Deathgasm

Director: Jason Lei Howden

Writers: Jason Lei Howden

Stars: Milo Cawthorne, James Blake, Kimberley Crossman

Synopsis:
A couple teenagers accidentally summon demons when trying to make a new song for the Death Metal band, DEATHGASM.

Review:
This movie was just pure fun, it especially worked well for me because I'm into the metal genre of music and I love a good bloodbath. The acting wasn't anything special but it wasn't terrible by any means, the main attraction for this movie is the practical effects, the bloody mutilations, and just the pure fun this movie delivers throughout its breakneck pace.
If you don't like bloody movies, than this isn't going to be for you, I don't know though if you'd really be looking into a film called Deathgasm if you weren't though to be honest. I wasn't really expecting much from this when I first heard this, but ever since it first got screen I've been hearing mainly great things about it so I decided to pick it up when I got the chance, and I'm so glad I did. This had laughs and blood oozing everywhere. Now there are a few problems, mostly nick picking, but I think there should have been maybe an extra scene or two of demon action scenes, but I know this wasn't made on the biggest of budgets and honestly I feel like that's only because I felt like I blinked and the ride was already over.


Rating: 4.5 stars


Recommendation: If you're into horror films, bloodbaths, and metal music then I'm sure this will serve you just fine in the entertainment department.

Concussion

Director: Peter Landesman
Writers: Peter Landesman, Jeanne Marie Laskas
Stars: Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks

Synopsis:
Pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu discovers the connection of football players and brain damage they suffer due to their years of play.

Review:
A movie like Concussion is both rewarding and frustrating at the same time. I can't tell if it's a little too short or a little too long, because everything outside of the science ordeal is kinda shady in its pacing and structure. I can't tell if they shouldn't have bothered and made a pretty great one and a half hour long film or made a two and a half film and improved the life story they were trying to tell of Dr. Omalu. The saving grace in this movie is Will Smith, his performance is one of the best this year and I can see why he was nominated for it compared to nothing else with this film.
The film's plot is interesting, and whenever they're just doing the science and concussion stuff, it's very interesting, but then they add stuff to it that shows off what's happening in his life at the same time this discovery is taking place and it feels disjointed and rushed.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Recommendation: Honestly if Will Smith didn't give the performance he gave than I might not have enjoyed it at all, and might go on to have said that this was just like any other sport documentary true story type of shindig. But because for the most part it is interesting and Will Smith's performance shines brightly, this film is worth at least a rental.

The Big Short

Director: Adam Mckay
Writers: Charles Randolph and Adam Mckay, based on the book by Michael Lewis
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Brad Pitt

Synopsis:
Different groups of people predict the credit and housing bubble collaps of the mid-2000's and decide to make money off of it.

Review:
Honestly a movie with this plot probably shouldn't be as entertaining as this movie was. It is very similar to Wolf of Wall Street, but it also doesn't feel like a copy cat either. This is a bit more professional than that movie was, so if the excessive lifestyle images offended you from Wolf, and you really do enjoy the subject matter of banking and wall street, then you shouldn't have a problem with this movie. Now I will say that I enjoyed Wolf of Wall Street a lot when it came out and still consider it one of my favorites, but this one was a lot of fun still and would be a lot better of a watch more due to the smaller run time and overall tamer tone than Wolf.
Now with Adam Mckay directing and writing I knew it was going to have some comedy in it, but I was actually surprised with just how funny this was, I love Steve Carell and Brad Pitt especially. I'm actually curious how this will fare during the awards season, because there are a lot of equally good films this year, so I wouldn't be sad if this lost, but at the same time, I am going to be rooting for this a long with some of my other favorites of this year.
This really is a winner to spend your time at the theater, especially if you want to stay away from the crowds at Star Wars.


Rating: 4.5 stars


Recommendation: This honestly doesn't require a theatrical viewing, but if you want to go to the theater and see something that isn't Star Wars this should be near the top of your list.

Alvin and the Chipmunks The Road Chip

Director: Walt Becker
Writers: Randi Mayem Singer and Adam Sztykiel
Stars: Jason Lee, Justin Long, Mathew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Josh Green, Kimberly Williams-Paisley

Synopsis:
Alvin and the gang don't like the idea of Dave getting engaged to her girlfriend, Samantha, because they believe that he'll leave them in the forest. So they decide to travel from Los Angeles to Miami to stop it.

Review:
This movie, is mainly just good for a distraction for your kids, For the most part it isn't that insulting, but at the same time not much happens in it that we haven't seen before. I've seen all four now, and the first one is at least good on keeping itself on track telling the story it's trying to tell and that's about it. The sequels, especially the squeakuel, just seem to try to keep the run time going by throwing in random pop culture references, some that I don't understand why they think they'd work. Like there's a reference with John Waters and Pink Flamingos in this one and I was just like, why? I think it's mainly to keep adults in the theater watching, but that's about as much thought as I put into this film.
The saving grace with this movie, and the reason why it's not my least favorite in the series, is the end. I thought the last 20 or so minutes of the film really made this film tolerable in a sense that I gave it an extra half star because of it. Mainly because there's some character development with it. It's not just the same characters doing the same stuff they've done for four films now, there's a sense that someone behind the scenes actually wanted to make a film the whole family can enjoy. Outside of that though it's just high pitch voices making the same old mischief that we've already seen before.


Rating: 2.5 stars


Recommendation: If you really want to see a movie the whole family can enjoy and you've either already seen Star Wars or think that's a little over the heads of your children than this really isn't the worse option out there. Honestly though if you just want to see this because you've seen the others, I'd say rent or wait for DVD.

Top 10 of 2015

Well here it is, my top 10 of 2015 when it comes to movies. It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would have been, considering it went from 38 to 15 quite easily. The ordering though, especially after five, could honestly change its order but I liked those 5 more than most other films this year.

1. Ex Machina: This movie, I didn't catch it till almost December but it was always one that I wish I had caught in theaters back in March I believe. It was beautifully shot and just as captivating as the story went on, I could say the plot was simple and have been done before, but it still didn't take away from the thrill and the enjoyment I had from my viewings of it.

2. Mad Max Fury Road: This movie is what action movies wish they could be, it was smart, beautiful, and heart pounding all the way till it's last frame. Such a great film and a great continuation of the already amazing Mad Max franchise.

3. The Martian: This movie was the complete package to be honest, it had great comedy, great drama, great science, some could say it science the shit out of itself. It was an enjoyable film that I didn't actually expect to be as great as it was considering Ridley Scott's recent films being okay at best.

4. The Hateful Eight: Quentin Tarantino does it again, His writing and direction have only gotten better over the years and this is one of my favorites from him. Especially when he can make a three hour film with a simple enough plot of people stuck in a shelter during a blizzard just as entertaining as either of the other three films before it on the list.

5. Kingsman: The Secret Service: I sadly didn't catch this in theaters, I ended up seeing Fifty Shades of Grey with some friends that weekend, but when it came out on DVD I got it off redbox and actually ended up watching it three or so times, I enjoyed it that much, and I can't wait to see what the sequel has in store.

6. Krampus: This is of of my all time favorite Christmas movies, probably Die Hard and Nightmare Before Christmas top it, but I had such a blast watching this and enjoying the comedy and the horror mixing together in front of me.

7. Star Wars The Force Awakens: I just can't believe that a movie 32-10 years, depending on your thoughts of the prequels, in the making could live up to the hype the way it did. I thought this was the perfect movie to get you to go out to the theater and see this in the biggest and loudest theater in your area. It also is great that a blockbuster like this didn't force you to turn your brain off to enjoy it.

8. The Big Short: Funny, smart, and enjoyable, can see this getting a lot of award recognition but I don't know if it will pull through with wins, considering the Revenant is getting released next weekend and is looking to be a lot better of a film than this was, still, this movie kept me entertained and especially with something as dry of a subject as wall street and business. This can easily be compared to Wolf of Wall Street, but Wolf did it better I think, but not by much.

9. Inside Out: Disney and Pixar did it again, quite an enjoyable film and smartly handled the subject of depression and growing up in a way that kids can understand, especially as they grow up and watch it repeatedly, as I remember doing with most Disney films growing up.

10. Trainwreck: This honestly was probably my favorite comedy to come out this year. If this doesn't win the best comedy category at the golden globes it better lose to The Martian or The Big Short, which honestly it probably will because they moved those into that category just because they ran out of space in the straight up drama category. But still, this movie made me laugh the hardest and not even in a crude way, for the most part, there's actual feelings and characters in this movie, it wasn't like Ted 2 or Vacation where it was just throwing people into crazy situations for some hit and miss laughs, it does get dark for a bit, and it's believable. That's why it's in my top ten.

Spectre

Director: Sam Mendes

Writers: John Logan (screenplay), Neal Purvis (screenplay)

Stars: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux

Synopsis: 

In James Bond’s 24^th outing, he follows a trail that leads him to try to uncover the secret organization called SPECTRE, all the while M is trying to keep the 00 division alive and kicking due to recent accidents across the world.

Review:

Now I really haven’t been known to care for the Bond series before Daniel Craig showed up in Casino Royal. I’d play Goldeneye a lot on my Nintendo 64 with friends but that was about it when it came to the series. I’ve loved every film he’s done, except Quantum of Solace, and absolutely loved Skyfall. I think this movie could very well have been one of the best in the series, but with one scene serving as a sort of… turning point? I think that’s the best way to describe it, there’s a scene towards the end, and from that scene on, it dives into a territory that tries to appeal to the fans of the older movies in the series, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it doesn’t merge well with what was already established. But even with the said tonal shift it’s still a high-octane action adventure film that delivers the thrills that we’ve come to expect from the bond series, even if it almost dives into the silly spectrum of everything.

Rating: 4 stars 

Recommendation: Go see it, if you’re a huge bond film or even a fan of the recent ones at the least, but rent it if you’re just looking for an action film to watch.