Finding Dory Review

Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Hayden Rolence, Ed O'Neill, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Idris Elba, Dominic West, Sigourney Weaver

There was certainly a lot of excitement going into Finding Dory's premiere. June 17th, 2016 was a date I was anticipating since the first day Ellen announced the sequel, and I know many of my high school-aged friends were anxiously waiting Finding Dory's arrival. It's a little strange, especially when in the theater, because older teens and adults made up most of the audience. Truly Finding Nemo was a huge film in my childhood. I've seen it more times than I could possibly count, even going as far to see the 3D re-release my freshman year. I recently took out the old VCR tape of Finding Nemo to jog my memory and see if I'd still appreciate it at 19 years old. I wasn't surprised to see that it held up exceptionally well, even thirteen years after I'd first seen it.  Finding Dory has quite a lot to live up to. I'm certain if you haven't seen the film yet (I'm a little late on the review), you've heard it's either as good as Finding Nemo, or you've possibly heard it's even better. After seeing the film, I can confirm it is as good as Finding Nemo. While it doesn't carry the same whimsy as the first film had for me, it really transported me back to being a kid who lived for Pixar movies, while making me feel like as an adult, I can really appreciate a meaningful animated movie. Finding Dory really is as good as everyone says it is.

The best part of a Pixar film are always the characters. While Dory was great as a sidekick, it's clear that she can hold her own as the lead. Pixar has crafted such a realistic and relatable character, and Ellen only gives Dory life. Her charismatic voice performance makes her impossible to not like. The new characters are amazing as well. Hank the octopus (septapus) in particular made a big impact on me. I really related to his character and his arc was very well done. I wasn't a big fan of Destiny the whale shark, mainly because I thought her design was too cartoonish in a movie where the fish really look realistic. But her scenes were funny, and her nearsightedness was a great joke. Bailey the beluga whale made me laugh constantly, thanks to Ty Burrell's great voice and snarky demeanor. Plus, his echolocation was very cool and a great way to educate kids about the animals. I think everyone will walk away loving the sea lions. Idris Elba and Dominic West (partners on The Wire) play two hilarious lazy sea lions that try to protect their rock from Gerald, who's a little special. Their banter back and forth is hilarious, and they have some of the funniest dialogue in the whole film. The two characters I didn't like were Nemo and Marlin. I thought they were very unneeded. Until they met up with Dory again I thought their plot was very flat, I didn't particularly like Becky (nor did I understand why she couldn't talk) and I thought Marlin was very mean. You would think he learned a little from his adventures in the first film, but he resorted back to being mean to Dory.

As you can see in the above picture, Baby Dory is very adorable (and compelling!). I think the way Dory's past was tied into the present was so masterful. You really felt the loss of her parents and her need to find them, because the exposition of her childhood was so well done. It was reminiscent of finding a piece of Nemo all the way to Sydney, but more emotional. Every scene of Baby Dory brilliantly tied into the current plot and carried some emotional heft. From "what do we say to the undertow?" to "Mommy likes purple shells" everything was utilized brilliantly. I thought a certain scene with her parents (no spoilers) was so emotionally touching, and the image was burned into my brain for the day. Pixar has been accused of emotionally manipulating lately, probably because between Toy Story 3 and Inside Out, their films weren't very great, so it seemed like you were crying because of forced emotion. Finding Dory trumps those films, to feel like their most genuine sequel since Toy Story 3.

I think Finding Dory really nails it the Pixar formula. It's a great story and it has great humor. There are running gags that are hilarious every time, like the Sigourney Weaver voice, and the "three hearts" joke. I waited to see Finding Dory in both 2D and 3D to give a proper review, mostly because Finding Nemo in 3D blew me away with how well the effects worked with the ocean setting. I'd recommend Finding Dory in 3D only because it really immerses you into the film, but other than that it's fine in 2D. I highly recommend Finding Dory. It's fun for the entire family, younger kids and older teens with both appreciate it, and it has a lot of clever humor, with an emotional story. It doesn't quite match the perfection that Finding Nemo effortlessly had, but for a new generation of kids, this will certainly be a classic.

Rating:

Me Before You Review

Starring: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer, Charles Dance, Brendan Coyle, Matthew Lewis

Me Before You is the breakout romance of the summer. It stars Emilia Clarke, who appears as Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen (Mother of Dragons) on Game of Thrones. You wouldn't believe how enormous her fanbase is. Then there's Sam Claflin, best known for playing Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games series. In Me Before You, Claflin plays a quadriplegic billionaire in a wheelchair, struggling after being struck by a motorbike years ago. Emilia Clarke plays his caregiver, and the two fall in love. That's the story Hollywood has sold you, and it's mostly true. But if you've seen the film, or done your research, you know the amount of controversy Me Before You has received. It portrays euthanasia (doctor-assisted suicide) in a very casual form. Basically the entire plot is Lou (Clarke) trying to persuade Will (Claflin) to not go through with a euthanasia appointment in six months, and the two fall in love while she's trying to show him the riches life has to offer. He truly is a different person after meeting her, and she brings out the best in him, and he finally gives her a purpose. Me Before You is a very well-made romance. As a male, I didn't feel sidelined and I never rolled my eyes. It truly services both male and female audiences, and it didn't really feel like a romance film. I highly recommend this, but be warned that you're probably going to feel very strong emotions (bring the tissues).

Me Before You is really a two-actor showcase. There are supporting actors in key roles, but it's truly Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin on display. Clarke is unrecognizable from her Game of Thrones role. That truly is a testament to her ability, because the silver-haired dragon queen is something etched into many minds. Yet I never once thought of Daenerys when watching her in this movie. I've seen interviews with Clarke, and this role is pretty close to who she actually is in real life. Very bubbly, very kooky, and very eccentric. She's like the new Jennifer Lawrence of interviews. You probably understand why I believe she's poised for incredible success. Her energy is contagious, and she is the emotional heart of the film. When she  rejoices, the audience is happy. Likewise, when she cries, the audience feels her pain. So what about Claflin? He does extraordinary as well. His role is much more sheltered, and much more stoic, but he holds his own. The chemistry between the leads is apparent from their first scene together. As an audience, you are invested in their relationship, which makes their struggles even more heartbreaking to watch. These two actors really become their characters and truly excel as a couple. In smaller roles, Janet McTeer (famous "I've seen her in something" actress) gives a solid performance as Will's distressed mother. She has the most to do of any supporting character, as the father (Charles Dance; Papa Tywin Lannister on Game of Thrones) isn't really a driving force. I have to give a shout-out to Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey's Mr. Bates) as Lou's father, because he has one of the most touching scenes with his onscreen daughter. All the relationships in this film are so believable, even outside of Lou and Will. I 100% believed these people were the parents of the leads, signifying that the casting is extraordinary.

Before I give my criticism (and address the controversy), here are some other strong points. The music is incredible. Most movies like this (namely The Fault in Our Stars) have assembled great soundtracks. "Unsteady" by X Ambassadors is a highlight that perfectly complements the scene. The costumes of Lou are also outstanding and fit her character, and the cinematography paired with these factors is gorgeous. The movie is a very well-made romance, not just your usual chick-flick. However, I think Me Before You suffers from a pacing problem. It's about 2 hours long, yet it feels longer. It takes an awfully long time for anything to start, and I know from the trailers that a romance is happening. I appreciate that it's unconventional, but as a film it lags too much before it gets to the point. There are a few scenes between Lou and Will that are unneeded. Their chemistry is undeniable, and wasting time with extra scenes to "sell" their romance is not a necessity. I'm specifically referencing the shaving scene. As for the euthanasia controversy, I think people just need to take it as the movie presents it. The film does not want you to take a side, nor does it expect the characters to take a side on the hotly debated issue. You can agree with it, disagree with it, or fall somewhere in between. I don't believe this movie really makes an effort to try and take a stand.

Review:

X-Men: Apocalypse Review

Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn, Lucas Till, Evan Peters, Hugh Jackman

X-Men: Apocalypse has a lot to live up to. The previous installment: X-Men: Days of Future Past is not only a great superhero action movie, it's one of the most poignant, well made, and entertaining blockbusters I have ever seen. It's a hard act to follow, and the trailers for Apocalypse were underwhelming. I don't really know what it was, but the movie just didn't seem exciting. I wasn't heavily anticipating a movie coming from one of my favorite brands. I've always preferred the X-Men to the Avengers because of their backstory. They don't want to be superheroes. They are cursed with their powers and live in a world where "mutants" are hated. That can be spun into a great story, and Days of Future Past used it so well, on the backdrop of the Vietnam War and following JFK's assassination by a mutant. It was history combined with comics, and very poignant. I'm happy to say that Apocalypse came through and did give a great story, though not nearly reached its predecessor's heights. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed it, seeing as I hated the advertisements. This movie was sold very poorly. It's clear that the movie struggles in parts, mostly the same concerns I had while watching the trailers, and some scenes are quite bad. But at its heart, it is a very entertaining and well-made movie with good acting. It's not nearly as bad as its 48% RottenTomatoes score would suggest.

First I'll talk about the good acting. I actually think everyone does a nice job. There are no overwhelmingly bad performances. James McAvoy is excellent as Professor Xavier. Every movie he steps up his acting, and his performance as the telepath is greater every time. He really is the heart of this movie, even if the ads don't suggest it. A few of his scenes are super hokey, like when he sits awkwardly by Jean Grey's bedside, or when he cries at "how much power he feels", but overall he does a great job. Magneto is the opposite. He's great, but Michael Fassbender is giving the same performance. It's a great job, but Magneto doesn't really grow. He's just angry and hateful the whole time. Fassbender is good, but he doesn't have the enigmatic ability Ian McKellen had with the character. I think Sophie Turner is great as Jean Grey. She has to navigate the movie's biggest twist, and she does it so well. Many know Turner as Sansa Stark from HBO's Game of Thrones, and Apocalypse finally made me see how good of an actress she is, as Sansa can be a little whiny. Then recently on Game of Thrones, Sansa kicked it into high gear. It's clear Turner is a great young actress with a good path ahead of her. I also enjoyed Cyclops and his backstory. They really ditched him in the film's final act, which was disappointing. The same treatment befell Nightcrawler, who is my favorite mutant on the X-Men. Well, he was until Quicksilver came onscreen. Evan Peters sold probably the best scene in the whole film, and possibly one of the best comic book movie scenes ever. Quicksilver is such a hilarious and emotionally sensitive character, it's hard not to love him. I hope we see more of him.

Now onto what was bad. Apocalypse. I don't think that Oscar Isaac did a poor job playing the supervillain (who is practically the X-Men's BIG antagonist in the comics), it's just that the villain wasn't given the justice he should have received. Apocalypse is such a menacing character, and he seemed pretty weak in the film. His power was clear, but it really didn't seem like he thought anything through. His ending was pretty ridiculous, as he should have seen it coming. The suit Isaac wears is just so campy and huge, you cannot even tell who is acting. His Horsemen of Apocalypse were interesting, and I think that's a great storyline, but it was weird because of the actors. Olivia Munn as Psylocke just had a resting angry look on her face, and she carried around a metal sword even though her powers gave her unlimited energy swords. It didn't make sense and took me out of the movie. Storm was especially poor. The actress was okay, but the character was confusing and not realistic. She was a big antagonist, but suddenly turned on Apocalypse at the climax with no real warning. Then she's just accepted into the X-Men school. I find that hard to believe. The third horsemen (Magneto is the fourth), Archangel is basically nonexistent. He does nothing, and is a waste of a great plotline. Now onto Mystique. Jennifer Lawrence almost ruins the movie. Mystique is an amazingly twisted, morally complex shape-shifter. Lawrence almost barely shape-shifts, and she has zero action scenes. However, she does talk the audience's ear off. I'm disappointed they've sacrificed such a great character just to allow Jennifer Lawrence to take center stage. The movie also suffered from trying to sell a love story between Xavier and Moira McTaggert, who followed around the X-Men, wore a suit, flew the jet, and did literally nothing. She has no powers, so why are we focusing on her so much? Her discovery of Apocalypse was relatively important, but they'd eventually find him by themselves when he started destroying the world.

Overall, I enjoyed this movie. It clearly has some huge flaws, but that lies in the writing for specific characters. If we're going to move forward and not end here, Mystique needs to either be recast (J-Law just isn't working) or she needs to have action scenes. We don't want Mystique just give halfhearted speeches. However, I do need to address Hugh Jackman (without spoiling). The Weapon X/Wolverine scene was amazing. Again, this movie has amazing scenes that really shine in my memory. Jackman's physical acting and his animalistic nature was just what the film needed to pick up. Another huge issue with the X-Men is that these last few films have been split by decades. First Class was during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Days of Future Past during Vietnam, and now we had X-Men in the 80's (not really doing anything relevant except seeing Return of the Jedi). The actors don't look like they're twenty years older, because they're not. It doesn't make sense to time jump that much and then not utilize it.

Well, there's my review. I'm trying out a new star review, basing it off of 10 stars rather than 5. I find that I can fine tune my final review better this way.

Review:

Captain America: Civil War Review

Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Tom Holland, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, Daniel Brühl

As you can tell, this movie has a pretty humongous cast. It really serves as an "Avengers 2.5", where Marvel's best superheros have joined either Iron Man or Captain America, and are engaged in a "civil war". The title comes from the popular definitive Marvel comic, so this should be the definitive movie, right? I mean, it's Captain America, Winter Soldier, Falcon, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Ant-Man VS Iron Man, Black Widow, War Machine, Black Panther, Vision, and Spider-Man. While the movie is certainly epic, and it's every fanboy's dream, I much preferred Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Civil War is still a fantastic movie and I loved it, but it's bogged down by a few problems.

Of course, the cast is amazing. For many of these actors, it's their third or fourth outing as the iconic superheroes. I'll get to Cap and Iron Man later, and address the returning supporting actors first. Scarlett Johansson is always great as Black Widow. I thought she came off a little misplaced in this movie. It's obvious Joss Whedon has the best ideas for the character, and she suffers when he doesn't direct. She undoubtedly has the best action scenes in the film, and her close combat style probably helps this. Next is Scarlet Witch. Her powers have upgraded, and I truly believe she is the Superman of the MCU. Her abilities are unlimited. However, the crime she commits at the beginning is never really addressed. I'd have loved to see Olsen emit more regret and pain over what happened, but they really brush it off quickly. I thought this was the best for Falcon and War Machine. Don Cheadle is a great actor, but Rhodey's never really made a big impact on me. This was the first time I actually felt an impact. The same goes for Anthony Mackie and Falcon, though he's had much less screen outings. My personal favorite was Ant-Man. Paul Rudd is so funny, and he just seems like the guy so surprised he's an Avenger. Plus, his powers get a HUGE upgrade, and it's done so well. Hawkeye also is always great. I think they really figured out how to portray Hawkeye in Age of Ultron (he was the most exciting part in a lackluster film) and Renner is just loving it. He doesn't appear as much as the others, but he doesn't need to. Hawkeye is perfect in his little appearance. I did not like The Vision. I wish he did more! He's so powerful and was so good in the last one, and they greatly lessened his role. I thought his sweaters were weird, and I still don't buy Paul Bettany as a superhero. Finally, Bucky aka Winter Solider. A lot of people hate Bucky. I did too, but I really understood him in this movie. I think Stan did a great job, and I finally was able to understand why Cap fights so hard for him. His helplessness is really endearing, and even though he does terrible things, it's not his fault.

Now onto Cap, Iron Man, and the new characters. First I'd like to salute Marvel for the return of General Thunderbolt Ross, now Sec. Ross. The Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton is probably something Marvel wants to forget, but William Hurt's portrayal of the Avengers legal archenemy was outstanding, and definitely the best part of the film. Marvel's ability to recognize this and have him return is really commendable. And Hurt does an amazing job here intimidating Captain America. I'm Team Cap, so I really sympathized with him for most of the movie. I will admit, I switched to Iron Man halfway though, then went back. I understood both sides, and that's because Evans and Downey Jr did such great jobs as their characters. I felt Cap's fierce independence, and his need to have all superheroes be free, but I also understood Tony's pain, and why he needed them to have limits. I think Tony is a volatile and self-destructive character, so I can't really be on his side. But I do think that Cap's big reveal at the end totally changes the Avengers forever. I understand why he did it, but it's so horrible I don't think Tony will ever be able to forgive anyone on his side. Now to the new characters. Black Panther is amazing. Chadwick Boseman captures your attention whenever he's onscreen, and the suit is incredible. His movements resemble a cat and the whole thing is completely awesome. Black Panther is coming next year, and there's a tease in the credits that excited the theater. The post-credits scene belongs to Peter Parker, and I have to say, Spider-Man was very well done. He was used in the perfect amount, and his naive quips and jokes really helped the airport battle. I'm looking forward to Tom Holland's Spider-Man, and I think it's clear Marvel handles this character best.

By far, the biggest problem is the pacing. The movie is way too long. Dreadfully long. I guess they had to give every character 15 minutes, which benefits the acting, but takes a toll on the moviegoer. I was getting really fed up and just wanted it to wrap up. I think that a good movie knows when to end, and this film just kept going on and on and on. I also did not particularly like the Vision. He's just too awkward, and I didn't realize why he wasn't utilized more. He's SO powerful so why doesn't he just annihilate everyone? It's also a superhero staple to have an opening battle scene with a B-level villain. Crossbones, an amazing Captain America villain, was really ripped off. Plus the whole scene was too long. Basically, what I'm trying to say is this: It's a good movie, but it's way too long. I much prefer The Winter Soldier to Civil War. I like that all the characters are here, but I don't like it when a good movie starts to bore me.

Rating:

The Jungle Book Review

Starring: Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Chrsitopher Walken, Neel Sethi

 I'm going to start with a confession. The Jungle Book is one of the last Disney films I would expect to be adapted into their live action fairytales series. Not because the 1960s original isn't a good film, but simply because it's not one that stands out as an immediate classic. Sure, "The Bare Necessities" and "I Wanna Be Like You" have become staples of Disney music, but the film itself is largely underrated. It has iconic characters like Baloo and Kaa, and here we see famous actors interpreting these classic roles. Bill Murray embodies the hilarious bear Baloo. Ben Kingsley's stern voice makes him the perfect mentor for Mowgli. And Scarlett Johansson's seductive tones make her perfect for the hypnotizing python. It's not just the voice actors that captivate. The visuals are magical. Almost everything is digital aside from Mowgli. So while Neel Sethi needs to be lauded for acting with nothing, the visual effects team really creates the Indian jungle and every animal within. This is undoubtedly the best Disney live-action adaptation I've seen. It perfectly captures the whimsy of the original, while making it accessible for today's audience. The 1960s movie is full of clichés. Director Jon Favreau recognized that modern audiences aren't satisfied with that. With higher stakes and more poignant action and interaction, The Jungle Book succeeds across levels.

First I will address the actors. Now, they didn't really act. They just lent their voices to the roles. In some cases, the motion capture of their faces are used, as is the case with Murray and Walken. Obviously Bill Murray is the heart of this movie, just as Baloo is the heart of the story. The character has always been easygoing and fun, but Murray brought a kind of protectiveness I'd never seen in Baloo before. He's scared of losing Mowgli, and of being alone. While he covers this up with humor, he thinks of Mowgli as his son. Murray's version of "The Bare Necessities" was a nice surprise in a movie I didn't expect to be a musical. Ben Kingsley was also great as the panther Bagheera. Bagheera is the moral compass, and Kingsley is perfect for the role. His voice is guiding and soft, and an absolutely amazing casting choice. Then there's Idris Elba as Shere Khan the tiger. Shere Khan isn't very menacing in the animated film, but he's terrifying here. Elba's deep scratchy voice brings evil to the tiger, and he captivates the audience in every scene he's in. Small children be warned: Shere Khan is very scary and has some very jumpy scenes. Elba has many monologues as the tiger, and he executes each one like a Shakespearean actor. One about a cuckoo bird particularly gave me chills in the theater. Lupita Nyong'o also does a great job as Raksha, the mother wolf. Her emotional depth nearly brought me to tears in one scene, and you never doubt she is Mowgli's mother.

The best scene of the movie is Mowgli's encounter with Kaa the python, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Mowgli's discovery of the enormous snakeskin was such a cool and inventive way to introduce that character. Johansson's seductive tones hypnotize the audience as she's doing the same to her prey. She provides the backstory to Mowgli, with her eyes telling the story, literally! The story fits the shape of her eye as she tells of Mowgli's father and the fire that all the animals fear. What's great is that the fire is called the "Red Flower". This is in reference to the classic line from "I Wanna Be Like You", which says "Give me the power of man's red flower so I can be like you." It's a great nod to the original, and amazing world-building. It gives the film a little fantasy feeling that this visually captivating, talking animal film benefits from. Now, onto the worst. Sadly, I would have to give this to King Louie and the monkeys. I thought Walken did great with his lines. I enjoyed that King Louie was a Gigantopithecus (an extinct ape) instead of an orangutan, seeing as orangutans don't live in India and the prehistoric ape once did. I thought the use of "I Wanna Be Like You", one of the film's signature songs was misused, and the scene was incredibly slow until the fight started. Baloo really brought life to the dull scenery. Plus, let's face it. Those monkeys are a little too creepy. I think it's great that Baloo sings his song, King Louie's seemed out of place. However, it plays in its entirety over the fantastic end credits, and it was redeemed for me.

It's clear that The Jungle Book is a visual masterpiece. The attention to detail that Jon Favreau has exhibited is stunning. Not only do the classic characters come to life, the whole jungle moves and breathes as a character. Every leaf, every bird and every rock is animated with such depth and attention, it's incredible to imagine that the movie in front of you is completely animated aside from Mowgli. A heaping amount of praise needs to go to Neel Sethi. The amount of skill for him to be able to react so well to nothing, but still stay a "stupid jungle boy" for lack of a better word, is well beyond his years. Every scene is like a fantasy dream, and it's so well written. I really recommend everybody see this. It's easily for all ages. Small children may be scared by Shere Khan (my mother certainly was), but I think it will prove a great moviegoing experience for all.

Rating:

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Review

Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Gal Gadot, Scoot McNairy, Ray Fisher, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa

It's only March, and what may as well be the most hotly anticipated film of 2016 has been released. Yes, for years DC and Warner Bros have been dominating Comic-Cons and headlines with slow reveals. First, it was that the movie was even being made, as "Batman vs Superman" was never something fans anticipated. Then it was Ben Affleck as the Caped Crusader, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, and it kept our interest. Until in the last month or two they decided to dump everything on the internet and dominate TV commercials. I knew every plot twist going into Batman v Superman and the surprises simply weren't surprising. From the opening scene, to the closing credits, the basic gist of the film was revealed. If you haven't heard, this movie has received terrible reviews. It seems like every critic has something scathing to say about Batman v Superman. After seeing the movie, I understand why. It's not a bad movie. It's actually pretty good, even though it has major flaws. All around, most of the cast turns in great performances. The problem is the script. There is no plot, and six different stories fighting each other with no clear connection. The movie utterly smothers itself while playing catch-up to Marvel, who has great movies, two Avengers films, and a loyal fanbase. Nonetheless, this is not as horrible as the reviews would have you believe. Here is what works, and what doesn't work.

First, Ben Affleck is a very good Batman. If you were worried about that, he does fine. He's no Christian Bale, but his version of Batman, a grizzled and unhinged hero, is very convincing. I have my own problems with the treatment of the character, because he carries guns and shoots and kills people, but for what was written for him Ben Affleck does a great job. Superman is a problem. I've never liked Superman that much, and I had a pretty horrible experience watching Man of Steel. I think the character has not aged well or evolved, and when director Zack Snyder tries to make him serious and dark, it just doesn't work. In Batman v Superman, he mopes around a lot. When Batman is beating the snot out of him, he could end the fight so easily by telling him his alibi, yet he doesn't. There's no reason Superman has to be this cryptic and moody and it needs to be fixed. The last member of DC's Trinity, Wonder Woman, is easily the most consistent character. Gal Gadot makes a huge impression as the Amazonian hero in all of her scenes. As a viewer, you are anxiously awaiting when she arrives in battle with her shield and lasso of truth, and it's probably the most epic moments the film has to offer. I'm incredibly excited to see what Gadot has to offer in the solo Wonder Woman film next year. What surprised me the most was Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor. He looked campy and ridiculous in the trailers and ads, but he gave a pretty menacing performance as Superman's archenemy. He played more of a Joker than a Lex Luthor, with his psychotic and anarchist behavior, but it worked. This proved to me that DC is better at developing villains than Marvel is. Marvel has given us only one memorable villain (Loki) out of a dozen films. If DC can pull off it's huge reveal with the Justice League, and they keep casting great actors, they will always hold this over Marvel.

Here's the huge problem. There are six stories. Plot 1: Batman's origin. This is very rushed, and I felt it was unneeded if Snyder was re-inventing the character. While his origin is iconic, it was too much in a crowded film. Big failure. Plot 2: Superman answers for his crimes. I wish the movie had the guts to blame Superman for the carnage and destruction at the end of Man of Steel, but it makes up another incident to blame him for. While it's a cop out, it was fascinating to watch Holly Hunter's intense performance as a Senator out to nail Superman. There's one scene in the Capitol with Hunter and Superman that is one of the best superhero movie scenes I've ever seen. She sells it so well, and it's sad the movie falters after such a great scene. Plot 3: Batman v Superman. The fight is amazing, but the reason is confusing. Lex Luthor wants Superman to kill Batman to free his mother, but Luthor's own motivations are never revealed. Plot 4: Lex Luthor's shenanigans. Eisenberg is great, but the side quest of building Doomsday to fight the Trinity is so forced. Doomsday is literally in the movie for 10 minutes, and it feels tacked on. The selling point was Batman v Superman, so the switch in enemies was eye-rolling bad. Plot 5: Lois Lane's side-quests. Amy Adams is so horrible in this movie it's depressing. Lois Lane was not needed. They tried to give her something to do, but it's so stupid and ridiculous. Plot 6: The Justice League teases. This could have been cool. It's a little exciting, but the method and placement is so strange. They're forcing the Justice League down out throats and it doesn't even look like it will work.

There is so much potential in this film, so that's why I feel it's a letdown. But even if it doesn't live up to expectations, it still has great moments. Like I stated earlier, the Senate hearing is impeccably filmed. It's the kind of quality that stands out in a movie filled with explosions. It's little moments that made me wish the entire film had that kind of quality. In Man of Steel, Superman has no regard for human life when he fights Zod. They destroy buildings and wreak havoc, causing more harm than good. This film opens with Bruce Wayne on the ground, looking up to see Superman in his battle. This view is unlike anything Man of Steel had to offer. It really puts into perspective the dangers of Superman's abilities. That storyline is great. Even though I loved what Eisenberg brought to the character of Lex Luthor, I think his storyline of bringing Superman against Batman, and then creating a monster for no particular reason was confusing. Doomsday had no place in this film. He looked amazing, and the Trinity's fight against him was great, but in a film that's 2 hours and 30 minutes long, they could have cut the running time down. It could just as easily been a Batman v Superman fight, but they cut that short to make room for Doomsday! It just doesn't make sense.

I apologize for this being a little long, but there was a lot to talk about. I actually enjoyed Batman v Superman. It's flawed, but it's a fun popcorn movie. And there's no doubt it will make back its budget and from what I've heard, people are enjoying it. There's a lot of stuff shoehorned into one movie where it's unnecessary. Playing catch-up to Marvel doesn't always pay off.

Rating:

2016 Academy Awards Predictions

Every year, the Oscars are a big deal for myself and my family. We bet on winners and cast ballots while we watch the show. We make an effort to see every movie that is nominated. I've seen every film nominated in major categories this year, aside from a few obscure nominees in the acting categories. There's been a lot of controversy this year with the lack of diversity. I think it's unfortunate, and attention needs to be brought to it. However, I am glad that there is a year where I haven't the slightest idea what movie will win Best Picture. Here are all my Oscar picks for every category (except the two sound and editing categories).

Best Picture:

And the nominees are...
The Big Short- Four groups of people in the world of Wall Street and high finance predict the credit and housing bubble collapse of 2008, and decide to take down the banks for their greed and lack of foresight. Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt
Bridge of Spies- At the height of the Cold War, a lawyer is hired to defend a suspected Soviet spy in court, and attempts to give him a fair trial and exchange him for an American spy captured in the USSR. Starring: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance
Brooklyn- An Irish immigrant in 1950s Brooklyn struggles with her life back home with her family and her new life with a suitor in America, and in a crisis, she must choose between two countries and the lives within. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson
Mad Max: Fury Road- In a post-apocalyptic Australia without water, a drifter stumbles upon a woman rebelling against a tyrant in search for her oasis homeland and seeking freedom for a group of women prisoners. Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron
The Martian- After his team has left him for dead on a manned mission to Mars, astronaut Mark Watney must use his limited to resources to try to survive alone until NASA can return for him. Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean
The Revenant- A frontiersman on a fur expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a grizzly bear and left for dead by his team, and travels across the country to get revenge on the man who wronged him. Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson
Room- After five-year-old Jack and his mother escape from their captor and enclosed surroundings, he is captivated by the outside world he is introduced to, while his mother struggles to be re-introduced after their horrifying ordeal. Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen
Spotlight- When four investigative journalists at the Boston Globe discover a local Catholic church covered up child molestation scandals, they dig deeper and find a dark and twisted story that goes much deeper than just one church. Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams

This is a confusing race. Spotlight has been the lock for months, but lately it looks like its "anti-Catholic" message might be hurting its chances. If it won, it's not really nominated in a lot of the technical categories, so it wouldn't have the "sweep" that the Academy sometimes likes to award. The Big Short is coming fast on its heels with a win from the Producer's Guild of America and strong box-office numbers. It's funny because Spotlight and The Big Short are polar opposites. Both tackle a group discovering something wrong and capitalizing on it, only one is dark and serious, and the other light and humorous. Both are excellent films, but both are only nominated in the major categories, which doesn't signify universal support. The real dark horse is The Revenant. I personally do not find it as deserving as the former two, but I think that it has a lot of things going for it. It's the audience favorite. It has Leonardo DiCaprio who has all of the attention right now for his possible win. It also has the most nominations, and will likely win in a lot of technical categories. If it wins, it could be that sweep I mentioned earlier. As for the other nominees, Mad Max is just lucky it got in, even if it deserves to win, and Room and Brooklyn will do better in other categories. Bridge of Spies is just Spielberg getting a deserved nomination for the excellent work he continues to produce, and The Martian has no steam. At the end of the day, I think the Academy will go with its gut and choose Spotlight.

Will Win: Spotlight
Could Win: The Big Short or The Revenant
Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
Should've Been Here: Inside Out

Best Director:

Lenny Abrahamson- Room
Alejandro González Iñárritu- The Revenant
Tom McCarthy- Spotlight
Adam McKay- The Big Short
George Miller- Mad Max: Fury Road 

There is only two people who could possibly win, and it's blockbuster vs blockbuster. If George Miller wins a major award for Mad Max: Fury Road,  that will satisfy all of the film's very vocal fans. But Alejandro Iñárritu, winner of the Director's Guild of America award, could win his second Best Director Oscar in a row. He won last year for Birdman, and he might win again, which would be a new achievement. I think Miller will win so they can avoid this repetition. If Ridley Scott was included, this would be interesting. Shockingly, he is absent. 

Will Win: George Miller
Could Win: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Should Win: George Miller
Should've Been Here: Ridley Scott- The Martian

Best Lead Actor:

Bryan Cranston- Trumbo
Matt Damon- The Martian
Leonardo DiCaprio- The Revenant 
Michael Fassbender- Steve Jobs 
Eddie Redmayne- The Danish Girl

It's Leo's year. I'd give him a 90% chance of walking away with his first Oscar, and those are probably conservative odds. If anything else happens I will be utterly shocked. This is his year. None of the other nominees sacrificed what he did for his demanding role as Hugh Glass. I think if anyone is taking his statue away, it's Matt Damon, but that's a very small chance. The Academy like to keep people happy, so they'll reward Leo for The Revenant. It's interesting that in a year where Eddie Redmayne looked likely to win back-to-back Oscars for his performance as a transgender in The Danish Girl, those early odds have evaporated. Fassbender and Cranston are recognized for stellar work, but their chances are pretty nonexistent.

Will Win: Leonardo DiCaprio
Could Win: Matt Damon
Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio
Should've Been Here: Ian McKellen- Mr. Holmes

Best Lead Actress:

Cate Blanchett- Carol
Brie Larson- Room
Jennifer Lawrence- Joy
Charlotte Rampling- 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan- Brooklyn

It's Brie Larson's year. Personally, I don't think it should be. Her performance is definitely deserving, but I believe it is Saoirse Ronan who should win for her delicately layered performance in Brooklyn. Larson is seeing that roles of abuse generally get a lot of attention from awards guilds. There is a lot of press surrounding Larson and her new "it-girl" status, and she's likely to repeat Jennifer Lawrence's ascent to stardom. She's already been cast in Kong: Skull Island, which is practically guaranteed to be a blockbuster. Speaking of Lawrence, all of the internet sources who say she can pull off a second win are so far from the truth. There is no chance she will win for a movie that has attracted so little attention. It's good to see Rampling nominated after a great and underappreciated career, and Blanchett also recently won. This will be Brie Larson's night, so don't bet against it.

Will Win: Brie Larson
Could Win: Saoirse Ronan
Should Win: Saoirse Ronan
Should've Been Here: Charlize Theron- Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Supporting Actor:

Christian Bale- The Big Short
Tom Hardy- The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo- Spotlight
Mark Rylance- Bridge of Spies
Sylvester Stallone- Creed 

This is one of the toughest categories to predict. Mark Rylance gives a truly "supporting" performance as Rudolf Abel, a convicted Soviet spy in Bridge of Spies. His performance is so subtle yet he commands attention in every scene. It's simple and elegant. The opposite is true of Sylvester Stallone in Creed. His performance is not quiet, it is very emotional and poignant. I think he deserves to win, and it would be a wonderful return to form for Stallone. This is a success story I think the Academy will like. Tom Hardy could even win just because of The Revenant's hype. But I think Rylance is the safest choice, and the smartest choice, seeing as he is a veteran stage actor just transitioning to film, with some good years obviously ahead of him if they capitalize on it. The Big Short and Spotlight are both ensemble movies so I cannot see them awarding any acting from those films.

Will Win: Mark Rylance
Could Win: Sylvester Stallone
Should Win: Sylvester Stallone
Should've Been Here: Jacob Tremblay- Room

Best Supporting Actress:

Jennifer Jason Leigh- The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara- Carol
Rachel McAdams- Spotlight
Alicia Vikander- The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet- Steve Jobs

This is probably the most stacked category, but there are still some clear front-runners. I wish Jennifer Jason Leigh would win because she seemed to work the hardest. Her role in The Hateful Eight was so vile and disgusting, and she was immensely committed to becoming that horrible and dark character. Kate Winslet looks like she could win her second Oscar for her role as Joanna Hoffman, the manager of Apple who assisted and often fought with Steve Jobs. Her performance really makes the movie, and she definitely had more of an effect on me than Fassbender did. If Winslet is the veteran, Alicia Vikander is the rookie of the year. Her role as the wife of a man who chooses to become a woman is incredibly poignant and so heartbreaking. She also had an amazing performance in Ex Machina as a female android, and an Oscar would likely be rewarding both performances, but choosing the more dramatic film to recognize her. In a movie that should have been about transgender rights, it ended up being about how they sometimes hurt the ones they love. It's gotten some criticism for this risky move, but this choice has made Vikander shine with one of the best breakout performances in recent memory.

Will Win: Alicia Vikander
Could Win: Kate Winslet
Should Win: Jennifer Jason Leigh
Should've Been Here: Jane Fonda- Youth

Best Original Screenplay:

Bridge of Spies- Joel & Ethan Coen, Matt Charman
Ex Machina- Alex Garland
Inside Out- Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley, Ronnie del Carmen
Spotlight- Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer
Straight Outta Compton- Jonathan Herman, Andrea Berloff, S. Leigh Savidge, Alan Wenkus

Bridge of Spies has one thing going for it and that's the Coen brothers. Unfortunately, they've won too many times (Fargo, No Country for Old Men) that they have no chance. I'd like to see Ex Machina get it because it's a fascinating script with a very complicated story of man vs machine that really blurs the line between humans and robots. Inside Out is also deserving, as its script was so complex and complicated for a children's film. However Spotlight is the clear winner. It's nominated for Best Picture, where it's a front-runner, and it's a script about writing. That is the kind of story the Academy likes to reward.

Also, Straight Outta Compton has no chance, because the Academy hates black people this year.

Will Win: Spotlight
Could Win: Inside Out
Should Win: Ex Machina
Should've Been Here: The Hateful Eight- Quentin Tarantino

Best Adapted Screenplay:

The Big Short- Adam McKay, Charles Randolph (The Big Short by Michael Lewis)
Brooklyn- Nick Hornby (Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín)
Carol- Phyllis Nagy (The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith)
The Martian- Drew Goddard (The Martian by Andy Weir)
Room- Emma Donaghue- (Room by Emma Donaghue)

I'm taking a shot in the dark. I have no idea who will, would, or should win this. I'm guessing The Big Short because it handles a dark subject with humor, but I honestly have no idea. All of these movies have awards-worthy scripts, characters, and dialogues. This is probably the category that best reflects the best talent of the year. Pick a random one, because it will be hard to figure out who gets the trophy.

Will Win: The Big Short
Could Win: Brooklyn
Should Win: The Big Short
Should've Been Here: Steve Jobs- Aaron Sorkin (Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson)

Best Animated Feature:

Anomalisa
Boy & the World
Inside Out
Shaun the Sheep Movie
When Marnie Was There

As the larger image for Inside Out suggests, there is no way it is losing this award.
1.) It's Pixar and Pixar always wins.
2.) The movie was a massive box office and critical success.
3.) It just missed a Best Picture nomination. So Inside Out has been a lock since June.

Will Win: Inside Out
Could Win: N/A
Should Win: Inside Out
Should've Been Here: The Peanuts Movie

Best Documentary Feature:

Amy
Cartel Land
The Look of Silence
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom
  
I cannot speak for any of the other nominees, but I can attest to Amy's greatness. Amy is an interesting story and a fantastically made film. The documentary is well paced with musical breaks of Winehouse's own songs, and it tells the story as true as it could ever be told after her death. It almost feels like you're watching a dramatic version of her life. I've head good things about The Look of Silence, but I'm betting on the one I saw.

Will Win: Amy
Could Win: The Look of Silence
Should Win: Amy

Best Original Score:

Bridge of Spies- Thomas Newman
Carol- Carter Burwell
The Hateful Eight- Ennio Morricone
Sicario- Jóhann Jóhannsson
Star Wars: The Force Awakens- John Williams

There really are only two contenders here. While I love the intense booms in Sicario, and the subtle tone shifts of Bridge of Spies' score, it's down to John Williams or Ennio Morricone, both veteran composers. Williams takes his iconic score from the original Star Wars, and modifies the key changes and passages to create music that sounds brand new, yet also nostalgic. His score makes the experience of Star Wars: The Force Awakens that much more exciting. Ennio Morricone also has some odes to the Westerns he used to compose like The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, and The Hateful Eight's score is so complex with so many moving parts, it's amazing to listen to. I'd say Morricone's score made my experience in The Hateful Eight much more enjoyable than it would have been with any other composer, so I'm picking his work to be rewarded. The overture for that film is just a ridiculously impressive feat that I do not believe will go unnoticed.

Will Win: The Hateful Eight
Could Win: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Should Win: The Hateful Eight or Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Should've Been Here: Inside Out

Best Original Song:

"Earned It" by The Weeknd- Fifty Shades of Grey
"Manta Ray" by J. Ralph- Racing Extinction
"Simple Song #3" by Sumi Jo- Youth
"Til It Happens to You" by Lady Gaga- The Hunting Ground
"Writing's on the Wall" by Sam Smith- Spectre

This category is really hard to predict as well. If you've heard Lady Gaga's "Til It Happens to You", from the documentary The Hunting Ground about campus rape, you know how immensely powerful it is. It's the kind of ballad she will nail at the live performance. She will probably get an Oscar since she's Lady Gaga, and she's transitioning into a more serious musician. But don't underestimate The Weeknd. He's coming up fast as a hot commodity, and even if it's for a terrible film like Fifty Shades of Grey, "Earned It" is still a great song.

Will Win: "Til It Happens to You"
Could Win: "Earned It"
Should Win: "Til It Happens to You"
Should've Been Here: "See You Again"

Best Costume Design:

Carol
Cinderella
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant

I'm confused as to why is The Revenant is here. The costumes are good, but certainly not something that ever caught my eye. The clothes in Carol are fantastic, but that same costume designer is nominated for her work in Cinderella, which is far more impressive. All anyone was talking about in March was how beautiful that blue dress was. The only competition is Mad Max: Fury Road, whose white gowns and "period-appropriate" clothing truly made the movie feel authentic. It's a tight race, but I'd give the edge to Cinderella.


Will Win: Cinderella
Could Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
Should Win: Cinderella

Best Set Design:

Bridge of Spies
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant

Mad Max: Fury Road is the only picture you need to see. While all the sets are good, there's just nothing like Mad Max's fast cars, sweeping desert landscapes, spiky trucks, and cave monuments. The setting is truly incredible. If it were anything else, I'd say The Revenant, but it did not really utilize designed sets.

Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
Could Win: The Revenant
Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Makeup/Hairstyling:

Mad Max: Fury Road
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of a Window and Disappeared
The Revenant

Another category Mad Max has in the bag.

Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Cinematography

Carol
The Hateful Eight
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Sicario

Easiest category of the night besides Inside Out for Best Animated Film. The camera angles and amazing cinematography from Emmanuel Lubezki, the winner of this category for the past two years for his work on Gravity and Birdman. It's stunning, sweeping, and so impressive. A lock.

Will, Could, Should Win: The Revenant

Best Visual Effects:

Ex Machina
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

There is a lot of great talent here. The only one that can't win is The Martian. As good as it is, it really uses traditional CGI effects and no new ground is broken. Ex Machina has amazing effects, but they're only on Ava's body to make her look like a robot. They're small and understated, so I don't think it has a good chance. Mad Max's visuals are fantastic, and its use of solely practical effects is a a narrative I think the Academy would like to reward. However, Star Wars combines both CGI and practical effects, and they have to give something to the biggest movie of the year, right? I predict that it will be The Revenant that will win for its incredible CGI bear attack scene. That bear was so realistic and so terrifying, that it will be rewarded.

Will Win: The Revenant
Could Win: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Should Win: The Revenant

Best Foreign Language Film:

Embrace of the Serpent (Colombia)
Mustang (France)
Son of Saul (Hungary)
Theeb (Jordan)
A War (Denmark)


Son of Saul is a lock. The film was a Cannes sensation and depicts the lives of the Hungarian POWs that the Nazis forced to work in their concentration camps. There's really nothing else that holds a candle to its amazing premise and supposed excellent execution.

Will and Should Win: Son of Saul

So here's my tally for the night

Mad Max: Fury Road- 4 (Director, Set Design, Makeup, Sound Editing)
Spotlight- 3 (Picture, O. Screenplay, Editing)
The Revenant- 3 (Actor, Cinematography, Visual Effects)
Amy- 1 (Documentary)
The Big Short- 1 (A. Screenplay)
Bridge of Spies- 1 (S. Actor) 
Cinderella- 1 (Costume Design)
The Danish Girl- 1 (S. Actress) 
The Hateful Eight- 1 (Score)
The Hunting Ground- 1 (Song)
Inside Out- 1 (Animated Feature) 
Room- 1 (Actress)
Son of Saul- 1 (Foreign Language Film) 
Star Wars: The Force Awakens- 1 (Sound Mixing)