After 3 years, the world got what it wanted: a sequel to an almost unknown thriller that took the world by storm! I just wish that it was called 'Now You Don't' instead.
After the events of the first movie, the Horsemen have gone into hiding, waiting for instructions from the mysterious Eye. When they finally step back into the public after an entire year, things somehow got horribly wrong, and the Horsemen find themselves in Macau, confronted by Walter Mabry, who sends them on a hunt to get hold of a device that can get into any computer anywhere. Meanwhile, FBI agent Dylan Rhodes hatches his own plot against Thaddeus Bradley, the former magician who Rhodes blames for his father's death.
While NYSM 2 was fun, it didn't have as much sparkle as its predecessor. One of the reasons I really enjoyed the first one was because of all the twists and turns in the plot. Unfortunately, this one also has similar twists in the plot, like how the 'villain' turns out to be a good guy in the end. A few of my predictions while watching the movie turned out to be right, like the trick they played with the plane. The magic was gone so to say. Some of the plot elements were confusing too, like the part involving the fake and original versions of the aforementioned device. To the writers of the script, I have one question about Thaddeus Bradley and Lionel Shrike being friends: Why? What was the point of both of them being friends? However, I enjoyed Lizzy Caplan's performance. Her inclusion was one of the best parts of the sequel. I really enjoyed her smartassery. I also liked Daniel Radcliffe's performance as the villain. Never seen that before! A few of the scenes were visual masterpieces and expertly choreographed, especially the scene where the team passes around the card while the other are being searched. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said that its worth going for the movie just to see that one scene. In conclusion, I would like to say, 'Oh, what could have been!'
Genres- thriller, sci-fi
Director- Jon Chu
Producers- Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Bobby Cohen
Starring- Jesse Eisenberg, Daniel Radcliffe, Mark Ruffalo, Lizzy Caplan, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine
When this movie released, the world exploded with excitement. Or at least, I did. I was so pumped up for this that I stayed awake for an entire night just to get tickets on the opening day, and I missed a day of school just so I could watch the movie before all of my friends! So you could say I was quite charged up for this Marvel event.
After the destruction caused by members of the Avengers in New York, Washington DC and Sokovia, the world feels that these powered people need to be kept in check. So come the Sokovia Accords, which puts the Avengers under the control of the United Nations. This deeply divides the team, with Tony Stark being pro-registration and Steve Rogers against him. This, coupled with the fact that Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, is on the run pits members of the Avengers against each other in what may well be the end of the Avengers. Meanwhile in the shadows, Helmut Zemo plots his own nefarious agenda.
If I had to describe the movie in three words, it would be "worth the wait". Months and months of biding my time finally paid off on the 6th of May. I couldn't really find anything to criticize in this film. Another solid performance by all of the actors. Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans have a really great chemistry together. That was important in establishing that this was actually a civil war. The clash of their ideologies was crystal clear. You could feel and understand the conflicts going on in their minds as the movie progressed. Tom Holland was impressive, making him the Spider-Man we always wanted. By far the best Spider-Man to grace the big screen till date. Chadwick Boseman was amazing as T'Challa/Black Panther. Frankly speaking, you should go watch this just to get a glimpse of Boseman as Black Panther. Sebastian Stan, just like in the Winter Soldier impressed me with his acting. He excellently portrayed someone caught in between everything. In the short time he was on screen, Paul Rudd made me laugh and go 'wow' all at the same time. Call me sadistic, but I think that one of the major Avengers should have been killed to show the grave repercussions of such a civil war. I loved how the Russo brothers included so many superheroes without making the movie feel cramped up. I understood each character perfectly; there were no confusions at all. The film was a visual masterpiece. The airport fight scene was by far the best scene in the entire MCU. No contest whatsoever. I was at the edge of my seat for the entire scene, and after it was over, I actually missed out the next minute or so of the movie because I was awestruck. The final battle between Captain America and Iron Man was also beautifully choreographed. What I liked best was that one part of the fight, with Cap using his shield to block a blast from Iron Man-
Loved it. The storyline was perfect. In the comics, there were tons of superheroes who took sides in the battles, but the Russos managed perfectly with just 12. There was a lot of mystery and intrigue and that kept me engaged. What I really liked was how Marvel had masterfully planted seeds for Civil War way back in The Avengers. Kudos for that! Hopefully DC will take some tips from the MCU on how to create a universe!
I really hope nobody even tries to compare Civil War to BvS, because Civil War is a class apart.
Genres- action, sci-fi
Directors- Joe and Anthony Russo
Producer- Kevin Feige
Starring- Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, Emily VanCamp, Frank Grillo, William Hurt and Daniel Brühl
The second of the six superhero movies in 2016! Since I'm more of a Marvel fan, forgive me if I don't seem as excited as I am for Civil War or Dr Strange. But after watching Batman v Superman, I think its time to get into DC!
After the levelling of the city of Metropolis by Superman during his epic battle with General Zod in Man of Steel, the world is divided over whether Superman needs to be praised or condemned. The loss of life has left Bruce Wayne feeling angry and helpless. Thinking that Superman is responsible for all this, Batman starts his own vendetta against the Man of Steel. Meanwhile billionaire Lex Luthor, obsessed with removing Superman from the picture has his own plans.
I do not know why I haven't watched any DC movies yet. This film told me to start following DC as well as Marvel in the future. I also do not know why we feared Ben Affleck playing Bruce Wayne. His portrayal of Batman/Bruce Wayne was just perfect; nothing too much or too less. He will do well in the upcoming movies in the DC Extended Universe. Ben Affleck sort of carried the movie forward as it just felt more interesting and gripping when Batman was on screen. Despite what all the critics said, I really enjoyed Jesse Eisenberg's portrayal of Lex Luthor, and I found myself waiting for him to come on screen. Jeremy Irons was also quite impressive as Alfred, but I wish he had a tad more screen time. This film was a visual masterpiece. From the inside of the Kryptonian ship to the climactic battle at the end, the film is a treat for the eyes. If you haven't watched this yet, and are expecting this to be like The Avengers, then just stay home. This movie has a much darker and more serious tone. There's also much less fighting and action sequences than you would expect from a movie which includes Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Most of the movie is about politics and the government, so don't expect to be sitting at the edge of your seat. I also found to story a little hard to follow around the middle of the film. But I guess that's just because I don't follow DC as much as I follow Marvel! All in all, a good movie, but could have been improved in some aspects.
Genres- Action
Director- Zack Snyder
Producers- Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder
Starring- Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Gal Gadot, Jeremy Irons and Holly Hunter
"The world's leaders have assembled. So have their enemies."
Movies involving the President of the USA are becoming more popular than ever, and one of the sub-genres this has spawned is movies in which the President is a target of some terrorist, but is saved at the last second. That is exactly wha London Has Fallen is all about.
The British Prime Minister has just dies, and all of the world's most powerful leaders must attend. However, when they all are in London, a group of terrorists unleash a devastating attack which brings London to its knees. Its now up to Secret Service Agent Mike Banning to protect President Benjamin Asher and bring him home safely.
In short, this film was a collection of clichés. Not even an ounce of originality in this movie. The basic plotline was very clichéd. The movie is about a man who wants to resign from his job because his wife is expecting a baby, but suddenly has to go to complete one last thing, which explodes into some big event. Another cliché was when the part where the President tried to be a hero by telling Banning to kill him if it came to it. Then there was the part where the President and his agent escape and think that they're safe, but then a truck comes out of nowhere and crashes into them. This movie wouldn't be anything without any other movies of a similar kind, like White House Down, Air Force One and even Olympus Has Fallen. For example, both movies, London Has Fallen and its prequel, are quite similar. Both start with flashbacks, both have sudden gunfights erupting out of nowhere... I could go on and on. The scene in which the President is threatened with one of the villains reminded me of the very similar scene from Air Force One, when the Russian villain throws Harrison Ford around the cabin. The terrorist's motive in this film was personal (his daughter had been killed). This is similar to White House Down (the villain's son had been killed). All of this is just half of what went wrong with this movie. Many of the characters lacked development and depth, and some were just plain useless. For example, the female MI6 agent was quite vague, and I felt that she just popped out of thin air. The Chief Hazard character was useless; the entire movie could have been made without him. And the for mole in MI5, I have one question: where exactly did he come from? Like the female MI6 agent, he was also seemingly born out of thin air. You could tell that the character of Lynne Jacobs was going to die from the moment she opened her mouth. Seeing as this is an action movie, it will have gunfights and explosions, but even these things were not well-executed. Excepting the first gunfight, all of the others were confusing and very difficult to follow. I was confused as to whether I was actually still watching the movie, or a clip from Call of Duty. You couldn't tell what was happening. The explosion in the building was clearly animated. It didn't seem real. It can't be that hard to make a computer-generated explosion look real. Even though I have all of the criticism, I do have a few good comments. Excepting the explosion I spoke about, the rest of the CGI was on par. Also, Aaron Eckhart did a good job as President Benjamin Asher.
Genres- Action, crime
Director- Babak Najafi
Produces- Gerard Butler, Mark Gill, Danny Lerner, Matt O'Toole, Alan Siegel and Les Weldon
Starring- Gerard Buttler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Alon Moni Aboutboul, Angela Bassett, Robert Forster, Melissa Leo and Radha Mitchell
The most awaited release of the year and my first R-rated movie! Presenting to you: Deadpool!! To be honest, I'd lost hope of being able to watch this in the cinema, but luckily for me, the attendants here in Bangalore don't check your age!
A former Special Forces soldier-turned mercenary, Wade Wilson is just about to get married and settle down when he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Believing that Ajax can save him, Wade signs up for a 'treatment', which disfigures his face and leaves him with an accelerated healing ability and a dark, twisted sense of humour. With help from two of the X-Men, Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Colossus, Deadpool sets out to exact revenge on the man who destroyed his life.
Oh, how I wish Deadpool was a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe! It would have been great to see Deadpool with all the other Marvel characters, especially Spider-Man! Anyways, for the film, I barely have any criticisms at all. First, the acting. Ryan Reynolds' performance was top-notch. He is the perfect Deadpool/Wade Wilson we know and love from the comics. He acted great. I also liked how Deadpool was always breaking the fourth wall, bringing the audience into the story wherever possible. The humour also kept me in splits throughout. There was not one scene which was boring. One aspect I particularly liked was how the filmmakers managed to put all the scenes together. There were a lot of flashback scenes, but the way they were stitched together and their fluidity made everything fall into place quite well. The only complaint I have is that the plot was clichéd. I've seen so many movies where the main character sets out for revenge against a more powerful villain, who kidnaps the hero's girlfriend for leverage. Anyways, this was a great movie, and I can't wait for the sequel!
Genres- action, science fiction
Director- Tim Miller
Producers- Simon Kinberg, Ryan Reynolds and Lauren Shuler Donner
Starring- Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, TJ Miller, Gina Carano and Brianna Hildebrand
My rating
9/10
Picture from- http://s3.foxfilm.com/foxmovies/production/films/103/images/gallery/deadpool1-gallery-image.jpg
Video from- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCvLUxICxEI
Welcome, 2016! This is a bit late, but in my defence, I was busy celebrating the new year. 2015 was quite an eventful year for me. I aced my IGCSEs, moved to Bangalore, started IB and took the SAT for the first time. 2015 has also been a great year for movies. Sadly, becaise I was so busy this year, I wasn't able to watch and review as many movies as I did in 2014. Anyhow, here are the Top 5 lists.
My Top Movies of 2015
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Ant-Man
The Martian
Avengers: Age of Ultron
The Intern
Inside Out
My Worst Movies of 2015
Dilwale
Tamasha
Fantastic Four
If any of you felt that 2015 was nothing great in terms of movies, 2016 promises to be exciting. My list is going to have way more than just 10 movies!
Movies I'm Excited For in 2016
Deadpool
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
X-Men: Apocalypse
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Captain America: Civil War
Star Trek Beyond
Suicide Squad
Independence Day: Resurgence
Kung Fu Panda 3
Finding Dory
Gods of Egypt
The 5th Wave
Ice Age: Collision Course
Now You See Me 2
Assassin's Creed
Doctor Strange
The BFG
London Has Fallen
Snowden
The Angry Birds Movie
The Adventures of Tintin: Prisoners of the Sun
Lost in the Pacific
MS Dhoni: The Untold Story
Airlift
The BFG
Finest Hours
Wow! Would you look at that! 23 movies! And these are the only ones I could find on IMDb. 2016 promises to be even more exciting and action-packed than 2015! I just can't wait!
Finally, the most awaited movie of the year! After months of hype and rumours all over the Internet, I finally got to watch it. As a die-hard Star Wars fan, I couldn't have been more excited and carged up for this instalment. Just so you guys know, Star Wars movies are schdeduled to be released every year now! What a time to be alive!
The Force Awakens is set approximately 30 years after the second Death Star was destroyed by the Rebel Alliance in Return of the Jedi. The galaxy now faces a new threat in the form of Kylo Ren and the First Order. We follow Rey, a scavenger from Jakku, who is joined by Finn, a defector from the First Order, and the cute little BB-8, who takes it upon herself to make sure the Resistance gets hold of a map which will lead to Luke Skywalker, the last of the Jedi Knights.
My whole experience of the film is a blur. I was so excited to be there that at first I walked into the wrong hall. Anyways, The Force Awakens was a great addition, and something worth waiting months for. There is so much to praise in this movie. Let's start with the musical score. John Williams has amazed again. When I heard that he was brought back to work on The Force Awakens, I was so excited. Every new tune was literally music to the ears! The special effects were top-notch, and didn't fail to amaze me. Every laser bolt, lightsaber duel and explosion kept me at the edge of my seat. The new characters of Rey, Finn, Poe and Kylo Ren were good additions, though I felt that Poe's character lacked development in certain places. It was like I'd gone back in time when I saw Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 back on screen, though I missed R2-D2's continuous chittering (I won't say any more about that). The actors didn't fail to perform. Harrison Ford made a stunning return as Han Solo, and the only different thing about Han in The Force Awakens was that he had white hair. Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, the new actors, shined brightly throughout the movie. So far, not a single Stormtrooper has been given even an ounce of personality in any of the previous instalments. It is good to see that Stormtroopers are now being seen as actual people, not mindless killing machines as shown previously. Maybe this will open up some pathways for Star Wars spinoff movies about clone troopers and stormtroopers in the future! While the movie was great in all these aspects, I did have a few criticisms. The plot was very similar to that of Episodes 4 & 6. In Episodes 4 and 6, the major part of the plot includes destroying the Death Stars. In The Force Awakens, the plot included destroying Starkiller Base, which was basically another Death Star. Also similar was how Han, Rey and Finn end up at a bar/restaurant to meet someone, just like in Episode 4. Anyways, all in all, the movie was great, and I eagerly await the next!
Starring- Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max von Sydow
My rating
9/10
Picture from- http://i.imgur.com/mml6T1h.jpg
Video from- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGbxmsDFVnE
This is a new thing for me: analysing trailers. Since I'm unable to watch and review movies as quickly as before, I decided to take a foray into other movie-related subjects; namely analysing the newest trailers.
Everyone I know has watched Civil War's trailer, and it doesn't get more pumping than it already is! And it features more than just Captain America. For this one, Marvel Studios has brought almost all the heroes from its previous movies plus more. Tony Stark and Steve Rogers face off after a grave disagreement over a new Act by the government.
In case you've been living under a rock for the last few weeks, or if you just want to watch the trailer for the millionth time like me, here it is:
Wow... I CANNOT wait for this one! Anyways, let's get on with it!
The Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes
The Winter Soldier was last seen at the end of 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier', after he'd rescued Rogers. He seems to remember his old life, and "Doesn't do that anymore" when asked about all the assassinations he's carried out ever since the Second World War. However, the rest of the world doesn't seem to care whether he was brainwashed or not: they want him dead, which is why the polizei areafter him in this scene:
The Winter Soldier is also one of the reasons Tony Stark squares off with Steve Rogers in the first place. Howard and Maria Stark, Tony's parents, were killed by the Winter Soldier in a car accident planned by HYDRA and executed by the Winter Soldier.
The Winter Soldier's metal arm is made from vibranium- the almost indestructible metal that Cap's shield is also made of. Since the main source of vibranium in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Wakanda, a small African country which the Avengers visited during 'Age of Ultron', thw Winter Soldier's arm one of the reasons why we see Black Panther in the trailer. More on that later.
The Sokovia Accords
In the comic books for Civil War, the main cause of the civil war was the Superhuman Registration Act which called for humans with powers to register with the government to prevent them from acting on their own accord. Captain America is anti-registration, while Iron Man is pro-registration.
The Sokovia Accords are a substitute for the Superhuman Registration Act, and were created after the events of 'Age of Ultron', when the Eastern European country was destroyed and also due to the unsupervised mucking around of the 'Science Bros' aka Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, which created Ultron. So its obviously no surprise that Stark has sided with the government for this one. Stark has also sided with the government because of another international incident he probably had a part to play in, maybe something to do with this huge fiery explosion:
By the looks of it, the explosion seems to be at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, which would become a major international incident, seeing as delegates from hundreds of countries would be present. On IMDb, the roles many of the supporting actors play are delegates from other countries. There are UN Delegates and there's also a Swiss Ambassador. This confirms my point.
In the picture below, if you look closely, the document seems to be handed to Scarlet Witch. She has the most personal connection to Sokovia: this was where her brother Quicksilver was killed by Ultron, and also where she was experimented upon.
Who else would wear black nail polish?
Black Panther/T'Challa
When Marvel announced that Black Panther was getting his own movie in Phase 3, everyone was excited. But why is he in Civil War? He isn't an Avenger, and most likely has no allegiances with any of the characters in the movie. But like Stark, he may also have a connection with the Winter Soldier. If you scroll up, I wrote about how the Winter Soldier's arm was made of vibranium- a metal found only in Wakanda. As the head of state, Black Panther's role is to protect Wakanda, and maybe he feels Wakanda is threatened after whatever international incident sets of the war between Rogers and Stark. He is seen in pursuit of Bucky in the trailer as well as kicking him away:
Part of the film also takes place in Wakanda: another potential reason for Black Panther to get involved.
General "Thunderbolt" Ross
Remember the villain in The Incredible Hulk? After 7 years of inactivity, William Hurt returns as General "Thunderbolt" Ross, even though Bruce Banner/The Hulk won't be in the film. Since S.H.E.I.L.D no longer exists as of the movies, General Ross will be the military presence in the movie, and in the trailer, he visits the new Avengers facility to remonstrate the Avengers for the events in Sokovia and for whatever incident that they had caused.
In the comics, Ross had his own group of villains known as the 'Thunderbolts'. If he continues to show up in more of the MCU films, he and the Thunderbolts may eventually get their own standalone film, similar to DC's 'Suicide Squad'.
Who dies?
There is going to be at least one death in the movie: Captain America. Sorry for the spoiler, but in the comics, Captain America was killed by Crossbones. Since Frank Grillo is playing Crossbones, it only makes sense that he will kill Cap. Watch this short clip:
I know, he could be saying anything, but this makes the most sense. We also learn that The Winter Soldier may be able to pull out the arc reactor from Iron Man's suit.
Another character who may have been killed is Rhodey. Remember this from the trailer?
Notice how Rhodey' suit's arc reactor is missing, and how it appears to have been torn out. Since the arc reactor is what powers the suits, if it were removed during flight, the suit would lose power and crash, and that is exactly what has happened here. You can see that the two are in some sort of a crater. Tony Stark's expression is also one of anger and shock, as if he can't believe his best friend was killed. But is he dead or just unconscious?
Other Important Characters
While a lot of heroes are going to be in the movie, two of them failed to make an appearance, namely Vision and Spider-Man. In the photos released before the trailer was released, Vision was seen on Team Iron Man, but rumours say otherwise; he probably switches sides and then leaves Earth, which could mean he crosses over with Star-Lord in the next Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
The other wild card is Peter Parker. Due to a deal between Marvel and Sony Pictures that thrilled many, Marvel is now allowed to incorporate Spider-Man in the MCU! He is going to be introduced for the first time in Civil War, and he's the youngest hero in the movie. In the comics, he first sided with Iron Man and then switched to Captain America, so that's what will happen in Civil War too.
We also don't see Scott Lang aka Ant-Man in the trailer, but that's probably for obvious reasons.
Here's a list of who's on who's team-
Anti-Registration/Team Captain America:
Steve Rogers/Captain America
Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier
Sam Wilson/Falcon
Clint Barton/Hawkeye
Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch
Scott-Lang/Ant-Man
Sharon Carter/Agent 13
Pro-Registration/Team Iron Man:
Tony Stark/Iron Man
James Rhodes/War Machine
Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
T'Challa/Black Panther
Peter Parker/Spider-Man
Vision
Who are you rooting for? Let me know in the comments!
Ahh, science fiction movie about going to Mars and facing problems there. One of my favourite sub-genres of science fiction. Mission to Mars movies are always fun and interesting to watch.
During a fierce storm on Mars, 5 astronauts blast off, leaving behind Mark Watney, who was presumed dead. Once he wakes up, he realises that he's stranded on an unknown and hostile planet. With only a meagre amount of supplies, he must use his wits and knowledge of science and botany to survive. Meanwhile on Earth, NASA fights against time to formulate a plan to rescue the stranded astronaut.
The Martian was a masterpiece. Usually, when I watch a movie, I take down a few notes on my phone to help me with the review. But I was so engrossed in the movie that I completely forgot to make any notes. That just goes to show how gripping and interesting the film actually was. I really liked the plot of the movie, especially when Watney finds the old Pathfinder probe and the manoeuvre that the rest of Watney's crew executed to get back to Mars. Matt Damon was excellent. A great performance by him. The supporting cast did a good job too, especially the actor who played Vincent Kapoor (though it would have been even better if Irrfan Khan had gotten the role). When I heard about this film, I expected it to go along the lines of Interstellar, which had a darker and more serious feel to it, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was lighthearted and laced with humour every now and then to keep issues from becoming too serious, which would have been boring. The Martian landscape looked just like the pictures we have of Mars. Most of the movie was also scientifically accurate as well, especially the way he was producing water, using the radioisotope of plutonium for heat and growing potatoes in Martian soil. However, one mistake was that the dust storms on Mars are not as dangerous as they were shown to be (you can read more about that on Wikipedia). If I had to compare The Martian to Interstellar or Gravity, I would be lying if I said The Martian wasn't my favourite. If I had any complaints, it would be that the movie was a tad too long. At 141 minutes long, I found myself asking when the movie would be ending.
Genres- Science-fiction, action and adventure
Director- Ridley Scott
Producers- Simon Kinberg, Aditya Sood, Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer and Mark Huffam
Starring- Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan, Askel Hennie and Chiwetel Ejiofor
Wow, two reviews in two days! I really am making up for lost time! Scorch Trials is the second instalment in the Maze Runner trilogy, based on the awesome book series by James Dashner. Thomas, Minho, Newt and Teresa return to the big screen to fight WCKD.
Scorch Trials picks up from where Maze Runner ends. Thomas and his friends have broken out WCKD's headquarters, and are transported to a fortified facility in the middle of the Scorch, a desolate swathe of burned land teeming with virus-infested Cranks (aka zombies), only to find out that they still haven't escaped from WCKD. With the help of a new ally, Thomas and his friends stage an escape into the Scorch.Now the Gladers' only hope may be to find the Right Arm, a resistance group that may assist them in battling WCKD.
When I read the Maze Runner series, I was amazed. The Scorch Trials was my favourite book in the series and the trailer gave me goosebumps whenever I watched it, so I was expecting a lot from the movie. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Now, I know that when a book is made into a movie (movie-fied as I like to say), I do understand that the producers and screenwriters can't make everything the same, but at the same time, they can't change the entire story. But here, I'm disappointed to say that it was as if the book had never even existed in the first place. The story had been tweaked in so many ways. One major difference is that Brenda was not immune to the virus (known as the Flare). In the book, her being immune to the Flare forms an integral part in driving the story forward. That element will now be missing from the next movie. Also, if Brenda was not immune, she shouldn't even have been alive when Thomas and her friends met her. There were also so many other small errors which I noticed. For example, everyone seems to be very cold since they're wearing jackets and their breath is frosting. They are supposed to be in the Scorch, which is meant to be scorchingly hot. I felt that some of the new characters introduced, like Vince and Mary were useless. They were not needed for the story. Meanwhile, characters like Newt and Aris should have held more importance, but their roles were downgraded. Indeed, there were some points in the movie where I forgot that Newt was even present. Another speaking point is that for some aspects of the movie, like the enzyme cure and the Flare virus should have been accompanied by some more information, especially for the Flare. Anyways, there were some parts of the movie I really liked. The special effects were amazing. Everything looked very real and convincing, especially the ruined buildings. They gave the excellent backdrop a dystopian world. The Cranks exceeded my expectations. I was expecting something similar to the zombies from World War Z, but what I saw was much better. They looked quite scary and creepy to me. Dylan O'Brien impressed as he did in first film, and hopefully he keeps that going.
Genre- science fiction, action and adventure
Director- Wes Ball
Producers- Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen and Lee Stollman
Starring- Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Rosa Salazar, Jacob Lofland, Giancarlo Esposito and Aidan Gillen
Going by the name of this film, you'd expect it to be about a young new intern, new to the chaos and disorder of today's corporations, struggling to earn approval, and maybe finding love on the way. Well, The Intern is almost nothing like that. (I know this movie came out a long time ago, but there you are.)
Ben Whittaker is a 70-year old widower and he's just discovered that retirement isn't anything excited. He's tried everything, from travelling the world to cooking to learning Mandarin. Hoping to find some adventure, he takes up an internship and becomes a senior intern to the founder of an online fashion store- Jules Ostin.
Most of the movies I've reviewed here are science fiction or action or adventure, but it feels great to write about something else. Robert DeNiro executes his role as the perfect gentleman flawlessly, from the crisp suits he wears everyday to the advice he gives to his younger colleagues. His character was one of those who you can't help but like. Anne Hathaway was perfect in portraying the hectic life of a working woman who juggled her duties. The two had a really great chemistry. Jules was the one who asked for help and Ben was the one who brought the experience to the table. They form the perfect team. Humour was no stranger here. The boys road trip was absolutely hilarious, and I was rolling around with laughter in my seat. The audience cracked up numerous times during the movie. If I had one complaint, it would be that I felt that the ending was a bit abrupt. But overall, a heartwarming movie, and I was smiling as I walked out. (By the way, this movie is NOTHING like The Internship. It couldn't be more different.)
Genre- comedy
Director- Nancy Meyers
Producers- Suzanne Farwell and Nancy Meyers
Starring- Robert DeNiro, Anne Hathaway, Rene Russo, Adam DeVine, Zack Pearlman and Anders Holm
My rating
8/10
Picture from- http://s2.dmcdn.net/M0ubg.jpg
Video from- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU3Xban0Y6A
One of the biggest releases this year, it was no surprise that Mission: Impossible -- Rogue Nation made a boatload of money at the box office. It was the fifth instalment in the Mission: Impossible series, and we follow Ethan Hunt once again trying to complete another impossible mission.
With the IMF now disbanded, Ethan Hunt is out in the open on his own. A new threat soon emerges from the shadows - The Syndicate. The Syndicate is an organization bent upon establishing a new world order, and includes a network of highly trained operatives. In what may be his most impossible mission yet, Ethan brings his team back together and sets out to defeat this new menace.
While this wasn't the best film in the series, I did quite like it. In every film, a futuristic piece of technology is shown to us. In Ghost Protocol it was that projector screen and camera in that hallway and in Rogue Nation, it was that tablet computer Benji used and the wristband Ethan wore when he jumped into the water-cooled chamber. (Sorry for the spoilers!) Its always exciting to see the new technology that movies show us. The plot of this film was exciting and gripping, even if it was a little hard to follow in a few places. It was thorough and I didn't find any problems with it. Humour is always a good addition to an action movie, and this was no exception. Simon Pegg was great in his portrayal of Benji, as always. Tom Cruise, as always, impressed me. Even at the age of 53, he's still got a lot of it left in him! I can't believe he actually did that plane scene by himself! I also felt that Rebecca Ferguson did a good job in her role of Ilsa Faust. However, I felt that Ving Rhames' character, Luther Stickell, was weak. The movie could have been made without him as well. The action scenes get better from one movie to the next. One scene that was different but impressive was the fight scene at the opera. It was the music that made it as good as it was. Fighting for your life with opera in the background. I should try that sometime. The screenwriters always find new ways to amaze us, and here it was when Ethan jumped into the water-cooled chamber to input a file. Once again, I'm very sorry for all the spoilers!
Genre- action, adventure
Director- Christopher McQuarrie
Producers- JJ Abrams, Bryan Burk, Tom Cruise, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger
Starring- Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris and Alec Baldwin
My rating
8/10
Picture from- http://s1.dmcdn.net/Jh3Dy/1280x720-v1y.jpg
Video from- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOW_azQbOjw
From now on, instead of reviewing my movies from Singapore, I'll be doing it in Bangalore. That's right. I've relocated! Back to Ant-Man now. For the casual moviegoer out there, Ant-Man may be the most unconventional superhero out there. Having ants as allies? Surely Marvel could think of something better than that! Anyways, with Ant-Man ends Phase 2 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
When Dr Hank Pym is forced out of the company he created by his former apprentice, Darren Cross, he recruits Scott Lang, a master thief fresh out of prison, to become Ant-Man. Armed with a special suit that enables him to shrink in size but increase in strength, Pym trains him on how to command an army of ants. When Cross tries to sell similar technology to Hydra for nefarious reasons, Lang must step up to prevent the suit from falling into the wring hands.
A great way to end Phase 2 in the MCU! The post-credits scene set everything up for the next phase, especially Civil War, with Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson discussing what to do with Bucky, and how Tony Stark couldn't be summoned for assistance. Anyways, back to Ant-Man. I was a bit skeptical when I heard the name of the movie, but then I watched the trailer. This proves that Marvel can pull of anything! First there was a film which starred a talking raccoon and a walking tree, and now a superhero who's the size of an ant! Paul Rudd portrayed Scott Lang quite well as the charismatic and likeable character who you root for throughout the movie. Corey Stoll was a good addition, and he did well as the corporate businessman and super villain. Michael Peña was hilarious, especially with his story narration scenes. If you love movies with action in them, Ant-Man is your fix. All the action scenes, especially the one at the end between Ant-Man and Yellowjacket were beautifully choreographed. The humour was great, with Paul Rudd and Michael Peña contributing to that. As always, the animation and CGI were first-class, especially with the shrinking and growing of Lang in the suit. To me, Ant-Man felt different from the other MCU films, like Iron Man or Thor, but it was a good sort of difference. I can't wait to see Scott Lang/Ant-Man as a part of the Avengers in Infinity War!
Genres- Science fiction, action, superheroes
Director- Peyton Reed
Producer- Kevin Feige
Starring- Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Michael Peña, Michael Douglas and Anthony Mackie
If you're anything like me, you would have been eagerly waiting for this one! As soon as I heard about Jurassic World, I was struck with a crazy anticipation! One question though. Didn't they learn ANYTHING from the events of the previous movies? Dinosaurs in a park + people = a place you would not want to be at.
20 years after Jurassic Park 3, Isla Nublar is now a luxury resort, showcasing the wonders of the prehistoric world to all who visit. Jurassic World is now home to an array of genetically modified dinosaurs, including the viciously intelligent Indominus Rex. When a chain of events cause the Indominus Rex to escape from its enclosure and run rampant across the island, its up to Owen Grady, a velociraptor trainer, to save 2 brothers and the rest of the tourists in the park.
In short, I would say that this entry into the franchise was a fine film, but too similar to the first one and a bit predictable. In the Jurassic Park, we had a dinosaur theme park. Then a T-Rex goes berserk and chases everyone. In Jurassic World, we have a dinosaur theme park, and the Indominus Rex causing havoc everywhere. Very similar. Having 2 kids in the centre of everything also made the outcome of the movie really predictable. Even in Jurassic Park, there were 2 kids who had the bad luck to be chased by dinosaurs. Chris Pratt was the only one who executed a fine performance. I found Bryce Dallas Howard boring. There also seemed to be a shortage of common sense in the characters. As the director of a park showcasing dinosaurs, shouldn't Claire have had the common sense to not SCREAM for the boys in the middle of the forest where they knew the Indominus was hiding? And why did Owen bring a tiny gun to fend of a gigantic, intelligent dinosaur? On a better note, the special effects and CGI in this movie were top-notch, and the dinosaurs looked real enough for my liking. (Spoiler alert) I also enjoyed how, for the first time in a Jurassic Park film, the T-Rex and raptors were the good guys. In conclusion, the film was a fine addition to the franchise, but a new storyline is needed for it to survive.
Genres- Sci-fi, action, thriller
Director- Colin Trevorrow
Producers- Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley
Starring- Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Irrfan Khan, Vincent D'Onofrio, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy, BD Wong and Jake Johnson
The movie we've all been waiting for is here! Avengers: Age of Ultron! This review is a bit late, because of my IGCSE exams and stuff like that. But worry not! I'll do good in those. Right now, what matters is Avengers: Age of Ultron! (I really like saying that!)
When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner create a sentient being in the form of Ultron (basically artificial intelligence) as a world peacekeeping force, anyone could predict that things would go awry. Ultron must be stopped from enacting his terrible plans, which involve killing everyone on the planet. The team must reassemble to combat the newest threat to the safety of the planet. Along the way, they meet two mysterious but powerful heroes: Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch!
The first Avengers movie released way back in 2012. For three years I waited. And that wait was not in vain, for Age of Ultron was the finest superhero movie I have ever watched! It is the sequel we've all been waiting for. The film's plot was intriguing and gripping, leaving me at the edge of my seat, waiting for more. The acting was remarkable, with everyone giving solid performances. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen were impressive too! There was a balanced mixture of humor and seriousness in the movie, especially with RDJ and James Spader, who played Ultron. The action scenes and CGI were top-notch. One thing I realized was that the final fight against Ultron was not in the USA, but in an Eastern European country; a major change! What I liked was that Hawkeye was more focused on, and his one-liners were hilarious! The villains just get better and better! First Loki and now Ultron! Second only to the one and only Darth Vader. I wonder what'll happen next in 'Civil War' and 'Infinity War'!
Genres- Action, sci-fi, fantasy, superhero
Director- Joss Whedon
Producer- Kevin Feige
Starring- Robert Downey Junior, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, James Spader, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders, Samuel L. Jackson, Stellan Skarsård, Claudia Kim and Andy Serkis (Phew!)
I know what y'all are thinking: He said that he was going offline until June. What's he doing online? Well, the answer is: Furious 7. I just couldn't miss it! This is the first movie I watched from the list of movies I was excited to watch. Unfortunately, this was the last time we see Paul Walker up on the big screen. The next movie won't be the same without him.
The crew thought it was all over after removing Owen Shaw from the picture. But when Deckard Shaw begins killing members of the crew to avenge his dead brother, Dominic and his team get embroiled in another kill-or-be-killed situation. Forced to obtain a shady computer program for the US government, and stopping Shaw at the same time, Toretto and his team have no choice but to jump back into the world they thought they had finally escaped from.
I must say, this was the best movie so far in the series. Since Paul Walker died while filming was still on, they used CGI to incorporate him into a few scenes. It was flawless; I couldn't even make out which scenes were filmed with CGI and which ones with Walker himself. It was an emotional send-off for Paul, with a montage of him from the first six movies, finishing with to words, 'For Paul'.
The stunts were crazy, especially when they drive out of a plane! I didn't know that they actually drove the cars out of plane during filming, instead of using animation and special effects. Paul Walker was unforgettable, and his amazing final performance was aided by brilliant acting from Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez. Introducing Jason Statham was one of the best ideas anyone could have had for the movie. He was, in one word, epic. Nobody else could have played Deckard Shaw as well as he did. The movie was also humorous due to the duo of Tyrese Gibson and Chris Bridges, with their badass one-liners and jokes! James Wan, the director, is better known for his horror movies. His use of different camera angles throughout the film was smart. If you are looking for high-octane action, crazy stunts and rapid car-chases, this movie is for you. So far, the best movie in the series so far.
Genre- Action, adventure, crime, comedy (a little bit)
Director- James Wan
Producers- Vin Diesel and Neal H Moritz
Starring- Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges and Kurt Russell
I'm afraid that I'm going to have to go offline until the end of June. My IGCSE exams will be going on and I need to revise. So, unfortunately, I won't be able to watch movies and review them. I've already missed Project Almanac... Anyways, I'll be back as soon as possible!
Some of you may have noticed a new FlagCounter widget on the right. For those of you who don't know what it is, it is simply a widget that counts the number of people from each country who visited my blog. It's not working for some reason...
The first movie of 2015 for me! Trash was a gem. A bright, shining gem. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, Trash is the name of a British-Brazilian film set in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. We follow three boys who find a wallet in the junkyards of Rio and uncover a secret that makes the streets a dangerous place be.
When Raphael and Gardo find a wallet containing a collection of items, they have no idea that their lives are going to change forever. Little do they know that the wallet belongs to an activist who the police are after. After enlisting their friend Rato for help, they find out that even the police will not help them. What follows is a fascinating journey full of action, humour and emotions through the slums of Rio.
Let me say that when I walked into the cinema, my expectations were't high. In fact, the only reason that I went to watch the movie was because I had two spare hours and nothing else to do at home. And I was impressed. The movie had everything- action, suspense, comedy and emotions. I loved it. The acting was great. Some of the best from child artists. Those three boys didn't let me down one bit. I also liked the way Brazil was portrayed. It seemed like the real Brazil, not like the Brazil you read about in books. This movie sends out a clear message. you never know what you'll find. It was a simple movie, but great all the same. A great start to 2015!
Genre- Crime, drama and comedy
Director- Stephen Daldry
Producers- Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan and Kris Thykier
Starring- Rickson Tevez, Eduardo Luis, Gabriel Weinstein, Rooney Mara, Martin Sheen, Wagner Moura and Selton Mello
And so we bid adieu to another eventful year. Goodbye 2014! Now, I thought this would be the best time to list my top movies of this eventful year. And, while we're at it, why not list my worst movies of the year and the movies I'm eagerly awaiting next year? Let's get to it!
My Top Movies for 2014
1. Interstellar
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
3. The Hundred-Foot Journey
4. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
My Worst Movies for 2014
(You DO NOT want to be on this list)
1. Divergent
2. Transformers: Age of Extinction
3. Dumb and Dumber 2 (This film was so disgustingly bad that I didn't even have the heart to review it)
Seeing as I only have 3 movies here, I can easily say that it's been a great year for movies.
Now, where would cinema be without Bollywood? Here are my top Hindi movies for the year:
My Top Hindi Movies for 2014
1. PK
2. Happy New Year
3. Bang Bang
4. Singham 2
5. Kick
I hope next year will be as exciting as this, and it certainly looks so, at least in terms of movies! Here are the movies which I absolutely can't wait to see.
What I'm Most Excited to See in 2015
1. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
2. Furious 7
3. The Avengers: Age of Ultron
4. Spectre
5. Ant-Man
6. Jurassic Park
7. The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
8. Mission Impossible 5
9. Goosebumps
I'd always wanted to watch a movie in which there's a museum and all of the exhibits come to life and create mischief when I was young. And needless to say, I was really loved this trilogy. In the final instalment to the Night at the Museum series, we are taken to the British Museum. First, it was the American Museum of Natural History in New York and then the Smithsonian in Washington DC and now- England!
The tablet of Akhmenrah, the magical Ancient Egyptian artefact that gives all the museum exhibits life, is corroding. When all of the museum exhibits start behaving strangely at a night event at the museum, Larry pinpoints the cause of their strange behaviour to the tablet dying. Along with Teddy Roosevelt, Sacagawea, Attila the Hun, Jedediah, Octavius and Dexter the capuchin, Larry must travel to London to find a cure for the tablet before it dies for all eternity.
This movie was a great way to end the beloved series. While Night at the Museum isn't exactly a blockbuster movie, it's one of those movies where you can just sit down and tune out the rest of the world for a few hours. As I like to say, it was one of those 'time-pass' movies! I can't think of a better actor to play Larry Daley other than Ben Stiller. He's awesome! It was always fun to see how the gang would interact with historical figures in the museums, and the British Museum was no exception. Sir Lancelot was great for comic relief and humour in general. He had some great lines. I had great fun during the movie! One thing I didn't like was Ben Stiller's double role as Larry and Laa. Other than maybe once, I didn't actually find Laa's antics that funny, but hats off to Ben Stiller for pulling off a double role in the final film. So overall, not the best movie, but something great to watch just to kick back and relax. A nice finish to one of my favourite series!
Genre- Comedy, fantasy, family and action
Director- Shawn Levy
Producers- Shawn Levy, Chris Columbus and Mark Radcliffe
Starring- Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Robin Williams, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Dan Stevens, Rebel Wilson, Skyler Gisondo, Rami Malek, Patrick Gallagher and Mizuo Peck
