Trailer Alert: Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens

It's here Kornheads, the teaser trailer for the next installment of Star Wars and it shows you things you've never seen or thought you'd see in a Star Wars movie. X-Wing fighters skimming the ocean surface. The Millennium Falcon doing a maneuver that SCREAMS IMAX! A lightsaber the likes you've never seen before. And another Black face other than Billy Dee Williams! My inner twelve year old has been awakened! This teaser seems to have everything you could want and hope for and for me it has created a burning desire to buy my ticket NOW! It seems JJ has done it again, do you agree?

The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay Pt. 1

The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay Pt 1, the latest film in the Hunger Games franchise from director Francis Lawrence, is a film that was well worth the year long wait. If you were/are a fan of the books then you will definitely enjoy The Mockingjay even if it does require you to wait for part 2. It's a more intense, grander in size and scope movie than both of its predecessors and because of that I am giving The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay Pt. 1 four buckets of Killer Korn.












It's a very rare instance where you can say the third film in a movie franchise is the best of that franchise but that was the case in the Harry Potter films and it's the case for The Hunger Games movies. The third Potter film, Prisoner of Azkaban was directed by the Oscar Award winning directer Alfonso Cuaron. It showed a different side of Harry than the previous two films directed by Christopher Columbus, a more petulant, angry side to Harry no one had ever seen. The same goes for The Mockingjay Pt. 1. Francis gives us a different side to Katniss no one has seen yet, a more determined, hardened, smarter, and somewhat fearless Katniss the first two movies didn't bring to light. In my opinion that makes The Mockingjay Pt. 1 a far better film. The same cast is all back for round three but there have been some new additions. Julianne Moore plays President Alma Coin, Mahershala Ali plays Boggs, Sarita Choudhury plays Egeria, Wes Chatham plays Castor, Elden Henson plays Pollux, and Natalie Dormer plays Cressida.

This time around there is serious unrest in the districts, so much so that any association with the Mockingjay is a crime punishable by death and yet the districts fight anyway. There are some incredibly moving and powerful scenes in this movie. I call them "movie moments", where the director let's it all hang out. Francis did that a few times here so I can rest assured that Pt. 2 will be chock full of them. District 13 has taken in refugees from the utter destruction that was District 12 but that wasn't just done out of the kindness of President Coin's heart. She and Plutarch Heavensbee played once more by Phillip Seymour Hoffman wants no...needs her to be the voice and the face of the rebellion against the Capitol. She of course refuses at first but when she sees that Peeta is still alive she agrees but with conditions of her own and one is that her sister Prim gets to keep her cat. The other more pressing demands is that Peeta and the other Hunger Game victors be rescued as soon as possible. When a deal has been struck Katniss is introduced to Cressida, the best director the Capitol had before she defected. They want Katniss to star in a series of short propaganda films that the other districts can be inspired by. When Katniss sees what was done to District 8 she is more than eager to keep her end of the bargain.

The Mockingjay Pt. 1 is the first of the movies without another contest of kids killing kids, here we have adults finally being killed by other adults and it's a little jarring but great film making. Francis shows us the true dedication many of the Districts have for wanting to be from under the yoke of the Capitol with everything from fighting Capitol aircraft with small arms to suicide missions. The cinematography by Jo Williams was pure perfection. There wasn't a moment where anything looked off or out of place as far as look and feel. The music by James Newton Howard, while not one of my favorite composers did an excellent job with this score and lucky for him he had a lot to work with. There were some truly inspiring moments in this film and James' score was the perfect accompaniment. The Mockingjay Pt. 1 shows that Francis' Catching Fire was no fluke and that he was the right man to take over from director Gary Ross. I highly recommend this movie if you are/were a fan of the books and even if you haven't read them, this movie will still blow you away. Get your ticket and I'll see you at the theater.    

Beyond The Lights

Beyond The Lights, the latest film from writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood is a tale about a broken superstar and her heroic police officer boyfriend. It is in effect, nothing new. This story has been done countless times and in countless ways, but the one thing those stories didn't have that this one does is one scintillating performance surrounded by great ones. Prince-Bythewood shows us what fame can do to ones soul and ones family in dramatic ways and because of that I give Beyond The Lights three buckets of Killer Korn.











My one biggest takeaway from this movie is that Gugu Mbatha Raw is one absolutely amazing actor. She is nothing less than a powerhouse and is definitely worthy of being a household name. This is two performances back to back that have blown me away. Earlier in the year she play the title role in the fantastic movie Belle and now she plays Noni, an up and coming pop star whose album is about to drop which would bring her more fame than she's ever known. Gina Prince-Bythewood, the woman behind the classic Love & Basketball competently directs this love story, deftly navigating the pop world with a sense of realism and the world of an ambitious police officer named Kaz played by Nate Parker, who is transitioning himself as deftly as he can into the world of Los Angeles politics. The film also stars Danny Glover as Kaz' dad Captain Nicol, Isaac Keys as Jonas, Aml Ameen as Trey, and Minnie Driver as Macy Jean. It's an impressive cast and Minnie and Gugu are perfect as mother and daughter, something I could have never imagined in a million years.

My one big issue with BTL (and the fact that I'm only giving it three buckets and not four) was everything just happened SO FAST! We got no back story on Kaz and how he got the "guard the superstars door" gig. We get no reason why Noni wants to commit suicide, there is no catalyst for such a decision. One minute she's just won her first major award and is signing autographs and the next she's on her hotel rooms balcony with nothing in-between those moments except adoring, admiring fans. Kaz saves her life and is then forced to lie to the press about what really happened. There's friction between the two and feeling bad about the way he treated her, Kaz wants to apologize and they reconcile and that's where Beyond The Lights get's cliche and goes off the rails. Noni woos Kaz because she not only feels safe around him but because she believes he's the first person in a host of people that actually sees that she's broken. She reveals to him her innermost desires and dreams and when something occurs at another awards show, the two run off together leaving everything behind.

Gina brings the movie back on the rails in the third act with Gugu doing an amazing rendition of Nina Simone's Blackbird (and for the record, if that's really Gugu singing, someone should sign her to a recording contract like...NOW). I got frustrated with the cinematography by the talented Tami Reiker. Everything seemed like a close-up or a step too late in following the action. The original songs were impressive but I don't recall the score by the amazing Mark Isham at all. None of those two things distracted from my enjoyment of the movie and while it's not built for a sequel or set up as a franchise, these are two characters I wouldn't mind revisiting. I highly recommend Beyond The Lights, it may just surprise you, and I'll see you at the theater.

Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6, the latest film from writers/directors Chris Williams and Don Hall is a fun filled, action packed, adventure about the practical birth of super heroes and loss. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this movie and while it did have that Saturday morning cartoon feel at times, it was so engrossing that you forgive that feeling (unless of course...you happen to like that feeling). I loved Big Hero 6, it can make you cry and it will crack you up. Because of that I am giving this movie four buckets of Killer Korn.












The star of Big Hero 6 is Baymax and I want one. No seriously, I want a Baymax. He is a personal medical assistant created by Tadashi (voiced by Danial Henney) because he felt Baymax could and would help those that needed it, even if they themselves didn't realize it for themselves. Tadashi's younger brother, the genius child Hiro (voiced by Ryan Potter) isn't trying to help anyone but himself in the beginning. All he wants to do is immerse himself in the illegal world of robot fighting and win as much money as he can. The two brothers live with their aunt Abigail (voiced by Katie Lowes and who is my second favorite character in the movie) who took the boys in after their parents died. Tadashi feels Hiro is wasting his abilities by not applying himself and Hiro thinks Tadashi is a giant nerd. That is until Tadashi trick Hiro into coming to his college and showing off his lab to Hiro, along with his fellow giant nerd friends. The second Hiro sees what's being built and designed in the lab and all the potential possibilities, he wants in.

Now I don't normally do animated movies because there are no performances to gauge. There is no real cinematography or costume designs to speak of and surprisingly every character is either just alike or they are so ridiculously over the top exaggerated that they border on annoyance. Thankfully Big Hero 6 avoids those pitfalls with some great characters that can stand on their own two animated feet. There's Go Go (voiced by Jamie Chung), Wasabi (voiced by Damon Wayans Jr.), Honey Lemon (voiced by Genesis Rodriguez), Fred (voiced by T.J. Miller) and Baymax (voiced by Scott Adsit). All of these characters have something about them that's unique, not to mention their individual quirks that make them as close to real life humans as I have ever seen in an animated movie. The plot is nothing new in Big Hero 6 but what's different about this movie is the desire to not kill the bad guy for his evil deeds but capturing him and getting to the truth. All the while, you fall in love with Baymax. When his battery is low, he comes across as drunk and it is hilarious.

Big Hero 6 is ultimately about loss, coping with the emotions that come from dealing with that loss, having people around you that care, and then learning to let go and live again. It truly is a great movie for children who may be going through that or have gone through that already. The colors are vibrant and the movie is a fun time for kids and adults alike. With a score provided by the very talented Henry Jackman, Big Hero 6 musically and visually doesn't fail on any level. There are even renewable energy nods with wind turbines hovering over San Fransokyo. Now there is that Scooby-Do twist that you can sort of see coming but if you can forgive that then you will enjoy Big Hero 6, I did and I am satisfied with my care. I'll see you at the theater.

    

Fury

Fury, the latest film from writer/director David Ayer is the perfect example of a person sticking to what they know. David Ayer's films have all been about law enforcement and the perks as well as the perils that come with doing that job. He's been very successful, or at least entertaining at showing that life. Fury has him now taking on tank warfare in WWII and it's a big fat swing and miss. The movie was predictable, uninspiring, and lacking any real depth. Because Fury should have never been made I give it a bucket and a half of Killer Korn.











David Ayer wrote Training Day and wrote and directed End of Watch so he got a pass from me. That pass got destroyed when I saw his horrible film Sabotage, which he also wrote and directed. He seemed to have a serious love affair with police so when I heard he was doing yet ANOTHER WWII film to go along with ALL the other WWII films, I was curious because I enjoyed End of Watch so much. I had completely forgot that Sabotage was pure trash. Let me tell you the biggest problem I had with Fury, one of them anyway. It was with the marketing. If you saw the trailers then you saw the movie. The trailers showed you EVERYTHING, making the movie completely predictable from a story standpoint. Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing took me by surprise while watching Fury because I knew what was coming. Second issue with this film was Brad Pitt playing the leader of his Sherman Tank squad, Don 'Wardaddy' Collier. If you saw Inglorious Bastards then you have a pretty good idea who Wardaddy was modeled after. Brad brought back Lt. Aldo Raine minus the stupid accent. Rounding out the cast is Shia LaBeouf as Boyd "Bible" Swan, Micheal Pena as Trini "Gordo" Garcia, Jon Bernthal as Grady "Coon-Ass" Travis, and Logan Lerman as Norman "Machine" Ellison.

Don's crew was just what you've come to expect from a movie about the second world war. One quotes Bible scripture, one is truly messed up in the head from war, one is the seemingly sane one, one doesn't quite belong on the front lines as he was trained to type 60 words a minute and has never seen a razor let alone hold a machine gun, and then there's their leader. A fearless, determined, brilliant leader who doesn't duck for cover like everyone else when mortar rounds are exploding around them. It's like they chose to rip off characters from Saving Private Ryan but got lost somewhere along the way. Now four Sherman tanks are given a mission, to hold a crossroads until a larger force can be mobilized. Out of a tank skirmish with a German Panzer tank only one Sherman escapes (guess who's) and heads to the crossroads. As the trailer indicates, the tank loses a tread but the guys stay and fight even though Wardaddy orders them to leave. You can guess the ending can't you?

The look of the film is a muddled mess. The color palette is dark, there is virtually no color anywhere and there's a ton of fucking mud everywhere yet it never seems to rain. The movie is devoid of almost any kind of humanity and while I know it's a war film there have been others that have delivered that necessary touch of decency. The one attempt at that makes no sense and falls completely flat. There was some cool scenes in the movie thanks to cinematographer Roman Vasyanov, I just wish there had been a few more. For a film centered around a tank and her crew, you'd be forgiven for expecting more tank battles than just the one. The music by Steven Price is fantastic. His music for Fury proves that what he did for Gravity was no fluke. There are moments where you "hear" Gravity musical cues but for the most part it provides the film with the emotion it's lacking on it's own. It is a job well done. I'd skip Fury if you haven't already seen it and wait for it on DVD unless you don't mind predictable bangs for your buck. I'll see you at the theater.

Interstellar

Interstellar, the latest from accomplished director Christopher Nolan is a monster of a movie. It contains everything anyone could ever want from a film. The action sequences are riveting, the space scenes are breathtaking, and the emotional impact is sledge hammer like. The cast is perfect and Christopher Nolan has one again delivered a film that will make you think, make you laugh, hold your breath, and even make you cry. I think it's one of the best movies of the year which is why I am giving Interstellar five buckets of Killer Korn.









SEE THIS MOVIE!

Now that I got that out of the way I can continue. The movie is Interstellar and it is beyond anything I have ever seen before, and I have seen a lot of movies. I have been a Christopher Nolan fan since Memento and while I may not have enjoyed all of the films he has directed, he has a winning record in my book so I give him the benefit of the doubt when he has a new release set to hit theaters. I call Chris "the master of the plot hole" because there have been some sizable ones in his films. However, this have never lessened my enjoyment or made me question the invested time and monies I put out to see his work because I am always rewarded in the end. Interstellar is no exception. It is a powerhouse of a movie starring Oscar Award winners Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway. They are joined by John Lithgow, Michael Caine, Wes Bentley, Ellen Burstyn, David Oyelowo, Mackenzie Foy, Casey Affleck, and Oscar Award nominee Jessica Chastain. Written by Christopher and his brother Johnathan Nolan, Interstellar tells a tale of an earth that is coming perilously close to no longer being able to sustain mankind.

Armed with mathematical calculations Michael Caine's Dr. Brand and a team of NASA scientists believe that the only way to keep our species alive is to find a suitable planet in which to relocate on. The only problem is they don't really have a pilot. Conveniently McConaughey's Cooper is a pilot who actually once flew for NASA, was a one time University student of Dr. Brand's, and he just so happens to fall into their lap when he's needed the most. Dr. Brand convinces his one time student to pilot the mission and save his children, Cooper agrees to go after finding out that there were twelve previous astronauts sent through the wormhole and three of the twelve have been transmitting their locations back through the wormhole to earth. It's Cooper and his team's job to seek out those three planets to see which can sustain life the best. Sounds easy enough but Murphy's Law definitely come into effect and the bad guy is almost so obvious it's almost no shock when he reveals himself. The scene where he says goodbye to his kids and drives off to the countdown of the liftoff is gripping.

I won't call Interstellar a tearjerker but be prepared to have some tissue on hand just in case because the third act is chock full of some serious emotion. There is intrigue, drama, sabotage, and desperation but above all it is the emotion that ties this movie all together. Cooper and his daughter Murph have such a connection that not even a wormhole can sever. The production design by Nathan Crowley takes you from the homey comforts of Cooper's house to the closed in claustrophobic confines of space travel. The cinematography done by Hoyte Van Hoytema was masterful. Most of the images in this movie were breathtaking and I'm not just talking about the CGI work. Christopher once again employed the talents of Hans Zimmer to score the film and once again Hans delivers a score to a movie that didn't really need music that takes Interstellar to another level entirely. I loved this movie and I definitely think it's one of the best films of the year and quite possibly one of the best films I have ever had the privilege to lay eyes on. I'll see you at the theater.

Trailer Alert: Selma

Kornheads, the first time I saw the trailer for Selma, the latest Dr. King film, I was expecting the same garbage I had been given every time there was another film on the icon. Seconds in however, I knew this had the potential to be the best film on King that has ever been made. The more I watched it the more convinced I became. This film looks absolutely amazing and I can't wait to lay eyes on it. I had heard about it awhile back and wasn't all that certain it would be worth my time. I like the actor David Oyelowo a lot, I'm a huge fan but him playing Dr. King didn't seem like a good fit. The trailer still hasn't assured me that it is but the film itself looks powerful! Directed by Ava DuVernay, produced by Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt, and blessed with an amazing cast, Selma looks to make an awful lot of noise in the coming months. Take a look Kornheads and let me know what you think.

Trailer Alert: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Hey Kornheads, it's here. No I'm not talking about the cold weather (though that's here as well), I'm talking about the awesome trailer to the last Hobbit movie. It's freaking epic and if the movie is anything like it, the movie will be amazing. There are many old faces reprising their roles from the previous two Hobbit films as well as some from the LOTR trilogy. The music is fantastic and the film looks as if Peter Jackson is completely on his game. I don't usually look forward to the month of December rolling around but this year, this year I can't wait for it to get here. Take a look at the trailer Kornheads and let me know what you think.