New Q : Unfortunately Having An Interesting Help ?

In this iteration of the Transformer's series we are introduced to a set of new faces. The main character Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) is an inventor who is struggling to make ends meet and is partnered with his best friend Lucas Flannery (T.J. Miller) along with having a daughter Tessa Yeager. Within the first hour of the movie Lucas Flannery is killed by a grenade in a scene that is one of the worst and most unmoving scenes of death I have ever seen in a movie. He is replaced on the adventure by Teresa's secret boyfriend Shane Tyson. The story progresses with the trio assisting Optimus Prime and the remaining autobots to stop a company named KSI from using autobot data to remake Decipticons as weapons, and in the end a battle ensues between the Autobots and the remade Decipticons in which the Autobots are able to win with the help from the newly introduced Dinobots which are basically Dinosaur Transformers.

My first gripe with the movie is the lack of seriousness of the plot. As stated earlier, the death of Cade's best friend Lucas was done horribly and would not fill any viewer with the least sense of emotion. His body exploded and Cade and Co. stand to look at it for a few seconds and run off, no crying and no sadness. I understand that the group was being chased but the film could have at least found a way to convey a deeper sense of emotion, he was the main character for God's sake. A second item that has to be noted is the movie's level of corniness. There was an overwhelming amount of instances where the protagonists where in serious life threatening scenes, but the writers decided to throw in a poorly written and unfunny joke. Many of them came about in dialogue between the Transformers or between Cade and Shane as Cade showed his distaste for him dating his daughter, another irrelevant point that received too much focus during the movie. The last point that I have to get off my chest is the acting. The acting from a majority of characters within this film was just plain awful. One actor I hated the most was Lucas. I don't know what it is about T.J Miller but anything he says just isn't funny. I've grown to dislike watching him in any film after forcing myself to watch him through the TV show Silicon Valley. If anyone was a proponent of spitting horrible jokes in a serious moment it was his character. Simply he just isn't a good actor and this film was able to show that. Mark Wahlberg on the other hand didn't do nearly as bad of a job as T.J but nonetheless his performance wasn't stellar either. Mark Wahlberg isn't a bad actor but in this film he just didn't shine. All the other side characters were in the same boat, and honestly there was not one good standout actor within the entire film and that truly brought the movie down.

In conclusion, this movie had a somewhat decent story to tell. As typical of a Michael Bay film it was filled with over the top explosions, and amazing use of visuals and special effects. But two of the most central parts of a film are plot and acting, and this film just didn't deliver on either, but honestly has a Michael Bay Transformers film ever been strong in these aspects? Regardless his films will continue to make money and we will all continue to see them.

I personally like Danny Boyle's works because they often depict true story or rather explores a peculiar plot that is usually unexplored. It is his unique technique of showcasing unusual and sensitive events in an appealing way that attracts me. I have listed some of the Danny Boyle masterpieces that I thoroughly enjoyed.

127 Hours: Going by his trademarks, Danny Boyle illuminates a peculiar plot in the movie, for which the choice of cast also seems proper. The agonizing story of a how an American mountain climber finally escapes a near-death experience from one of his trips to the canyons at Utah, is skilfully depicted by James Franco. Script, order of dialogues and cinematography play crucial roles in the movie, as the movie primarily revolves around the lead actor trapped inside a cave. Scenes are mainly shot in a self-portray mode that works in favour of the movie, rendering it an authentic look and feel. Franco's expressions, at some point of time, are bound to make you feel the frustration of being sucked into oblivion, where you know you are the only one to help yourself out. Being based on true story, the movie righteously pays a tribute that is praiseworthy.

Trainspotting: The struggle of a British drug-addict to get rid of his habit and how his relationships with his friends and family flutter in the process is brilliantly portrayed by Danny Boyle through the lead actor, Evan McGregor. I consider this one of Boyle's finest works. Though the movie is dark and deals with a controversial topic, what makes this an enjoyable watch is the sheer expertise of the director to handle such a sensitive topic in an aesthetic manner. Boyle is aptly supported by the likes of McGregor and the rest of the supporting cast. The utter sense of frustration, which the friends go through while undergoing the heroin withdrawal process, is prudently demonstrated on the silver screen.

The movie has its elements of anguish as evident from some of the scenes such as the dying HIV infected friend or the dying infant. For the sake of the plot's sanctity, these elements were necessary to an extent. Even though the movie delivers lessons of morality, viewer discretion is recommended for the extremity of the theme.

The Beach: Being a DiCaprio fan, I was not that disappointed with the movie like some of the hard-pressing critics. It seems that many did not view the movie in a manner intended by director Danny Boyle. The core concept of the movie - a nicotine-addicted American backpacker finding a map to a wonder island at a Thailand hotel and the events accompanying the adventurous search - generates the much-needed adrenaline rush. It is the very thought of an unlimited supply of marijuana that brings DiCaprio and 2 of his friends to the island, whose leader eventually allows them to become part of their secret community. The descent of insanity on DiCaprio, though abrupt, was quiet believable. Breach of trust, love and friendship mired with bursts of insanity is what sets the movie apart from other movies on similar themes. However, a punch of unpredictability and a bit more convincing climax would have done wonders to the film at large. Nevertheless, the movie treads on a path not often undertaken by many and it remains a solid watch from that point of view.

The Challenger" opens with Jaden Miller (Kent Moran, "Listen to Your Heat") doing his early morning run through the gritty streets of the Bronx. Then cuts to his job as an auto mechanic where a female customer belittles his capabilities as mechanic. That night, dejected he arrives home to find an eviction notice on the door and spends that night sleeping in one of the cars at the garage where he works. Things are not working out for young 24-year old Jaden. Until the rent is paid, his mother Jada (S. Epatha Merkerson, "Law & Order") is staying at Aunt Regina (Natalie Carter) and putting up with her constant interruptions. This is a hilarious scene, much to the delight of the audience.

While getting his work coveralls cleaned, Jaden meets up with Duane (Michael Clarke Duncan - "The Green Mile") and learns he was once a legendary boxing trainer. Later, Duane confesses that one of his fighters threw a match and Duane had to backed away later opening a Laundromat and a small boxing gym. Jaden learns that one of his fellow workers at the garage makes money on the side boxing in club fights and pursues this avenue to get his mother and him back into their apartment. He approaches Duane to train him. Initially, Duane refuses, but on learning Jaden last name, he consents to work with him.

What is most intriguing about the training regiment is the focus on specific boxing techniques, things such as the placement of the feet, the rotation of the hips, and how a punch is uncoiled for maximum power. While fascinating, this focus on preparation for a fight leads the audience away from the inner struggles and conflicts Jaden faces. Namely, his finding a way to support his mom, finding a way to regain her respect after being kicked out of a private school for fighting. There is also the fear of failure and not being good enough. While these are presented in dialogue, the emotional consequences is left hanging and not fully developed. Jaden's stoic expressions do not give us those vulnerable moments that build a deep emotional attachment to his dilemma. We care about the outcome, but not so much about the person.

The fight scenes are spectacular and if the Mayweather-Pacquiao match had been this good, people would be demanding a rematch. The championship match, in particular, was brilliantly crafted and choreographed. There is suspense, compelling character arcs and riveting reversals leading to an edge of your seat excitement. The initial rounds were almost full length and the succeeding rounds compressed into highlights of damaging blows. This segment of the film was shot in four hours, the time allotted by arena officials. Thus the exhaustion and fatigue exhibited are likely real.

There are some amazing twists in this story, which makes it both poignant and appealing. These are nicely set up and foreshadowed without being overly obvious. The acting is first-rate across the board including supporting players. The performance of Michael Clarke Duncan in particular was rock solid and gave energy and direction to this crucial role. He had a back-story to tell and he delivered it with great sensitivity and empathy. This was Michael's last role, as he died at the age of 54 never seeing his final work.

The relationship between mother and son required a delicate balance of protective love versus determined purpose. S. Epatha Merkerson and Kent Moran beautifully deliver on this aspect with each expressing their opposing views. What's more, Kent Moran is to be commended for taking on such a physically demanding role while serving as both director and lead actor. Kent trained six months at Manny Pacquiao's gym in Venice, California preparing for his role.

Another actor who made this a worthy movie is Justin Hartley, Jaden's opponent in the championship fight. His over confidence and inflated ego nicely set up the challenge in dramatic terms and polarizes our allegiances. The fact that he fights dirty adds to the dangers Jaden faces.

Production values portray the Bronx location as a gritty underdog and it's Jaden's dedication that gives its downtrodden residents hope. Camera work by Giacomo Belletti keeps us in the mix, moving skillfully to provide both questions and answers to what's going to happen next. Composer Pinar Toprak's score neatly provides the dramatic energy that leads us through this emotional journey. The editing by Anthony Muzzatti and Kent Moran nicely articulates the struggles, the climb out of poverty to provide for his mother.

This film goes the distance and shows that if we fight for who we are, we can become winners. Film reviewed at the Dances with Film Festival, Hollywood.

After the Bellas are embarrassed in front of a very important political figure, they must compete in an international competition in order to save their reputation. Most comedy sequels are not as good as the first film, and Pitch Perfect 2 certainly follows this trope. I liked the first film. It had great music, some funny moments, and genuine heart. It was far from perfect, but I left it feeling fulfilled. I did not share the same feeling with this film. While the music remains fairly good and the plot is actually pretty interesting, the laughs are not as frequent, the writing is uneven, and the film as a whole did not feel as genuine as the first.

Aca-Wiedersehen Bitches!

Before I delve into the negatives of the film, there are several positives that the film gets right. First of all, the music is incredibly memorable. However, it does not reach the heights of the first film (more on that later). I particularly loved the riff-off scene, and the final performances by the Bellas and Das sound machine. This is where the film truly shines, and I applaud the cast and crew for continuing to deliver engaging music and performances. Along with the music, I thought the plot was handled fairly well. I thought it took a very interesting route where the Bellas are essentially reaching the end of their time at Barden University and they are looking towards their future. This was handled very well when it comes to Becca. She had some tough decisions to make, as well as some harsh realities. Another plus to the film is also the performances from the entire cast. Everyone does a great job, even though some of the characters not so great (more on that later too). The standout for me has to be Keegan-Michael Key. He was both hilarious, and gave some of the film's best moments. Overall, these components of the film were handled very well and are what mainly elevate this film.

Pitch Slapped

Unfortunately, having an interesting plot and engaging musical sequences do not save the film. Going back to the music, while it was great, it did not 'wow' as much as it did the first time. The Bella's final performance from the first film still stands as the best musical number that this franchise has to offer. I was really hoping that their final performance this time around would rival it, but it did not. It was still a very good performance, with plenty of heart, but it lacks the uniqueness from the first film. Another problem with the film lies with the writing and the characters. The writers completely shoehorned Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) in the film. Steinfeld does a good job on the screen, but her character is awful. Too much time is spent with her, and I simply did not care for her. She (eventually) has a major role in the film, but I can't help but feel that her role could have been anyone else and it might have worked out a bit better. Instead, we got a sloppy 1-dimensional character who never really proves her worth (again, the character, not the actor). The problems with the character of Emily are also very prominent in the rest of the writing. It is very sloppy. This is why the jokes (for me) did not land quite as often as the first one. I found myself chuckling every so often, but never really having a good laugh. This is also why certain moments did not feel as genuine as they did in the first film. Good writing really goes a long way, and sadly the writing of the film was not up to par.

Closing Remarks I really wanted this film to recapture the magic from the first film, and while it did in some aspects, it lost a lot of magic in others. However, even through all the problems I had with the film, there were some aspects I did enjoy. The film certainly ends in a way that could invite a third film, and I hope they do not make one (even though it is making so much money, which means they probably will).