Movie Reviews

Ghostbusters (2016)

ghostbusters-2016

Ghostbusters (2016)

Director:

Paul Feig

Starring:

Melissa McCarthy

Kristen Wiig

Kate McKinnon

Leslie Jones

Plot:

Following a ghost invasion of Manhattan, paranormal enthusiasts Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates, nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann, and subway worker Patty Tolan band together to stop the otherworldly threat.

Review:

Finally got around to watching this since I wasn’t able to see it in theaters. My husband is a huge fan of the first and had no desire watch and while I do love the first the idea of this was still appealing to me.

The beginning started off with promise but it quickly grew boring for me. McCarthy and Wiig were themselves as Ghostbusters and it honestly wasn’t that funny. McKinnon was either not crazy enough or too crazy, I’m not sure which. Jones was probably the only character that didn’t annoy me at any time during the movie, though I wish she’d pointed out more often just how weird the others were. The less said about Hemsworth’s character the better.

Looking for reviews and opinions on this movie was difficult, especially when talking with friends. People either felt it raped their childhood because no movie could ever compare to the first, or they acted like having an all-female cast was the worst idea ever or that it was just a money grab, or they thought it was amazing because it was an all-female cast. It was difficult to get an opinion on the movie that wasn’t clouded by a whole host of other things.

I wanted to like it because I like the actresses and I like the idea, but I didn’t find it funny, which made me sad. I thought the pacing was off at times and the continuity editing was 90s era WB bad. I really felt like this could have been so much better with just a bit more work.

I liked when it didn’t try and copy the original and could have done without the few call backs there were, though I do think it could have done with a montage in the middle to liven things up like the original.

It would take more time than I care to use to try and figure out what could have fixed the comedy for me, but every now and then I could see something better shine through which just makes me all the more disappointed.

2/5

Ip Man 3 (2015)

Ip Man 3

Ip Man 3 (2015)

Director:

Wilson Yip

Starring:

Donnie Yen

Lynn Hung

Jin Zhang

Mike Tyson

Plot:

When a band of brutal gangsters led by a crooked property developer make a play to take over the city, Master Ip is forced to take a stand.

Review:

It’s been a while since I watched the first Ip Man movies and all I really remember is that I liked them and that Donnie Yen was awesome.

Man I really hope they utilize him correctly in Rogue One. Please don’t screw that up.

Anyway, the last few fight scenes in this movie were great, the first ones were good as well just didn’t quiet do it for me. Maybe because Master Ip is supposed to be getting old but his punches didn’t have that much power, seemingly.

Didn’t like the story in this movie, it was way too emotional. I get that this is supposed to be about a real man’s life, but I could have done without the weepy story line. I don’t like crying when I watch an action movie.

I need to watch the other movies before I give any kind of order of preference, but more than likely this will be my least favorite.

3.5/5

The Intern (2015)

The-Intern

The Intern (2015)

Director:

Nancy Meyers

Starring:

Robert De Niro

Anne Hathaway

Rene Russo

Plot:

70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker has discovered that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin.

Review:

This movie didn’t need to be two hours long. It was super cute and I liked it but

***SPOILERS***

the whole cheating husband bit could have been left out. It was stupid and lowered my opinion of the movie. It wasn’t necessary.

Loved De Niro, loved Hathaway, fucking hated the ending. It was such a bullshit non ending.

“Hey Ben I’ve got something to tell you.”

“Wait until this is over.”

What is that?

I could be really insulting right now, cause I’m pissed, I liked the movie up until then, but I’m just not going to say anything else.

3/5

The Big Short (2015)

the Big Short

The Big Short (2015)

Director:

Adam McKay

Starring:

Christian Bale

Steve Carell

Ryan Gosling

Brad Pitt

Plot:

Four denizens in the world of high-finance predict the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s, and decide to take on the big banks for their greed and lack of foresight.

Review:

So like all other Adam McKay movies there are a plethora of dick jokes and just a ton of crass humor…oh wait, that’s actually not true.

This was a great movie, it could have been hugely depressing and infuriating, and it kind of was, but I got to see some people stick it to the banks, so there was that. It’s honestly amazing that they were able to make a movie out of something so boring be so entertaining.

It’s a topic that hits home, that will probably anger me to my dying day, I lost not one but two jobs during this time, my husband lost his job, and my grandparents had their well earned retirement decimated. We did everything right, everything we were supposed to, and we were the ones that got fucked. The fact that just one person on Wall Street was jailed is disgusting and it says a lot about our government that they allowed it. Of course, it also says a lot about the people that we allowed the government to become what it is. It’s a vicious, depressing cycle that I wish someone smarter than I am would figure out a way to fix.

Anyway, sorry to go off topic, this movie was great. Highly recommend. Definitely going to read the book.

5/5

Zathura (2005)

zathura

Zathura (2005)

Director:

Jon Favreau

Starring:

Josh Hutcherson

Jonah Bobo

Dax Shepard

Plot:

Two young brothers are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is hurled through the depths of space by the magical board game they are playing.

Review:

Loved Jumanji growing up and I’ve wanted to see this for a while. My husband put it in to entertain our daughter and I ended up watching.

At first I had no idea what was playing and couldn’t understand why my husband would be watching something with such bratty children. They were horrible and he just looked at me and said, “This is our future.” Not at all disconcerting.

The movie was fun and basically a space version of Jumanji, but I’m totally fine with that.

I loved that they made fun of the sister for her reaction to a certain thing.

I really liked the movie and it will probably hold a special place in my heart because it’s the first movie we’ve sat through as a family.

4.5/5

Side note: I want that house