TERMINATOR: THE BEGINNING OF A NEW/OLD FRANCHISE

So let’s talk Terminator! The franchise has had its share of issues.  The first two are iconic. The third one is forgettable at best and the fourth got more press for Christian Bale’s rant than quality of film. Here we go again, a much older Arnold and younger recast of the first films iconic characters. Is there still gas in the tank or are we better off just watching the original.

  The future is controlled by machines. Humans are on the verge of extinction, but one man teaches them to fight back. John Connor leads the resistance to wipe out the evil machines led by the super computer Skynet. The war is ending and the machines are losing, but Skynet creates time travel and sends back a terminator to kill the mother of its enemy.  John Connor sends back the lone soldier Kyle Reese to protect her. Stop me if you’ve seen this before. Things get interesting when we deal with time travel. This film gives a new take on the original story. 

What works is Arnold! He plays an old, but not obsolete cyborg. He delivers and they use his age well in the story. The special effects are on par and the robot fights are great. Emilia Clarke from Game of Thrones is a good Sarah Connor, but it’s tough to knock what Linda Hamilton did. Jai Courtney is a star, but I don’t think he’s found that role yet. He is ok as Kyle Reese, but Michael Bien still owns the role. That being said, I still really liked both of them. Good chemistry with Arnold and they seemed to handle the pressure of their characters pretty well.

What didn’t work? John Connor as he villain! It’s not a spoiler. If you have seen the trailers, you already know this. I like his crazy version of a terminator, but I don’t like the savior of the human race as the bad guy. I am not knocking Jason Clark, but I would have liked seeing this version of the terminator be something other than John Connor.

 The time line thing is still a little convoluted, but it is fun to watch. The nods to the original and its first sequel are fantastic. It is by far a better take than we have been given recently. It was fun to watch and fits nicely into the summer movie season. I hope it gets a sequel because I would like to see where they take things next.  One thing is for sure, if a sequel is green-lit, I’ll be back!

SPIDER MAN IS A HETEROSEXUAL WHITE GUY. PERIOD

I cannot believe I am taking the time to actually blog about this, but it is Sunday night and I am bored. Marvel Comics has struck gold in recent years. Their cinematic universe is on fire and they have characters that are global icons. Today this little nugget of news dropped: 

Big news, True Believers. The New York Daily News reports that, in the aftermath of Marvel's summer blockbuster series Secret Wars, Miles Morales will take center stage as the face of the company's relaunched Spider-Man title. The new series will be led by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli, who created the character in 2011, and will effectively replace the Spider-Man titles that were recently cancelled in the run-up to the event.

"IT'S THE REAL SPIDER-MAN."

The decision to bring Miles to the fore reportedly comes as a response to calls to bring Miles to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man, will still be behind the mask for the upcoming Spider-Man reboot, Marvel is taking the opportunity to make Morales that much more important to the iconic superhero's mythos, especially as it continues to strive for diversity. "Our message has to be it’s not Spider-Man with an asterisk, it’s the real Spider-Man for kids of color, for adults of color and everybody else," Bendis told the paper.

 It's not the real Spider-Man. The real Spider-Man is Peter Parker. The  news that he the character in the movies cannot be black or gay is accurate. Peter Parker is neither because that isn't the way he was created. Sorry. I am not looking to come across as insensitive, but when does this crap stop? 

 I am not knocking the character. I agree that we need heroes that are not just heterosexual white dudes, but stop with the mixed message. Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, and countless others are already heroes and role models for young kids. It has nothing to do with their skin color. It has everything to do in the way in which those characters are written to carry themselves. 

 I agree that there should be multi-racial and homosexual heroes, but here is an idea. Create one!!! Teach kids to use their minds and stop recycling and changing old ideas. The changing of a flagship character is sending the wrong message. Take a look at the world. The fact that we have become so ridiculously politically correct is part of the problem. 

 I don't have a problem with the Miles Morales version of Spider-Man existing in the same universe. I have a problem with the Marvel execs high five-ing themselves over what they think is the right idea. Our heroes are who they are because of what they do. Their skin color should never define them. Lesson not learned Marvel. 

JURASSIC WORLD: UNEARTHING A GREAT SEQUEL

     The original Jurassic Park really impressed movie goers. The effects, given the time, were considered amazing. It changed the way we looked at movies and left people with a pretty good impression of the franchise. It's two sequels did anything but. Hollywood is keeping with it's trend of reviving things over new concepts. Here we are twenty two years later and we are going back to the world of computer generated dinosaurs.

 Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark interest in the park. A genetically engineered dinosaur that is truly the apex predator. Owen Grady is on the island to work with velociraptors and does his best to protect them from the impending military use. Enter a couple of young children trapped in the middle of the chaos and we are deep into Jurassic World. 

  The look of this film is incredible. The dinosaurs look real and the wow factor is still there. The film does a great job in not only referencing, but paying tribute to the original. Chris Pratt is a superstar. Make no mistake about it. There are rumors that he could be the next Indiana Jones and he really should be. He is by far the coolest character in the movie. 

  It's a movie with monster fights, drama, the right amount of comedy, and a decent pace. The franchise is definitely back. It quickly makes you forget about the other failed sequels. It has a good feel and sets up the next adventure. Jurassic World is everything a summer blockbuster should be. Get some popcorn and see it on the big screen. 

AVENGERS: AGE OF EVEN MORE HYPE

    Marvel has been hitting home runs for a few years now. There is a lot of hype and expectations riding on The Avengers: Age of Ultron. It has a large cast, familiar characters, and incredible fan base. Now we finally get to see if all of it is enough to strike more box office gold.

   The team is immediately together mopping up the events after Winter Soldier. Their hunt for Loki's missing scepter has concluded and they are enjoying some downtime. Stark and Banner begin attempting to create an artificial intelligence and accidentally release a great evil into the world. The team once again must save the world. New enemies become allies and old allies hope the Tony Stark is smart enough to create something that can save the world before it;s too late.

  James Spader is Ultron and he is magnificent. The right amount of attitude mixed with humor. I think die hard fans will appreciate the way Spader brings him to live though it is only his voice. The one flaw with Ultron is familiarity. If feels like we get a little of the same old same old. Large amounts of robots that look like Iron Man. They serve no purpose other that being fodder for the Avengers.

  The Vision is well known among comic fans, but will be new to the casual movie goer. The character is tough to translate into the semi-realistic world that Whedon created, but they do an amazing job. Paul Betany looks fantastic and the character it by far one of the coolest in the film.

  In the majority of his movies, it's Robert Downey Jr. who steals the show. He certainly holds his own, but this is kind of Hawkeye's movie. The character is fleshed out more and given something more to do. He shows slightly more humor and is given a bigger role on the team. We don't know what his future will become, but hopefully we see him back.

 Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch make their debut in this one. Their back stories are altered, but they play well into the story. The downside is they come at the expense of screen time of some of the bigger characters.

  In the end, the movie is filled with characters, Easter eggs, and teases of what's to come for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Avengers: Age of Ultron has a lot to live up to. The first one will always hold a special place. There is something about seeing all those characters together at once on screen that is magic. This go around, their is still magic. It's big, plot driven, and a lot of fun.

A Furious Farewell

      It's been a long time coming. The Fast and Furious Franchise makes a lot of money. The last 3 films have truly been the best of the bunch, but with Paul Walker's untimely passing, no one knew what was next? The film was re written. The cast returned to filming. The final product is in theaters now. You can't help but feel sorry for the cast and crew, but this film truly embraces the idea of the show going on. Is it too much to overcome or a fitting tribute to someone gone too soon?

Dom and the crew thought they got their lives back. They defeated an international terrorist named Owen Shaw and came home with their freedom. But now, Shaw's brother, Deckard Shaw is out killing the crew one by one for revenge. Worse, a Somalian terrorist called Jakarde, and a shady government official called "Mr. Nobody" are both competing to steal a computer terrorism program called God's Eye, that can turn any technological device into a weapon. Dom must put the team together to stop Shaw,,retrieve the God's Eye program, and settle the score.

   Furious 7 requires some suspension of disbelief. Most of theses movies do, but more so here. The stunts are bigger and over the top, but these films have evolved. There is a real story and characters that we care about even beyond Walker's Brian O'Connor. The cast has incredible chemistry and you can tell they love to make these beyond profit. The stunts are fun and stuff in Abu Dhabi is some of the best.

  The film takes us to new places, but also takes us home in a sense. The house in California and Race Wars all feature. We also finally make it to Tokyo and deal with Haan's passing. The transition is seem less, but Lucas Black has little more than a cameo. The movie does wrap up loose ends and the biggest of which we will get to.

  The action is top notch. The fight between the Rock and Jason Statham is early and epic. It's got cars, exotic locations, a good story, new characters, old faces, and purpose. Furious 7 is more than just the latest chapter in the life of Dominic Toretto. It is the end of an era. One last ride. Paul Walker was there from the start. You can tell how hard they worked. He is in the film without being in the film. I felt like I knew where the rewrites came into play. There will probably be a Furious 8, but it will be without Paul Walker. So will every other installment. The film ties up loose ends as best they could. It has a few flaws, but it is a fitting tribute. The last scenes of the movie are beyond touching. CG or not. In the end, Furious 7 is worth one last ride.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FkT-EOZPQs

Insurgent :Defying The Typical Teen Novel Movie

      Teen novels made into movies is nearly as big a trend as comic book movies. Some make a lot of money and others fail. Divergent is profitable. The first had romance, but the society introduced was an intriguing one beyond it's intended age group. Bigger effects, bigger budget, bigger expectations, and Insurgent now hits theaters nationwide. 

Tris (Shailene Woodley) must confront her inner demons and search for her friends. Her relationship with Four (Theo James) continues to grow as powerful forces threaten to tear her society apart. Her world is on the brink of war and Tris will learn if Divergent is a flaw or the key to a better future.

     The cast comes across more comfortable this go around. I like that the plot is simple and doesn't try to do too much. Sequels some times make the mistake of dragging things out causing too much down time. Insurgent doesn't make that mistake. There is a good balance of time between plot and action. I also appreciated that the romance between Tris and Four feels natural. There is chemistry and it's paced well. The special effects are solid and the film doesn't need to completely rely on the them to keep you into the story. The world may be a little confusing to some and there are still plenty of hidden metaphors, but the all work. 

    
      Miles Teller steals the show. You hate him, but at the same time you love the fact that you hate him. I like him in this,but that will go away in the Fantastic Four reboot. He has plenty of talent and has come along way since Footloose. My one flaw with the film is too much time on Tris and Four. There are a lot of other characters that needed more screen time and development. I won't hold that against the film over all and I was loving the abrupt ending. I believe Insurgent manages a rare feet. It's a sequel that is better than the first. 

Chappie: Heart, but not enough of it

    In 2016, crime is patrolled by an oppressive robotic police force. When one police droid, 22, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself. Sounds interesting right? The trailer looks cute right? So is Chappie worth the watch? 

    Yes and no. Neil Blomkamp is the director and if you liked Elysium and District 9, you will probably love Chappie. The movie, like all of Blomkamp's, is based in South Africa. Blomkamp is from there and you have to respect his hometown pride. That being said, the film is very foreign in feel. The actors, the environment, the situations. It make some of the dialogue dificult to understand and the area makes it hard to relate. Still, Chappie does have its moments. 

    Dev Patel and Hugh Jackman play rival engineers. Patel successfully creates artificial intelligence, but loses his creation to a street gang that aims to use it to gain millions of dollars. The gang teaches Chappie to shoot guns, use ninja weapons, and talk in very jumbled slang. Sharlto Copley has been in all of Blomkamp's  films and returns to voice Chappie. The story is OK and it's a bit rough around the edges, but underneath the film has something. 

    Watching Chappie get picked on makes it hard to not have sympathy for him. The underlying message of being different is OK is strong. The film has heart and it's moments, but their might not be enough for casual audiences. It's not a summer blockbuster, but it something to have a little fun with and forget about life for 120 minutes.