Muppets Most Wanted

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This is the eight theatrical film to feature the Muppets characters created by Jim Henson. The Muppets group has finally returned after a long break with some characters added. Now, they are decide to take on a new challenge by taking a tour through Europe. At their first stop, Constantine (the world's most dangerous frog) escapes from a Siberian prison and set's up Kermit to take his place. As Kermit remains trapped in the Siberian prison, Constantine takes control of the Muppets show while working to steal the Crown Jewels of England.

This film was directed by James Bobin. If the plot sounds busy, well, that's because it is. This films story is so full of material that it loses focus from what the muppets originally were. The story is intended to combine the feeling of following the classic working to achieve success films with an exciting adventure attached. This film follows directly after its predecessor in 2011 by telling you everything that it will be within its musical introduction. That being said, its jokes are a constant poke at themselves instead of anything clever or slapstick that are good for a few chuckles. Even the songs only work as a poking fun at themselves gag. The real original comedic tones comes from the short seen Sam Eagle and from Ty Burrell (Jean Pierre Napoleon). Also adding in a list of random celebrities makes the film feel more overdone than better. In trying to capture a different magic from its predecessor, it opts for a more good time feeling than an emotional heart warmer story. However, this film does play to its more recent fanbase and tries to keep a familiar to its classic films. For those who are fans there will likely be another sequel and possibly a new television show. Ricky Gervais played the role of Dominic Badguy. His character was an obvious villain. Unfortunately, watching him on screen felt lifeless. He didn't present the energy needed for this type of film. Which is disheartening, since he carried most of this film. Tina Fey played the role of Nadya. Her character felt unnecessary to the film, but she did offer the film a lot its unexpected laughs. Ty Burrell played the role of Jean Pierre Napoleon. He was great on screen working alongside Sam Eagle. He was particularly for the children audiences.

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars! This film passes for its use of keeping the muppet characters a household name, but it could have been a lot more.

Answer to last blog: Actress Shailene Woodley, Divergent, starred in the film The Fault in Our Stars.

Que: Which film did voice actor Steve Whitmire (Kermit the Frog) not perform in?

The Dark Crystal
Labyrinth
Dreamchild
MirrorMask

Divergent

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This film is based off the novel of the same title written by Veronica Roth. In the ruins of Chicago, a group of people have survived by splitting themselves into five fractions; abnegation (the selfless), amity (the peaceful), candor (the honest), dauntless (the brave), and erudite (the intelligent). Before deciding on which fraction they will join, they are given a test to learn in which fraction they belong. There are a few, like Beatrice Prior, who do not fall into any single category and are known as divergent's. These divergent's are viewed as a threat to current society because they are freethinkers. Beatrice struggles to hide herself within her chosen fraction and protect her family.

This film was directed by Neil Burger. This film has an obviously message and a story plot that resembles several recent teenage films. The message in this film is to avoid conformity at all costs. The film spends a lot of time trying to rely this message that it does not take time to show more of the world the characters live in. Even though the script is highly predictable, it spends a lot of time developing its two main protagonist characters. Unfortunately, there isn't enough in this plot to make the film feel necessary. Although, this film does find some creativity by devising a test that challenge a person's will and discover the truth of who they are. Humorously, it is surprising that nobody goes insane during these tests. With everything being so predictable and familiar it lacks originality. Making this a bad start for the potential franchise. Shailene Woodley played the role of Beatrice Prior/Tris. Her reserved nature changes through the film enough to show some great character progression. She does bring a scrap of life into what could have been a dead end film. Theo James played the role of Four. He was a great supporting actor for Woodley. He gave the film its emotional turmoil. Kate Winslet played the role of Jeanine Matthews. She created a great villain to oppose Woodley and James. It's saddening that she didn't appear more on film.

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars! It has a good base for a young adult anti-conformity film. it is also a good base for starting the upcoming franchise. However, any future plots could do with a little more spice to liven a deadpan story.

Answer to last blog: Director John Pogue wrote the screenplay for Ghost Ship.

Que: What other film has actress Shailene Woodley starred in?

The Bling Ring
Spring Breakers
The Fault in our Stars
Aquamarine

The Quiet Ones (2104)

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This film is loosely based on the Philip experiment in 1972. Brian McNeil agrees to become the camera for Professor Joseph Coupland's experiment. Professor Coupland's experiment is to prove that he can cure someone's extreme mental disorder by forcing their negative energy into a manifested spirit, thus proving that spirits do not exist. However, as strange occurrences happen Professor Coupland is forced to calm his students and his test subject using science.

This film was directed by John Pogue. The story of this film has been frequently told and regenerated with popular modern ghost films.  Sadly, it also makes the film very predictable. The only surprises that occur comes from the withheld information that the film did not entirely need. Since this film contains a cameraman it is partially told like found footage. However, the entire film is mixture of found footage and regular film footage. The character of Professor Coupland gives the story its only differentiation. The way his character behaves during the course of the story and how the characters respond makes this film worth a watch. Taking into account the character's behavior, this film can be considered a more psychological horror film than a paranormal film. It is always entertaining to watch characters continue even after being told that they will very likely die. Which is nothing new to the horror genre. There are some good scares in this film, but nothing too terrifying. There also isn't a lot of gore in this film. There is some sexuality, but its not over the top. Sam Claflin played the role of Brian McNeil. He serves as the films narrative. His sympathetic nature makes his character all too familiar. Jared Harris played the role of Professor Coupland. He was amazing in this role. He gave the professor his own mental complexes that destroys the people that accompany him. Olivia Cooke played the role of Jane Harper. The film didn't give her character enough screen time to appear as anything more than a familiar victim.

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars! It is a good horror film to watch once, but not multiple times. There isn't anything truly terrifying that would make this film stand out from its genre.

Answer to last blog: Actor Kellan Lutz, The Legend of Hercules, starred in the film A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Que: What other ghostly film did director John Pogue write the screenplay for?

Thir13en Ghosts
Ghost Ship
The Sixth Sense
The Haunting

The Legend of Hercules (Hercules 3D)

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This film is based off the Greek hero Hercules. Hercules (Alcides) is betrayed by his stepfather, King Amphitryon of Tires. Hercules, sold into slavery, fights to return to his love and his home. Through this desperate journey, Hercules must learn to embrace his true father to become the legend he was destined for.

This film was directed by Renny Harlin. This film was unable to recreate a great epic. The story began decently forgivable. However as it progressed it failed to remember its original plot points. There were several questions left unanswered and several characters behaving odd. One of the oddest scenarios is when he first discovers his powers of strength and used it to kill not his attackers but those innocents closest to him. The fact that he went crazy should have raised some concern, or some small worry. Not instant praise and loyalty. It's conclusion could not end the way the film had set it up for. Everything said that this would be a great tragedy. Instead, it opted for a happier ending that did not belong. It does attempt at a light tragic darkness. This story also take some roots from the original mythos, and then destroys it. The general aesthetic of the film looks great. But, everything in this film feels more Roman than Greek. Even the fighting styles feel so Roman. The budget was not well placed, so a lot of the special effects look cheesy. There is some enjoyable action sequences. Kellan Lutz played the role of Hercules (Alcides). By keeping to the familiar good boy persona he was decent in this role. He wasn't able to create a deep emotional impact on screen. Scott Adkins played the role of King Amphitryon. He created the no nonsense villain that could not be liked in anyway. 

I give this film 2 out of 5 stars! This is an all right action film, but it does not meet the needs of its audience. 

Answer to last blog: Director Stuart Beattie and actor Bill Nighy, I, Frankenstein, worked together on the film The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

Que: What other film has actor Kellan Lutz starred in?

Friday the 13th
Halloween
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Evil Dead

I, Frankenstein

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This film is based off the graphic novel created by Kevin Grevoux.

This film was directed by Stuart Beattie. This film is a standard supernatural action film. The real complication with this film is that a lot of the plot feels rehashed from Underworld (2003) and from Van Helsing (2004). The other complication is that the greatest feature of Frankenstein's creation is that it is a loathed monster with a confused soul. The saddened horror is what makes Frankenstein such a great classic. This film does not generate enough emotional pull to make audiences cheer for any of the characters. The creatures designs were all right. The effects for the gargoyles were great on screen. The demons were good in their human form with red eyes. Their creature design was good, but not great on screen. The image created for Frankenstein looked great on screen. The only unfortunate trait is that the creatures, apart from Frankenstein, appeared too vulnerable. Their only strength comes from massive numbers. The background design served its purpose, but failed to leave a lasting impression. The action was enjoyable to watch. There had been talks about a sequel, or an Underworld cross-over film. However, this seems unlikely due to the films failure. Aaron Eckhart played the role of Adam Frankenstein. He gave a more intelligent and aggressive feel to this character; which worked for the purposes of the film. The story did not allow enough room to create any real emotion. Miranda Otto played the role of Leonore the Gargoyle Queen. She played the typical warrior queen of light; regal and kindhearted. Bill Nighy played the role of Prince Naberius. His character felt fairly familiar to his role in Underworld-just lest defined. 

I give this film 2 out of 5 stars! It serves as a decent supernatural action film, but nothing else. 

Answer to last blog: Actor Garrett Ryan, Oculus, portrayed a younger variation of a character in Insidious Chapter 2.

Que: What other film has director Stuart Beattie and actor Bill Nighy worked together on?

Tomorrow, When the War Began

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Hot Fuzz

Wrath of the Titans

Oculus

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This film is based off a short film called Oculus: Chapter 3-The Man with the Plan by Flanagan. Tim Russell is released from psychiatric care, after having survived his parents attempt to murder him and his sister. Kaylie Russell, Tim's sister, believes that the source of their problems stems from a possessed antique mirror. Kaylie and Tim find themselves trapped their old home trying to understand their pasts.

This film was directed by Mike Flanagan. This horror film places an emphasis on dread over gore. It switches between two time frames; past and present. The past showcases how the parents were turned against their children. The present showcases what the, now grown-up, children are doing to combat this evil force. The film plays well with the two timelines to create a question of how much is in the mind. The further the film goes the more confusing it becomes. It has a great build to create tension. That being said, the film is highly predictable. From the opening, it is far to obvious on how it'll end. Knowing the ending takes away the shock. There is also a too obvious method for giving the mirror a sinister history. The graphics are simplistically great. There isn't a ton of gore in this film, but there is still some violence. There also isn't many jump scares because this film relies more on a creepy factor. Even though this film shows that the entire situation is being recorded, this film is not done as a found footage film. Brenton Thwaites played the role of Tom Russell. He was great opposing Karen in this film. The level headed character gained a lot of sympathy, but did not fully stand out. Karen Gillan played the role of Kaylie Russell. Her character drove the film to its emotional depths. Annalise Basso and Garrett Ryan played the roles of young Kaylie and young Tim. They were great working together to create the past.

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars! This horror film, ultimately creepy, was too predictable to be truly terrifying. The distortion was well played.

Answer to last blog: Actors Rebecca Hall and Paul Bettany, Transcendence, starred together in the film Iron Man 3.

Que: What other horror film did actor Garret Ryan portray a younger self?

The Amazing Spider-Man

Insidious Chapter 2

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Insidious

Transcendence (2014)

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Evelyn Caster is working to change to the world with her husband, Will Caster, through innovative artificial intelligence computers and nano technology. However, R.I.F.T (a terrorist organization against the advancement of technology) shots Will Caster with a poisoned bullet. Desperate to keep her husband alive, Evelyn transfers Will's mind into a computer. This creates the first known artificial intelligence. Two questions remain; what is this intelligence capable of? Can this artificial intelligence feel as a human feels?

This film was directed by Wally Pfister. This might not have been the best film for his directorial debut. The story of this film is mainly driven by its visuals and its scientific theory. With that in mind, the story itself is very ambitious. It hits a lot of controversial topics-some familiar and some new. The irrational fear of the evolution of technology. The rush to create another being in our image. Can this new intelligence, ultimately, be better than humanity itself? Sadly, the film spends more time trying to find easy ways to upgrade the technology that it does not offer anything for the characters. A film of this stature, should've relied more on the characters and their interactions. With the set-up for the story, there are several plot holes. It also feels that several of the characters, placed in to give a stirring emotion, were unnecessary. This film has great visuals that will remind audiences of Christopher Nolan's works. This film doesn't contain any real action-except to create a quick answer to a plot complication. Rebecca Hall played the role of Evelyn Caster. She was great in the role, but the story ruined her character. It is easy to see the reasons for her characters behavior, but the film failed to adequately mature her character. Johnny Depp played the role of Will Caster. He was good, but the films direction hindered his performance. The sequences did not offer him to fully show his characters subtle sentiment. Paul Bettany played the role of Max Waters. The most unimportant character in this story was made into the narrator. The script hints that his character was meant to be important, but did not allow it to happen.

I give this film 2 out of 5 stars! This film had all the basics for a great science fiction endeavor, but failed to offer any emotional attachment. Choosing science over characters, this film only offer a visual sensation.

Answer to last blog: Actor Rohan Chand, Bad Words, starred in the film Jack and Jill.

Que: Which superhero film featured both Rebecca Hall and Paul Bettany?

X-Men: Days of Future Past
Captain America: Winter Soldier
The Avenger's
Iron Man 3