Movie Previews - Fantastic Four and Child 44

     That's right. Two previews on one post. It's not that hard when studios crank out previews every chance they can get to add to coming attractions that add a half hour to a possible two hour movie (I know how annoying that can be sometimes). I'm hoping you all enjoy these previews.

     First up, a reboot of Marvel's First Family

     When four people teleport to an alternate universe, which alters their physical form and grants them new abilities, they must learn to harness their abilities and work together to as a team to save the Earth from a familiar enemy.

     20th Century Fox brings Marvel's first superhero family back to theaters this year with a new cast breathing new life for the rebooted franchise. Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Micheal B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell take over the roles of Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing, respectively. The film seems to be going away from the scientific beginnings of the team and making the characters more grounded, emotional, and character driven. More superhero films seem to be going that route and it has worked out for them. We'll see how it goes for superhero family.

     The Fantastic Four is scheduled for release on August 7, 2015.

     And next, Tom Hardy leads a good cast in a novel adaptation.

     A disgraced member of the military police (Tom Hardy) investigates a series of brutal child murders during the Stalin-era Soviet Union.

     Child 44 is based off of a 2008 thriller novel by British writer Tom Rob Smith. The cast of this adaptation is led by Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises), Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Trilogy), Noomi Rapace (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Trilogy), Joel Kinnaman (2014 RoboCop), and Vincent Cassel (Black Swan).

     I haven't had a chance to read the novel about the problem of Soviet-era criminality in a state where "there is no crime". Judging from the trailer, the film sticks with the main story of the novel and will most likely please fans of the book. I might have to add the novel to my reading list.

     Child 44 is scheduled to be released on April 17, 2015.

Movie Review - Bradley Cooper hits his mark in American Sniper

     Oscar season has officially gotten into high gear since the nominations were made. I'll go into those later in a new post to give my picks. Occasionally, I'll go see one of the heavy favorites as Oscar night approaches. American Sniper definitely casts a strong ballot for best picture.

     American Sniper chronicles the life of Chris Kyle, a born and raised Texan, who decides to serve his country when he joins the Navy SEALS as a sniper. His pinpoint accuracy help establish him as a legend. When he comes back home to his wife (Sienna Miller) and children, Kyle carries the wounds of war and finds that he can't leave the battlefield behind.

     This film was commanded by director Clint Eastwood so I knew that he would do his best to honor this story but after the film, I wasn't sure of the message that Eastwood wanted audiences to get. While the film is powerful and honors our soldiers overseas, I believe the emotions of the film were getting lost amid the violence and the psychological aftermath of Kyle's actions very quickly.

     The film does a great job in chronicling the real-life sniper's four tours in the Iraq War, showing his rise from basic training and being deployed to becoming the most lethal marksman in U.S. History. A bulked-up Bradley Cooper channeled Kyle's patriotic cowboy charisma with a cool but commanding force, owning the role. Cooper was able to display Kyle's confidence, intensity, and vulnerability from the horrors of war. Bradley's performance helped secure his third consecutive Best Actor nomination and I believe that he made a strong case for it.

    

     While the movie is not perfect and the message might get muddled, what is undeniable is the white-knuckle force of the scenes with Kyle taking aim behind the scope of his sniper rifle. The opening scene definitely sets us up for the action. Perched on a rooftop, Kyle looks through the scope and sees an Iraqi mother and child walk into the road. They seem harmless. When the woman pulls out something that might or might not be a grenade to her son. In seconds that seem to stretch on and laced with tension, the audience experiences the pressure Kyle is under by having the choice of life and death behind the pull of a trigger.

     American Sniper could have used a few more scenes like this. One major issue that I felt could have strengthened Cooper's role is how Kyle really feels about what he does. He seems very straight-forward about his mission, seemingly undisturbed by the violence around him until near the end of film. Kyle feels justified in each shot that he took during the war and he doesn't have that hindsight moment of how bothersome it might be for someone to kill a man. We don't get into that until near the last half hour of the film, when Kyle returns home and haunted by his experience. There should have been more sprinklings of that throughout the movie.

     Overall, the film might seem like a repetition of combat missions and one-dimensional targets like other war films but it is more than that because of Eastwood's direction and Cooper's performance that pushes it above the others. While I'm not sure if it'll win the Best Picture award (The Theory of Everything, anyone?), Cooper definitely should have serious consideration for Best Actor.

     I definitely recommend this film if you are looking for a great Oscar-nominated flick to go to the theater to see and I'll almost guarantee that you'll hear a few claps from some members of the audience.

Taken 3 brings an action trilogy to a solid, action-filled but dull end

     With the new year comes new films. Usually, January has a few dull films and one or two "Oscar bait" movies. January is usually a month of forgettable movies right after the end of the holiday rush. Taken 3, the third and final movie of the Taken trilogy, does make improvements from the nose dive the previous sequel made but still shows that the trilogy needed to come to an end.

     In Taken 3, ex-CIA operative Bryan Mills (Nesson) back to leading a normal life by seeing his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), and rekindling his romance with ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen). When Lenore is found dead in his home, Mills goes on the run and uses his famed "particular set of skills" to find out who framed him while the LAPD and FBI, led by Inspector Dotzler (Forest Whitaker).

     There. Pretty much in the nutshell is the plot. Of course there are other things that we encounter to keep audiences interested. The synopsis makes you think that the film has made a few tweaks to the winning formula that made the first Taken a success. Unfortunately, this is all smoke and mirrors. Nesson's Mills has a line that states he is having a hard time piecing the events that has brought him into action. Honestly, that's how I felt. I figured out the plot early on but then there will be a swerve. You figure it out and then there is another swerve. Honestly, tracking the plot is difficult and might distract audiences from the film.

     You have seen this type of plot before where the hero stays at least a step ahead of everyone else while he finds answers. Nesson's Mills does that as best he can but then you have to the double-crossing going on with Russian gangster Oleg Malankov (Sam Spruell) and shady step-dad Stuart (Dougray Scott). Add in Kim's discovery (three guesses on what it is) and that's one too many curveballs.

     Despite these flaws, Nesson once again displays his charisma and staring power to be an action star. Taken 3 does remain entertaining to fans of the series and Nesson is a large part of it. His character's devotion to his family and protecting them rings true in Nesson's acting as he uses Mills' skills to bring down the bad guys. The rest of the credit go to the directing of Oliver Megaton and his well constructed action sets. Clever fight choreography and gun-fights help support the action. You never lose track of Bryan, his enemies, or what is at stake for either side.

     Taken 3 is a solid film all together, definitely an improvement over the first sequel. While it's not as strong as the first, this film has enough fight to hold its own.

Marvel's "Little Guy" is coming to the big screen in 'Ant-Man'

     Marvel has plenty of superheroes in its gallery. Some big, some small. In expanding their cinematic universe, they chose to bring one of its smallest but beloved characters to the silver screen. After the end of Marvel's Agent Carter, Marvel Studios released the first full trailer for their famous shrinking man, Ant-Man.

     Thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) meets Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), who becomes his mentor, and together must protect the Ant-Man technology - which allow the user to decrease in size but increase in strength - from various threats and plot a heist with worldwide ramifications.

     In this trailer, you see the path that Lang is on: a thief with a criminal past as he is seen with his arms up in the backdrop of flashing police lights and when he is walking into what appears to be a maximum security prison. But Lang is not all that bad as you can see that he is a loving father when he kisses the head of this young daughter. These two clips show that Lang is a good guy but not really a good guy, doing bad things for the right reasons. This makes for a compelling hero who will keep things interesting.

     In case most are not familiar with the history of Ant-Man, there have been many who have worn the suit. This movie shows two of them: Hank Pym is the original and Lang is next. This film looks to be more of Lang's origin story and Pym taking a mentor role after already hanging up the suit. The narration of Douglas is wonderful to carry the tone of the film, discussing the chance Lang has to change how he is seen and taking advantage of second chances.

     Also starring Evangeline Lilly (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) as Hope Van Dyne and Corey Stoll (Netflix's House of Cards, The Strain) as Darren Cross as the villain who takes the Ant-Man technology to become Yellowjacket.

     Flying insects and seeing things at a very small level, Ant-Man is looking to be a big-time adventure as Marvel Studios brings a new hero into their fold. Ant-Man comes to theaters July 17.

My Special Top 15 anticipated films of 2015

     Happy New Year! As we begin the anew with 2015, it's time to look forward to the upcoming films that are sure to thrill us throughout this year. While my list might not compare to others, we all can't agree, can we?

    

     15) Chappie - March 6

     It seems like artificial intelligence might be a trend this year in science fiction films this year. First up is Chappie. At first, he is engineered as a security drone for Johannesburg's police force in a crumbling, not-too-distant future South Africa. He is rebooted by a scientist to think and feel for itself but he is kidnapped by local gangsters for their own gains. This movie is from the director of District 9 and stars Sharlto Copley from the same film. Based on how successful District 9 was, this could be a sleeper pick for the new year.

     14) The Divergent Series - Insurgent - March 20

     Society is going to war as we pick up with Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) on the run and forming the resistance against the corrupt government, led by Jeanine (Kate Winslet). Jeanine seeks to stop Tris and her friends as they seek to disturb the peace that Jeanine created. We'll see how far the film will go away from the source material. Woodley has said that the plot will turn away from author's Veronica Roth's book. Whether this will be a good thing or hurt the movie will be determined when released. One thing is for sure: this series will be increase in popularity.

     13) Focus - February 27

     Will Smith has not had a good film, or at least a decent film, in a while. With him being announced to wear Deadshot's eye-patch in 2016's Suicide Squad, Smith needs a good film to head into that superhero flick. Part romantic-comedy and part crime-saga, Will Smith plays seasoned con-man Nicky Spurgeon who takes on an apprentice in Jess Barrett (The Wolf of Wall Street's Margot Robbie) who fall for each other while committing their frauds but everything is not as it seems for this couple. Emotions are exploited and shows that love is not a part of a good con-game.

     12) Mad Max: Fury Road - May 15

     A franchise gets a reboot facelift as Tom Hardy takes over the role of Mad Max. In an post-apocalyptic wasteland, Max (Hardy) meets Furiosa (Charlize Theron), who seeks to cross the desert but things aren't that easy in a land of lawlessness as the duo comes across a common enemy in a warlord (Nicholas Hoult's Nux is a devotee). We'll see who comes out of this battle for survival.

     11) Pan - July 24

     Hollywood takes another voyage to Neverland with this origin story. Peter (Levi Miller) and Hook (Garrett Hedlund) appear to be partners who, along with Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara), try to escape the clutches of legendary pirate Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman). Hook is not a villain in this film but that doesn't mean that his other qualities are not apparent. Let's just say that I'm "hooked" to this return to Neverland.

     10) Ted 2 - June 26

     That's right. Everyone's foul-mouthed teddy bear is back in action! Seth MacFarlane has not revealed any plot details but the casting news has certainly kept us interested. Mark Wahlberg returns as John Bennett and Amanda Seyfried has joined the cast as Samantha Jackson, Bennett's new love interest with Mila Kunis' not making a return. One great thing is that there will be no other talking toys to join the bear. Newcomers to the cast include Liam Nesson, Morgan Freeman, David Hasselhoff, and TOM BRADY (really?). Given how popular the original film was, Ted 2 has the potential to be just as exciting.

     9) The Walk - October 2

     I've been a fan of the multi-talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt. From his foundation of his online production company hitRECord in 2004 and his own TV Series, HitRECord on TV in 2014 to his directorial debut with the sleeper hit Don Jon in 2013. His next feature film, The Walk, will see Levitt go to new heights (literally) as he stars as Philippe Petit, the French high-wire-walking daredevil who strung a cable between the two World Trade Center's 110-story skyscrapers in 1974 and walked across it. You can be assured that the visual aspects of the film will be epic in scale as Robert Zemeckis (Director of Forrest Gump, Flight, and Back to the Future) will add a human factor to this film.

     8) Jurassic World - June 15

     Set 22 years after Steven Spielberg's original classic, Isla Nublar finally features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park. It's a thriving attraction but in an effort to create more buzz, the island's scientists create a ferocious hybrid dinosaur who, of course, breaks out and brings death and destruction to the island and its human visitors. Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) is Owen, part of the park's on-site staff, who teams up with the park's operations manager (Bryce Dallas Howard) to stop the giant man-made creation.

      7) Tomorrowland - May 22

     In this film directed by Brad Bird (Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol), George Clooney stars as Frank who, along with Casey (Britt Robertson) travel to a hidden place in space and time only known as Tomorrowland where their actions have a direct affect on the world and themselves. Other reports state that Frank is an exile of Tomorrowland and acts as a guide for Casey but why this world has been kept a secret and why Frank is on the outside of that world will definitely help support this smart movie.

     6) Furious 7 - April 3

     I'm sure everyone has seen the first preview for this sequel for the fast-paced series. Taking place after Fast and Furious 6, Dom (Vin Diesel), Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker), and their crew are back in the United States and returning to their normal lives (causing trouble like always). Owen Shaw's older brother, Ian (Jason Statham), is seeking revenge against Dominic. After Han's death, Dominic and his crew go on their own path of vengeance against the older Shaw, taking the franchise down a darker road.

     5) Terminator Genisys - July 1

     The future has been reset in this sequel, prequel, and reboot of the Terminator franchise. John Connor (Jason Clarke) sends soldier Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) into the past to help protect his mother, Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke). Sounds exactly like the original film, right? It's not. Sarah isn't the scared woman we remember. The original past has changed where Sarah was orphaned at nine years old and brought up by another T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who trains her for her destiny. Now Kyle and Sarah must go up against a T-1000 to save the future.

     4) Spectre - November 6

     007 makes his return in his 24th film and Daniel Craig's fourth outing. A cryptic message sends James Bond (Daniel Craig) into the layers of a sinister organization known as SPECTRE. While M fights political pressure that threaten the future of MI6, Bond gets closer to uncovering a hidden truth that threatens to destroy everything he has sought to protect. The return of SPECTRE to the current James Bond timeline is a spectacular decision and could help build on the success brought on by Skyfall.

     3) Avengers: Age of Ultron - May 1

     Earth's Mightest Heroes return to defend our world against a threat of their own creation, or more of Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr) creation. With S.H.I.E.L.D. destroyed and the Avengers needing a break from stopping threats around the world, Tony Stark jumpstarts a dormant peacekeeping program with Ultron (voiced by James Spader), a self-aware, self-teaching, artificial intelligence. When Ultron decides that humans are the main enemy and seeks to eliminate the human race. Iron Man, Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and the rest of the Avengers, along with the support of Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) seek to stop the Ultron. Along the way, our heroes encounter the miracle twins, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen) and the familiar Vision (Paul Bettany). Looking at the trailer, this film has a certain Empire Strikes Back feel to it and that's not a bad thing at all.

     2) The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 - November 20

     The Hunger Games film saga comes to an end with Mockingjay Part II. Mockingjay - Part I did a great job, setting the stage for the conclusion. After being officially symbolized as the "Mockingjay", Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), her friends, and District 13 wage an all-out revolution against President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the Capitol. Where Mockingjay - Part 1 ended, I'm interested to see how they will end the series and how close to author's Suzanne Collins book the film will stay.

     1) Star Wars: The Force Awakens - December 18

     It was close but the return of Star Wars tops the list. The film is set thirty years after the events of Return of the Jedi. We've all seen the preview by now and seeing two of the possible new three leads (John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, and Oscar Issac) who will join the returning characters from the original trilogy. I'm looking forward to seeing the next preview, hoping for a glimpse of Han, Leia, or Luke. We're promised stormtroopers, a return to Tattooine, and the Millennium Falcon takes flight again...and let's not forget that red badass lightsaber wielded by Sith Lord Kylo Ren. May the Force be with You!

Happy New Year again and Happy Movie Going!

Honorable Mentions: