Movie Review

Terminator Genesys Review

This is the review of the second movie I saw on Canada Day, Terminator Genesis:

This movie starts off in the future. Judgement day has arisen. Human are at war with an artificial intelligence named Skynet and the machines it controls. When John Connor, leader of the human resistance, sends Kyle Reese to 1984 to protect his mother, Sarah, from a Terminator assassin, an unexpected turn of events creates an altered timeline where things are not what we thought they were. Since being orphaned by a Terminator, Sarah has since been brought up by another Terminator programmed to protect her. This Terminator has then trained her to face her destiny. Now, aided by the reprogrammed old Terminator, Sarah and Kyle together must overcome and survive the T-1000 and an unexpected enemy sent by Skynet from the future to kill them. With the past changed as we know it, the three must find a new way to save the future and take the fight to Skynet.

At least I think that was how it went. I will admit that I had a hard time following what was going on but I will admit that I eventually did. And what they did may complicate things for long time Terminator fans. I thought Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn’t lost his touch as the older Terminator and he still can hold his own with everyone else on screen. If you happen to not be a fan of the Terminator series, this is still an entertaining action movie. I thought it was a really good looking movie, the effects are high quality from the machines to the different Terminator models, the action is entertaining, and the acting was mostly solid throughout. Sure certain things didn’t make sense, or they rushed through a few parts without explanation, or the 2 leads may have been miscast but that’s not the point here. You’re not supposed to overthink these things, to better enjoy this movie, you just have to accept things in the way that they are presented to you. If you haven’t seen the first 2 movies, you may miss out on a few references. Fans of the Terminator series should remain engaged because this movie covers everything one would want from the Terminator checklist: Connors, Terminators, time travel, etc. Even if you haven’t seen any of the Terminator movies, you will get an enjoyable action movie with some explosions and excitement. This movie isn’t quite the same level as the first 2 James Cameron movies but it is the best of the rest. It isn’t the best action movie this year but is another solid addition to the Terminator series. Action and sci-fi movie fans will not be disappointed.

Score: 7/10

If you liked this, please read my other reviews here.

Magic Mike XXL Review

Happy Canada Day by the way. Seeing that being in the capital of Canada on Canada Day, most places we’re going to be closed today and I wanted to stay away from the masses flocking downtown for all the festivities. It occurred to me that one of the only things I could do today was go to the movie theater, so I did. Today, I saw Magic Mike XXL and Terminator Genesis. Here is the first of 2 reviews, starting with Magic Mike XXL. Check back later for my Terminator Genesis review.

Jurassic World Review

Dinosaurs are still cool but not as surprising as the first time around. The technology definitely has improved over the years but the story remains the same (close to the first 2 movies). There are a few references to the first 2 movies but you don’t really have to see any of the other movies to know what’s going on. This movie feels more like a remake of the first film instead of an actual sequel.

The movie starts off with a pair of brothers go on a trip to the rebuilt Jurassic Park (now World) to spend time with their aunt who happens to run the park. The story in the film is told from the perspective of the two brothers, the aunt just trying to hold everything together (which I will get to later), and the hunk dinosaur trainer guy. It’s been 22 years since the first film and now that infamous island has a new park on it. The first glimpse of the new park involves a bright and vibrant opening that reminds the viewer of the first time they saw the original Jurassic Park, with a voice over by the late Richard Attenborough in introducing the park visitors and the audience of the wonders of the first dinosaur amusement park. Sort of a tribute to what the first movie was about and the realization of it coming true.

Problems soon arise when, due to dwindling park attendance numbers, the park begins to start splicing the DNA of their animals in order to create a new attraction. Surprisingly enough, they manage to create a bigger, more aggressive, smarter dinosaur, the Indominus Rex. Being the type of film it is, this dinosaur finds a way to reap havoc within the park and cause problems for the film’s protagonists. The film tries to act as a social commentary about the ethics and morality involved with cloning animals and whether or not they should be considered property or to be treated as living objects. The movie does not beat us over the head with this as most of the movie plays out as a creature movie where the stars of the film must merely try to survive the Indominus Rex and avoid the destruction in its wake. The movie when compared to the first 2 is not as scary or suspenseful because the new dinosaur they have created for this film is simply not as scary and the way it is was depicted does not inspire suspense. While watching the film, I never felt a sense of danger as the stars never acted like they were in danger. Knowing what I do about the first 3 films, the story was rather predictable and did not innovate or further the series at all. This isn’t the best movie I have ever seen but I was entertained. The performances of Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard kept me interested (albeit a little cliche). Some of the “family problem” stuff, I could have definitely gone without and the film kind of took a little time to get going. Fans of the series will not be disappointed with this installment and for those who have not seen a film in this series will be entertained as well.

Score: 7.5/10

If you liked this, please read my other reviews here.

Ted 2 Review

That foul-mouthed, drug abusing teddy bear that we loved from the first movie is back for more. The film picks up 6 months after the first film with Ted and his best friend John still friends before Ted is about to get married and John is feeling down after having been in a divorce. Once married, it isn’t what he imagined. With his relationship in trouble, his solution is to have a baby. Little did he know that the government would soon recognize how he’s been living his life as a person. When his personhood comes into question, he now has to fight to maintain his marriage and for his own civil rights. Ted, John, and new for this film, a young female lawyer Samantha L. Jackson (obvious joke alert) must sue the state of Massachusetts in order for Ted to be recognized as a person while Ted tries to find someone for John.

If you’ve seen the first film, you won’t be surprised by this one. You’ll get all the dirty, homophobic humor that was in the first Ted or from any episode of Family Guy. This film still seems to have the charm that the first one had. I also enjoyed the opening musical sequence of the movie as well. Some may not be a fan of the humor in this film as it could easily be considered offensive. I don’t know what that says about me but I liked it. I wasn’t a fan of Seth MacFarlane’s earlier film “A Million Ways to Die in the West” but this one has the right amount of stupid but doesn’t take it too far.

Sure there aren’t as many jokes in this as the first film so they chose to take what they had and stretched it over the film’s running time at almost 2 hours (which could have been shorter). The film occasionally suffers from an identity crisis, it wavers between a social commentary about one’s civil rights and an extended Family Guy episode but doesn’t do enough of either. I did like what I saw but I just wished that there was more of it. I believe it could definitely have gone without a few minor plot lines for I believe that they took away from the main story and added to the unnecessary length. I won’t mention the few cameos in the film other than that there is one noteworthy one that you will definitely not expect but will definitely remember. Overall, it’s not a bad film but I thought it could have done more. I liked this one just as much as the first film but not more. If you are looking for a comedy, I would recommend Spy with Melissa McCarthy. It happens to be my favorite comedy of the year and also one of the best overall movies.

Score: 7/10

If you liked this, please read my other reviews here.

Inside Out Review

I saw the movie “Inside Out” today and here are a few things I thought about it: