Reviews by BAMF

Notes:
*I feel ashamed that I haven't gotten to see this until now.
*How can I let myself miss a Marvel film while it's in theaters.
*The trailer reminded me of something like Harry Potter meets Inception.
*I also felt for the most part it looked quite serious.
*Anyways at least I have my chance now.
*The cast is pretty awesome.
*Scott Derrickson has also written and directed Deliver Us From Evil and Sinister which were two excellent horror movies.
*The rest of his movies are average or just bad.
*Jon Spaihts also wrote Prometheus and The Darkest Hour both of which I thought were pretty good.
*C. Robert Cargill wrote on both of the Sinister movies with Scott Derrickson so that's a plus.
*So let's see how they did with Doctor Strange finally!

Pros:
*It's visually stunning.
*There is a lot more humor than I was expecting, but it still gets pretty dark at times.
*The magic stuff was pretty cool to look at.
*The characters were well developed and add some more flavor to the universe.
*Those two scenes during the credits were greatness.

Cons:
*Not enough Rachel McAdams or Scott Adkins.

Verdict:
It's a welcome addition to the MCU. I really liked Strange, Wong, and Mordo. Mads Mikkelsen was an excellent villain of course. It's really spectacular to look it. It doesn't take itself too seriously which I liked. If you haven't seen it yet get to it. I think even without following the universe it could still be a pretty fun watch.

Notes:
*I've heard this is really good, but it's a slow burner.
*So I have been sort of skeptical to check it out, but I decided to go ahead and check it out.
*I mean the cast is pretty good.
*Denis Villeneuve also directed Prisoners and Sicario which were both pretty darn good.
*I have seen all of Eric Heisserer's movies so far with the Nightmare on Elm Street remake being the only disappointment.
*Anyways let's see if this is as good as I hear or if it's just not my taste.

Pros:
*The way they start the story really pulls you in.
*It's quite visually striking while at the same time being very simplistic.
*The sound mixing is pretty intriguing.
*I loved the idea of this having a lot to do with languages.
*The way the movie plays out is different and unique.

Cons:
*I sort of spoiled the idea of part of the twist when I assumed that Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams characters were already married.

Verdict:
It reminded me a little bit of Interstellar meets Instructions Not Included.The whole thing was stunning to look at. It's simplistic and yet keeps you invested in the story. For those looking for an action movie this will not be your cup of tea. It really is worth checking out though for it's story alone. I was skeptical, but I am happy I gave this a try.

Notes:
*I didn't know anything about this until the trailer came out.
*All I knew is that it looked pretty dang funny.
*I also figured it was going to have some silly adult humor (which of course it did).
*I wasn't sure about Jillian Bell though as I generally find her annoying.
*This is the first time I have heard of the director Richie Keen who has a few films under his belt.
*This is the first writing credit for Evan Susser.
*Van Robichaux also wrote the short Seth Rogen = Worst Person in the World which Evan Susser was in.
*Surprisingly actor Max Greenfield came up with the story for this movie too.
*So let's see if this is really worth checking out or if it's another comedy stumble.

Pros:
*The cast is pretty good with a few people I wasn't expecting to see.
*Ice Cube really captures his funny bone here.
*Jillian Bell wasn't as annoying as usual and I found her character actually amusing.
*The girl that plays Charlie Day's daughter stands out with one of the funniest moments of the film.
*There are some actually decent original jokes throughout.
*I continuously found myself laughing more than I typically do.
*The whole thing pulled together nicely with a pretty good ending.

Cons:
*Some of the silly adult humor was a miss.
*There are definitely some awkward moments although I'm not too surprised.

Verdict:
This was actually a pretty great and hilarious modern comedy. It still has the gross stuff you typically see these days, but it adds some of the great comedy we all wish to see as well. The characters were awesome and everyone had excellent comedic timing here. I went with my wife and we just absolutely enjoyed it. I would say to check it out for a good time full of laughs.

Notes:
*This is adapted off a play that Denzel Washington (with Viola Davis) was actually in so that's pretty awesome.
*The original play in the 1980s had James Earl Jones in the lead!
*This is the third film directed by Denzel Washington himself and the first one I will have seen the whole thing.
*The man August Wilson who is credited for the screenplay even though he passed 11 years prior to the film is the man who wrote the play and book that this is adapted from.
*It's pretty cool that they don't seem to have messed with his story other than to make it work for a film.
*I have heard good things about this and from a legend like Denzel I am not surprised.
*So let's see if this as good as they say.

Pros:
*The acting is absolutely remarkable.
*The characters are quite interesting.
*I mean the whole thing is very character driven which it does a good job with.
*It's interesting to note that most of the movie takes place in one particular spot seldom showing other parts.
*It really feels like a play though with the way everyone talks and how scenes are set up.

Cons:
*I wish there was a James Earl Jones cameo somewhere.

Verdict:
This isn't your typical sort of movie. It's also not something you would be used to seeing Denzel Washington in. That being said it's pretty excellent. The acting is incredible and the characters are full and intriguing. It feels very much like a play, but it's a bit more involved with the setting. Anyways it's definitely worth checking out for just the performances alone.

Notes:
*I got to see this for an early screening at my job.
*Of course I have been wanting to see this ever since it was announced.
*The trailers looked incredible and had a different atmosphere to them reminding me of movies like Mud or Joe.
*James Mangold has also directed/wrote Walk the Line.
*For only directing he also did Identity and the previous The Wolverine.
*For writing only he also brought one of my all time favorite cartoons Oliver & Company.
*Michael Green was responsible for writing the awful Green Lantern yet he is one of the writers for the upcoming Alien and Blade Runner movies.
*Scott Frank also returns from writing The Wolverine. He also did work on A Walk Among the Tombstones, The Lookout, Minority Report, and Flight of the Phoenix.
*This is the first film of note from David James Kelly.
*Anyways since embargo should be lifted I will share my thoughts on the whole thing.

Pros:
*It's about time we get a Wolverine film with an R rating of which it most definitely earns.
*There really isn't much in terms of holding back intensity here.
*The fight scenes are raw and ruthless.
*The characters are utilized the way they finally should be.
*Hugh Jackman shows his best performance as the character he has played for close to two decades!
*Newcomer Dafne Keen showed real talent and her angry face was excellent.
*Really everyone did a fantastic job with their roles.
*By far this is the most serious of X-Men related films, but it still manages to throw in jokes and moments that will make you laugh.
*I would also have to say it's the best X-Men film so far.
*Atmospherically it was a beautiful movie too.
*The director and the writers really took care to make this project worthwhile.

Cons:
*There is no stinger at the end so there is no need to stay after.

Verdict:
*In my opinion this is the best of the X-Men films so far. It's relentlessly brutal and gritty, but it's how it should have been from the first one. It's a whole lot of fun from beginning to end. I'm truly impressed with this one. I have to say once it is out for the public go see it asap. You will not be disappointed.

Notes:
*From the trailer it looked like this would be sort of controversial with it's content.
*I wasn't aware that it would end up being nominated for so many awards and be so well received.
*It has a pretty interesting and good cast.
*I haven't heard of Barry Jenkins or his other movie before this.
*This is Tarell McCraney's only movie credit to date, but it might not be his last.
*With all the buzz I figured I would go ahead and see it since I did have it on my to watch list.

Pros:
*It takes place in Miami where I'm originally from.
*Mahershala Ali has proven that his earlier stuff didn't showcase his true acting skills.
*The newcomers/unknowns were actually really good specifically the guys that played Little.
*This reminded me of Boyhood, but with a more interesting storyline.
*I have now found out I have a huge crush on Janelle Monae lol.
*The whole thing was very beautifully shot.

Cons:
*Some things happen that don't really get explained.
*Not enough Janelle Monae.

Verdict:
It's a really good coming of age tale similar to the likes of Boyhood. The content may not be comfortable for those who don't accept LGBT stuff. That really shouldn't affect a well told story like this though. It captures you from beginning to end. The way the whole thing looks too makes it even better. Anyways if you are open minded I would say check this out asap. It's totally worth it.

Notes:
*So this was the second movie my wife picked for Valentines.
*This one actually had an interesting sounding story.
*Plus you can't go wrong with Kate Beckinsale and Bridget Moynahan.
*The cast is fairly cool although I'm not a huge fan of Eugene Levy or Molly Shannon.
*Peter Chelsom also directed Hector and the Search for Happiness which I loved!
*Marc Klein also directed Mirror, Mirror which was just okay.
*Anyways let's get this started.

Pros:
*I thought this was fresh and different than most romances.
*Kate Beckinsale and Bridget Moynahan obviously.
*The Eugene Levy moments were pretty amusing.
*It was actually pretty funny and cute.

Cons:
*Molly Shannon was so boring.
*There were a few moments that didn't make much sense.
*Is the message of the movie a good one for romance though?

Verdict:
It's a good story about love, but as a date movie I'm not sure. I mean it is about people falling in love with other people lol. Anyways it was a pretty good watch that felt original. It's funny and entertaining. I say it's worth checking out.

Notes:
*From the trailer alone I knew this was going to be silly.
*Of course the title shows this as well.
*Michael Bolton is pretty amusing when he plays himself in comedies.
*It has a mostly pleasant cast.
*Scott Aukerman also wrote but didn't direct the absolutely dreadful Shark Tale.
*Akiva Schaffer also directs here which is a plus for me.
*Pretty much everyone who wrote here has no other films under their writing belt although two comedy actors helped write.
*Anyways my wife chose this to watch first on Valentines so this is what we are going to watch.

Pros:
*Michael Bolton is amusing as usual plus of course he can sing.
*Some interesting casting decisions.
*There are some pretty hilarious skits.
*The plot itself is humorous.
*It's not a very long special which is good.

Cons:
*Michael Bolton can't act though lol.
*Maya Rudolph!
*At times it gets a little too silly.
*Some of the skits were dumb.

Verdict:
It was a pretty silly, but also a fairly enjoyable watch. I wasn't expecting a lot from it which helped it's case. Some skits were great and others were just not that interesting. Michael Bolton and Lonely Island fans would get a kick out of this though. As for others I doubt this would be of any interest.

Notes:
*I wasn't even sure they would be making a sequel until I saw the trailer for this.
*I'm curious if we are ever going to see Michael again or just get teased.
*Hot vampires in black leather are definitely a huge plus.
*This is the first film to be directed by Anna Foerster.
*Cory Goodman also wrote Priest and The Last Witchhunter which were both just okay, but not well received.
*Kyle Ward also wrote Machete Kills which was silly but fun.
*Anyways let's see how Selene is doing and what cool moves she has here.

Pros:
*The last two battle sequences were pretty awesome.
*Selene, Semira, and Alexia are extremely gorgeous.
*There were some interesting bits and twists here and there.
*CGI has definitely improved quite a huge amount since the first part.

Cons:
*Is the recap really necessary?
*The story itself was pretty bland.
*I didn't like how they did some things.
*I couldn't take Tobias Menzies serious as the lead villain.

Verdict:
It wasn't the worst of the series (that was Rise of the Lycans) and it wasn't necessarily a bad movie either. It just wasn't as entertaining as it could have been. The story was lacking for the most part and they had a few things that I found silly. Though there are some pretty cool moments most of which are near the end. Apparently there will be another one which I'm not sure makes much sense. Anyways for a fan of the series you may enjoy it some otherwise you probably won't.

Notes:
*I have been meaning to watch this for some time now.
*I'm ashamed that this was playing at my theater and I hadn't watched it sooner.
*The story of Jesse Owens is greatness and it kind of feels like things are returning to how it was back then with out current situation in America.
*The director Stephen Hopkins is mostly known for horror/sci-fi movies like Predator 2, The Reaping, Nightmare on Elm Street 5, and even Lost in Space.
*The writers also wrote Frankie & Alice which was an excellent watch.
*I think the cast here is awesome especially with the Degrassi alumni play major roles.
*Now let's see if this was worth the wait.

Pros:
*I didn't know everything about this story, but filling in the blanks was pretty interesting.
*I loved that there are people within even those times were good despite being in such places.
*Stephan James really held his own as the lead here which was pretty impressive.
*The acting was pretty good from all.
*The soundtrack was interesting.
*It didn't feel as long as the runtime.
*Just to think how it all went down is truly an interesting thing.

Cons:
*The backstory didn't feel full enough.
*It needed a little something else I just can't figure out what though.

Verdict:
It was worth the wait for sure. It could have used a bit more with his past and maybe some other things. Those are just minor quips though. I respect the people who looked at the talent and not the color. It was an interesting story with details that I hadn't known. I say it's definitely worth checking out.