The Force Awakens Blu Ray

An image that started it all

I remember it like it was yesterday. When the picture shown above was released on social media, it took the world by storm. I remember downloading it, just so I could zoom in and see the expressions on all their faces.

It was real.

Harrison Ford was actually sitting next to J.J. Abrams, discussing the film.

Speculation started instantly. Seeing Lawrence Kasdan was to me, the most important person in the room. Kasdan of course, wrote Episode 5 and 6. Seeing his return was reassurance that the script was in capable hands, and George Lucas was far away.

Seeing R2D2 in the corner, having Carrie Fisher talking to Daisy Ridley, is that...is that ANDY SERKIS!

Needless to say, this picture started all the fan theories and and all the hype. It didn't take long for me to envy the fly on the wall in that room. How I wanted to be there to hear the cast discuss the film and read it for the first time.

Luckily for spoiled consumers such as myself, the Force Awakens blu ray has it covered.

I am excited to watch the movie again at home. However I am more looking forward to this special feature that was recently announced. Along with many more features, this blu ray seems to be a great addition to my ever growing collection. As you probably can tell, I was a huge fan of The Force Awakens and I'm looking forward to adding it to my shelf.

Here is the Force Awakens In-Home trailer.

Captain America: Civil War Trailer Review (Trailer Spoilers)

This year, we are getting a movie where some of our favourite comic book heroes will go head-to-head in an epic fight of principles. One of them looks like a depressing, angry battle between the brattiest of the brutes; and the other looks like Captain America: Civil War.

The final trailer for the third Captain America movie was released today. I have watched it multiple times and I seem to get more excited after every viewing. I have been a fan of these Marvel movies. They have yet to crumble under their enormous universe, which can be attributed to the fantastic work of Marvel's president, Kevin Feige.

I am not the most dedicated Marvel fan however. I haven't seen the Thor movies because, well...I just don't want to. I'm not going to watch a movie just because it's part of a universe and I'm obligated too. I am however, a huge Spider-Man fan. The thought of him FINALLY being added to the MCU is incredibly exciting.

Spidey's new suit looks FANTASTIC and is clear fan service. I'm not sure how much screen time he will have in the movie, as he was a late addition. We can look forward to Spider-Man's new film in 2017.

This new trailer shows a lot to look forward to. I'm going to assume that these be the best performances from both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. Both look like they're pushing their characters to the limit and I can't wait to see them interact with each other.

The Russo brothers proved with The Winter Soldier, that they are ready for these big budget Hollywood blockbusters. Civil War looks like it's in good hands. May can't come soon enough.

If you haven't already, it's time to take Ben Affleck seriously

Affleck shooting Argo

Ben Affleck is an interesting character to talk about and definitely worth a blog post . In 1997, he and his friend Matt Damon wrote the Oscar winning flick Good Will Hunting. For anyone who hasn't seen it- stop reading this blog and check it out...then of course come back and finish reading!

I can imagine that in 1997, the general public would have assumed that Affleck would begin an illustrious career as a screenwriter after taking home the Oscar. That of course, would not be the case. 

Affleck had a small leading man career as he reached the height of his superstardom with films such as Pearl Harbour and Armageddon. Both of course, are lacklustre movies to say the least.

However lacklustre those movies were, they were the calm before the storm that would be the early 2000s for poor Affleck. Affleck starred in Hollywood flops such as:

                   Daredevil 

Thank goodness for the Netflix mini series

      

    Paycheck   

Run Ben! Run as far away as you can!

                                                                                                          And of course....Gigli

This one just hurts

Each of those films earned Ben Affleck a Razzie award for worst actor in a featured film. The sad part is that each of those movies were released in 2003, giving him three Razzies in one year alone!

I would assume that Affleck had had enough with all the negative criticism at the time. While his close friend Matt Damon (who he had won that Oscar with years ago), had reached superstardom, Affleck was sinking fast .

Affleck decided that he was ready to try a new adventure; that being directing. With his directorial debut Gone Baby Gone (2007), Affleck created one of the most real and gritty cop dramas of the last decade. It was something that nobody saw coming.

Three years later, he would direct and star in The Town (2010). The Town showed that Gone Baby Gone was not a fluke. And to this day, Affleck directed the best performance given by Jeremy Renner. It is an incredible heist movie with amazing direction and thrilling action sequences.

Then of course, is Argo (2012). Argo would take home the Academy Award for best picture at the Oscars that year. Yes...Ben Affleck had directed the best movie of the year, less than a decade after the three Razzie night. He is now one of my favourite directors in Hollywood and someone who you should be taking seriously. 

What's next for Affleck you may ask? In this case, I feel a picture speaks louder than words.

Batman! The man is Batman!

Spectre

I should preface this blog by saying I am not a James Bond aficionado. I appreciate them for what they are, I just have a hard time getting over the campiness. For goodness sake there's a movie called Octopussy.

That being said, I am a massive fan of Casino Royale and Skyfall. Casino Royale blew me away as an origin story that explored the character of Bond like never before. Skyfall did more of the same, with a stand out performance by Javier Bardem.

...Quantum of Solace we won't speak about.

When Spectre started off, I was convinced it was going to be the best Bond movie ever. That opening shot is a technical marvel and something worth seeing. If anything else, this movie is technically flawless. Sure it's not a Roger Deakins movie, but it's pretty close.

My issues with Spectre all come down to the script.

Two time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz is severely underused as the villain, Oberhauser. The casting of such a fantastic actor was waisted, as he was little more than an evil guy monologuing about his past evil deeds. Sure he was good in the role and had a few good scenes, but Waltz is more than just a standard actor playing a standard villain.

Casino Royale set up such an amazing relationship with Bond and Vespa that when the Spectre girl played by Lea Seydoux eventually said "I love you" to Bond, it is hard to believe; especially because they didn't have the time to develop that chemistry.

Craig sure does look cool as James Bond

Overall, Spectre is a good time. Sure, it is disappointing after the masterwork that was Skyfall. With undeveloped villains and some odd story choices, Spectre doesn't hold to the same standard as some of Craig's past work. That being said, I would recommend it as it is a fun action movie with incredible set pieces, a compelling enough story and Dave Bautista (who is always cool).

For a great blog about the quiz game Sporcle, check out Patrick's Sporcle Badge Quest featuring a post about James Bond. Also, who doesn't love those amazing Bond cars? My friend Nate has a fantastic blog to check out for all your car needs.

...Boyhood

Do you remember when Boyhood came out? It was said to be an experience that would never be forgotten. A movie that transcends generations and to quote some critics;

"It's like a time-lapse photo of an expanding consciousness"
- Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail 

"This is not only a great film, but an important landmark in how great films can be made"
-David Keyes
Cinemaphile

"The year's most captivating narrative experiment, and possibly the most engrossing coming-of-age movie in the history of the genre"
-John Hartl
Seatle Times

If you enjoyed the film, then I am happy for you. All movies are subjective and if it did something for you, then that's great.

However for me, it's my least favourite movie of all time.

What is the first thing people say when talking about Boyhood? "12 years! It took 12 years to make. Did you know...that Boyhood took 12 years to make? That's over a decade!? 12 years!!!!!!?"

Just to clarify something, it did not take 12 years to make. It was made over 12 years, but it only was shot for only 39 days. Believe it or not, but the idea of shooting the same actors over many years is NOT something that is brand new. Does anyone watch Modern Family...or any long running sitcom? Married with Children ran for 11 years using the same actors who "grew up in front of your eyes."

Watch as he gets more and more unlikeable

So I will not call Richard Linklater (writer/director) a visionary genius for making Boyhood. With cringe worthy dialogue, boring cinematography and the most unlikeable central performance in recent memory, Boyhood is not only a bad film, but a painful film to watch. It feels like a movie written by an old man, who is so disconnected with how kids talk to each other.

Had Boyhood not used the same actors over the 12 years, no one would be talking about it. If it was the exact same story and writing, but different actors played the different ages, it would be known as a joke.

Luckily, I am not alone in thinking this, so I don't feel like a mad man. If you enjoy this movie, then I hope I didn't offend you. Maybe I am wrong in my opinion, but I can't find myself to enjoy Boyhood at all.

300: Rise of an Empire

Zack Snyder's 300 is so awesome. Gerard Butler gave a career performance as we see Frank Miller's semi-truthful graphic novel come to life on screen. What made 300 work is that it had a simple narrative done perfectly. It knew exactly what it was and it gave a visual experience that was truly unique. Man it kicked ass!

That being said, I didn't have high hopes for the sort-of-sequel 300: Rise of an Empire. Zack Snyder wasn't directing it and of course...no Gerard.

The premise of 300: ROAE is very similar to the original. Athenian general Themistocles leads an army of guys with huge abs into a naval battle against the Persians. There's a TON of blood and a lot of screaming, but not much else.

It could be that I am too attached to the original, but ROAE just didn't do it for me. It was interesting to look at, and the battle scenes were really well filmed (not shaky came garbage), yet it felt like something was missing.Themistocles was played by Sullivan Stapleton who for the most part, is a throwaway character. He didn't have the presence that Leonidas did in 300 and we never really get to know him or his backstory.

Finish your breakfast and eat hardy, for tonight we dine in hell!

The stylistic violence of the original 300 was cool and different. In ROAE, the stylistic violence came off as a rehash with no originality.

Thinking about it, you can tell the influence Zack Snyder had on the quality of 300. His absence is felt with the sequel as it feels like an empty shell of a movie. Sure, its fun to watch and has some cool fights, Eva Green was pretty cool too ; but 300 had a lot more than just that.

Eva Green as Artemisia was pretty cool

Rear Window

We all know Psycho; Norman Bates, Marion Crane, the shower scene etc. The movie is part of American film history and is ranked as the 14th greatest film of all time by the American Film Institute (Star Wars is 13, Woohoo).

However, Rear Window is what I consider to be Hitchcock's best film.

The reason for the comparison is that both Psycho and Rear Window were directed by the master, Alfred Hitchcock. 

Rear Window has a very simple narrative. There are only a handful of speaking roles and the entire film is set in one room.

L.B. Jefferies (James Stewart) is a wheelchair-bound photographer. He's spent the last two months in his apartment, where he spends most of the day staring out the window watching his neighbours.

Outside, he sees a small capsule of American life. There is the ballerina dancer, the musician, the artist, and the old married couple. Being a hot summer, everyone has their window open all the time, letting Jefferies into their lives from a far. Perhaps Jefferies has become paranoid, or a little insane, but he suspects that a murder has taken place in the neighbouring apartment. His suspicion leads to an incredibly suspenseful and thrilling movie that only Hitchcock could have pulled off.

Rear Window is an unmitigated masterpiece. Only Hitchcock could make a movie that takes place all in one room, and add more suspense than most modern filmmakers could with CGI or special effects. The star of this film is not James Stewart or Grace Kelly, it's Hitchcock. His directing is so precise that he shows you exactly what he intends, leaving your mind to fill in the blanks. 

James Stewart as L.B. Jeffries getting a better look

An extra layer to the film is the character of L.B. Jeffries. He is our "hero" character and the main protagonist. However what he is doing is for all intents and purposes, wrong. It's none of his business what his neighbours do and it's creepy to stare at them all the time. Rear Window becomes an interesting movie because we aren't sure who to trust or who to root for. 

Take some time to check this out if you haven't already. It is a great showcase as to what a good director can do and how to build natural suspense. 

Hold on...they made a Deadpool movie?

No Spoilers.


Ok...obviously I knew they were making a Deadpool movie, I saw it last night at a screening. What I didn't know until last night was... they made a Deadpool movie.

Perhaps that's the biggest compliment I can give the executives at Fox; they stuck to their guns and made a Rated R, hilariously over-the-top superhero movie that is completely self-aware. As a fan of the comics, I can say that they did the source material proud.

For those who don't know, this isn't the first attempt by Fox to have Ryan Reynolds play Deadpool. It hurts me too much to discuss their past efforts and for the purpose of my sanity, I won't mention X-Men Origins: Wolverine anymore. I will however, leave you with a picture so we never forget our past.

Still can't believe they gave the merc with a mouth...NO MOUTH

Ryan Reynolds was BORN to play Deadpool. You can tell that he had a blast with this role as it showed on screen. He wasn't afraid to make fun of the super hero genre as he often broke the fourth wall to give us his thoughts. 

To my surprise, the movie had a lot more depth and dramatic moments than expected. Reynolds and Morena Baccarin had amazing chemistry and their love story was surprisingly (dare I say) touching. 

When you're not laughing hysterically, you are generally interested in these characters. T.J. Miller was another standout as his dry sense of humour works perfectly against the flamboyant Reynolds.

If I had one criticism (and I think I have only one), it's that the movie relies so heavily on pop culture references that it might not stand the test of time. The reason Pixar movies are timeless is because they don't rely on pop culture jokes, making their films always relevant. 

That of course, is just a nitpick. Deadpool is a gem of movie in February and a great time at the movies. It works just as well as a comedy as it does a superhero movie and I sincerely don't know if they could have made it any better. 

I'd love to know what everyone thought of Deadpool! Leave a comment below.

My Top 10 list of 2015

These are what I consider to be my favourite movies of 2015. Keep in mind that these are my personal favourites and I didn't see every movie that came out this year. This list will probably change the more I think about it, but for now this is where I stand. Feel free to leave a comment if your list was any different!

Honourable Mentions: Creed, Spotlight and Ex Machina

10. Straight Outta Compton

Every year there is a movie that takes me by surprise. Definitely one of the most interesting biopics I've ever seen. The Oscars snubbed this one on many levels.

9. Kingsman: The Secret Service

I may never hear the song Free Bird the same after this. A gem in January. Watch it.

8. Sicario

Never mind Leo DiCaprio: Roger Deakins needs an Oscar. A very brutal and gritty movie with an incredible performance by Emily Blunt. This is how women should be portrayed in film.

7. Inside Out

Why Pixar? Why must you make me cry again? Pixar's best since Toy Story 3 with an absolute genius story. An instant classic.

6. The Martian

The Martian proves that not ever movie has to be so serious. Amazing cast and Damon's best performance to date. I knew Ridley Scott could make a good movie again .

5. Bridge of Spies

Can Spielberg and Hanks do anything else but make a great movie? We all take it for granted, but we may never see a duo like them ever again. Standing man...standing man.

4. Hateful Eight

I give my allegiance to the church of Tarantino. Do whatever you want, I'll see it, and I'll love it. A one of a kind genius who's out of his mind in the best way. 

3. The Revenant

The Revenant proves that 3D is not more immersive. One of the most beautiful films I've ever seen photographed. A brutal experience in which I literally was on the edge of my seat. Don't hike in bear country. 

2. Mad Max: Fury Road

How can I watch a movie now that doesn't have a guy playing a flame throwing guitar? I still can't believe Warner Bros. gave George Miller $150 million for a prequel/sequel/reboot of a 30 year old franchise. What a lovely day it was to see one of the best action movies of all time in theatres. Once again, a movie that showcases that woman are just as strong as men. My blu ray copy will definitely get its use. 

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

No. I am not fanboying. I recognize it has a few problems. Yes, it's similar to episode 4. Really? Another deathstar? However, the fact that it got everything else right makes it my favourite movie of 2015. This felt like Star Wars again. A feeling that hasn't been there since 1983. I wasn't around when Star Wars was released in theaters in 1977. Had I been there, I'd imagine it would have felt a lot like 2015, seeing Episode 7. Chewie...we definitely are home.

For an excellent tribute to the films of 2015, click here.

88th Academy Awards Predictions

Here are my predictions for who will be bringing home the little statues this year. These are not my personal choices, but rather who I think the Academy picks. For the purposes of this blog, I will stick to the main categories. This is not a conversation about Oscar snubs or the race issue, simply who I think will win based on the nominees.

Best Visual Effects

• Star Wars: The Force Awakens (please have it take home something)

Best Written Adapted Screenplay

• Drew Goddard for The Martian

Best Cinematography 

• Emmanuel Lubezki for The Revenant

Best Original Screenplay

• Quentin Tarantino for the Hateful Eight. Wait? Not an option? Well than I would say Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer for Spotlight. 

Best Supporting Actress

• Alicia Vikander for Ex Machina. I don't care what it says, Ex Machina was her best performance. 

Best Supporting Actor

• Please...please give it Sylvester Stallone for Creed

Best Animated Feature Film

• Inside Out. Nothing comes close

Best Director

• Alejandro Inarritu for The Revenant 

Best Actress

• Brie Larson for Room

Best Actor 

• I think the Academy gives it to Leo for The Revenant but I won't lie, I want to see his reaction when loosing even more. 

Best Picture

• The Revenant (But I'm pulling for Mad Max)

For a complete list of all the nominations click here. 

They're just movies. Why do they matter?

Well, here I am to start a new adventure-my first blog. Interestingly enough, I have a feeling this will be the easiest blog to write.

To some, it may seem silly to have such an interest in movies. Many times people will say, "what's the point? They don't mean anything. They don't matter." If you have that opinion, that's more than fine. 

But here's my side.

Since the beginning of time (yes I know how cliche that sounds), we as a species, have been storytellers. Telling stories is what we do. It's what we've always done. In ancient cultures, civilizations would tells stories by painting images on walls of caves. Shakespeare would write stories for the stage, in which the audience would be captivated by the sheer brilliance of the story telling. 

Movies are the ultimate form of storytelling and the impact of storytelling can't be denied.

I was lucky enough to see Star Wars the Force Awakens opening night. It was a theatre going experience I will never forget. The excitement and anticipation in that theatre could be felt the moment I sat down. To my left, there was an elderly couple holding hands. To my right, a young family with 2 small children. And you know what happened when this came on screen...

...everyone young and old, erupted in cheer. 

Movies matter. They mattered to everyone in that movie theatre, and they matter to me. They are able to transport people to a world that at one point, was only there in their minds. They can make us laugh, cry and have that moment of euphoria. 

Perhaps that elderly couple hadn't been on a date for years, and yet they went to the movies that night for a shared experience. Maybe the Force Awakens was the first time those 2 small children had ever been to the cinema, and for them, it will be a lasting experience for the rest of their lives.

Movies matter, so let's talk about them.