, etc and that I had been knocked over before during a marathon. I was just asking because of my personal safety. Since that night, I've noticed there has been a “no running, no pushing” rule enacted. They’ve even said if you get caught doing that, it’s the end of the line for you.

I am incredibly impressed that they took a concern from a customer (I’m sure it wasn't me, other people have probably said things in a similar manner before) and made it a rule so everyone can be safe. And yes, I do feel safer at Harkins. I feel I am less likely to trip, be knocked over, fall…I just think they raised the bar here.

Rating: Six Stars (Because they are that good. I’m not kidding, they are amazing.)

4. Snacks

Honestly, just about every theater I go to has a subpar snack bar. I’m normally unimpressed but everything. However, they have a great selection. I've never had stale popcorn either and believe me, some places I've been have no shame in serving leftover stuff. Don’t like the amount of butter you got? They have small stations to the side where you can add more. They also have the plastic jars with seasoning in them if you want a different flavor. Did you know other theaters charge for it? I've seen it sold for about a dollar other places but here, they give it away. And if you haven’t tried ranch popcorn, you’re missing out. They have a huge variety of candy as well, if that’s what you want. They even offer pizza and small burgers if you’re really hungry. I’m not a fan but that’s because I've never understood getting a full meal at a movie. If you’re at a movie tavern, I understand but a normal movie? Don’t get me wrong, I've eaten probably everything they offer because I've attended marathons there and if you’re there all day, you don’t just want popcorn. Personally, I go for the pizza but to each their own.

Rating: Four Stars (sometimes the lines get really backed up and you end up waiting a long time to get to the counter, and I don’t mean during marathon events. Even then, it’s worth the wait)

5. Cleanliness

Not going to lie, I've never seen this theater dirty. Yes, after a movie, people leave their trash all over but that’s it. The bathrooms are always spotless, even during marathon events when they are in high use. How is it possible that they keep it so clean? The lobby and halls may have the occasional piece of popcorn or ticket stub but that’s it. It’s just…clean. Once again, it’s good for me because I feel safe, knowing I can’t slip on someone’s spilled popcorn. They take care of things in a very timely manner. Oh and during marathons, if you’re too tired or too stiff to make it to the trashcans in the hallway, they come around with a bag so you can dispose of your garbage. Is there anything they won’t do? Well, I mean, yeah they can’t do everything for you but still, they’re pretty impressive by my standards.

Rating: Four and a Half Stars. They’re not perfect and there are some people who just leave the trash all over and it’s possible that sometimes, something might be overlooked. However, by far, Harkins is the cleanest theater I go to.

There you have it, folks! My first theater review! What do you guys think? Do you want me to write about more places I go? Would you want to know what I think about some of the local theaters? And by local, I mean the places in the Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville, Arlington area. I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth suburbs so I tend to stick with what’s closest to me. Sorry, I don’t see the need to drive to downtown Dallas for 3 hours.

Also, as I've said before, I am not affiliated with any of these places. They are simply theaters I go to and like going to. If they like what I say, great, if they don’t, I’m sorry.

Until next time, I’m TheCinemaChick and I think I’ll make a sandwich for dinner.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

2015-05-04T11:35:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, I’m the nerd you might love and enjoy hearing from, TheCinemaChick! I’ve been busy as usual but I come bearing good news for a change. Today is the first of May which means “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is now out in theaters. Fortunately, I got to see it last night in a double feature so I can review it for you now. I will try to remain as spoiler free as possible because I know everyone wants to see it this weekend. And I don’t blame you. Right now, Marvel is a hot company. They’ve got a dozen movies lined up so this is all leading up to the highly anticipated “Infinity War”.

I will say this, if you haven’t seen ALL of the Marvel movies to date, don’t see this yet. Go catch up and make sure you’ve seen them then go see this one. There are a lot of references that come up that you might miss. I’d start with the first Avengers, then all of Phase 2 up until this point. Technically you don’t need to see “Guardians of the Galaxy” because it isn’t really mentioned except for a brief reference during a tiny montage. However, you should see it anyway because it’s a good movie. Plus, it’s Marvel and we all know they rarely ever have a misstep. Let’s not go into my intense dislike of “Iron Man 3” or why I can’t stand to sit through “Captain America: The First Avenger”. They’re both good in their own right but they are my least favorites.

There is a lot going on in this film, not going to lie. There are a lot of new characters, some huge plot twists added in and this is the movie that will lead us into Phase 3. What’s going to happen in Phase 3 you may ask? To which I will respond, “Where have you been?” Everyone know what’s coming in the next wave of films! To be fair, we will probably never see another Hulk film. I’m not sure why to be honest but I would love to see another. If you’ve see “Age of Ultron” already, then you might agree with me when I say that I would love to have a film showing what happens next for him. That ending…I won’t spoil it for you. You just have to see it and if you haven’t seen it yet, why not? I mean, come on this movie just set a record! It is now the second best opening ever at roughly $187.7 million.

Wondering what the biggest opening ever is? “The Avengers” with $207.4 million.

I will admit, all of the new characters can make the movie a bit hard to follow. We have Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch added into the fold. I have to admit, I loved their portrayal. However, I didn’t care for Elizabeth Olsen’s portrayal. Overall, I really liked her but she sounded terrible with her accent. Aaron Taylor-Johnson was spot on and as much as I love Evan Peters…I’m sorry, Taylor-Johnson wins this one. He was exactly what you want. Peters brought more of a comedic edge to the character but traditionally, Pietro Maximoff isn’t humorous. He’s hot headed, impatient and extremely volatile. Yes, he does have some wonderful moments that made me laugh but I’m used to a more angry Quicksilver. As for Olsen and Wanda Maximoff, again, for the most part, I enjoyed her. She brought this mysterious yet slightly kooky vibe to her, which I liked. I just wish she’d done a little more work on that accent.

One really great thing about this movie is how things from all the previous films are starting to come together. Little elements from “Thor” and “The Winter Soldier” are starting to come into play here. There are things you notice from those films in this one. The obvious thing is the yellow stone that showed up in one of the previews. Comic fans will know what this is: The Mind Stone. Ladies and gentlemen, the Infinity Stones are coming. Remember in the first “Thor” movie, when they’re down in the vault and you see all those relics? While the movie focused on the Casket of Winter, there is something else I hope you noticed. Remember that glove you saw for a brief moment? That is the Power Glove, the thing that houses the Infinity Stones. Once someone has all the Stones in that Glove, they become damn near invincible.

Thanos is coming.

I have to admit, despite my dislike of Elizabeth Olsen’s lack of accent, the way she interacted with the other actors, in character was brilliant. She was essentially what I had hoped for. The Scarlet Witch comes off as slightly out of her mind, which she is. I liked how her powers effected the Avengers so much that they had to leave and sort themselves out before going back to it. It’s like the film is trying to get the point across that super heroes are vulnerable too. Even they can lose their nerve. But the best part of Wanda’s powers were the little dreams she brought out. The audience gets to see little glimpses into the minds of each character. Finally, we get to see some of Black Widow’s background, which made her more of a sympathetic person to me. I’m not a huge fan of her but after seeing her story, I like her more. Thor’s dream, however, is more relevant to the future of the Marvel movie universe, so I’d rather not spoil that.

I would like to point this out though. Earlier in the year, I had read an interview with Idris Elba where he confirmed that both he and Tom Hiddleston would appear in “Age of Ultron”. Heimdall does show up, I won’t say where or how. However, Loki is noticeably absent in the movie. I’ve since read another interview, this one with Joss Whedon and he says that yes, Hiddleston did shoot some scenes but they were ultimately cut. I understand his reasoning since there is so much going on that maybe having Loki in it as well would have made the movie feel cluttered. As is, the film felt stuffed full of things I’ll need to remember into Phase 3. I agree with the decision to keep Loki out of this movie but that has just made me curious. What would his role have been? Remember, they think he’s dead because in “The Dark World”, Thor believes he sees Loki killed but at the very end, we see the trickster sitting on the throne of Asgard with a cocky grin on his face.

Anyone else wondering where Odin is?

I’ll admit, I had hoped that Ultron, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch would play a larger part but I felt like they were underutilized. I know, I know, this movie is about the Avengers and how they save the world. In my eyes, the twins are some of the most interesting and possibly tragic characters in this movie but they aren’t in it as much as I’d like. There could have been more added so we got to know them more but they were just pushed aside. I wasn’t even a huge fan of Ultron. Maybe it’s because I’m not familiar with him in the comic book universe, but to me, he was the least threatening villain ever. Maybe it was because he was always so calm and philosophical but I never once found him to be a threat. A nuisance maybe but never truly menacing. I wanted him to be a little more sinister and they almost turned him into a comic relief. I get that he’s new to the world and he intends to save it in his own way but having him apologize for hurting someone?

I admit, that bothered me. In the original “Avengers” movie, I had the sense of danger and urgency while they were looking for the tesseract and Loki. In “Age of Ultron”, I never really got that feeling. There were a few brief moments of “I wonder what will happen next” and a few times, I did say “Well, didn’t see that coming” but overall, it played out just as I had thought. There weren’t any major huge twists or surprises. I mean, we see the Hulk Buster armor in the trailer, so that wasn’t a surprise. Hell, they even teased the reveal of The Vision. Had they left that a secret, I would have been even more excited. Trailers these days just give away too much.

I will say this, the trailer, while it did give away too much for me, also did a good job of teasing me to the point where I had to find answers. Like, you see Captain America’s shield broken and you need to know why it’s broken. Or, you’ll see Thor in that pool of water and question what that has to do with the film overall. I can honestly say that even though it’s brief, it’s extremely important. Thor’s dream is something you should pay attention to and listen to everything he says. Again, this is all leading into Phase 3, The Infinity War.

Spoiler alert!! Kevin Feige has gone on record stating that the Gauntlet we see in “Thor” might not be the only one. I can’t say more because I don’t know more but I need to know.

I thoroughly enjoyed “Avengers: Age of Ultron” but it did have its faults. There was too much going on and far too many characters were involved. While the film does center on the main group, there are nearly a dozen additional minor characters as well. I won’t say who because that would spoil the ending, which was brilliant as well. The problem being, in my opinion, is that it took away from the overall feel. Yes, I understand that they’re important and they serve a purpose in later films but did we need them? Okay, they were needed at the end but all throughout? The plot is straightforward but then there are so many side stories that I got bored several times. I understand why its needed but maybe, just maybe, we could cut some of it out? I am glad to see that Jeremy Renner gets far more screen time. He also gets some of the best lines in the movie too.

There is some dialogue that was absolutely perfect, both in the comedic sense and in terms of foreshadowing. Joss Whedon is really careful with his words and I think that shows in the final product. Quicksilver is always snarky while Scarlet Witch is always a little vague. I would like to see it again because I know there will be things that I missed in the first showing. Plus, we finally get to meet The Vision, who was amazing. I like Paul Bettany and seeing him “come to life” so to speak in the movie…the way they did it was great. I hope to see more of him in later films because he does possess an Infinity Stone.

And before you jump on my case, no that’s not a spoiler. It’s in the trailer!

I would say “Age of Ultron” is another Marvel masterpiece, but like all of its other films, it is flawed. It suffers from what my creative writing professor in college called “population control”. There are too many characters, too many side stories and some of it just didn’t even feel necessary. I think they over emphasized the idea that the Avengers needed to come together because they spend so much time on it.

I do recommend it, not just because I’m obsessed with the Marvel world. It’s genuinely entertaining, it does make you think about things like artificial intelligence and it did get me excited for the next round of films. I do hope there’s another Hulk movie in the future but we’ll have to wait and see. We’ve got “Captain America: Civil War” to look forward to, along with “Ant Man”, “Doctor Strange” and the one I’m most excited about “Thor: Ragnarok”.

What can I say, I love mythology.

Guys, once again, I just want to say thank you for sticking with me. I know I’m not posting as often as I used to and I’ve been combining reviews but to know you’re still reading, it means a lot to me. Cinema is a huge passion of mine, on a technical and artistic level. I love writing this blog and I love being able to share my opinions with you guys.

So, from the bottom of my nerdy heart, thank you.

I would also like to say that the summer movie season is upon us, so be looking for my list of movies I’m geeking out about soon. I can tell you that I will see “Mad Max”. Who knows what else I’ll see? Time will tell.

I’m TheCinemaChick and what a lovely day.

Unfriended

2015-04-24T12:26:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone, I’m that one girl who seems to disappear more often than she is here, TheCinemaChick! I’ve actually been doing real work as of late and let me tell you, wrangling children is tiring work. Not to mention, I can officially say I have been spit up on. Here’s a lesson I learned the hard way, never wear your favorite shirt to work if it means you’re handling babies. Especially babies with full tummies. They can projectile spit up.

As usual, you’re not here to listen to me whine about work, you just want to know about the movies! Have I seen anything good lately? Nope! I’m disappointed in the movie I’m reviewing, however, I also feel it is deserving of praise in its own special way. It touches on a very hot topic in a way I haven’t seen before. The content was fairly disturbing and I was far more annoyed than I was scared but overall, it wasn’t completely horrible. So, close Facebook, finish that iMessage and step away from Skype, we’re going to look at “Unfriended”.

I have to admit, I didn’t have high hopes for this one. The trailer did have me intrigued, but even then, it seemed like another typical horror movie. A group of friends did something wrong in the past so a vengeful spirit is out to get them, how original. (Note the intended sarcasm here) It had the potential to be good but it starts off with a weak, overdone premise. A teenager has committed suicide, it’s the anniversary of the death and weird things start happening to a group of friends who knew her. Plus, it’s a found footage film and you should all know how I feel about those. I want this genre to die. I am so sick of it. And on top of all that, we have the stereotypical teens. We have a drama queen, a slut, a pothead, a party boy, an airhead and a jealous boyfriend.

My biggest pet peeve? The fact that you know how these characters are going to die as soon as you meet them. And this one won’t be a spoiler since it’s in the trailer: One of them is shown mutilating his hand by sticking it in a running blender. Well, when we first meet him, he’s got a blender in his hand and he’s talking about his salsa.

However, do remember that I see more movies than the usual person, so I have figured out the formula to almost every movie out there. This is why I hate romantic comedies and I can never seem to be scared by horror films. While I’m usually bored to tears with most films, some of them have qualities that redeem them. Believe it or not, “Unfriended” has some things about it that I liked enough to keep this movie off of my “Worst of” list this year. One of them is the topic of cyber-bullying, another one being the end of the film.

Again, since the trailer shows this, it’s not a spoiler. It centers around a girl who commit suicide due to some videos that had been posted of her online. After putting up with a lot of abuse on YouTube and Facebook, she kills herself with a gunshot to the head. The movie starts on the one year anniversary of her death, as is the cliché. The movie starts off innocent enough and I have to admit, that’s something I liked. It’s a bunch of teenagers having a call on skype just to talk about casual teen things. It feels realistic. I have skype calls with my friends and we talk about the dumbest things.

As the movie progresses, things get incredibly tense. You don’t know who’s going to be next or for what reason Laura will target them. The more you find out, the more you realize that these teens are horrible people. They have done things so shameful I can’t even repeat it. Plus, if I did, that’d be major spoilers. But I was shocked at what took place. Okay, okay, I know things have changed drastically since I was roughly seventeen or eighteen. And yes, I know teens drink, do drugs and have sex but back in my day (I feel so old now) it wasn’t as prominent. Underage sex was more of a taboo. Movies never addressed it, television never showed it and the music was a lot more…the best word I can think of is wholesome.

Am I ranting about sex? Yeah, I am a little. Sex and sexuality have become a mainstream topic these days. And you know, that does bother me. I’m sorry but I was raised to believe that what happened in the bedroom stayed there. Now we have things like “Fifty Shades” out there which…I plan to review it, I just don’t know if I can do it without needing a shower after. I don’t like this borderline glorification of sex and how it’s become so common and casual. There’s more of it in movies, television shows and I can’t even listen to the radio now because so many of the songs offend me with their content.

Enough about that. I could go on for a while.

Like every horror movie that comes out lately, this one’s full of the typical tropes. It’s predictable, you know what’ll happen, things I’ve already pointed out. And the idea of doing it all on a computer screen isn’t even new. There’s a film out there called “The Den”, which I haven’t seen yet, that did something similar. However, I like the idea that it’s all shown through Blair’s (the “main” character) laptop. We get to see everything she sees and the panic becomes more and more real. It’s like staring at your own screen as these things take place, which gives it a nice edge.

But you get to see the strange messages she gets, see the music she picks but honestly, if you’re in a group call, why are you listening to music? Another element I liked is that as the movie goes on, Laura seems to be more and more in control of the situation. She starts picking the songs, she answers Blair’s messages before she can even send them. There is a genuine sense of tension and panic throughout. I also have to commend the use of various means of social media throughout. It was good.

Like I said, this won’t by my favorite film this year but it won’t be the worst. I did enjoy it and I might actually sit through it again at some point. To me, the overall tone was just annoyance because the notification sounds are amplified so they are way too loud. That’s the one thing that kept getting to me. I’d be bored, dozing off then DING! You have message! To the movie’s credit, it’s a great way to keep your audience awake during the slow parts. Personally, I think it could have been downplayed a lot more and still had a good effect on the general feel.

Would I recommend “Unfriended” to the masses? I would actually say this is a good movie that the younger crowd needs to watch. Let this one be a lesson about what you post online. Remember, what you put on the internet becomes permanent. That picture you took in college where you’re drunk, half naked and holding of a bottle of Jack? Your parents might find that. Pictures of you cuddling an ex? Oh yeah, the internet remembers that. Keep that in mind next time you take a ton of pictures at the next party when you’re drunk.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I’m haunting your Skype right now.

2015 Films So Far!

2015-03-28T22:18:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone, I’m the girl you know and love, the one, the only (as far as I know) TheCinemaChick! And before you say anything, yes, I’ve been sick again. I don’t know what’s going on with 2015 but I have spent most of this year incredibly sick. So far, I’ve had pneumonia, bronchitis and the flu. Each illness has lasted longer than I have ever been ill before, so I’m starting to think I might have another health issue. So, while I’m not feeling like death, let’s look at some movies I’ve seen this year.

The sad thing is, I haven’t seen anything that’s gotten me excited. Everything has been mediocre at best. I am disappointed because there are some huge titles that have been released this year. Nothing has lived up to its hype. What do I mean? Well, let’s have some mini reviews so you can understand what I’m ranting about this time.

First off, let’s start with Blackhat. It was supposed to be this cyber-crime thriller starring Chris Hemsworth of Thor fame. However, it fell short of its intentions. It wasn’t terribly exciting nor was it really about cyber-crime. Sure, the criminal activities were mentioned and they were a huge focus but the film just kept going off track. It would start going into the pasts of the hacker and the detective and how they were best friends at one point. The detective even admits he’s partially responsible for this virus and no one penalizes him. Then his sister gets involved and her and not Thor have a fling. Why is there always time for a sex scene in action movies? Seriously, it’s even true in James Bond movies. He’s in the middle of a top secret mission but still has time to nail the hot chick. To be fair, he gets killed later on, so I guess he does get punished for his actions. But even then, I couldn’t be sympathetic because they add in so many characters I forgot who he was. It’s so hard to keep track of everything going on but they never give you time to acclimate to one part of the story. It starts off slow, then gains more and more speed that just rushes it to a highly unsatisfactory happy ending.

Then there’s Jupiter Ascending. I know, this one was supposed to be huge. It was meant for release last year but the date was pushed back so there could be some post production 3D conversion. I will admit there are some highly positive things about this movie. The visuals are absolutely gorgeous. You can tell the Wachowski clan put a lot of time, thought and effort into how they wanted this movie to look. I was blown away by the beauty of it. The costumes, while a bit odd, are also beautiful. If I had to base this movie solely on visuals, it would be amazing. However, I do think the story suffered. I mean, we’ve seen intergalactic politics in other films and honestly, the other movies handled it much better than this did. I get it, Jupiter (Mila Kunis) is the reincarnation of the mother of the Abraxos family but let’s not forget, she inherited the galaxy. For the most part, she is useless and relies on Cain (Channing Tatum) to save her from the ridiculous situations she puts herself into. By the end, I was just confused and unimpressed. Other than being pretty to look at, Jupiter Ascending did not wow me. I was left with too many questions. Also, Eddie Redmayne, you just won an Oscar. You are better than a role that reduces you to a weirdly dressed man who either whispers or screams.

Now, let’s move on to The DUFF. This is basically another cheesy teen sex comedy. I know it’s supposed to be about accepting who you are and being proud of yourself and all but it goes about it in all the wrong ways. It was very awkward and clunky, so the flow wasn’t so great. Plus, it tried to include this side message of cyberbullying being wrong but that never really panned out for me. Honestly, it never really had resolution. It went exactly how I thought it would happen so there wasn’t anything special about it. What I really hate is when they do stories like this, the nerdy, awkward “ugly” girl always ends up getting this amazing makeover so she becomes attractive. I’m sorry, but isn’t this supposed to be about accepting yourself and your unique quirks? Why does it always have to happen like this? Why does the girl have to change herself to make a man or rival female happy? This has always bothered me to no end. If you want to make a movie that’s inspiring or even more realistic, show me a film where the lead female doesn’t have to undergo a makeover and change her personality in order to find love.

Here’s my lesson to all teenage girls. Embrace your oddities. Don’t let anyone change you to make you into something you’re not. Be you, be beautiful and be happy.

Now let’s look at the Kingsman: Secret Service. I actually really enjoyed this movie. It was fun and fast paced and somewhat ridiculous. It was sort of like a spoof on James Bond but in a more serious manner. Plus, Colin Firth is kicking some major ass in a suit and looking good doing it. The story is solid, albeit a little far fetched. Samuel L. Jackson is really good as the villain. What made me love this character is that he is so sensitive to violence. What bad guy gets physically ill at the sight of blood? Even when he does finally kill one person, he has such a negative reaction that you feel sorry for him. I was angry that he had murdered a very important character but his immediate show of remorse and disgust made me like him. It’s not every often we find a sympathetic evil guy…unless you count Loki but that’s another blog for another day. My only problem with the movie was the amount of cursing and the ending. I understand, spies normally don’t have to watch their language but the amount of F bombs I heard in the run time was almost appalling. Not to mention, people brought their young children to this movie! Fry and I were at a late showing, so it was well past midnight when we left. Why are you bringing your kid to a movie this late? They were getting cranky and kept asking questions. Not to mention, they basically show the beginning of two people having inappropriate relations. The ending could have been so much better, but they went with the smutty route. Overall, not bad. I wish they didn’t curse so much but in general, I enjoyed it.

And finally, let’s talk about Cinderella. Maybe it’s me and I’m jaded but I can’t stand fairy tales. This is another one of those things were lying proves to be beneficial. I admit, I did like a lot of things about this film but overall, it did nothing for me. They chose to focus on the darker side of the story so much that it brought a fairly depressing tone to it. I love Cate Blanchett, don’t get me wrong. I want to be best friends with her but this wasn’t her best role. She’s supposed to be the wicked stepmother but at most, she was just annoying. In the animated version Lady Tremaine had this air of evil about her so you automatically didn’t trust her. In this one, however, she just came off as a gold digger with two daughters dumber than my lovely dog Hammy. And believe me, Hammy’s an idiot. I wanted to like it because it is meant to be a masterpiece. And here’s where I will praise it. The visuals and setting are absolutely gorgeous. I mean, that gown Cinderella wears at the ball is to die for. Seriously, this should be considered during awards season for the costuming. Everything was done perfectly, down to the smallest details. One thing I loved is how Anastasia and Drusilla are always dressed similar but not the same, just like in the animated film. And if you’ve seen the movie, you know just how breathtaking that pumpkin carriage was. Oh! Can we talk about Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother? How awesome was she? I love that she’s slightly absent minded and makes mistakes with her spells. I make no secret of my love of Helena Bonham Carter, I would love to be friends with her as well. To me, she is the best part of the film.

So yes, there are multiple redeeming qualities and overall, it is a good movie It’s not too long, it’s sweet, it’s great for little girls but for me, I just don’t care for the “happily ever after” feel good flicks like this. Cinderella was never my favorite fairy tale anyway. I admit, I am stoked to see the upcoming live action Beauty and the Beast remake with Emma Watson and Luke Evans. I was liked a good fantasy with magic and monsters and strong(ish) female characters. I give Belle more credit because she fell in love with the prince because of who he was, not because he was hot. Sure, we could get into the whole Stockholm Syndrome thing but I’d rather not. If you don’t know what that is, google it.

I do have one more movie to look at, but I have purposely waited for the hype on this one to die down. Yes, I did see Fifty Shades of Grey but I did not want to immediately jump on the bandwagon. So many people were excited to see it that I didn’t want to ruin it for them. Apparently, my opinion can hold some sway over people. I’ve had people tell me that they chose not to see a movie just because I did an unfavorable review.

Folks, I can’t decide what you do and don’t see. Everything I say here is just what I think. Hell, I’m not even a professional. I am simply a blogger who loves movies. I appreciate knowing that you actually take the time to read my blogs and think about what I’ve said. However, I would never discourage anyone from seeing a movie they want to see…unless it’s that bad. I know I’ve seen several movies where I have flat out said “Stay away!”

Well, that’s all for this time guys. Much love and thanks for sticking with me all these years and through multiple hiatuses. I’ll try not to get sick again and soon, I should have some horror movies to look at and you know what? Just for the fun of it, let’s make a list of movies I’m geeking out about this summer. That’s right, summer movie season is coming and that’s when a lot of big movies are released. We’ve got the second Avengers to look forward to, Pitch Perfect 2, Fast 7, just to name a few.

What are you excited to see? What summer movie blockbuster has you amped up? Let me know! Talk to me, send me some feedback! Is there a movie out now that you think I need to see? IS there something on Netflix that you think is worth a look? I’m always open to new suggestions.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I may or may not be a Cyberman.

Upgrade in progress…delete, delete, delete…

2015 Academy Awards Predictions

2015-01-31T18:25:00.001-08:00

Best Picture

American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

Who will probably win: Boyhood

Who I want to win: Honestly, this one’s tough. I think “The Theory of Everything” will pull through.

Best Director

Alejandro Innaritu, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game

Who will probably win: Richard Linklatter

Who I want to win: Richard Linklatter

Best Actor

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper, American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

Who will probably win: Eddie Redmayne

Who I want to win: Honestly, I have heard nothing but amazing reviews for Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bradley Cooper and Michael Keaton. I would love Cumberbatch to win this round but I’m fairly certain it’s going to Redmayne.

Best Actress

Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Who will probably win: Julianne Moore

Who I want to win: Julianne Moore, hands down.

Best Supporting Actor

Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Who will probably win: Ethan Hawke

Who I want to win: Honestly, Mark Ruffalo or J.K. Simmons

Best Supporting Actress

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Laura Dern, Wild
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Emma Stone, Birdman
Meryl Streep, Into the Woods

Who will probably win: Patricia Arquette

Who I want to win: Keira Knightley or Meryl Streep

Best Adapted Screenplay

American Sniper
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

Who will probably win: American Sniper

Who I want to win: Another toss up between The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything. But, let’s be honest, it’s most likely going to American Sniper

Best Original Screenplay

Birdman
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Nightcrawler

Who will probably win: Boyhood

Who I want to win: Nightcrawler

Best Cinematography

Birdman
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ida
Mr. Turner
Unbroken

Who will probably win: Birdman

Who I want to win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Costume Design

The Grand Budapest Hotel
Inherent Vice
Into the Woods
Maleficent
Mr. Turner

Who will probably win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Who I want to win: Into The Woods

Best Film Editing

American Sniper
Boyhood
Grand Budapest
The Imitation Game
Whiplash

Who will probably win: Boyhood

Who I want to win: Boyhood

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy

Who will probably win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Who I want to win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Original Score

The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Mr. Turner
The Theory of Everything

Who will probably win: The Theory of Everything

Who I want to win: The Imitation Game

Best Original Song

“Everything is Awesome,” The Lego Movie
“Glory,” Selma
“Grateful,” Beyond the Lights
“I'm Not Going to Miss You,” Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me
“Lost Stars,” Begin Again

Who will probably win: “Glory” Selma

Who I want to win: “Lost Stars” Begin Again

Best Production Design

The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Into the Woods
Mr. Turner

Who will probably win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Who I want to win: The Imitation Game

Best Sound Editing

American Sniper
Birdman
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
Interstellar
Unbroken

Who will probably win: American Sniper

Who I want to win: The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (because I’m biased)

Best Sound Mixing

American Sniper
Birdman
Interstellar
Unbroken
Whiplash

Who will probably win: Interstellar

Who I want to win: American Sniper

Best Visual Effects

Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy
Interstellar
X-Men; Days of Future Past

Who will probably win: Interstellar

Who I want to win: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (because why not?)

Best Animated Feature

Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Song of the Sea
The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Who will probably win: The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Who I want to win: The Boxtrolls

Best Documentary Feature

Citizenfour
Finding Vivian Maier
Last Days in Vietnam
The Salt of the Earth
Virunga

Who will probably win: Last Days in Vietnam

Who I want to win: Citizenfour

Best Foreign Language Film

Ida
Leviathan
Tangerines
Timbuktu
Wild Tales

Who will probably win: Leviathan

Who I want to win: Tangerines

Best Animated Short

The Bigger Picture
The Dam Keeper
Feast
Me and My Moulton
A Single Life

Who will probably win: The Dam Keeper

Who I want to win: Feast

Best Live-Action Short

Aya
Boogaloo and Graham
Butter Lamp
Parvaneh
The Phone Call

Who will probably win: Boogaloo and Graham

Who I want to win: Aya

Best Documentary Short

Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press One
Joanna
Our Curse
The Reaper
White Earth

Who will probably win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press One

Who I want to win: The Reaper

American Sniper

2015-01-19T23:17:00.000-08:00

What’s up everyone, I’m the one and only movie blogger known as TheCinemaChick and I’m finally reviewing something in the New Year. I will admit I did see one other movie so far, but I was also battling a nasty case of bronchitis. It was horrible. My throat was swollen and sore, I couldn’t talk, couldn’t eat…ugh. So glad that’s over.

But, good news everyone! I am healthy and healed and have gotten back into the real world. I have seen two movies this year so far but let’s start off on a good note. And I have to warn you, I am going to get a little political during this review. I know everyone has their own thoughts. Please respect my opinions as I try to respect all of yours.

Keeping that in mind, let’s look at “American Sniper”.

First off, let’s get the controversial part over. I do not support war. I am a pacifist, I am strongly anti-gun (purely because the of a semi traumatic experience), and I do not condone sanctioned murdering. I know it isn’t intentional murder but when so many civilians are caught in the crossfire and killed…I just feel like its murder. They had nothing to do with the war, they were just innocent bystanders. Think about it, women and children are being killed. I do not and will never support any type of war.

However, I do support the troops. I applaud their bravery and courage for going out there and protecting our country. They deserve to be lauded for what they do. People in the military are some of the strongest people ever but they are also some of the most fragile. When they come back from war, they might be injured or left disabled or suffer from PTSD. I have had family members that served and I have friends who are in the army.

So no, I am not pro war. I am pro armed services.

“American Sniper” is a film based on a novel of the same name. I have not read the book but after watching the film, I want to. It is a biographical movie, based on the life of a man named Chris Kyle. He served in the military as a sniper. This movie has two main focuses: Kyle’s life overseas and his life at home. Overall, the movie was very tasteful and to my surprise, did not contain copious amounts of violence. I don’t like war films for that reason. Violence, gore, blood…things like that cause me to get nauseated. There were two scenes that made me slightly sick but other than that, it’s good.

By the way, you know how everyone’s saying Bradley Cooper deserves an Oscar for his performance? Oh yes, he earned it. He became Chris Kyle. I went into this knowing who the actor was and it still took me a minute to realize, “Oh yeah, that’s Bradley Cooper!” He just wraps himself into this role and never once did I find it unbelievable. Sometimes, when I’m aware of the actor, I can’t see him as the character but in this case, I did not see him. Sienna Miller was also incredible as well. She threw herself into that role and stuck with it.

What I loved the most about the movie was that it kept me on edge the whole time. I knew the ending, I knew Chris Kyle’s fate but the moments leading up to it had me hooked. The tone began fairly light, showing his childhood and how it shaped him, then slowly became darker and darker. I got a good look into his mind as the PTSD started taking over. Certain sights or sounds cause little triggers in him and for the audience, it creates tension. It makes me wonder what’s going to happen. Bless his wife for being so patient and loving with him.

I could never sit through this movie again, despite it being so amazing. It was emotionally draining and I cried at the end. The ending…oh man, the ending…I won’t spoil it because I think this film is worth seeing. However, I will say this: the ending is footage of an actual event that while cause you to tear up. I didn’t know it had taken place in Arlington, Texas because I did not know about Chris Kyle until I heard of “American Sniper”. This event literally happened fifteen minutes from me in 2013.

Bravo to everyone who worked on this film. It was far better than I’d thought it would be and the audience applauded at the end. It is a wonderful movie that I honestly believe should be seen. Some people will be able to handle it better than me.

Chris Kyle was a hero. His family should be very proud of him and what he did for our country. I felt a sense of pride after watching the movie.

To everyone who serves in the military, whether it be in combat or tactical or whatever, I appreciate everything you have done for this country.

I’m TheCinemaChick and coming soon, this year’s Oscar nominations and predictions.

I am also pleased to announce that I am in the process of creating my very own website! It will have my podcasts on there, along with my reviews. I also have people who will be contributing to my site. Kit Kat will be joining, along with my podcast partner, Draco Ro’tor. It will be a while since I have no skills on building websites, so bear with me on this. But soon…I will be moving on to bigger things.

Thank you guys for your continued support, even during my extended leave due to illness. You are awesome.

On a personal note, I have seen the comments made by Michael Moore and Seth Rogen about the film. As I’ve said, everyone is entitled to their opinion. And with that said, I would like to say that I believe Michael Moore is wrong about snipers. They are not cowards. Snipers must make very tough decisions on the fly and are often haunted by those choices. Sometimes, you have to decide if you must kill a woman to save your company. Cowards are men who hide behind Twitter and say such terrible things using inexcusably bad grammar

Just saying.

***No copyright infringement is intended. All opinions expressed in my blog belong to me and this is purely for entertainment purposes.***

Best of 2014...brought to you in 2015

2015-01-01T14:52:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone and welcome to the first blog of 2015! Happy New Year’s Day everyone! My name is TheCinemaChick but you knew that already. I’m sorry this was not written and posted earlier but it seems that a severe cold that I had for 2 weeks has come back with a vengeance. I lost my voice due to a very sore and swollen throat. However, I will get through this so you can learn what my top 14 of 2014 are. You've seen the worst, so now it’s time for the best.

Let’s just jump right into it, shall we?

Before I begin, I’ like to say that I saw a grand total of 45 films this year. Two of them I will never speak of again because they were quite disgusting. Overall, I’d call 2014 a good year. It was great but it wasn't horrible, it was more in between.

And now, in no particular order:

1. 12 Years a Slave

This one was just rough. I wasn’t sure if I could even finish it at some points but the story was just amazing. It deserved all the awards it got and it brought us Lupita Nyong'o. I’m telling you, she’s going to be huge in the future. If you can get through the stomach churning scenes of torture and the uneasiness of the blatant racism that took place in that time, I definitely recommend it. The entire cast puts forth an outstanding performance and this film should be marked as one of the greatest movies in recent history.

2. Saving Mr. Banks

I honestly didn't expect to like this one. It’s a nice, light story about the woman who wrote “Mary Poppins” and how that story came into being. Tom Hanks dazzles as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson really captured P.L. Travers’ personality. I think this would be a great movie for the whole family. It’s clean, it’s wholesome, even if there is a few scenes with smoking and a few scenes that some may find disturbing.

3. Godzilla

I’m not a huge fan of this franchise but I was interested in seeing this reboot. After seeing the older one with Matthew Broderick, my hopes were not high on this one. However, the acting was top notch and the music was absolute perfection. In my original review, I raved about how the score successfully set the tone for the entire film and I stand by that. It’s definitely worth a watch but I think it needs more Bryan Cranston.

4. A Million ways to Die in the West

I am so embarrassed to like this one. It’s rude, it’s crass, it’s disgusting but it’s so funny. I laughed so hard and I have watched it several times since. You’ll feel bad for liking it but it is just so funny. And then there’s Neil Patrick Harris…he’s going to pop up in this list again…I seriously hate myself for living this movie so much.

5. Begin Again

This movie wasn’t anything spectacular. It was a love story about a broken hearted girl and her rock star boyfriend. I wasn’t wowed by it, but I will say this. I have a new found respect Keira Knightley. She sings all the songs on the soundtrack and she’s good. True, she’s not spectacular but I adored her voice. It’s so soft, so dainty but the lyrics packed a punch. It was a nice, refreshing movie, a break from the over hyped, big budget stuff that had come out. I enjoyed it and again, I recommend giving it a look.

6. Guardians of the Galaxy

Who didn’t love this one? It’s by far not my favorite Marvel film. That honor goes to the Thor franchise because I love the visual effects and settings. Sorry, but Asgard still leaves me in awe when I see it. But this one seemed like a more down home kind of adventure. I know, no one’s seeking out a mystical orb with an infinity stone, but the characters were relateable. Gamora had an overbearing father and wicked sister, Peter Quill was a thief trying to earn a buck and Drax wanted revenge on the man who killed his family. They were the last people you’d expect to work together and it just came together. I do look forward to the sequel and hopefully more Rocket. And remember, I am Groot.

Also, Lee Pace.

7. In Your Eyes

This one is on Netflix as we speak. Go watch the most original love story I have ever seen and I loathe and abhor romance movies. Joss Whedon, you are an amazing man for giving us this beautiful film.

8. Chef

I loved how fast paced the food scenes were. Overall, it was just fun to watch and it made me want to learn how to cook the Latin foods I saw. It was also so cool to see the cross country road trip to learn about the nation’s cuisine. The father-son relationship felt very natural, which made the film more enjoyable. Nothing felt forced and it all just flowed organically. True, I still don’t like Sofia Vergara because I think she is overexposed (in many senses of the word) and she’s too flamboyant. Having seen her role on television and this one, they seemed identical: a whiny wife. She’s the only thing that detracted from the movie.

9. Into The Woods

I won’t go into too much detail since I did post my review a few days ago. The music, the atmosphere, the casting, all perfection. It drags at times and the plot gets a little muddled and the entire third act feels tacked on but I still enjoyed. Meryl Streep, I envy your acting and singing skills now.

10. Gone Girl

This movie was so creepy. I’d read the book so I knew what to expect but seeing it on screen was so much more intense. The amount of time and effort Amy put into faking her own death and vanishing is astounding. I genuinely hated her at the end. I felt so sorry for the people’s lives she ruined. Neil Patrick Harris was great as the oblivious but supportive ex who tries to help Amy out but he has a horrible fate. Seriously, Neil Patrick Harris can do no wrong.

11. Frankenstein

Honestly, I wasn't even sure if this one counted since it was a re-broadcast of a live play from Britain. Then I figured, well, I saw in a movie theater. Benedict Cumberbatch played The Monster and he nailed it. That play…I wish it was on DVD because I do want to see this over and over. I also want to see it again because of the alternate casting. Cumberbatch, along with Johnny Lee Miller, switched roles so they both played Frankenstein and his Creation. If you get the chance to see it, jump on it.

12. Big Hero 6

I loved this movie. It was a beautiful blending of California and Japanese culture. The ending caught me by surprise and almost had be in tears. It was sweet at times and the main characters were awesome. Believe it or not, this is based on a Marvel comic so there is a Stan Lee cameo. There is also an end credit scene which was both hilarious and slightly gross. It’s meant for children but there are some dark moments mixed ink, so it works for everyone. Use your own discretion on this one.

13. Penguins of Madagascar

It was really mediocre but there is some awesome wordplay in the film. The puns are so bad it hurts but I still laughed at them. Plus, penguins.

14. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Let me start by saying, this was my least favorite film of the trio. It was jumbled, overrun with bad CGI and personally I think it was just bloated. The battles themselves were exciting but the film focused more on everyone being mad at Thorin, who’s going insane looking for the Arkenstone. I wasn't satisfied and it left me wanting more. The Tauriel-Kili love story feels so forced that I wish she have never been brought on. I can’t hate a Tolkien film. It could have been trimmed down a bit and been improved. The death scenes were heartbreaking and when Thranduil fights, it’s quite breathtaking.

Also, Lee Pace.

That’s all for 2014! There’s a bunch of new films coming out in 2015 that I am dying to see. You know me, I’d never miss a Marvel movie, so you know I will be one of the first in line to see the new Avengers film. I’m also super excited to see Pitch Perfect 2, Mad Max, Jupiter Ascending, the live action Cinderella and Pan. The list could go on and on, trust me. There is 12 months of movies to see and I’m just one girl who wants to see them all.

I hope you all stick with me in this new year of adventure, action, horror and comedy as I will do my best to bring you all the reviews I can. We’re in this for the long haul, guys and gals.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I am quite possibly medicated for my horrible cold.

Into The Woods

2014-12-28T14:12:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone and welcome to the end of 2014! I bet you are just dying to see which movies I actually loved, but that’s going to be announced tomorrow! Yes, I am actually capable of liking something which might seem off. I know, I know, most of the time I’m a really negative critic but I’m not completely stone hearted. So, one last review before we head off into the brand new year!

Let’s talk about “Into The Woods”.

First off, this is one of those films I actually really enjoyed. It wasn’t perfect by any means since I did get bored a few times but the acting was spot on. I have to say, I think Chris Pine was the stand out character for me. He’s part is smaller than most of the others, but when he’s on screen, he just steals the scene. There is one point where he has a duet and it’s both amazing and comical. If you've seen the movie now, you know what I’m talking about. The melodrama in the one song is so cheesy that you can’t help but laugh.

Now, I saw this with Fry and my Other Mother. Yes, on occasion, Other Mother joins us because she is totally awesome. She also has excellent taste in books. We were all impressed with the casting because all of the actors could sing. Some of them weren't exactly great (Chris Pine, even though he gets an A for effort, is not the best singer) while others genuinely surprised me. I knew Anna Kendrick could sing since I've seen “Pitch Perfect” but in this…where has she been hiding this voice? She’s absolutely amazing! This woman has more range than I thought and if she dabbled in music, I’d buy her album.

Same thing goes for Meryl Streep. Bravo, madam, bravo. I was a fair weather fan of hers before this and now, I’m totally Team Meryl. She gave us an outstanding performance as the witch and I would absolutely see this movie again, buy the soundtrack and own this movie on DVD. I’m not saying this because I adore this musical that much but I would love to see the behind the scenes action. It would be even better to see the rehearsals. I would also like to see the stage version of this because I’ve heard it’s also quite good. However, I’ve also heard it’s quite…adult.

No matter what, it’s definitely with the price of a ticket. It’s thoroughly enjoyable and there are some really good moments of humor mixed in. I’ll admit, there are some things that left me a little confused but when I look at the film as a whole, I can overlook them. Obviously the music is the main attraction and for me, that’s a perk. A lot of the time, the music can be an issue since some actors try to sing but can’t. In this case, everyone did really well. It’s a crazy ride but it’s worth it.

The songs fit every mood and my favorite ones by far are “On The Steps of the Palace” and “Hello, Little Girl”. Both songs have been stuck in my head since leaving the theater. And honestly, I knew Johnny Depp could sing but his performance in “Into The Woods” was incredible. He oozed a strange raw passion, which is actually kind of creepy when you see what his part of the story is. I was highly uncomfortable while watching it. Not exactly a spoiler alert, but if you know the story of Little red Riding Hood, you know what happens to the Big Bad Wolf.

Oh! I cannot write a review about this and ignore the true breakout star, Lilla Crawford. I looked her up and I do believe she has done some work on Broadway. This girl is about 13 or 14 but her talent is mind blowing. I am envious of this chick’s voice. She has a powerful, steady voice and she could easily beat the rest of the cast in the talent department. I really, really liked her and I think she will do great things in the future. If she’s not on film, I think her Broadway career is sealed. Seriously, she can do anything with her talent.

I will admit, there are a lot of things wrong with this film. There are characters brought in with no introduction, some plot lines are just abandoned without explanation and some back stories don’t seem to add up. I still can’t hate it though. It was a great fantasy romp through fairy tales and the music is rather catchy. Even though it won’t be my favorite film of the year, but I would really encourage everyone to see this at least one because it is worth seeing.

There is some dark humor and moments that could be scary so I don’t recommend this one for the kiddies. Leave them at home for this. The witch and the wolf might frighten them because the wolf made me uncomfortable. Again, when you see it, you’ll understand why. The plot might be stupid and the continuity might be off but it’s just a good, fun movie that’ll take your mind off things for a while. I really hated the final act because it felt so forced and tacked on.

The previews do show a boy chopping down a beanstalk, which is important to the story and that’s also why I don’t like the ending. It could have ended sooner and left out that final part and I would have been fine with it. And the absolute ending didn't leave me wholly satisfied either. Normally, I’m not a fan of epilogues, but I wanted that final resolution here.

Overall, I’d say matinee. I didn't hate this movie but I’m not absolutely gushing over it either. I did enjoy it, I do want the soundtrack and eventually the movie itself because I do believe I will want to watch this over and over. Having seen it, I can also see why Meryl Streep was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance. I seriously cannot say enough about her in the movie. She was amazing and commands attention when she’s on screen. True, she’s done another musical before but let’s be honest here. “Mamma Mia” was not the best place to showcase her talents. The music wasn't as good as it was in “Into The Woods”.

Well, this is going to be a short one since I still have my “Top 14 of 14” to write. I recommend “Into The Woods” as a great fantasy movie with some outstanding music in it.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I’m a little teapot.

2014: Worst of the Worst

2014-12-12T14:30:00.000-08:00

Did you miss me?

Hello everyone, I’m the girl who really shouldn’t be so absent on her own movie blog, TheCinemaChick and I’m finally ready for my annual list of Best and Worst. Have you been wondering where I’ve been? I’ve been gone for a while now.

Disappointment.

I have not seen any decent films in so long that I began to think 2014 had nothing left to offer, so I just gave up. Why write about consistently terrible films that were a waste of time and money? I hated everything but I didn’t want to just write about how much a movie sucked. I needed something positive, something refreshing to write about. Seriously, I did not find something decent until about two weeks ago when I saw “Big Hero 6”. I have not reviewed that and I do sincerely apologize for that. For the past two weeks I have been sleeping about 18 hours a day due to a very severe cold that left me feeling really out of it. I still have a touch of it, but I no longer need so much sleep or medication.

So, in short, hello sweetie.

Now…are you ready for the fourteen worst films of the year (in my opinion)?

And I know what you’re thinking, “Fourteen? Did she really manage to come up with that many films that she hated?”

Yes. Believe it or not, there are actually more than that but since its 2014, I decided not to exceed fourteen. In all fairness, I do have a list of the best of the year coming next week. Why next week you ask? Because I’ve added a film the to the “best of” list and I have yet to see it. Like most nerds out there, I’m am internally fangirling over the upcoming “The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies”. Since I have enjoyed all of them so far, I already put it on my list. I do plan to see it as soon as it comes out, so it’ll only be about a week between lists.

Also, speaking of list, I have decided to do a theater review as well. There are a couple of theaters I tend to lurk in, so I want to do a rating system for them. While I do seem to haunt only one recently, it’s not my favorite. I don’t even know if theaters even care about what bloggers like me have to say about them, but I’d like to let them know they are doing a good/bad job. Trust me, I have been to the absolutely worst. At one theater, I slipped in butter in front of the snack counter and all I got was a “We’re sorry”. Don’t say you’re sorry, clean it up and put out a “Wet Floor” sign!

And I’m off track. You know I tend to do that. I actually paused for about five minutes because I saw what I thought would be the perfect gift for DigitalDad. That’s three people taken care of, like ten more to go.

But now, on to the worst movies of the year, in no particular order!

1. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

I honestly don’t know why I keep going to this franchise. Part of me wants to know how it’s all connected and see how it ends. I know it’s going to be awful. This one wasn’t just bad, it was borderline offensive. There were some Mexican stereotypes mixed in there that just didn’t sit well with me. The characters were incredibly stupid and Fry and I were yelling at the screen the whole time. We were also the only ones in the theater, so we could. I hated it, except for the ending, where it tied everything back to the first film. Definitely wasn’t the best movie to choose for my birthday.

2. Pompeii

This one was so awful, I actually had forgotten that I had seen it. It was forgettable. The acting was bad, the plot was paper thin and then it just such a weird turn that it didn’t even make sense. I could not believe the chemistry between the two main characters because it felt so forced. Then again, she supposedly fell in love with him when he killed a horse out of mercy. I may be wrong, but I’m pretty sure that’s not how you woo a girl in ancient Greece. On the bright side, Kit Harington was pretty to look at.

3. The Muppets Most Wanted

I wanted to like this one, I really did. I love The Muppets. They’ve been a part of my life since I was a kid, so when they came back, I was elated. This film however, it just felt like it was insulting my intelligence. Everything was so obvious, the comedy wasn’t even that great and the songs disappointed me, except for one. The cameos weren’t as good in this one either. I admit, I was really looking forward to seeing Tom Hiddleston in there, but he was on screen for about a minute total. Josh Groban also had a part in there and to this day, I want to know what made him the most dangerous criminal in that prison. Why, of all people, was he the one in solitary confinement? Overall, just meh.

4. Divergent

First off, this was not marketed to my age group. This was obviously made for teen girls. There was a lot of pretty boys to look at and the ever present strong female lead. I get that we want more positive role models out there for young girls, but I don’t think Tris is the one. She’s pathetic until the eleventh hour when she has to step up and do something. The romance between her and Four is over emphasized. I actually read the book before seeing the movie and the book was decent. However, when they really poured the relationship aspect on heavily, I couldn’t take it seriously. Plus, come on…the post-apocalyptic world, corrupt leaders, young people rebelling, strong teen female leader…we get it. Move on.

The sequel, “Insurgent” comes out in 2015.

5. Oculus

Someone explain this one to me. I was so bored then it would be a flashback, then present time, then back in the past. It never explained what the mirror did or how the mirror was demonic. Nothing was explained, so I couldn’t follow the story. Props to Karen Gillan on her first post “Doctor Who” film but it bombed. Thankfully, this lovely actress will pop up again on my “best of” list.

6. Transformers: Age of Extinction

Once again, not sure why I thought this would be good. It dragged on for so long and I wanted those freaking Dinobots to show up and they never did! They didn’t show up until the last half hour and at that point, I didn’t care anymore. This was another “Michael Bay presents a Michael Bay film with all the Michael Bay explosions that Michael Bay likes in all his movies because Michael Bay” thing. Is there an upside? Uh…well, apparently you can smack around a Dinobot and it’ll obey like a well-trained dog.

7. Jersey Boys

I didn’t hate this one. I actually liked it. However, I can’t get past how much cursing there was in this film. That’s what got to me. The music and story were good but geez, do you really need THAT much language? I could understand it if it were and R rated action flick, but a musical biography? It was just unnecessary.

8. The Purge: Anarchy

The first movie was good. The Polite Leader was super creepy with his smile. The sequel didn’t go as well. There were no likeable characters and they tried to do too much in the time they had. The intertwining stories just didn’t work. And then it just jerks you into a completely different scenario which made even less sense. No one had any redeeming qualities. After the movie, Butterfly and I were talking and we agreed that this would make an awesome MMORPG, an online roleplaying game. I would play a survival game based on this movie but I would not recommend the movie itself.

9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

I grew up with the live action movies and this one was a disappointment. It did nothing for me and I didn’t find it fun. Megan Fox added a very flat performance and the plot didn’t even resolve itself at the end. Too many threads were left open so it just left me feeling underwhelmed. Let’s see…a positive…uh…Michael Bay was involved and he didn’t royally screw this one up.

10. Into The Storm

Oh Richard Armitage…you can do so much better than this. This was a lackluster, uninspired movie about a mega storm. I was bored out of my mind for the duration of it and couldn’t have cared less if anyone lived. It needed sharks with their tornados.

11. Let’s Be Cops

What movie are you trying to be? Are you a buddy cop movie? A stoner flick? An undercover spy film? Seriously, what are you? Pick a genre or two and stick to that because otherwise you get a confused jumble of a movie. I hated it and wish I’d never seen it. Skip this one entirely and go rent “Police Academy”.

12. As Above So Below

Can we just all agree that the found footage movement should just die out? It’s just another weird paranormal movie taking place in the catacombs of France. There were elements that I like, showing the tombs below the streets and building the tension. However, it also opened possible side stories that showed up and almost immediately vanished. It never really explained why the characters were killed off and I don’t really understand how going that deep into the catacombs led them back to the streets of Paris. Honestly, I could have been cool with the ending if they had hinted that the survivors had somehow ended up in an alternate universe. Like, it was Paris, just an evil version or a backwards version. Instead, they just ended up in the normal world and it ended. More or less, just disappointing and uninteresting. It had potential to be better.

13. Annabelle

And here we have the spinoff from the popular movie “The Conjuring”. It had moments where the tension almost had me going but it became highly predictable. Fry and I were literally sitting in our seats saying what would happen next. We lost interest in it entirely. I would like to see the cult they mentioned in the beginning and how it led to the one girl wanting the Annabelle doll. To be honest, haunted or not, that doll is freaky looking. Fun fact, I got to touch the actual doll when it was at Fan Days this past October. As far as the movie goes, I want to know why the doll is haunted, what is haunting it, why is chose the doll and what it has to do with the cult. Beyond that, blah. Just plain blah.

14. Ouija

This movie was seriously horror movie cliché central. It was like a checklist of tropes. Group of teen friends playing with cursed object with one friend feeling apprehensive, check. Methodical death by slowly picking off teens one by one, check. Best friend trying to save everyone, check. Wise older woman, usually of some kind of ethnic background, check.

I couldn’t stand this one. It went in one direction then decided “Eh, let’s do something else and see if this makes people jump.” It didn’t really do anything for me. Defeating the curse just seemed too easy and the twist was obvious.

Also, why is the wise woman always of some ethnic origin? In “Annabelle”, the wise older woman was African American. In “Ouija”, she’s the Mexican grandmother.

Is it so hard to find a fresh, interesting take on a horror movie? I would love something that’s not predicable or filled with the same old clichés. Give me something new and exciting. Is that so much to ask?

I hope 2015 has something better to offer. Actually, I know it will. We’ve got new “Avengers” to look forward to, along with “Pitch Perfect”, “Mad Max” and so much more. As for 2014, this was a year of mediocrity and failures. The ones that did succeed were phenomenal but the ones that bombed, well, they bombed hard.

I’m TheCinemaChick and right now, I’m under my invisibility cloak.

Better Late Than Never: Guardians of the Galaxy

2014-10-10T22:15:00.002-07:00

Hello everyone, I go by TheCinemaChick and I love movies. That’s why they call me a cinephile. I don’t know who they are but they all agree. Once again, it seems I have been absent but let me explain why. I went up to spend some time in Nashville again, to see Kit Kat. When I got back, I wasn’t feeling the best so I’ve been getting over a cold. And of course, general every day things kept piling up, next thing I know it’s time to pay rent and then I just get frustrated. And as if that’s not bad enough, my personal life has taken a bizarre twist. We won’t get into that because that’s not the kind of blog I run.

You’re wondering what movie I have to share with you! I have so many, backing all the way to “Guardians of the Galaxy” and going all the way up to “Gone Girl”. I was hesitant to review “Guardians” when it first came out because I knew everyone would be jumping on it and praising it. While I enjoy it immensely, it’s still not my favorite Marvel film. I mean, I will give it some credit, for what it did in one film, it was magical. I mean for “The Avengers” we already had separate movies for the main characters so we knew them and had come to love them. This time around, we knew nothing, unless you read the comics beforehand. We were given brand new people and were expected to love them.

And I’ll admit, that’s something I didn’t like. I like knowing more about the characters I’m supposed to end up rooting for. In the case of Groot…well, I’ll take him as is. But for me, the movie ran just a little too long to the point where I was getting bored, some of the humor was incredibly crude and there were a lot of questions left unanswered. Before you say anything, I’m fully aware that there will be a sequel. There are rumors of an Avengers/Guardians crossover in the future. While I’m not sure how I feel about it, I would like to see someone like Drax interact with Tony Stark.

Well, since I’m already prattling about it, how about we just stick with the topic? Why not discuss “Guardians of the Galaxy” now? We’ve all seen it and if you haven’t, why haven’t you? It’s a fun ride with childish humor. The casting was top choice. I didn’t know who Chris Pratt was before this movie. I know now he was on a television show but I’d never seen his acting. Whoever chose him for the part of Peter Quill deserves a cookie. Seriously, he captured the role perfectly. Pratt made the serious moments work but also played up the comedic moments. What made it even better for me was knowing that he basically had no idea what he was doing as Quill. Let’s take my favorite scene as an example.

Everyone remember the scene with The Collector? When asked for the orb, Peter proceeds to drop it. He also admits “A little pee just came out of me” when the orbs are fully explained. Who wouldn’t be terrified of that kind of power? To me, that’s how a normal person would react. In “The Avengers” they were used to having villains that when a mystical cube comes into play, they don’t seem worried much. They just go into superhero mode and get things done. The “Guardians” don’t know how to save the world or how to hide the infinity stone. They do what they can to gather an army at the last minute to help them. They lose people and they mourn. Let’s look at Groot’s sacrifice. Who can watch that and not immediately fall in love with a tree?

However, I didn’t believe the Quill and Gamora love story. They didn’t have any chemistry, at least not enough to make me think they’d get together in the future. The best relationship, in my eyes, is the one between Rocket the raccoon and Drax. They started off clashing, Drax even admitting that his people eat them on his planet. At the end, when Rocket’s crying over Groot, who’s there to let him whimper and pet him? Drax. To me, they had the most growth throughout the story. Gamora was always this angsty alien, Quill never truly grew up and Groot…he’s Groot.

By the way, did you know that big blue monster in the prison who “flirts” with Peter is voiced by Nathan Fillion? Did you know that Rob Zombie has a speaking role but does not appear?

What really sold me on “Guardians of the Galaxy” was Nebula, Ronan and Yondu, played by Karen Gillan, Lee Pace and Michael Rooker respectively. For those of you who remember, I was not kind to Gillan at all when her movie “Oculus” came out. I admit, I was harsh on her. In all honesty, I have nothing against her. I think she’s great and she’s a very nice woman. She’s earned a place on my wall of fame, which is where I hang all my autographs and celebrity photos. I must admit, I really liked her as Nebula. The makeup and costume were incredible but her acting was better. She really did come off as the psychotic murder happy cyborg she was supposed to be. Props to her. I want to see more of her in the sequel, which I’m sure will happen.

Lee Pace was a surprise for me. Even though I’d paid attention during the credits, I did not realize he played Ronan the Accuser. Fry pointed it out to me. He is unrecognizable. Before this, I’d seen him in “The Desolation of Smaug” as well as “Breaking Dawn Part 2” as Garret. In both roles, he looks very different. In these roles, he was somewhat docile, always appeared calm, even when he clearly wasn’t. As Ronan, he radiated anger and hatred. When he had the Infinity Stone, he looked like absolute power. My only complaint is how he died. A dance contest? That’s what distracted you? Ronan, you have the purple gem, just kill them and go on. It brought what should have been a very dramatic climax to a screeching halt, only to pick it back up for another highly dramatic moment.

I liked Yondu as well. A lot of people have said they didn’t like Rooker playing the part but I liked him. I’ll admit, I couldn’t separate him from Merle Dixon from “The Walking Dead”. I just had trouble with that one little thing. As a character, I really liked Yondu. He made me laugh and even though at times I hated him, I ended up rooting for him. And his arrow? How awesome is that thing? I wish I had that. While I don’t see him as an antagonist, I guess he’d be the anti-hero. We can only see what the future holds in store for him since he was supposed to take Quill back to his father.

And who is Peter Quill’s father?

Well, if you aren’t an avid reader of the comics, I guess you’ll have to wait for the sequel.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I am Groot…no I’m not.

***As with every review, this is for entertainment only. All opinions expressed are mine. I mean no copyright infringement.***

Only Lovers In Your Eyes

2014-09-10T23:36:00.002-07:00

Hey everyone, I'm the girl who spends way too much time watching movies, but you can call me TheCinemaChick! I've been looking back at some indie films I've seen this year and I've decided that I'm going to spend some time visiting them. So get ready for two tales of love, mystery and separation. With that said, let's look at Joss Whedon's film “In Your Eyes” and Jim Jarmusch's “Only Lovers Left Alive”.

Now, you guys know me well enough to know that I can't stand chick flicks. I loathe romance movies. Give me a good horror film any day. However, I kept hearing things about both of these films so my curiosity was sparked. The first one I mentioned is available to watch online through Vimeo. I believe I paid to rent it on there. However, I would pay to watch it again or even own it. Yes, it's a story about two people falling in love but its done in such a new way that I found myself enjoying it. Our story centers around Becky (Zoe Kazan) and Dylan (Michael Stahl-David), who live on opposite sides of the country. They've never met but they share a mental link making it possible for them to speak to each other and see what the other is seeing. They grow up not realizing what's going on until Becky is married and Dylan is a convict.

Through a long series of events, they fall in love. Bear in mind they have never seen each other. One day, they both agree to step in front of mirrors and in that moment, they both know it. They're meant to be. However, he's on parole and stuck where he is and she's just trapped in a seemingly loveless marriage. Philip Porter (Mark Feuerstein) is such a jerk! It turns out he uses his wife as some kind of psychiatric experiment. He even has her placed in a mental hospital against her will because he believes she's insane. Dylan, sensing something is wrong, violates his probation and flies to her, steals a car, helps her escape and they finally meet each other in the final moments.

I know, I just skipped over a good chunk of the film, but I really think this one's worth seeing. Yes, it's another fairly typical love story, but it's presented in a new light. I liked the idea that Becky and Dylan fell in love with each other, not their looks. In all honesty, that's one thing I have come to hate about movies like this in mainstream media. The most attractive men and women end up with partners and getting a happy ending. If you are average of ugly, well, sucks to be you. In this case, they got to know each other before seeing each other, so the love was stronger in my opinion.

While I do wish Becky hadn't been such a wimpy character, I can see why Joss Whedon wrote her that way. I say wimpy, but that's not the best description. I'd say she's awkward, unsure of herself and she wants to find happiness. She knows it's not with Philip because he keeps distancing himself from her. The more she talks to Dylan, the happier she is. When she escapes the mental hospital, I was so happy when she got her revenge on him. You go, Becky!

I'm glad they ended up together. I wanted to see Dylan leave his shady past behind and I wanted Becky to stand on her own two feet. They are a somewhat mismatched pair but they're so adorable together. It kind of renewed my hope in the romance genre, but only slightly. I won't be that shocked when I see another romantic comedy with actors like Cameron Diaz, Channing Tatum, Rachel McAdams or even Jennifer Lawrence start popping up again. Once, just once, can we have a realistic romance movie? Seriously, every romantic comedy follows a formula. I can predict the movie based on the type of love interest. They're boring and could use a major overhaul. I guess I can see why people enjoy them though. It's nice to see two people happy together and live vicariously through that.

But again, things don't happen like that in real life. It's always boy meets girl, they fall in love, something tears them apart and they unite and declared their undying love for each other. Actually, this is also the plot of just about every Disney movie ever made. I know, I know, there are some exceptions, like “Brave” and “Frozen”. “Maleficent” taught us that men are bad and you should never trust them because they will hurt you. Okay, “Frozen” also did that, but to a lesser extent. You get my point! Love in the movies is not at all like love in real life.

Love in real life is weird and painful and confusing but when it's real, it's the best feeling ever. I know this because I was once in love but that ended...badly...oddly enough, he ended up with a former friend of mine. I was upset at first, but now I'm just laughing at both of them. He went from me, college educated, twice published, to a high school dropout.

Sorry, not sorry.

But the thing is, we won't end up together. We won't have some magical reunion where we realize we were meant to be. I'm okay with this. Plus, we all know I can do better.

You see my point though. I didn't meet, fall in love, break up and reunite. In the movies, its like they meet one man and that's the one they'll marry. It doesn't make sense to me. That kills the fantasy for me. I know, we go to movies to be entertained and to get away from the real world. If I'm going to see a romance movie, I want there to be a realistic edge to it. I don't want this same old story that'll never happen.

You know what? Go rent “Love Actually” or “Valentine's Day”. I know there's multiple plots in each one, but it's the most realistic you'll get. People make up, they break up and some people realize they picked the wrong person. Things to end on this perfectly happy note. There is a fair amount of uncertainty to it, which I loved. From someone who despises the whole genre, those would be the only two I'd highly recommend.

Well, I've gotten a bit off topic.

The second film is “Only Lovers Left Alive” and I will admit, I wanted to see this because of Tom Hiddleston. Can you blame me though? He's got such a wide range of skills! He's one of the most popular comic book villains, he's been F. Scott Fitzgerald, a soldier with PTSD, a captain in World War I and soon he'll be Hank Williams. Then there's Tilda Swinton, who is just...I cannot praise this woman enough. She's androgynous, she's vaguely alien in features, she's so soft spoken...seriously, can we be friends? I have the utmost respect for this woman. Tilda Swinton, you are one of my top favorite people in film.

Now, this is also a darker film. It is about a pair of vampires named Adam and Eve. Adam is the dark, brooding reclusive musician while Eve is the bright, extroverted traveler. They are polar opposites but they are deeply in love. They live separate lives but Eve decides to visit Adam and that's when things seem to get twisted. It's harder to find blood so it has to be purchased from the hospital.

Also, if you one of those “Oh my gosh, Tom Hiddleston is so hot!” girls, there are some nude scenes in there. Yeah, he gets naked. So does she. Then he eats a popsicle. It's very creepy yet sensual. I think it's because of the context.

Once together, they just work perfectly. They balance each other out so well. This is the kind of love you should want, not that stupid Edward/Bella crap. Anton Yelchin has a small part as Ian, who is the person who goes and runs all over Adam's errands. Then we have Mia Wasikowska as Ava, a younger vampire who has trouble controlling her thirst. It's because of her one of my favorite lines happens. She actually ends up killing Ian for his blood. Adam looks at her, then at him and says, “Well, you ate Ian.” He is so bland and monotone in the delivery that I just couldn't help but laugh at him.

“Only Lovers Left Alive” is not a fast paced movie. It does move slowly, there are parts that feel a bit too long but overall, it just felt intimate. I don't mean intimate in the sexual sense but in the sense that you've joined this journey of two people. Most of the scenes are tight, focusing on the couple and they play up the colors perfectly. Eve always looks stylish in something white and form fitting while Adam's clothes are usually darker and in less than perfect condition. John Hurt also has a small role in the film, as Christopher Marlowe, yes that Christopher Marlowe. The choice to barely focus on the secondary characters was a good one, in my opinion.

I highly recommend both of these movies if you just want a night in, by yourself or with a partner. They're quiet but artistically done. And remember, I hate romance movies but I loved these. “In Your Eyes” is available on Vimeo. “Only Lovers Left Alive” should be available on DVD and Blu-Ray soon. Actually, it comes out this Friday, September 12. I just checked Amazon so I can confirm this.

I'm TheCinemaChick and I'm single, ready to mingle but for now, I'm going to bed.

**No copyright infringement intended. This blog is just an opinion and done solely for entertainment, not to steal material**

The Purge Anarchy

2014-08-29T13:19:00.001-07:00

What's up everyone, you can call me TheCinemaChick and I'm that girl you all know and fear! Okay, so maybe fear is the wrong word. I'm really not that scary. In fact, I'm actually quite pleasant and sometimes, I'm even funny. I do enjoy a good pun. I suppose you could say I'm rather punny. Don't shoot me for my poor humor. I know it's lame. I also succeed with really bad jokes and often times, my jokes are terrible.

Once again, you don't care about that. You want to know what movie I'm going to talk about since I keep promising to get back on track but never do! I promise, I am working on this and I will do better in the future. After last week's untimely loss of both Robin Williams and Lauren Bacall...I've been in a funk. I don't know why but just talking about my depression can really offset me and depress me. Part of is is ashamed that I struggle with my mental health and another part of me knows this isn't something I'm alone on. I just wish I could be normal for a change. The sad mood, the lack of interest in things, the mood swings....they get so old so fast. After years and years of fighting it, I don't want to anymore.

I'm not saying I want to give up on life, I just want things to be different. So, I've decided that I am going to make some changes. One of them being that I will be starting up vlogs again soon. Tomorrow, well today, DigitalDad and I are going shopping for a wireless card because my brother kindly donated his desktop computer to me. And by donated, I mean he recently moved the Abu Dhabi and left me with a bunch of his stuff. I got my entire kitchen from him. I also got his super awesome ASUS computer that he basically built. It's actually nicer than my laptop, so I plan to start using that soon. Also, I'm getting a camera! I have wanted a real camera for so long, not just my lame little webcam. So things should be picking up in that department.

Now, I have seen quite a few movies this summer, some of them good, some of them just awful. One of the ones I didn't care for is “The Purge: Anarchy”. I enjoyed the first one mainly because of that one character being so freaking upbeat and polite. The second installment was so much worse that the first one. It starts off with three different stories that end up converging into one. And they're still beating us in the head with the “Blessed are the new founding fathers” line. We get it! It's still America, just revamped. No, it's still the same crappy place, just with more violence! And it's the same basic premise, one night with no repercussions. No matter what you do, it's legal. It's the same freaking thing, just with new characters.

In this one, we have a mother and daughter, a married couple and a man with a vendetta. They're all rather bland in my opinion. Even in situations that call for emotions, they all seemed too calm for what's going on. I get that they still showed it but I'd be a little more hysterical if someone had a gun to my head. I wouldn't just cry a little. Also, how the hell did people's makeup never get messed up? Like, everyone who had it on always look flawless. They are running through the streets, sweating and getting into stuff, they should be greasy and grimy.

Again, the story isn't much to tell. As the film progressed, it became incredibly predictable. You knew who would get in trouble, where they'd run to, what would happen, you know the drill. It was a general disappointment. Had there been someone like the creepy Polite Leader from the first one, perhaps this would have been more interesting. I just got bored because most of the characters came off as whiny or just annoying.

The thing is, when the movie should have ended, when things seemed to be resolved, they go off on a completely different tangent. The group gets captured and taken into a random building for a hunt. It's basically an auction for the rich people so they can buy strangers to kill. In the arena, the group manages to survive, just barely though. The husband gets killed and the wife decides that she wants to purge now. And somehow, during all this, the resistance group that was never mentioned in the first film shows up to save them. The movie just ends soon after with no real resolve and no real sense of satisfaction. It was another letdown this summer.

I've heard “The Purge” compared to the video game “Grand Theft Auto” many times. Having never played those games, I can only assume from the descriptions that I have gotten that it is true. Had this film maybe tightened up a little and not had so many characters in such a wide space, this could have been a fairly decent film. But the paper thin plot and overpopulation just bogged it down too much for me to enjoy it.

I'm TheCinemaChick and basically...run.