Release Date: August 26, 2016
Starring: Edgar Ramirez as Roberto Duran
Robert De Niro as Ray Arcel
Usher Raymond as Sugar Ray Leonard
Ana de Armas as Felicidad Iglesias
Directed by: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Written by: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Roberto Duran was a poor boy living in Panama. Growing up he hardly had any food to eat or means to live. During his young age Panama and the United States started to have conflicts. These issues, and the fact that his father who left was a U.S. Citizen, he never fully trusted Americans. So, when Ray Arcel comes around and wants to train him he is not interested. However, after learning a bit about his training history, and the fact that he wants to be world champion, he decides to train with him. This is the story or Duran's rise, glorious fight with Sugar Ray, his fall because of pride, and his redemption in the ring.
One of the best films of the year. I loved the metaphors for fighting that Ray Arcel gives Duran. Like the one about the hair. Duran asks him after a fight why Arcel always combed Duran's hair back every time he was in the corner. Arcel tells him that he does that cause when the guy hits you he get pridful and arrogant that he has the upper hand. When you come out of the corner looking fresh it drives them crazy and it gets in their head. To me that is such a good metaphor for life. It's something that I would have never thought about if it were not for this film.
I have to say that I am also highly impressed with Edgar Ramirez's performance and Usher's! Both of them did such fantastic jobs in their roles they could not have picked better people.
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Batman V Superman *Ultimate Edition*
Release Date (Original film): March 25, 2016
Starring: Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/ Batman
Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/ Superman
Amy Adams as Lois Lane
Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor
Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/ Wonder Woman
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Written by: Chirs Terrio and David S. Goyer based off the Batman Character written by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and the Superman Character by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Batman, the superhero of the night, has been fighting crime during the night in Gotham City for the last 20 years. He is starting to give up hope for justice because no one seems to care that there is crime running wild in the streets. Superman, guardian of Metropolis, fights for the good of mankind but the world is starting to question if his intentions they start not to trust him saving them. They both start to loose their reasons of trying to save people in the first place. Now, with Lex Luthor pulling the stings he manipulates both situations into pitting the heroes against each other to take down the other person. All the while Lex Luthor attempts to get the upper hand with his own plans to take over the world.
So the reason that I have taken so long to write about this film is because I was not going to see it. I didn't see it in the theater. I am very glad that I did not see it in the theater because I would have been so confused. The Ultimate Edition is really the only way to see this film and totally understand what is going on. There is so much depth to this story that I am still thinking about it.
My friend Luke, who is a big DC Comic fans and has read the comics, made a very good point that this film is more realistic in the way that people are reacting to Superheroes how they would if they were real. I think that this film was the second best heroes film of the year (after Deadpool) and it's a must see for anyone who likes superhero movies. DC has a great launching pad for there franchise with this film.
Starring: Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/ Batman
Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/ Superman
Amy Adams as Lois Lane
Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor
Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/ Wonder Woman
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Written by: Chirs Terrio and David S. Goyer based off the Batman Character written by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and the Superman Character by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Batman, the superhero of the night, has been fighting crime during the night in Gotham City for the last 20 years. He is starting to give up hope for justice because no one seems to care that there is crime running wild in the streets. Superman, guardian of Metropolis, fights for the good of mankind but the world is starting to question if his intentions they start not to trust him saving them. They both start to loose their reasons of trying to save people in the first place. Now, with Lex Luthor pulling the stings he manipulates both situations into pitting the heroes against each other to take down the other person. All the while Lex Luthor attempts to get the upper hand with his own plans to take over the world.
So the reason that I have taken so long to write about this film is because I was not going to see it. I didn't see it in the theater. I am very glad that I did not see it in the theater because I would have been so confused. The Ultimate Edition is really the only way to see this film and totally understand what is going on. There is so much depth to this story that I am still thinking about it.
My friend Luke, who is a big DC Comic fans and has read the comics, made a very good point that this film is more realistic in the way that people are reacting to Superheroes how they would if they were real. I think that this film was the second best heroes film of the year (after Deadpool) and it's a must see for anyone who likes superhero movies. DC has a great launching pad for there franchise with this film.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
The Light Between the Oceans
Release Date: September 2, 2016
Starring: Michael Fassbender as Tom Sherbourne
Alicia Vikander as Isabel Graysmark
Rachel Weisz as Hannah Roennfeldt
Florence Clery as Lucy-Grace
Directed by: Derek Cianfrance
Written by: Derek Cianfrance based off the novel by M.L. Stedman
Tom is a hero from the Great War who has decided he has dealt with enough death and too many people long enough. After carful consideration he chooses to take a six month job working on a lighthouse alone on an island. The city that he goes to before he makes his way to the island has a beautiful girl named Isabel living there. After months of letter being sent back and forth they decide to marry. Shortly after, Tom is given the light house position under a three year contract and Isabel moves on the island with Tom to start their lives together. After a few years, and two miscarriages, Isabel's light of life is starting to fade. She is having a very hard time dealing with the loss of her children, and begins to feel as if she has failed. That is until one day a row boat comes washing up on shore with a dead man, and a very much alive baby girl, on bored. After about a year they go home to visit and Tom learns that there is a mother that lost her baby and husband out at sea. He has to come to terms with the fact that the child is not their. He is torn by doing what is right for the mother and what is right for his wife.
I think that this movie was something very special. It's a very original and not a cookie cutter film as all.
I would have to say that my favorite thing about this film is the title. The reason being is the title is symbolic but once you understand what it means you see the symbolism in every person through the whole film. The story is called "The Light Between the Oceans" because the island that the Lighthouse is on is call Janus Rock. It's named after the god Janus, which also inspired the name of January. The god Janus has two faces, one is always looking forward and the other is always looking back. Janus Rock sits between two oceans. There is always to was of seeing this and the lighthouse is there to help direct you in which way to go. Once you got there you see there are two sides in every aspect of this film and different people, at different times, play this light that helps guide others through the two oceans.
I though that that alone was perfect way to make this film fascinating. Like I said it's a very special, one of a kind film.
Starring: Michael Fassbender as Tom Sherbourne
Alicia Vikander as Isabel Graysmark
Rachel Weisz as Hannah Roennfeldt
Florence Clery as Lucy-Grace
Directed by: Derek Cianfrance
Written by: Derek Cianfrance based off the novel by M.L. Stedman
Tom is a hero from the Great War who has decided he has dealt with enough death and too many people long enough. After carful consideration he chooses to take a six month job working on a lighthouse alone on an island. The city that he goes to before he makes his way to the island has a beautiful girl named Isabel living there. After months of letter being sent back and forth they decide to marry. Shortly after, Tom is given the light house position under a three year contract and Isabel moves on the island with Tom to start their lives together. After a few years, and two miscarriages, Isabel's light of life is starting to fade. She is having a very hard time dealing with the loss of her children, and begins to feel as if she has failed. That is until one day a row boat comes washing up on shore with a dead man, and a very much alive baby girl, on bored. After about a year they go home to visit and Tom learns that there is a mother that lost her baby and husband out at sea. He has to come to terms with the fact that the child is not their. He is torn by doing what is right for the mother and what is right for his wife.
I think that this movie was something very special. It's a very original and not a cookie cutter film as all.
I would have to say that my favorite thing about this film is the title. The reason being is the title is symbolic but once you understand what it means you see the symbolism in every person through the whole film. The story is called "The Light Between the Oceans" because the island that the Lighthouse is on is call Janus Rock. It's named after the god Janus, which also inspired the name of January. The god Janus has two faces, one is always looking forward and the other is always looking back. Janus Rock sits between two oceans. There is always to was of seeing this and the lighthouse is there to help direct you in which way to go. Once you got there you see there are two sides in every aspect of this film and different people, at different times, play this light that helps guide others through the two oceans.
I though that that alone was perfect way to make this film fascinating. Like I said it's a very special, one of a kind film.
Ben-Hur
Release Date: August 10, 2016
Starring: Jack Huston as Judah Ben-Hur
Toby Kebbelll as Messala Severus
Rodrigo Santoro as Jesus
Morgan Freeman as Ilderim
Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov
Written by: Keith R. Clarke and John Ridley based off the novel by Lew Wallace
Judah Ben-Hur is a wealthy prince in Isreal. He is full of life and leaves his family very much. He has a very close friendship with his adopted brother Messala Severous. When Messala decides to go off to war and fight to change what his biological family did he comes back an officer and a her. He wants to escort a high ranking government official through his hometown where Judah is Prince, peacefully and he asks Judah for his help in a time of turmoil. When a rebel, that Judah has taken in because he was hurt, tried to kill the official Judah is accused of trying to murder him on accident. Messala ends up being on the one to officially sentence him to life as a slave. This starts Judah Ben-Hur on a journey of love, faith, fear, hate and forgiveness.
I had a little bit of apprehension when I heard that this film was coming out. I love the original one so much and it's very hard not to compare movies. I have to say that this was a good adaptation but it's was not nearly a grand as thee original. The original was good because it focused a lot more of Jesus's story and how faith played in the life of Ben-Hur as he was going through this life of pain and guilt. Yet, this story didn't really bring home the side of it much. It brought it home as the end but all of the miracles that happened at the end made it seem because he forgave someone that they came true but really they missed a lot of the story about his faith in Christ that provided the miracles.
Overall a good film but not nearly a good as the original.
Starring: Jack Huston as Judah Ben-Hur
Toby Kebbelll as Messala Severus
Rodrigo Santoro as Jesus
Morgan Freeman as Ilderim
Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov
Written by: Keith R. Clarke and John Ridley based off the novel by Lew Wallace
Judah Ben-Hur is a wealthy prince in Isreal. He is full of life and leaves his family very much. He has a very close friendship with his adopted brother Messala Severous. When Messala decides to go off to war and fight to change what his biological family did he comes back an officer and a her. He wants to escort a high ranking government official through his hometown where Judah is Prince, peacefully and he asks Judah for his help in a time of turmoil. When a rebel, that Judah has taken in because he was hurt, tried to kill the official Judah is accused of trying to murder him on accident. Messala ends up being on the one to officially sentence him to life as a slave. This starts Judah Ben-Hur on a journey of love, faith, fear, hate and forgiveness.
I had a little bit of apprehension when I heard that this film was coming out. I love the original one so much and it's very hard not to compare movies. I have to say that this was a good adaptation but it's was not nearly a grand as thee original. The original was good because it focused a lot more of Jesus's story and how faith played in the life of Ben-Hur as he was going through this life of pain and guilt. Yet, this story didn't really bring home the side of it much. It brought it home as the end but all of the miracles that happened at the end made it seem because he forgave someone that they came true but really they missed a lot of the story about his faith in Christ that provided the miracles.
Overall a good film but not nearly a good as the original.
War Dogs
Release Date: August 19, 2016
Starring: Miles Teller as David Packouz
Jonah Hill as Efrain Diveroli
Bradly Cooper as Henry Girard
Ana de Armas as Iz
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Written by: Stephen Chin, Todd Phillips and Jason Smilovic based off the Rolling Stones article called "Arms and the Dudes" by Guy Lawson
Two friends in their early 20's embark in the world of international arms dealers. They start on the bottom and make bank! When a law passed in Italy almost looses them a contract, and the opportunity for future deals they must travel the world in order to get the American Army their guns. When they succeed it leads them to more successful, and dangerous, territory.
This is one of the most fascinating films of this year. The fact the this is based off a true story is what makes is crazier. The fact that his is how the U.S Government did business for out security in the early 2000s and how the events in this movie changed that is probably the most shocking.
Jonah Hill's performance in this film is by far one of the best that I have ever seen him. He was extraordinary! I have mainly known him from his funny roles but he is one of the best dramatic actors that we have in this generation. As for Miles Teller, I have not really seen him in anything yet but based off of what I have seen in this film he is one of the best that we have too. This film makes me look forward to seeing him in "Bleed for This" later on this year. If he was anywhere near as good in that film as he was in this it's going to be a great movie. Brady Cooper's appearance in this film is the icing on top. He did a great job of showing up and being what the "heroes" film needed but he did not overshadow their performance with his own. The three of them were perfected together in this film.
I would have to say this was one of my favorite films to see this year. Everything fro the facts that were given about what happened, to the performances, to the setting. I would go and see this film if you have the chance!
Starring: Miles Teller as David Packouz
Jonah Hill as Efrain Diveroli
Bradly Cooper as Henry Girard
Ana de Armas as Iz
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Written by: Stephen Chin, Todd Phillips and Jason Smilovic based off the Rolling Stones article called "Arms and the Dudes" by Guy Lawson
Two friends in their early 20's embark in the world of international arms dealers. They start on the bottom and make bank! When a law passed in Italy almost looses them a contract, and the opportunity for future deals they must travel the world in order to get the American Army their guns. When they succeed it leads them to more successful, and dangerous, territory.
This is one of the most fascinating films of this year. The fact the this is based off a true story is what makes is crazier. The fact that his is how the U.S Government did business for out security in the early 2000s and how the events in this movie changed that is probably the most shocking.
Jonah Hill's performance in this film is by far one of the best that I have ever seen him. He was extraordinary! I have mainly known him from his funny roles but he is one of the best dramatic actors that we have in this generation. As for Miles Teller, I have not really seen him in anything yet but based off of what I have seen in this film he is one of the best that we have too. This film makes me look forward to seeing him in "Bleed for This" later on this year. If he was anywhere near as good in that film as he was in this it's going to be a great movie. Brady Cooper's appearance in this film is the icing on top. He did a great job of showing up and being what the "heroes" film needed but he did not overshadow their performance with his own. The three of them were perfected together in this film.
I would have to say this was one of my favorite films to see this year. Everything fro the facts that were given about what happened, to the performances, to the setting. I would go and see this film if you have the chance!
Kubo and the Two Strings
Release Date: August 19, 2016
Starring: Charlize Theron as Monkey
Art Parkinson as Kubo
Matthew McConaughey as Beetle
Ralph Fines as Moon King
Directed by: Travis Knight
Written by: Marc Haimes and Chris Butler
Kubo lives just outside a small village with her mother. He goes down to the village every day and tells stories to try and raise some money for them to survive. He doesn't just tell any stories but magical ones. With the use of his magic guitar he plays the guitar that folds paper into the shapes of people that he is talking about. One night he is out too late, against he mother's wishes, and his evil family has found him. His mother comes to his rescue and tells him that the stories he has been telling, that she has told him, are about his father and they are real and he must now find his father's armor to save his life.
This was by far the best animated movie that has come out this year!!!! Usually Disney always has the market every year when it comes animated films however they have a run for their money when it comes to Kubo.
Every single detail of the film is well thought out and put together. It's the crazy still animation that the animators decided to do that really show their hard work in every scene. I am truly not sure how Disney is going to compare Moana later this year.
Not only was the animation genius but the story is brilliant. It's called Kubo and the Two Stings but they never really tell you what the two strings are. You think that it's only the stings on the guitar but as you see in the start of the film that there are three strings on his guitar. It's truly a beautiful story about the power of family and love.
It's a must see film of this year!
Starring: Charlize Theron as Monkey
Art Parkinson as Kubo
Matthew McConaughey as Beetle
Ralph Fines as Moon King
Directed by: Travis Knight
Written by: Marc Haimes and Chris Butler
Kubo lives just outside a small village with her mother. He goes down to the village every day and tells stories to try and raise some money for them to survive. He doesn't just tell any stories but magical ones. With the use of his magic guitar he plays the guitar that folds paper into the shapes of people that he is talking about. One night he is out too late, against he mother's wishes, and his evil family has found him. His mother comes to his rescue and tells him that the stories he has been telling, that she has told him, are about his father and they are real and he must now find his father's armor to save his life.
This was by far the best animated movie that has come out this year!!!! Usually Disney always has the market every year when it comes animated films however they have a run for their money when it comes to Kubo.
Every single detail of the film is well thought out and put together. It's the crazy still animation that the animators decided to do that really show their hard work in every scene. I am truly not sure how Disney is going to compare Moana later this year.
Not only was the animation genius but the story is brilliant. It's called Kubo and the Two Stings but they never really tell you what the two strings are. You think that it's only the stings on the guitar but as you see in the start of the film that there are three strings on his guitar. It's truly a beautiful story about the power of family and love.
It's a must see film of this year!
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