Those that know me well, know that superhero movies are one of my favorite types of movies. I'm not too sure where my fascination for these
larger than life characters first started, but I know I have always been inspired
and entertained by them. I kind of like to think of superhero movies
as the westerns. Westerns use to be very popular, with some
being very good, and other not so good, just like superhero movies today.
I haven't seen every Superhero movie ever made, but I
would say that I have probably seen most of them, and I've at least seen the good ones. So what I'm going to do is attempt to create a list of all the
Superhero movies I've seen and rank them from worst to best. Since I haven't
seen all of them there will be some missing from the list. Some notable ones
missing will be the Blade series (never seen them), the old Superman 3 and 4 (I
saw them when I was kid, and wasn't really impressed with them then so I don't
see the need to re-watch them), Catwoman (with Halle Berry), and Shaq’s attempt
at being a superhero, Steel.
Yes, this movie really did happen, maybe I should check it out? Anyone want to watch it with me?
So with that said, here is my list of my favorite superhero movies in order from least to greatest……
36. Fantastic
Four
Directed by:Tim Story
Starring:Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba,
Chris Evans
Released: June 2005
First watched:At a friend’s house in the summer of 2006
…..And the winner of my least favorite
superhero is the not so fantastic Fantastic
Four movie. This movie was pretty bad. I remember when it came out I went
to the movies with a friend, and I really wanted to see it. He worked at the
movie theater and had already seen it, and he refused to let me see it because
he thought it was so that bad. I remember thinking it couldn't be that bad, but
when I finally watched it a year later I could see what he was talking about.
Half of the movie was them trying to figure out how get rid of their powers and
not use them. That’s not what superheroes do! The action was lame, the dialogue
was cringe worthy, and the movie was just really boring, and superheroes should
not be boring! So there you have it, a boring and uneventful superhero movie
that has become my least favorite superhero movie.
35. Ghost Rider
Directed by: Mark Steven Johnson
Starring: Nic Cage, Eva Mendes
Released: February 2007
First watched:In theaters, with my buddy Jacob.
Nic Cage as a superhero, that’s a great idea! Not! Look I'm not a Nic Cage hater, he’s actually done some pretty good stuff in his career, but this was not one of them. I remember as kid having trading cards of the Ghost Rider character and thinking that he looked so cool, but I never really knew much of his back story. So when the movie came I was super excited to see it and figured out more about this awesome looking character. Well, I soon came to find out that he wasn't as awesome as he looks. I’m not sure if it was because Nic Cage was miscast, or the bad script, or a bad director, but this movie was just not that entertaining, or inspiring. There just wasn't really anything fun about it. I never ended up seeing the sequel, but I don't think I've ever heard any good things about it.
34. Fantastic
Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Directed by: Tim Story
Starring:Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba,
Chris Evans
Released:June 2007
First watched: In the theaters at the
midnight showing with friends
The sequel to the Fantastic Four much pretty
suffers from the same things that made the first bad. The only redeeming
quality and the one thing that makes this one better than the first was the
Silver Surfer. His scenes helped bring a little bit more life into the series,
but still not enough, since they left him underdeveloped. This movie had so
much potential with introducing one of the coolest marvel characters, the
Silver Surfer, and one of marvel’s best bad guys, Galactus, but instead they made of one of Marvel’s most fearsome bad guys into a giant cloud. Not cool
guys! With the Fantastic Four being rebooted in 2015, hopefully we can finally get a movie these characters deserve.
33. Batman and Robin
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
Released:June 1997
Starring:George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Uma Thurman
First watched: In theaters with my dad and
brother Matt
I'm sure a lot of people would say that this
is the worst superhero movie ever, but I will have to disagree. I'm not saying it’s
good by any means, but this movie is so bad that it’s actually kind of funny to
watch. It’s embarrassing and entertaining at the same time. Arnold Schwarzenegeger's one liners are so ridiculous that it actually turns out to be funny. It's one of those movies that's so bad it's funny, but at the same time you keep asking yourself how in the world did they actually think this was going to be any good. Now when
this movie came out, I was 8 and I loved it. I pretty much owned every action
figure that they released with this film as well, which was actually the goal
of this movie; sell toys. Well they got their target market, which was probably
only age 8, because anyone else older could probably start to see how bad it
was. When I was about 9 or 10 I started to come to my senses and I realized
just how bad this movie is. In retrospect I'm actually kind of glad this movie happened because without it we would not have the amazing Dark Knight trilogy.
32. X-men Origins Wolverine
Directed by: Gavin Hood
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber,
Ryan Reynolds
Released: May 2009
First watched: New Year’s Eve 2009 at a
friends house
This film isn't totally bad, but it really had
so much potential, and that’s why its hard for me to watch. Wolverine has an
amazing backstory in the comics that would make for a pretty epic movie, and so
of course making a movie about it would be a no brainer. For some reason though
this movie turned out to be a mess. Hugh Jackman does well with his role, but
he’s about the only one, and it’s a real shame because they had two of Marvel’s
coolest characters in it, Gambit and Deadpool, and both of them ended up being really lame in this movie. The one cool part about this movie was the opening
sequence, which shows Wolverine fighting in all the American Wars. It’s too bad
they couldn't carry that tone throughout the rest of the movie.
31. The Green Hornet
Directed by:Michel Gondry
Starring: Seth Rogan, Jay Chou, Christoph
Waltz, Cameron Diaz
Released:January 2011
First watched:In theaters with Taylor
This movie was actually pretty entertaining,
but it was really annoying how Seth Rogan’s character was such a jerk, and how
he treated everyone around him like crap. I know that’s how Tony Stark starts
off in the Iron Man movies, but for some reason it just didn't work for me in
this movie. I enjoyed Jay Chou’s character, and Chrisoph Waltz as the villain,
but then they had to throw in Cameron Diaz, and I'm typically not the biggest
fan of her. Anyways this movie turns out to be okay, but nothing special, or superhero worthy.
Anyone who knows me well and has read my blog before knows that I love movies! I love to watch them, talk about them, analyze them, and watch them again. With so many movies that come out each year and ticket prices to movies constantly going up it can be difficult to know which movies to I should spend my time with. Also add in the fact that I'm LDS and I try to live by certain standards, it can be really hard to find movies that are worthwhile.
Over the last year I have had the great pleasure of getting to know a pretty cool dude named Jonathan Decker (aka the Mormon Movie Guy). Jonathan runs a blog called Mormonmovieguy.com, and a podcast called Mormons at the megaplex. His blog and his podcast are both designed to give reviews of movies from an LDS perspective. He reviews the films, the content in the films, and then outlines what messages we as an audience can take away from the films. His site has become my go to place for movie reviews. Even if you are not LDS, his insight and knowledge into the film industry is very vast and he provides a unique perspective into film. He has a great understanding of film that has helped me see movies as more than just entertainment.
Not only does he have his website and podcast, but he recently just released a book, which is what this post is really about. The book is title 250 Great Movies for Latter-Day Saint Families. I had the opportunity of reading the book before it was released and I wanted to share some of my thoughts about it.
This is a pretty simple and straightforward book that is designed to suggest films that will help people find movies that they can feel comfortable watching. It is an easy to use reference to 250 great movies. For each film there is brief review and synopsis of the what the movie is about, with a final letter grade review. Next there is a paragraph about the overview of the content of the film. Finally there is a section titled Messages to Discuss. This is my favorite part of the book, and the section I find the most valuable. With so many movies coming out these days, and with
Hollywood's standards declining, this book helps LDS moviegoers and families
find films that can uplift and keep within the standards of the gospel. I look forward to now not only being entertained by watching a
movie, but also being able to find gospel themes and discussing them with my
family.
Here is an example of the messages to discuss for my favorite film The Empire Strikes Back:
MESSAGES TO DISCUSS: There are no
miracles without belief (Moroni
7:35–37; Mormon 9:19–20).
Vengeance, fear, and anger are not righteous
(3 Nephi 11:29–30); the path to
wickedness is easier and quicker.
The difference is discernible
(Moroni 7:15–17); the “good side” (i.e.
the Holy Ghost) speaks peace to
our minds and hearts (Galations
5:22–23).
Another thing that is great about this book is that it's not just reviews about Disney and animated movies (don't get me wrong I love Disney and animated movies, there's just a lot of other good stuff out there too). He journeys outside of those types of films and finds movies from all different types of genres. There is such a wide variety of films such as classics like the Swiss Family Robinson, to more recent films like the Blindside, and epic movies like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and of course Star Wars.
Overall, this is a great book for anyone who is searching for media that is uplifting and worthwhile. It's especially great for families, but it's also a great resource even if you don't have a family yet. If you are interested in purchasing it you can pre-order it here at amazon.com or here at Desert Book. It will be released on September 10.
Also check out Jonathan's site! I can't say enough good things about what he is doing!
Does anyone else feel like there have been a lot of awesome
movies released this summer? There are always good movies that come during the
summer, but for some reason this year there seems to be a lot more than usual. I haven't quite seen every movie that has come out the this summer, but I've seen a lot of them so I
thought I would share my two cents again like I did with the movies that came
out in May.
I've always liked Superman, but he's never been my favorite. I like that he represents the noble American superhero, but I find that his invincibility sometimes makes him not as interesting as other superheros. I mostly enjoy the old Christopher Reeves movies, but they were never great movies for me, even when I watched them as kid. Even though I've never been the biggest Superman fan I've always rooted for him to make a truly epic movie, because I've always known there was potentially for one, and let me say that this is the Superman movie I have been waiting for! This movie turned me from a casual Superman fan to die hard Superman fan. It's still no Batman, but it is very close.
This movie was emotional, it was action packed, it was thought provoking, and inspiring. This movie is truly epic with amazing action sequences, but it's also a very personal and character driven movie as well. I loved the style of the film, and how it makes you feel like you are on the planet Krypton, the farm in Smallville, or in the battle of Metropolis watching Superman and General Zod duke it out. The acting is outstanding, and I especially enjoyed the roles that Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner play as Clark two fathers. Hans Zimmer who did the music does one of his best scores ever in this movie.
This movie didn't just entertain me but it was a reminder that we all have greatness in us. We each have talents and abilities that can help us change the world for good. The thing I enjoyed most about this movie was the story of Clark Kent trying to figure out who is, and why he is so different. He knows he can do good things in the world, and this film is about his journey in discovering these talents and abilities. I also love how this movie showed how important the role of fathers are. It shows that Clark Kent would have not become who he was if it wasn't for the influence of his fathers. This is one movie that I would definitely see again in theaters if the opportunity presents itself, and I am definitely buying it when it comes out! This movie is probably my favorite movie I've seen so far this summer, followed very closely by Star Trek Into Darkness.
This is the movie about the mormon pioneer named Ephraim Hanks, and his incredible life changing experiences. Movies in the mormon cinema genre are sometimes hit or miss. Many times the low budget, and inexperienced actors really show and it's hard to take the movie serious. Ephraim's rescue while having a small budget is not one of those films. There are a few things here and there that makes it feel like a low budget, but overall this is an incredible film. It is filled with amazing true stories and experiences of the mormon pioneers that are both heartbreaking and inspiring. The music and the cinematography is beautiful and adds such a great presence. This movie made me incredibly grateful and proud for my pioneer ancestries that sacrificed so much so that I could have the life I have now. I walked away from this movie with a strong desire to be a better person, and theres not many movies that can do that.
Like Man of Steel this was a movie that does a lot more than being an entertain. It's thought provoking and it taught me how important it is to stick to your values and beliefs, and that having faith in those beliefs can bring about miracles in our lives. It also taught me that striving to be good person is one of the most worth while goals we can aim for in life. It's only playing in one theater in Mesa (that I know of) which is Harkins Superstition Springs and it probably won't be there for much longer, so I would suggest going and see it now before it's too late.
Pixar's return to the world of monsters was a very enjoyable one. This film chronicles the days of Mike and Sully's college years and how they first met. I had the opportunity to see this with my nieces which it made the experience even more enjoyable. This movie has a lot of the same fun things that the first film had, but it also adds to some great things to the mix. There's a lot of great jokes, and a lot of really cool new monsters. One thing I love about Pixar is that they are always trying to push towards more innovation and creativity with their films. While this movie isn't totally new since it's a prequel, it still does a great job at being original, fresh, and exciting. It's not as good the other one, or even some of Pixar's other films, but it's a very enjoyable film.
I haven't laughed so hard in movie as I did with Despicable Me 2 in a long time. This movie's plot may not be as interesting or original as the first one, but it is as funny if not funnier than the first one. This movie is of course a kids show, but it's one that both adults and kids can enjoy together.The minions of course steal the show as they did in the first one. I've heard a few people say that there was too much minions in this movie, but I couldn't disagree more. Every scene they were in was hilarious, and I can't wait to see them in the Minion movie next year! I really enjoyed the new characters in this movie as well, especially the character El Macho. I've heard some people say it wasn't as interesting since Gru is no longer a villain, but I actually really enjoyed his character and it was fun to see him be a dad. Overall this is just a really great feel good movie, that does nothing but put a smile on your face, and make you laugh through out.
I had very low expectations for this movie, and I was actually not really planning on seeing it (The only reason why I did was because it was either seeing this or spend the afternoon shopping at the mall). While the movie is pretty cheesy at times it is also incredibly entertaining. As I was watching I was actually surprised at how much I was enjoying myself. It was intense, action packed, funny, and even a little moving at times, and I didn't expect any of those things going into it. Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx had great chemistry and the main villain (played by the guy who voiced Hades on Hercules) was actually very interesting, even if he was at times a little cliched. Some of the situations in this movie were a little far out there, but who cares, it was really fun to watch. This movie is a pure entertainment, and tons of fun! If you're looking for a good time go see this movie!
I had a lot of fun watching this movie. Yes there are some flaws in it, and sometimes it may seem it all over the place, but it's still an incredibly fun movie. It's funny, action packed, intense, and there are some good lessons to learn along the way. It's the origin story of the Lone Ranger and I really enjoyed seeing him discover and become who he is. It hasn't been doing too hot at the box office, and a lot of people are ripping on it, but I think that this movie deserves some more good buzz. Kind of like how John Carter, which was a very fun movie as well, got a bunch of bad word of mouth when it really wasn't. That's how this movie is too. I understand why some people have some beef with this movie, but there is a lot great things and a lot of fun to be had with this movie. I just realized I keep using the word fun, so remember this is a fun movie. It's not meant to be taken serious, (just like White House down) so go enjoy it!
If you have enjoyed any of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (like I do) you will enjoy this. It's not quite as good as those films, but it's still a great movie.
This was another movie that I didn't think I was going to like. I'm typically not a zombie movie fan, and the trailers made this one look like a zombie movie with really bad CGI. In reality though this movie was about one man and his experiences in trying to solve the zombie epidemic, and save his family. The first 30 minutes are incredibly intense, and while in drags a little in the middle, it ends with very exciting, and unexpected ending. Brad Pitt does a great job, and makes you real care about his character. He alone makes this movie very interesting, and it made me care about what happens.
Score: 8.5
Well like I said before, there has been a lot of great movies come out lately! I don't think I have seen a movie so far this summer that I didn't enjoy, and while I know I am pretty easy to entertain, there is usually at least one or two movies I see during the summer that I walk away from wishing I hadn't just spent my time and money watching. What have been some of your favorite movies to come out so far?
Last night I turned on the TV to watch the fourth quarter of the NBA finals. I'm not really a big fan of either team playing (Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs), but I decided to watch the end because I was hoping to see a thrilling game ending like game six was. I use to hate the Spurs because they would also beat the Suns in the playoffs, and that was about my the only reason actually. Every since the Suns swept the Spurs in the 2010 playoffs I actually don't mind them any more. With the Heat I'm not fan, but I also don't hate them like a lot of people do. So anyways, what I'm trying to say is that this game had no real meaning for me.
At the end of the game though I was really impressed with the way the both teams handled themselves. Before celebrate Lebron James walks up to Tim Duncan and gives a big hug. Then I see Dwayne Wade and Gregg Popovich hugging and talking. Next thing I know I see players and coaches from both sides hugging and congratulating each other. Usually I see players and coaches give a quick high five or something, but its rare to see players act the way they did last night, and really show some emotion.
Having played many sports in my day I've been on both ends of losing big games and winning big games, and let me say when you lose, especially when you gave it your all, it's not easy to go straight up to the other guys and congratulate them. And also when you win, it's hard to contain your excitement and say good game to the guys who just lost, so for both teams to do that I was pretty impressed.
It was awesome to see guys like Tony Parker, Wade, Lebron, and Tim Duncan, who are players that everyone loves to talk trash about, myself included at times, were able to show the world great sportsmanship. Even if it was for show and this guys didn't really mean it, (which I'm sure many people think) I'm glad they did because it show to the rest of us that if these superstars who play at this elite level can have sportsmanship, we can all do it. Sports can be ugly and even downright horrible at times, but it can also be good and have incredibly positive affects on people. I'm glad that these players showed the good side last night, that no matter what, win or lose you still hold your head up high and respect one another because at the end of the day it is just game.
Lately I have been interested in learning more about the life of Joseph Smith. I find the early days of the
church so fascinating because it was a time when the early saints were trying to find their place in the world, and adjust to their new teachings. It was a time of learning and also a great deal persecutions. Joseph introduced the world to something unlike anything they had in world. It was something that had only existed in Bible stories. This was something new and exciting, but for many it was also threatening. It was a lifestyle change, and it was both glorious and incredibly challenging at the same time.
I often find myself wondering if I were to have lived in those days, would I have been able to accept all the things Joseph Smith taught? It's interesting for me to see the
lifestyle of Joseph and the early saints and how they evolved. The more I learn of Joseph the more I come to see that he was a flawed man just like you and me, which for some can cause them to doubt his prophetic calling.
Along with my curiosity of understanding Joseph and the early saints, I have also been pondering on my own testimony, especially of Joseph Smith's calling as a Prophet of God. I find myself asking
sometimes, was he really a prophet? Did he really see God? Or even things like
maybe he did lose his way as he grew older. In the word today the values of the
church are being mocked and everywhere we turn there is opposition to it. It's
hard sometimes to remember why we live the teachings of the gospel or why we
need to listen to a prophet. I feel maybe I have let myself succumb to the world?
I see things and I wonder why am I not participating in those things again? The
natural man tries to tell me that it's natural; it's part of life to experience
all it has to offer in every facet.
This other day I was reading in the Joseph Smith history, and these thoughts were pressed upon my mind. I was reading about Joseph's vision and as well as the persecutions he received afterwards because of it, and I came across this statement:
As I read this I was
reminded once again why I believe in this incredible experience and this young
prophet, who was both a flawed human being, but also an inspired servant of God. It took me back to the time when I was 14 years old and I received my first
answer to a prayer, or when I was 18 years old sitting on my cousins couch, reading the Book of Mormon, and I had the most overwhelming and sensational feeling of
gratitude, excitement and love like nothing I had ever experienced. Or when I was at the funeral of my best friend and it should have been a time of darkness, but instead it was a time of peace, because I had the most reassuring feeling
that I would see him again one day. Or
the time when I was a missionary and changing mine and other peoples lives for the good, or the day I looked across into the eyes of my soon to be bride
and told her I wanted to marry her for all eternity. All of these experiences
and many more help remind me that I knew, and that God knew, that I have a firm
testimony and understanding that Jesus Christ is real, and that he has called a
prophet to teach us of him. They were moments of God's love and mercy, and moments when God was telling me He knows me. I realized once again something I already knew,
which is something that I cannot deny.
The month of May has always been one my favorite months of the year. If I had to rank the months, May would probably be a close second behind December. Some of the reasons I love May is because its the end of the school year, the NBA playoffs, the Arizona heat begins (I love the heat, and I find the month of May's temperature to be perfect before we get the to 110 plus weather), swimming season begins, and Memorial Day. There's a lot of things I love about May, but I think two of my favorite might be the summer blockbuster season begins in May, and season finales of my favorite TV shows!
Over the years May has given my friends and I some awesome memories in the form of attending movie premiers and watching season finales of TV shows together. Some of those include the Star Wars Episode 3 midnight showing where my buddies and I ran all around dueling other fans with lightsabers in anticipation, and to last year's opening day premier of The Avengers. In this particular month, where we saw the end of Dunder Mifflin, the return of the Bluths, the adventures of USS Enterprise, the return of an Avenger, and so much more, I couldn't resist in sharing my two cents about what I thought about all of them. So what I'm going to do first is give a quick review of all the season finales I was able to watch, and then move onto to the most recent movies that were released. For each one I review I'm going to give it a score out of 10. And as the Joker once said:
"And here...we go..."
TV Shows
The Office- "Finale"
*just a heads up, there are a few spoilers in this part so if you haven't seen it yet then I wouldn't read it.
I don't think I've ever been so excited to watch a season finale of a TV show as I have with The Office. My last blog post was dedicated to my favorite episodes of this amazing shows, and if I were to redo that list I would definitely include this episode in my top ten favorite episodes. The characters of this show have almost become old friends and with saying goodbye to the show I felt like I was saying goodbye to old friends. This show always was so great at balancing comedy as well being heartwarming, and this finale kept to that same formula. I expected to laugh during this finale, but I didn't expect to be moved the way I was. This episode had all the humor that you expect from the Office, and as well as the great character moments. Every character had their own moment and each of them were able to say goodbye in some form. I laughed, cried, and enjoyed every minute of this finale, and I would think that anyone who is a fan of this great show will also enjoy it!
There were a few things in particular that I really loved about this episode. The first of course was the return of greatest boss in the world, Michael Scott! His introduction was perfect, and I think I laughed for about 5 minutes afterwards (and shed a few tears). The next thing I loved was Andy's quote "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them". That silly but profound quote reminded me that it's important to always live in the moment, and enjoy what's around us now. And lastly I really thought Pam's whole ending speech was amazing. The part where she talked about not waiting for things to happen, but that we need to act was very inspiring. (My brother Myke wrote a great blog post about this) The last phrase of the whole thing was probably my favorite though "I think an ordinary paper company like Dunder-Mifflin was a
great subject for a documentary. There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things.
Isn't that kind of the point?"
For those that have not heard of this show it is amazing! It was created by Jonathan Nolan, brother of Christopher Nolan, and produced by J.J. Abrams. It's kind of like a mix between Batman, the Bourne movies, and the movie Minority Report. It's about two guys who try to prevent murders from happening before they actually happened. This show has great crime drama, with great a great cast. Every episode is always so unpredictable and exciting. This season did a great job at building up to epic climax and it definitely delivers. The only complaint I have about this show is sometimes I have know idea what is going, and it takes some pausing and rewinding to figure it out. Besides that though this is one awesome show!
This is the television show about the DC superhero the Green Arrow, who is one of DC's lesser known superheroes. When I watched the first episode I wasn't very impressed, but after watching a few more episodes this has become one of my new favorite TV shows. The season finale was probably the best episode yet. It did something that a lot of shows don't do. The bad guy was caught, but his plan went through, which was blowing up half the city. This show usually always has great action, and it has great characters. I didn't think I'd ever like a show on the CW this much!
Score 9/10
Parks and Rec - "Are You Better Off?"
The Parks n Rec finale didn't really feel like a finale episode, it played out more like a normal episode you watch during the season., but that is okay because this is one of the best shows on TV. This episode started out with Andy trying to figure out which one of the female characters is pregnant and ends with an unexpected twist for one of the characters. Lots of great laughs and a good ending to another great season of the best comedy series still on TV.
This came out in April, but I think I watched most of it during the month of May. This show had some great interpretations of the famous Bible stories, but there were a few that didn't quite work too well. Some of the stories I thought they did a good job of depicting were David and Goliath, Daniel in the lion's den, and the life of Christ. The way they depicted Christ and some of the events of his life was the highlight of this mini series, but it was also fun to see some of the old testament stories as well. The crucifixion and resurrection scenes were especially done very well. It did a great job at showing the depth and pain the Savior went through for each of us. These scenes really touched me, and it was a great reminder of the importance of the atonement. I would definitely recommend this part of the series. Overall I'm glad I watched it, even if some of the other stories didn't get as much attention as others. If you decide to watch it be aware they do change a few things.
The return of the crazy Bluth family has been long overdue and long anticipated. This wasn't a season finale but a whole new season four that debuted on Netflixs on May 26th. The show was cancelled in 2006 due to poor rating, but it has gained a huge following since then. I didn't really get into the show until about 2011. While this isn't my favorite TV show, its probably my favorite comedy show, so I was very excited to see this show return. But did it live up to the hype and excitement? Yes and no, but mostly yes. With so much hype going into in it's very hard to meet all the expectations. The thing that made the first 3 seasons great was all of the characters worked so well together, and in these new episodes we didn't get to see all the characters together, due to the actors busy schedules. In these new episodes they gave each character their own episode, and while it was a neat idea, it wasn't as fun as one would think to see the focus on just one character at a time. The episodes that focused on Lindsey particularly were my least favorite. Many of the episodes seemed to drag on a little, many of the new characters weren't very funny, and some of the jokes just didn't seem as witty as they once were in the first three season.
With that said though there was a lot of things that I really enjoyed and a lot of Bluth fun to be had. Whenever the original characters interacted with each other usually provided some of the best comedic moments. This show has always been great at inside jokes, and they continue that with great precision. I was also pleased to see the return of my two favorite supporting characters Barry Zuckerkorn and Gene Parmesan. The episodes that focused on Michael and Tobias were probably my favorite ones. If you're a fan of the the show I think you will enjoy watching these new episodes. They might not as be as entertaining as the first three seasons, there is still a lot of good stuff here.
This movie technically came out in April, but I still wanted to give a quick review of it. Oblivion borrows from a lot of other sci-fi movies, which didn't bother me at all. Tom Cruise does a great job in this movie, but Morgan Freeman's character isn't used as well as he could have been. The three things that I enjoyed most about this movie was the music, the visuals, and all of the twists and turns. Its a little slow getting going in the beginning, but the last 45 minutes or so are filled with a lot of action, and so many plot twists that keeping you guessing to the very last scene. I left the theater still trying to figure out exactly what happened, but I really like movies like that. The more I thought about the plot and once I figured it all out the more I liked it.
Score 8/10
Iron Man 3
Just a heads up this will contain spoilers. This movies has been out a month now, and has made a billion dollars so I think most people have scene it. If you haven't seen it, go see it! If not then I would skip this.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm a huge superhero movie fan, especially the Marvel movies. (You can read why I love this movies so much here.) Alright, so I both loved this movie, but I also have a few grips with it. So first thing I wanted to address is the big twist. I love when movies have twists, but with that said I was really looking forward to seeing Ben Kingsley version of The Mandarin. All the previews and the first half of the movie were building him up to be such a bad dude. I was thinking we were going to get another Heath Ledger Joker performance for a while. As a comic book fan I couldn't help be disappointed for a little bit, but I decided I would roll with this plot twist and see how it would play out. As the movie went on I really started to like Guy Pearce's Aldrich Killian character, and by the end of it I could see him as the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of the Mandarin. Sure he was different from the comics, but he made the movie very entertaining and fun! Just like in comics there are different versions of characters, I think of this as the movies version of the Mandarin. But like I said before I was disappointed that I didn't get see Ben Kingsley's Mandarin. So while I'm a little bit on the fence with the plot twist, overall I thought it worked out. Next time I just think they probably shouldn't use Iron Man's arch nemesis for a plot twitst.
Besides that, the rest of the movie was great! There are some plot holes here and there, but they didn't bother me like they did other people. Robert Downey Jr. is once again amazing as Tony Stark, and I hope that he returns for The Avengers 2. This movie had the best action sequences out of all the Iron Man films, and it was also the funniest. Out of all the stand alone Marvel movies (so pretty much everything except the Avengers), I would say this is my third favorite after Thor, and the first Iron Man.
Score 9/10
The Great Gatsby
This movie has seemed to have caused quite a controversy. I've witnessed quite a few debates about his one, and it seems as though most people either hated it or loved it. Since it was directed by Baz Luhrmann I knew going into it that was going to be have a different vibe to it, and I feel like those that didn't like it were hoping it would be just like the book. I can understand that people didn't like it, but the thing I don't get is why they were upset with the music and style when it was clearly advertised that this was going to be a different take on Gatsby. The previews I thought did a good job at showing you just what the movie was going to be like. It had the modern music, and the unique style to it, so it seems interesting to me that people were disappointed with those things, when that was exactly what was advertised. In a way this was a modern day take on the Great Gatsby, and I didn't mind that all. I mean lets face it, the story of The Great Gatsby, at least in my opinion, is kind of slow, and I thought the musics and the visuals helped make it a little bit more interesting. I thought the cast was great, especially Leonardo Dicaprio, and I even liked Tobey Maguire in this non Peter Parker role.
The story itself is another thing that I have heard people criticize as well because it is about self obsessed rich snobs. I remember when I read the book in high school I was intrigued by the story, but overall nothing from the book really stayed with me. One thing I liked about the movie was that it shows that the superficial lives that the characters are trying to live in the end doesn't bring happiness. That way of life might be fun for a while but in the end it will get you know where. A few others things that I thought that it portrayed well was that adultery only brings about heartache and lies, and that if our lives become focused on seeking riches and a high social status we lose what's most important to us. I think its rare these days for Hollywood movies to address these types of issues, and I felt like this movie did this a bold way. So overall, I understand this isn't a movie for everyone, and it's not necessarily one that I want to watch over again, at least for a while, but it is a very well done film.
I grew up watching Star Wars as kid, and before seeing the 2009 Star Trek movie I had never seen any of the old Star Trek movies, or any of the TV shows. With Star Wars and Star Trek fans being rivals all these years how did a Star Wars fan enjoy the latest Star Trek? I absolutely loved it! For me, it is probably the best movie I have seen so far this year! It's a very fast paced action adventure film, but it also delivers a lot of great character moments. It carries on the momentum and fun that was established in the 2009 film, and adds to it. One thing I love about this movie is how well the characters interact with each other. It's able to focus on the main characters and their progression, but also make very good use of all the supporting characters. The action is incredible, and there are so many twists and turns throughout. This movie had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. The villain, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, was so fun to watch. It also gave me a great reminder of the importance of friendships, and putting the needs of others before our own. Seriously, go see this movie, it's pretty amazing! These movies have made me want to be a trekkie.Watching this movie also makes me so excited to see what J.J. Abrams will do with Star Wars!
I am new comer to this series, having only seen this one and Fast Five. I actually really enjoyed Fast Five and so I assumed this one would be similar. This was one ridiculous movie, but it's also an incredibly fun movie. Don't go into this movie thinking realistic action movie, but rather dumb fun movie, and you will be entertained. The thing this movie knows how to do best is entertain. It may get a little over the top at times, but its still knows how to entertain you. And isn't that one of the main reason we watch movies?
Like Fast and Furious this is also one entertaining movie. From start to finish this movie kept me in wonder and guessing what's going to happen next. If you like Ocean's 11 or The Prestige (while it's not as good as either of those) then you will enjoy this one. The cast is great, but some of them don't have too much do it. This movie was a nice change of pace from the typical summer blockbusters. There are a lot of twists and turns in this movie and most of them work out great, but there's one towards the end that I wasn't too sure about. Overall this is a really fun movie and I would recommend it as a fun summer blockbuster.
This is the newest Will Smith film that pairs him with his son Jaden and struggling director M. Night Shyamalan in a Sci-Fi adventure film. I had really high hopes for this. I've always enjoyed Will Smith, and I loved the movie The Pursuit of Happiness, which also started him and Jaden. I have also been rooting for M. Night Shyamalan to make a comeback. I loved his first few films (Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village), but his more recent movies (Lady in the Water, The Last Airbender) were pretty bad. The trailers made it look like this was going to be good one. Then the reviews started coming out, and they were not very good. The movie was panned by critics, and this started to get me worried, but I still wanted to see for myself. So what I did I think of it? Well is wasn't ground breaking, but it also wasn't a total bomb like all the other reviews say. The story is pretty straight forward, but I think that is the part I liked. It's a story about survival, and the relationship between father and son. It was really interesting to see this new evolved earth, but I wish they would have shown us a little more. It's a little slow at first, but once little Smith is out on his adventure things start to pick up, and there are some really great moments. The music is great in this film, but the special effects are a little hit and miss. For the most part they are good, but there are a few scenes that feel like they should be something on the Sci-Fi channel. The acting is also hit and miss, with moments of greatness, and then sometimes it's a little stiff (but I think that was Will was going for). I had good time watching it, and the movie had the potential to be great, but instead it settles on being decent.
Score 6.5/10
Man I watched a lot TV and Movies this month. After writing all this I started to think that I had no life this past month, but then I remembered that the first part of May I finished up the spring semester, started summer school, worked 30-35 hour weeks, went to traffic school, spent hours on homework, and went to all of my mutual activities. Its been a pretty busy month!
Well thanks for reading! I had a lot of fun! Who knows maybe I'll start doing this every month!
When I was in high school I didn't really watch much TV. It's not that I was doing homework, because homework in high school was something I avoided like the plague, but it was usually because I was out with my friends or playing sports of some kind. I loved movies, but I never really got around to watching TV, (except for a little Spongebob here and there) One night though when I was a junior in highschool I found myself bored at home on a Thursday night with nothing to do so I turned on the TV and started channel surfing. After a few minutes my brother Myke walked in and asked if he could turn on a show called The Office. I had never heard of it and I wasn't really watching anything so I said sure. As we started watching I was a little perplexed by this show, it was like no other TV show I had ever seen. The characters felt and looked like really people. The only recognizable face was Steve Carrell, and I only knew him then as Brick from Anchorman. After about 10 minutes of watching I was hook.
Over the next few weeks I started tuning in every Thursday night to watch The Office, and each week the episodes got funnier and funnier. One thing that's great about this show is that it's not just a comedy, but it's has a lot of heart. This show felt like I was getting to know a group people and the more I watched the more I got to know them. I felt like I had become connected to the characters, almost like they were old friends.
It's been so fun to watch the characters change and evolve or the last 9 years. Not only have I been entertained by this show, but I've also learned a few things along the way. In the last few seasons the show hasn't been quite as good as the first seasons, but it's still been enjoyable to see how each of the characters end up.
With the season finale premiering tomorrow night, I wanted to give a shout out to some of my favorite episodes of the series. It was hard to narrow it down but I picked 10 of my favorite episodes, and here they are:
10. Basketball- Season 1 Synopsis:
Michael and the office staff take on the workers in the
warehouse in a basketball game.
ThingsI love about this episode:
Michael thinking he's a baller
When Michael assumes Stanley is good at basketball
Dwights facemask
The Jim and Roy rivalry begins
9. Beach Games- Season 3
Synopsis:
Michael thinks he is getting a job in corporate so he holds beach games to find a successor to take over the position of manager.
ThingsI love about this episode:
Jim names his team Voldemort
The Sumo Wrestling Suits
Andy getting stuck in a Sumo Suit in the lake
Pam's Speech
8. Branch Closing-Season 3 Synopsis:
The Dunder Mifflin gang are told that their branch is being closed, only to be told later that they are actually merging their branch with another. Before Michael is told about the merger he and Dwight set off on a quest to stop corporate from closing their branch. ThingsI love about this episode:
Michael telling everyone about the branch closing before he's suppose to
Dwight creeping out Michael while them reminisce about old times
Jim and Pam wondering if they are going to see each other again
Michael and Dwight celebrating thinking they got their branch back
7. Goodbye Michael- Season 7 Synopsis:
Michael prepares to leave for Colorado, and
spends his last day in the office saying goodbye to everyone individually.
ThingsI love about this episode:
Deangelo and Andy's sales call
Jim's goodbye to Michael
Michael's good bye to the warehouse
Michael and Dwight's paintball fight
6. Niagara-Season 6
Synopsis:
Jim and Pam's wedding! ThingsI love about this episode:
Jim and Pam finally get married
Kevin's hair and kleenex box shoes
Michael and Dwight trying to find dates
Michael spending the night in the ice machine room
Andy's dancing incident
5. Conflict Resolution- Season 2
Synopsis:
Michael realizes that there are a lot of unresolved conflicts in the office, and goes about trying to resolve them, and somehow turns out making things worse than they were.
ThingsI love about this episode:
Michael's determination to resolve all the office conflicts, even the ones that have already been resolved
Jim and Dwight's conflict resolution
Jim making Dwight a security threat
4. The Fire- Season 2
Synopsis:
A fire starts in the office causing all the employees to spend the rest of the day in the parking lot. ThingsI love about this episode:
Michael thinking Ryan is his new protégé
Dwight getting jealous of all the attention Michael is giving Ryan
The "Ryan started the fire" song
3. The Injury-Season 2
Synopsis:
Michael burns his foot on a George Foreman grill and is upset when no one is giving him special treatment. ThingsI love about this episode:
Dwight's car accident
Dwight's new friendly personality
Michael's self pity
The car ride to the hospital
Michael thinking a foot injury is more serious than a head injury
2. Casino Night- Season 2
Synopsis:
Michael organizes a casino night for charity, and accidentally invites two dates, meanwhile Jim finally confesses his love to Pam.
ThingsI love about this episode:
Jim convincing Dwight that he has telekinetic powers
Creed's confession of his love for stealing things
Dwight being Michael's wingman
Michael's two dates
Jim finally confesses his love to Pam
1. Safety Training-Season 3 Synopsis:
Michael feels embarrassed when, during a safety training course, the warehouse employees make fun of him for having a safer work environment. This then causes him to want to show the warehouse guys that office life can be dangerous.
ThingsI love about this episode:
Andy's return from anger management
Dwight shunning and re-shunning Andy
Dwight and Michael's watermelon experiment
Creed eating a potato
Michael's fake suicide speech
Stanley's watermelon covered car
Honorable Mentions
Dwight's Christmas-Season 9
Survivor Man Season 4
Goodbye Toby -Season 4
The Coup- Season 3
Traveling Salesmen-Season 3
Chair Model-Season 4
Broke-Season 5
Customer Survey- Season 5
Halloween-Season 2
The Client-Season 2
For anyone else who loves this show, what are some of your favorite episodes?
36. Fantastic
Four
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba,
Chris Evans
Directed by: Gavin Hood
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