What's up to all my J&J Productions homies? This month is super packed, so I've greatly abbreviated the recaps from last month so we can get right into it.
The Transporter Refueled: No Statham -- no Transporter. Dull and rather lifeless. Rath's Review Score (RRS): 5/10
The Visit: Not Shyamalan's best, nor is it anywhere near his worst. RRS: 6.5/10
Black Mass: Solid performances, but a messy narrative. RRS: 7/10
Everest: Grand in IMAX 3D, but offers little else outside the spectacle. I didn't get to this one.
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials: Tons of book changes and very disappointing. RRS: 6.5/10
Sicario: Thanks to limited releases (I hate you so much!) this one won't get an update until October. Suffice it to say though that it was probably the best film I would have seen this month.
The Intern: Surprising delight of a film with a lot of worthwhile advice/lessons. RRS: 8/10
Biggest Disappointment: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
Biggest Surprise: The Intern
Worst Movie: The Transporter Refueled
Best Movie: The Intern
Like I said, short and sweet this month! If you like the mini-recaps as opposed to the longer ones I usually give, let me know in the comments below! Onward to an insanely busy October!! As always, titles have trailers.
Why It's Worth Seeing: Because Hollywood has decided to be atrocious with release date management this year, this one moved up a couple days, so I figured, because it's such a big film, that I would cover it here. It's an exciting story about the man who tightrope walked between the World Trade Center towers and it has a credible director and cast.
What Could Go Wrong: It already has some stiff competition with the documentary, Man on Wire, which is widely regarded as one of the better documentary in the last few decades. If it doesn't bring much new to the table, it might be hard to stand above that.
Why It's Worth Seeing: The book is one of my absolute favorites ever and is compelling from start to finish. The film looks to be a very close recreation of the novel, not to mention the star power that's attached to it.
What Could Go Wrong: Ridley Scott is directing and his recent films, while I've enjoyed them, have lacked that special something that makes you truly care about whats going on. Here's hoping that he can find that for this film.
Why It's Worth Seeing: It could tell a unique version of the Pan story and Hugh Jackman's character looks to be a good bit of fun.
What Could Go Wrong: The Peter Pan story has been done to death, especially in the last few years. Trailers for this film have left me very unexcited and it looks like a rather uninspired FX cash grab. The huge release date move doesn't mean good things either.
Why It's Worth Seeing: It's about one of the most influential people of the last century, features a great director, writer, and cast, and has some awesome trailers. What's not to be excited about?
What Could Go Wrong: I've heard that it is told over the course of 3 large scenes. While this may excite some, this worries me. How will we really get to know all about Steve Jobs, his life, his passions, his struggles, his ideas, his background, in 3 scenes? It could be brilliant, but it could also backfire.
Why It's Worth Seeing: The year of the spy continues and this time it's Steven Spielberg at the helm with Tom Hanks starring. Less typical than some of the other spy-fare we've seen this year (of which none disappointed, at least not me) but with those two involved, I expect nothing but great things.
What Could Go Wrong: From the trailers, I worry that there might be lulls in the story's ability to captivate. Some of the human drama hinted toward seems small when compared to the actual story.
Why It's Worth Seeing: It's Guillermo Del Toro doing what he does best: horror. Everything in the trailers indicate that this could be a modern horror classic that truly uses the imagination of one man to scare the thoughts of many.
What Could Go Wrong: The horror genre is full of cliches that are like traps; they're easy to fall into. But if anyone can navigate through them, it's Del Toro.
Why It's Worth Seeing: Jack Black often attaches himself to worthwhile projects, and he helped to get this one off the ground. There seems that there could be some genuine humor and scares here, all appropriate for a younger audience right before Halloween time.
What Could Go Wrong: I wasn't a big fan of the books when I was little and that's because I thought they were weird. I don't necessarily still hold that belief, but the statement "when I was little" makes me wonder if this name, Goosebumps, still holds any meaning to the youth of today?
Why It's Worth Seeing: You read that right -- NETFLIX. This might be a new trend, but what many would regard as a wide release (a film starring Edris Elba about an African warlord) is getting a Netflix release. Early reviews are highly positive and this could change the landscape of movies as we know it.
What Could Go Wrong: The film may go too far under the radar or not be all that good in the eyes of the general public, resulting in little more than a failed experiment.
Why It's Worth Seeing: I honestly haven't heard or seen hardly anything for this film, but Vin Diesel is a cool dude and I enjoy supporting him whenever I can. To me, it seems like the film is right up his more mature alley (along with Riddick and the like).
What Could Go Wrong: Diesel is an actor who is pretty much pigeon holed into a specific role. Sometimes this makes great films (see Fast and Furious franchise) and other times it leads to films that aren't the best. I feel like the Last Witch Hunter will not be a new franchise earner for him.
Why It's Worth Seeing: It's been a while since we had a Paranormal Activity (last year's early The Marked Ones) that ended on a cliffhanger that pretty much re-wrote the series. I'm not ashamed that I've been a fan ever since the beginning and through each installment, so given that this is the "last one", I'm eager to see how it turns out.
What Could Go Wrong: The trailers seem to have a lot of special effects which really isn't something the films are known for. I hope, given that this is the final film, that it hearkens back to the originals for some good ol' fashioned scares, rather than an overdone resolution with demons and what not.
Why It's Worth Seeing: The premise as described in the trailers is interesting and who doesn't love a little Bill Murray in their lives?
What Could Go Wrong: I don't think anything will go "wrong" but the trailers don't lend themselves to me believing like I'm going to see something really consistently funny or memorable.
Why It's Worth Seeing: Zombie movies always have the potential to be a lot of fun, and this looks to be a unique, fun take on it.
What Could Go Wrong: It reminds me of this year's earlier film that tried to meld two genre's, American Ultra, which I really didn't enjoy. Hopefully they are nothing alike.
Must See (in order): The Martian, Crimson Peak, Steve Jobs, Beasts of No Nation, The Walk, Bridge of Spies, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension
On My Radar: Goosebumps, The Last Witch Hunter, Rock the Kasbah, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse
Predicted Duds: Pan
After an insane month of October, I'll most likely be playing catch up, but November is nearly as busy. We're at that time of year again I suppose! As
always, I'd be really appreciative if you came and followed me through
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Gah, I'm so over the top excited for Crimson Peak! It looks amazing, I really hope it gets nominations for production and costume design (Every prop inside the house (including the house itself) was made specifically for the movie!) Plus like you said, Del Toro is a master at putting his imagination on the screen, specifically horror (The Devil's Backbone is great, and The Orphanage which he produced is one of the best horror movies of the past 20 years, and Pan's Labyrinth is one of the best fantasy movies I've ever seen).
ReplyDeleteCombine his imagination with a fantastic cast and you can't go wrong. Can't wait lol
Yeah I think it really could be one of the year's best. Fingers crossed!
DeleteOh my gosh, I'm so excited for The Martian! I just recently read the book, and have been dying to see the movie ever since. Ever since read the second page actually. :P The book is so incredible! And I'm sure the movie will be too. I imagine they'll have to leave some things out, but they'd be crazy to not make it as accurate an adaptation as possible. The trailers look great, and I adore the cast. Matt Damon is perfect. And Jessica Chastain, and Michael Pena, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.. and Sean Bean! I really hope they leave the "Project Elrond" scene. I just love it when an actor's in a movie referencing another movie they were in for some reason. XD
ReplyDeleteYeah I'm really excited for it too! Can't wait! The book was amazing :-)
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