Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Directed by: David Yates

Written by: J.K. Rowling

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Collin Farrell, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, & Dan Fogler




Newt (Redmayne) travels to America in order to mate one of his fantastic beasts with another.  Unfortunately while he is there, he ends up releasing some of his beasts out into the No-maj world.  He tries to capture them, but gets captured himself by Tina (Waterston) who is trying to redeem herself in the workplace.  After some convincing, Newt and the rest of his friends search New York for the rest of his beasts while being blamed for a mysterious dark force terrorizing the city.

This film is definetly darker than the rest of the Harry Potter films.  But then again, this isn't a "Harry Potter" film.

I expected Newt to be more extroverted and talkative, but instead he was shy and quiet.  But, hey, I'm not the writer.

I thought the creatures were very creative.  All of them had their own unique trait and were beautiful...for the most part.

You can also tell that there will be more movies to come.  Can't wait for them, the cast, magical creatures, and costumes to come back in the following films.  5 popcorns.

The Edge of Seventeen (2016)

Directed by: Kelly Fremon Craig

Written by: Kelly Fremon Craig

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, & Kyra Sedgwick




Nadine (Steinfeld) is hating life, especially when her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson) and brother Darian (Blake Jenner) become a couple.  Meanwhile, Nadine is trying to grab the attention of a boy she likes while dealing with her social breakdown.  Will she be able to get through this dilemma or is her friendship with her best friend over forever?

I loved this movie.  It was hilariously funny all thanks to Steinfeld and Harrelson.  The plot was interesting and I appreciated the character growth throughout the film.

This film is great for teens and adults.  You can relate to Nadine, because there has to be some situation in your life where you've overreacted.  If you need a good laugh, go see this film.  5 popcorns.

Rules Don't Apply (2016)

Directed by: Warren Beatty

Written by: Warren Beatty & Bo Goldman (story)

Starring: Warren Beatty, Lily Collins, & Alden Ehrenreich




I was pretty excited for this film.  I love period films that take place in early Hollywood.  But I was disappointed.

Basically this film had no plot.  It's pretty much about this girl who makes it to Hollywood thanks to Howard Hughes (Beatty).  That's it!

First off, Beatty played a terrible Hughes.  From what I've heard, Hughes was not how Beatty portrayed him.  Strike one.

Secondly, like I said, there's no plot.

Third, was Ehrenreich's character's fiancé really needed at all?  She was barely in it and it felt like she was useless to the plot.  It could have been something else entirely to prevent Collins and Ehrenreich's characters from being together.  Waste of a role really.

The best thing about this film was the song "Rules Don't Apply," sung by Collins.  Don't see it.

1 popcorn.

Arrival (2016)

Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

Written by: Eric Heisserer & Ted Chiang (story)

Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, & Forest Whitaker




I thought this films was great...except the ending.  I really liked how it was thought provoking and had the aliens in a different light (sort of).

Louise Banks (Adams) is the best linguist around.  When aliens arrive on Earth, she is called to figure out how to communicate with them to determine what they want.

Amy Adams played a great linguist and I thought the story line was interesting.  Especially the way she figured out the language.  The story was realistic enough to believe, and there was a twist towards the end, but the twist I figured out at the beginning of the film, so it was not some big surprise.

I was not too thrilled with Renner's character, but he played it well I guess.

That's pretty much all to report.  4 popcorns.

Doctor Strange (2016)

Directed by: Scott Derrickson

Written by: Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill, Stan Lee (comics), & Steve Ditko (comics)

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, & Tilda Swinton




Loved this film.  The main reason I loved it was because it was completely different than the other Marvel films.  It wasn't just fighting to save the world, but it also had great information about how there is this other hidden universe as well as had more emotional scenes.

Dr. Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) is a great neurosurgeon and he knows it.  He owns fancy cars, great place to live, but is rude and unappreciative of those in his life.  While driving, he is distracted and ends up in a major car accident.  Therefore he needs to undergo surgery for various body parts and in the end loses his precise hands that performed these expensive surgeries.  In order to get his life back, he begins searching for this place that healed the impossible so that way they can heal his hands.  But he gets more than what he expected.

I felt this film was very creative and was very Inception like.  Swinton was amazing and seemed like "The Ancient One."  She definitely brought that character to life.  Also this film made me like Cumberbatch way more, since I didn't like him much before.

Not much else to say about this film.  If you see it, make sure to stay after the credits...and I mean the whole credits.

5 popcorns.

Allied (2016)

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Written by: Steven Knight

Starring: Brad Pitt & Marion Cotillard




So first off, I didn't think this film was that great.  My main reason for it was that I didn't think Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard had chemistry.  They are both great actors, but it felt like they were trying to outshine each other.  I think someone else should have played Cotillard's character because her presence was too big and it was this constant battle of who was the bigger star.

Also their relationship to me wasn't that believable.  Cotillard seemed too sophisticated for Pitt.  Was it just me?

Nevertheless, it is true to the trailers where you are guessing whether she is a spy the whole time.  It wasn't until the end where you are finally relieved of the guessing.

In addition, the locations were great and the costume design was beautiful.  But the film did drag in the middle and the ending was just "What?"  I thought the ending was not built up enough, but maybe it was just me.

3 popcorns.

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Directed by: Mel Gibson

Written by: Robert Schenkkan & Andrew Knight

Starring: Andrew Garfield




To be honest, I can't say I'm surprised that this film was good.  It's directed by Mel Gibson.  Ahm, Passion of the Christ?  Yeah, good stuff.  (But not a huge fan of his acting.)

Anyway, Desmond Doss (Garfield) has a strong belief in not touching a gun.  He does not condone violence, at least from himself.  But he feels the need to at least serve his country so he joins the army.  In his service he commits to not use a gun and then faces problems with the higher ups.

I thought this film was awesome.  I'm not saying it was amazing, but it was pretty great.  There is one scene in particular that was very intense.  Also I thought that Teresa Palmer was beautiful and great at acting since she plays diverse roles in terms of comparing this one to Lights Out.

If you have a chance, I suggest watching this film. 5 popcorns.

Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)

Directed by: Mike Flanagan

Written by: Mike Flanagan & Jeff Howard

Starring: Elizabeth Reaser, Lulu Wilson, & Annalise Basso




I believe I didn't watch the first film so I'm not sure if they are related.  They probably are, but this review is specifically about this film only.

Alice Zander (Reaser) wants to spice up her fortune teller act by adding a Ouija board.  In an attempt to contact her late father, Doris (Wilson), Zander's youngest daughter, begins using the board, but unfortunately contacts something other than her dear loved one.  Eventually the "something" becomes powerful enough to take over Doris' body to the point where people begin dying and weird things start to happen.

I was very entertained.  This movie was not necessarily scary, but more creepy than anything.  There weren't many jumping scared parts, but the way the little girl acted was believable enough to send chills down your spine.

I was a little confused about the ending, but after clarification from the person I went with, I suppose it made more sense.  My issue was with how the character was acting, when it was out of her persona.

Even so, 4 popcorns.

Desierto (2015)

Directed by: Jonás Cuarón

Written by: Jonás Cuarón & Mateo Garcia

Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal & Jeffrey Dean Morgan




A group of Mexicans tread through the Badlands to make it to the U.S.  Unfortunately, Sam (Morgan) and his dog are out hunting.  In order to prevent the Mexicans from immigrating to the U.S., Sam takes it upon himself to kill them off one by one.  Moises (Bernal) and others witness the killing and try to save themselves and make it back to Mexico or to the U.S. if possible. But eventually instead of them being the ones hunted, they become the ones hunting.

This film was beautifully done.  The camera work of the Badlands contained beautiful shots that showed the beauty and danger of the location.

There were some sound issues, but I'm not sure if it was the film or the movie theater I was in, so just beware of this.

The plot was interesting, because as an audience, we were able to see two sides to immigration: the Mexican trying to make it and the American who was deeply set against it.  In the end I think there is a moral and I would love to hear your thoughts on it.  Leave it in the comments below or message me on social media what you think it was.

5 popcorns.
 

The Accountant (2016)

Directed by: Gavin O'Connor

Written by: Bill Dubuque

Starring: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, & J.K. Simmons





Christian Wolff (Affleck) has autism.  It's hard for him to socialize and control his emotions, especially if he is unable to finish a particular task.  But he is able to participate in society as an accountant.  But he also has a hidden career that only one person knows about.  The government is after him because of his critical connections, but in an attempt to blend in, Wolff decides to take a safe accounting job for a no risk client, but it turns out to not be that safe.

(Sorry I've been MIA.  I actually saw this film weeks ago, but just haven't had the time to write my review.  But low and behold I found some time.  Yay!)

I thought this film was amazing.  Not necessarily for any special effects or cool camera work, but just the plot in general.  Affleck really brought this autistic character to life and his acting was amazing.  Plus this film had some parts that you really have to pay attention to in order to guess what's happening.  Otherwise you'll just be surprised at the end, which I was with one aspect of the film.  Technically there are two surprises, but I predicted the other one.

The only thing I had a problem with was Kendrick and Affleck's relationship.  I thought she was too young for it to be romantic.  But I was okay with how it turned out.

I hope they make a sequel.  In the meantime, 5 popcorns.