tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13852337310992202762024-03-14T02:16:54.207-04:00J and J ProductionsJames the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.comBlogger1853125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-45938480400389009692018-08-06T10:36:00.001-04:002018-08-06T10:36:54.349-04:00She Said Yes!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello everyone, I am briefly back! I know I've been away for a while; long story short: working through college, slowly recovering from my disability, and most importantly, romancing my beautiful now-fiance Jamie. We recently got engaged last week! Sorry I never posted that I would be gone for a while, eventually, it became so long that I just didn't know what to say about it. </div>
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If you follow Jamie's blog, you'd know that we have been in a long-distance relationship for a couple years now. I finally asked her to marry me, and we're finally engaged! I love her so very much and I am so happy that we are planning a future together. It has been an amazing ride and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her. Right now she's in town for another week and we're watching lots of movies and hanging out.</div>
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Hopefully at some point I can use my newly developed web designing skills to renovate and update this blog with a new custom template. For now I'll leave it as is and hopefully one day I can come back and try writing again about my passion for the cinema. Thank you everyone for reading this update and I'll see you in future. </div>
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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:johnstarslayer@gmail.com">johnstarslayer@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-52459629185744699212016-10-14T08:46:00.000-04:002016-10-18T09:03:34.724-04:00Batman v Superman: The Fundamental Flaw<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” Yes, I am indeed, not dead. Yeah, I've been away from the blogosphere for a while. I'm not sure if anyone cares to hear an explanation, but I guess I will explain after post. Above is a brilliant video about Batman v Superman and why it fails. Sometimes, as a critic, you can have a feeling that something is off, yet you cannot articulate yourself. Thankfully, this great YouTube channel I discovered, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Nerdwriter1" target="_blank">Nerd Writer</a>, does an excellent job at breaking down one of the main flaws in Batman v Superman. Check it out! </div>
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As for my absence, it can mostly attributed to school and my disability taking up all of my physical typing energy. That's really it. Well, hope every enjoyed the video! </div>
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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:johnstarslayer@gmail.com">johnstarslayer@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-33838672786075373442016-10-14T08:20:00.000-04:002016-10-14T08:20:32.414-04:00Coming Soon: October 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello once again everyone! Hope your transitions from Summer into Fall were wonderful :-) Let's review September before we dive into October's offerings.</div>
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<b>Morgan: </b>Not the sci-fi classic it was hoping to be it would seem. I didn't hear much about this one because I'm guessing people had forgotten that they'd seen it.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/09/the-light-between-oceans.html" target="_blank">The Light Between Oceans:</a> </b>Touching, if not overlong, and ultimately just a bit too sad for its own good. It features gorgeous cinematography and fantastic lead performances but is missing a couple key components to be truly remarkable. RRS: 7.5/10</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/09/sully.html" target="_blank">Sully:</a> </b>A taut, well-organized, intense thriller that will make you cringe in your seat, even if we already know what happens. A tremendous effort by Hanks and Eastwood based on the tremendous effort by the actual pilot, Sully. RRS: 9/10</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/09/blair-witch.html" target="_blank">Blair Witch:</a> </b>Features some effective scares and the "found footage" takes some appreciated steps forward (i.e. drones and HD) but ultimately this is a forgettable and generic horror film. RRS: 6.5/10</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/09/snowden.html" target="_blank">Snowden:</a> </b>Not nearly as great as it should have been, Snowden played it safe and resulted in a film that was a bit of a bore when you'd expect it to be edge-of-your-seat thrilling. Still though, the subject matter is interesting and the performances were strong. RRS: 7/10</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/09/the-magnificent-seven.html" target="_blank">The Magnificent Seven:</a> </b>It would have been almost the lone "surprise" of the summer as this remake is bada**, fun, and violent. It doesn't rewrite the book on this plot or Westerns as a whole, but the great cast and action filming make it well worth your time. RRS: 8/10</div>
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<b>Storks: </b>Seems to be a funny, if not generic animated film that the whole family can enjoy. </div>
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<a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/10/deepwater-horizon.html" target="_blank"><b>Deepwater Horizon:</b></a> Much like Sully, this is an effective retelling of a story where we already know what happens. Strong cast, intense sequences of mayhem, and teaches the audience effectively about oil rigs. RRS: 8/10</div>
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<b>Masterminds: </b>Being delayed by over a year didn't do anything to help this film as its critical reception has been lukewarm. The laughs don't come often enough for the cast that's involved. </div>
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<b>Biggest Disappointment: </b>Snowden</div>
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<b>Biggest Surprise: </b>The Magnificent Seven</div>
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<b>Worst Movie: </b>Blair Witch</div>
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<b>Best Movie: </b>Sully</div>
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October is really shaping up to be a busy month where many Oscar contenders will release. Let's take a look at everything coming out. As is always the case, click the titles for trailers!</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i18z1EQCoyg" target="_blank"><b>The Birth of a Nation -- Oct 7th</b></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>It's won several awards on the indie circuit thus far and looks to be a powerful retelling of the struggle for African American's to find freedom in this country. Count on it to have strong performances and timely lessons to be learned. </div>
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<b>Against It: </b>Not much other than the fact that I'm not sure how you compete with <i>12 Years a Slave</i> or <i>Selma</i>, both great films. Civil Rights movement films seem to have become their own genre lately (probably because of the current political climate) and I imagine it's hard to stand out in such good company. </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5_Iiu_uWI8" target="_blank"><b>The Girl on a Train -- Oct 7th</b></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>It's subject material is fantastic and features a winding, twisting road towards its climax and revelation. From the trailers it looks like they're taking it more seriously a la <i>Gone Girl</i> as opposed to cheesy a la <i>50 Shades</i>.</div>
<b>Against It: </b>Depends how they treat the subject matter. <i>Girl on Train</i> is certainly no <i>Gone Girl</i> in terms of their respective novels, but it was still an engrossing story that kept you guessing. A close adaptation would be welcomed.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBfsgcswlYQ" target="_blank"><b>The Accountant -- Oct 14th</b></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>The trailers have been phenomenal and after realizing that Affleck is the best thing in the DC Universe, I'm eager to see his next roles. I get the feeling that this will be a smart, brooding thriller that doesn't disappoint. </div>
<b>Against It:</b> Its premise is a bit silly and it could all end up being more like a <i>Taken</i> than the realistic action thriller its setting itself up as.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH2BD49sEZI" target="_blank"><b>Inferno -- Oct 14th</b></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Inferno is probably in my Top 5 books of all time and I'd say it's Dan Brown's best novel. The groundwork is certainly there, especially if they handle the villain correctly. Tom Hanks remains as Robert Langdon and he's probably the best part about this series. </div>
<b>Against It:</b> For whatever reason, Ron Howard has trouble pushing his films into that extra territory. They lack that special something to really resonate emotionally and be thrilling. I blame original scores and editing mostly, but it's hard to put a finger on it. I highly doubt that this one bucks that trend.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFAiAzjfaEM" target="_blank"><b>Kevin Hart: What Now? -- Oct 14th</b></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Hart is one of the hardest working entertainers there is and I applaud his effort to create a unique standup experience. I'm sure it's going to be outrageous. </div>
<b>Against It:</b> Hart can wear on the senses sometimes so hopefully this standup is smart and funny rather than loud/obnoxious and funny. Or at least a combo of both.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOAB_h-cBbs" target="_blank"><b>Jack Reacher: Never Go Back -- Oct 21st</b></a></div>
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<b> For It: </b>The previous Jack Reacher was surprisingly entertaining, turning a somewhat generic action icon into a slightly less generic action movie. It doesn't hurt that Tom Cruise can lead an action movie like no one's business either. <br />
<b>Against It:</b> Jack Reacher and its trailer still come across as generic. It takes a skilled filmmaker to make something more of a film like this as it doesn't necessarily dive into the crazy stunts that make <i>Mission Impossible</i> films so awesome. If that skill isn't there, this will be forgettable.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGtVJ48GMAI" target="_blank"><b>Keeping Up with the Jones -- Oct 21st</b></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>The cast looks like it could have a lot of fun hamming it up (pun somewhat intended) and there are funny moments in the trailer. Plus its cool to see Gal Gadot in a comedy after her somewhat-newfound superstardom and before WW</div>
<b>Against It:</b> I imagine the laughs are few and far between and that it tries too hard for most of them, as it would seem like in the trailer.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJIcZGEjjwo" target="_blank"><b>Ouija: Origin of Evil -- Oct 21st</b></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>By switching time periods this sequel to a pretty bad original film became instantly more interesting and the initial trailers do indeed look really messed up. </div>
<b>Against It:</b> Horror sequel history wants to count against this one, despite the smart creative changes. A time period change doesn't necessarily equate to an automatically worthwhile film.<br />
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<b>Must See (in order): </b>The Accountant, Birth of a Nation, Girl on a Train</div>
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<b>On My Radar: </b>Inferno, Kevin Hart: What Now?, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back</div>
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<b>Predicted Duds: </b>Keeping Up with the Jones, Ouija: Origin of Evil </div>
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There ya have it! October has the potential to be a great month and hopefully it doesn't swing the other way. Check back in November with the return to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Marvel's next [likely] homerun. As
always, I'd be really appreciative if you came and followed me through
Blogger at <a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/" target="_blank">RATH'S REVIEWS</a> and like me on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RathsReviews" target="_blank">HERE</a>! I follow-for-follow 100%. Thanks again!!</div>
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</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-61427757540072797532016-09-24T08:25:00.003-04:002016-09-24T08:25:57.819-04:00Ghost in the Shell Teaser Trailer - Scarlett Johansson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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The first set of teasers for the new live-action Ghost in the Shell film starring Scarlett Johansson is here! And I just do not know how to feel. Honestly, this is just a series of teaser clips more than anything, but the quality of the cinematography looks incredibly cheap. Rupert Sanders is not known for being a good director, but I am really hoping that this movie will not suck. I want it to good so bad! Scarlett Johansson does look good as the Major, so that's something. What do you think? Please comment below and let me know!</div>
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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:johnstarslayer@gmail.com">johnstarslayer@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-10026845524244774932016-09-14T07:30:00.000-04:002016-09-14T07:30:01.065-04:00Space Brothers (Uchuu Kyoudai) Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Space Brothers, a unique anime that is praised by critics yet very few have actually seen it.</div>
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Space Brothers, also known as Uchuu Kyoudai, follows two brothers, Mutta and Hibito Nanba, who, as children, witness a UFO, and this experience inspires the brothers to become astronauts. Fast forward nineteen years, Hibito is a NASA astronaut preparing for a mission to build the first base on the moon and to become the first Japanese man on the moon. On the other hand, Mutta has recently been fired from his job as a car designer, which eventually leads him to pursue his long lost dream of becoming an astronaut alongside his younger brother.</div>
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Space Brothers began airing in the spring season of 2012 and finished its run in the March of 2014 with 99 episodes in total. Despite praise from the few people who have actually seen it, Space Brothers is a criminally under watched anime. Part of the low popularity is obviously the episode count, making the second longest anime that I have finished. Also, it is a series about two men in the their early thirties, not high school students, and it is a drama set in a realistic world without many tropes or fanservice present in most anime, and yet, this is exactly what makes it one of the best anime of all-time. On a side note, even though the series is about adults and is targeted at an older audience, it is, surprisingly, family friendly part in regards to its content for the most part.</div>
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Also, I want to give a shout out to my favorite podcast, the AAA (Anime Addicts Anonymous) Podcast (<a href="http://www.aaapodcast.com/" target="_blank">you can check out their website by clicking here</a>).</div>
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<b>The Good: </b>Lovable cast of characters, Realistic and believable, Many cheer worthy moments, Never melodramatic, Compelling character drama, Strong character development, Fascinating realistic science, Main characters are adults!, Superb performances, Inspirational, </div>
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<b>The Bad:</b> Lack of conclusion, Some pacing issues, </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">| Plot: 9.1/10 |</span></b></div>
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Space Brothers' story is split into arcs with each of the earlier ones focusing on Mutta's struggle to pass the rigorous tests to become one of the chosen few to enter the NASA space program. Towards the later portion of the series, the focus is split between the brothers, although Mutta is ultimately the main character.</div>
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One aspect that series does so well is the drama. Never is the drama portrayed in a melodramatic fashion, nor is it ever overly dark. What happens might be sad at points, but the series is often more uplifting and inspirational than anything else. Also, the series can create surprising tension with some characters being in real peril, and a certain arc is especially riveting.<br />
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Unlike most almost every other anime, the series is very much grounded in the real world. Space Brothers' world might be set ten years in the future, but it is portrayed in an incredibly realistic fashion with the future technology being based on realistic science. The characters and the process of becoming an astronaut are mostly realistic from what I know about JAXA and NASA, and it makes real world space travel interesting, even though it is not something that usually interests me.</div>
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However, there are two problems with the series; the first being the pacing. Even though most of the series is engaging, at certain points during Mutta's training, the series begins to drag out plot points a little longer than necessary. Also, on two occasions, we are presented with the backstory of a supporting character literally on the last episode we see them. The backstory for the character's motivations are shown, and then you never see that character again, and while it is not a major detriment to the story, it is strange. Fortunately, this pacing issue is only a small problem that only persists for a few episodes. My second problem is the most significant: the series lack of conclusion. While this may not be the fault of the creators, Space Brothers ends its 99 episode run with no sense of conclusion. It does not end on a cliffhanger necessarily, but it concludes at the end of a story arc making it seem as though the series will continue next week. With 99 episodes, you would hope the series would end on a good note, and while it is not a bad ending, it just makes me want more, and whether or not we get more is undetermined as of now.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">| Characterization: 10/10 |</span></b></div>
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Mutta Nanba is the main protagonist. As revealed during the opening scenes of the series, he was born on October 28, 1993 a day when Japan lost a qualifier in the World Cup, which is a bad omen that Mutta refers to as the cause for his bad luck. On the other hand, Hibito was born on September 17, 1996 when Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo threw a no-hitter in a major league baseball game, which is regarded as a day of good fortune, thus the superstitious reason for his success. Interestingly, my brother and I were born on similar dates with a similar age gap between us, which adds another reason why the characters are relatable to me. It actually made me think about where I will be in 2025 when I am in my thirties.</div>
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Going back to Mutta, he is one of my favorite anime characters ever. Constantly throughout the series he is presented with obstacles to overcome, and as he overcomes them, the audiences wants him to succeed and when he eventually does, it makes you want to cheer! Throughout the series, supporting characters are introduced and their interactions with Mutta often serve to teach him valuable lessons to both progress the character and to be legitimately inspirational without being too blatant or in-your-face about it. While an anime like Clannad managed to make me legitimately sad, Space Brothers often makes you feel uplifted and inspired, and most of this is done through Mutta's progression and your investment in his character.</div>
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Hibito, Mutta's younger brother, is not present through most of the first half of the series. However, his character is further explored in the latter portion of the series with a story that is very compelling and well executed, and if the series is ever continued, his character is likely to take an interesting direction.</div>
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Space Brothers has a gigantic cast of supporting characters with some of the more prominent ones being Kenji Makab, Serika Itō, and Sharon Kaneko,and while not the focus of the series, their interaction with Mutta and Hitibo is a crucial aspect of the character development. On occasion, a few of the minor characters are annoying or overly silly, but this does not detract from the overall experience.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">| Acting: 9.7/10 |</span></b></div>
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Hiroaki Hirata as Mutta is the standout among the cast as he gives a very distinct performance that makes Mutta's comical goofy antics work, while still delivering a strong performances in the more dramatic scenes. Kenn as Hibito is equally distinct in his role, and the supporting cast is all around fantastic. My only issue is that the series runs into some awkward language barriers since a large portion of the series takes place in the US with American characters, and as expected, the English speaking characters speak Japanese for the most part. The problems arise when an American character does not understand something in Japanese when he/she is speaking in perfect Japanese. It is not a major issue, but it is kind of strange at times.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">| Animation: 7.1/10 |</span></b></div>
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A-1 Pictures' animation is the weakest aspect of the series. Being a long running drama with little need of complex character designs or fluid animation, most of the series is simply talking and inner monologue, and in that respect it is entirely functional. The character designs are simple, yet effect as to portray generally realistic characters, while still being distinct enough to never confuse one character for other in the large cast, and Mutta’s reactions are very expressive, even if they are reused often. The animation does shine during some of the space scenes though.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">| Soundtrack: 7.2/10 |</span></b></div>
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Toshiyuki Watanabe's score features some great tracks. However, a small handful of tracks are used repeatedly throughout the 99 episodes. You can almost predict when certain tracks are about to be played during scenes, and while they certainly create the proper mood, they are reused too often.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">| Humor: 8.7/10 |</span></b></div>
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While not a comedy, Space Brothers manages to maintain a light hearted atmosphere between the more dramatic scenes as to ever bore the audience. Mutta's character in general is humorous with his sometimes goofy antics being hilarious at times, yet nevering undermining the seriousness of the drama. Some of the supporting characters also provide comedic relief.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">| Opening and Ending: 7.5/10 |</span></b></div>
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Space Brothers changes opening and endings every 12 episodes or so, and while some of the OPs and EDs are fun to listen to, most of them are only worth listening/watching a couple of times before you skip them, although the last opening is a lot of fun.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">| Entertainment Value: 8.7/10 |</span></b></div>
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Due to the occasional pacing issues, Space Brothers did drag at times. However, as a whole, it is an easy to watch series, which is crucial for watching something with such a large number of episodes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JoUjBk71X8KxhDGhewBkwKPAosFcDsT1A6eB8kj2eFVtHv6GbjJ61RBD8UWcfqkyAkxFv3IaVdPQmpGNcGaFF03QZRuWJJOIhkNxmewLAN54JcGjJSTQ6IOvUvhojyWDLxbg-NrBBWk/s1600/Space+Brothers+7.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JoUjBk71X8KxhDGhewBkwKPAosFcDsT1A6eB8kj2eFVtHv6GbjJ61RBD8UWcfqkyAkxFv3IaVdPQmpGNcGaFF03QZRuWJJOIhkNxmewLAN54JcGjJSTQ6IOvUvhojyWDLxbg-NrBBWk/s1600/Space+Brothers+7.gif" /></a></div>
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Uplifting and often inspirational, Space Brothers (Uchuu Kyoudai) is, ironically, one of the most down to earth anime to date. Despite two minor issues, the characters, cheer worthy moments, and compelling drama makes Space Brothers one of the most unique anime ever made as it sets itself apart from just about anything in the medium.</div>
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If you have the time for a long anime series and do not mind a less than conclusive ending, Space Brothers is highly recommended for just about anything that prefers more mature anime.</div>
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<b><u>Watch if you like:</u></b> Drama, Lovable characters, Sci-fi, Space travel, Seinen, Long anime,</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">-9.5/10</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2012 - 2014 | 99 Episodes | PG-13 | </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A-1 Pictures</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Comedy | Drama </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">| Sci-Fi</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMlMp6DtlxggGU9KkwRYv5j_BTXGrfWPOxbnBjnp77NE-zDKvrILR60Y0DP4yh3zKa6lpWOsrlIQWJ1a4PmQNTJUFwOo9u9U6xv-OhPe6osHxZl67qmxp4MU8wt7bIE2yhZ71MuIIYNc/s1600/Space+Brothers+12.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMlMp6DtlxggGU9KkwRYv5j_BTXGrfWPOxbnBjnp77NE-zDKvrILR60Y0DP4yh3zKa6lpWOsrlIQWJ1a4PmQNTJUFwOo9u9U6xv-OhPe6osHxZl67qmxp4MU8wt7bIE2yhZ71MuIIYNc/s1600/Space+Brothers+12.gif" /></a></div>
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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:johnstarslayer@gmail.com">johnstarslayer@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-83655155762764040692016-09-05T07:00:00.000-04:002016-09-05T07:00:27.326-04:00Loot Crate - Dream Crate!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A week or so ago, the fine people over at Loot Crate asked me to write about my "Dream Crate!" Basically, about things I would want to receive in my own Loot Crate box. For those of you who don’t already know, <a href="https://www.lootcrate.com/" target="_blank">Loot Crate</a> is a monthly mail subscription service who deliver a mystery box containing a variety of geek and gamer related items pop culture items. Which is awesome!</div>
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For my "Dream Crate," the theme would be "Space Adventure!" So any space related franchise is welcome to squeeze in.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhii-WYbYCghwdRR5EbGXqrZbwA1Foz04fJ5FRcn3ldFFxUicPSN0sCDsidX0h3-iJ8diCG84Vwr6-igM2R1NagiZCqeJEtipcB5PLjbxO15Jj1QDhNTVrhYxn6-JsWN-8RpMsmy40DYNc/s1600/Loot+Crate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhii-WYbYCghwdRR5EbGXqrZbwA1Foz04fJ5FRcn3ldFFxUicPSN0sCDsidX0h3-iJ8diCG84Vwr6-igM2R1NagiZCqeJEtipcB5PLjbxO15Jj1QDhNTVrhYxn6-JsWN-8RpMsmy40DYNc/s640/Loot+Crate.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Alien Franchise T-Shirt</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHgLpvns1iN7fQys48vkzRYJH9BYAlRyFptvtF6pWfL6VLztIg9IjPlnzK-iFjxk8lqWvSowr6AykSX13eRvQB14-eglU0coTZkw0hOqEgGY99s0anWd2kC_NQF52XPOHCWMt8S4hz14/s1600/Alien+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHgLpvns1iN7fQys48vkzRYJH9BYAlRyFptvtF6pWfL6VLztIg9IjPlnzK-iFjxk8lqWvSowr6AykSX13eRvQB14-eglU0coTZkw0hOqEgGY99s0anWd2kC_NQF52XPOHCWMt8S4hz14/s640/Alien+art.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Every Loot Crate needs an awesome t-shirt, right? For my Dream Crate, an exclusive t-shirt from the Alien franchise would be amazing! It could feature a unique artistic design of the Xenomorphs or just about anything else from the films; it’s all awesome. You just do not see enough Alien shirts, so that would be a unique addition.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A Star Wars Comic Book</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqYzljC6OhRmz_9DZCzskkK6ODW_uQD42oIL91GaoVF-YoOUhhlrNsdhTU0qFtL8g0x6UYoXQsYiUC5AAfc604UScySurMCUexnrpDITSArhKr03z-BMdGYJeKvLWqGvXT59AfF0xXHY/s1600/Star+Wars+comic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqYzljC6OhRmz_9DZCzskkK6ODW_uQD42oIL91GaoVF-YoOUhhlrNsdhTU0qFtL8g0x6UYoXQsYiUC5AAfc604UScySurMCUexnrpDITSArhKr03z-BMdGYJeKvLWqGvXT59AfF0xXHY/s640/Star+Wars+comic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Marvel has been releasing some very well received Star Wars comics lately. Including any one of the issues from the new Marvel's Star Wars comic book selection would be a great way to get me and others hooked on an enjoyable new story.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Firefly Poster</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfwvLn3o-WApBSGBP7NINi56dDAwHsHSdm4bJt1fBNOSUYdeQ5tEEFPyeZIAQDiRS81zNnHOOaBWc7pf7jEmrH0OJJMSWYy7CMhOIRjDozLUI5BI8-mRunn9DXIwc8pxqdRUdD0k_blM/s1600/Firefly+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfwvLn3o-WApBSGBP7NINi56dDAwHsHSdm4bJt1fBNOSUYdeQ5tEEFPyeZIAQDiRS81zNnHOOaBWc7pf7jEmrH0OJJMSWYy7CMhOIRjDozLUI5BI8-mRunn9DXIwc8pxqdRUdD0k_blM/s320/Firefly+Poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Everyone needs more Firefly merchandise, am I right!? And I'd love to have a "shiny" new Firefly poster on my wall. It could be a more artistic, minimalist poster, or something more traditional; any type of Firefly poster would do, honestly.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Guardians of the Galaxy Figure</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag5t5K_C8BG_B_kuLvIz-kppik4vV5yYelux55s-itHx24ecwbX-SChZtZ55CZwn4Vipt2k7P-gRl_AtD0pP2aJO-anq2-ai1kvfmRgB1EoheOBwX1ydVjRvCccnOga7PR6qnI0yG0dc/s1600/guardians_of_the_galaxy_funko_pop_vinyls_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag5t5K_C8BG_B_kuLvIz-kppik4vV5yYelux55s-itHx24ecwbX-SChZtZ55CZwn4Vipt2k7P-gRl_AtD0pP2aJO-anq2-ai1kvfmRgB1EoheOBwX1ydVjRvCccnOga7PR6qnI0yG0dc/s640/guardians_of_the_galaxy_funko_pop_vinyls_l.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Even though the figure does not have to be a Funko POP, like in the picture, any type of figure from the film would be a great addition to my Dream Crate. Who doesn't want a little Groot or Rocket Raccoon figure to show off on their desk or shelf?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"See you Space Cowboy..." Decal</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2AjO1Lbf9Wr1hdX6gSwqYxovghsEvcrFFpLHzzNpRber9xka7Xa0XlQnu4iEoCY5KwdP_UEyIbQlUl2-Vv1q5Rgh815I-affhl33duq_9wNTz6iLIhRJnBR6qjqYq3-gYSWEdqjb4jk/s1600/seeyouspacecowboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2AjO1Lbf9Wr1hdX6gSwqYxovghsEvcrFFpLHzzNpRber9xka7Xa0XlQnu4iEoCY5KwdP_UEyIbQlUl2-Vv1q5Rgh815I-affhl33duq_9wNTz6iLIhRJnBR6qjqYq3-gYSWEdqjb4jk/s320/seeyouspacecowboy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"See you Space Cowboy..." is a phrase you'll see at the end of an episode of the critically acclaimed Cowboy Bebop. A decal of the famous quote is a small yet great addition to the Dream Crate. I could think of a dozen places I could put it! </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Gundam </span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mystery Figure</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTeVFuRBll3lx7iwgf5lkN44ikMIj61Ki16oq_x-RA3V-jkZwFoips5CadMfXzXYXzeaiyZRv2YNke9vloF26VHT4B58bckfdEj2XqRs9hn0kT76GQhMzetZtCOncME-xWg-_IsO5NUk/s1600/Gundam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTeVFuRBll3lx7iwgf5lkN44ikMIj61Ki16oq_x-RA3V-jkZwFoips5CadMfXzXYXzeaiyZRv2YNke9vloF26VHT4B58bckfdEj2XqRs9hn0kT76GQhMzetZtCOncME-xWg-_IsO5NUk/s640/Gundam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Mobile Suit Gundam is one of my latest obsessions, and those mecha robot suits in the franchise look so impressive. Receiving something like a mystery bag/box with a random Mobile Suit from any of the various series would be exciting since you never know which one you'll get!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Free-For-All: Assorted Keychain, Lanyards, ect. from Star Trek, Halo, or other space franchises </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBFRGCI5smzNARf-Kx_mv1KLOrne1gditeVZFSujXHFzJvjh3BnvZeBHJC9pPYheuKexjraQxJTXtPo17981t6emTpmL9tX0KKYPDWYrpbBMG_6V0x2CQ006sdFSD40UcaL_Z-ivgdfU/s1600/Star+Trek+Keychain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBFRGCI5smzNARf-Kx_mv1KLOrne1gditeVZFSujXHFzJvjh3BnvZeBHJC9pPYheuKexjraQxJTXtPo17981t6emTpmL9tX0KKYPDWYrpbBMG_6V0x2CQ006sdFSD40UcaL_Z-ivgdfU/s400/Star+Trek+Keychain.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As with most Loot Crates, there’s an assortment of various smaller items, such as a keychain, lanyards, or other things. A few examples might be a Star Trek keychain, a Halo lanyard, or even a Tom Baker Doctor Who scarf! Half the fun of Loot Crate is the surprise of just not knowing what you’ll find inside, so I want to leave an element of surprise in mine! Especially since Loot Crate does a great job including trinkets and items that you never really think to buy but are cool to have when you get them. </div>
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That concludes my Dream Crate rundown! What do you think? What would be in yours; what’s your preferred theme? Let me know in the comments below and if you want to know more about Loot Crate, be sure to check out their website by <a href="https://www.lootcrate.com/" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</div>
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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:johnstarslayer@gmail.com">johnstarslayer@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQi7EdU8Pa-9_S6qbDUaAFWhys9E966lfMNKa87niDnohGX-xpgV8J1JKzadVVVcUjAfUpOqsJQ72OsODeZSvatovRqA-IFimfSiGK3l6q7ZmtLqPfSmRoZiRH0_KBFASiwPpAxIIqADs/s1600/Han+GrainyText.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQi7EdU8Pa-9_S6qbDUaAFWhys9E966lfMNKa87niDnohGX-xpgV8J1JKzadVVVcUjAfUpOqsJQ72OsODeZSvatovRqA-IFimfSiGK3l6q7ZmtLqPfSmRoZiRH0_KBFASiwPpAxIIqADs/s1600/Han+GrainyText.jpg" width="400" />
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-48610179651774376902016-09-01T09:19:00.000-04:002016-09-01T09:19:25.397-04:00Coming Soon: September 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My my my this summer and especially August have been mighty interesting. I've now started the worldwide trending hashtag #SummerofBummers that extends from the last week in May through the first week of August to express my disappointment with *most* of what Hollywood spewed (trust me, I wanted to use a much worse word there) out. Maybe Civil War was just so good that everything else suffered because of it? ;-) </div>
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Anyway, let's take a look at the final month of the #SummerofBummers that was 2016.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/08/suicide-squad.html" target="_blank">Suicide Squad:</a> </b>I was angry. I still am. There is no way that a film with this much talent and that exciting of trailers should have been this <i>bad</i>. Yes, there are moments of greatness in there. There are characters that I hope live to see another day. But the plot, villain, pacing, editing, and action are all shockingly terrible. And once again we're left exiting a DC film hoping that the "next one" is their saving grace. So frustrating. RRS: 4.5/10</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/08/hunt-for-wilderpeople.html" target="_blank">Hunt for the Wilderpeople:</a> </b>August started with a horrendous thud but slowly got brighter and brighter. Seeking to cleanse my palette of SS, I went to an indie that had been recommended to me and it was utterly fantastic. From director Taika Waititi (who'll direct the next Thor), it's a hilarious comedy that's touching, well filmed, and a breath of fresh air after a highly disappointing summer. RRS: 9.5/10</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/08/petes-dragon.html" target="_blank">Pete's Dragon:</a> </b>Enjoyable and featuring some surprisingly gorgeous cinematography. It's another live-action Disney film that I didn't quite feel "the magic" in, but I enjoyed my time with a solid movie nonetheless. RRS: 7/10</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/08/sausage-party.html" target="_blank">Sausage Party:</a> </b>Far, far funnier than even my wildest expectations might have predicted, this was one of the year's most pleasant surprises. It's an animated feature that's nearly as smart as a Pixar film (shocking, I know) but just highly, highly R-rated. Many will hate the raunchy and crude behavior, but in a year of stellar comedy, Sausage Party shines as one of, if not the absolute, funniest ones. RRS: 9/10</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/08/kubo-and-two-strings.html" target="_blank">Kubo and the Two Strings:</a> </b>Due to some atrocious marketing, I had no idea this was even coming out until a week before (hence why I didn't cover it last month). It's a fantastic, deep, and mature animated film that mesmerizing to watch as your brain will try to comprehend how it was all possible using stop-motion technique. RRS: 8.5/10 </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/08/hell-or-high-water.html" target="_blank">Hell or High Water:</a> </b>It's a professional film. Great performances. Stunning imagery. Witty script. Appropriate editing and well paced. I may never need to necessarily watch it again, but one can't deny that it's got very few flaws. RRS: 8.5/10</div>
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<b>Ben-Hur: </b>Apparently not as bad as many, including myself, predicted, but still mostly worthless in many critics' eyes. Not to mention it's a total financial bomb so maybe Hollywood is starting to get the point that ill-conceived remakes/reboots are not worth anyone's time? </div>
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<b>War Dogs: </b>My need to see this dwindled over time and tepid reviews led me to see other films (i.e. Hell or High Water) rather than a film about two bros. Many state that it's entertaining, but not all that funny, and kind of sad in its true story. </div>
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<b>Mechanic: Resurrection: </b>Seems to suffice if you're looking for Jason Statham to kick some butt, but otherwise mostly forgettable. </div>
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<b>Don't Breath: </b>I didn't cover it last month, nor did I see it (kind of bummed about that), but I've heard it's a taut, intense thriller and has one of the highest Metascores for a horror that I've seen in a rather long time. Probably worth checking out, even if I didn't!</div>
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<b>Biggest Disappointment: </b>Suicide Squad, for the entire year likely unless Rogue One ends up sucking</div>
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<b>Biggest Surprise: </b>Hunt for the Wilderpeople/Sausage Party</div>
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<b>Worst Movie: </b>Suicide Squad</div>
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<b>Best Movie: </b>Hunt for the Wilderpeople</div>
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Let's take a gander at what the new season holds for us! As always, click the title for the trailer.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqmHSR0bFU8" target="_blank"><b>Morgan -- Sep 2</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQv3tMQmbbwuNe87bRc6t_zMK9tQoSM5hwqIloRRdBldDu7BSv2F8_eAIo4N1m4p0r6f85XA4rLTJ7WvBKRzd7EgexDDXngOIA4MIXvQgGncHhDApIbugbDKtMxp1A6A5Dqd5AQEbkI8/s1600/p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQv3tMQmbbwuNe87bRc6t_zMK9tQoSM5hwqIloRRdBldDu7BSv2F8_eAIo4N1m4p0r6f85XA4rLTJ7WvBKRzd7EgexDDXngOIA4MIXvQgGncHhDApIbugbDKtMxp1A6A5Dqd5AQEbkI8/s400/p1.jpg" width="400" /></a><b> </b></div>
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<b>For It: </b>The premise is intriguing, as Ex Machina's was, and there is the sci-fi potential for it to be smart and well organized. </div>
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<b>Against It: </b>It seems a little over dramatic and hokey in the trailers -- almost like it's trying its hardest to impersonate some other movie than to be its own.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3uULkvZh1w" target="_blank"><b>The Light Between Oceans -- Sep 2</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89oSCVMZ6XZUTso0aQ-3OqToBjh9DLUdEWaG1Bo35GdnURzdoRqb0kKAqGvYN1RiC-2xB0CM5Vymda_gB1-ai3CJLuPfVyiTKivD-ueRpSpHl5H-IsQmW8nqZSCvJJgLVUru4syl6SYo/s1600/p2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89oSCVMZ6XZUTso0aQ-3OqToBjh9DLUdEWaG1Bo35GdnURzdoRqb0kKAqGvYN1RiC-2xB0CM5Vymda_gB1-ai3CJLuPfVyiTKivD-ueRpSpHl5H-IsQmW8nqZSCvJJgLVUru4syl6SYo/s400/p2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>The cast is immensely talented and there is likely to be chemistry between Vikander and Fassbender given that they formed a real-life relationship from this film.</div>
<b>Against It:</b> The plot seems like a bore even with the talent and if the script and filming isn't exciting than this could result in a snooze fest with some pretty faces.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjKEXxO2KNE" target="_blank">Sully -- Sep 9</a></b></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Clint Eastwood directing. Tom Hanks starring. Amazing first trailer. Fascinating true story. There is almost <i>everything</i> going for this one. <b> </b></div>
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<b>Against It:</b> Likely not much. Unless somehow the script or screenplay end up feeling disjointed, I think this one is going to be fantastic. </div>
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=girSv9UH_V8" target="_blank">Blair Witch -- Sep 16</a></b></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Previously titled The Woods to get some well-deserved "original" buzz, it was later revealed that this was a sequel to the movie from so long ago. That movie was trendsetting in its time and if "The Woods" is really as scary as some early reviews say it is then this cold be one of the few way-too-long-after-the-first-film sequels that is actually worth it.</div>
<b>Against It:</b> Hard to tell. A lot of early "reviews" for films like this are from horror sites that want hits and I find it hard to believe that a sequel this long in the making will break any new ground. The surprise announcement of it has me intrigued though.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlSAiI3xMh4" target="_blank"><b>Snowden -- Sep 16</b></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>The cast is stellar and the initial trailers have been really exciting. Oliver Stone is directing and we all know that the story is controversial and layered. This one could be special. </div>
<b>Against It:</b> If the film romanticizes Snowden too much, it could become overly indulgent. The best approach for real life, serious stories like this is to present the facts in an exciting manner (think Argo for the most part).<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-RBA0xoaWU" target="_blank">The Magnificent Seven -- Sep 23</a></b></div>
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<b>For It: </b>I feel like, with the luck of the draw we've had this summer, we're due for a "surprise". A film we expect to be ho-hum that actually turns out to be really entertaining. There's a sliver of a chance that Mag Seven is it as the cast is fun and talented and the director is capable.</div>
<b>Against It: </b>But then again, it's another remake and those haven't been going so well this year. I don't see this one outright bombing, but I also don't think it will blow anyone away either.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m0aIyOEe60" target="_blank"><b>Storks -- Sep 23</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEu5RbSupQRE8md5OfUQBuK4ELb7T7hSuvxO4xb_hKpv1xRz8fLFX-6iiRAZUd034YbIENP9i-HibiYhN2bVP9iPjTwU6LdtkkJeUZ01TC0Kol_WC-LGHQnAXVU3Wr1onPjteTtHiUOu4/s1600/p7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEu5RbSupQRE8md5OfUQBuK4ELb7T7hSuvxO4xb_hKpv1xRz8fLFX-6iiRAZUd034YbIENP9i-HibiYhN2bVP9iPjTwU6LdtkkJeUZ01TC0Kol_WC-LGHQnAXVU3Wr1onPjteTtHiUOu4/s400/p7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>The newest trailers are actually way funnier than the first ones with the pack of wolves looking to be a constant hoot. Andy Samberg is also pretty constant as a funny entertainer and this year has a continued trend of featuring some super animated films. </div>
<b>Against It:</b> I question why those first trailers weren't all that great and if they packed the funniest parts in the new ones. Not to mention, I'm not sure that the premise lends itself to provide enough for a full-length film to play off of.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-UPJyEHmM0" target="_blank">Deepwater Horizon -- Sep 30</a></b></div>
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<b>For It: </b>It's unique as I don't think there is an oil-rig-disaster film in recent memory and Mark Wahlberg can lead a film. The initial trailers have posed it as an intense drama that has heart. </div>
<b>Against It:</b> I'll be intrigued to see if it over indulges in the destruction/disaster of the rig which it seems to do near the end of the trailers. If it ends up trying to sell an action film, it will become a lot less interesting and likely lose that heart.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFQP73G5yRg" target="_blank"><b>Masterminds -- Sep 30</b></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Once again, the cast is a pretty funny collection of talent. I like the initial trailer too...</div>
<b>Against It:</b> But I feel like ultimately those will be the funniest parts of the film and it will be forgettable. Call it a gut feeling, what have you, but with the type of comedy year we've been having, I don't see this one rising to the top. <br />
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<b>Must See (in order): </b>Sully, Snowden</div>
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<b>On My Radar: </b>Morgan, The Light Between Oceans, Blair Witch, The Magnificent Seven, Storks, Deepwater Horizon</div>
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<b>Predicted Duds: </b>Masterminds</div>
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Thankfully that summer is over and hopefully I never see as disappointing of a one as that again! October has some good ones too so make sure to come back next month too! As
always, I'd be really appreciative if you came and followed me through
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</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-63561218690492341252016-08-30T08:07:00.000-04:002016-08-30T08:07:11.587-04:00Team Thor: Chris Hemsworth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bPNBKT6JLSU" width="560"></iframe></div>
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Did you ever wonder what Thor was doing during Captain America: Civil War? Well, now we know! Seriously, this is an official mockumentary by Taika Waititi, director of Thor: Ragnarok, and it’s pure gold! Chris Hemsworth really nails the comedy in this short, so you have to check this out! Hopefully, Marvel will try more of this type of marketing because this so much fun. What do you think? Please comment below and let me know!</div>
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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:johnstarslayer@gmail.com">johnstarslayer@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-42909676233357602832016-08-24T06:30:00.000-04:002016-08-27T21:02:07.455-04:00Top 25 TV Shows: Part 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My list of the Top 25 TV Shows of All-Time continues with five more entries! <span id="goog_1189820078"></span>If you missed my previous parts,<a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/04/top-25-tv-shows-part-1.html" target="_blank"> click here for Part 1</a>, <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/04/top-25-tv-shows-part-2.html" target="_blank">here for Part 2</a>, <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/05/top-25-tv-shows-part-3.html" target="_blank">here for Part 3</a>, and <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/06/top-25-tv-shows-part-4.html" target="_blank">here for Part 4.</a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">5: <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2013/07/firefly-review-part-1.html">Firefly</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Firefly is the definition of shiny (awesome in Firefly lingo). Joss Whedon is the king of making lovable and believable characters, and Firefly is a shining example of his skill in writing an ensemble cast. Almost everything about Firefly is perfect and endlessly quotable. It is one of the few shows that I could re-watch. Unfortunately, (or fortunately for Marvel and The Avengers), Firefly was cancelled after one brilliant season. Despite being cancelled, if you enjoy science fiction or well written characters, Firefly is wholeheartedly recommended to pretty much anyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Watch on:</b> Netflix, Amazon Prime</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">4: Sherlock</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With season 4 of Sherlock set to arrive.... whenever Steven Moffat bloody well feels like it, there is no better time than the present to catch up with the modern reimagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes. Despite the series' relative brevity, basically ten 90 minute TV movies, BBC's Sherlock is an absolute must watch. Benedict Cumberbatch is a brilliant Holmes and Martin Freeman is, by far, my favorite John Watson put to screen. Equally balancing characterization, humor, and each mystery, Sherlock elevates the TV mystery genre to new heights, and being so short, you have absolutely no reason not to watch this brilliant and witty adventure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Watch on:</b> Netflix</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seasons: 3</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Episodes: 9</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Runtime: 90 mins</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">3: Daredevil</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Daredevil introduced viewers to Matthew Murdock, a lawyer trying to help the little people in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen along with his friend Foggy Nelson. And during the nights, Matthew tries to clean of the streets of Hell’s Kitchen as Daredevil. Marvel not only proved that they deliver the best comic book films, but also the best comic book television series. Season 1 of Daredevil established the character and presented a darker, more violent side of the Marvel Universe, without losing the core aspects that make Marvel adaptations truly great. Season 2 raised the stakes, introduced riveting new characters, like The Punisher, and continued the character development of Mat and the supporting cast. In many regards, Daredevil stands right next to the MCU’s best films. Every episode is an experience that has me glued to the screen from beginning to end. It is worth $9.99 Netflix subscription fee just for Daredevil, so do yourself a favor and watch it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Watch on:</b> Netflix</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">2: Doctor Who</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Deciding what should be number one is SO DIFFICULT! On one hand, Breaking Bad is a complete masterpiece of television with the most consistently high quality writing through 62 episodes. On the other, Doctor Who is a continuously changing adventure with some episodes being absolutely brilliant and inventive, while others fail. While Doctor Who might be my “favorite” television series for fueling my love of science fiction for over half my life, Breaking Bad ultimately takes the top spot due to Doctor Who containing entire seasons that are disappointing, despite my love of the series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Doctor Who is certainly weird. It’s cheesy sometimes, especially the early seasons. However, if you give the series a chance, Doctor Who is an incredibly inventive series. The time-and-space-traveling aspect produces so many fun adventures, unique creatures, and episodes that standalone as an engrossing experience. “Blink” is a stunning piece of gothic horror and possibly my favorite episode of any television series. Many other episodes fascinated and intrigued me. Doctor Who is a large part of my love for time-travel, and while a few other works execute time-travel better, Doctor Who’s creativity and sheer fun is among the best. If you are up for something different, give Doctor Who a try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Watch on:</b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> Amazon Prime</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">1: Breaking Bad</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Breaking Bad is the greatest television series of all-time. Sure, this might be the most clichéd top pick, but hear me out. When watching Breaking Bad for the first time over the course of a month late last year, my expectations were somewhat, albeit cautious. How could something that LITERALLY everyone claims to be the “BEST THING EVER” actually be the BEST THING EVER? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Season 1 started slow and setup an interesting narrative. Season 2 meandered just a tad in the middle, but still balanced the humor, character development, and plot twists skillfully. Then, Season 3 happened. Each episode left me on the edge-of-my-seat. Plot twists left and right. Would Walter and Jesse get caught? Where could the story go next!? Season 4 capped off Season 3’s exceptional story arc with some of the most exciting twists in television. Season 5 brought things to a riveting conclusion, and while arguably not quite as perfect as the previous two seasons, still surpasses just about any other television series. So yeah, Breaking Bad is the best television series of all-time for so many reasons. Nothing is perfect, especially television series with their wide margin for dips in quality, but Breaking Bad does every single thing right and more than surpassed expectations. Breaking Bad is a once in generation type of experience, and while that sounds like hyperbole, I have yet to see a television that even comes close to its quality. If any television deserves the title of “Best,” Breaking Bad certainly deserves it, so, if you are old enough and can handle mature content, watch Breaking Bad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Watch on:</b> Netflix</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Are any of these your favorites? What do you think of my final list? Please comment below and let me know!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:johnstarslayer@gmail.com">johnstarslayer@gmail.com</a>.</span></div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-70313378158693505302016-08-15T07:08:00.000-04:002016-08-15T07:08:53.711-04:00Suicide Squad Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Panned by critics, praised by fanboys, and breaking box office records, Suicide Squad is yet another divisive film from DC!</div>
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Wow, now this is one difficult review to write. Walking into the theater without a single notion of the abysmal critical response helped to remove the bias of expecting to tear it apart. In fact, walking to the truck after movie, I was thoroughly entertained and had a great time. But that does not mean I necessarily disagree with the consensus. Honestly, if DC just cannot make quality superhero flicks, a small part of me just wants their movies to fail so hard that it kills the franchise, so as stop oversaturating the superhero genre. Of course, by making so much money regardless of what people say, that is not happening anytime soon.</div>
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Let's get back to the film itself. If you hate Suicide Squad, that's fine by me; it is completely understandable. In many ways, it does deserve the panning t. DC just cannot get their stuff together no matter how hard they try. However, as you will find in my review, Suicide Squad does the absolute most important aspect so much better than Batman v Superman….</div>
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Directed by: David Ayer<br />
Genre: Action, Comic Book, Fantasy<br />
Release Date: August 5, 2016<br />
Running Time: 123 minutes<br />
MMPA rating: PG-13<br />
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<b>The Good:</b> Harley Quinn, Excellent main cast, Will Smith is great, Joker scenes, Great humor, Rocking soundtrack, After credits scenes (finally), Good first 20 minutes, Great chemistry between cast, Jai Courtney isn't bad, El Diablo's backstory, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller kills it, Fanservice and Easter Eggs,<br />
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<b>The Bad:</b> Awful antagonist, Generic Third Act, A bit too obvious at times, Missed opportunities, Messy plot composition, Some music doesn't work, Subpar CGI,<br />
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<b>Plot: 3.0/10-</b> Ultimately, the plot is where is where Suicide Squad falls flat. Despite having so many potential options for the central plot and antagonist, Suicide Squad takes the most clichéd, generic, and boring route to drive the plot forward. Apparently, it is even essentially the same final act as this year's Ghostbusters! With a premise of villains essentially being forced into covert Black Ops missions for the government, the best central plot should have been obvious, but alas, it's a huge missed opportunity (who signs off on this stuff!?).<br />
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Another issue with the plot is that the narrative is messy and jumps around from flashback to flashback to side plot to other side plot. The messy editing did not detract from the entertainment value, but it certainly could have been much better, especially considering that the Harley flashbacks are the most interesting part.<br />
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<b>Characterization: 8.6/10-</b> For first time, DC made me care about their characters. Suicide Squad's cast of quirky characters is what keeps it from being a bad film. In fact, for me at least, the characters elevated the film to a thoroughly entertaining experience.<br />
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Harley Quinn is easily the standout. Harley Quinn has been one of, if not, my absolute favorite character in all of DC ever since her first appearance in Batman: The Animated Series. And this portrayal of the character does not disappoint. She isn't quite the show-stopper she could have been, but as a fan, Harley Quinn finally hits the big screen in brilliantly quirky, humorous, and fiendish fashion. Her flashbacks with the Joker are a highlight of the film, although it should have been an entire film instead of just flashbacks.<br />
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Speaking of the Joker, contrary to the marketing, he is neither the main antagonist nor a central aspect of the film. Since I never place any value in trailers or marketing, his lack of screen time wasn't disappointing. He is just not a main part of the film and that's fine, although what he is in is quite good.<br />
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Deadshot, along with Harley, are the real stars of the films. His backstory and characterization is quite good. You actually care about the character and his reasons for what he does. His one-liners are funny, and his character motivation with his daughter is well executed.<br />
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El Diablo's story might be emotionally manipulative to some, but it works. Captain Boomerang is a surprise as his character is hysterical, albeit seemingly useless in a fight. Killer Croc is barely relevant, except for some humorous moments and action sequences. Katana is underused, with only one relevant scene. Enchantress' motivations are poorly conceived, and Rick Flag is just kind of OK. However, Amanda Waller is a standout among the cast with a strong presence and an overall interesting character.<br />
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<b>Direction: 6.0/10-</b> David Ayer's direction is hit and miss. The first 20 minutes are full of style and fun visuals. Unfortunately, that same style does not permeate the rest of the film in the same way. The action sequences are uninspired and generally unimpressive. However, the cast's quirks and fun traits elevate relatively average action sequences into a thoroughly viewing experience for me at least. Nothing about the action is bad. There's no shaky-cam or poor editing. It's just not amazing or impressive.<br />
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<b>Acting: 8.4/10-</b> Suicide Squad's cast is certainly a highlight. Margot Robbie plays an excellent Harley Quinn! Will Smith plays a very Will Smith type of Deadshot, yet it works quite well, making this his most memorable role in years. Despite minimal screen time, Jared Leto's Joker makes a good impression with a distinctly different take on the character that could be expanded upon in later films. Viola Davis is incredibly menacing and portrays Waller perfectly. Shockingly, Jai Courtney does not suck. Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag is serviceable, and the rest of the cast are fine with no noticeably strong or weak performances.<br />
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<b>Special effects: 6.0/10-</b> With a $175 million budget, you'd think the CGI would look a lot better. It's rather mediocre for one character in particular. The rest of the special effects are fine, but unimpressive.<br />
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<b>Soundtrack: 8.8/10- </b>Suicide Squad's soundtrack tries to mimic the success of Guardians of the Galaxy with a collection of catchy music from different eras. Most of the music, even songs from genres I dislike, are a lot of fun and got me hyped up in certain scenes. The usage of the songs can feel a bit unnecessary and forced, although it created a more fun tone. However, using "Spirit In The Sky" by Norman Greenbaum, a song used in Guardians of the Galaxy, was a huge mistake because it just reminds the audience of the far superior film that Suicide Squad is attempting to copy.<br />
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<b>Humor: 8.5/10-</b> Honestly, Suicide Squad is a funny movie! It has a good sense of humor with some good one-liners and humorous interactions between the cast of quirky characters. Sure, it pales in comparison to Marvel's wit, but that's expected.<br />
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<b>Entertainment Value: 9.4/10-</b> Honestly, Suicide Squad was a largely entertaining experience. The characters kept me invested in the story, and while the narrative is a mess, it never detracted from my fun with all the quirky characters. Unlike Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad is not a self-important slog with dreadfully boring characters, and honestly, I rather watch a shallow movie with characters I actually care about than one that thinks it's deep with horrendous characters.<br />
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<b>Overall: 7.0/10-</b> Featuring DC's best cast of characters to date and some surprisingly amount of heart, Suicide Squad's painfully derivative antagonist and conflict mixed with an otherwise messy narrative makes for a very fun and stylish film with numerous flaws. With that said, if you can connect with the characters and enjoy the style, Suicide Squad is worth at least a rent.<br />
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<b>Closing comments:</b> If you hated Suicide Squad, that's perfectly fine. In fact, I do not disagree with you. Suicide Squad is not a great movie. It's just OK, and if you like the characters, then it's a fun movie, nothing more, nothing less.<br />
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<b>Recommended for:</b> DC fans, Anti-hero fans, Harley Quinn fans,<br />
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<a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/p/movie-reviews.html">Click here to check out more of my movie reviews.</a><br />
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-28993894754493100722016-08-12T08:10:00.000-04:002016-08-12T08:10:22.247-04:00Star Wars: Rogue One Trailer 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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During the Olympics, a new trailer for Star Wars: Rogue One was revealed. And it is phenomenal! Now this is how you make a trailer. There is almost nothing that spoilers the film, or at least not without context. Take note studios, this is how you make a trailer! And all the scenes of the Imperials look incredible. Even though it is CGI, the Star Destroyers look just like the original models used in Star Wars (1977). The tone is serious and war movie-like, yet not dark for the sake of darkness. Alan Tudyk plays humorously deadpan droid, K-2SO, and Donnie Yen looks absolutely awesome (seriously, go watch the Ip Man trilogy to understand why). Everything about this trailer makes me excited for Rogue One! And after an abysmal and disappointing summer of movies, Rogue One is what we need to redeem a slow year by December. What did you think of the trailer? Please comment below and check back soon for my review of Suicide Squad!</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-27571669375624706182016-08-10T08:45:00.000-04:002016-08-10T08:45:28.102-04:00Suicide Squad First Impression<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It feels so good to be bad. Yes, I've seen Suicide Squad. Like usual, I did not see a single review, rating, or opinion prior to viewing it. And I am really glad that I did. There is so much to talk about in regards to this movie and everyone else’s opinions. But that will be saved for my review. And boy, this is going to be one difficult movie to review. Regardless of the quality of the movie, it was a fun experience. Half the audience clapped at the end (I didn't), and DC FINALLY HAS AN AFTER CREDITS SCENE. About time DC! Hopefully, that will be out in a few days. In the meantime, you can post links to your reviews in the comments for myself and others to see your thoughts. </div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-82108889682169238732016-08-04T07:00:00.000-04:002016-08-04T07:00:22.895-04:00Wonder Woman Trailer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In addition to Justice League, DC released a trailer for Wonder Woman, or, as I like to call it, "Wonder Woman: The First Justice Leaguer." Like, come on, this is totally Captain America: The First Avenger of the DC movies. </div>
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Gal Gadot wasn't terrible in Batman v Superman earlier this year, and the period setting of World War I thoroughly interests me. The trailer itself is fine. There's nothing awful, aside from those poor attempts at humor (DC just cannot be funny), but there isn't anything great. The action is cool. But just like the Justice League trailer, I expect nothing. My favorite part is probably the music at the end, because it uses the same theme from BvS. Overall, this is not the worst trailer ever. It's fine. So, what do you think? Please comment below and let me know!</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-91366938898734015082016-08-02T08:26:00.000-04:002016-08-02T08:26:31.731-04:00Coming Soon: August 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hey, hey, hey! Hope everyone has been enjoying their summer so far. Unfortunately from a film perspective, it's been a bit of a downer. Nothing has come close to the dizzying highs of Civil War, but let's recap regardless before we dive into the final month of the season. </div>
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<b>The BFG: </b>Color me surprised but man did this one bomb hard for a Spielberg film. Reviews were mostly positive as were audience reactions but it seems that most couldn't make time in their busy schedules for it. </div>
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<b>The Legend of Tarzan: </b>It did "well" financially and audiences/critics seemed to kind of sort of like it. All in all it seems like it had enough to offer (action) but still came up far short of greatness (script/characters).</div>
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<a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/07/the-purge-election-year.html" target="_blank"><b>The Purge: Election Year</b>: </a>I'm a sucker for The Purge films mainly because I want to see if one ever fully grasps and explores the concept at its core. Election Year is the closest (and best) one yet. It had scenes of brilliance, was stupid in some moments, and is another step in the right direction for this continuously improving franchise. RRS: 7/10</div>
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<a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/07/mike-and-dave-need-wedding-dates.html" target="_blank"><b>Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates: </b></a>I loved this film, probably even more so than my score indicates. I was laughing consistently at the raunchy, filth and there were few jokes in my eyes that fell flat. Add in a superb cast and this was another great comedy notch in 2016...just one that I disagreed with most critics about: RRS: 8/10</div>
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<b>The Secret Life of Pets: </b>Unfortunately life was poorly timed for this film. I had to put one of my childhood dogs down the same weekend that this film about pets came out and I just couldn't really bring myself to find the motivation to get out to see it. That said, I've heard most audiences liked it, though not as much as they thought they would. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/07/the-infiltrator.html" target="_blank">The Infiltrator:</a> </b>This is a mediocre/good movie elevated by none other than Bryan Cranston. He gives a stellar performance, it's just a shame that the film around him couldn't match in quality because we would have had a gem on our hands. RRS: 7.5/10</div>
<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/07/ghostbusters.html" target="_blank">Ghostbusters:</a> </b>Not nearly as bad as the internet trolls would have you believe. It's problems are with the 50% hit rate of jokes and editing. The all female cast is the single best thing about it and I sincerely hope they consider the R-rated route next time around. RRS: 7/10<br />
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<b>Lights Out: </b>I'm most bummed about missing this one because many critics I trust say its a short, sweet, and effective scare fest. It looked intense and I may have to catch it sometime down the line. </div>
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<a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/07/star-trek-beyond.html" target="_blank"><b>Star Trek Beyond: </b></a>I'm a big fan of Into Darkness (seems like the only one sometimes) and this installment didn't do much for me. It was fun, sure, but it felt like complete filler -- there were no stakes or danger, despite what the film would have you believe. I like my sci-fi films with some heft, and this was mostly just shallow fun. RRS: 7.5/10</div>
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<a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/07/jason-bourne.html" target="_blank"><b>Jason Bourne: </b></a>Better than the critics would have you believe, but still not as great as that original trilogy. That's mainly because its story doesn't add much to the overall Bourne mythology. RRS 7.5/10</div>
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<b>Bad Moms: </b>Not the dud I predicted it would be, but not reaching greatness either. Most critics and fans agreed this was funny, but this year has certainly seen better and this film could have been a whole lot more. </div>
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<b>Most Disappointing: </b>Star Trek Beyond</div>
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<b>Most Surprising: </b>The Purge: Election Year</div>
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<b>Worst Movie: </b>None this month it should seem...just a lot of average</div>
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<b>Best Movie: </b>Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates</div>
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As always, please click the movie titles for the trailer. Let's check out August!!</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmRih_VtVAs" target="_blank"><b>Suicide Squad -- Aug 5</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGITYa2_H1rBU9GnA2J_vCD4folLNaHRrPB0hrtLIcTyZKv50lfoxX0dw54p-exXLprz_ZSp-FZH-aXS3vKkLX67WMlN-ZNMJGvrDoRtY2vBEtVmjqCj3hjiyhOorn3cI2R06Jk3kTb4/s1600/p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGITYa2_H1rBU9GnA2J_vCD4folLNaHRrPB0hrtLIcTyZKv50lfoxX0dw54p-exXLprz_ZSp-FZH-aXS3vKkLX67WMlN-ZNMJGvrDoRtY2vBEtVmjqCj3hjiyhOorn3cI2R06Jk3kTb4/s400/p1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>It has some of the best trailers since Fury Road and Godzilla and they have me super pumped. This looks like an expertly cast film that's far more fun than we've seen any other DC film have. The appeal of a spot-on Harley Quinn and a new Joker are too good to pass up. </div>
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<b>Against It:</b> DC has been struggling, no doubt about it. BvS left many disappointed, including myself, so we're now turning to Suicide Squad to "save the day". I think that this one will only be limited by how much fun it's allowed to have. If they take the Snyder approach and it comes across super serious, it will likely be another dull entry. But keep in mind that this is the first non-Snyder-directed film of the DCEU. </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPOamb6d_20" target="_blank"><b>Pete's Dragon -- Aug 12</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICsY643jjgiBqtyDmqQTs-bKOBePaQa0FLCReiVS85KjuR668dWBmjnjVHg-MyUzmDU-YwdATj0IB0TI2p71ybMQbGax88ZFNetCru1My6865MHkes56oVx_IE6tDKDN81NfAWjqjWMI/s1600/p2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICsY643jjgiBqtyDmqQTs-bKOBePaQa0FLCReiVS85KjuR668dWBmjnjVHg-MyUzmDU-YwdATj0IB0TI2p71ybMQbGax88ZFNetCru1My6865MHkes56oVx_IE6tDKDN81NfAWjqjWMI/s400/p2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>A strong cast and a classic story are never a bad start and the fact that this is just another Disney classic getting the live-action treatment means that it will certainly make a lot of money. </div>
<b>Against It:</b>I was never particularly into this story as a kid and the trailers didn't do much to convince me otherwise. For me, it seems to lack the magic of true Disney classics and the initial trailer felt like it was going through the motions of recreating a classic animated film.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReJOJR-DImU" target="_blank"><b>Sausage Party -- Aug 12</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo6TyztpZW791fN9ILN_rk5Z5Dd2mm7ZXDY7DBlxi7yYpKPz8IXcIWpNxK6UEs9dnFtzZep4SblIqr1daok5V389cyFOFacdGzrHYMI4pCzUYlULswtjrm8YGIhkdgLUJCyiKUwmhb1k/s1600/p3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo6TyztpZW791fN9ILN_rk5Z5Dd2mm7ZXDY7DBlxi7yYpKPz8IXcIWpNxK6UEs9dnFtzZep4SblIqr1daok5V389cyFOFacdGzrHYMI4pCzUYlULswtjrm8YGIhkdgLUJCyiKUwmhb1k/s400/p3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Its premise, plain and simple. The early trailers have been hilarious and there is so much potential for comedy gold here that it has me very excited. The great voice cast doesn't hurt either. </div>
<b>Against It: </b>It's all about the jokes. Knowing who's involved, I'd be sorely disappointed if this turned into another stoner-romp, but I have faith that this will be a lot more like This is the End (fantastic) than Pineapple Express (merely OK).<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQoqsKoJVDw" target="_blank"><b>Hell or High Water -- Aug 12 (limited)</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMC_mFpPHQKGLyxC0ATrbz99C1fIvNQ7P-KHmHkaq5ce9m1SkrcB9UoOHgHkGKpDbU45FBl2ww0J_ZOIVQtrmQ_Ur8B-wYB9lpUzJFYuRbdDC8tvBhn9QYqKOnSAbLr-guPBZrKrMXIho/s1600/p4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMC_mFpPHQKGLyxC0ATrbz99C1fIvNQ7P-KHmHkaq5ce9m1SkrcB9UoOHgHkGKpDbU45FBl2ww0J_ZOIVQtrmQ_Ur8B-wYB9lpUzJFYuRbdDC8tvBhn9QYqKOnSAbLr-guPBZrKrMXIho/s400/p4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It:</b> Early reviews from festivals are super strong and it looks like a tight, well organized thriller with a superb cast. </div>
<b>Against It:</b> The stakes seem small. What will it do to make us really care? This is where the performances and the script hopefully shine.<br />
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<b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BmeR9GYdDU" target="_blank">Ben Hur -- Aug 19</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7hu7bB6la2SMgE1CVCpVu4X64w5fdPluPBlL2JY4BrUb1XGQljsj9T3lpZmLnLf0qEbTKjJy-2rn-V3rsrvz4qYn2qQd7umkELw1fWReIZCDxCdXErN6PfXoPEKJ9SL0rnMXzVFnpds/s1600/p5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7hu7bB6la2SMgE1CVCpVu4X64w5fdPluPBlL2JY4BrUb1XGQljsj9T3lpZmLnLf0qEbTKjJy-2rn-V3rsrvz4qYn2qQd7umkELw1fWReIZCDxCdXErN6PfXoPEKJ9SL0rnMXzVFnpds/s400/p5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Ummmm....the chariot races? They look pretty cool I suppose.</div>
<b>Against It:</b> Color me surprised if this one ends up being anymore than a critical and commercial bomb. Other than Morgan Freeman, it seems to have no redeeming qualities, is full of no-name actors, and attempts to remake one of Hollywood's largest tentpole films into a likely very forgettable remake.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5Z7Cvqj6Xg" target="_blank"><b>War Dogs -- Aug 19</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuD4cTti6yuCkmx6aI_RjVsXPvs13At4TNaxM_WW9w45-yQQPEq65PRBF3NL58jdqNNgvWx2ZR4bv6nfHbPVmvxwd-BHnVx-vWbVJFFqRCg6kBEtMOtK16waeystGxUsCUeJOpnFy06E/s1600/p6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuD4cTti6yuCkmx6aI_RjVsXPvs13At4TNaxM_WW9w45-yQQPEq65PRBF3NL58jdqNNgvWx2ZR4bv6nfHbPVmvxwd-BHnVx-vWbVJFFqRCg6kBEtMOtK16waeystGxUsCUeJOpnFy06E/s400/p6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Its based on a true story, the initial trailers are great, and Miles Teller and Jonah Hill seem like a great duo. This could be a late surprise of the summer and a really well orchestrated comedy/thriller. </div>
<b>Against It:</b> It will need to work on the balance between life-and-death seriousness and humor. Also, Todd Phillips (director of Hangover trilogy) needs to bring a lot more of the talent he had in the first film (and part of the second), and leave at home whatever he brought to the third film.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-P3f_wDXvs" target="_blank"><b>Mechanic: Resurrection -- Aug 26</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWE8IvhtfM473kH6hN09_hIM2UbWrmZhp95EwDmkIg6rntFAiPqw6Hoglcj_6CJr9JaXr5PtOw3-qHQFWnnh3PjI1uZh5Xr789Bsyy1uwjVekAf7h-mqFlL9115JhVf9eszo76vj6RXfM/s1600/p7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWE8IvhtfM473kH6hN09_hIM2UbWrmZhp95EwDmkIg6rntFAiPqw6Hoglcj_6CJr9JaXr5PtOw3-qHQFWnnh3PjI1uZh5Xr789Bsyy1uwjVekAf7h-mqFlL9115JhVf9eszo76vj6RXfM/s400/p7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Jason Statham beat-em-up movies always have room for potential and the fact that this is an R-rated one leads me to believe there could be some cool fight scenes. </div>
<b>Against It:</b> Was The Mechanic a movie that deserved a sequel? How many years ago was that? The fact that I don't know the answers to these questions off the top of my head makes me realize how forgettable that film was.<br />
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<b>Must See (in order)</b>: Suicide Squad, Sausage Party, War Dogs</div>
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<b>On My Radar: </b>Pete's Dragon, Hell or High Water, Mechanic: Resurrection</div>
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<b>Predicted Duds: </b>Ben Hur</div>
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And there's our summer! See you next month as we approach Oscar season. As
always, I'd be really appreciative if you came and followed me through
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</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-70794268420702320272016-07-26T06:00:00.000-04:002016-07-26T06:00:10.002-04:00Justice League Trailer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Wow, just wow; I don't hate this trailer. It isn't great or anything, but it is not complete garbage. Jason Momoa as Aquaman is convincing and at least looks cool. Ezra Miller as The Flash works for me from the little we can see. He's funny and quirky. While Grant Gustin over on the CW will be the definitive for me and most others, I will give Miller a chance. But that new Flash costume is garbage, absolutely hysterical, at least at first glance. However, Ray Fisher as Cyborg is barely shown.</div>
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Here's the thing. After Batman v Superman, my expectations for DC are literally nonexistent. I cannot be disappointed by anything DC delivers because being disappointed requires expectations. So, I will just take whatever DC throws at us. The trailer's song, "Icky Thump" by The White Stripes, sets a fun tone, and the humor almost kind of works. Sure, even if DC is trying to copy Marvel, a second rate Marvel knock-off is better than first rate DC any day. The humor somewhat works, although I can see some hating it. Ben Affleck proved to be the only truly great part of BvS earlier this year, and he looks quite good in Justice League as well. The lack of Superman is probably the best thing to happen to this movie. He will probably appear at some point, but if the formation of the Justice League is without Henry Cavill's Superman, this movie might just work. But Zack Sndyer is the director, and that's never a good thing if you enjoy, you know, character development, color, fun, quality performances, and practical effects. Who knows? Maybe Snyder can finally make a great DC movie. Stranger things have happened.</div>
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What do you think of the trailer? Please comment below and let me know!</div>
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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:johnstarslayer@gmail.com">johnstarslayer@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-6132135721394827602016-07-19T07:00:00.000-04:002016-07-19T07:00:29.235-04:00Top 13 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies: Part 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Top 13 countdown of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies continues with more entries! If you missed the previous parts,<a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/06/top-13-marvel-cinematic-universe-mcu.html" target="_blank"> click here for Part 1</a>, <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/07/top-13-marvel-cinematic-universe-mcu.html" target="_blank">here for Part 2</a>, and <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/07/top-13-marvel-cinematic-universe-mcu_12.html" target="_blank">here for Part 3.</a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3: The Avengers</span></b></div>
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Joss Whedon accomplished the impossible with The Avengers and that makes him mighty (Firefly reference). Never before has a comic book film been so bold and unforgiving in the fact that it is based on a comic book. It perfectly captures the spirit of the comic, while still being easily accessible to the general public, an impressive feat in and of itself.<br />
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Somehow every character is given their moment to shine, and Whedon's expertly written banter is pure perfection. Among the previously established characters, Whedon even managed to build Black Widow into a far more fascinating character than anyone could have ever realized, and The Hulk, who, at the time, never received a proper film adaptation, nearly stole the show.<br />
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The Avengers could have easily been a disaster if left in less competent hands. Behind all of the spectacle and humor, ultimately, the film has heart; that's the real reason The Avengers is a classic that will go down in history as one of the defining films of the our generation.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2: Captain America: The Winter Soldier</span></b></div>
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Captain America: The Winter Soldier truly took me by surprise. I expected a fun action packed adventure with my favorite comic book character; what I actually got was something far superior.<br />
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Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a thematically strong film loaded with meaningful social commentary on the various aspects of politics, freedom, and government control. It uses the fact that Captain America is an unwavering force of freedom to convey the themes without ever coming off as pretentious. Everything expressed in the film is a core aspect of Cap's character, and that is exactly why it works so well.<br />
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Upon my second viewing, I watched the film with the intent of finding something wrong with the film, and yet I could not find a single noteworthy flaw. Of course, no film is absolutely perfect, but it is one of the most well crafted films that I have ever seen. Each scene flows into the next effortlessly. It takes big risks, and yet never falters. The plot functions like a well oiled machine, and yet it has an emotional core.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1: Captain America: Civil War</span></b> </div>
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Captain America: Civil War is ultimate culmination of the Avenger and Captain America films. As soon as Civil War was announced, it was my most anticipated Marvel film, much more so than Age of Ultron at the time. And despite the odds, it decimated all expectations!<br />
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Civil War has so much to say, so much character growth, and so many world shaking revelations that should greatly impact future films. The reasons for each side's actions are so well thought-out. Tony desires to lift the burden and guilt of his actions and failures to others instead of himself in the name of accountability, albeit an admirable goal from some perspectives. Cap finds that government control only allows the politicians to forward their potentially corrupt agendas. Which side is in the right? The conflict is far broader than can be explained in short. Civil War excels in bringing about the concept of superheroes in the real world, without losing the fun and charm that Marvel does so well. Ultimately, the film is not about whose side is right, but the personal conflicts and emotions of Cap and Tony, which is what gives the film such a strong emotional core.<br />
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With that said, Civil War’s perfect portrayal of Spider-Man, the bad*ss Black Panther, and that mind blowing airport action sequence certainly help in making Captain America: Civil War Marvel’s best film to date.<br />
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What do you think? Many of these films are so close in quality that the ranking of the top films could easily change the next time I see them. Please let me know your favorites in the comments and any other thoughts on the MCU!</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-39185094009451716462016-07-14T07:00:00.000-04:002016-07-14T07:00:06.277-04:00Testing Scheduled Posts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What's going on everyone!? Today I am testing Blogger's scheduled posting feature. In the past, it never worked right. Every time I tried it, the post never showed up on the dashboard. But now, over a year later, I am testing it out again. So, if you would be so kind, please comment anything that lets me know this appeared on the dashboard (assuming you use it). And I apologize for the lack of posts again. Thanks to everyone for reading and for all the guest authors' articles!</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-9376171341729195452016-07-12T08:30:00.000-04:002016-07-12T08:30:34.384-04:00Top 13 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies: Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Top 13 countdown of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies continues with more entries! If you missed Part 1, <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/06/top-13-marvel-cinematic-universe-mcu.html" target="_blank">click here to check it out</a> and <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/07/top-13-marvel-cinematic-universe-mcu.html" target="_blank">here for Part 2</a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6: Ant-Man</span></b></div>
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Showing a more lighthearted and fun side to the Marvel Universe, Ant-Man is the best origin film since Iron Man back in 2008. It introduced us to a character with numerous character faults, and yet Paul Rudd manages to make him one of the most grounded and lovable characters in the MCU. He is even a father; relatively new territory for superhero flicks. </div>
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Upon later viewings, Ant-Man continued to grow on me as one of the best films of 2015 and one of Marvel’s most fun. Being such a small film in scale (pun intended), Ant-Man is able to focus solely on itself and what it wants to accomplish rather than what comes next, which is what hampered Age of Ultron. It is also a heist film, not just a superhero flick, which makes it even more fun. Of course, you cannot forget the humor because this is one funny movie!</div>
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Everything about Ant-Man should not have worked. Honestly, the fact that the film received so many positive reviews baffled me at first, but it is most definitely deserving of every positive thing said about it. <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2015/09/ant-man-review.html" target="_blank">Read my full review here.</a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5: Iron Man</span></b></div>
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Before The Avengers, Thor, and Captain America, Marvel studios made a film that would be the foundation for all other Marvel movies to build on in the future, and they could not have kicked off the franchise any better than with Iron Man.<br />
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Casting veteran actor Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Tony Stark, a relatively unknown character at the time, remains the best casting decision for any comic book film. From his chemistry with Paltrow to the adlibbed dialogue, Downey elevated every aspect of the film. Even after re-watching at least eight times, the movie never gets old, and that’s largely thanks to Downey.<br />
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Words cannot even express what it felt like to see Nick Fury stepping forward to say, “I am here to talk to you about the Avengers initiative.” At the time, it was only something that I could have dreamed of. As a geek, it was about as good as it gets. To this day, it remains one of the defining moments of my movie watching experience.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4: Guardians of the Galaxy</span></b></div>
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Guardians of the Galaxy defied all expectations. Not only did it become highest grossing film of the year domestically, it shocked both fan and critic alike with its complete disregard of the conventional.<br />
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James Gunn's writing and direction is bold. He did not care about what audiences expected or even wanted. He told us exactly we wanted, and we all loved every minute of it. His style is in-your-face and unforgivingly his own, and that is my type of filmmaking!<br />
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Thanks to the stellar chemistry between the cast and Chris Pratt's innate goofball charm, GotG assembles a team of misfits unlike any other. It is like a combination of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Mass Effect, and Firefly, packed full of 80s references, action, and absurdly lovable characters. Even if you have never seen a Marvel film, there is so little connection to the main universe that it does not matter, yet there are still plenty of Easter Eggs for the fans.<br />
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Guardians of the Galaxy is bold and audacious filmmaking at its finest with James Gunn's complete disregard of typical genre conventions that care more about making a unique film than a generic crowd pleaser, yet it surely does please. GotG is like a cult classic with lovable quirky characters and endlessly quotable dialogue, except with box office success and a big budget. What more could you ask for?! And honestly, GotG could easily rank even higher on the list depending on my frame of mind at the time of ranking.<br />
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What do you think of these picks? Please comment below and let me know!<br />
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-48489919726500962362016-07-08T09:57:00.001-04:002016-07-08T10:52:40.837-04:00Movie Music and More #50: "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1982)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I (Hamlette) am here today to discuss one of the coolest soundtracks ever. <i>Ever</i>. It's one of those soundtracks that is delicious to listen to by itself, but when paired with its movie, it's just sublime. I am, of course, talking about John Williams' insta-classic score for <i>Raiders of the Lost Ark</i> (1982). </div>
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The first track I'll share with you is "A Thought for Marion/To Nepal." I love how expectant it is, beginning with some soft, sweet ponderings, then a little mystery creeping in. And from there, a jolt of excitement, that wonderfully playful Indy theme popping in for a moment. Then it finishes up with a little Oriental flourish to bring in the idea we're going somewhere Foreign and Exotic. So cool!</div>
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My next selection is "The Basket Game," which balances playful and fearful so niftily. We're worried cuz Marion gets chased and then abducted, but there's a lot of comedy going on during the chase scene too, so the whole song feels like juggling, doesn't it?</div>
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This might be my favorite moment in the whole movie -- when Indy's in the Map Room and the medallion on top of the staff actually shows him the location of the Ark. "The Map Room: Dawn" perfectly captures Indy's expressions there, going from hopeful to awestruck.</div>
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"Washington Ending & Raiders March" starts off all sentimental. Indiana Jones has lost his prize. But he's got Marion still, so that's something. The song doesn't waste too much time on his annoyance -- he gets one minute to grouse, and then here comes the most glorious theme song in action movie history (IMHO). Really, the Raiders March feels to me like eating a giant Snickers bar while riding on a roller coaster with my best friend -- like being surrounded with joy, in other words. I'm sitting here with a big, goofy grin on my face, bobbing my head along with it as I type, and fully intending to hit "replay" as soon as it ends. How about you?</div>
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That's all I've got for you today, but if you want to listen to more, the entire album is available on YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2yW2adfehiWZSErefmT08FToj3OWwDrW">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://hamlette.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa1d6FLwZKMgz49GgaufH0wK9Gnvr5sWPx075KP4u4_M1_ZuFT1Sy1CP9UGPCzTaUD1NiUfjuwfmh2OYjHmTVA0qxXiloDgDfW7FL6qlISbvN0nARPmkCXXUQWLmgH2vh0BNJhJIOZBY-/s320/Guest+Post+by+Hamlette.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-10347593380280547352016-07-06T08:33:00.000-04:002016-07-06T08:33:43.794-04:00Top 13 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies: Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My ranking of the Top 13 best and worst Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies continues with more entries! If you missed Part 1, <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/06/top-13-marvel-cinematic-universe-mcu.html" target="_blank">click here to check it out.</a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9: Iron Man 3</span></b></div>
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Easily the most divisive of Marvel films, Iron Man 3 continues to leave the community split. Some continue to say that the film is a failure, while others, like myself, say that it is a mostly strong character study of Tony Stark, despite a few nagging issues.<br />
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However, the main point of contention is the big twist <b>*Major Spoilers*</b> that the Mandarin is a fake. Many viewers were sorely disappointed that Ben Kingsley's long anticipated role was all just a facade created by the trailers. For me, and a few others, the deception is one the best twists that I have seen in cinema. Right up until the release, the whole thing was kept underwraps; it is a real feat in today's world of trailers that spoil major plot points (*cough<b>Terminator</b>cough*). For the first time, I was truly shocked by the turn of events, and for someone that often predicts what is going to happen next, it was a real pleasure to be genuinely surprised.<br />
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However, the Third Act suffers from a lack of a strong antagonist. A better way to do the twist would have been to replace Guy Pearce with a Chinese actor, so that when he says "I am the Mandarin" the dragon tattoos and other things all make sense. However, considering the latest Marvel One-Shot about the Mandarin, “All Hail the King,” there is a real one out there that we might see in the future, although that continues to be less and less likely. <b>*End Spoilers*</b><br />
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As for the movie itself, Shane Black's witty script and Downey’s brilliant delivery make for an exceptional combination. Even if the plot is not as well crafted as the first film, the interaction, character development, and pure entertainment make it one of the most fun Marvel films to watch.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8: Captain America: The First Avenger</span></b></div>
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Captain America: The First Avenger is distinctly different than the other Marvel films in both tone and style. Director, Joe Johnston, gave the film a retro period look that is reminiscent of older serials, while still being serious. The blend of styles works for the most part. However, the standout is Chris Evans as Captain America himself. As a Captain America fan since childhood, there was no character that I wanted to see done right on the big screen more. However, when Evans was cast, I was confused. He was a decent funny guy in Fantastic Four, but could he play Cap? And the answer was an astounding yes! The First Avenger was far from his best work as the character, but he really nailed the physicality and heroic personality that the character required.<br />
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In retrospect, Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter turned out to be pitch perfect casting with her spinoff series, Agent Carter, being one of Marvel's best works to date. Actually, if I were to rank Agent Carter versus the films, it would probably be number five (unless Daredevil counts).</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7: Avengers: Age of Ultron</span></b></div>
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My initial review of Avengers: Age of Ultron was definitely bit too positive. In retrospect, the film certainly had its narrative flaws. It should have been at least 30 minutes longer, and inclusion of a romance took away from necessary plot development. </div>
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However, upon later viewings, the first 45 minutes of the film are so much fun. Whedon's witty dialogue and character interaction is at its strongest when the characters are given time before setup scenes for future films are crammed into the last hour. Honestly, the party scene could have lasted two hours, and it would have been a blast because the characters act so real, like a group of friends with different dynamics between them.</div>
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Ultimately, where the film falters narratively, it takes strides and bounds in establishing new characters and providing much needed characterization to others. Hawkeye benefits the most as the inclusion of his family and actually personality traits make him more than just the “guy with a bow.” Vision is setup to be such a fascinating and unique character, and Scarlet Witch’s foundation as a character in this film made her part in Civil War much more powerful. Of course, James Spader as Ultron was an endlessly entertaining villain, even if his role was not as well realized as it could have been. All in all, Avengers: Age of Ultron is a thrilling piece of entertain with exceptional parts, yet a few key flaws that keep it from true greatness. For more thoughts on the film, <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2015/05/avengers-age-of-ultron-review.html" target="_blank">read my review here.</a></div>
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What do you think of these picks? Please comment below and let me know!</div>
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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:johnstarslayer@gmail.com">johnstarslayer@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-4766248871679380422016-07-01T10:16:00.000-04:002016-07-01T10:16:07.082-04:00Coming Soon: July 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Welcome back to another Coming Soon post! June was certainly kind of dull wasn't it? Let's review before we hop into what's hopefully a more exciting July. Fair warning: due to the fact that I was in the middle of making my first real estate purchase and moving, I was unable to make it to many of the films that landed this month. Apologies in advance...</div>
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<b>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: </b>By most accounts it was a vastly improved sequel that resulted in an enjoyable, but forgettable film. Good to hear they're on the right track with these films though. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/06/popstar-never-stop-never-stopping.html" target="_blank">Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping:</a> </b>Far, far better than the trailers would indicate, this Lonely Island was funny, jabbing look at the life of current egomaniac musicians. It's jokes were consistently on point, the new Lonely Island songs were great, and there was a decent amount of heart to boot. Shame it totally bombed at the box office. RRS: 8/10</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/06/popstar-never-stop-never-stopping.html" target="_blank">The Conjuring 2:</a> </b>Despite what some critics may have you believe, this was a sequel that was just as good as the original, and, at least for this critic, even scarier. It's a very well made horror film who's only fault is that it goes on a little too long. RRS: 8.5/10</div>
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<b>Now You See Me 2: </b>Seemed to be a very forgettable sequel that didn't perform all that well at the box office. Surprising given how many adored the first film, but I'm not all that torn up that we most likely won't be getting a third...</div>
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<b>Warcraft: </b>Ouch. I intended to see this just for the sake of seeing if it really was that bad, but alas...life got in the way. Apparently its narrative was a mess and not all that special from a fantasy standpoint. The fact that it's the top grossing videogame movie ever isn't all that proud of a crown to bear.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/06/central-intelligence.html" target="_blank">Central Intelligence:</a> </b>I was a tad disappointed by this one, but it really was exactly what it advertised: a shallow, but somewhat fun time with Kevin Hart and Dwayne The Rock Johnson. Not bad by any means, but it has some tough comedy competition this year and in that regard, it won't be remembered by the end of the summer. RRS: 7/10</div>
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<a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/06/finding-dory.html" target="_blank"><b>Finding Dory: </b></a>Unfortunately it wasn't nearly as classic as the first, but that would have been a really tall order. Instead, Pixar gives us a very competent, worthwhile, fun, funny, and touching sequel that's definitely worth your time even if it doesn't crack into their all-time greats. RRS: 8.5/10</div>
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<b>Free State of Jones: </b>Man oh man, what a surprise here. Turns out that the Civil War historical film was overlong and uninteresting, resulting in a bomb both critically and commercially. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/2016/06/independence-day-resurgence.html" target="_blank">Independence Day: Resurgence:</a> </b>The more time I let pass from my viewing of this film, the more and more I hate it. After all this time, <i>this</i> is the best we could come up with? What's even more frustrating is the "original" superior idea that's floated around throughout the film, but annoyingly saved until the sequel...if we ever get one. RRS: 5.5/10</div>
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<b>The Shallows: </b>I'm very bummed that I didn't make it to this one because of the stellar/good reviews it got. It seems like a highly effective little thriller that did pretty well in a weekend with a major sequel and big name star historical film. I'll be trying to catch it ASAP once it hits home video</div>
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<b>Most Disappointing: </b>Independence Day: Resurgence</div>
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<b>Most Surprising: </b>Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping</div>
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<b>Worst Movie: </b>Independence Day: Resurgence</div>
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<b>Best Movie: </b>Finding Dory (followed closely by The Conjuring 2)</div>
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July has some *fingers crossed* awesome films as well as a few that could go either way. Remember to click the titles for the trailers! Also, I've changed the reason descriptions for each film to "For It" and "Against It" mainly because it saves me typing time and offers the same description ;-) </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ0Bey4YUGI" target="_blank"><b>The BFG -- July 1st</b></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>It's a Steven Spielberg directed film with the creative talent that was behind ET so many years ago. Early reviews indicate that it's a magical ride through a classic children's novel.</div>
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<b>Against It: </b>Not much to be honest. It may not be as iconic as some of his other films but that shouldn't diminish what is likely a very well made film</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLmKio67pVQ" target="_blank"><b>The Legend of Tarzan -- July 1st</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNKLEPV2a0khXKaZyq8_wiZrl7Pv-WOMJB_N3HVrdEFANKrnEowWTvK5DVzoukdHzO-bVgfudrUjA4rDcYWwhHDVfhgwuFJykCZUxtWesuHufLNnm3ZtFfN53FUn202Ehp1nsVPUWHgc/s1600/p2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNKLEPV2a0khXKaZyq8_wiZrl7Pv-WOMJB_N3HVrdEFANKrnEowWTvK5DVzoukdHzO-bVgfudrUjA4rDcYWwhHDVfhgwuFJykCZUxtWesuHufLNnm3ZtFfN53FUn202Ehp1nsVPUWHgc/s400/p2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>This one could really go either way. The cast is strong and there is certainly some weight to the Tarzan story from a plot perspective. There also look to be some really well choreographed fight scenes.</div>
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<b>Against It: </b>There isn't much buzz surrounding it, indicating that it may come and go without much aplomb. Also, some of the special effects look dodgy and I question how they're going to make this special now that we've heard this story so many times before. </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXMp9fBomJw" target="_blank"><b>The Purge: Election Year -- July 1st</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcX9R8w2mxaSP1M49AhLEAvXT1JK1eEWec-iXJ0MTIv4ddM0Qrfp9E57Bd9HKffCVoH24El-abxoph0_bMFwsNvhAo7CkQCyLtbQPx-rwPztJjsECb8WesFaJhQqlZ79BbuKMEfFSqR1Y/s1600/p3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcX9R8w2mxaSP1M49AhLEAvXT1JK1eEWec-iXJ0MTIv4ddM0Qrfp9E57Bd9HKffCVoH24El-abxoph0_bMFwsNvhAo7CkQCyLtbQPx-rwPztJjsECb8WesFaJhQqlZ79BbuKMEfFSqR1Y/s400/p3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Rounding out the busy first weekend of July is the third Purge film of which I must admit I kinda sorta like this series as a guilty pleasure. They certainly have a lot to work with this year as the crazy Presidential election continues so it will be interesting to see if it can leave its B-movie roots behind a bit and make some biting commentary. </div>
<b>Against It: </b>Likely it won't do that and will still be a very average action/horror romp about a premise that begs to be explored by a smarter creative team.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33MtR-g4Jcg" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33MtR-g4Jcg" target="_blank"><b>Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates -- July 8th</b></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdInk0sO8Zfjjy1iYClLurEDaZhjXsU70Rnrc8Hw10ANBJHWBPNS5gnJo55KSTPV4suaxqKKzEv6cDAQSVyZHO98V_fPAC82k9CUcdnPbHM727gGr7gGhyiiltQ3gVF0AM6JQLPBkm2I/s1600/p4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdInk0sO8Zfjjy1iYClLurEDaZhjXsU70Rnrc8Hw10ANBJHWBPNS5gnJo55KSTPV4suaxqKKzEv6cDAQSVyZHO98V_fPAC82k9CUcdnPbHM727gGr7gGhyiiltQ3gVF0AM6JQLPBkm2I/s400/p4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>The initial trailers have been hilarious and very similar soooooo I'm hoping this is one of those comedies where they're saving the best parts for later while making sure they get butts in the door. </div>
<b>Against It: </b>It could just flat-out not be funny. I really want to hope that's not the case, but with frequently similar trailers that's sometimes the death nail. Holding out hope though as 2016 has been great for comedy thus far.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ4WBlveGfw" target="_blank"><b>The Secret Life of Pets -- July 8th</b></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8yRbSC1BksiI8LDPKiYPjelg7vkX_qAjbR9ndoJV5Z2eZ5R4I4wbV6lwLtxvTr4uWBABi11L3KGW5vXvJnGR2cF50bLdBpIyPcMPeu9NwzF5OxZI7kkGjfGl6T0Cky51sNoO4psJM6I/s1600/p5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8yRbSC1BksiI8LDPKiYPjelg7vkX_qAjbR9ndoJV5Z2eZ5R4I4wbV6lwLtxvTr4uWBABi11L3KGW5vXvJnGR2cF50bLdBpIyPcMPeu9NwzF5OxZI7kkGjfGl6T0Cky51sNoO4psJM6I/s400/p5.jpg" width="400" /></a><b> </b></div>
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<b>For It: </b>The initial trailers are again fantastic and I think there is a ton of potential here. </div>
<b>Against It: </b>The newest trailers I've seen, which include more of the plot, makes this look much more generic than I first anticipated. In a year where we already got the stellar Zootopia (best animated film of the year thus far, BTW) this will have a hard time competing.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7_M4hjXW1I" target="_blank"><b>The Infiltrator -- July 13th</b></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiYMWroB9vEkKQbzUys4CRMPQOmWzOeHBvU1SrAM8GHT18H1cZZ7mlyDLjK7cMV5xO0xby3cr5wzPgSBagtICkgCODFEKjWFhdyHkXOeUZvBjIBvXBsqstosLAHB9xYMeSZS6NJil7E0/s1600/p6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiYMWroB9vEkKQbzUys4CRMPQOmWzOeHBvU1SrAM8GHT18H1cZZ7mlyDLjK7cMV5xO0xby3cr5wzPgSBagtICkgCODFEKjWFhdyHkXOeUZvBjIBvXBsqstosLAHB9xYMeSZS6NJil7E0/s400/p6.jpg" width="400" /></a><b> </b></div>
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<b>For It: </b>In a strange turn of events, Bryan Cranston plays and undercover FBI agent trying to take down a drug cartel. Given his acting prowess, you know you'll AT LEAST get a great performance from him. </div>
<b>Against It: </b>Something about the quality of the trailers makes this seem like a cheesy TV movie to me. It feels like it can't decide if it wants to be a Breaking Bad-esque drama or a more action-oriented thriller.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3ugHP-yZXw" target="_blank"><b>Ghostbusters -- July 15th</b></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17UO-vRQZFl8O-fD5_6hsbauT1g2xvnBa25aWnjmtpsWZC6nU6WyQx41tWbpaM9AjKr_liVEnJEXrg4aRYiVD1KDGH140_XkTWJYa9urWlpQLa4-RMBEt2gLjh2BQRzS4-xYcSHdnpKE/s1600/p7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17UO-vRQZFl8O-fD5_6hsbauT1g2xvnBa25aWnjmtpsWZC6nU6WyQx41tWbpaM9AjKr_liVEnJEXrg4aRYiVD1KDGH140_XkTWJYa9urWlpQLa4-RMBEt2gLjh2BQRzS4-xYcSHdnpKE/s400/p7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Man oh man has this film gotten a lot of unnecessary and frankly sexist flak. Given Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy's resume, I think this will at least be worth a couple laughs and the addition of some other SNL alum members ensures that. </div>
<b>Against It: </b>I'm not all that excited for it. NOT because it's an all female cast (that thought literally never crossed my mind and shame on you if it did), but more so because these first trailers haven't been all that great/funny. I go based on what I've seen and so far what I've seen is fair to partly cloudy.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LiKKFZyhRU" target="_blank"><b>Lights Out -- July 22nd</b></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBfTknZA2mLHyvhY0pQCu-8t2Mn0RZQfwtEgcLHKSNRK8RZTQBtJ-Sy9p7ljubKVCoGa29sK74zH5X9PToIq8z8cSrAFy_lYT9MHxXNqwtK_Rf39CbLXqaVd2zn1lRiaoT3uDH_ipfnA/s1600/p8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBfTknZA2mLHyvhY0pQCu-8t2Mn0RZQfwtEgcLHKSNRK8RZTQBtJ-Sy9p7ljubKVCoGa29sK74zH5X9PToIq8z8cSrAFy_lYT9MHxXNqwtK_Rf39CbLXqaVd2zn1lRiaoT3uDH_ipfnA/s400/p8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Features some really, really creepy trailers and there's potential for it to be a intense little horror film. I think the premise is fascinating and there's room for potential. </div>
</div>
<b>Against It: </b>The usual when it comes to horror films. Thinly drawn characters, stupid characters, lame scares, overly violent third acts, poor craftsmanship, etc.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvq3y8BhZ2s" target="_blank"><b>Star Trek Beyond -- July 22nd</b></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxBdNVAEXOOna9SrX1ddhAmouDBrletJK5NnbtjmdjFFKOSXG9mJOUOfEtGOlJrMhAashaJ9E0mzaYs8vpI_pDmZH4oeJMpRu5HHEeMffJtcrWAWFOaLk1UT-889v56jusTxZRMQ0OTQ/s1600/p9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxBdNVAEXOOna9SrX1ddhAmouDBrletJK5NnbtjmdjFFKOSXG9mJOUOfEtGOlJrMhAashaJ9E0mzaYs8vpI_pDmZH4oeJMpRu5HHEeMffJtcrWAWFOaLk1UT-889v56jusTxZRMQ0OTQ/s400/p9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>After an abysmal first trailer, the newer ones have been reminding me how much I loved the first two films in this series. This is a great take on the storied franchise with a great cast to boot. I have full confidence that Justin Lin can take over for JJ Abrams.</div>
</div>
<b>Against It: </b>Honestly? Not much. I think this was just a case of a really bad first trailer with some poor creative decisions. My bold prediction is that this is the surprise audience hit/favorite of the summer.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKCw-kqo3cs" target="_blank"><br /></a>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKCw-kqo3cs" target="_blank"><b>Bad Moms -- July 29th</b></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ4WacdDqKQ0cyz6fBTPuvdGcOC5HqgVPAyIOa3EgY_8r05UE12VcxlOHXH-rl93EsHNCr6Kd2rwLa0O27XtLE8KKRJgV8dyuwFlQnCyfND3Z9suvyIBjdYCeQ1uXhJKid3j5O-d5ZWU/s1600/p10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ4WacdDqKQ0cyz6fBTPuvdGcOC5HqgVPAyIOa3EgY_8r05UE12VcxlOHXH-rl93EsHNCr6Kd2rwLa0O27XtLE8KKRJgV8dyuwFlQnCyfND3Z9suvyIBjdYCeQ1uXhJKid3j5O-d5ZWU/s400/p10.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Clearly some counter-programming for the other film coming out this weekend, Bad Moms still looks like a fun time. If they can achieve some good, thoughtful characterization, this could be the next Bridesmaids but for mothers.</div>
<b>Against It: </b>From the trailers it <i>feels</i> like it's trying to be crude just for crude's sake and that rarely results in solid, lasting humor. This is a great cast. Hopefully the writers don't waste it.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4gJsKZvqE4" target="_blank"><b>Jason Bourne -- July 29th</b></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUsPd6eK1pXoYGyidBpwbHj1GfTnGSqxMna6XOnXv0cP7qg4uBs4VWPqSVTpv2VmYM03AKrOf8DYtCYor-BfI5BOsdwtTIwp3U5wXQxA9wCPnX_KrlD6BgHhA0r8R8JQxLFHgErAco2s/s1600/p11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUsPd6eK1pXoYGyidBpwbHj1GfTnGSqxMna6XOnXv0cP7qg4uBs4VWPqSVTpv2VmYM03AKrOf8DYtCYor-BfI5BOsdwtTIwp3U5wXQxA9wCPnX_KrlD6BgHhA0r8R8JQxLFHgErAco2s/s400/p11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>For It: </b>Shortly and aptly titled, this is the "big" one for July. It sees the return of series regular Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass after the lame previous "Bourne" film spin-off thingy. This looks intense, edgy, and violent. Just like we want to see. </div>
<b>Against It: </b>Another film where I'm going to say "not much". Damon and Greengrass were pretty much 3 for 3 with their previous trilogy and my only major concern is that I hope they got a handle on the shaky cam this time as that was a persistently annoying issue in the original trilogy.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Must See (in order): </b>Jason Bourne, Star Trek Beyond, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>On My Radar: </b>The BFG, The Legend of Tarzan, The Purge: Election Year, The Secret Life of Pets, The Infiltrator, Ghostbusters, Lights Out</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Predicted Duds: </b>Bad Moms </div>
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Only one more month and then the summer is a wrap! See you next month for August! As
always, I'd be really appreciative if you came and followed me through
Blogger at <a href="http://www.raths-reviews.com/" target="_blank">RATH'S REVIEWS</a> and like me on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RathsReviews" target="_blank">HERE</a>! I follow-for-follow 100%. Thanks again!!</div>
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</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-90814692839251722812016-06-29T09:33:00.004-04:002016-06-29T09:33:58.314-04:00The Great Debate: Netflix vs. Hulu vs. Amazon Prime VideoToday, new guest author, Cassie, from <span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="http://culturecoverage.com/">CultureCoverage.com</a>, is presenting an article about the great debate between the three biggest online streaming services, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime! Take it away Cassie!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Many
thanks to J and J Productions 1809 for allowing me to share the pros and cons
of some of the best streaming services available so you won’t regret any of
your subscriptions. And if you aren’t quite sure what you’re looking to watch
yet, check out this article on the </span></i><a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/p/top-100-movies-part-1.html"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Top 100 Movies</span></i></a><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8b4RR8oqjCBClcSMh8NyesVujZfH3aATxOg48zJpc1_quG4yPEygP9ihuZmC499XcowR1-wksm2ezl1O33DLdZCNPgZZsIc5rItomCK9u7tMrhXcIcyWzrsuy9GIKYCZw2QyFD7LDka8/s1600/Streaming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8b4RR8oqjCBClcSMh8NyesVujZfH3aATxOg48zJpc1_quG4yPEygP9ihuZmC499XcowR1-wksm2ezl1O33DLdZCNPgZZsIc5rItomCK9u7tMrhXcIcyWzrsuy9GIKYCZw2QyFD7LDka8/s640/Streaming.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what really sets Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video
apart? Well besides their subscriptions plans differing, each has their own
library and features that might appeal to some more than others. Perhaps the
most important feature though, for any of these services, is their
compatibility with different devices. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not everyone has a PC to stream movies on, and
instead rely on other devices such as Smart TVs, tablets and game consoles. A
large number of users also prefer to stream while on the go, as it often beats
paying to view movies while at a hotel during your travels. Speed, reliability
and cost can be a main concern as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Which genre of movies and TV shows you’re interested
in can also be a contributing factor to your decision. Some streaming services
offer limited amounts of anime, for example, whereas </span><a href="https://fujinsei.com/2016/06/04/streaming-anime-is-it-a-viable-option/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">others
have a better selection</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;">. Though there are genre-specific
streaming services available (such as Crunchyroll), let's take a look at how
three of the most popular services compare.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Netflix<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Netflix is a little bit different than other
streaming services since you can choose to receive DVDs if preferred. Though a
plan including DVDs is a separate cost, it’s nice to have the option available.
DVD plans range between $4.99 and $14.99 per month, depending on how many discs
you're able to rent out at a time, how many you’re able to rent per month and
whether you choose to rent Blu-Ray discs or standard DVDs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Streaming plans cost between $7.99 and $11.99 per
month, and prices are dependent on whether or not you choose a plan with HD or
Ultra HD streaming and how many screens you’d like to be able to watch on at
once. Certain plans will only allow one user to watch at a time, making it
difficult for those who want to share their accounts with anyone else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the topic of sharing, Netflix now allows you to
create different user profiles too, which is particularly handy when you don’t
want to lose where you left off in a movie or TV show due to sharing your
account. With Netflix, you can also view a selection of suggested titles that
are based on your prior viewing history. As you can imagine, this makes it easy
to discover new content and videos you wouldn’t have normally thought to watch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Overall, Netflix is a great choice due to their low
price point, lack of commercials, ease of use and selection. They appear to
have a little bit of something for everyone, even offering a large selection of
international movies. Netflix’s compatibility across different devices is
seriously impressive too, as you can watch from several different streaming
media players (such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, Nexus Player
and NVIDIA Shield), game consoles, smartphones and more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No need to worry if you’re hesitant about
subscribing before viewing their library of movies and TV shows either—Netflix
offers a one month free trial with the option to cancel at any time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hulu<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hulu used to be the streaming service of choice for
those looking to keep up with some of their favorite TV shows since they
release new episodes the day after they premiere on cable TV. However, in the
past few years, Hulu has stepped up their game by adding a fairly large
selection of movies to stream. Like Netflix, their subscription plans for
streaming costs between $7.99 and $11.99 per month but commercials are
unfortunately included in their $7.99 plan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hulu offers a ShowTime add-on as well for an
additional $8.99 per month, which will allow you to access content that would
normally be found on ShowTime’s channels on cable TV (such as “Penny Dreadful,”
“House of Lies” and “Homeland”). If you’re especially interested in some of
ShowTime’s original movies or TV shows, Hulu might be a good choice for you (if
you don’t already subscribe to ShowTime with a cable provider, at least).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There's no doubt that Hulu does offer some titles
that Netflix doesn't, but overall, Netflix offers a little more for the money.
Besides the commercials that are included on their lowest cost plan, Hulu also
only offers a one-week free trial, which can be especially easy for many
viewers to cancel before their credit card is billed (assuming they decide not
to keep the service).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As far as compatibility goes, there are a couple of
devices Hulu appears to support that Netflix does not and that alone might make
Hulu more worthwhile for you. You can check out a list of supported devices </span><a href="http://www.hulu.com/start/devices"><span style="line-height: 115%;">here</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;">.
Overall, I’d say Hulu is worth the cost, but it does fall a little short of
Netflix.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazon
Video<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazon Video is unlike both Netflix and Hulu. If you’re
a frequent customer of Amazon’s, you likely already have an Amazon Prime
subscription and if so, you have access to Amazon Video. And if you haven't
signed up for a Prime membership, there's no need to fret over it; you can
choose to sign up for Amazon Video (also known as Prime Video or Amazon Instant
Video) regardless.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazon Video costs only $8.99 per month and offers a
month-long free trial to get you started. Just as Hulu allows you to subscribe
to ShowTime for an additional fee, so too does Amazon Video, and you can also
pick from other popular entertainment channels such as Starz. In my opinion,
Amazon Video is a bit more complicated to use than Hulu or Netflix, though it
does have a nice selection of movies and includes original series.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Perhaps the most appealing feature Amazon Video has
to offer is the ability to purchase the DVD of the movies you view with a
simple click or the fact that you can read through thousands of reviews before
watching or even post your own. If you're only looking for HD streaming, Amazon
Video isn't the right choice for you though, and their </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/ontv/devices/ref=atv_dp_hd_dev"><span style="line-height: 115%;">list
of supported devices</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"> is somewhat limited.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Something
Else To Think About<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1385233731099220276" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No matter which streaming service you decide on,
there are limitations to consider. Hulu, for example, isn't available
worldwide, and the selections are likely to be different on Netflix if you live
outside of the US. It’s a good idea to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for
any of these, to avoid issues while traveling or streaming on the go and also
to avoid paying for service you can’t use if you’re going on a trip overseas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">VPN service will allow you to continue to </span><a href="https://securethoughts.com/how-to-watch-american-netflix/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">watch
American Netflix</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"> (and Hulu) even if you're located
elsewhere by masking your IP address. It's as simple as connecting to a remote
server in the program, and as a bonus, it also encrypts your connection so
you'll be able to stream videos safely from anywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you used any of these streaming services yet?
If so, we’d love to hear your opinion on them in the comments section below.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">About
the Author: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Cassie is no stranger to streaming, and
some might even call her an entertainment expert. She's tried out the best
video streaming services the internet has to offer thus far and has written
about each of them on numerous occasions. Check out her work on </span><a href="http://culturecoverage.com/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">CultureCoverage.com</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
for some great tips.</span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-13588308948957981522016-06-25T09:18:00.001-04:002016-06-26T16:38:06.497-04:00Top 13 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies: Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Captain America: Civil War blew all our minds last month with an emotionally gripping story of the MCU being split apart. Now it is time to re-rank the Top 13 Marvel Cinematic Universe films yet again. However, to my surprise, my opinions of many of the films have gradually changed over time after re-watching each one, so this list is a bit different than my previous ones, even if there are some similarities. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMh-3VrnidmN_svJQP1LmW4ZWytFLeodKh3KwYIK20FAAwwqNgBUMbNT25oeQTuFZa_yfCAqEP8XyLMi0xPFc92Jzz6ViyzabXduCF4WxttdfT1LETIJxQSHlESKPwYryhww1Nc_wT38/s1600/Top+13+MCU+Movies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMh-3VrnidmN_svJQP1LmW4ZWytFLeodKh3KwYIK20FAAwwqNgBUMbNT25oeQTuFZa_yfCAqEP8XyLMi0xPFc92Jzz6ViyzabXduCF4WxttdfT1LETIJxQSHlESKPwYryhww1Nc_wT38/s640/Top+13+MCU+Movies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">13: The Incredible Hulk</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgwnw3C7LRsAa9yMe0hiKddCc2XC-O7PbbnT8lA8rJ4sPH221qMUEehCFCYabNabrDcenhEkjdsf_P_g5inz4Ngw5ML9_c5KGrAmo63jxqZopuN0haFNkOkZ3AokTbdquQAsev9KnqmQ/s1600/The-Incredible-Hulk-2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgwnw3C7LRsAa9yMe0hiKddCc2XC-O7PbbnT8lA8rJ4sPH221qMUEehCFCYabNabrDcenhEkjdsf_P_g5inz4Ngw5ML9_c5KGrAmo63jxqZopuN0haFNkOkZ3AokTbdquQAsev9KnqmQ/s1600/The-Incredible-Hulk-2008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The black sheep of the MCU, The Incredible Hulk has faded into obscurity almost to the point where it is barely considered canon. Sure, it is occasionally referred, but many aspects of the film just do not fit with the rest of the MCU. Part of this is due to Edward Norton not returning in The Avengers, which led to Mark Ruffalo redefining the film version of the Hulk/Banner to astounding success.</div>
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As for the film itself, The Incredible Hulk is a fun film. Nothing about it is remarkable, but it tells a classic Hulk story of Banner running from them military. For the type of on-the-run Banner that the film required, Edward Norton did a fine job in the role. Unfortunately, the film starts to fall apart towards end with the introduction of Major Emil Blonsky, aka the Abomination. The final battle between the two is entertaining for some CGI Hulk smashing, but that is about it. The other issue is that the budget and technology at the time could not create a Hulk comparable to the one in the comics. Overall though, it is a solid comic book flick.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">12: Iron Man 2</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qkHIgFy5sAwwcNVJvr3djvrrd8JwISt7xEMn_SH9Yr5BIZJ9o_zJrpGpTVD_7tGE6B0YMLLXKw4yhQSLPxOY_d68fZDTmRZHKj-GMhgNEx7ygCZdG5Tlg8zgaL_X6P3AWah0zGVirDI/s1600/iron_man_2_review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qkHIgFy5sAwwcNVJvr3djvrrd8JwISt7xEMn_SH9Yr5BIZJ9o_zJrpGpTVD_7tGE6B0YMLLXKw4yhQSLPxOY_d68fZDTmRZHKj-GMhgNEx7ygCZdG5Tlg8zgaL_X6P3AWah0zGVirDI/s1600/iron_man_2_review.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Receiving more hate that it ever deserved, Iron Man 2 is very much a mixed bag. Certain elements are fantastic, while other aspects disappoint. The film tries to use the palladium poisoning as a substitute for Stark's alcoholism arc from the comics. While a few parts of that story as Tony tries to discover what is truly important is effective, it is ultimately buried by uneven pacing and too many subplots. Thankfully, Robert Downey Jr. being himself is always a pleasure to watch, and his ad libbed banter keeps things interesting. And Sam Rockwell is awesome. Marvel, please bring him back in something.</div>
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The most notable criticism is that Iron Man 2 tries to be the bridge that sets up for The Avengers, and at the time, the executives at Marvel still had yet to figure out exactly how everything would come together, which is apparent in the film. The building blocks are there, but it is not integrated with the any form of subtlety like later the films. However, it is a necessary evil of sorts to get us to the ultimate payoff that is The Avengers. Oddly enough, I basically agreed with the majority that it was a disappointment upon my first viewing of the film (before I became a critic). However, after multiple viewing, its importance in the overall road to The Avengers and Downey's innate charm made me like the movie so much more entertaining the second and third times around, despite the messy narrative and apparent flaws.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">11: Thor: The Dark World</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQYcArM6mnRW4wMYTkIgS39_HVJZoAPkL4Y6smpVkD9UAs1Ivl7mazQ5KvUZme9avxm7x50xNTP-P6EqyyfrJ13VaVNrEwcuyOIu_WtS5MtTCNQ8uV6NXUeyQmTDgoF2BeC56_N8QIgA/s1600/thor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQYcArM6mnRW4wMYTkIgS39_HVJZoAPkL4Y6smpVkD9UAs1Ivl7mazQ5KvUZme9avxm7x50xNTP-P6EqyyfrJ13VaVNrEwcuyOIu_WtS5MtTCNQ8uV6NXUeyQmTDgoF2BeC56_N8QIgA/s1600/thor.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div>
Despite Thor being the titular character, we all know that The Dark World is the Tom Hiddleston show, as he steals every second of his screentime. Sure, his screentime may be limited to the first two Acts, but he eats it up.<br />
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Despite Hiddleston’s brilliance, Thor: The Dark World is ultimately the most generic MCU film. There is nothing controversial or world shattering; it is a straightforward and entertaining adventure. The best aspect is the brotherly interaction between Thor and Loki, and visually interesting Asgardian world. Yet, it feels like it lacks purpose or as many memorable moments as the films higher on this list. And Malekith is probably Marvel’s worst villain. With that said, The Dark World is a great entertaining flick from beginning to end and still a favorite of mine in many respects.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10: Thor</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZX0idClcNI9m-qcbTdPKXx7JAflqYJ2alPHIfwUK_0bB0dQ2Tq-NnY3g2Q4bhM4qm3qQvKYIbto29OL8ZvbvQH3HP1MzGRshb1Fm0eONHO-2AY53x_-bUd6_ob-gVm_zYsV4-rjRRmpM/s1600/Thor-2011-Wallpaper-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZX0idClcNI9m-qcbTdPKXx7JAflqYJ2alPHIfwUK_0bB0dQ2Tq-NnY3g2Q4bhM4qm3qQvKYIbto29OL8ZvbvQH3HP1MzGRshb1Fm0eONHO-2AY53x_-bUd6_ob-gVm_zYsV4-rjRRmpM/s1600/Thor-2011-Wallpaper-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div>
Of all the Phase 1 films, Thor had the most potential for disaster! In fact, before watching the film, I feared that there would be no way that a Thor film could work in live-action. Thankfully, to my surprise, Thor turned out to be one of the films in a long line of Marvel productions that defy expectations against all odds.<br />
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Kenneth Branagh's Shakespearean background lent itself well to the film's theatrical family drama and archaic dialogue, which is one of the film's stronger aspects. The "fish-out-of-water" comedy with Thor is full of unforgettable lines that I still quote today, and the Final Act brought Thor’s character arc full circle. As a whole, Branagh managed to capture Thor and the world of Asgard in a satisfying manner!<br />
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What do you think of the list so far? Please comment below and let me know.</div>
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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:johnstarslayer@gmail.com">johnstarslayer@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-58612612216061403852016-06-21T07:33:00.000-04:002016-06-21T07:33:29.377-04:00Top 25 TV Shows: Part 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My list of the Top 25 TV Shows of All-Time continues with five more entries! <span id="goog_1189820078"></span>If you missed my previous parts,<a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/04/top-25-tv-shows-part-1.html" target="_blank"> click here for Part 1</a>, <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/04/top-25-tv-shows-part-2.html" target="_blank">here for Part 2</a>, and <a href="http://jandjproductions1809.blogspot.com/2016/05/top-25-tv-shows-part-3.html" target="_blank">here for Part 3</a>.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10: Seinfeld</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXfep-etWWturaZZo3LG3WFywL3NZdjiuvdtBDVwcfSKZ-WJZ4K5Ia0vDm130nXAaPhSs8OPaBbpeky5C8JpDhjhvHVlznUqoS1BrSBjEmQDB8HtuAhjG8N4mAQvycU9JVuzCHajPP2Y/s1600/Seinfeld-seinfeld-425000_1280_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXfep-etWWturaZZo3LG3WFywL3NZdjiuvdtBDVwcfSKZ-WJZ4K5Ia0vDm130nXAaPhSs8OPaBbpeky5C8JpDhjhvHVlznUqoS1BrSBjEmQDB8HtuAhjG8N4mAQvycU9JVuzCHajPP2Y/s640/Seinfeld-seinfeld-425000_1280_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div>
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If you haven't lived under a rock your entire life, chances are you have at least heard of Seinfeld, if not seen or heard it referenced at some points. Seinfeld, described as "a show about nothing," obviously did a lot of something to become probably the most popular and well known comedy of all-time, and for good reason, it is absolutely hysterical! The series follows a fictionalized version of Jerry Seinfeld and his friends in New York and all of the insane misadventures that the group gets themselves into. If you somehow have not seen Seinfeld, what the heck are you doing!? Watch it! It's beyond a classic!<br />
<b>Watch on:</b> Hulu<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9: </span></b></span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Psych</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EXNkkfNzr0jKU50VfufiPWUVplb5NAnVvUAEs0h2Is4fNJk20_NDsmSWFomx1keqMz2FqVUJdTYjag2gJzrO6kb7iXtGLJ1j1IHQ72sRGJYXeOlmV8iicyPLFzfhScCqmj4Jqn0OGXI/s1600/Psych.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EXNkkfNzr0jKU50VfufiPWUVplb5NAnVvUAEs0h2Is4fNJk20_NDsmSWFomx1keqMz2FqVUJdTYjag2gJzrO6kb7iXtGLJ1j1IHQ72sRGJYXeOlmV8iicyPLFzfhScCqmj4Jqn0OGXI/s640/Psych.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div>
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Psych is a crime mystery drama with a heavy dose of comedy blended throughout. Often times, it is funnier than the majority of comedies, yet smarter than the majority of drama crimes. The dynamic duo of Shawn and Gus have so much chemistry and witty banter. Psych is just one of the most entertaining TV series ever for me. In the later seasons, the writing is a bit weaker, but my investment in the great cast of characters made it all worth it. If you want a crime drama with a comedic twist and great characters, give Psych a chance.<br />
<b>Watch on:</b> Netflix<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8: Star Wars: The Clone Wars</span></b></div>
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While the first few episodes did lean towards less mature themes, after the episode "Rookies" The Clone Wars turned out to best thing to happen to the Star Wars franchise in years. It gave fans some of the best Star Wars stories since the Original Trilogy. A few story arcs are absolute masterpieces. As with most of my favorite shows, The Clone Wars was cancelled too soon. Fortunately, however, the final story arcs are on Netflix, even if the series never had a chance to end the right way. Also, it should be noted that my ranking of The Clone Wars is incredibly biased. I will admit that some other shows are probably better, but I have a lot of nostalgia for it almost because of how it positively affected my blog and how it has made a lot of new Star Wars fans during its run. </div>
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<b>Watch on:</b> Netflix</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7: Frasier</span></b></div>
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A spinoff of the popular Cheers TV series, Frasier might the most consistently high quality TV comedy ever made. Every TV series is bound to have moments of weak writing, and yet, despite 11 seasons and 264 episodes, Frasier rarely features a truly weak episode. Not every episode is the funniest thing ever, although many episodes are, even the weaker ones make you laugh several times. Honestly, Frasier is the type of comedy that everyone could at least get something out of and that everyone should watch because it is not especially crude, or at least no more so than Seinfeld. The series follows Frasier Crane, his brother Niles, their father, Martin, and the physiotherapist, Daphne Moon as they go about their everyday life, and even though it is a spinoff, having only seen a handful of Cheers episodes, you can watch Frasier without any prior knowledge.</div>
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<b>Watch on:</b> Netflix, Hulu</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6: Avatar: The Last Airbender / Legend of Korra</span></b></div>
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After a few years of watching Japanese anime, I never expected an American animated series to ever impress me, to get me involved in the characters and story, and yet, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra did that so well. Following the Avatar, a person born with the ability to wield all four types of Element Bending, The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra tell sprawling fantasy epics. While season one of The Last Airbender is a bit childish, the later seasons develop the characters and really tell a story that is on par with other fantasy epics. Legend of Korra meandered a bit in its seasons, so it ended up being a bit weaker than The Last Airbender, but as an adult, both series truly impressed me. The series hits no matter your age, assuming animation is not a barrier. For me, Avatar: The Last Airbender is the pinnacle of western animation, so give me a chance.<br />
<b>Watch on:</b> Amazon Prime<br />
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<b>Are any of these your favorites? What do you think of list? Please comment below and let me know!</b></div>
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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:johnstarslayer@gmail.com">johnstarslayer@gmail.com</a>.</div>
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1385233731099220276.post-39247180737323775612016-06-18T07:51:00.000-04:002016-06-18T07:51:56.924-04:00X-Men: Apocalypse Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
X-Men: Apocalypse, the latest superhero adventure in a summer full of superhero flicks, and a sort of trilogy conclusion to the X-Men: First Class trilogy of films. Can this next X-Men film stand against the various other superhero films this summer? Well, let's find out!</div>
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Directed by: Bryan Singer</div>
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Genre: Action, Comic Book, Sci-Fi,</div>
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Release Date: May 27, 2016</div>
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Running Time: 144 minutes</div>
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MMPA rating: PG-13</div>
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<b>The Good:</b> Quicksilver's scene is one of the best movie scenes all year, Magneto continues to be the emotional core. Superb performances across the board, Epic cameo, Apocalypse is a unique type of evil, Often quite funny, Impressive kills, Excellent new cast, Great soundtrack, 80s setting and references, Star Wars meta-humor, Revising history, Oscar Isaac nails it, Quicksilver is the best thing ever, Impressive special effects, Interesting world building,</div>
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<b>The Bad:</b> Less accessible to those not invested in the franchise, One missed opportunity, Somewhat generic finale,</div>
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<b>Plot: 7.2/10-</b> Opening with a scene in ancient Egypt, the film shows how Apocalypse was buried for thousands of years before being resurrected in 1982, the setting of the film. After the events of Days of Future Past, mutants are known by, and in some places, accepted among the general public. The world building is the first thing that stands out. X-Men revisionist history of the 1980s contains many of the familiar pop culture references, which makes the alternate world feel real.</div>
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One common criticism is that the first hour of the film is slow, and in some respects, that is valid. Personally, the first hour of collecting Apocalypse's Four Horsemen and the introduction of the new X-Men was entertaining throughout. However, my enjoyment of the buildup might be more so due to my love of the characters and franchise.</div>
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Apocalypse's weakest aspect is probably the finale. It's not especially unique compared to other superhero movies, at least narratively speaking. The events that take place are quite different and fun, but the central conflict is ultimately: "Bad guy wants to destroy the world. Good guys try to stop him." For me, it wasn't much of an issue.</div>
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X-Men's other weak point is that if you are not invested in the X-Men franchise and remember the previous films, much of the depth is lost. X-Men has been around for 16 years, so the lack of accessibility is certainly an issue. Actually, I have noticed that among younger and new superhero movie fans introduced to the genre during the new MCU era, those fans just do not care about the X-Men. They might go see them in theaters, but the fandom is lacking even half the enthusiasm and voice of the MCU, which is a shame. </div>
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<b>Characterization: 8.2/10-</b> Magneto is a highlight in the film. His scenes have so much weight and pathos thanks to Fassbender and the previous development of the character. There is so much emotion to his scenes during the early parts of the film. Unfortunately, he does not play a major role in the middle portion of the film, and the engaging interaction between him and Professor X is minimal. However, everything about his character works so well, despite limited screen time.</div>
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Professor X does not have the powerful character arc of Days of Future Past because, at this point, his character is established and stable as he aids the younger generation. Mystique is.... fine the film. Her role serves its purpose in an interesting way for the plot. Hank McCoy, aka Beast, plays a relatively small part as the teacher guiding his students, much like the comics.</div>
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Apocalypse, the film's titular antagonist, portrays an interesting type of villainy. Some complain that he lacks menace, partially due to Oscar Isaac's relatively small stature. However, to me, this take on Apocalypse is more of a cult leader giving off an air of benevolence and almost kindness to his followers. Compared to the typical maniacal villain that's trying to takeover the world, Apocalypse's refreshingly calm presence makes for a strong villain. Unfortunately, the finale with Apocalypse is a bit of a letdown after him being such a powerful figure in the comics.</div>
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While the other characters all serve their part well, the true standouts are Quicksilver and the new cast members for Scott, Jean, and Nightcrawler. Quicksilver's role and characterization are greatly expanded upon compared to Days of Future Past. And his main scene is absolutely spectacular, easily the best part of the movie; true show stealing stuff. While you might not be able to tell from his part in the original X-Men trilogy, Scott Summers, aka Cyclops, is actually a cool character, almost like the Captain America of the X-Men, so it was great to see a young version of the character being portrayed so well. Jean Grey is equally as stellar in the film, and the subtle romance between the characters is excellently executed. Nightcrawler has been sorely missed from the X-Men films, so it is also great to see his character reestablished. As an X-Men fan, seeing characters other than Wolverine being the focal point is a true pleasure. Storm is also introduced, although her role is smaller, albeit still well executed. With that said, what the heck happened to Jubilee's screen time!?</div>
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<b>Direction: 8.5/10-</b> Bryan Singer really knows how to make an X-Men film, despite his reluctance to commit to the classic costumes. His visual style really works, as the film looks and sounds like the 80s. The action sequences, while expectedly inferior to Captain America: Civil War, are rather impressive. The mutant powers on display are fun to watch as no other superheroes have quite the wide range of power sets that the X-Men possess.</div>
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<b>Acting: 9.2/10-</b> X-Men's cast is always a highlight and Apocalypse is no exception. Michael Fassbender shines bright with a performance full of gravitas and weight, even more like Sir Ian McKellen's take on the character. Despite having less to do this time around, James McAvoy continues to give a top notch performance. While "phoning-it-in" is an exaggeration, Jennifer Lawrence does not have the type of screen presence compared to her other recent roles, and Nicholas Hoult is always a joy to watch. Oscar Isaac plays the mix of evil and calm excellently as Apocalypse, even if that is not the type of villain viewers expected. Evan Peters’ charisma and charm continues to be a blast to watch as Quicksilver as he steals every scene. Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Alexandra Shipp all play the younger versions of classic characters superbly with Turner being the standout as Jean Grey. Everyone else in the cast are good as well.</div>
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<b>Special effects: 8.8/10-</b> Aside from the occasional bit of noticeable CGI, X-Men: Apocalypse actually manages a lot of CGI heavy scenes incredibly well with the powers providing very colorful and exciting visuals. Of course, Quicksilver's sequence is the highlight as it almost makes you wonder how the heck did they pull it off!? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFL25j2R2689STDpM1XKcx68l7PyXXQfwPHsk3a31MfAycWHxcCLC6aE0kd7KIw2uVHu5Z0UZN7ssNlqo2BVT-Xl-hwphgK-9JgB4n2HKrpr4yl9-rO5H2f4nqjvdi31akswLBV25MKw/s1600/X-Men+Apocalypse+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFL25j2R2689STDpM1XKcx68l7PyXXQfwPHsk3a31MfAycWHxcCLC6aE0kd7KIw2uVHu5Z0UZN7ssNlqo2BVT-Xl-hwphgK-9JgB4n2HKrpr4yl9-rO5H2f4nqjvdi31akswLBV25MKw/s640/X-Men+Apocalypse+15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Soundtrack: 8.5/10-</b> John Ottman returns to score X-Men: Apocalypse, and his work continues to be high quality and fitting for the film. The use of licensed songs from the 80s added a great sense of fun and familiarity to the period setting.</div>
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<b>Humor: 8.7/10-</b> Surprisingly, this is a very funny movie at times. Whether it's Professor X stumbling over his words with MacTaggert or Nightcrawler's clumsiness, the humor is really spot. And again, Quicksilver's scene is brilliant and absolutely hysterical!</div>
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<b>Entertainment Value: 9.7/10-</b> As an X-Men fan, X-Men: Apocalypse is a pleasure from beginning to end. The bits of fanservice sprinkled throughout certainly made the film even more fun, especially a certain cameo that was apparently spoiled in a trailer, which I did not see. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW2src9xyu5Y1Al9k-_Or2YvtYmF_fHobZjzkoWPi3CnpcGIMyYRhsuH5_W2OJ9kzyndVgoT17I-4saRzN6VMWxIY0odnUW_5PpauE5jEK53ZBjnXIDUx-KJxQdDVzy-94-MLnpJl46U/s1600/X-Men+Apocalypse+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW2src9xyu5Y1Al9k-_Or2YvtYmF_fHobZjzkoWPi3CnpcGIMyYRhsuH5_W2OJ9kzyndVgoT17I-4saRzN6VMWxIY0odnUW_5PpauE5jEK53ZBjnXIDUx-KJxQdDVzy-94-MLnpJl46U/s640/X-Men+Apocalypse+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Overall: 8.0/10- </b>Making way for the new generation of characters, X-Men: Apocalypse might suffer from a few nagging narrative issues that bring it down from the instant classic territory of the previous two X-Men films, but its exciting new cast, Magneto's riveting scenes, and stunning display of mutant powers makes it a treat for X-Men fans and a fun superhero flick for everyone else. With that said, if you are not invested in, or familiar with the X-Men franchise, the film's score would probably be more of a mid-sevens, rather than a flat eight.</div>
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<b>Closing comments:</b> While definitely weaker than either First Class or Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse is a lot better than the Rotten Tomatoes score gives it credit. Sure, it has flaws, but not every superhero flick can be the masterpiece that is Captain America: Civil War. Below is a review by one of my favorite movie critics and top reviewers on YouTube, Chris Stuckmann, that highlights many of the film's strong points.</div>
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<b>Recommended for:</b> X-Men fans, Superhero fans, Action fans,<br />
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</a>James the Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.com17