Review of Transformers: Age of Extinction (or Review of Explosions withStory About Robots....BIG Robots)

Sorry long overdue.

I keep starting and stopping and then wipe everything away and start again.

Basically I am not sure how I feel about the fourth movie in the Transformers franchise. I enjoyed it probably more then the second or third movie but still I felt it was lacking a little something.

I will give the movie a 7 out of 10 but can seriously say not sure how I feel about the franchise as a whole.

I grew up on the Transformers and over the years have seen the multiple series and have liked some and others could care less about. So I was excited when Hollywood decided to make a live action movie. But ultimately I was somewhat underwhelmed.

Special effects are awesome and have been ultimately happy with the robots chosen but the story is just lacking a little bit. The humans in the movies have been ok but their chemistry together has been a bit off. There have been moments here and there that people shine but then the next movie comes out and the good characters are gone and new ones come in that mess everything up again. And Bay I know you love your explosions but really think there may be a smidge too many. 

In total the franchise gets about a 5 for me. I find the movies entertaining but they do need a bit more substance. Michael Bay go back and watch the original series and get a feel of what made it last so long. See if you can find that magic element and bring it to movie 5. 

I will say about the new movie. Go see it if you have been entertained by the previous movies in the franchise. I was entertained and did enjoy it but was not wowed by it.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Marvel Done Good...Really Good

I said it early on that for Marvel's Cinematic Universe to succeed Guardians will need to be good. And oh my god they delivered. And now this truly opens up Marvel's library for some serious movie magic. 

And the success of Guardians now has Marvel stepping up and decided another lesser known set of characters need a movie. And we are getting The Inhumans coming soon to a theater near you in the future. 

And the discussions from fans surrounding Ant-Man is amping up. And the buzz for Big Hero 6 (even though not part of the universe) is getting good. All off this ragtag group of outlaws and their fun ride of a film.

So what is next Marvel? Finally a Black Panther movie? What about Alpha Flight (not sure if with Fox or not) to bring in the mutants since X-Men is not coming back to the fold just yet? How about Power Pack? Would make another great animated Disney feature like Big Hero 6...just saying.

The possibilities are just endless now for Marvel. 

So back to Guardians of the Galaxy....wow. You really came through for fans on this one Marvel. A few people I know said they went in not wanting to like a raccoon with a gun or a wrestler trying to be an actor and left loving both. I have to agree with them.

Every character worked and worked well together. The humor was always there but did not overshadow the action or drama of the story. And the soundtrack (now part of my music library) was incredible. It is rare that a movie has a soundtrack that just adds that extra element of awesome. 

There is something for everyone in this movie and is far from disappointing. I have heard some reviewers and people saying this is the best of the Marvel series so far. I may not go that far but I will say that it exceeded my expectations. 

Marvel I give this movie and solid 9 out of 10. Please keep up the great work with the lesser known characters.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (or How to Take a 2 Year Old to the Movies)

                                 

                             

I was lucky enough to head to the movies and catch How to Train Your Dragon 2 recently. Now as a parent of three toddlers going to any movie at the theater is a feat in itself but this movie had to be seen. I really enjoyed the first movie and love the TV series ( have seen the movie and show so many times I could recite whole scenes). So this movie had to be seen on the big screen. It was also significant because it was the first movie that my wife and I took our 2 year old to see. So officially the first movie he has been to see (well that he will know about....hope he does not remember us taking him to see Ted at 6 months....there were plenty of other parents at that cry baby session so do not judge me) in the theater. So not only did I get to see a fun, warm and tear jerker of a film but I got to see it through the eyes of one very small (but very large) Toothless fan.

So this will not only be a review of the new movie but will also be a tale all about what was a wonderful experience with my family....and away we go.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (referred as Dragons 2 throughout the review because it so much easier to type) is the direct sequel to the first movie taking place about five years since Hiccup and crew found out that riding dragons is better then fighting them. And just as magical and action packed as the first movie was the sequel did not disappoint. This has to be one of those rare sequels that is easily as good if not better then the original. And that is saying a lot considering most sequels loose a little bit of its punch because expectations are high but not Dragons 2. Hiccup this time around meets up with a very large human villain this round in Drago Bludvist and his dragon army. But joining him in his fight is not only his merry band of riders but his very much alive and mysterious mother, Valka, also a dragon rider and Eret a dragon trapper in Drago's employee.

Every moment of this movie had myself (and my little boy) on the edge of my seats. Beautiful animation, wonderful voice cast and a completely engaging story made for a wonderful night of movie viewing.

                  

And sitting there watching the whole thing with me was my little boy. His big Build-A-Bear Toothless beside him staring intently at the screen catching everything while seriously chowing down on my popcorn....must have been the cool Dragons 2 popcorn bucket but he was not getting my drink....ok he got the little Toothless topper but I got the drink....ok he got a little. This is a little kids dream getting to come to the movies and have a bit of junk food. He sat there enjoying every second. And at that age his reactions are just so much more animated than an adults. He cheered for the heroes, had a little sook during the emotional moments (even climbing I to mom's arms once) and even had a little giggle for the funny bits (usually anything involving the twins....TJ Miller and Kristen Wig are just made to be the voice of the troublesome twins). It was the magic I had as a kid going to see a movie and I got to sit there and watch it unfold. I wonder if it was as beautiful an experience for my dad taking me to the movies as it was for me and my wife taking our little boy. And even better I get to do it two more times.

I really did enjoy this movie a lot. I am now looking forward to the direction the TV show takes (next season being called Dragon Masters and taking place after the film) and where the third movie in the trilogy will go. 

1. Easily this movie gets a 10 out of 10 and will be watched again and again and again once it reaches BluRay. Thank you cast and crew for not only a great film but giving me and my family an experience we will remember for a lifetime.

X-Men: Days of Future Past Review or My History With X-Men and Why the Latest Movie Has Me X-Static

Here is my quick review of X-Men: Days of Future Past (actually this is so those that do not want to continue can read if they should see the movie or and be spared my long winded tale....which is interesting trust me). So you want to know if you should spend the money and go see the latest X-Movie well yes...yes you should. It was awesome and worth the money and time. 9 out of 10. So now you can choose continue reading about my history with the X-Men and a longer review at the end or stop and go to the movies. Trust me it is great...I am a reviewer I know what I am taking about. 

It was February 1983 and I bought my first Uncanny X-Men comic. 

The X-Men were in space fighting the Brood inside a space whale...so cool. It was my first introduction to a handful of the many X-Men, Wolverine, Storm, Kitty Pryde, Cyclops, Nightcrawler and Colossus. From that first issue My X-Men collection started. If it had a X-Men character in the book I collected it. Trust me if I had my way I would have owned every single X-Title there was. Now I stopped collecting comics regularly around 2000 but every now and again I would stop and grab a X-Men comic to keep up with my favorite characters. Some of my favourites included Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Rachel Grey, Wolverine, Gambit, and so many more. Each story pulled me in for so long and had me entertained for decades. So trust me now when I say I am a X-Men fan.

So when the first X-Movie was announced I was grinning from ear to ear. And I saw the movie and my dork level rose (and no that is not innuendo....sheesh people get your minds out of the gutter). 

When the second X-Movie was planned I jumped for joy. and then Nightcrawler, my absolute favorite character, was going to be in it....I peed myself....and then I worried because as a fan I wanted the character done right. And finally the White House scene was released online. I watched and peed myself again and smiled a content happy smile because they did Nightcrawler proud....and I was also warm from the pee running down my leg.

Finally the third X-Men movie was announced and having been happy with one and two knew I would be excited about three. Ok I was excited but I have to say I was a bit disappointed with this one. Just did not have the same feel as the previous two movies. Good news was Beast was in this one and Kelsey Grammer was cast and he did a great job. Even pulled off an "oh my stars and garters" line. 

Then for awhile there was X-Silence until tada Wolverine was announced. It was going to exciting with lots of fist fights and claws flying. And then they ruined Deadpool....not when it was Ryan Reynolds playing the character....no he did great...but when they had him at the end with sword arms, teleporting powers and eye beams I wept. I had high hopes for this one and ultimately it did not make me smile. I do not think it an awful movie but just no where near as good as it could have been.

Then again silence. We had tons of rumours but no new X-Movie. It was a sad time with lots of crying and then like a breathe of fresh air First Class was being made. How would it go? Would it be exciting, the characters interesting, the story good?? These questions plagued my mind until it was released. I watched and soaked it all in and left the movies a happy dork. It was great and it had Kevin Bacon in it....what is not to like? Bacon was in it and everything is better with Bacon. 

And then another Wolverine movie....wweeeeee. And afterward again I felt a little worried for the X-Franchise (wonder now many other words I can put an X in front of) as nothing else was on the books yet.....then the sequel to First Class which evolved into X-Men: Days of Future Past was announced. 

And here we are about to review said film. Now I really liked First Class. I thought it was a great cast and the story was perfect. So already my hopes for the sequel were huge. And then news started to come out. Older X-Men actors and actresses were returning and then Bryan Singer was coming back to the franchise. I was getting more and more and more excited. So opening weekend comes and I whisked the wife off the the movies (actually found a babysitter first then movies).

I was blown away. This sequel is easily one of my favorite movies of the year. And now on my list of favorite sequels even. I was slightly reluctant with the plotline of the sequel as I know the Days of Future Past story from the comics and they did change it drastically. But what came out of the changes was incredible. I have to give major props to James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender (quickly becoming a pair of my new favorite actors) for again bringing the younger Professor X and Magneto to life. Especially the struggle the two feel between friendship, hate and duty to their causes. And of course the return of Patrkck Stewart and Ian McKellen as their future counterparts was magic. Seeing them back in those roles alone is worth the price of admission. And of course we can never forget the X-Men standby of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. In all the X-Films he has constantly put forth a performance worthy of an Academy Award (but since this is an action sci-if hit we know that won't happen but always wishing for you Hugh). 

Now I can not write this review without recognising one of the newest faces to the X-Men family, Peter Dinklage, that easily made this film as Bolivar Trask creator of the Sentinals. His performance makes a person question if he truly is a villain or just extremely dedicated to his cause....and I am talking extreme...he dissected people. He is always such a large presence and the hair moustache helped make that presence larger. Really I think it worked for him. I could see Tyrion Lannister sporting that serious stache. Would change the entire feel of Game of Thrones. 

So now that I have rambled on about my love of all X-Things I should get down to the nitty gritty. Is this movie worth seeing even if you are not a huge X-Fan? YES....go see it. And then you too can deluge your dorky friends with questions about alternate timelines and realities. And if you are one of those dorky friends....I drew a diagram. Let me know and I will send you a copy so you can show it to those people asking you constantly....but Xavier was dead how did he come back in this movie? 

So overall score we will go with X-9 out of X-10 (adding X to everything is so X-Fun).

Everything is Awesome.....Especially The Lego Movie

I am 42 years old and an adult fan of Lego. I have sets on my desk at work and at home. My kids play with Lego and my wife even has a set or two ready to play with (ok I bought them for her so I wouldn't look weird buying girlie Lego). So when I heard that Hollyweird was going to make a Lego movie I took the news with some apprehension. Hollywood does not have have the best track record when making a movie based on toys from our childhood or do I need to remind people of the Garbage Pail Kids Movie and Battleship

So during its development I took in every piece of information and every spoiler and slowly came around to the idea that this may not be so bad. I psyched myself up By watching some other Lego series and movies and those actually surprised me (Clutch Powers was a particular diamond in the rough) in their content and ability to stay true to the source material.

The day came and with baited breath I went to see The Lego Movie. 

And my opinion was simply...WHY HAVE THEY NOT DONE THIS SOONER...THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!! Ok I may have not been that vocal about it but I was more then happy leaving the theater. I had a skip in my step and a song in my heart ( Batman's song for Wyldstyle....DARKNESS...NO PARENTS). Story, heart warming and fun, characters,loveable and memorable and voice cast, perfect in every way. I could watch this movie over and over again and not catch every little detail in it. I am pretty convinced they got almost every Lego set imaginable in this movie.

Now without giving away too many spoilers (I will try to only mention things seen in the trailers) let me tell you a bit about what I can only call my favorite animated movie this year (until How to Train Your Dragon 2 comes out).

In The Lego Movie we have Emmett (voiced by Chris Prat soon to be in Gaurdians of the Galaxy) a simple guy who suddenly becomes extraordinary and has to save the day. Easy enough of a story you would think but there is much more here. This movie is about finding that something special in yourself that makes you unique. Not only that but embracing what makes you special and just owning it. Plus how you can help all this connected to you find themselves. And in a surprise ending it encourages, in my opinion, to not grow up and enjoy Lego...without glue.

To help Emmett on his journey of self discovery he is joined by Wyldstyle (voiced by Elizabeth Banks), Batman (voiced expertly by Will Arnett in what has to be the most selfish performance ever...loved it), Unikitty (voiced by Community's Alison Brie), Benny the 80s Space Guy "SPACESHIP!!!" (voiced by Charlie Day), Metal Beard (voiced by Ron Swanson himself Nick Offerman)  and guided in their quest by the smooth talking wiseman Vitruvius (voiced by the sultry sounds of Morgan Freeman). This ragtag crew finds out what is special about themselves and each other (except Batman he was a dick...but a well done dick) as they battle against President/Lord Business (voiced by Will Ferrell the man the myth the doer of activities when there is room), Good Cop/Bad Cop (voiced by Liam Neeson) and a cadre of robots bent on making the world a uniform and sterile devoid of imagination and fun (all on Taco Tuesday). Not to mention that Emmett gets a little helping hand from the multitude of cameos by Lego characters and voice actors alike (oddly many tied to 21 and 22 Jump Street...coincidence Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, directors of both and The Lego Movie, I think not). 

It was a simple and beautiful story that appeals to a person of any age and mentality. I can not wait for this movie to be available on home video becuase it will be in the library 1000%. 

If you have the time and you have not had your eyes and mind basked in the glory of The Lego Movie then go now...yes now stop reading and go this will be here when you return...and see it. Take your kids, take your sister's and brother's kids...heck just grab that kid there on the road and take them (legal disclaimer...that is a joke Remote Theater does not in anyway condone or encourage people to abduct children off the street to take to the movies so stick to your own kids and those whose parents allow you to take their kids to the movies even if it is to see The Lego Movie) you will not be disappointed in any way.

So ultimately I rank The Lego Movie 10 out of 10. And until I come up with a cool scale to grade movies be advised that 10 out of 10 is really good.

Everything is Awesome