Movie Reviews

Annie (2014)

Annie

Annie (2014)

Director:

Will Gluck

Starring:

Jamie Foxx

Quvenzhané Wallis

Cameron Diaz

Plot:

A foster kid, who lives with her mean foster mom, sees her life change when business tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in.

Review:

I liked the story line and the way this movie was shot, but I liked the songs better in the original. The casting was good, though, to be honest Jamie Foxx wasn’t the best singer. I was also a little annoyed with the way they handled Hannigan.

***Spoilers***

At the end Hannigan has a change in heart and tells Stacks, Jamie Foxx, what she’s done and that the people taking Annie away aren’t her parents. I liked it better when Hannigan was a villain and didn’t change her character because Annie was so adorable. After how many years of being a horrible foster mother, this situation finally changes who you are? I don’t think so.

The movie was okay, but because of that I’m lowering it half a star.

2.5/5

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Hot Fuzz

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Director:

Edgar Wright

Starring:

Simon Pegg

Nick Frost

Martin Freeman

Plot:

Exceptional London cop Nicholas Angel is involuntarily transferred to a quaint English village and paired with a witless new partner. While on the beat, Nicholas suspects a sinister conspiracy is afoot with the residents.

Review:

I love this movie, definitely in my top favorites. I was lucky enough to get the bluray for Christmas and was finally able to watch it. There are so many great quotes, so many great scenes, this is my favorite of the Nick Frost and Simon Pegg movies.

“You ain’t seen Bad Boys 2?”

The movie perfectly makes fun of all the over the top, adrenaline packed, action movies out there, but it respects them at the same time. It’s a fine line and doesn’t really tip over into over the top spoof territory, but I still find myself laughing throughout.

“Ever fired your gun in the air and yelled, ‘Aaaaaaah?”

Seriously love this movie and if you haven’t seen it I highly recommend it.

5/5

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)

night-at-the-museum-3

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)

Director:

Shawn Levy

Starring:

Ben Stiller

Robin Williams

Owen Wilson

Steve Coogan

Dan Stevens

Rebel Wilson

Plot:

Larry spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.

Review:

Movie ended on a sad note and not just because watching it I remembered how much I miss Robin Williams. What if I don’t want Larry, Ben Stiller, to move on with his life? What if I want him to be a night security guard for the rest of his days? Sure, I guess, they could do another with Rebel Wilson, but, no offense to her, it would not be the same.

Not sure why I reacted to the ending like I did because I’ve never been a huge fan of the movies. They’re cute and a nice little way to spend some time, which is all you need sometimes.

Anyway, the story was fine, a little contrived, they jumped forward on some things quickly. Mainly the relationship between Larry and his son, but it was a lot to cram into one movie. Lancelot actually made a joke about that and how it’s not how quests are done.

I liked the movie and if you’re looking for something on in the background it would be a good choice.

3/5

 

Tangled (2010)

tangled-203

Tangled (2010)

Director:

Nathan Greno

Byron Howard

Starring:

Mandy Moore

Zachary Levi

Donna Murphy

Plot:

The magically long-haired Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first time, and who she really is.

Review:

This may cause some outrage, but, I think I like the story in Tangled better than Frozen. The songs are undeniably better in Frozen, but I think the character development is better in Tangled and makes the story that much better.

The songs are fine in this movie, they just aren’t as catchy as the ones in Frozen. I’ve seen Tangled a few times, but I couldn’t sing any of the songs or even really tell you what they’re about.

I cried a couple times, which is normal for a Disney movie, and each time my daughter would give me a hug, which was awesome.

4.5/5

Aurora Teagarden Mystery: A Bone to Pick (2015)

A Bone to Pick

Aurora Teagarden Mystery: A Bone to Pick (2015)

Director:

Martin Wood

Starring:

Candace Cameron Bure

Marilu Henner

Lexa Doig

Plot:

When Aurora, or Roe, Teagarden’s acquaintance from the disbanded hobby group, Real Murders, dies, Roe is bequeathed a small house and a not-so-small fortune. Roe soon discovers that her generous benefactress has left her more than she bargained for when she uncovers a skull in a carpeted window seat in the inherited house. Roe sets out to find out who the victim is and how his or her skull ended up in a spinster’s window seat. Will Roe discover the murderer on Honor Street?

Review:

I’ve been reading a lot of cozy mysteries lately so it was interesting to actually watch one. This is your usual Hallmark channel fare, though not overly sentimental which was nice. The mystery was good, though, Aurora, Candace Cameron Bure, was the definition of nosy and really should have given that skull to the police as soon as she found it. Come on people withholding evidence is not good and she would have still been able to work the mystery without it.

The acting was fine, the story was fine, some of the cozy mystery tropes didn’t play as well on screen, but I still liked the movie and wouldn’t be opposed to seeing more from this series.

3/5