R.I.P.D

R.I.P.D (Rest in Peace Department)

Rated: PG:13

Release Date: July 19th, 2013

96 Minutes











     Rest in Peace Department is a fairly original movie by my standards.  Starring Ryan Reynolds, and Jeff Bridges, with supporting cast of Kevin Bacon and the periodic appearance of model Marisa Miller.  We have Nick (Reynolds) who is a Boston Police Officer, who is slain in the line of duty.  After a freeze moment, Nick awakens, realizes he is dead, and is brought into a new part of life.  Nick is given an ultimatum, to join the R.I.P.D or go into judgement.  Naturally choosing to join the force, Nick meets his new partner who is a southern hick named Roy (Bridges). Once they become acclimated to each other, you go on a ride of searching for monsters who want to bring the death back to life (in a sense).

     R.I.P.D has a few moments where the plot line slows down slightly, but overall, you are given a great deal of action, along with comedic one liners from Reynolds and Bridges a like.  I loved Bridges trying to play the bad-ass hick cop since he knew everything that was going on, and Reynolds (while out of his normal realm of films) did a half decent job as well.  The action scenes were on point, the dialogue worked in most cases, and camera work was well done with bringing shots of above face to point of view.

     I recommend this film as a way to kill some time, it gives you pleasure of enjoying Ryan Reynolds as an Asian, as well as Bridges playing a hot supermodel (Marisa Miller).  If you are in a theater with reclining seats, then you will be in heaven of relaxing and not worrying about a damn thing.  The film overall was average, but entertainment is something we all go to the movies to enjoy.

Bootleg Rating: C+

Grown ups 2

Grown Ups 2

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: July 12th, 2013

Running Time: 101 Minutes









     

    
      Grown Ups 2,  a movie which could have had potential to be as decent as the first installment falls flat on its face.  The film is about Lenny (Sandler) moving back home with his family, friends, and schizo bus drivers, the only thing left is to experience is a lot of party crashers and Stone Cold Steve Austin with a wig.  Bringing back the cast of Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, and David Spade, one could assume that chemistry between all parties involved would make due for the length of the film.  While Chemistry is definitely there, all the jokes feel forced, do not make sense, and rather pointless.

     If I thought I could not stand Taylor Lautner from the Twilight Movies,  I can not stand him even more in this film as he is a self righteous fraternity douche-bag.  The one and only bright spot in the film was the part played by Nick Swardson, who play a bus driver named Nick.  The character was a complete tool, and how Swardson portrayed him was the only justice given because he was very comical.  If you like Adam Sandler and the supporting cast, you can give it a shot for a few laughs, but I recommend you wait for television, because we all know this movie was clearly to make a paycheck.
     


     

Bootleg Rating: D

     

This is the end

This is the End

Rated: R

Release Date: June 12th, 2013

Running Time: 107 Minutes

 This is the End; a film where laughs are plenty, and idiots are everywhere, is about Seth Rogen, and that guy from “She’s out of my league” (Jay Baruchel) going to a party at James Franco’s house.  During the party, Seth and that guy from the other movie listed above go to get some food from the convenience store a couple blocks away.  While at the convenience store, some crazy shit goes down; blue lights from the sky, huge cracks in the ground, and celebrities falling into a massive pit into a fire of hell.  After the excitement of watching actors and actresses a-like falling to their doom (or Michael Cera getting impaled); You are left with James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, and Jay Baruchel.  All stuck in Franco’s house, they strive to find out what is going on in the world they are living in.  With a potential apocalypse at hand, the guys find whatever means necessary to somehow make it into heaven.

     For a movie which primarily makes its mark on having a great deal of celebrities, the effects were awesome.  Watching fire raise from the depths of hell, a devilish Jonah Hill, and a demon with a penis the size of California, you cannot go wrong with the dark ambiance throughout the entirety of the movie.  CGI has become very prominent in the film industry and will only continue to do so in the future.

     This is the end is definitely a film that any comedy fan will enjoy.  After the ending credits, the only thing coming to your mind will be either (That was hilarious) or (What the hell did I just watch), possibly even both.  Crude Jokes between all the characters is flawless, and the appearances of Emma Watson bring my wand to the ready.  No Matter your opinion of the actors themselves, this is a must see comedy of the summer.  If you don’t like it, then your movie taste sucks. 

Bootleg Rating: B+

Despicable Me 2

Despicable Me 2

Rated: PG

Release Date: July 3rd, 2013

Running Time: 98 Minutes

     

     The sequel to the 2010’s highly acclaimed “Despicable Me” is finally here.  Despicable Me 2 brings back the story of Gru (Steve Carell), but this time being summoned to work for the good guys!  After accepting invitation to help the Anti-Villain League with his new partner Lucy (Kristen Wiig) to find the person responsible for the theft of an item which can cause more treachery, they begin an adventure which leads to new beginnings.

     A film that is made more for the children has become a feat for the kids as well as adults.  The minions never cease to amaze, as their antics are absolutely hysterical, even with slight innuendo.  The 3D animation is pretty decent, as it is better in children’s films. (Stay right after the credits)  Animation once started off not as clear to the viewers, yet as the future looms, films like Despicable Me 2 are bringing animation to a whole new level with colors, contrast, and clarity. 

     Despicable Me 2 did not hit the nail on the head with the sequel, but the movie itself is worth every watch as it is a well put together follow up to the original.  Originality is hard to come by in movies now and days, but when “Despicable Me” made its way into theaters, Hollywood’s heads turned with the success that was unprecedented.  Even with being a disappointing sequel, it will still become a hit this summer for families and worth a watch for the minions alone.

Bootleg Rating: B-

MAN OF STEEL

Man of Steel

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: June 14th, 2013

Running Time: 143 Minutes












    
     First things first, Man of Steel was awesome, there is not much else for me to say but since this is a review, i'll get on with it.  With a well put together cast, Henry Cavill (Clark Kent/Superman), Lois Lane (Amy Adams) , Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and smaller parts by Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, and Kevin Costner, Zack Snyder has hit the nail on the head.  While Snyder may have had some help from producer Christopher Nolan as we all know from The Dark Knight Trilogy,  the dark feel, as well as dramatics made this film great from beginning to end.

      Born on the planet of Krypton, on the verge of destruction, a baby boy named Kal-El is sent away to planet Earth.  As he grows older, Kal-El/Clark by his human name learns that he is not from planet Earth.  Growing with abilities that  no man on Earth can possibly have, Clark learns that he is not only different but a hero in disguise.  Honing in on what his legacy will become, Clark will do anything to save the planet from destruction.  

     In terms of a reboot of a popular superhero movie, Man of Steel had astounding cinematography, from visuals of space to the darker setting, what more could you ask for.  Special effects in the movie were well put together also,  with explosions to the left and right, cars in the air, and even a tornado, you would think Michael Bay would have been attached to this film in some way.  None the less, we know everyone who is a die hard will have a problem with Superman not having the red spandex on the pants, but who cares, he looked bad ass no matter what way you try to swing it. 


     You do not have to be a superhero fan to enjoy this movie.  You do not even need to know back-story to enjoy this movie.  As you are taken into the early life of Superman, one can only appreciate how well Snyder has brought this film to life.  No question it will become a hit in the box office, so when the film is released, go watch it because you will not be disappointed because a symbol of hope is all you need. 

Bootleg Rating: A

Star Trek: Into Darkness

Star Trek: Into Darkness

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: May 16th, 2013

Running Time: 132 Minutes










     
     Star Trek: Into Darkness, is the sequel to 2009's Star Trek which follows the story of the Star fleet crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise.  Captain Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) Uhura (Zoe Saldana) find themselves in a peculiar situation where a rogue Star fleet operative named Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch) causes mayhem.  The crew of Enterprise goes after Khan on a manhunt near a planet inhabited by a people on the bring of war with Earth.  The journey brings a lot of action, suspense, and twists to make this mission one to never forget.
   
     The story itself in this particular Star Trek film was good.  J.J. Abrams has done a very good job in regards to visuals and directing to make this one of the best movies of the summer season.  Cinematography was amazing, as the views from space, to all the action sequences flowed flawlessly.  I am not a big Star Trek fan and I never have been, however, this movie was very well made, and i could not complain one bit even at the end.  I recommend this film for Trek fans or not, as it is action packed, with a good story, and brief humor as well.

Bootleg Rating: B+

The Hangover 3

The Hangover 3

Rated: R

Release Date: May 23rd, 2013

Running Time: 100 Minutes

             The Wolf pack is back!!!  In this third and final installment of director Todd Phillips trilogy, The Hangover, we have Doug, Phil, Alan, and Stu (Justin Bartha, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Ed Helms) who reconvene at the funeral of Alan’s father.  The family decides that it is time for Alan to have an intervention, and on the drive to the resort for Alan to remake himself, the guys get rammed by a Van, where inside is an Assassin named Marshall (John Goodman). Marshall claims that Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) has stolen $21 Million dollars from him, and because Alan still has connection with Mr. Chow, they could be the best chance to retrieve the money. Unfortunately, Doug is taken as hostage because if the guys do not follow through with the request, Doug will be killed. Leading them to Las Vegas once again, the wolf pack will do anything to save their friend. 

                A typical film with a great deal of laughs, no matter how ridiculous some of the jokes are is what makes this one of the better comedies which was average at best, that has come out over the past couple years.  While the cinematography was not as big of a factor, the effects of Las Vegas Skyline were a sight to see.  Everyone likes a good comedy movie to get the laughs flowing, and this one has just enough debauchery to leave the theater satisfied.  No matter how stupid or typical this film may be,  I recommend this it for any comedy fan, because a laughs are more entertaining than sitting through a dull movie. 

Bootleg Rating: C+

FAST AND FURIOUS 6

Fast and Furious 6

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: May 24th, 2013

Running Time: 130 Minutes

               

            
               Fast and Furious 6 (Also known as Furious 6) is the newest installment of the Fast and Furious franchise with some big shoes to fill.  Back in 2011, Fast Five hit theaters and impressed the box office with an astounding gross profit of over 200 Million dollars.  Now, two years later, Fast 6 is upon us, and it definitely filled the shoes left over by its predecessor.  Anyone familiar with the franchise is aware of the death of Letty (Michelle Rodriquez) in the fourth installment of the film.  However after watching the ending credits of Fast Five, you become shocked when you find out that Letty is not dead as we are left with the anticipation of the next film.

                You start off with some flashbacks of all the characters from the previous films, and then you come back to real time.  Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) is living the dream without a care in the world, on a beach, with more money than he knows what to do with.  When Hobbs (Dwaine “The Rock” Johnson), brings him a job to help him take care of Owen Shaw (Luke Evans).  At first Toretto says no but then he is shown the picture of Letty.  Within that whole sequence, Toretto believes that Letty is dead, but then decides to help Hobbs, under the condition that he finds out what happened to her.  Here, Letty is working with Shaw, and Toretto is willing to do whatever it takes to get her back.  Working with Hobbs, Toretto and the rest of the gang including (Paul walker, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, and Tyrese Gibson) go to London and engage in firepower, racing, and tanks. 

                With Justin Lin directing this film, which he has done since Tokyo drift (The third installment), we have become accustomed to good filmmaking, and Fast 6 does just that.  The series is not as much about racing anymore, but still has the nice cars, laughable one liner’s, and a good soundtrack.  The action scenes cause you to laugh and while a lot of stunts are conceivably flat out crazy, they leave you satisfied. 

                Overall I highly recommend this film for anyone who has enjoyed the Fast and Furious franchise since the first installment arrived in theaters back in 2001.  There comes a time, when some franchises must come to an end, but this one still has enough force to go out with a bang, especially with the after credits scene. (Woops)  From L.A. to Tokyo, something is bound to drive you crazy.  Now many will be happy to know a seventh film is in the works and due to be released next year.  Will this be the final chapter of the Fast and the Furious Franchise with all parts put together?  Maybe or maybe not, but that is a long time to wait to try and put together all the pieces of the story of family, friends, and high speed chases. 

Bootleg Rating: B+

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: May 10th, 2013

Running Time: 143 Minutes

     "The Great Gatsby", based of F. Scott Fitzgerald's famous novel, has spawned four movies, and on May 10th 2013, a fifth film will be released.  The story is about a young man named "Nick Carraway" (Tobey Maguire) who has come home from war and wants to establish himself in the bond business.  Moving into a tiny house in Long Island, New York, Nick learns that he is the neighbor of "Jay Gatsby" (Leonardo DiCaprio) who lives in a mansion and brings Nick into his world of Parties, Riches, Tragedy, and Hope.

     With as many different renditions of the movie, "The Great Gatsby" began in a well mannered way, and has very fantastic visuals.  The special effects from fireworks, to crazy driving bring this film to life.  The only problem I had with the film is the use of 3D technology.  It was not needed, a couple of scenes did look pretty stellar, but with theaters charging more than enough money for movie tickets as it is, "The Great Gatsby" will be just as an amazing experience in 2D. 

     Even if you are unaware of the story-line and just want to see the film because of the actors involved,  "The Great Gatsby is a phenomenal movie.  Movies that are taking place during the roaring twenties usually do not appeal to me but this one did in a big way.  If you ever wanted to believe that you can go from absolutely nothing to everything you ever wanted, then give this one a whirl, because all HOPE is possible. 

Bootleg Rating: A

Evil Dead

THE EVIL DEAD

Rated: R

Release Date: April 5th, 2013

    

      

    
      "The Evil Dead", the film that in 1981, made heads turn, and helped the horror genre come to fruition.  In 2013, a remake of Sam Rami's cult classic, has made its way to theater's in a great way.  Five friends head to a cabin in the woods, where they come across a book of the dead.  Once the book was read, it has begun a chain reaction of different events starting with Dave's (Shiloh Fernandez) sister Mia (Jane Levy) causing these individuals to become possessed and kill one another until a single person is left.  

      The overall story of the film was well put together, as you do not want to stray to far away from the original film which brought glam to the horror genre.  The dark setting in the cabin, to fog over a small pond. and those possessed themselves give the audience a "this is gross" kind of feeling.  For a movie with not to many well known actors/actresses, they did a job on par with what I could have expected.

     My opinion of the film was it is a good remake compared to some of the other remakes that have been made over the last couple years.  The director stuck with the story, with a few minor changes to suit the needs of viewers in today's society.  If you are into a movie with nail guns, boiling water, and axes, with some demonic slurs, this is for you.  If you do not like gore and demonic themes I would stay away.  I would recommend this movie for any casual movie goer and hope you enjoy.

Bootleg Rating: B

     

The Lords of Salem

The Lords of Salem

Rated: R

Release Date: April 19th, 2013

    


  
   "The Lords of Salem", Rob Zombies latest film brings a new twist to the story of the Salem witch trials.  The story begins, with the torture and burning alive of woman for their belief and practicing witchcraft.  After this intense introduction, you are brought back to present day, where Heidi Hawthorne, played by Sheri Moon Zombie, is a radio DJ, and a strange package shows up to the radio station with a record by what they believe is from a band called "The Lords" which is later deemed by the DJ's as "The Lords of Salem".
 
      The playing of the song triggered, an event on the women who were born in Salem, as they are homegrown.  Over the course of seven days, demonic events occur to Heidi, so she gets help from a historian named Francis, played by Bruce Davison, finding information about what could be happening to Heidi before "Satans" witches destroy her.

     "The Lords of Salem" is a scary film which Rob Zombie has compared to be much like a Stanley Kubrick-esque. Being toyed with from the near the beginning of the movie to the sickening ending, will give some audiences a frightening feeling, and others will question what they just watched as it may confuse you.  The cinematography was very well done,  with not many special effects, and a well made movie with a sadistic twist on history.  If you enjoy disturbing yet different films, then this is for you.  Make your choice.

Bootleg Rating: C+

My 1st Post and Review: The Purge

The Purge

Rated R

Release Date: June 7th 2013

   













Hey Everyone,

      My name is Tim, I am a current college student, an avid movie watcher, and plain out awesome.  Thinking about the amount of movies I watch, I have decided to start my own movie review Blog.  I have been contemplating the idea for a very long time, and have finally come to the conclusion that it is a good idea.  Not too much else to say about me, so I am going to post my first review, Trailer for the film is included, and please leave comments as I hope to get going on the right foot.



     I had the opportunity to go to an advance screening about a month and a half early of The Purge, starring Ethan Hawk with a Q & A with the producer afterwards.   The film is pretty much about The United States government mandating that crime is illegal any other day except for a twelve hour period once a year with no consequences, which they call the annual "Purge".  Now not giving away any spoilers, the film revolves around the Sandin Family, who is protected in their household by a security system which covers their openings throughout the House.  Once the commencement of the evening begins, a person who is running from citizens bangs on the door, and gets let in the house without permission. Long story short...the fun begins

     I found this movie to be fairly original as I cannot think of any movie where a concept like this has taken place.  The sound was a little loud but that may have been the auditorium. A couple moments made you laugh, and some had you say holy shit.  The acting was well done,and as with any movie, there were the typical cliches.  For not knowing what to expect, I walked out of the movie satisfied.  I would recommend going to watch it if you wanna see something interesting with violence and originality.

Bootleg Rating: B-