REVIEW: ‘Captain America: Civil War’ Endures Some Flaws To Deliver Solid Blockbuster

Iron Man’s repulsor beam finally matches up with Captain America’s shield in a full on fight in “Civil War.”

The third installment of the series dedicated to the stars and stripes wearing hero starts off with the Avengers, sans Hulk and Thor, on a mission in Africa. While the mission goes well at first, there’s a moment when it shifts into disaster resulting in multiple casualties.

Prompted by this and other incidents involving the team, the world governments create an accord to reign in the Avengers and only deploy them when necessary. Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), who’s switched from player to general manager of the team in a way, is on board with the plan, but Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) has reservations.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Captain America: Civil War’ Endures Some Flaws To Deliver Solid Blockbuster”

REVIEW: Key And Peele Deliver Laughs, But Don’t Escape Flaws With ‘Keanu’

Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, a duo who brought a refreshing, sharp sketch humor show to Comedy Central, have finally taken the leap to the big screen in “Keanu.”

In their first team-up on the silver screen, Peele plays Rell while Key portrays Clarence. The two are average “everymen” who live relatively safe, good lives. The movie picks up with Rell who, while trying to get over a bad breakup, ends up finding a small kitten and names it Keanu.

After brightening his life for a while, Rell finds his home broken into and his kitten gone. In response, Rell and Clarence decide to try and find the cat. Unfortunately, it turns out that those that kidnapped the kitten was a dangerous Los Angeles gang, forcing Rell and Clarence to infiltrate that world.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Key And Peele Deliver Laughs, But Don’t Escape Flaws With ‘Keanu’”

REVIEW: While Predictable, ‘Barbershop’ Sequel Delivers With Heart

Ice Cube is back with the “Barbershop” crew and this time he went out of his way to add some depth and drama into the mix of comedy.

The film picks up with Ice Cube’s character Calvin, who is now successfully running his barbershop in Chicago with his business partner Angie (Regina Hall). For the most part, life for the crew is good, although, they begin to notice the increase in gang-related violence plaguing the streets.

In response, Calvin and the barbershop workers decide to try and call a truce between local gangs and give out free haircuts for a weekend to help promote peace on the streets.

Continue reading “REVIEW: While Predictable, ‘Barbershop’ Sequel Delivers With Heart”

REVIEW: ‘The Jungle Book’ Hits Its Stride With Lead Voice Talents And Effects

The 2016 “Jungle Book” film certainly adds some new bits here and there, but those who have seen the Disney animated movie should find themselves in familiar territory.

As the classic tale goes, “Jungle Book” tells the story of Mowgli (played by Neel Sethi), a young boy living in a vast wooded area who’s been raised by a pack of wolves and a panther named Bagheera (Ben Kingsley).

While Mowgli’s life for much of the film’s introduction is peaceful, his world shakes up when a human-hating tiger, Shere Khan (Idris Elba), threatens him. While trying to escape, Mowgli comes across multiple other animals in the jungle including a bear named Baloo (Bill Murray) and the two form a friendship.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘The Jungle Book’ Hits Its Stride With Lead Voice Talents And Effects”

REVIEW: Action Visuals In ‘Hardcore Henry’ Don’t Carry Film Far Enough

“Hardcore Henry” is the first feature movie helmed by Russian filmmaker Ilya Naishuller and takes place entirely through a first person perspective.

Right from the start, the gimmick the movie is utilizing is apparent. From the moment the lights go down to when the credits roll, the picture plays out just like a first person shooter game would.

Regarding the story, the movie opens the plot is set in motion very quickly. The main character Henry wakes up in some type of special facility and learns he’s a part man and part machine. After the quick realization, he comes into contact with the movie’s villain Akan (played by Danila Kozlovsky) who plans to use creations like Henry for nefarious purposes.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Action Visuals In ‘Hardcore Henry’ Don’t Carry Film Far Enough”

REVIEW: ‘The Boss’ Stumbles Due To Poor Writing

Melissa McCarthy is back with another comedy, this time playing a character who happens to be the owner of a huge corporate empire.

The character is Michelle Darnell, who rose to the top on her own and used cut-throat business practices to do so.

Her ways of getting by eventually lead her into trouble, though, when she gets arrested and sent to prison for a white collar crime.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘The Boss’ Stumbles Due To Poor Writing”

REVIEW: ‘God’s Not Dead 2’ Sacrifices Good Film-making To Deliver Message

What happens when you make a movie with no substance or style and instead focus simply on a message? You get “God’s Not Dead.” When you do it again, you get “God’s Not Dead 2.”

The sequel tells the story of Grace Wesley (Melissa Joan Hart), a devout Christian and high school history teacher. During one of her lessons she’s asked a question about the similarities between quotes from Jesus and Martin Luther King Jr.

Because of a subsequent series of developments, Grace soon finds herself in court with Ray Wise playing a lawyer named Peter Kane who also happens to be an atheist completely obsessed with proving that “God is dead.”

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘God’s Not Dead 2’ Sacrifices Good Film-making To Deliver Message”

REVIEW: Acting Veterans Highlight Drama ‘Eye In The Sky’

If the government has a chance to take out high profile terrorists, should it take the shot? That’s the question asked in Director Gavin Hood’s “Eye in the Sky.”

The movie takes place at a few different locations, a command center with Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren), a government meeting room with Lieutenant General Frank Benson (Alan Rickman), a drone operating room with pilot Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) and an on the ground unit with the spy Jama Farah (Barkhad Abdi).

In basic terms, the movie plays out like a game of ping pong. Military personnel locate a house in Kenya housing potential suicide bombers and plan to strike the target.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Acting Veterans Highlight Drama ‘Eye In The Sky’”

REVIEW: Greek Wedding 2 Is A Messy Rehash Of The Original

“My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” is the sequel that no one really wanted.

The movie picks up quite a ways in the future from where the first one ended. The main characters, Toula (Nia Vardalos) and Ian (John Corbett) are still married and are trying to prepare their daughter Paris (Elena Kampouris) for college.

As if that isn’t stressful enough for the parents, Toula soon learns that her own parents Gus (Michael Constantine) and Maria (Lainie Kazan) are actually not officially married. For that reason, the big family is forced into preparing another wedding.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Greek Wedding 2 Is A Messy Rehash Of The Original”

REVIEW: Poor Pacing, Editing Ruin ‘Batman V Superman’s’ Attempt At Greatness

The fists certainly fly in “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice,” but audiences have to wait a while for that to happen in this comic book flick.

The film’s first main scene takes place during the Superman vs. Zod battle that wrecked much of Metropolis in “Man of Steel.” This time around, though, the combat is seen through Bruce Wayne’s (Ben Affleck) eyes. Bruce sees the damage caused by the alien battle and immediately views him as a threat. From there, Wayne’s alter ego decides to go after the Man of Steel.

Meanwhile, another billionaire, Lex Luthor (Jesse Eiseberg) has his own problems with Superman, and he also starts scheming against the hero. Even the government sees a problem with Superman as he continues to interfere with human engagements, which puts more pressure on the hero’s alter ego, Clark Kent (Henry Cavill). All of the mistrust in the movie is like a pot ready to boil over.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Poor Pacing, Editing Ruin ‘Batman V Superman’s’ Attempt At Greatness”