Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

Transformers Age of Extinction

Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

Director:

Michael Bay

Starring:

Mark Wahlberg

Nicola Peltz

Jack Reynor

Plot:

A mechanic and his family join the Autobots as they are targeted by a bounty hunter from another world.

Review:

I like that this movie shows the consequences of the previous movies. All the destruction.

Such a wonderful depiction of our American military and their reaction to something they don’t understand. I thought Michael Bay liked the military? I thought one of the reasons they let him work with their shit was because he always did such a nice depiction of them. I guess I was wrong. Maybe it’s because the head dude is actually CIA and it’s ok to depict them as evil.

At least the dude is hot in this movie. There is equal opportunity eye candy. They did kill the weird guy which pisses me off. I liked him, even though he did give them up.

This movie was a lot darker than the others, at least from what I remember of them. I wish the women were more than just a piece of ass. They always seem to be able to work with machines, but other than running they aren’t there for much but being a pretty face. Though in this one I thought she had a bit too much makeup on, just my opinion.

All Asians can kick ass evidently.

The ending was a huge joke and made a movie that wasn’t that bad stupid. Optimus Prime riding a dinosaur into battle is not cool. I also disliked the fact that Mark Wahlberg’s character started the movie as an inventor but then just ended up using an alien gun to solve problems. You would think that he could find some brainy attack, but nope just brute force it.

There is no reason for a Transformers movie to be 165 minutes long. It was like watching Return of the King, only nowhere near as good.

2/5

My face is my warrant, no joke that was said in this movie.

Johnny and the Bomb

Johnny and the Bomb

Johnny and the Bomb (Johnny Maxwell Trilogy #3) By: Terry Pratchett

Plot:

Everyone thinks that Mrs Tachyon is just the local bag lady, a bit smelly and a bit mad. But Mrs Tachyon is somehow at the centre of an amazing time travel facility. Johnny and his friends find themselves transported back 50 years, where no-one’s ever heard of a biro, let alone a Big Mac.

Review:

Well I didn’t get the closure I was looking for, but in the end I don’t think that’s a bad thing. This is a children’s book and I was trying to remember when I was a child if I cared about what happened later to characters. Unfortunately I can’t remember, maybe I didn’t and that’s why it happens so often in children’s books. Kids don’t think that far into the future so why should their books.

I really enjoyed this series, even though it was a kids book it didn’t mess around. Johnny may think that he’s an idiot but he’s a lot smarter than he gives himself credit and honestly I wish there was more about him. The fact that so much happens around him and the theory that it’s because his imagination is so big his head can’t contain it, is interesting.

It has definitely made me want to read more Terry Pratchett. I’ve read Good Omens and loved it. I read the first Discworld book and thought it was ok, but wasn’t inspired to read further. I might have to try the second one.

4/5

Space Station 76 (2014)

Space Station 76

Space Station 76 (2014)

Director:

Jack Plotnick

Starring:

Patrick Wilson

Liv Tyler

Marisa Coughlan

Plot:

A 1970s version of the future, where personalities and asteroids collide.

Review:

So I’ve never been a huge fan of the 70s. It’s not an era I can relate to so normally the movies from that time annoy me at best. After watching the trailer for this movie, though, I was intrigued enough to rent it.

Well it was as depressing as any other movie from that time that I’ve ever watched. Almost everyone was horrible and selfish and there was a stupid bullshit ending.

1/5

Johnny and the Dead

Johnny and the Dead

Johnny and the Dead (Johnny Maxwell #2) By: Terry Pratchett

Plot:

Not many people can see the dead (not many would want to). Twelve-year-old Johnny Maxwell can. And he’s got bad news for them: the council want to sell the cemetery as a building site. But the dead have learnt a thing or two from Johnny. They’re not going to take it lying down . . .especially since it’s Halloween tomorrow. Besides, they’re beginning to find that life is a lot more fun than it was when they were…well…alive. Particularly if they break a few rules . . .

Review:

I expected this to be a direct sequel, to talk about the video game aliens, maybe tell me more about Johnny’s unexpected ability. That’s not really what this is. It does continue with Johnny but he no longer talks to video game aliens, instead he can now see dead people.

In case you were wondering this book did come before The Sixth Sense.

I like the fact that Pratchett doesn’t stick with one power, sure Johnny can find a way into video games but he can also talk to the dead. He’ll probably get to do something else in the next book. It would have been interesting to continue on with the video games but he would have ended up having to give more details and explanations and while I probably would have found it interesting I’m sure it would have gotten boring.

I hope I get some answers about Johnny in the next one, not really about his abilities, but more about what’s going to happen to him.

4/5

Blended (2014)

Blended

Blended (2014)

Director:

Frank Coraci

Starring:

Adam Sandler

Drew Barrymore

Wendi McLendon-Covey

Plot:

After a bad blind date, a man and woman find themselves stuck together at a resort for families, where their attraction grows as their respective kids benefit from the burgeoning relationship.

Review:

I laughed, I cried, it moved me.

I’m not a big Adam Sandler fan, but I like his romantic movies. This movie, in my opinion, is right up there with 50 First Dates. Yes it was a bit heavy handed in places, but I don’t care.

There was nothing truly original here and there was an over abundance of clichés, but sometimes that’s what you need. It’s nice to watch a movie that you can rely on to deliver certain tropes and not try and reinvent the wheel.

4/5