Godzilla - Movie Review

I really have to say that with all the hype surrounding this movie, I was really expecting something huge and thrilling. What I got wasn't far from it, but Godzilla unfortunately doesn't feature it's key player for more than maybe 25 minutes of the movie. That's right, Godzilla is somehow a supporting character here, with a more human-based script. Now don't get me wrong, I think it's amazing when blockbusters can combine real human story and large action sequences, but my main problem was that it didn't feel balanced enough.

To start, the acting was great. Really no complaints here. Bryan Cranston did fantastic as always, Elizabeth Olson did the best with what the script gave her (her character, unfortunately, very underutilized), and Aaron Taylor-Johnson had some of the best scenes and carried the movie, in my opinion. Other supporting actors all did great with what they were given, but most characters fell into the generic action movie roles.

The effects were spot on when the action sequences began. Godzilla owned whenever he was on screen and created for some great 3D visuals. There were also two other creatures featured in this movie, and I have to say their story was pretty interesting too and it was awesome seeing the three battle and creep around the world. It created for a lot of suspense and thrills. Again, my complaint was that these beasts were simply underused. If you're going to call a movie Godzilla, don't just give him a small scene in the middle and a supporting role in the finale. However, I understand that the first movies in franchises often don't get large budgets, so if Godzilla is deemed successful and another movie is greenlit, I'd expect to see more Godzilla with the higher budgets. Just don't go in expecting him to run the film.

Also, I loved the sets and scenery here. From jungles to Japan, and mines to metro trains, the sets created such a suspenseful world and fully immersed us in how much danger this world was in. I also have to say, some shots were absolutely stunning. The one that comes immediately to my mind was the army jumping out of the plane and descending eerily into the fog, where brief lightning flashes revealed the looming shadow of Godzilla. It was the focus on details like this that truly made the movie unique for me, and I'd recommend it solely based on the art direction.

Otherwise, I'd say if you're interested in some thrills and great visuals, Godzilla is definitely for you. It's intense, suspenseful, and packed with all the right things. Just remember to not expect Godzilla 24/7, or you will surely be disappointed. Instead, take it for what it is and you're bound to have a good time.

My Recent Netflix Addiction: Bob's Burgers

I'm not entirely sure why I began to watch this show. I already watch Family Guy, American Dad, and South Park. And over time, that type of show got a little dull. It was always the same formula, the same characters, and the same types of satire. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I wanted something new. I definitely found it with Bob's Burgers. This show is filled with characters that never get boring and can always pull a laugh from me. Each are relatable in their own little way and find their moments to shine and truly create a show that is different from all the rest.

The voice acting is spot on with this show. You've got the insane little sister, the obnoxious brother, the depressed teen, the oblivious mother, and the stern father. Combined, this family is a winner on screen. Their chemistry flows so well together and the comedic timing is really what bumps this show up from the mediocrity of other prime time television. It's a difficult task to get comedic timing right when it's an animated show, but I do think Bob's Burgers has found the correct way to do that.

You would think that after a while, a show about a family running a burger joint would grow dull and repetitious, but it is quite the opposite. Every time you feel like you can't imagine where they'll go next, they pull out some insane plot point that is downright hilarious. It's absurd, for sure, but each episode brings something fresh to the table that you really couldn't have conjured in your wildest thoughts.

Netflix makes it entirely too easy to binge watch this show, so a fair warning to you all. If you're ever feeling down, the short 20 minute episodes are easy to consume and before you know it, you'll be all out of episodes. It's honestly a great show to watch with any audience, since it doesn't have the offensive edge of Family Guy but also isn't cheesy like most animated TV shows. It's a sure way to get people to smile, filled with witty humor and plenty of quotes that you may find yourself remembering at random times. All in all, I highly suggest it. Perhaps make it a part of your summer Netflix schedule!

How to Construct a Movie Marathon

Have you ever been hanging out with friends and just completely not know what movies you want to watch? Then you all kind of stall until you choose some mediocre TV show and everyone ends up talking over it anyways? Well it's time to say farewell to that poor selection system. Today, I'd like to talk you through how I plan which movies I plan on watching and how you all can do it as well.

I guess the most important thing is to figure out which genres everyone likes. That's probably the hardest part, because everyone has such different preferences toward which kind of movie they'd like to watch. But if you can at least narrow it down to a genre, the choice will be much more condensed and easier to decide on. A quick tip I have is don't rely on everyone liking the horror genre. This is one that you really need to know your group of friends, because horror is a really tough genre for people to like. Never plan on showing a horror movie unless everyone agrees beforehand. You don't want that friend that goes "No seriously turn it off" in the middle of it. But it's just getting good. Anyways.

Once you've gotten down to this point, you need to decide if it's going to be a movie that you all will actually watch, or if it's a movie that you can kind of talk over and still understand what's going on. If you're going for the latter, I would highly suggest a comedy film. Comedy allows consistent laughs, but it also usually lets you and your friends talk over it every once and a while and still understand what's going on. If it's one you are all going to watch without talking much, then I'd suggest a drama or a sci-fi. Drama captivates and requires full attention. Sci-fi is a fun genre that will hopefully keep everyone mesmerized. Now when I say sci-fi I do NOT mean those crappy movies you find on the Syfy channel. Those movies could be filed under the comedy section and should be treated accordingly.

You'll also need to decide if you're going to be doing a marathon of a movie series. If so, choose a series that doesn't get worse with its sequels or too repetitive. For example, if you choose Harry Potter, all the movies have such a different theme and tone that it'll always be interesting and will hold attention through the movies. However, if you're thinking about marathoning, say, the Fast and Furious movies, your friends might get bored. All of the 6 movies are basically car racing and car shootouts. While good for a short time, it has too much of a repetitive tone.

All in all, just pick movies that you know you'll have fun with. Though you might feel safer choosing movies you've already seen before, sometimes it's a lot more fun just picking out movies you haven't heard anything about. So remember, narrow it down to a genre (specify to your friends beforehand if you'll be watching horror movies), don't waste too much time deciding, and don't choose movies with too repetitive of a tone. Also remember to try new things. Enjoy your movie marathon!

Neighbors - Movie Review

Neighbors is your fun, exciting, and wildly inappropriate college movie of the summer. It's filled with plenty of sex, swearing, and obnoxious and over the top scenes. So why is this so appealing? Well, the answer is simple. Seth Rogen and Zac Efron both bring characters that the audience can relate to. We either have the more adult behavior of Rogen, constantly overreacting while trying to be a parent and adult figure. Then you have Efron who brings out the wild side of the film with crazy parties and plenty of college festivities. So there's always going to be one character that you especially relate to, and the wild ride continues from there.

The acting was fairly good but the best performance for me was Rose Byrne as Kelly Radner, the wife of Rogen's character. She was consistently on top of things and her comedic timing was spot on. She never missed a moment to shine and she stole nearly every scene she was in. Rogen did his typical performance, which isn't bad, just not necessarily exciting or new. It was fun seeing Efron in a new kind of movie (opposed to his previous career of more kid movies) and he definitely took this opportunity and ran. He plays a great rebellious character and is definitely good at comedic acting. As for everyone else, there was no bad acting. There was just a bunch of pretty decent performances that end up a bit forgettable in the end.

One thing I have to note is there is a lot of laugh out loud material in this. I saw it with a packed crowed and people were bursting out with laughter every minute. I even admit there were a few times where I just couldn't help myself and was clapping along with the shenanigans unfolding on screen. The movie isn't necessarily set up to have strong, developed characters or a unique plot. It's made for the purpose of entertaining and it sure does deliver. So if you're looking for a movie that has a developed plot, this isn't the movie for you. But if you have a desire to see it, I'd definitely recommend doing so. It's also a lot more fun with a large group, so the sooner you go the better. Packed theaters are a lot more fun.

The summer blockbuster season has officially started, and this is the first major comedy of the season. So I'd say if you're OK with plenty of sex jokes (penis jokes), weed jokes, frat jokes, and adults-trying-to-be-young jokes, you're in for a fun ride. My advice would be not to think about everything and just watch it mindlessly. If you think about it too much and put a critical eye on it, it definitely won't be as enjoyable. Just sit back and laugh away. B+

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 - Movie Review

Spider-man has always been my favorite super hero. I'm not quite sure why, since I really hate spiders, but somehow this character has found its way into my heart. So when they decided to reboot the franchise as a whole, I was a bit skeptical. The first movie in this reboot was definitely good but all it did was retell the origin story and not much else. So the sequel was really important to get right, of course. And luckily, it did its job and truly showed what the saga had the potential to do. Of course there were a few flaws here and there, but overall it was an amazing viewing experience, all enhanced by some fairly good 3D might I add.

The main thing that pulled this movie together was the amazing chemistry between leads Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker) and Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy). Dating in real life, Garfield and Stone bring their amazing talents and genuine smiles that make the movie more than just the large action sequences. It was always fun to see them together, and it was even great seeing them do scenes on their own. It's refreshing to see two young Hollywood stars with pure talent. Other great actors include Jamie Foxx and Dane DeHaan as our two main villains, both presenting a lot of pathos that make us feel conflicted about which side to root for. And of course, Sally Field is exceptional as Aunt May, who doesn't have too much screen time yet always get my full attention.

Next we're onto the effects, which I can say made the movie very much an experience. What I mean by that is there are many shots that allow us to get right into what's happening, and with 3D it's basically like a roller coaster ride. There are slow-mo shots, buildings crumbling, electric battles, and swinging from the rooftops of New York. Of course, with new technology, it's expected that sets and action scenes should get bigger and better, but this definitely took it to a different level and made it an experience I won't forget.

The writing is perhaps the thing that surprised me the most in this, simply because there were so many genuine moments that provided an experience that blended the large, luxurious effects of a comic book movie and the heart throbs we get in every day life. It mixed together two worlds into one and I loved every bit of it.

I suppose the only flaw I could really see was that it suffered from too many villains a few times. The film has three villains, and I think from time to time it doesn't know how to balance that many. The results were a few scenes that simply didn't have the effect they should have had, but overall the evil sides were strong and powerful in their own ways. Though the movie is 2 and a half hours long, it goes by in a flash. I can't wait for the third one (out in 2016 ya'll!) and I will definitely be watching this one many times.

My Recent Netflix Addiction: Orange is the New Black

Why I continually allow myself to get addicted to television, I will never know. But of course, after finishing House of Cards, I needed another quality show that I could completely binge on. This resulted in me coming across the Netflix original series of Orange is the New Black, and falling in love with it right away. Though currently I'm only 4 episodes in, I can safely say I know it'll only get better. There's a couple reasons why this show is becoming the strong hit that it is.

The setting (a women's prison) at first glance wouldn't seem like they could write a TV show around it. I was skeptical about it too, but that assumption is immediately crushed in the first episode and I quickly found myself being drawn into it. The comedy, the dramatic and touching moments, and the actors all come together and present a show about regrets, pushing through the present, and looking forward to a brighter future.

The whole show is not just set in the prison, might I add. There are many flashbacks to tell the back stories behind the characters we meet in the prison. The way they do this is intriguing and keeps every episode fresh and free from becoming dull.

What's impressive about this show is how perfectly and delicately they can blend dark comedy. One moment I'm laughing until I'm crying and the next moment I'm sitting in pure awe with goosebumps at the chilling and dark side of the show. I'm very glad the show is not just one tone all the time, because when shows do that it doesn't allow for much variation and often doesn't allow for much character development either. What I truly respect about this show is how it isn't afraid to get down to the dark and dirty stuff either. It's a comedy about prison, but it also very much acknowledges that it's a prison too and things won't always be a hapy and comedic time.

Netflix really did get another hit on its hands with this one. Taylor Schilling as our lead Piper Chapman is absolute gold on screen and knows how to work subtle facial expressions and keep her character consistent throughout the show. She, along with many other characters, bring a lot of pathos to the audiences and makes us feel like we really know Piper. Like she's a friend that we need to check in with every once in a while. And that's what makes this show addictive. My advice? Run to your Netflix and watch this all in one day. If that's not possible, I suppose watching it at a normal pace would be acceptable too. But regardless, watch it!

The Other Woman - Movie Review

I am open to absolutely any film genre, but the most off and on genre for me would have to be romantic comedies. They're either really good, really sappy, or just plain dreadful. I'm happy to say The Other Woman is one of those few that is enjoyable for absolutely anybody who watches it, and there's a few reasons why that words. And of course, like any movie, this one has its flaws, some of them a bit big. But overall it's a fun experience, especially if you watch with a big group of friends.

The first thing I'd like to mention is the hilarity that Leslie Mann brings to the ensemble. She is outrageous and knows how to make things funny. The thing I would note about her character is she sometimes reaches the point of being absolutely obnoxious and a bit annoying. But for the most part, she carries the comedic aspect of the film, and she does it very well. Cameron Diaz brings out the sleazy, flirtatious, and blunt side of the ensemble, and it's basically like most movies she's been in (i.e. Bad Teacher.) The only real down side to this is the extremely dull and average acting of Kate Upton. Upton is one of those model-turned-actresses, so basically they only use her for her looks and any characterization she possibly had was thrown down the drain. But combined, these three make up a fairly hilarious combination.

Story-wise, it's not the most original thing in the world. A woman begins dating this guy, the woman finds out he has a wife, the two women team up and find out he has a third girlfriend as well. Eventually, all three women team up and plan out a scheme to make him lose everything he has going for him. I would say it's an adult version of John Tucker Must Die, with a few additional things on the side. Regardless, it's a lot of fun and is filled with some surprisingly genuine and touching moments. There was one point in the movie where I actually got chills because of the true power the story built up to. It's a fairly predictable formula enhanced by a great cast and some well-written scenes.

Looking back on it, I truly would see it again. Romantic comedies often get labeled as bad before they're even released to the public. I say that if you enjoy romance and comedy, you'll probably have a good time. One thing I noticed as it neared the conclusion was that it was simply too long. It got lost on its way building to the end, but it ended on a very strong note, and I loved every minute of it. B