Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)

Skadoosh! Everyone's favorite butt kicking panda, Po (Jack Black) is back, in the third feature of the Kung Fu Panda franchise. The sequel to 2011's Kung Fu Panda 2 is nothing short of mesmerizing and wonderful.

 It offers stunning artistry, special effects, and  clever, witty humor. As well as a fantastic supporting cast including: Angelina Jolie, Bryan Cranston, J.K Simmons, and Kate Hudson, while they voice the  roles of a master tigress, Po's father, the films antagonist and a girl panda, respectively.  The way the cast voices their characters and portrays them is very energetic and lively.

The director of the film does an absolutely wonderful job at  animating China, and interpreting Kung Fu in animal form. The art and overall color of the movie is very bold and stunning. 

   

To stick to the Chinese theme & culture a score was created by visionary composer  Hans Zimmer (Interstellar, Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice) to make the film more enjoyable on a higher note. He does a marvelous job at making a score that is  lively, yet dramatic, bold, yet beautiful. 

  

Kung Fu Panda 3 is definitely a work of art and a witty comedy, while also having a dramatic plot line. It does a fantastic job at catering to both children and adults. The Kung Fu Panda Franchise is one to remember. 

Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

If I were a diehard D.C Comics fan, I'd be extremely hyped for the showdown between the great Batman and Superman. Then when it comes time to witness that epic brawl, you have high expectations, when I left the theater at the end of the movie I was utterly disappointed with this movie. Not because of the negative reaction from other movie critics, but because the film had several scenes in it that were unnecessary, boring, or just didn't fit in with the plot of the movie. I was thinking during these tedious moments, just when is the fight going to happen? The epic brawl does not even happen until first ninety minutes of the movie. The film's first half was setting up the war between the two heroes for that first ninety minutes.  Returning to helm the Kryptonian hero, Henry Cavill. Playing the Dark Knight this time around is Ben Affleck. Personally, I thought Cavill’s performance in his first portrayal as superman in “Man of Steel” was more exciting than this one. As for Affleck’s take on Batman, I prefer the legendary  Christian Bale over Affleck. While director Zack Snyder how to appease to fans of both crime fighters, I'd say that his approach is extremely uneventful and ungodly dreary without a doubt, bleak. The performances in this film had emotional intensity to some extent, but they lack in more of the conflict and solution surrounding the entire movie. Dawn of Justice does offer great supporting characters the chance to succeed. Diane Lane (The Outsiders) plays a wonderful Martha Kent. One of the films damsel-in distress’ and Superman's mortal mother. Also, Jesse Eisenberg and Amy Adams play the psychotic Lex Luthor and Superman's love interest Lois Lane. These roles were executed as often being a little too cheesy and weird. Dawn of Justice gives us a first look at the Gladiator-Warrior that is Wonder Woman. Played by Gal Gadot, she does an excellent job at assisting the other two at defeating evil and saving Metropolis and Gotham from its woe. I was aiming for high expectations when I saw this movie, because the trailers myself really excited to see this movie. I genuinely enjoy both Marvel and D.C Comics Movies alike, but I felt as if Dawn of Justice lacks in being a great action packed film like its fellow superhero movie predecessors.

Starring: Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Amy Adams, Holly Hunter,  with Lawrence Fishburne, and Jesse Eisenberg

Director: Zack Snyder

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 2 Hours & 33 Minutes

Synopsis:
It's been nearly two years since Superman's (Henry Cavill) colossal battle with Zod (Michael Shannon) devastated the city of Metropolis. The loss of life and collateral damage left many feeling angry and helpless, including crime-fighting billionaire Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck). Convinced that Superman is now a threat to humanity, Batman embarks on a personal vendetta to end his reign on Earth, while the conniving Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) launches his own crusade against the Man of Steel.


Rate: D

Jaws (1975)

Based on the popular 1974 novel "Jaws", is a terrifying and edge-of-your seat film. The film chronicles the gaudy and horrific events of a small and secluded tourist town of "Amity Island", located in the Eastern region of the United States. 

The film is brought to life by young director Steven Spielberg, who is previously noted best for films such as: "The Sugarland Express" and "Duel", In which both films came out in the same decade as "Jaws", only a few years apart from one another. 

The performances seen in the film are absolutely marvelous, with zealous perfection. As this is a horror film, the leading cast: Roy Schneider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss are without a doubt dramatic, in which this is another reason this cast is phenomenal. 

Steven Spielberg's version of Peter Benchleys classic novel is triumphant, dramatic, and ghastly obscene. Viewers will find the film frightening, especially with composer John Williams' title theme for the film with is instrumented brilliantly, with dark and haunting qualities. But also viewers will find "Jaws" humorous and sarcastic.

Costume design and facial features with a pre dominantly male cast is somber and prehistoric. And if the other principal actors had followed what Roy Schnieder did for the film, not shaving their face was a personal preference, probably because they wanted to look as-tough-as hell destroying the S.O.B "Great White Shark". 

One of cinemas most highest grossing films of the 20th century, "Jaws" has gone on to prove to be an icon for the cinema for many years to come. 

Rate: A

Steven Spielberg presents a Universal Studios film starring: Roy Schneider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss and Lorraine Gary. Based upon the original novel "Jaws" by Peter Benchley. Runtime: 2 hours and 10 minutes

The BFG (2016)

From beloved children’s author Roald Dahl and ultra successful filmmaker Steven Spielberg, comes an adaptation of one of Dahl’s most  famous children’s novels, “The BFG”, or if you want to be more technical, “Big Friendly Giant.” Spielberg, who is no stranger in the director’s chair, he has directed films like this before, he also helmed another film involving an unlikely friendship in 1982’s “E.T”. What makes this film different from that popular film is the BGF has more magic at its core.

Reuniting with Spielberg once again for the film’s title role is Mark Rylance previously seen in the Oscar nominated film, also directed by Spielberg, (Bridge of Spies). Rylance makes a whimsical and emotional performance while opposite child star Ruby Barnhill, who is a natural, serious, yet funny and an effective talent in this film. 

Scoring the film is a man who needs no introduction, John Williams, who by the way has teamed up to compose several of Spielberg’s films prior to this one. Williams composition is quite fun and goes great with the film overall. 

If you haven’t read the classic book, whether you’re a kid or adult, you will have a problem understanding what is happening in the film. Especially with the BFG‘s silly rhetoric, which can get a little hard to digest. 

The “BFG” has many comedic successes, while he is drinking a soda, and the bubbles go the opposite direction, he makes a remark about burping and farting which is quite comical. There’s also another funny scene in which it involves the “Queen of England” and several of her “Guards“.  Audiences without a doubt will be laughing during this movie, for sure. 
In contrast, Barnhill and Rylance’s characters portray a similar friendship to that of Drew Barrymore and E.T. The two characters are from very different worlds, and it’s exciting to see each other’s perspective on their worlds. 

If you see this movie knowingly, and observe that there’s a book of the same name, you’re better off reading it before you see the cinematic portrayal.

Based on one of the most successful children’s books of all time, the “Big Friendly Giant” is a magical, funny and heartwarming experience that is better off being witnessed by those who actually have a clue as to what the film is about. 

Starring: Mark Rylance and Ruby Barnhill
Rated: PG
Rate: B
Director: Steven Spielberg

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The Revenant (2015)

Based on the real-life events of a man, Hugh Glass.  He is trapped and left for dead in a winter forest after being brutally abused by a bear. Leonardo DiCaprio portrays the lost soul and does it so very powerfully. He is challenged by the wonders of nature physically and mentally. Besides being left crippled for days, Hugh then becomes extremely angry at the fact that the people who abandoned him left his son to die out in the cold forest as well!

  

DiCaprio portrays this role so exceptionally. It's gripping. There's a huge sense of a dramatic on screen personality to his character. His role is highly well-worth praising. Also, Tom Hardy deserves some praise for his supporting role as the antagonist of the film. He portrays a sly, cunning, sneaky man who doesn't like DiCaprio's character. 

Director Alejandro G Inarritu who helmed the Oscar-winning Birdman is a visual magician. He knows more about the story the audience might not even know. 

Based on the real-life events of a man, Hugh Glass. The Revenant tells the ultimate testament of survival, mental stability, and physical pain. 

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter

Director: Alejandro G. Inarritu

MPAA Rating: R

Synopsis:

Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT captures one man's epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption.

Runtime: 2 Hours and 36 Minutes

Rate: B+ 

Finding Dory (2016)

After 13 years, and the success of Disney/Pixar’s “Finding Nemo”, comes the return of all your favorite characters from the 2003 hit film. The difference between this sequel and the first film is that there’s a bigger emotional tone than in the previous film.

Andrew Stanton, who directed the predecessor to “Finding Dory” makes this new film funny on many levels, but relies more on the emotional aspect. As the previous movie had more of a comedic effort, but had a less emotional tone. 

Ellen DeGeneres returns as the loveable amnesiac blue-tang, with Albert Brooks reprising the cautious, worrisome clownfish father, Marlin. Due to voice changes and several years, the adorably cute “Nemo” Marlin’s son, was recast for this film and is now voiced by newcomer Hayden Rolence.  Also starring in “Finding Dory” are: Eugene Levy, Diane Keaton, Ty Burrell, Idris Elba and Ed O’Neill. All do a terrific job voicing their roles with passion and heart. Superb humor, tear-jerking emotional scenes, and a well crafted screenplay, their voices bring something genuinely special to viewers. 

As from the predecessor the animation, detail and effort put into making this project, is simply stunning. Those who’ve seen previous Pixar films prior to this one know that there’s typically a short film before the feature film actually begins. And this time, Pixar has gone above and beyond with their newest short called “Piper”. This newest film is one of Pixar’s best shorts by far, better than others.

Audiences everywhere have been waiting for the return of Nemo, Marlin, and Dory and the rest of the underwater crew for a good chunk of years now. Suffice to say that with its emotional qualities being higher than the original, the animation improves upon the first film, but sometimes throughout the film it lacks the comedic burst of energy. Therefore, “Finding Dory” is more of an emotional, tear-jerker, than a comedy like the predecessor. But like “Finding Nemo”, “Finding Dory” also has an emotional but truthful moral for those with disabilities like Dory and Nemo’s is that you got to see a way through it, and just keep swimming. 

Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Hayden Rolence, Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Ed O’Neill, Ty Burrell, Sigourney Weaver 

Director: Andrew Stanton

MPAA Rating: PG

Runtime: 1 Hour and 45 Minutes

Synopsis: Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is a wide-eyed, blue tang fish who suffers from memory loss every 10 seconds or so. The one thing she can remember is that she somehow became separated from her parents as a child. With help from her friends Nemo and Marlin, Dory embarks on an epic adventure to find them. Her journey brings her to the Marine Life Institute, a conservatory that houses diverse ocean species. Dory now knows that her family reunion will only happen if she can save mom and dad from captivity.

 Rate:B

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

For two decades, E.T and planet Earth have had the chance to prepare for the next armageddon, and that time has arrived once more. The sequel to the 1996 film “Independence Day”, “Independence Day: Resurgence” is nothing more than special effects with a wishy-washy cast, as this sequel lacks with depth, emotional tone, and corny styled dialogue.

Roland Emmerich returns to helm the sequel, and while he has several credits underneath his belt for films being “every man for himself” types of movies, therefore as a result Resurgence counts as this kind of film. While it's enjoyable to watch with an overwhelming amount of CGI and other special effects, Emmerich relies on those aspects more so than the cliche and corny styled screenplay.

For those who are fans of veteran actors from the original film, like Jeff Goldblum & Bill Pullman, their presence on screen is just not enough, or just plain dull and rustic. Same goes for “The Hunger Games” star Liam Hemsworth who is a usually talented performer.

This is not the first extra-terrestrial, doomsday, and armageddon film to ever so grace the “big screen”. Audiences have previously witnessed the film adaptation of the widely popular board game “Battleship”. The difference between this film and the adaptation of “Battleship” is that for many generations, this game has entertained a variety of people. Therefore people are more familiar to it. In contrast, the acting and levels of action in “Battleship” is much better than in Resurgence.

“We had twenty years to prepare. So did they.” The slow-moving, utterly corny sequel "Independence Day: Resurgence" isn't exactly a movie with that full throttle that you'd expect for a sequel in a franchise. What this film does succeed in, is the pazazz and exciting action sequences. Suffice to say that Resurgence excels on a action-packed scaled effort, but other Extra-Terrestrial & Earth take down films like “Battleship” put this unneeded sequel to shame.

Rate: D+

20th Century Fox presents a film directed by Roland Emmerich and written by Emmerich, Nicolas Wright, James A. Woods, Dean Devlin and James Vanderbilt. Running time: 120 minutes. Running time: 120 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for sequences of sci-fi action and destruction, and for some language). Now showing at local theaters.