White House Down
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Monsters University
/"Want to join Oozma Kappa?"
Rating: 3 out of 4
In true Pixar fashion, Monsters University is adorable, intelligent, and heartfelt. While I am a fan of Monsters Inc., I enjoyed Monsters University much more. The movie centers on our two loveable main characters, Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan, on their journey to become scarers at Monsters Incorporated. We spend most of our time with the boys in college, seeing them develop into the characters we know from Monsters Inc. While Monsters University sticks to a standard formula unlike many of its Pixar siblings, I laughed out loud more during this movie than any other Pixar movie. Monsters University is heartfelt, though not as much as the greats. I felt some connection to the characters, but since I knew how it ended, some of the emotional investment was lost. Monsters University also has more adult-focused humor than usual, but it is still appropriate for the youngins.
Rating: See It
-Megan
Man of Steel
/"Born on Krypton and raised on Earth, you had the best of both and were meant to be the bridge between two worlds."
Filmology Rating: 2.25 out of 4
The vast majority of my Superman knowledge comes from the first seven and a half seasons of Smallville, a show which I am attempting to finish even as a write this. Even with such little information to go on, I knew something felt off while watching Man of Steel. I was very happy with Henry Cavill as Clark Kent and Michael Shannon as General Zod, but I was not impressed with the material provided for them to work with. The dialogue felt strained, the plot had a lot of gaping holes, and the action sequences were all over the place. I feel that many ‘quintessential’ Superman mythologies were skimmed over or completely left out. There was obviously some attempt at showing Clark’s childhood struggles, but they got lost in the shuffle. Some of the special effects were pretty unexceptional, even mediocre. I feel the franchise could progress into something really good, but there needs to be some serious work done behind the scenes for that to happen.
Rating: Rent It
-Megan
This is the End
/"A huge earthquake happens, who do they rescue first? Actors. They'll rescue Clooney, Sandra Bullock, me. If there's room, you guys will come."
Filmology Rating: 3.25 out of 4
‘What on earth am I watching?’ was the majority of my thought during this movie, even though I was forewarned it would be very funny but very wrong at the same time. I really think this is the best B movie ever made, but it is also a pretty good story. This Is the End stars James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, and a spattering of other Hollywood stars as crazy alter-ego versions of themselves at the end of the world. I fully expected a stoner movie or some other craziness, but this movie actually has a lot of heart and a good story. While the acting and plot were good, the effects were atrocious at times, but oddly very fitting. I also laughed more at this than I thought I would, but probably not for the best reasons.
Rating: See It
-Megan
Much Ado About Nothing (2013)
/"Shakespeare knows how to throw a party."
Filmology Rating: 2.75 out of 4
I enjoy Shakespeare’s writing. I enjoy modern adaptations of Shakespeare's works. Much Ado About Nothing is a modern-day retelling of the classic Shakespeare play by the same name. This adaptation was enjoyable, and did follow the original exactly. The movie follows four people who see life and love differently, but all have sharp tongues and quick wits, and their interactions with each other and surrounding friends and family. Beatrice and Benedick, played by Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof respectively, are skeptical of love, while Claudio and Hero, played by Fran Kranz and Jillian Morgese, believe in love and its beauty. The dialogue is of course quick and entertaining, if you can follow along with the Shakespearean. The acting was good, and very fitting for each role. Watching this at home might be a little easier than in a theater, however.
Rating: Rent It
-Megan
The Purge
/"Just remember all the good the purge does."
Rating: 2.25 out of 4
There was a lot going on in this movie, but at the same time, absolutely nothing at all. The concept definitely intrigued me, but they tried too hard to make me like the actual movie. One day of every year, all crime is legal for twenty-four hours, by government decree, and it’s every man for himself. Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey gave decent performances, but nothing overly spectacular. My favorite actor was by far Rhys Wakefield; he was convincing and very captivating in his short screen time. There were a few too many twists in the plot for my liking, a few of them could have been cut out for a better movie. There’s not much here you’d be missing by missing The Purge.
Rating: Rent It
-Megan
Epic
/"Many leaves, one tree. We're all individuals, but we're still connected. No one's alone."
Filmology Rating: 2.5 out of 4
The story was cute but predictable. Our main character, MK, goes to live with her dad, Bomba. Bomba is preoccupied with his work, to the point that he doesn’t notice his daughter has disappeared. MK gets shrunk to minuscule size in order to help the fairy Queen Tara save the magic of her people from the darkness imposed by Mandrake. Standard plotlines and jokes ensued until the predicted ending occurred. Overall, the animation was amazing, the plot was okay, and the movie kept my attention more than the average kids’ movie. Definitely a solid choice for the tiny humans in your life.
Rating: Rent It
-Megan
Fast and Furious 6
/"Uh, guys, they got a tank!"
Filmology Rating: 2.75 out of 4
Let me start by telling you I have never seen any of the previous five Fast & Furious movies. I do, however, know the premise of them. I went in to this movie with pretty low expectations: I’m not a big fan of mindless action movies, which I fully expected to see here. I was pleasantly surprised by the film in that the plot was fleshed out relatively well and I was not left bored during most of the movie. The action sequences had new elements I haven’t seen in every car-based action movie. The acting was adequate for the movie, but nothing to write home about. Fast & Furious 6 also has one of the best endings to an action movie I’ve ever seen, and definitely left me surprised for the remainder of the film.
Rating: Rent It
-Megan
The Kings of Summer
/"Why live when you can rule."
Filmology Rating: 3.5 out of 4
You’re 14 years old. You like hanging out with your friends, and your parents are the most annoying people you’ve ever met. The thing you want most is your own space with no parents and no rules. So what do you do? Lash out? Escape to a friend’s house for a few hours each day? How about build your own awesome hide-out in the middle of the woods and live there with your best friend? The Kings of Summer is one of the best coming-of-age movies I’ve seen: completely heart-felt and able to remind me what it was like to be 14 again, although I’m not sure my friends and I were as witty as the main characters. The three main boys-- Nick Robinson as Joe, Gabriel Basso as Patrick, and Moises Arias as Biaggio—are funny, smart, and believable in their roles. The adults make me feel embarrassed for the boys every second they are on screen. Everything about this film made me happy: the acting, the world created, the shots used, and the score were fantastic. The Kings of Summer is definitely worth the watch, and could become a go-to movie for teens and adults alike.
Rating: See It
-Megan
Star Trek Into Darkness
/"An Arabic proverb attributed to a prince who was betrayed and decapitated by his own subjects."
Filmology Rating: 2.5 out of 4
I thoroughly enjoyed the first movie in the Star Trek reboot, having never seen an episode of the TV show nor any of the movies. This left me hoping I’d enjoy the second installment just as much. While I did not think Into Darkness was as good a story as Star Trek, I was more enthralled with the characters this time around. Benedict Cumberbatch in the villain role was absolutely enthralling, while Zachary Quinto’s Spock drew me in and made me feel for him, and Chris Pine delivered a standard Chris Pine performance: bland. The action sequences were enjoyable and suspenseful; the dramatic plot points weren’t dull or over-played, and the comedic moments at least made me chuckle. With no significant knowledge of the Star Trek franchise, Into Darkness was funny, entertaining, and captivating.
Rating: Rent It
-Megan
Iron Man 3
/"I'm Tony Stark. I build neat stuff, got a great girl, occasionally save the world. So why can't I sleep?"
Filmology Rating: 2.75 out of 4
Since this is my first superhero review I'm writing for the site I think I should clarify where I stand on the superhero genre. I love it. In 2008 I saw Iron Man four times and The Dark Knight six times. In 2011 I saw Thor three times, X-Men: First Class four times, and Captain America: The First Avenger twice. In 2012 I saw The Avengers nine times, The Amazing Spider-Man twice, and The Dark Knight Rises three times. I also have attended the Chicago Comic-Con every year since 2005. Needless to say I am a fanboy.
I loved what Marvel Studios did with Phase One. Each movie perfectly built upon each other until the mega-blockbuster The Avengers. I was greatly anticipating the start to Phase 2 with Iron Man 3.
Iron Man 3 starts six months after The Avengers, with Tony Stark, once again played by Robert Downey Jr., suffering PTSD after entering the wormhole during the climax of The Avengers. He spends his time tinkering and building suits to save himself and now girlfriend Pepper Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. As if Tony did not have enough inner demons a new foe appears, The Mandarin, played by Ben Kingsley, who challenges Tony by asking does the suit make the man?
The biggest issue that faces this film is what makes Tony special? The new suit, the Mark XLII, can be used by anyone. So basically anyone can be Iron Man. Alright so Tony isn't that special anymore but then we move into the climax of the film and Tony becomes even less special. The house party protocol destroys everything that Tony has worked for. While it does make for an interesting action sequence, it also ruins what makes Tony Stark so special.
My other problem with the movie is Robert Downey Jr. The first two films he had something to earn by playing the part of Tony Stark. He was not bankable in 2008 and then after Iron Man he became a star again. In this film I feel that I'm either sick of the joke or the jokes just aren't working. I of course would like to think that the problem is not me, so I'm going with the jokes just aren't funny. Downey looks bored half of the time and you can feel that he wants to be done playing this character.
I went into Iron Man 3 filled with anticipation, wondering how Marvel could possibly top Phase One. I left completely disappointed and was afraid to see what else Phase Two could have in store for me. Iron Man 3 is full of bland jokes, spotty CGI, and a rather boring mystery. I know that fans of Marvel will see the film but this fan was completely disappointed.
Rating: Rent It
-Jonny G
Tony Stark returns to California with some post-traumatic stress after his romp with the Avengers. There are some mysterious explosions, landing Happy in the hospital and focusing the Mandarin’s attention on Iron Man. There is something that just felt kind of off about this movie. I had high expectations for this, and I left the theater feeling very lack-luster. I was excited for all of the armors and to see what they could all do, and I was vastly disappointed. I’m not sure if it was the pace of the movie or if there was just too much trying to happen, but something felt funky. Overall, the movie was visually very pretty, but the story was pretty average.
Rating: Rent It
-Megan
Trance
/"We keep secrets from lots of people, but most of all we keep them from ourselves. And we call that forgetting."
Filmology Rating - 3.25 out of 4
I truly enjoyed this movie! Simon, portrayed by James McAvoy, is an art auctioneer; Franck, portrayed by Vincent Cassel, is a thieving hit-man; Elizabeth, portrayed by Rosario Dawson, is a hypnotherapist determined to set everything straight. This movie has an amazing soundtrack, a great plot, superb acting, and is visually stunning without CGI enhancement. Based on the trailers, I was pleasantly surprised as the plot unfolded. Trance kept me engaged for its entirety, and I was unable to guess major plot points. The action scenes and the drama scenes are equally compelling. The motives of the characters are not fully revealed until the very end, making you pay close attention if you want to piece it all together before that. Overall, Trance is a wonderful psychological thriller.
Rating: See It
-Megan
The Place Beyond the Pines
/If you ride like lightning, you're going to crash like thunder.
Filmology Rating: 3.25 out of 4
Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper are perfect. The end.
But really, this is a great movie, for more than just its two stars, though Gosling, as Luke, and Cooper, as Avery, definitely help make it so. Luke is an absent father to his son with Romina, played by Eva Mendes. Avery is missing out on his son’s life because he works too much. Luke wants to help his son, while Avery is forced to. As the trailers state, The Place Beyond the Pines is a great story about father-son relationships, and how your relationship with your father affects your relationship with your son. The movie kept me interested and entertained, and I definitely recommend seeing it.
Rating: See It
-Megan
Spring Breakers
/"I'm Alien. My real name is Al, but truth be told, I'm not from this planet."
Filmology Rating: 1.5 out of 4
I’m confused, is spring break supposed to be good or bad? What about gangs? Drugs? Outlaws? It’s hard to tell what stance Spring Breakers is taking on these subjects, as it both glorifies and vilifies each of them pretty inconsistently. We see two former Disney Channel princesses, Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens, as Faith and Candy escaping to spring break and getting into a lot of trouble. Who comes to their rescue, but James Franco as gangster/rapper Alien. Now don’t get me wrong, Franco is my favorite part of this movie; not the character but the actor. Even Franco’s superb acting can’t save the character or the movie. The movie feels like a Girls Gone Wild shoot set to a Ke$ha song.
Rating: Let It Burn
-Megan
Stoker
/"He used to say, sometimes you need to do something bad to stop you from doing something worse."
Rating: 2.75 out of 4
I didn’t know a whole lot about this movie before I saw it, but I remember thinking there would be loose ties to Dracula author Bram Stoker’s life or works or something, so I was kind of excited. I walked out of Stoker feeling a whole lot of nothing. Mia Wasikowska stars as India Stoker, the daughter of Richard and Evelyn Stoker, played by Dermot Mulroney and Nicole Kidman, respectively. After Richard’s death, his brother Charlie, played by Matthew Goode, comes to stay with India and Evelyn. There is a special (creepy?) connection between Charlie and India, as he helps her come to grips with the loss of her father. The movie feels very forced at times and doesn’t keep a steady pace. The acting is pretty good, but nothing spectacular. Something for when you’re in the mood to watch something a little odd.
Rating: Rent It
-Megan
Snitch
/"I admire you so much. The stand you're taking. You didn't take the easy way out. Not setting up one of your friends. I couldn't do what you did. So it looks like you're the one teaching me what real character and integrity is all about. I love you, son."
Filmology Rating: 2 out of 4
Dwayne Johnson stars as a drug-cartel-fighting dad in Snitch. Johnson is, by and away, my favorite part of Snitch, due to his great screen presence. As usual, he is funny and charismatic, stealing the scene many times over. However, his presence is not enough to save this film from itself. The plot features Johnson’s son in prison for drug trafficking, facing maximum sentence even though it’s his first offense, and daddy comes to the rescue by going undercover in the seedy underground drug world. The setup could lead to either a drug drama or an action movie, but someone couldn’t pick one, so they try to follow both paths, without great payoff. I was expecting this film to be absolutely horrible, and I was pleasantly surprised that it is only bad.
Rating: Skip It
-Megan
Safe Haven
/"Promise me something Katie, you'll take a lot of pictures and only regret the ones that you didn't take."
Filmology Rating: 1.75 out of 4
Have you seen a Nicholas Sparks’ movie before? Then there is no reason you need to see this one. Safe Haven features Julianne Hough as Katie, who is running away from her problems to a small coastal North Carolina town. She quickly meets Alex, played by Josh Duhamel, and Jo, played by Cobie Smulders. She slowly adjusts to small-town life as a detective hunts her down. You can probably guess where this goes by now, so I’m not going to tell you. The acting was mediocre and not overly convincing. The plot was old and stale. Safe Haven would be perfect for a girls’ night when you’re not really watching the movie.
Rating: Skip It
-Megan
Side Effects
/"Depression is an inability to construct a future."
Filmology Rating: 3.25 out of 4
So far, this is my favorite movie this year. The movie kept me guessing and entertained for its entirety. Jude Law and Rooney Mara give excellent performances as Dr. Jon Banks and Emily Taylor, respectively. Both were completely captivating and dedicated to their roles. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Channing Tatum, as Dr. Victoria Siebert and Martin Taylor, were adequate, but could have been played by anyone. As for the plot, it was pretty fast-paced and had enough small twists to keep me from guessing exactly what would happen, even taking me by complete surprise once or twice. Between some of the twists, the story did drag a bit, but overall kept a good pace. I don’t want to give too much away, because the less you know going in, the better.
Rating: See It
-Megan