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

The Quiet Ones - Movie Review

Well I'm not quite sure what I was expecting with this new horror flick. The possession section of horror movies have fallen under the same generic formula, and I'm afraid to say The Quiet Ones is no exception. Its opening credits is filled with random demonic possession pictures from varying, old looking books. Typical, typical. And very quickly it's evident they will not be using actual suspense or horror to keep the audiences interested. Instead, quite ironically, The Quiet Ones uses extremely loud jump scares to keep their audiences tense. But the problem with doing that is there's absolutely no lingering effect that'll give people a reason to remember the movie.

For starters, the acting is actually not bad. Except for the ridiculous and awful acting from Jared Harris, which I'll get to in just a moment. Our teen/early 20's leads are all decent and fairly good with their characters. They can all play scared shitless, sex crazed, and stupid. Everything you need to be a young actor in a horror movie. They all did fine. The one performance that made no sense was Jared Harris, who plays the investigator leading the experiment, trying to cure a girl named Jane who is possessed. His character starts off normal, then all of a sudden he's being the most unprofessional and stupid investigator I've ever seen. He spontaneously throws hissy fits, yells at all his helpers, and has absolutely no morals. He's definitely the worst part about this movie.

Now onto the actual story. It all plays out pretty much how I expected it. I'll even give it some credit for having some genuinely scary camera work and tension building. But once something happened, the excitement quickly waned and the movie just started playing the "guess when our next jump scare is" game. The one thing that I think killed everything the movie had going for it was the god awful ending.

SPOILERS

The end literally builds up this huge conspiracy about what this possessed girl has gone through. It builds up her story and they all get very close to possibly curing her for good, which is what this entire movie is about. The whole plot is finding out what is wrong with her and how to kill it. So how do they end it? She randomly explodes into flames and everyone dies except the cameraman, who is imprisoned and charged for everyone's deaths in the experiments. Are you kidding me?!

Overall, it's loud, packed with jump scares, decent acting, and an semi-interesting plot that is quickly slaughtered by its cop out ending. Is it worth a watch after all that? Surprisingly, I'd say it's a fun one to watch at a Netflix movie night, but definitely don't pay to see this. It's entertaining, but don't expect anything different and genre-changing.

Splitting Finales into 2 Parts - Is Hollywood just aiming for cash?

Hollywood loves money, that much is just a fact. But with audience demands, quality definitely must be something every studio aims to achieve. But recently, a huge trend in Hollywood has blown up, with studios promising it's all to secure the quality of the film... What is this trend you may ask? Splitting film franchise's final movies into two parts. All the movie studios claim it's to allow more adaption from the novel, but honestly it is ending up seeming more and more like a cash grab. However, I can also note that it has its perks.

This all started with Harry Potter, announcing that its seventh film would be split into two movies. At this time, it was actually a really celebrated idea. Many were wondering how they would fit all the complex and precise content from the novel, and the two-way split seemed like the perfect option. The movies were released, and fans rejoiced. They had more opportunities to see their favorite series on the big screen and the adaption was closer to the book as opposed to what only one film would've been able to capture. But from here, Hollywood saw it as twice the opportunity to rake in the millions of dollars.

After Harry Potter was successful in this endevour, the Twilight saga snatched the idea and ran. With the announcement that Breaking Dawn, the franchise's final film, would be separated into two parts, the reaction was quite different. Sure, the die-hard fans were happy, but for most of the other population it was seen as a cash grab. The fourth novel, in my opinion, could have easily been summed up in one more film. The result? Two overly long movies that stretch out scenes that weren't meant to take up 30 minutes at a time. With critics, it crashed and burned. But money-wise, it was raging success. Hollywood had found its trick.

Mockingjay, the Hunger Games' final film, was announced last year as a two-parter, and Divergent's final one Allegiant was announced just under a month ago. Which leaves it up to the viewers to decide: Is it quality they're aiming for, and a more faithful adaption? Or are they simply wanting to stretch it out as long as possible? As the biggest fan ever of the Hunger Games series, I am overjoyed that Mockingjay is getting its two parts. And I guess there lies the answer to this big question.

The two part splits will only truly please the fans of the series. Is it still a cash grab even if they're being more faithful to the book? Probably. But hey, more movie for me is always a plus. Everyone else will have to decide for themselves, but one thing's for sure: once you're hooked on a series, it won't matter if they split it into 4 parts, you'll pay the price for a ticket each time.

My Most Recent Netflix Addiction - House of Cards

Now, believe me friends, the last thing I needed in my already hectic life was a new TV show to get addicted to. But, alas, I had an open Saturday and before you know it, I'm 7 episodes into the Netflix original series House of Cards. I'm not really sure what drew me to it. Perhaps it was all of the good buzz surrounding it, or perhaps because Kevin Spacey and Kate Mara are in it, and they both do no wrong I say, no wrong. Regardless of reasons, I've been hooked on it and I'd like to tell you all why it works so well.

The very first thing that drew me in was the fantastic and flawless narration from Kevin Spacey's character Francis. He introduces us to the world of politics right away in a way that any high schooler could understand. He points out the cliques, who not to mess with, who's got the dark and dirty secrets... It's all very interesting right away. And the show doesn't wait to draw you in anymore, because betrayal occurs right away, and Francis doesn't play by the rules. But then again, neither do any of the main characters.

And perhaps that's why it's so watchable: this show has virtually no characters that represent the all around "good" person. Every single character is doing something dark and below the radar to pull themselves above everyone else. In a way, it's a frighteningly good look at how some things possibly occur in our political system today. Lies, betrayal, sex, and even some violence all whip into this suspense-fully crafted tale.

There's absolutely no secret why this show is continually getting the praise that it gets. It hits all the points that people want to watch today. There's so much more to relate to when it's a show about getting what you want. I know, not what most of us want to hear, but it's honestly human nature to continually want more for ourselves. With House of Cards, each character desires something big, but there are plenty of obstacles in their way. It's absolutely riveting to see the ones succeed, but it's also equally as addictive to see when they slip from time to time. You never know what to expect in any episode with House of Cards.

Overall, it's truly an experience worth your time. If you have a weekend, you should definitely start. But fair warning, it won't be my fault if you accidentally spend 12 hours glued to your TV screen. Sitcoms and comedies are great, but every once in a while, people need a show like this to just watch some damn good television. It's well written, superbly acted, and takes a twist at least every 30 minutes. What more does one need?

House of Cards, seasons 1 and 2, are currently streaming on Netflix. Season 3 is set to premiere in early 2015.

American Horror Story Season 4 Theme Announced

About a month ago, American Horror Story announced that it's fourth season would be titled 'Freak Show.' I haven't really written about my thoughts or anything on it until now because I wanted to see more about where the plot was going, but now that I have a pretty good base of it, I'd like to write about how this might play out.

American Horror Story's third season, titled 'Coven,' had many viewers confused and some even a little angry. Seasons 1 and 2 were both genuinely scary and had many terrifying and bold elements that made this show genuinely scary. But 'Coven' was a bit of a different story, and switched the tone of the show to being a campy, dark comedy. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved season 3 and thought it was a good addition to the anthology series, but many viewed it as very off-putting.

Now that season 4 has been announced as 'Freak Show,' fans are split yet again. Will the tone return to the dark and genuinely scary ways of seasons 1 and 2, or go back to the campy, gothic way of season 3? The story is based in 1950, with Jessica Lange playing a woman who is running one of the last freak show tours going on in America. That's pretty much the extent of what we know plot-wise, but it's enough for me to assume that the show will be returning to its roots while maintaining a bit of dark humor.

This show works so well because it is such a different type of show than anything else on right now. It's an anthology series, meaning that the story is completely different each year. This allows us to dive into a different aspect of American history each time. The sets and actors are completely believable and it truly throws you into a new environment of our history. And even though people often ask me "Why would you ever want to watch a show called American Horror Story?" the answer is always instant. It's because it's a quality show, crafted in a way that lures you back in every single time.

Anybody who knows me knows I'll be a fan of this show til it ends, and then once it's over I'll rewatch all the seasons at least once a year. But I have a pretty good feeling about this season. If there's one thing that show creator Ryan Murphy understands, it's how to disturb audiences while keeping them glued to their TV screens. 

American Horror Story: Freak Show is set to premiere October 2014.

Oculus - Movie Review

Everybody knows I'm a sucker for horror movies. Basically, I find some sort of enjoyment in each one. But Oculus, I can safely say, is a lot better than the majority of the silly and bloody slasher flicks we so often get. Now, this isn't saying that Oculus doesn't come with its flaws, because it most certainly does. But as a horror movie, it definitely wins a lot of respect in my book.

The best way I can put this is that Oculus is like the Inception of horror movies. It is genuinely creepy and there are so many twists and turns, you begin questioning what is real and what is part of the illusion. Oh, I almost forgot to mention what the plot was. Basically, these two siblings had a terrible childhood (their parents slowly went insane and both mysteriously died), which they attribute to a possessed mirror their father had purchased. Now adults, these siblings buy the mirror back from an auction and are determined to destroy it once and for all.

The execution of this movie is absolutely awesome. The whole point of the film is for you to wonder what is actually real and what the mirror is making them think or perceive. It doesn't rely on jump scares or crazy bloody kills. Oculus is a genius movie because it lures an audience in purely because it's intriguing and directed with such intense focus on each scene and each shot. Yeah, you wouldn't expect a movie about a possessed mirror to get this good, but damn does it satisfy

I'd also like to point out that the actors in this movie aren't those typical horror movie actors. You know, the models in their early 20s looking for some cheap project to do to jumpstart their acting careers. No, this movie's stars are awesome actors who pay great attention to their characters and manage to hold an entire audience's attention (because the majority of the movie's focus is on these two siblings.) There are also two kid actors in this that are definitely some of the best kid actors I've seen in a movie.

Overall, this movie rocks as a horror movie. It provides some scares, a whole lot of suspense, and a eerie tone throughout. Keep in mind though, if you go in expecting a movie filled with jump scares and gore, you probably won't be satisfied. It's more of a paranormal drama than anything, but I'd definitely recommend it. It has it's flaws (lack of some character development, a bit of a cop out ending), but it's a definite thrill ride. B+

The Spectacular Movies of May 2014

Summer is the known season for all things movies. You get the giant blockbusters, the romances, the flashy superhero movies, and the over the top comedies. Yet summer seems to be starting a bit early in the movie-world, and it's starting off in an absolutely packed month, May! I was looking over the summer release schedules and I guarantee you'll find something you will want to see in this lineup.

May 2nd: The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Starting off May comes the sequel to the reboot of the Spider-Man saga. The first film was pretty much just a flashier retelling of Spidey's origin story, but this sequel promises to be insane, with 3 villains already confirmed to make an appearance in this movie. The trailers have shown some epic throwdowns in New York, and the effects just keep getting better and better. Expect some great things with this sequel, I have a feeling it'll be loads better than the first one.

May 9th: Neighbors
Zac Efron and Seth Rogen face off in a comedy about a dad and a fraternity guy sneakily pulling huge pranks on each other's lives. It promises a lot of laughs and some hilarious over-the-top scenes that'll be a perfect first comedy for summer. The first time I saw this trailer, I couldn't stop laughing. There's a particular scene where the frat boys steal an airbag and put in underneath Rogen's character's office chair. Needless to say, you can expect a lot of zany fun.

May 16th: Godzilla
                  Million Dollar Arm
We have been waiting for a decent Godzilla movie for basically ever, and with these trailers, it actually looks like they did it 100% right. It's too soon to be sure, but the cinematic style creates for a defined dark tone that definitely shows they paid attention to quality and detail this time around. And Million Dollar Arm is your drama/biography about a man who recruits Cricket players to try out for the MLB. It's one of those "inspiring underdog" stories, so if you're interested in that, it also looks like it'll be a worthwhile pick.

May 23rd: X-Men: Days of Future Past
I got goosebumps while watching the trailer for this movie. Though the movie is about time travel and looks like it'll have a lot of potentially confusing material, I believe director Bryan Singer will bring back what everyone loved about the first few X-Men movies. He really understands the universe and I know he'll do this sequel a lot of good. X-Men has always been one of my favorite superhero sagas, and I cannot wait for it to return to the big screen.

May 30th: Maleficent
                  A Million Ways to Die in the West
Ever wanted a dark retelling of Sleeping Beauty? Well Maleficent is here, and Angelina Jolie looks like she took that role and went all out. Expect some insanely good acting and some insanely good storytelling. And Family Guy creator Seth Macfarlane brings us the outrageous looking comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West. Does it look a bit silly and over the top? Yes. Is it still probably going to be hilarious? Absolutely.

And there you have it. At least 7 movies you should check out this May. The summer movie season has crammed a lot of the best in first, so don't miss your opportunities to check out these sure-to-be hits on the big screen.

The Beautiful Experience of IMAX 3D

Recently I was in Nashville for a national show choir competition. Everything was incredible there, of course. And the warmer weather is always a welcome change. However, our hotel happened to be near a movie theatre with an 3D IMAX screen. Living in Iowa, it is a rare thing to find an IMAX screen within 50 miles of you. Needless to say, once I saw the theatre near our hotel, I freaked out and probably annoyed a few people around me with my random shrieks of excitement. Regardless of their unenthusiastic responses, I was completely pumped. Captain America: The Winter Soldier was fresh and new that weekend; I knew what I'd be doing.

IMAX screens, as you probably know, are just ridiculously huge. The reason I'm writing this blog post is because I personally believe everyone should be able to experience an IMAX screening of a show. When you walk in, the screen is stretched wide, top to bottom, side to side, taking up what seems like three regular sized movie screens on top of eachother. When the movie starts, the surround sound completely envelops you and the 3D is purely phenomenal.

As a movie nerd, and having never seen a 3D IMAX showing, I was in absolute heaven. There was no greater joy to me than seeing  Captain America speed through the city and perform ridiculously awesome stunts and action sequences. There were collective gasps when a particularly beautiful visual sequence took place, and those are the kinds of moments I live for.

Movies are definitely meant to be experiences, not just something you watch, disassociated with whatever's happening on screen. It's supposed to draw you in, make you think, make you feel, make you mesmerized. The IMAX allows that to happen, and I can safely say I would gladly spend the crazy amount it costs for a ticket.