NASA propaganda done right

The Martian is one of the most entertaining books I have ever read. I read the thing in 18 hours. Fact. Ridley Scott directs the film adaptation of the book. Do I even need to write a review?

A small note, but an important one because it speaks to the quality of the film. I saw this movie in 3D, and I forgot that it was 3D until after the movie was over. There were no needless 3D action sequences. The 3D was a seamless part of the movie. Bravo. As far as the acting? All top notch. Matt Damon delivers. Jessica Chastain is great. Michael Peña is severely underrated in Hollywood. Why isn't he in more movies? He has 72 acting credits. Maybe I'm not watching enough of his stuff. Chiwetel Ejiofor is awesome. Sean Bean! Jeff Daniels! Okay, now I'm just listing people in the movie. Kate Mara. I'm done.

This review is light on analysis. Why? Because it can be. This movie is damn near perfect, and all I need to say is go see it.

9/10, I should just give this 10/10. Actually this is 10/10.

Khaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!

Star Trek: Into Darkness is a worthy successor to the J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot. I suppose that shouldn't come as a surprise since Abrams directed both.

I'd be remiss to not type this, "KKKKKKKHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!" Now that is out of the way. This is an above average sequel. I enjoyed Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, and all of the gang! Beneditct Cumberbatch steals the show. What are you surprised? I didn't think so. Listen, there's some plot, and conflict, and it is entertaining.

If you like Star Trek you will definitely like this movie. Yep, that's it.

7/10, very solid 7

I got 99 problems and my home is one

The financial crisis of 2008 was devastating to homeowners. 99 Homes is a tale about that devastation. Ramin Bahrani's movie showed on a very intimate level the pain of that crisis for one family, and the money that was made by some.

When did Andrew Garfield become a serious actor? I guess he was pretty good in The Social Network. Regardless, Andrew Garfield is great in this movie playing a dad trying to make things right for his son and mother. Unfortunately for his character he enters the employ of an extremely shady real estate agent played by Michael Shannon. Michael Shannon has been on fire recently, and his performance in this movie is pretty spectacular. Laura Dern is decent as Andrew Garfield's mom, but Noah Lomax is superb as Andrew Garfield's son.

This movie is well written, and well acted. I think that some people may not like it given the subject matter, but that is probably because the movie hits a little too close to home.

8/10 on most days, 7/10 on the others. Again, I should really just adopt half points.

In the land of wolves

Denis Villeneuve's Sicario is a dark and gripping drama about The War on Drugs. Spoiler alert, no one wins. Given Villeneuve's track record that shouldn't be a surprise.

Sicario follows the story of FBI hostage rescue agent Kate Macer (played masterfully by Emily Blunt) as she tries to get to the bottom of a brutal crime. She's joined in her endeavor by an aloof and comedic Josh Brolin playing some sort of DOD consultant, and a truly menacing, but oddly sweet, Benicio Del Toro. Macer seems in a little over her head, but she does have help from her partner Reggie, played by Daniel Kaluuya, who is equally in over his head. I wish there was more of Jeffrey Donovan in this movie who plays Josh Brolin's assistant or sorts. He was particularly flippant about the violence in the movie.

I haven't said much about the plot because I don't want to spoil anything. The movie grabs you from the first few minutes and doesn't let go until it is over. The cinematography is beautiful. Just go watch it.

This is a rock solid 9/10. Well worth your time.

I would not want to be Equalized

Let's just get this out of the way. Denzel Washington is the man. I don't think that point was in question, but it is worth mentioning. The Equalizer is a very good movie. Don't believe me? Antoine Fuqua is the director. Get over it.

I made the mistake of watching this movie in close proximity to John Wick. I loved John Wick. LOVED IT. The Equalizer is in some ways better than John Wick. Denzel is a very convincing assassin/CIA operative. Perhaps the best part of The Equalizer is Marton Csokas portrayal of the Russian fixer.

Denzel Denzels and lots of bad guys get it. What more do you want?

Score: 8/10. This is a pretty entertaining movie.

The past is never past

Sam Mendes knows how to make a great movie. For example, American Beauty, Road to Perdition, and in 2012, Skyfall.

Daniel Craig is a more vulnerable Bond in this movie than in previous installments. The Bond in Skyfall is older, slower, injured, and not sure who to trust. This movie is very much story driven. Javier Bardem is downright disturbing as the villain. Skyfall is really a history of Bond. There are new characters taking over for old characters. A peek into the inner workings of MI6. A look at Bond's childhood home. This is a great Bond movie.

You know, this might be the most story driven Bond movie. Not that I'm some sort of Bond expert, but this is much more about the story than the gadgets or fighting. That's not to say that this isn't your typical Bond movie with sweet gadgets, fighting, and Bondisms, because it is. You don't need to see any of the other Daniel Craig Bond movies to fully appreciate this movie. The end of the movie is perfect.

9/10. This may possibly be my favorite Bond movie.

Love, Love is boundless

Interstellar by Christopher Nolan overwhelmed me. Nominally, the film is a science fiction movie, but the movie is really about family. More particularly, the movie is about a father's love for his daughter.

I don't really know how to pin down highlights in this movie. I love the awesome (in the true meaning of the word) nature of the cinematography. I loved the way that Nolan managed to convey the difference in time between the astronauts depending on where they were in relation to each other. Pro tip, relativity is a bitch. The story is great. Humanity is on the verge of collapse and we need to escape. Enter our brave astronauts: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, David Gyasi, Andrew Borba, and Wes Bentley. Where do you know Wes Bentley from? Yes, American Beauty. Arguably the two best performances in this movie come from Michael Caine and Jessica Chastain.

This movie is difficult to write about, because there are so many chances to spoil the movie. With that concern in mind I am just going to list some selling points. The movie was inspired by the work of theoretical physicist Kip Thorne. Read the scientific accuracy section on Wikipedia. You've got time travel, betrayal, drama, romance, spaceships, and Christopher Nolan is the director. If that combination does not appeal to you then I don't know what to say.

9/10. I loved this movie, and would watch it again, but given how heavy it is and how long it is I can only watch it from time to time.

John Wick is perfect

John Wick is the best action movie I have seen in years. First time directing duo Chad Tahelski and David Leitch have created a classic. In fact, I haven't been this pumped about an action movie since Equilibrium.

The role of John Wick was made for Keeanu Reeves. There is minimal dialogue and Reeves gets to focus on kicking ass in a completely dispassionate manner, as if it were a foregone conclusion. In fact, the people Wick is after realize that it largely is a foregone conclusion. Michael Nyqvist is a great mob boss. John Legiuzamo shows up for a small but crucial role. Three roles stand out for me though: Willem Dafoe as Wick's assassin friend, Adrianne Palicki as a female assassin foe of Wick's, and Alfie Allen as the guy you love to hate who wrongs Wick. Seriously, Alfie Allen has likely been permanently typecast as a guy you want to punch in the face. See e.g. Theon Greyjoy.

The fight sequences are more or less believable. The details are great. You can hear shells drop after each shot, Wick takes time to reload, and everything seems so deliberate. The way the movie is shot reminds me somewhat of the first Matrix in that there is a certain minimalist quality to the sets, lighting, and characters. I loved the fact that the movie gave you a glimpse of the underworld, and how Wick is this mythical figure in it. If you like action movies you owe it to yourself to see this movie. I mean, there is no way it will disappoint you.

10/10, perfect action revenge movie. seriously, 10 out of 10.

I ain't no boy

Hellboy is one of the first generation (I think that's right) of comic book movies that came out between the late 90s and early 2000s. I think it was really Blade that was the first big comic movie. Not counting Superman or Batman of course. In this case, Hellboy (the topic of this post) came out in 2004, and was Guillermo del Toro's first major production, unless you count Blade II. Where was I?

Nazis, demons, and random gadgets what more do you want in a popcorn flick? Plus, bonus! Niles Crane plays the underwater dude, movie name "Abe Sapien." Yes I know it is David Hyde Pierce. And let us not forget Selma Blair as, yep, a brooding character. Ron Perlman might have actually been born to be Hellboy. I mean without the makeup he kind of looks like Hellboy. Oh, by the way, Ron Perlman was in Blade II. True story.

This is a good action/sci-fi movie. The story is adequate. The acting is sufficient.

6/10, but a really strong 6. I don't know why I don't just adopt a rating system that incorporates half points...

Space Western Comedy Movie That Works

Guardians of the Galaxy is pure fun. The movie features a ton of stars, and the soundtrack is probably the best soundtrack from last year.

Guardians of the Galaxy is sort of a crime caper set in space. You've got the cowboy, that's Peter Quill aka Starlord played fantastically by Chris Pratt, the cold-blooded assassin Gamora, that's Zoe Saldana, the maniac Drax the Destroyer, played by Dave Bautista, Rocket the jaded genius played by Bradley Cooper, oh and of course the indescribable Groot, played by Vin Diesel. This motley crew is a delight to watch.

The actual Guardians are wonderful in their own right, but the supporting cast is fantastic as well. Glenn Close shows up, John C. Reilly, Lee Pace, and Benecio del Toro. The movie moves at a fast pace, but there is sufficient character development. The story is rather epic, and has a few twists to it, but the story doesn't try to do too much. This is a great popcorn movie.

I really liked the comedic banter among the characters. The cgi was good. The love interest believable enough. I mean, If you like action movies, sci-fi movies, and comic movies you can't miss this movie.

This movie is a 9/10. Maybe 8/10 if you're being a baby. I look forward to the next one.

Nothing to Dread

Remakes of movies are like, well nothing good. Rarely is a remake considerably better than the original. This review is about "Dredd" which is a remake of "Judge Dredd." Perhaps remake is not the right word, because I suppose Dredd may be intended as a complimentary story to Judge Dredd, or a retelling of the story. Regardless, the main character, Judge Dredd, is fairly different in the Sylvester Stallone and Karl Urban versions.

Karl Urban is a better Dredd than Stallone. He has the right amount of grit and anger for the job. Olivia Thirlby was a a welcome addition to the Judge universe. Her character was surprisingly complex for a popcorn action movie. Lena Headey is as an extraordinarily dark villain. This is a fun, crazy, dark, great action movie. One note is that the fake drug that sits at the center of the movie results in some beautiful trippy cinematography when characters in the movie take the drug. Once the movie was done I wanted the knowledge that there will be a sequel. The movie ending certainly allows it, but who knows.

8/10. Oh you think that is a high rating? Too bad. This is a great movie.

Netflix won, and I guess Jack Ryan

For months Netflix has been trying to get me to watch Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. I finally caved, and I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I also didn't know that Kenneth Branagh was the director, let alone the fact that he was the director of Thor.

This is a solid movie. Chris Pine is a very convincing Jack Ryan. That isn't an empty statement. Chris Pine had to compete against Alec Baldwin in The Hunt for Red October, and Harrison Ford in Patriots Games and Clear and Present Danger, oh and I guess Ben Affleck in Sum of All Fears, but he wasn't much competition. In fact, if you like spy movies you will love this movie.

I will say that the characters are not terribly compelling. Keira Knightley is a bit forgettable as Jack Ryan's wife. Kevin Costner is actually pretty good as Jack Ryan's boss. Listen, what do you want from me? This is a decent Saturday afternoon movie. Just watch it.

7/10, but like an 8 7 not a 7 7. That makes no sense.

A Man No Longer Included

A Man Most Wanted is a sad tale. A story of a broken man who is no longer included, and he knows it. Director Anton Corbijn shoots a wonderfully dark, dreary, and ultimately depressing story about the international war on terror. Negative superlatives aside, I highly recommend this movie.

This was Philip Seymour Hoffman's last film, and one of his best performances. PSH is in charge of anti-terrorism efforts in the city of Hamburg, Germany, a post he excels at, but is actually a demotion from where he once stood in the anti-terrorist hierarchy in Germany. You can feel PSH's character pain at the disrespect he receives from his superiors, and you get a sense of a man who is trying to get heard by yelling into the wind. Robin Wright masterfully plays an engaged, but detached CIA agent. I think my favorite performance was Nina Hoss as PSH's top lieutenant. The immigrant at the center of the story is played by Russian actor Grigoriy Dobrygin. His character, Issa, comes off as fairly naive, and easily manipulated by the powerful forces swirling around him. Rachel McAdams is alright as a human rights lawyer for Issa. Did you know she was Canadian? Me neither.

This movie is a welcome addition to the war on terror movies that have been released over the years. Incidentally, the movie is based off a John La Carre book so you know it's good. That is if you enjoyed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which how could you not?

I give this 8/10. Great solid movie about the war on terror.

I have more in common with The Fifth Element than I do with The Matrix

The Wachowskis' most recent movie Jupiter Ascending is over the top in both a bad and good way. The movie is not great, but it is worth seeing. Wired has an excellent article on why you should see Jupiter Ascending, even if the movie is a bit silly.

Jupiter Ascending is gorgeous and breathtakingly absurd. The Wachowskis created a world worthy of their pedigree. As the Wired article linked to above mentions Jupiter Ascending borrows from a great many sci-fi movies including the Matrix series which established The Wachowskis as having a unique voice in Hollywood. This movie is about fun, science fiction, love, and sitting back and accepting a ridiculous plot. I allude to the fact that Jupiter Ascending has more to do with The Fifth Element than the Matrix and that is because like the indulgences of The Fifth Element, Jupiter Ascending doesn't take itself too seriously.

The actor's performances are passable, but nothing special. Channing Tatum can do no wrong these days. Mila Kunis is, well Mila Kunis. Eddie Redmayne is delightfully unhinged. I haven't seen anything before with Douglas Booth, but he was a welcome addition to the cast. The same can be said for Tuppence Middleton. That is one heck of a name, Tuppence. Huge spoiler alert. Sean Bean is in this movie. He doesn't die.

Is this a "good movie?" What does that even mean? If you go in with an open mind and low expectations you will enjoy this movie. Enjoy the visuals if nothing else. I give it 7/10. 6/10 if I am feeling overly critical.