Justice League: War (2014)

Justice League: War (2014)

7/10

Starring the voice of

Alan Tudyk

Jason O'Mara

Michelle Monaghan

Christopher Gorham

Justin Kirk

Shemar Moore

Sean Astin

Directed by Jay Oliva

The inclusion of Shazam instead of Aquaman, as it is in the comic, might make you wonder where this film is headed or if DC has messed up a fine comic book origin story for the Justice League (since the film is an adaptation of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee’s 2011 Justice League: Origin comic storyline). But as the movie starts to take shape, while maintaining other key elements from the comic, it becomes both fun to watch and surprisingly hilarious. I found myself laughing throughout as our heroes meet each other for the first time.

Reviewing the animation as it is, I have to say this modern origin story of the Justice League is just cool. I really enjoyed how most characters thought Batman was a myth until they met him. Then there’s Hal Jordan, trying to be a lone hero but constantly tripping over his own overconfidence—you need to see that for yourself.

Working together as a team wasn’t easy for our heroes at first. They clashed numerous times before finally realizing they were all on the same side. And when they did, Darkseid didn’t know what hit him.

The action and humor in this animation are what will keep you glued until the end. When the movie ends, you’ll wish there was more.

The plot is simple: the world is changing, and the emergence of superhumans and aliens is making everyone scared and cranky. Our heroes—Batman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Superman, Wonder Woman, Shazam, and Flash (Barry Allen)—are seen more as threats than heroes.
Then, an attack happens in various locations on Earth. As our heroes battle these creatures (Parademons) that seem to be kidnapping humans, they’re drawn together. Each attack leads to a central stage: the grand entrance of Darkseid.

Our heroes eventually team up against their common enemy, joined by Cyborg, who has crucial information about these creatures and their goals. Together, they band together to deal with the threat.

The movie does deviate from the comic in other areas, not just by replacing Aquaman with Shazam. But if this is a preview of what’s to come in the DC universe, then I’m both thrilled and expectant for the next movies. DC has found a way to make me eager and curious about the Justice League’s next adventure.

Justice League: War is available on Blu-ray and DVD. Get a copy for yourself—you’ll be glad you did.

Robocop (2014)

Robocop (2014)

6/10

Starring

Joel Kinnaman

Gary Oldman

Michael Keaton

Samuel L. Jackson

Directed by José Padilha

Robocop (2014)—I’ve finally seen the PG version of what’s likely the first in a series of Robocop reboots. The truth is, the movie is okay. It adds more depth to Alex Murphy’s life, something the original lacked, but that doesn’t help it top the original. In the end, I felt the movie was decent but too long, with too much unnecessary drama. It tried to outdo the original (and failed) instead of carving out its own identity. I think it would’ve done better with a shorter runtime and a tougher villain.

The plot goes like this: Alex Murphy is nearly killed by a gang he’s trying to take down. In critical condition, his wife agrees to let him be experimented on, turning him into a cyborg—a police officer cyborg who’s practically unstoppable.

Another thing that didn’t sit well with me was the E-209. In the first Robocop, they were so lethal that he had to flee from one. Here, he takes them on head-to-head. I’ll let you see that for yourself.

There are some significant changes in this reboot. For example, Lewis is now African-American and male, unlike the 1987 version where Lewis was a white female. In the original, Murphy and Lewis were partners for a short time before Murphy was brutally murdered. Here, they’ve been partners for a long time, and Murphy isn’t killed in a gunfight but by a car bomb.

I think the most significant change is the role of Murphy’s wife. In the original, she was just a memory, but here she plays a key role in the creation of Robocop and the outcome of events.

The big question on everyone’s mind is: Is this movie as good as the 1987 version?
The answer is… NO!!!

It’s good on its own terms, but the original’s R-rating made it more engaging and overall more interesting. This movie, on the other hand, delivers strong performances from its cast. It also changes the motives of some characters. In the old Robocop movies, everyone was in it for themselves. Here, the “naughty professor” who creates Robocop actually has a heart. He wants the best for his creation and is willing to risk his life to ensure Alex/Robocop isn’t destroyed.

Another comparison: Is the new Murphy better than the old Murphy?
NO!!!
Peter Weller was a one-of-a-kind Robocop, and Joel Kinnaman has a lot to do to make old-school fans like me forget about Weller.

The new suit, though, is off the chain, and this Robocop uses a bike instead of the iconic car from the original. The story remains largely the same, and the classic line, “Dead or alive, you’re coming with me,” makes an appearance.

The idea behind this reboot was likely to launch a new series of sequels, but I wonder if the underwhelming box-office performance and mixed reviews will put those plans on hold.

RoboCop 3 (1993)

RoboCop 3 (1993)

3/10

Starring

Robert John Burke

Nancy Allen

Directed by ‎ Fred Dekker

I guess the movie should’ve been called There’s No End to the Torture, because Robocop 3 was a total waste of money and ideas.
The funny thing is, I remember the first time I watched it. I was with my sister and friends, and I recall being pissed at how the movie turned out. To make things worse, there was the death of Lewis (Nancy Allen), which I felt was completely unnecessary. I knew her role had been limited since the previous movie, but killing her off wasn’t my idea of a good way to end her character.

Robocop 3 was a financial disaster at the box office. With Peter Weller refusing to reprise his role—partly because the suit was cumbersome and partly due to the negative reception of the second movie—he retired as Alex Murphy/Robocop. This led to Robert John Burke stepping in.

This time, our Robocop is up against a rehabilitation task force created by OCP to relocate people and make way for their Delta City project. Time is running out for the project, so the rehab force uses brutal methods to evict residents, even killing some in the process. Enter our hero, ready to defend the innocent.

The main issue with this movie is that it was produced as a family-friendly film. All the R-rated elements from the first two movies were removed to make way for a more kid-friendly Robocop. The story isn’t as boring as the second movie—I could sit through it without dozing off—but I still didn’t want to, because:

1. Peter Weller wasn’t in it.
2. It was rated PG-13.

The flying scene was probably meant to be the highlight, but the lack of gore made it completely unimpressive.

Frank Miller wrote the screenplay, bringing back some elements that were dismissed in Robocop 2. In fact, he made those dismissed parts the driving force of this new movie. I guess he should have listened to the executives who thought those parts were not needed.

The idea to continue making this movie without Weller and killing of the Lewis character, you can guess was a plan to continue to make more movies, but as you can see it did not work.

In the end, I can safely say: just watch the first Robocop. Don’t bother with the rest, as they don’t add anything to what makes this franchise great. Skipping them saves you money, and I guarantee you’re not missing a thing.

RoboCop 2 (1990)

RoboCop 2 (1990)

3/10

Starring

Peter Weller

Nancy Allen

Directed by ‎Irvin Kershner

When a great movie gets a sequel, you expect something better—or at least close to it. That’s what I hoped for when I started watching Robocop 2, but what I got was completely different from what the movie promised.

The first problem I had was the storyline. It was too straightforward. That might work for other movies, but here, it just didn’t click. The movie started with action, and the action kept going and going until I was struggling to keep my eyes open. Even the idea of a ruthless, murderous child felt too wrong for this kind of film.

Robocop 2 is more than boring—it’s crap. My main issue was how Robocop moved. In the first movie, he seemed to move more freely, but here, he felt stiff and awkward. There’s even a scene where he cracks his neck. He’s a cyborg—basically metal with a brain—so why is he cracking his neck?

The movie also downplayed the role of Nancy Allen, who played Officer Lewis. Then there’s the whole concept of a second cyborg, Robocop 2, who’s addicted to drugs. So much about this movie just doesn’t work, and by the end, I was left wondering why they even made it. After watching the movie and knowing that every movie script is properly cleared before money is spent, I’m even more confused about how anyone thought this would pass as a good film.

The plot picks up after the events of the first movie, with the same themes running through it: everyone’s looking out for themselves and their financial gain, with no concern for what’s happening in the police department.

The state is losing Detroit to OCP due to massive debt, and a drug lord named Cain is ruling the streets, making millions selling a drug called Nuke.
Robocop and Cain have an encounter that leaves Robocop torn to shreds. Their second showdown leads to Cain becoming Robocop 2, and from there, the movie stays true to its R-rating, with deaths everywhere.

This was the last time Peter Weller played Robocop. He called the film too negative and disappointing, a sentiment shared by his co-star Nancy Allen. Frank Miller wrote the script, though in his defense, his original version was reportedly unmakeable. Numerous rewrites led to the Robocop 2 we see today—and the even crappier Robocop 3 that followed, which ended the film movie franchise production at that time, before the 2014 remake.

RoboCop (1987)

RoboCop (1987)

9/10

Starring

Peter Weller

Nancy Allen

Directed by Paul Verhoeven

My sister and I bought the VHS tape of this movie when we were younger, and we watched it so much that the tape started to coil up. Later on, it began to skip, and pretty soon, the tape was worthless, and the movie was gone.

Who knew the future would hold such great things like DVDs and Blu-rays? Now, many of us have DVDs and Blu-rays of our favorite films.

The sad thing is, my sister and I were not even over 11, when we purchased this, we did not know it was a dark, adult movie. The joke on us was, many of the drugs, sexual reference and cruel theme went over our head, we just loved the action, shooting and that part of the plot we understood and could follow.

Robocop 1 is the best of the best in the entire Robocop series. It’s even better than the remake and stands as one of the most brutal entries in the franchise.

The movie focuses on a cyborg’s internal battle between his robotic side and his human side. It doesn’t shy away from making monsters out of practically everyone involved—from the group that saved Murphy’s life and turned him into Robocop, to the group determined to keep crime alive in Detroit. Almost everyone in the movie (except the cops, who seem to be the victims) has hidden agendas.

The only downside I noticed now, which I didn’t catch when I was younger, is how Robocop magically traces down the guys who shot him. He just seems to know where they are at exactly the right time.

The plot is set in crime-ridden Detroit, Michigan, sometime in the future. A mega-corporation called Omni Consumer Products (OCP) has taken over the Detroit Police Department because the state can no longer fund it.

Police officer Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) is transferred to the Detroit Police Department and is brutally murdered by a gang of criminals. But his death isn’t the end—OCP brings him back as a superhuman cyborg police officer known as "RoboCop."

After Peter Weller’s incredible performance and the movie’s great reception, a sequel was made. However, it didn’t get the same applause as the first. Even then, the production company went ahead with a third movie, which was total crap.

If you haven’t experienced Robocop yet, stop what you’re doing and make sure you watch this movie. If you liked the remake, you’ll love the original.

The Artist (2011)

The Artist (2011)

7/10

Starring

Jean Dujardin

Bérénice Bejo

Directed by Michel Hazanavicius

The Artist is a fine film, I have to admit. I dreaded watching it because, although I like old black-and-white films, I’ve never been a fan of silent movies. So, this 2011 silent film felt like an attempt to bring back memories of an era I thought was best left with Charlie Chaplin.

When the movie started, I had to fight the urge to turn it off. But as the screenplay began to unfold and Jean Dujardin’s character, George Valentin, started acting, the movie quickly became captivating. I couldn’t help but laugh and grew curious to see how the character would make his comeback.

The movie’s screenplay is something you have to experience. This French/English film boasts a screenplay that was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards.
I’ve been asked why I talk so much about screenplays. Well, it’s because the screenplay is the backbone of a movie. It dictates how the story flows from beginning to end. The director’s job is to bring that screenplay to life on screen.
If you have a bad screenplay and a good director, you’ll get a bad movie. The same goes for a good screenplay with a bad director—you’ll still end up with a bad movie.
But with a good director like Michel Hazanavicius and a great screenplay (which he also wrote), you get a masterpiece in the making. And don’t even get me started on the movie’s score. Since it’s a silent film, the score is front and center. It has to be good and blend seamlessly with what’s happening on screen to avoid distractions. The costumes were also spot-on. While watching, I felt like I was transported back to the silent movie era.

The movie’s plot follows George Valentin, a once-famous and popular actor whose career takes a nosedive as silent films fall out of favor and “talkies” become the new trend. George fails to adapt, and soon, he becomes a shadow of his former self. The film shows how he’s helped by someone who idolized him during his heyday.

The Artist is a great movie. Don’t delay like I did—go see it, the black and white and lack of many words do not affect the quality of the movie.

Its accolades include:

• Academy Awards: 5 wins, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.
• BAFTA Awards: 7 wins, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay.

Ride Along (2014)

Ride Along (2014)

3/10

Starring

Ice Cube

Kevin Hart

Directed by Tim Story

Ride Along is a drag. The movie reminded me of Martin Lawrence’s Blue Streak (1999) and National Security (2003), both of which weren’t hits. Ride Along borrows heavily from every buddy cop movie out there—from the Lethal Weapon (1987) style of thinking they’ve got everything under control, to the Rush Hour (1998) vibe where they act like two misfits who shouldn’t be in the same room together. The movie just rides on the coattails of these buddy cop films and somehow thinks it’s got a solid screenplay locked down.

The writers must’ve been huge Martin Lawrence fans because I even caught traces of Nothing to Lose (1997) in this movie. Not to mention the Looney Tunes-style car chase—where have I seen that before? Oh yeah, A Good Day to Die Hard (2013), which was also a buddy cop movie (a trend that started after the first two Die Hard films, Die Hard (1988) and Die Harder (1990)). Maybe that’s why the first two were the real classics—something for the producers to think about.

The only thing this movie was missing was a man dressed as a woman (à la Martin Lawrence’s Big Momma series). Well, there was something close—a woman mistaken for a man because of her outfit and, of course, the beard.
These writers must’ve binge-watched Martin Lawrence movies all weekend before writing this mess. None of the jokes landed because I’d seen them all done better in other films.

The critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes is 17% approval, while the audience score is 70%. I’m siding with the critics here because the plot you’re about to read is as lame as it gets.

Ben Barber (Kevin Hart) is a fast-talking, childish-looking security guard who gets his dream come true when he’s accepted into the police academy.
His potential brother-in-law, James Payton (Ice Cube), is a detective who doesn’t approve of Ben dating his sister. When James finds out Ben is joining the academy, he takes him on a 24-hour patrol of Atlanta to prove he’s worthy of marrying Angela, James’s sister.

The patrol starts smoothly but quickly turns into a real case that could finally close the three-year investigation James has been working on against a criminal named Omar (Laurence Fishburne).

There must be a part of Kevin Hart comedy that I never get, and ladies and gentlemen, this movie has been approved for a sequel. Why, Hollywood? Why?

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

4/10

Starring

Chris Hemsworth

Natalie Portman

Tom Hiddleston

Anthony Hopkins

Directed by Alan Taylor

Thor: The Dark World was released in late 2013, and I just couldn’t bring myself to watch it at first. I didn’t see the point in making the movie, knowing Thor isn’t exactly one of those characters with the coolest stories.

That said, the movie was captivating enough. It wasn’t as funny as the first one, nor as clumsy or deep in terms of story, but it still holds up as a good movie. If I’d never seen it, though, I don’t think I would’ve missed much.
The ending, where Thor defeats the threat and has to face his father, was a standout moment. The way the writers crafted that scene made me curious enough to want to see the next Thor movie and find out how things unfold.

The movie picks up after the events of The Avengers (2012). Like other films in the Marvel universe, the aftermath of The Avengers shakes things up. Thor’s loyalty is questioned—should he stay loyal to Asgard or Earth? He spends his days restoring order across realms and sneaks off to Earth at night.

Disney put its money to good use here. The effects were grand, Anthony Hopkins was out of this world, and I initially thought Loki would have a minor role. I was wrong—he plays a crucial part, and his performance is a highlight.

The movie starts by introducing a new threat to the universe: the Dark Elves. They existed before light and want to bring darkness back. Bor, Odin’s father, stopped them long ago, but now the planets are aligning again (supposedly a once-in-5,000-years event, though in superhero and sci-fi movies, it feels like it happens every year). The Dark Elves are rising once more to finish what they started 5,000 years ago.

The movie is well-packaged, and it’s no surprise Disney raked in millions and is planning another installment. I wasn’t a fan of killing off Rene Russo (who played Loki and Thor’s mother). It felt like a waste of talent, but hey, I’m not the writer.

Marvel has its universe locked down, and the only thing that could make it better is if they somehow bring Spider-Man and the X-Men back into the fold. Wouldn’t that be great?

The sad thing is, that can only happen if they can get the rights back from  Fox, which I do not believe they will be able to achieve because Fox will milk the franchise.

The Poltergeist (1982)

The Poltergeist (1982)

7/10

Starring

Craig T. Nelson

JoBeth Williams

Beatrice Straight

Directed by Tobe Hooper

Poltergeist is a classic Steven Spielberg movie (he wrote the screenplay and produced it) released in 1982. It spawned two sequels, and a remake is set to be released in 2015. The movie is really good—it doesn’t rely too heavily on special effects, even though there are plenty. Instead, the focus is more on the story. The idea of a child being lost in a realm where spirits who failed to crossover dwell is engaging enough.
How the family reacts to the situation is also fun to watch: the panic, the distrust in the self-proclaimed medium, and the skepticism of the people who show up to help. The movie presents the concept of a poltergeist haunting in a way that feels real—like how many of us would react if it happened to us.
First, there’s the surprise, then the intrigue, and by the time you realize that spinning chairs, moving objects, and flickering lights aren’t a good thing, it’s already too late.

Poltergeist starts with a little girl, Carol (Heather O’Rourke), who becomes captivated by a voice only she can hear coming from the TV. The whole family is awakened by her discovery, and what seems like an overactive imagination quickly turns into a life-or-death situation. It’s only by sheer luck that the family survives.

The movie was a financial success and even went up against Spielberg’s other film, E.T. (1982), at the Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects (it lost to E.T.).

However, Poltergeist is often seen as a cursed film. Some of the actors died under mysterious circumstances. Dominique Dunne, who played Dana Freeling, was murdered by her boyfriend, and Heather O’Rourke passed away after filming Poltergeist III. Some believe the curse stems from the movie’s use of real human skeletons for its effects.

My final take on this movie is that it might not scare you as much as intended, but it will definitely thrill you. The writing is solid, and the screenplay grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. Just when you think it’s all over and the family can finally escape to safety, you’re pulled back in to realize it’s only the beginning. That’s something I feel many modern horror movies are missing.

Every Poltergeist movie released after this one failed to achieve critical or commercial success, so it’s clear this is the standout film of the series. Go see it, it is worth the time.

Halloween (1978)

Halloween (1978)

4/10

Starring

Donald Pleasence

Jamie Lee Curtis

P. J. Soles

Nancy Loomis

Directed by John Carpenter

No school like the old school. Remakes—not all, but especially remakes of horror classics—often end up with more blood and pointless screams because the new director thinks the original didn’t have enough.

I wasn’t born when John Carpenter’s Halloween came out, but I was around for Rob Zombie’s version. After seeing it, I was curious to watch the original and understand why it’s considered a classic. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy it much. It felt dragged out, relying too much on suspense, and since I’d already seen the remake, it didn’t leave much of an impression. I think seeing the remake before seeing the original messed my view of the movie and I can’t see why people think this movie is a classic.

Overall, I found it boring. I almost dozed off while watching it. I guess slasher movies have been overdone, with films like Scream, Friday the 13th, and This dominating the late ’70s and ’90s, making it hard for me to appreciate this one.

I’m a fan of old classics and was really hoping to love this movie, but I was just disappointed. As the Bible says, there’s a time for everything, and I guess the time for slasher movies has come and gone.

The movie is about a man named Michael Myers, who starts his killing spree as a child by murdering his older sister after she has sex with her boyfriend.
He’s locked up in an insane asylum but escapes 15 years later. Now, this psycho killer is on the loose, and with nowhere else to go, he returns to his old hometown to continue his killing spree without remorse.

Back in his hometown, Michael stalks teenager Laurie Strode and her friends, intending to kill them. Meanwhile, Michael’s psychiatrist, Dr. Sam Loomis, suspects his patient’s intentions and heads to the town to stop him—but not soon enough, as Michael has already started killing again.
The movie becomes a race against time: Will Michael succeed in killing everyone he’s stalking, or will Loomis stop him?

No matter how I feel about this movie, Michael Myers will always remain a classic psycho killer. He spawned a franchise that lasted over 10 films, with the story evolving into a sibling rivalry between Laurie and Michael.
If you’re into slasher movies like I am, maybe you should try watching all the Halloween films, I will try, but not liking the start of the journey.

Halloween (2007)

Halloween (2007)

5/10

Starring

Malcolm McDowell

Sheri Moon Zombie

Tyler Mane

Scout Taylor-Compton

Brad Dourif

Directed by Rob Zombie

“If it ain’t broken, don’t try to fix it...” is what they say, but the Halloween franchise was broken, and Rob Zombie tried to fix it.
What he did was take Michael Myers—one of the first slasher icons (after Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960))—and gave him a backstory. When John Carpenter introduced us to the psychopathic killer Michael Myers, there was little focus on his upbringing or how external factors shaped him into the monster he became.

Rob Zombie’s Halloween is both a prequel and a remake. It answers questions about how Michael Myers became who he is, and after he breaks out of the insane asylum, the movie shifts into a remake of the 1978 classic. The movie lacked the needed creativity to be captivating enough for this movie to matter much.

To be honest, I still prefer this version to the original. While I don’t care much about the origin of this psychopath (the brief intro in the 1978 classic was enough for me), the prequel Rob Zombie added was a welcome touch. That said, it dragged on for over 30 minutes, which I did not care for. I got tired of waiting for Michael to go full psycho, but when it finally happened, it was cool. It felt familiar, like something I’d seen before, but still entertaining. The movie also had a lot of sexual content, most of which felt unnecessary, but I guess Rob wanted to stay true to the original while adding his own twist.

For those who don’t know, the Halloween franchise is about a man named Michael Myers, who starts his killing spree as a child by murdering his older sister and her boyfriend after they have sex.
He’s locked up in an insane asylum but escapes 15 years later. Now, this psycho killer is on the loose, killing without remorse. The safest thing to do when Michael Myers is after you? Kill yourself before he gets to you.

The acting in the movie is one thing I struggled with. The lead actors were great in their roles, but the extras were just... off. I’ve never seen such a large group of extras with little to no acting skills (except in some B-movies) like the ones in this film. That’s why I’d rate the movie lower.

If you’re ever in the mood to watch the entire Halloween franchise, don’t skip this one. In my book, it’s as good as the first.