Movies

Movie Review: A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)

I was worried about seeing this movie but I am glad I did. It was kind of like a live action episode of Family Guy (one of the really good episodes, not one of “road to…” ones). It started off fast and funny.

There was a joke early on that I thought was a miss. Seth’s character is wasted and about to get on his horse. The line was, “Don’t drink and horse.” Obviously, this was a play on ‘drink and drive’. It didn’t land with me for one reason. In my mind it should have been “Don’t drink and ride.” Drive and ride are both verbs. Horse is a noun. We don’t say ‘drink and car’. If the word ride didn’t exist and or share similar phones I wouldn’t mind. Now whether it never occurred to them or they thought of it and dismissed it, possibly for being too easy, I don’t know. This was the only joke that didn’t land for me though.. the rest of the jokes were well done and delivered perfectly.

The cast was nicely utilized. Even the cameos were elegant.

The thing that sets this apart from other recent male-humor driven movies (Neighbors) was the tone. Where Neighbors tried a little too hard to be more than just a funny movie this movie embraced its identity. It didn’t take itself seriously. It didn’t drag things out. It was focused on its theme and was really able to explore a lot of facets through its farcical lens. Continue reading →

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Movie Review: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

I could simply say that this movie tries as hard as its title does and fails just as much but I think it might deserve at least a little explanation.

Have you ever seen a movie and at the end you were like, “I was engaged the entire time but wow was that kind of totally not worth seeing?” Do you want to feel that feeling again? Then this movie is for you. The entire plot of the movie seemed to try to develop so many characters and tried to have a standard bad guy v. good guy showdown. And it failed.

It didn’t fail to develop some characters. Young Professor X was divine. And I am not just saying that because James Macavoy is so delicious. (He is thought, even with the long hair and interesting clothing choices.) It would take one hell of a transformation to get the  character from god complex, to hopeless crippled wastrel, to the shining beacon of hope for his entire species. And by golly I think they did it. I felt that performance and it was some of the better acting I have ever seen in a superhero movie. Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Neighbors (2014)

Neighbors

I will be the first to admit that I simply adore casting decisions made with the seemingly sole intent of giving me something to look at. I just wish there had been more of it and less gratuitous cameos. I understand the movie is probably not geared towards me as a female but a few more hot guy and a few less people I think have TV shows that air after kids go to sleep could have helped hold my interest.

I was not surprised by the nudity or the language. I find myself too jaded to even wonder who all the over-the-top completely unnecessary scenes were for. Instead, I was surprised that this movie even attempted to develop the characters. I was on board for wasting my time on some slightly humorous forgettable flick. I had worried they would try to make something of the, “That fat boring neighbor could be us in a few years, bro,” vibe occasionally danced around. And they did. With everything but the finale done, all major plot points covered, the resolution completely acknowledged, they tried to make me feel like the two hours of partying and pranks had led to actual personal discovery.

This movie is a prime example of one of my pet peeves. Please, please take these words to heart (especially if you ever plan to write or make anything). NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DEEP! In this case, the movie could have benefited from less subplot and more shirtless chiseled men.

Verdict: A good way to waste a few hours you were going to waste anyway. But it won’t be life changing. (Unless you really have virgin eyes.)

Social Cues: Watch it with people you would watch the Hangover with.

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