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.