My Top 10 of 2015

Another year is coming to a close and it has been a highly successful year for movies, especially going into the latter half of this year. From a kinky BDSM novel adaptation, a fairy tale brought to life, and a high-octane series saying goodbye to a series regular to the twenty-fourth Bond adventure, the park reopened, and audiences returned to a galaxy far, far away. Of course, there was a Marvel movie involved as well.

Out of all of those films, I've narrowed it all down to a top 10 list for this year:

10) Avengers: Age of Ultron

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's A-Team of superheroes reunited again with reinforcements to battle a villainous artificial intelligence program from ending the world. While it wasn't as good as the first Avengers film, it held its own with amazing special effects and giving each hero screen time. Another great installment in the successful Marvel Franchise with the ending result having a major ripple effect on the established world, setting the stage for Captain America: Civil War.

9) The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

The Hunger Games film series took up the mantle left behind by Harry Potter as a successful adaptation of young adult novels that reaches far behind its intended audience. The final film brought an epic conclusion to the series as Katniss took on the Captiol, seeking to bring change to the world of Panem. As a fan of the novel, I was impressed with the movies than the novel (which was the weakest of the three). While I didn't think the novel, which is the same length as the other two, it proved to be beneficial in providing a satisfying end to the film series that launched Jennifer Lawrence into the stratosphere.

8) Spectre

A lot has been said about the role of James Bond as Daniel Craig prepared for the release of his fourth outing as the secret agent. From media reports, the spectrum has run from Craig saying he isn't done to him saying that he was exhausted and tired of the role. With the future of 007 and Craig's status left unknown, I would say that he left the franchise better than when he found it with Spectre. A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a mission to uncover a sinister organization that holds ties to him while M (Ralph Fiennes) battles to keep the secret service alive. With amazing action, stunts, a soulful theme performed by Sam Smith, and anchored by a strong performance by Craig, Spectre is another strong installment in the James Bond franchise while we await to see if Daniel Craig will suit up for a fifth run.

7) Straight Outta Compton

If there was one surprise that I had this year, it was this film. Usually, biofilms about music stars don't fair well in the box office. They don't seem fit to last but this one goes against the norm. The engaging performance by a solid cast of newcomers channeling the energy of the infamous rap group from Compton, N.W.A., helped carry the film to the top of the box office in August. Produced about Ice Cube and Dr. Dre,, who provided their expertise because they lived the events, and directed by F. Gary Gray, the ups and downs of the group and richly observed, enjoyed by audiences.

6) Creed

Now this one gave me a bit of trouble in my top 10. Not that it wouldn't make the list but where to place it! But considering the rest of my list, this is as high as I could go. In my review, I labeled Creed as Rocky 7. I still stick with that statement but it doesn't take away from the power of the film. Creed chronicled the young underdog Adonis Johnson, the illegitimate son of former world champion and Rocky's rival, Apollo Creed. This film is not only about Johnson's personal journey but Rocky Balboa's (Slyvester Stallone) as well. Michael B. Jordan gave a commanding performance as the young Creed, fighting his way out of the shadow of his father and Stallone's performance was inspiring, just enough to earn him a Golden Globe nomination and possibly an Oscar nomination. I definitely recommend this film to any fan of the previous Rocky films or wanting to bring new fans to the series with a gritty film.

5) Mad Max: Fury Road

We get to the top five now! The last Mad Max film premiered 30 years ago in 1985. The fourth film has sat in "developmental hell" since then and it didn't seem like it would see the light of the camera again. This year, we were treated to a new film. Fury Road follows Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) as he joined forces with Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) to take on the cult of Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne). It has been named one of the best movies of the year by critics and publications. With exhilarating action and praise for acting, screenplay, stunts, and humor, Mad Max: Fury Road is an impressive installment in the Mad Max franchise. Hopefully, we won't have to wait 30 years for the next installment.

4) Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The current box office king had to end up on my top 10 list. I remember watching the re-release for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope during its 20th anniversary. I fell in love with that universe, and while I wasn't really impressed with the prequel trilogy, I was so excited when I heard about Episode VII. Set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi, a new band of heroes join forces with the original heroes to take one a new dark force in the galaxy. Audiences young and old, fans of the films and newcomers will be astonished by the work done by J.J. Abrams. It was like greeting old friends and bringing new ones into a family that we haven't seen for years. This film continues to shatter box office records even now so I suggest everyone get on board.

3) Jurassic World

The park is open. 22 years after the first Jurassic Park film, the park on the island of Isla Nublar has been open to the public and audiences returned to the land of genetically created dinosaurs. Chris Pratt joined the franchise as Owen Grady, a Velociraptor expert and trainer at the park who helps out Bryce Dallas Howard's Claire, the park's operations manager when her nephews go missing in the park and a hybrid dinosaur escapes from its prison. The score, acting, along with the direction of Colin Trevorrow helped carry this film, which broke records as well before The Force Awakens came around. An exciting summer flick that has complete rewatchability.

2) The Martian

I've read the novel so I had to see the movie. Once again, the world had to go save Matt Damon and got a huge payday out of it. The Ridley Scott-directed science fiction film is based on the novel, where Damon stars as Mark Watney, an astronaut who is mistakenly presumed dead and left behind on Mars, learning how to survive while rescue attempts are made to bring him home. The film is funny and thrilling, having a "last man on Earth" feel to it. I can tell that NASA had a huge involvement and real science seemed very involved in making this film. It makes attempts to be realistic and a real human story of survival on a barren planet. If you are looking for a true science fiction film that you can watch again and again and a real human story that the science is supporting, here it is.

1) Kingsman: The Secret Service

Talk about rewatchability! This amazing movie surprised a lot of audiences early this year, bringing some fun to the spy genre. This British-American spy film is stylish and, overall, just pure fun. Starring Colin Firth as a member of a spy organization who recruits a young juvenile with promise into the group and at the right time in order to stop Samuel L. Jackson's tech villain. It's better when it doesn't make sense, that doesn't stop Kingsman from being enjoyable. The overall favorite scene is the wonderfully choreographed church scene. Overall, I felt like this film was the best of this year.

I hope you all have seen these movies at least once (or many times!) but if not, this is a list of films you could watch as the new year comes. I'll be putting out a list of my top 10 for 2016 soon!

Happy New Year, everyone!

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' brings the Force back to audiences of many generations with an exuberant adventure wrapped around epic mythology

There are very few movies that becomes a part of pop culture and transcending generations like Star Wars. From the original trilogy to the prequel trilogy, television shows, video games, merchandise; Star Wars is a phenomenon that everyone has heard about, whether they have seen the movies or not. If someone is interested in the films and start to watch them, they jump on a hyperspace ride of the epic space battle between good and evil. After Return of the Jedi in 1983, fans, new and old, wondered what came of the heroes of the Rebellion. This weekend, the answer was given. 

The wait is over. I, along with other Star Wars fans around the world, stopped panting and were able to breathe as we took our seats in theaters for J.J. Abrams The Force Awakens. Abrams' Episode VII installment delivers exactly what you want it to: a rollicking adventure encased in epic mythology, a perfect amount of fan service that fires your geekiest impulses, and a perfect cliffhanger ending that paves the way for future installments. In a way, Abrams accomplished the same he did with 2009's Star Trek reboot prequel. He took a worshiped pop-culture franchise with a rabid legion of disciples, treated it with respect to what came before, and made it matter again. Abrams had huge shoes to fill and, in a way, The Force Awakens is about exactly that - being worthy of the legacy that came before you. 

I didn't plan on keeping a distance away from theaters for the first Star Wars movie in a decade (I bought Thursday night tickets for a 10:30 showing the day tickets went on sale). As I took my seats and everyone who brought their FX lightsabers powered them down, I'd be lying if I didn't feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and salute as the familiar opening of John Williams' score struck up in the IMAX theater and the familiar opening crawl of text rolled up the screen. I was 8 years old again, seeing remastered edition of A New Hope in theaters for the first time. Now, I'm going to refrain from spoiling the film but I feel like the informative text crawl is fair game: Luke Skywalker has vanished. The First Order has risen from the ashes of the Evil Galatic Empire and is hellbent on finding the older Jedi and destroying him. Princess Leia (now going by the title of General Leia Organa) is leading the Resistance and sends her best pilot to the planet of Jakku to find clues about Luke's whereabouts. 

In this new generation's clash between the forces of good and evil, our heroes are Oscar Issac's Poe Dameron, the hotshot pilot dispatched by General Leia for info about Luke, the stand-out star Daisy Ridley as Rey, a headstrong and fiery Jakku scavenger who possess powers she's not aware of yet, and John Boyega as Finn, a disillusioned Stormtrooper whose conscience causes him to switch sides. There also wouldn't be a group of heroes without a droid so BB-8, the rolling gyroscopic weeble that might take over the favorite droid position in the eyes of female fans, a position that R2-D2 has held for decades. On the Dark Side are Domhnall Gleeson's General Hux, a more fiery version of Grand Off Tarkin from A New Hope, Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, a powerful but arrogant Dark Lord that seems to emulate Darth Vader with a metallic duck-billed muzzle that renders his voice in a digitized growl; and a CGI heavy Supreme Leader Snoke, who looked like a large version of the aliens from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, voiced by Andy Serkis, 

It's not hard to keep these characters straight and whose side they are on but one of the best (and weakest) things to me about the movie is that these characters all feel like familiar archetypes, making me feel like we are watching Star Wars: The Next Generation. But Abrams and his co-writers, Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt have not just one, but several aces up their sleeves. If you have seen any of the previous trailers I've posted or the TV spots, you know what I mean: Han Solo, Leia, Chewie, C-3P0, R2-D2, Luke, and even that piece of junk that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs, the Millennium Falcon. 

 

It goes to show you that Abrams & Co. put a lot of thought and love into integrating all of these familiar (if slightly more weathered) faces with the new players in a way that feels organic rather than forcing it down audiences' throats. The filmmakers understood what made George Lucas' original trilogy magical, and they successfully recaptured that magic. 

Having seen the movie twice (going for a third soon), I know how easy it is to get swept up into the adventure, the nostalgia, and John Williams' superb score that you forget how easy The Force Awakens feels vaguely familiar to A New Hope. I won't go into details (I promised no spoilers!) but while it feels lazy, it works. Like Abrams' Star Trek reboot, The Force Awakens blends in humor and has a lighter touch than the previous Star Wars films. Its aerial dogfights are dizzying and thrilling and its CGI does not feel cheap as it did in Lucas' prequels, which this film surely surpasses in every way. When The Force Awakens ends, it feels bittersweet to leave these characters you have been introduced or reintroduced to because you badly want to get to the next chapter in the saga, especially with the ending. So while the wait is officially over, a new waiting game begins for Episode VIII.

In one weekend, this movie has shattered box office records, raising the financial bar for other films that will come after it. I cannot say enough how much I loved this movie and how it pleased me as a fan to take the journey back to that galaxy far, far away from our own. Take your grandparents, children, and those not yet initiated into the ways of the Force. 

I won't be back until after Christmas so everyone have a wonderful holiday season. May The Force Be With You.

'Creed' packs plenty of knockout power

For all intents and purposes, Creed is Rocky 7. Let me get that out of the way right now. It's a way for the legacy that Sylvester Stallone started in 1976. However, it would be a mistake to be put off by the late stage number of this franchise. Under the direction of director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station), Creed delivers with force that has not been seen since the first two Rocky films.

Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station, Fantastic Four) reteaming with Coogler plays Adonis Johnson - the out of wedlock son of Rocky's former rival-turned-friend, Apollo Creed. From the start, you see young Johnson angry that he didn't know his father. He was saved from a troubled childhood by Apollo's widow (Phylicia Rashad). Now grown and hungry to make a name for himself, Johnson refuses to use his famous surname, starting to fight down in Mexico before making his way to Philadelphia. He finds the retired boxer-turned-restaurant owner Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) and begs him to train him. After initially refusing, the aging Italian Stallion's reluctance melts as he sees that Adonis reminds him of the young kid reminds him of himself back when he was a hungry but no-hope southpaw looking for an opportunity. Under Balboa's tutelage, Johnson finds what he has been looking for when the opportunity presents itself.

Now, I'm not saying that Creed is any different from other boxing movies. It's as formulaic and sentimental as you'd expect any Rocky movie to be, but Jordan and Stallone (looser and more vulnerable than he's been in 30 years) provide the film with fire and soul and an undeniable, emotional intensity. Stallone's performance has been critically acclaimed and earning him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor along with rumors of a possible Oscar nod. I think it's due to the maturity and self-confidence that Stallone has not been able to show in previous films.

Overall, Creed is a film about fathers and legacy for both Johnson and Balboa. It more than preserves the legacy of the Rocky franchise and it reminds you of what made the movie great in the first place. I definitely consider it to be one of the year's best films and a possible underdog for best film once the Oscar nominations are announced. 

They have returned in the first 'Independence Day: Resurgence' trailer

In 1996, Independence Day redefined the science fiction disaster film genre forever and set a new standard for future films. The groundbreaking special effects along with the score and acting helped carry the film. It made science fiction fun again and brought that genre back to the forefront in movies. For years, rumors swirled around Hollywood about a sequel. Considering how the first film ended, I think it would be hard to make a sequel. Difficulties with the plot, the number of sequels, getting Will Smith to return, and other issues halted the project. Now, 20 years later, Director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day after Tomorrow, White House Down) brings the aliens for some payback.

From the trailer, a lot of advancements have been made by humankind using what remained of the alien technology left after the first attack, using it to protect the world. The unknown danger of the aliens' return has plagued the survivors of that war. Their fears seemed to be realized by David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) discovering active alien structures in a desert. From there, we see the characters, old and new, look as the aliens have made their return, bigger and more destructive than ever.

The official premise of the film:

"We always knew they would come back. After Independence Day redefined the event movie genre, the next chapter delivers catastrophe on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens' advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction."

The film brings back Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox, and Brent Spiner reprising their roles from the original film. Newcomers include Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games film series), Jessie Usher (Starz TV Series Survivor's Remorse) to portray the role of the stepson of Smith's character and Sela Ward (CSI: NY, Gone Girl) as U.S. President Lanford.

Because of the twenty year gap between the two films, a fictional "commemorative" historic site has been established to cover that time period since the "War of 1996" at www.warof1996.com.

Independence Day: Resurgence will be released on June 24, 2016.

For everyone else's entertainment, here is one of the best speeches I've ever seen in film. Tell me it doesn't still give you chills:

Darkness has come in the first preview for 'X-Men: Apocalypse'

For everyone who has eagerly awaits to crowd theaters in a week for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (like myself!), we were excited to hear that the first trailer for the next installment in the X-Men film franchise would be one of the first previews we would see before traveling to that galaxy far, far away. It seems that 20th Century Fox decided to unleash the first preview ahead of schedule to match up with the previous two releases for next year's superhero epics: Warner Bros Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Marvel Studios Captain America: Civil War. 

The preview sets the stage for possibly the best X-Men film ever with the younger versions of our favorite mutants being shown as Jean Grey (Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner), Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), and Jubilee (Lana Condor) have been found by Charles Xavier (James McAvoy). Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) has rejoined her former family in a stronger leadership role as she fights alongside the X-Men, including Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee), the returning Quicksilver (Evan Peters), and the other newcomers to face the world's first mutant, Apocalypse (Oscar Issac) and save humanity. 

Apocalypse has his four horsemen by his side with a young Ororo Munroe/Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Psylocke (Olivia Munn), Archangel (Ben Hardy), and Eric Lehnsherr/Magneto (Michael Fassbender). We don't get a good look at Psylocke's abilities but Archangel looks like he will be better introduced in this timeline than he was in X-Men: The Last Stand. From the preview, Apocalypse is a mutant that Xavier fears, due to his power and ability to control all mutants. Xavier is also needed by Apocalypse, shown when he was taken when the Horseman invade the mansion. It looks to be an action-packed sequel, taking place in 1983, concluding the trilogy that began with 2011's X-Men: First Class, and what director Bryan Singer calls the "true birth of the X-Men." This holds true as the trailer ends with James McAvoy finally embracing the Professor X we all know and love: suit, iconic chair, and bald head. 

Only The Strong Will Survive when X-Men: Apocalypse comes out on May 27, 2016.

'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' shows more to sell to fans, including The World's Finest Trinity.

Last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Ben Affleck was on hand to provide the latest trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. First, Jimmy Kimmel is smart to make his late night show the place to release new movie previews, especially those in the world of superheroes, with the first Captain America: Civil War preview last week. Second, I will admit that I was more impressed with this trailer than the previous two but nothing is perfect. I did have my reservations and dislikes from this latest update of the upcoming DC Comics epic (more on that later).

From the preview, we're given more intense standoffs. The first is between the alter-egos of the two legendary heroes: Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) vs Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck). Clark sees Batman as a vigilante and Bruce sees Superman as a dangerous god-like entity with the power to destroy the world, not a hero. Bruce is show to have been in Metropolis, given a front row seat to Zod vs Superman in Man of Steel. The millennial update to Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) helps beef up the gladiator showdown not only between the two men but between the heroes as well, calling it "Son of Krypton vs Bat of Gotham".

More of the fight is shown as the two heroes clash during a storm, wreaking havoc on an abandoned building, neither man willing to back down or give up. One shot shows Batman caught by Superman, who has his own personal army (?) and unmasks the cowl to reveal a defiant Bruce Wayne to the Man of Steel. Superman knows he could kill Batman, despite the armor the Dark Knight is sporting. All of Batman's tech (the Batwing and the Batmobile) do not seem to help him in the fight but it takes a turn when Lex brings another element into the fight: Doomsday.

Once this creature appears and seems to target the battleground of the heroes, another joins the fray as a sizzling shield is shown being pushed back along with Superman. Bringing the protective shield away, we are given a better look at the Amazonian princess Wonder Woman/Diana Prince (Gal Gadot). Batman and Superman are unsure of what to make of the new presence, questioning who she was with. "Is she with you?" Superman asks. Batman looks confused, replying "I thought she was with you."

The ending shot gives the audience their first glance at DC Comics "Holy Trinity" or "The World's Finest Trilogy" as Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman leave the questions aside and prepare to face Doomsday.

Now, I am more sold on seeing this film but I think it revealed too much of the main story and relied on the epic action, special effects, and the destruction this battle will cause in DC Comics Movie Universe. This film is intended to set up the universe and I still think it's being rushed. Marvel's slow burn of establishing the universe and its heroes in their own films, having it lead to The Avengers led to a huge payoff. Maybe this current plan will work out for DC Comics as they compete and set up their world of heroes but only time will tell.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be released on March 23, 2016.

Marvel's Mightiest Heroes are Divided in 'Captain America: Civil War' Teaser

It's the trailer that broke the internet (next to Star Wars)! Marvel fans have been clamoring for any footage they could get for the next installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As usual, Marvel has kept everything close to the vest and not giving anything away.

When we last left Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers: Age of Ultron, after saving the world once again from Ultron and the fallen city-state of Sokovia, Captain America assembled a new team of Avengers. Along with founding member Black Widow, War Machine, Scarlet Witch, Vision, and Falcon made up the new team to defend the world. Once the titles were revealed for Phase 3 of the MCU, Captain America's next installment would bring a famous story line to the silver screen.

First premiering on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, November 24th and seen by millions over and over since then, here is the first teaser trailer for Captain America: Civil War

After the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, another international incident involving Captain America (Chris Evans) and the Avengers results in collateral damage, prompting politicians to form a system of accountability for our heroes. This form of political interference causes a rift, which results in fracturing the team into two opposing factions - one led by Captain America who wishes to operate without regulation, and one led by Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) who supports the government oversight. Meanwhile, they still must protect the world from a new enemy.

From early art work, trailer, and clues from the previous Avengers and Ant-Man films, Team Captain America consists of: Captain America, Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and Ant Man (Paul Rudd). This team faces off against Team Iron Man: Iron Man leading War Machine (Don Cheadle), Vision (Paul Bettany), Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and new Marvel cast member Chadwick Boseman playing T'Challa/Black Panther.

From the preview, it seems we pick up after the post-credits scene of Ant-Man, where we see Cap and Falcon locate a trapped Bucky Barnes and he remembers his old friend. Unfortunately, Bucky is being hunted and Steve does everything he can to protect his old friend while dealing with the Sokovia Accords (the document taking the place of the original Registration Act from the comics). Iron Man seems to have been brought in to diffuse the situation but it doesn't stop Cap and leads to the former allies battling once another. By the end of the preview, with Cap feeling he had no other choice because Bucky is his friend and Tony stating so was he, this film could have serious impact on the Avengers.

We get a better look at the Black Panther's outfit and seeing him in action and it looks incredible. What we don't get a look at is Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and what role he could play. Knowing Marvel, they will keep that under wraps and not give anything away until the film is released. Personally, this looks more exciting than DC's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Captain America: Civil War will be released on May 6, 2016.

'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2' brings a satisfying conclusion to fans of both the book and film series.

After Harry Potter ended with the second part of Deathly Hallows in 2011, the throne of young adult novel adaptations awaited its next successor. In 2012, the first Hunger Games film came out into theaters. With its savage kill-or-be-killed premise by using children for public entertainment and powered by the performance of then unknown Jennifer Lawrence, it appeared that we found that next series set to take the throne. 

This year, the final film of the movie series has abandoned hope in the darkness as it comes to an conclusion. 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 picks up immediately after Part 1, opening midscene like a bookmark was put on directly after the first part. Our heroine Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is bruised and broken after the failed assassination attempt by her onetime friend/fiance/fellow victor Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), whose mind has been warped to a paranoid and violent point by President Snow's Capitol subjects. The rebellion seems to be falling apart, the Districts turning on each other as they look to any form of leadership, and even Snow, physically, looks to be dwindling. These days, poisoning an insubordinate only brings the thinnest wisp of a smile. 

After what happened to Peeta, Katniss only sees one way to end this conflict: Snow needs to die. As long as Katniss lives to see another day, the Rebellion still has plans to succeed. Once she has recovered enough to strap on her longbow again, Katniss joins an all-star team of Tributes and soldiers on a march towards the Capitol. However, it's more of a propaganda team to broadcast their progress ahead of the front lines - until they discovered there are no "safe zones" in the Capitol: Buildings are booby-trapped, bullets are real, and the traps are lethal to anyone who triggers them. One such sequence was a terrifying battle scene where a slithering army of mutants with boiled-frog skin and barracuda teeth attacks, turning possible safe way into a death trap. 

With scenes like that, you have to wonder if this movie is really for its young adult-intended audience. Even though I've read the novel and I'm an adult, some of these scenes made me jump out of my seat. To be fair, author Suzanne Collins' source material always fell outside of the conventional YA genre as far as the kids killing kids for sport. But she provided a balanced moral universe, the underlying love story, and a female protagonist who is smart, resourceful, complicated, and self-determined. Lawrence, a Best Actress award later after the start of Hunger Games, continued to be the heart and soul of the series. Since the start of the series, Katniss seemed to be tailor-made for Lawrence; from Everdeen's humble hunting days in District 12 to winning the Games to becoming a symbol of rebellion to the emotional, broken but determined young woman that we encounter in Mockingjay Part 2. Jennifer Lawrence seems to understand the symbolic weight her character has been asked to carry

The first two films managed the challenge of visually presenting the books' violence without fully diving into the territory their target audience demo couldn't handle. What separates the first two films and the two-part Mockingjay finale is that Mockingjay strays too far into the darkness: With its political power struggles and immense body count, it felt more like an episode of Game of Thrones than a YA movie. The acting of the rest of the cast was great; all of them showing the emotion, even in character, that this was the end of a three year odyssey. It was an enthralling conclusion to the films that will leave the devoted fans happy.

Daniel Craig leaves a bigger tuxedo to fill with 'Spectre'

In the lead up to Spectre, we have all heard or read about Daniel Craig's comments about him being over the role that has made him a worldwide superstar. How much you believe him is up to you but judging from those statements, it feels as though Spectre is Daniel Craig's final mission as 007. I grew up in the age of Pierce Brosnan's 007: suave, charismatic, and full of one-liners. After Goldeneye, the franchise was going down with Brosnan closing out his time with over-the-top but boring Die Another Day. The franchise needed new life.

Enter Daniel Craig. Beginning with 2006's franchise reboot, Casino Royale, the actor single-handedly rescued the character from falling into Austin Powers territory and gave Bond a gritty, brooding, bruised-knuckle intensity. He peeled back the layers of the agent and made you feel the toll that so much killing takes on a man's soul, showing the character that is under the tuxedo. There is no doubt that Craig would be leaving the franchise in a better place than when he found it. If this is truly the end of Daniel Craig's 007, I think he left a worthy swan song.

Spectre picks up off the heels of Skyfall, which saw the death of Judi Dench's M and introducing a new generation of MI6 allies: Naomie Harris' Eve Moneypenny, Ben Whishaw's Q, and Ralph Fiennes' M. Spectre opens up with Bond in Mexico City during the Day of the Dead on a mission to kill an Italian terrorist. This fight leads to an incredible brawl mid-air in a helicopter that was thrilling to watch. It turns out that Bond's current mission has been tasked to him from beyond the grave with intel from his former superior, which leads Bond into the tentacles of the criminal organization SPECTRE. While Bond is off the reservation, a new head of British Intelligence code named C (Andrew Scott) threatens to eighty-six the double-0 program.

While his license to kill is being threatened, Bond is globe-trotting from Rome (where he has a steamy encounter with 'Bond Woman' Monica Bellucci) to the snowy Austrian Alps and Tangier, Bond is hunting Franz Oberhauser, a man who sponsored Bond's past adversaries (Le Chiffre, Mr. White, Silva). Played to sinister charisma by Christoph Waltz, Oberhauser has a tie to Bond's childhood and turns out to be a familiar character known to Bond aficionados (I won't spoil that for my readers). Along with Oberhauser, Bond must do battle with a formidable, Jaws-like hitman Mr. Hinx (Dave Bautista). Bond is given an strong love interest in Dr. Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux), who proves she can handle her own and is Bond's equal. It's definitely a move away from the usual damsel in distress of Bond's past but I saw her as more of a plot device in the grand scheme.

Personally, Skyfall is the best Bond film of Daniel Craig's tenure as 007; possibly the best Bond film of all time. Like Craig's previous turns in the tux, Spectre is full of globetrotting action, a thousand count of opulence in the story, and the typical escapism of a Bond film. Compared to Skyfall, this sequel feels undercooked. While it serves its purpose as the culmination of Craig's four-film cycle, connecting all of his previous missions in one large web of villainy, it feels like it never paid off fully. Director Sam Mendes and the writers could have had a field day with Oberhauser's place in the 007 canon, but he feels like just another enemy bent on Freudian score-settling with the agent. I think it's possible that Skyfall set expectations that were too high for Spectre to match, much less top. While Craig's Bond deserves a better send off, you can't ignore all he has done. We can only hope for one more mission before a new agent is selected.

Top 10 Disney Movies

I've thought a lot about this adding this topic to my blog but it is a broad subject (and somewhat of a controversial one among my friends). It's one that a lot of millennials think about these days now that the animated films we grew up are aging but like a fine wine because they are still talked about today.

With the recent release of Aladdin, I'm upgrading all of my movies in my Disney animated collection to Blu-Ray and it got me to thinking what I considered to be my top 10 Disney movies. Every list varies depending on what era of Disney you grew up with and if you have seen any of the older, original films. I grew up mainly in the Disney Renaissance during the 90's but did watch some of the older films and the addition of Pixar does blur the line of what is Disney now but it's all animation.

Here we go!

10) The Lady and the Tramp (1955)

The tale of a loved house dog getting lost named Lady who gets lost in the streets and falls in love with a stray dog named Tramp. This story is the classic "rich versus poor" tale with a little bit of Disney magic added in. This film is heralded as the one of Disney's greatest love stories that possibly rivals Beauty and the Beast. Not many animated filmed have aged as gracefully as Lady and the Tramp which helps attest the placement on this list. Plus no one can forget one of the greatest scenes in romantic movies, whether animated or live-action, of the two main characters who share spaghetti, eventually leading to a kiss.

9) Sleeping Beauty (1959)

There is little reason why this classic is not on anyone's top Disney movie list. Sleeping Beauty is one of the few widely told fairy tales and when it is mentioned, your mind almost instantly think Disney.  Disney has the greatest known version of Aurora and Maleficent. The animation is very striking and helps amplify the story of fantasy. It's about as magical as Disney can get. The climatic battle between Prince Philip and the dragon form of Maleficent is epic, stunning, and as action-packed as any live-action film today. Sleeping Beauty is one of Disney's greatest pieces of art ever.

8) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)

This Disney classic has the unique placement of being a generational movie. It can relate to at least one part of everyone's childhood in one way or another. The imagination, nostalgia, and emotion of The classic explores the simplicity and innocence of being a child, something that most adults forget and need a reminder of. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh gives its viewers of a sense of belonging in a world where we are misinterpreted everyday as we learn and grow. It's a movie that can be a favorite of both grandparents, adults, young adults, and children all.

7) The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a child of the Disney Renaissance and one of their darker efforts during the 90's. That might be the reason that people still like it. The usual Disney formula is in place as always, The Hunchback of Notre Dame feels like a breath of fresh air. It holds nothing back and provides us a truly evil villain that doesn't rely on humorous song. This film truly explores the human soul as far as what makes us good or bad, no matter what is on the outside. The protagonist, Quasimodo (who bears society's most taunts due to his deformity), doesn't get the girl in the end but gains something more in the end. Definitely one of the more underrated movies in Disney's collection.

6) Peter Pan (1953)

Here is another film about the wonders of childhood that reaches across generations. The reason Peter Pan works so well and lasted so long is not just because of the quality and art, but it's because it's about a character who appeals to everyone who wishes they can just stop life and escape reality for a short time. After all, escapism is one of the most attractive qualities about movies. Peter Pan embodies Disney's entire idea with its films, shows, and theme parks as far as its popularity with people of all ages. It allows them to take a few minutes from the stresses of the real world and school and enjoy something positive, freeing, and uplifting. Peter Pan is a mascot for hope that things always get better.

5) The Little Mermaid (1989)

Disney was going through a dark period following a change of management and their films did not perform well commercially, leaving the animation department in jeopardy. The Little Mermaid was a revitalization of the Disney brand and led the way for the Renaissance. Without the wonderful music of the mermaid who wanted to break free from the suffering chains of her father's concerned limits, I, along with many other children born in the late 80's and 90's, would not have the movies we enjoyed growing up. The soundtrack rivaled the animation and showed us how big the characters would mark their place in Disney history. Bottom line: The Little Mermaid saved Disney.

4) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

In this sort of list, you cannot forget the film that started it all. In 1937, Walt Disney realized his dream of releasing a full-length animated feature film. Snow White set the standard for everything Disney has become and has influenced so many other studios that choose to venture into animation. This classic made it into the top four because it is the foundation for all the stories we enjoy today. It goes without saying that Snow White started something massive and is a milestone in cinema all together.

3) Aladdin (1992)

The films I have listed here have done a great job withstanding the test of time over the years. They have outdone and elevated the standard that was set by predecessors before them. Aladdin is one film that has done both of these things. This magical story of rags to riches is an instant classic, spawning two direct-to-video sequels, an animated television series, and a Broadway play. The soundtrack shoots off one hit after another, full of energy and life. You have to sing along anytime an Aladdin song comes on! The greatest characteristic of this film is Robin Williams' performance as the infinite Genie, in which there is no limit to the dreams he can make come true. Along with a devilish villain and the electric animation, Aladdin is one of the few Disney movies where everything is on point.

2) The Lion King

This is the Shakespeare of Disney and one of the first films I remember as a child that made me fall in love of movies. This epic has a powerful story and holds its place as an undisputed classic and serves as one of the finest pieces of filmmaking in history, animated or not. A tale of maturity, responsibility, loss, and destiny, The Lion King reaches deeper than the drama of Simba, the abandoned prince and protagonist. It discusses our nature as humans by using metaphors of tyranny and rebellion to describe a fable of social order, legacy, and lust for power. Hakuna Matata - which means no worries - that the bad is in the past, an exciting and swinging hit, and a comfortable motto in relation to the film's inner-antagonist. The Lion King is a phenomenon that transcends its legacy, going from sequels (and half-sequels) to television to theme parks to the Broadway stage. Walt Disney would be proud of this film as well as the one I have crowned as number one...

1) Beauty and the Beast (1991)

With 52 films and seven and a half decades of animated films, Beauty and the Beast can be argued as the pinnacle of Disney animation. It combines the best of the past with the present. A Broadway musical rendered for the big screen, reaching out to an audience of all ages. The film moves like animated poetry, wrapping up turmoil and triumph in a blanket of emotional passion and covered in a rich sauce of majestic grandeur. Beauty and the Beast qualifies as a masterpiece not just in animation, but in cinema. It is the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture Oscar; some still argue that it should have won that year. The story of Belle and the Beast is one that resonates with all ages. We learn that love is not the physical or material offerings of an individual, but who the person is inside their heart and soul. It's what makes them a person, not just in terms of personality but also in their ability to grow and change to make themselves better people. It might be mushy but Disney seems to run on it so it works. This film embodies the essence and elements of Disney animation, giving us a tale that is truly as old as time and won't be forgotten.

So what movies are in your Disney Top 10?

Han, The Falcon, Space fighters, and Lightsabers highlight the final preview for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

This trailer has been months in the making! 

Eleven months after the first teaser, fans of The Force Awakens were finally treated for their patience with a full and final trailer for the reboot of the famous space-opera. 

Here is the final, full trailer of the most anticipated movie of 2015...

It begins, fittingly, with a question. A clipped, authoritative voice asking: "Who are you?"

Daisy Ridley's desert scavenger Rey is in the bowels of a crashed Star Destroyer and answers plaintively: "I'm no one."

John Boyega's runaway stormtrooper Finn faces a similar crisis: "I was raised to do one thing. But I've got nothing to fight for." 

Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) has no doubt or humility about his purpose: "Nothing will stand in our way," he says to the scorched remains of Darth Vader's mask. "I will finish what you started."

The Force Awakens takes place thirty years after the events of Return of the Jedi and those events seemed to have faded into legend with Rey talking about the stories that she has heard. Harrison Ford's Han Solo shows up and confirms that the stories they have heard are true: the dark side, the Jedi. They are real. 

Then he gets an embrace from Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia. Maybe once you have found someone else who is lost, you're not nobody anymore. One person seems to be lost from the original Star Wars trinity: Luke. 

After the first teaser hit last November, with Andy Serkis' still unseen Surpreme Leader Snoke intoning: "There has been an awakening...have you felt it?" That was followed by April's longer teaser featuring old friend Han and Chewie; Han declaring: "Chewie, we're home."

Then fans were treated to behind-the-scenes glimpses, both in video and print articles, hinting at the origin of the Darth Vader-obsessed and inspired Kylo Ren, but next to nothing has been shown of the classic hero, Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker (unless you believe the person with R2-D2 is actually Luke). 

Little tidbits like this have kept fans happy but everything associated with J.J. Abrams' journey has been aimed at cultivating an shroud of mystery and anticipation to keep fans, podcasters, and fansite operators guessing about the world we'll find in the galaxy far, far, away after thirty years. The new footage finally connects a few dots, but leaves a lot left unanswered. This might be better for fans until they settle into their seats on December 18. 

The preview made its debut in prime time during ESPN's Monday Night Football game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles. I love football but this preview was the only reason I watched the first half.

The announcement of pre-sale tickets for The Force Awakens has already crashed online retailer websites such as Fandango, MovieTickets.com, Regal Cinemas, and AMC Cinemas. I think everyone has let the Force in. 

Matt Damon gets lost in space and is awesome in 'The Martian'

Ridley Scott's The Martian is more than another endeavor to save Matt Damon (seriously, Saving Private Ryan and Interstellar? How many times must America go out to save Matt Damon?). It is way more than that. Scott's sci-fi adventure is the kind of film that you leave the theater and long to tell your friends to spend their money and see. Like Apollo 13 and Gravity before it, this film turns to actual science and problem solving into an edge-of-your-seat experience for the audience.

First, let's address the biggest problem and the premise of the film: The crew of NASA' Ares III mission is collecting samples on Earth's red neighboring planet when a violent sandstorm whips through, ending the mission prematurely. In the zero visibility disorder, Damon's Watney is presumed dead after an incident. His team, led by Commander Lewis (Jessica Chastain) evacuates and heads back to Earth. But Watney isn't dead. He is roughed up in the wake of the storm and is 140 million miles away from home. Once Watney is settled, he discovers his team left behind provisions enough to last a few months. This doesn't sound too bad until we're told by NASA officials (Jeff Daniels and Chiwetel Ejiofor) that the next manned Mars mission isn't for another four years, even a rescue party would take that long to mobilize. Watney knows this and figures that he is living with a death sentence unless he can use his wits and his botany powers to turn the lifeless planet into a makeshift Garden of Eden with water and food.

To quote Watney, "I'm going to have to science the s*** out of this."

There have been a lot of books and movies about Mars and people being stranded on the Red Planet. But The Martian, based on Andy Weir's best-selling novel and the screenplay by Drew Goddard, is the first film that actually made you feel what it's like to be stranded there, especially if you saw this movie in 3-D but also his very own charismatic Robinson Crusoe, Damon. Damon's performance was captivating and entertaining, single-handedly turning an epic survival tale into something intimate and human. It really does make you believe in the perseverance of the human spirit. From documenting Watney's confessional video diary monologues about hexadecimals and thermodynamics to growing potatoes and bashing terrible disco music, Damon seems to enjoy peddling pathos and punchlines for the audience to enjoy.

The Martian isn't completely perfect. Outside of the Ares III crew, NASA's officials, and the band of engineering elves, there are too many secondary characters. Kristen Wiig, as a NASA functionary, just stands around, looking concerned along with taking orders from Daniels, and Donald Glover's socially awkward physicist is like the long lost member of The Big Bang Theory crew. Scott's ending is corny, tying everything neatly in a bow for the characters but considering the events of the film, I don't have a big issue with this. But it would be rude to point out small flaws in a film that is a thrilling testament to the human spirit and ingenuity. It's a rare blockbuster that has the brains to match its power.

This film will definitely be in my Top 10 at the end of the year.

Vin Diesel readies for one last Fast and Furious trilogy

By now, everyone has heard or seen Furious 7, the most recent installment in the successful Fast and Furious film series. The tag line for this film was 'One Last Ride'. Instead of one last ride, how about we have one last trilogy? On Sunday, via his Facebook page, Fast and Furious star/producer Vin Diesel wrote that he planned to produce a trilogy of films to end the series.

"Universal has been so good to me and so trusting of the vision...they have been like family," Diesel wrote in his post. "I promised the studio that I would deliver one last Trilogy to end the saga."

Diesel's announcement comes after news reports that the progress of bringing Fast and Furious 8 to the screen has proven difficult. As of right now, the film is set for release on April 14, 2017, but they have yet to decide on a director.

"My producing partner Neal would like me to just sign off on a director, but this is too special a franchise, so these matters have to be very carefully handled." Diesel also wrote in his post. "To be clear, NO ONE has been offered to helm Fast 8 yet... let alone seen a script." According to Diesel, he will announce the "directors" in his next Facebook post.

This isn't the first time that Diesel has discussed making more Fast and Furious films. Back in 2013, during press and promotion for Fast and Furious 6, Diesel mentioned making even 10 Fast and Furious films.

I'm a fan of the Fast and Furious film series since the very first film. After the passing of Paul Walker and the emotional ending of Furious 7, I saw this as the perfect ending of the series that the fans could walk away from and be happy for the ride the saga has taken everyone on. Ever since Fast Five, the series has gotten better with each installment. The success has been incredible, especially considering the series that started in 2001.

My fear is that another trilogy could ruin the saga. With the death of Paul Walker and his Brian O'Connor character given a happy ending, the series might not be the same for the fans but time will tell.

Hathaway and De Niro are full-time enjoyment in 'The Intern'

Triple-threat writer, producer, and director Nancy Meyers (The Parent Trap, Something's Gotta Give, It's Complicated) always seems to turn her movies into a grown-up, first world problem-laden production. Each problem has a happy resolution, despite how difficult it is. Unfortunately, the real world doesn't always work like that but in the world of films, there is a happy ending in a Meyers comedy. With each of her movies, you have a certain expectation for them. The Intern does not disappoint.  

The Intern stars Robert De Niro (Casino, Raging Bull, Silver Linings Playbook) as Ben Whittaker, a lovable 70-year-old retiree who has loose ends and looking to matter again after the death of his wife. His days are filled with morning Starbucks runs and frozen lasagna dinners for one; even tai chi and yoga lessons in the park don't fill in the lonely hours he used to spend working years ago. Coming across an ad for "senior interns" at an e-commerce start-up in Brooklyn, he jumps at the chance and applies. Getting accepted, Whittaker is assigned as personal envoy/errand runner/generational sounding board to Anne Hathaway's (Interstellar, Les Miserables) Jules Ostin, the stylish, hardworking, thirtyish entrepreneur who runs the whole company. Ostin is whimsical (riding around the office in a white bicycle and sometimes takes customer-service calls) but also overworked and overwhelmed to find a work-life balance. Once she gets used to Ben's presence, Ostin finds out that his experience is just what she needs. 

The Intern balances between humor and pathos without really determining which the film is going for in its two hours. Every crisis has a plush and soft-cornered answer (unlike the real world's hard, direct response) and gets resolved quickly, mostly with Ben's assistance. De Niro's Whittaker is always helpful and different from the gruff and tough roles of the past, which was refreshing but he was also very muted so a tad weird. What really pulls this film together and drives it is the unorthodox chemistry between the leads. Hathaway and De Niro seem comfortable around each other and supports the comedy of the film as Whittaker leads Ostin onto a better balanced life. 

Overall, The Intern is a charming film that Meyers can add to her resume of solid romantic comedy films, powered by the friendship of the two main characters. This film isn't just a chick flick but a film that everyone young and old can enjoy. 

Movie Preview - The Jungle Book

Disney seems to be ready to dig deeper through their film archives to produce current versions of their classic animated films. After the recent success of Cinderella (finally got down to watching it and loved how it stuck with the original animated movie) and Maleficent, another animated classic is swinging its way into theaters next year. 

The Jungle Book explores the adventures of Mowgli in the jungles of India. It is a CGI remake of the 1967 animated classic and this adaptation is supplemented by live-action of Rudyard Kipling's 1894 book of the same title. The cast includes Scarlett Johansson as the Indian Python, Kaa, Idris Elba as the Bengal Tiger, Shere Khan, Bill Murray as the fan favorite bear, Baloo, and Ben Kingsley as Bagheera, the black panther. 

With this film and the upcoming live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast scheduled for 2017 starring an all-star cast led by Emma Watson and Alice Through the Looking Glass scheduled for May 2016, it can be assured that there will be more live action updates coming in coming years. Disney could bring fans new, young, and old to the theaters with their updated live action classics. 

The Jungle Book is scheduled to be released on April 15, 2016. 

Movie Preview - Creed

I know it's been a while since I've posted but that should improve as we get fully into the fall season. One of the movies I put in my Top 10 Fall List released a brand new trailer. These days, boxing seems to have become a lost art in the sports world. With the "retirement" of Floyd Mayweather and the rise of UFC as far as a fighting sport, boxing fades into the sunset slowly with no new, big names bringing it back to prominence.

The same can be said for boxing movies. Sylvester Stallone's successful Rocky film series spans nearly forty years and helped the popularity of the sport. But boxing films are few and far between now, only coming around every couple of years; this year's Southpaw being a prime example. Creed looks to be a better version of this film, powered by the star power of legendary actor Stallone. This movie could also be the vehicle to help Micheal B. Jordan's career into the stratosphere.

In Creed, Michael B. Jordan plays Adonis Johnson, the son of Apollo Creed. He seems to reject and want to separate himself away from his father's legacy. When he comes across the now-retired Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), he requests that the former world heavyweight champion trains him.

This trailer presents itself as more of a deeper cut for the film. While Johnson is starting to find his way and make his own legacy, Balboa seems to be on his last legs personally. Seeing himself as the last survivor of his family (his wife, Adrian, and best friend, Paulie, have passed on), he's content moving on because he is alone but his bond with his former rival's son brings purpose back to Balboa.

Directed by Ryan Coogler, who also co-wrote with Aaron Covington (Fruitvale Station) seem ready to deliver a gritty, relatable film filled with heart and punching power for the audiences to enjoy.

Remembering Wes Craven

I know that I'm a little late with this message for personal reasons but a word should be said to honor the horror legend, Wes Craven. The innovative writer, producer, and director died on August 30 at the age of 76 from brain cancer.

I grew up on the latter half of Craven's career, being first introduced to his work with the 90's classic, Scream. The film has spawned three other sequels with 2011's Scream 4 being the director's final film. His slasher series playfully stabbed as many holes in the conventions of scary films as Ghostface did to his victims.

According to his family's statement in the article on EW, Craven stayed "engaged and working until the end", listed as an executive producer on the MTV series based on Scream. It seemed the only problem he had was the dropping of the distinguishing "Ghostface" killer mask.

Only later did I watch more of Craven's earlier work, especially the cult and pop culture classic A Nightmare on Elm Street. Wes Craven's molten faced, fedora-wearing, red and green sweater clad monster was and is unforgettable. A true terror that kept me up on some dark nights, wondering if I would ever see the razor sharp blades on his leather glove come into my dreams once I closed my eyes.

Kruger was Wes Craven's first iconic horror creature, always finding a way to come back no matter what is done to him. Nothing could hold his spirit for long and keep him away from his children. Freddy has not only come back from the dead again and again, Craven's entertaining creation has withstood the test of time and endured, displaying a longevity of die-hard and casual fans, especially those looking for a Halloween costume.

Hollywood lost a true legend, not just in horror but a trailblazer in movies. Many of Craven's films have achieved cult-fan status and being involved in creating two figures that will persist as representations of boogeymen for generations to come.

Rest in Peace, Wes Craven.

Fall Movie Preview Top 10

With the summer drawing to a close, everyone can take see the change of the seasons. The leaves in the trees are changing, sweater weather is in full effect as it gets colder, and seasoned drinks are sold in coffee shops. This is also the time where dark horses are released for limited release and deep-cut dramas make their bids for the upcoming Oscar race.

This upcoming fall season will have more of the same. Audiences will also see Jennifer Lawrence take flight in the final Hunger Games, Johnny Depp will go gangster in Black Mass, and Daniel Craig shows his license to kill for the fourth time in Spectre. We'll also return to a galaxy far, far away with old friends and new comrades to battle a galactic evil.

Here is my top 10 films for the fall season:

10 - The Intern: September 25

Starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway

70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (De Niro) has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back into the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin (Hathaway). Ostin is balancing a lot in her life but she finds an amazing support from the life-seasoned Whittaker.

9 - Crimson Peak: October 16

Starring Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, and Charlie Hunnam

In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author (Wasikowska) is torn between love for her childhood friend (Hunnam) and the temptation of a mysterious outsider (Hiddleston). Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds...and remembers with its own form of ghosts.

8 - Black Mass: September 18

Starring: Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Joel Edgerton.

The bio-film is the true story of Whitey Bulger (Depp), the brother of a state senator (Cumberbatch) and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.

7 - Bridge of Spies: October 16

Starring: Tom Hanks, Amy Ryan, and Mark Rylance

An American lawyer (Hanks) is recruited by the CIA during the Cold War to help rescue a pilot (Rylance) detained in the Soviet Union. This film marks Steven Spielberg's 29th feature film as a director, his fourth with Hanks. With the history tag team of Hanks and Spielberg together, this film has a lot of potential of being a dark horse in my eyes for the Oscar race on some level.

6 - Creed: November 25

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone

No, it's not another Rocky film so we don't have to worry about Stallone stepping into the ring again. This is a spinoff in the same universe which sees the former World Heavyweight Champion Balboa (Stallone) serve as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Creed (Jordan), the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed. Despite Jordan's first box office failure this summer with the Fantastic Four reboot, I think this vehicle could help the Fruitvale Station star into a legitimate star.

5 - The Martian: October 2

Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, and Sebastian Stan

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself straded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal Earth that he is alive.

4 - Spectre: November 6

Starring Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, and Lea Seydoux

A cryptic message from Bond's (Craig) past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M (Fiennes) battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

3 - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, and Woody Harrelson

After being symbolized as the "Mockingjay" for the rebellion, Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) and District 13 engage in an all-out revolution against the autocratic Capitol. This film is four years in the making as one of the most successful film franchises of this generation comes to an end. I will definitely be there on opening night to join the rebellion.

2 - Joy: December 25

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Edgar Ramirez, Bradley Cooper, and Robert De Niro

Joy is the story of a family across four generations and the woman (Lawrence) who rises to become founder and matriarch of a power family business dynasty. This film pairs David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook, The Fighter, American Hustle) back together with Academy Award Winner Lawrence and fellow Russell alumni Cooper and De Niro. I think this film could seriously be up for a Best Picture nomination and could get Lawrence her third Best Actress nomination when the Oscar night arrives.

1 - Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens: December 18

Starring: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, John Boyega, and Daisy Ridley.

A continuation of the saga created by George Lucas set thirty years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. Not much has been revealed about the overall plot of the movie but if you have been keeping track of the recent pictures, it looks as though the galaxy is back in chaos by a new threat known as the First Order and a union of fighters known as the Resistance. Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia return along with new comrades Rey (Daisy Ridley) and runaway stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega).

The original trilogy made a tremendous impression on my life and made me fall in love with movies. As a fan, I cannot wait to see what director J.J. Abrams has done and the direction he is leading the universe that George Lucas created many years ago.

Matt Damon is the last man on the red planet in 'The Martian'

Matt Damon seems to love outer space as he has shown in two of his recent films, Elysium and a brief role in Chris Nolan's Interstellar. Now, Matt Damon is going to find out two things in his new film: no one can hear you scream in space and when you get left behind, you are alone...especially if that planet is light-years away from home. 

In The Martian, Astronaut Mark Watney (Damon) is a part of a manned mission to Mars. After a fierce storm, Watney is presumed dead and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived, finding himself stranded and alone on the hostile next door neighbor of Earth. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to survive and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. 

Co-starring with the former Bourne actor is Jessica Chastain (not Bryce Dallas-Howard for those who get the two confused), Kate Mara (Fantastic Four), Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Jeff Daniels (HBO's The Newsroom), 12 Years a Slave Oscar Nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Sean Bean (HBO's Game of Thrones). 

Based on the Best-Selling Novel by Andy Weir, The Martian is directed by Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Prometheus, American Gangster) and will be released on October 2. 

Look out, Neil Armstrong.

Tarantino's snowy western 'The Hateful Eight' releases its first trailer

Whenever you hear Quentin Tarantino's name attached to a movie, you know that a satirical, violent, but excellent film. The filmmaker and screenwriter doesn't make films each year, only making seven feature films in the last twenty-three years since releasing Reservoir Dogs in 1992.

Hopefully, all the fans have room for one more.  The first trailer for Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight has arrived, covered in snowfall, deception, and a little bit of blood and gunfire.

The cast includes some Tarantino regulars - Samuel L Jackson (Django Unchained), Kurt Russell (Death Proof), Walton Goggins (Django Unchained), Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction), Michael Madsen (Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol 2), and Bruce Dern (Django Unchained) along with newcomers to Tarantino's world: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Demian Bichir, and Channing Tatum (who makes a cameo appearance but not in this trailer).

The official synopsis of the film reads:

In THE HATEFUL EIGHT, set six or eight or twelve years after the Civil War, a stagecoach hurtles through the wintry Wyoming landscape. The passengers, bounty hunter John Ruth (Russell) and his fugitive Daisy Domergue (Leigh), race towards the town of Red Rock where Ruth, known in these parts as “The Hangman,” will bring Domergue to justice. Along the road, they encounter two strangers: Major Marquis Warren (Jackson), a black former union soldier turned infamous bounty hunter, and Chris Mannix (Goggins), a southern renegade who claims to be the town’s new Sheriff. Losing their lead on the blizzard, Ruth, Domergue, Warren and Mannix seek refuge at Minnie’s Haberdashery, a stagecoach stopover on a mountain pass. When they arrive at Minnie’s, they are greeted not by the proprietor but by four unfamiliar faces. Bob (Bichir), who’s taking care of Minnie’s while she’s visiting her mother, is holed up with Oswaldo Mobray (Roth), the hangman of Red Rock, cow-puncher Joe Gage (Madsen), and Confederate General Sanford Smithers (Dern). As the storm overtakes the mountainside stopover, our eight travelers come to learn they may not make it to Red Rock after all…

Prepare to join The Eight for limited release December 25, 2015 but its official US release is on January 8, 2016.

The Merc with A Mouth is finally done right in first 'Deadpool' Trailer

Everyone remember the 2009 superhero film X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds playing iconic anti-hero Wade Wilson, also known as Deadpool. Yeah... no one likes to remember that. Ryan Reynolds definitely doesn't want to remember that.

After that fiasco, rumors spread of a spinoff film. Thankfully, those rumors are true and Reynolds became determined to honor the character that fans have come to love (personally, I loved his shot at DC's Green Lantern, requesting not to make the supersuit green...or animated!). Yesterday, the first trailer for Deadpool was released. Keeping to Reynolds' spirit and dedication to the X-Men universe member, here is the red-band trailer. Viewer discretion is advised.

The premise of the film from the official website: "Based upon Marvel Comics' most-unconventional anti-hero, DEADPOOL tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson (Reynolds), who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life."

Starring along with Reynolds are T.J. Miller (HBO's Silicon Valley) as Weasel, Morena Baccarin (Fox's Gotham), Gina Carano, and Andre Tricoteux as Colossus.

Deadpool is set to premiere on February 12, 2016.

In case any young children read this preview, here is the green band trailer for the anti-hero film.

 

The game is coming to an end in the final trailer of 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 2

After weeks of propaganda posts through social media and videos, setting off an internet firestorm from devoted fans, Lionsgate finally released the brand-new and final Mockingjay trailer! It was well worth the wait.

 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 is the final film of The Hunger Games film series adaptation of Suzanne Collins' book trilogy. Starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, the epic film pits the revolution of the districts against the Capitol, seeking to topple the dictatorship while Katniss has her sights set on President Snow (Donald Sutherland), burning with the desire to end his rule forever.

Director Francis Lawrence promised the fans that the film will be both "emotional" and "satisfying", especially for the fans of the novel. Personally, I saw Mockingjay as the weakest book out of the trilogy but I trust the two part film will make up for the novel and make fans of both the written and visual media will be left satisfied. From the trailer, Mockingjay Part 2 promises to be an epic conclusion, combining the best of the series have to offer: love, death, emotional narrative, and of course, fierce costumes for The Girl on Fire and our heroes.

Also starring series regulars Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, along with Julianne Moore, Sam Claflin, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Stanley Tucci.

November 20 cannot get here quick enough.

'Trainwreck' is charmingly original with relatable characters and sharp humor.

I'm not one for comedy films but I do like my fair share of them. Ones with characters the audience can relate to, a decent story and a little bit of raunchiness in-between. Amy Schumer's big-screen comedy, directed by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) covers all of the proper bases in Trainwreck.

 
Amy Schumer, who also wrote the film, plays Amy; an irresponsible, good-time gal who cannot make a commitment to a relationship. This is thanks to her caddish father (Colin Quinn), who told his daughters at a young age that "monogamy isn't realistic". While her sister, Kim (Brie Lawson), went against this advice by getting married and pregnant, Amy lives it fully. Amy fears romantic commitment as much as a party girl hates the words "last call." One day, her editor (Tilda Swinton channeling her inner Meryl Streep) assigns her to profile a brilliant and hotshot sports doctor (Bill Hader). After a one-night stand that ends on the bed (actually, his couch), Amy is shocked to find out that she has found a good guy she likes...and he likes her back. What occurs then is an adventure of Amy trying to go against what she was taught, debating whether to sabotage the relationship or finally taking the opportunity to grow up and pull herself out of her selfish rut.

While I don't think this is Apatow's best film, he does show that he is a conventional moralist, seeking a lesson for his protagonist. Schumer give this raunchy rom-com her own flavor and signature spikiness that you have seen on her Comedy Central television show to prevent any predictability. The real break-out star in the film was Lebron James (I know, Lebron James). The NBA champion displayed some serious hilarious, comedic acting chops. If this is a sign of things to come, look to see him in more films in the future. Hader was brilliant with his dry humor, good guy Dr. Aaron Conners. Overall, Schumer's writing and Apatow's direction brings a screwball heroine; one who isn't afraid of screwing a guy, screwing up, or making things right. Definitely a must-see rom-com for this year.

Daniel Craig bursts into action in new 'Spectre' trailer

After an quick action-packed TV Spot during the NBA finals, Sony Pictures released the first full-length look at the upcoming James Bond film.

And it's very good.

The official synopsis from the James Bond website reads: A cryptic message from the past sends James Bond (Daniel Craig) on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organization known as SPECTRE. 

Meanwhile back in London, Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott), the new head of the Centre of National Security, questions Bond's actions and challenges the relevance of MI6, led by M (Ralph Fiennes). Bond covertly enlists Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Whishaw) to help him seek out Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), the daughter of his old nemesis, Mr. White (Jesper Christensen), who may hold the clue to untangling the web of SPECTRE. As the daughter of an assassin, she understands Bond in a way most others cannot. 

As Bond ventures towards the heart of SPECTRE, he learns of a chilling connection between himself and the enemy he seeks, played by Christoph Waltz. 

Spectre will be released in the UK on October 26, and in the US on November 6, 2015.