Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

"Mad Max: Fury Road" is completely unique. Its visual appeal and creativity can't be denied, but it is also one of the strangest films that you will ever experience.  In a market where every genre is saturated with films that recycle the same concepts and ideas, it is rare to find a film as unique as this one.  It even feels unique when compared with the “Mad Max” films of the 80’s.  George Miller is no stranger to the film industry and "Fury Road" may be his masterpiece.  I think that it is really cool that Miller wrote a new chapter into his series 30 years after the last film.  Most of this story is told without dialogue.  The action is constant and the imagery drives the story for better or for worse (we will never forget the brief milking scene or the idea of a “blood bag”).  Immortan Joe’s mask is terrifying and the production team convincingly transformed all of the actors into nuclear holocaust survivors.  I appreciated the performances by Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, though any sort of emotion seems to be overshadowed by the previous and next action sequence.  This one won't be winning any Oscars in acting categories, but it will certainly make a run in categories like Production Design, Film Editing, and Sound Editing.  To be honest, I was a little bit disappointed with the film.  It had so much hype for its entire theatrical run, augmented by a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 97%, and I just did not receive the amount of character development as I expect from a critically acclaimed film.  Still, I will be the first to admit that I need to see it again to process everything that happened and may adjust my rating afterward.  My wife and I are still scratching our heads about the electric guitar guy (who we have discovered is named “The Doof Warrior”).  We assumed that he was symbolic or sort of reference to the original films, but apparently he is exactly what he appears to be: a flame-spewing guitarist who pumps up the rest of the troops.  I suppose that he left a big enough impression that he is the only character that I have discussed.  The most well-written character in the film is Nux and we grow attached to him because he undergoes the greatest transformation.  I look forward to watching this film again and believe that the sequels will be even better if they deliver the same amount of action while including a greater transformation of their characters.  There are a lot of cheesy sci-fi films from the 70's and 80's that involve vehicles ("Death Race 2000" is the first one that comes to mind), but the vehicles are perfectly incorporated into this film's creative atmosphere and they are just cool.  Everybody loves “Mad Max: Fury Road” for its creative post-apocalyptic story and constant stream of action.  I believe that the Academy Awards will acknowledge its effort and remind the film industry that action films can blow our minds with more than just the action. 

[Pictured: 'Mad Max: Fury Road" is action on top of action on top of action]

Dinosaur 13 - 7 stars out of 10

Dinosaur 13 - 7 stars out of 10

“Sue” was the thirteenth Tyrannosaurus rex ever unearthed.  You may wonder how a feature-length documentary about Sue could hold your attention; however, the fight for her custody after she was discovered is something that you have to see to believe.  The synopsis of “Dinosaur 13” gives the impression that it chronicles a paleontological dig but the focus of this documentary is actually on a ten-year battle with the FBI.  The film is very one-sided in its argument against the legal protection of fossils on public land but its narrow perspective will strongly engage your emotions, especially when Maurice Williams lays claim to Sue.  One great part of this film is that its main character can easily be visited at the Field Museum in Chicago.  Documentaries often tackle events or artifacts of the past that have faded into history, but this one chronicles the journey of something that we can still see today.  It follows in the present-a-documentary-as-a-crime-thriller technique that is in vogue and it succeeds.  “Dinosaur 13” is as gripping as most action films while presenting historical fact and persuasive arguments.  Definitely add this to your list of must-see documentaries, even if you don’t have an interest in science and paleontology.

[Pictured: A little insight into dinosaur excavation and a lot of insight into fossil law]

Spy (2015) - 5 stars out of 10

Spy (2015) - 5 stars out of 10

“Spy” delivers everything that you expect from a Melissa McCarthy movie.  Many of its slapstick moments will have you laughing out loud… but you will have to endure a barrage of 100 f-words to get to the end.  It is a shame because this story is very clever but the writers obviously don’t have enough confidence in their ability to write clever dialogue; instead, they defer to shock-value profanity as their main comedic device.  Probably the biggest travesty is the talent that they had to work with, including Jude Law, Jason Statham, Allison Janney, and Rose Byrne.  McCarthy’s oft-self-shaming-but-hilarious comedic delivery is enjoyable in the first hour as we tolerate the film’s 17 f-words, but everything goes out of control during the second half when the film becomes an all-out swearfest that completely overshadows a great twist and an action-packed final battle.  If I wanted to hear an hour of multiple f-words per minute, I would have watched “The Wolf of Wall Street.”  Actually, I wouldn’t have because that much profanity is entirely unnecessary.  In spite of the script, I think that this film really embraced the idea of a spy film.  It has the intrigue, exotic locations, car chase, epic shootout, and gadgets that we love in a Bond film, all permeated by McCarthy’s brand of slapstick comedy.  This aspect of the film is incredibly well done and I wish that I could have fully enjoyed it for what it is.  My rating of “Spy” seems like it would indicate that the film is average but it is actually the opposite.  My rating is meant to indicate that the cast and story are on par with the best comedy films out there but the script’s reliance on unnecessary profanity drags the entire film down.

[Pictures: The disguises.  Oh, the disguises.  So many great moments in this film.]

Cake (2014) - 4 stars out of 10

Cake (2014) - 4 stars out of 10

The ingredients of “Cake” sound like a delicious treat but something went wrong with this recipe.  You would expect big name actors, a few amazing performances, a mysterious situation, and an impressive character transformation to add up to a great film but instead, it just drags on.  I fell asleep twice because there is basically no action and the pacing puts the story into slow motion.  Even with this low rating, I still recommend watching this film because it is the best performance of Jennifer Aniston's career.  She taps into a dark place for this refined performance that earned her nominations from the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild.  We don’t understand why she is so low (until it is vaguely implied much later in the movie), but her pitiful state of depression and chronic pain create a strong connection to the character.  Her final scene is subtle yet powerful.  Meanwhile, Adriana Barraza shines in her moment to really showcase her acting skills and then spends the rest of the film supporting Aniston’s character in a very real way.  To keep the focus on Aniston’s journey, the other characters are each only present for one or two short scenes.  This includes well-known actors like William H. Macy (who was definitely underutilized but it makes sense for his character), Britt Robertson, Sam Worthington, Chris Messina, and of course Anna Kendrick.  It could almost be considered an “ensemble cast” if they all didn’t disappear from the screen so quickly.  This film is a total downer so be prepared for that at the onset.  If you are expecting a typical Aniston role, think again.  “Cake” is a snail-paced drama but is worth a watch if you appreciate subtle acting and realism.

[Pictured: It is rare to see Aniston without a smile, but these sad emotions really shine]

The Rescuers (1977) - 7 stars out of 10

The Rescuers (1977) - 7 stars out of 10

I like a lot of things about “The Rescuers.”  The film has beautiful imagery, particularly the pastel skies and animal animation during “Someone’s Waiting for You.”  Madame Medusa is a pretty scary villain (probably because she feels very “Miss Hannigan”).  The use of music when the crocodiles are trying to get the mice out of the organ creates some amazing comical moments.  But this film is noticeably missing Walt's touch.  Something about it resonates “good” instead of “classic,” which is why few claim this to be their favorite Disney movie.  One reason that it doesn’t feel like a traditional Disney film is because the songs are sung as part of the narrative instead of by the film’s characters.  Shelby Flint’s voice is perfectly suited for the mellow folk songs written for the film, but perhaps the writers could have better incorporated other songs into the storyline.  I do love the way that the opening scene leads into a series of still paintings (each of which is worthy of hanging in a museum) that depict the journey of the Help bottle as it travels to New York, and these images fit well with Flint’s rendition of “Who Will Rescue Me.”  But there are other montages that drag on and seem unnecessary.  There is nothing wrong with this device - it is just overused.  It would have been reasonable to keep “Who Will Rescue Me” and “Someone’s Waiting for You” (which are both very effective) but add a ballad sung by Rufus the cat, a villainous song for Medusa, and a heartwarming song for Penny.  Another issue is the inconsistency in the animation.  Some of the backgrounds are stunning, and others reminded me of "Scooby Doo."  At first, the story seems surprisingly dark but in historical context, it foreshadows films like “The Fox and the Hound” and “The Black Cauldron” that would follow in the 80’s.  Still, shoving an orphan into a flooding cavern to retrieve a diamond is enough to scare any kid.  The voice acting meets the expectation of most Disney films.  The young Michelle Stacy (perfectly cast as Penny) got to act alongside big names like Eva Gabor, Bob Newhart, and Geraldine Page.  One of the most important voice actors is Jimmy MacDonald (Evinrude), following up performances in Snow White (Dopey, yodeling Dwarfs), Cinderella (Jaq and Gus), Alice in Wonderland (Dormouse), Lady and the Tramp (howling pound dogs), and most importantly as the voice of Mickey Mouse from 1947-1977.  I would’ve liked to hear more from Pat Buttram’s character.  His voice is so distinct that it enhances any Disney movie (Sheriff of Nottingham in “Robin Hood,” Chief in “Fox and the Hound”).  The local animals feel mostly like an afterthought that we only incorporated to resolve the conflict.  “The Rescuers” contains all of the pieces for a classic Disney film, but its inconsistencies and departures from the winning Disney equation leave it lacking the spark that keeps us coming back.

[Pictured: The artistry present throughout the film is the true reason to watch]

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 - 9 stars out of 10

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 - 9 stars out of 10
1300th Review

“Mockingjay - Part 2” is everything that we had hoped it would be.  This conclusion to “The Hunger Games” completes the transformation of characters like Katniss and Peeta, brings the story to an unexpected conclusion, and serves up some of the most intense action sequences of the entire series.  One of the main criticisms of the film series was the splitting of “Mockingjay” into two parts but, now that I have seen both parts, I feel confident that this was the right decision.  Unlike several other film franchises that have elected to split their final installment into two parts, the content justifies the decision in this instance.  A one-part conclusion in excess of 3 hours would been inappropriate for the franchise’s target audience, but anything less would have required important events to be pared down or cut completely.  Probably the first things that would have been thinned out is the development of President Coin and the progressive breakdown of Peeta, both of which are vital to the ending of the series.  I agree that the events of Part 1 act mostly as a preface for the conclusion but if you rushed through them, the ending would feel ineffective.  Neither of the Mockingjay films are as good of a stand-alone film as the first two installments, hence them being called “Part 1” and “Part 2” since they work together to complete the story without feeling rushed.  Everything about this finale is great, from powerful acting performances by Jennifer Lawrence, Julianne Moore, Josh Hutcherson, and Donald Sutherland, to its unexpected twist and incredible special effects.  The “Pan’s Labyrinth”-esque mutts are among the most terrifying creatures that I have ever seen on-screen.  They seemed a bit out of place within the story but made for the most intense sequence of the entire series.  I also like how the main characters are placed into a figurative Hunger Games without the series saying “Hey, we’re going to make them do the Hunger Games again.”  James Newton Howard’s score soars throughout this film, enhancing every emotional moment with romanticized string melodies that capture the tragedies that have occurred in Panem.  My biggest criticism of the film is that they glossed over a very important event involving Primrose and missed a chance for Lawrence to shine even brighter; still, Lawrence continues to establish herself as one of the best actresses of this generation.  This film will always be notable as Philip Seymour Hoffman’s final film and I find it appropriate that the writers allowed the performance to remain “natural” by writing his character out of scenes that were shot posthumously instead of adding him via CGI.  At every turn, the producers of this franchise have made decisions that have led to success.  Dystopian fiction is in vogue right now but few films will endure time as well as this series.  While “The Maze Runner,” “The Giver,” and “Divergent” will all drift away, “The Hunger Games” will be the series that this generation of teenagers will share with their own children someday.  “Mockingjay - Part 2” is a poignant and exciting conclusion to “The Hunger Games” franchise that has guaranteed its popularity for generations to come.

For my review of Part 1, click here: http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-1-9.html

[Pictured: Lawrence established a new expectation of acting quality for pop culture films]

The Kite Runner - 8 stars out of 10

The Kite Runner - 8 stars out of 10

"The Kite Runner" is a gripping drama that tackles difficult content and gives us a glimpse into modern Afghan life.  It also gives an interesting perspective into kite flying tournaments, which I never realized we're a thing.  The film's acting performances are so realistic that you will forget that you are watching fiction.  You will feel frustration and anger toward some of the actors because they are so convincing.  The story is adapted from the 2003 New York Times bestseller of the same name to deliver a combination of heartwarming moments (the childhood friendship of Amir and Hassan) and heart wrenching ones (racism against Hassan, the portrayal of the Taliban).  The highs and lows are connected by excellent character development and the theme of loyalty.  I was under the impression that this was a family movie... Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it is a foreign language film, and even more when I discovered some of the content!  A few details are suggested instead of shown to keep the film tasteful, but this is definitely a film better suited for mature audiences.  If you are in the mood to have a good cry or to have your faith restored in peoples' ability to change and do the right thing, "The Kite Runner" is for you.  If you are not in the mood for either of these things, stay far away.

[Pictured: This film will make you see Afghanistan in a new way.]