The problem with my job...

...is I have little time to actually see movies. But I was able to see Monsters University Tuesday, and World War Z is tomorrow, so I will have fresh(ish) reviews coming to you soon!

"Man of Steel" Review

Let me begin by congratulating director Zach Snyder on two things:
1. Creating a movie without excessive slow motion.
2. Making Superman interesting.

Film Summary: It's a Superman origin movie. That's all you need to know.

I have always been a big superhero fan, and that love for fictional symbols of justice and hope came from movies. I bought my first comic book after seeing it's leading character on the big screen for the first time (even though it was an Electra comic during a time when I actually liked the Daredevil movie). So, I tend to hold the superhero genre on a pedestal and judge it on a totally different level than others. In my opinion, a superhero movie must include and pull off specific elements in order to be considered at least "good" in my book. For example, the hero(s) must be complex; not just the nice guy next door who is always willing to fight for good, but someone who has to struggle with morality and other issue in order to find out what he is truly fighting for. The villain must also be complex, if not more than the hero is. And as for the leading lady; the movie must recognize that the female in a superhero movie doesn't always have to play the damsel in distress. There has got to be action, there has got to be destruction, but most importantly, the movie has got to make the audience believe their beloved comic panels have come to life before their eyes.

It makes me happy to say that Man of Steel has done just that.

Before viewing Snyder's latest cinematic take on a beloved comic book series, I will admit that I was not too excited to see it. For one, Superman has never been a favorite of mine. I personally never saw him as much of a complex and memorable character, rather a perfectly boring hero with only one weakness to slow him down. My mind was much more interested in the brooding likes of Batman and Spider-Man. I also wasn't too thrilled with who was seated in the director's chair. While I will admit to being a fan of (most of) his take on Alan Moore's opus, Watchmen (I'm sorry, Mr. Moore, but I did), the last thing I wanted this movie to be was an over-stylized, slow-motion riddled blockbuster-hopeful such as 300 or Sucker Punch. Honestly, what convinced me into going out to the theater on Monday to see it was knowing who produced it (Christopher Nolan) and who wrote the score (Hans Zimmer).

To my relief, Man of Steel was neither boring nor overwrought with slow motion. While the script was nothing Oscar-worthy (did Lois Lane really ask where to "tinkle"???), I appreciated the films unique mix of cinematography styles; switching between that of what you'd expect from a superhero blockbuster and a personal, almost shaky-cam feel that pulled the Kryptonian's story into a more realistic light. And while they could have treated this as just your normal origin story, the movie luckily failed to follow the usual chronological timeline and gracefully covered the events of Clark Kent's past on Earth through a series of non-distracting flashbacks. The acting from the majority of the cast is something to be commended, as well. Henry Cavill brought a new depth to a character I had once found incredibly one-dimensional. Michael Shannon also gave a standout performance as General Zod. He was able to turn a role that could have been so easily-overdone into one that made the audience both empathize with him and fear him at the same time.

Upon viewing Man of Steel, I cannot help but compare it to another recent reboot of a popular superhero franchise; Sony Pictures' The Amazing Spider-Man. Both films had the difficult task of regaining a mass audience after their predecessors had fallen under deservedly harsh criticisms (Superman Returns, Spider-Man 3), and they both succeeded in restoring hope to fanboys and fangirls everywhere. But there are two areas in which both vary in superiority. One of these areas is the way the origin story is handled. Unlike The Amazing Spider-Man, Man of Steel was aware that a large portion of its audience was already familiar with the back story of how and why Superman came to Earth, and it doesn't dwell so much on the past or how he came to be what he is today. Even though it was obligated to cover it all, Snyder's film did it in a way that was refreshing and new for longtime fans and informative for newcomers. However, while Spider-Man was almost all back-story and no action, Man of Steel quickly became the opposite towards the end of the film. By the time the final battle between Superman and Zod began, I was so mentally exhausted and ready for the movie to be over, I didn't care who won the battle! I just wanted someone to die so I could go home.

Superman will not be topping my list of favorite superheroes any time soon, but Christopher Nolan's experience and influence did Snyder well on his venture to reboot the franchise. It was risky trying pull off the same, realistic tone as the producer once found success in with the Dark Knight trilogy, but overall, the team pulled it off quite nicely. From the films clever little details (the Smallville water tower, the LexCorp fuel tank) to the overwhelming sense of heroism that explodes from each piece of Zimmer's score, Man of Steel proved to be quite the pleasant surprise.


FINAL VERDICT: It's worth seeing on the big screen

"Now You See Me" Review

It isn't quite a rare occasion for a film's plot twist to surprise me. There have been several occasions where a movie will go somewhere I never thought it would go. Most of the time, however, I can see it coming from a mile away.

In the case of Now You See Me...I never saw it coming. Nor did I expect a true, unexpected twist to come from a movie like this. Yet, even though I was left a bit blindsided by the film's ending, I have a hard time finding it believable.

Film Summary: A group of magicians, known as the Four Horsemen, are brought together by an anonymous force to become an over-night sensation. The reason for their popularity? Their final trick includes miraculously robbing a bank and giving the stolen money to their audience members. As the FBI tries to investigate the actions of the criminal vigilantes, they struggle to determine what is really magic and what is simply illusion.

There isn't a whole lot I have to say about Now You See Me, unfortunately. It proved to be a well-developed and entertaining mystery. And it was in no way a bad film. The only qualms I had with it was the twist...so prepare for some SPOILERS.

I will not give away who is the true leader of the Four Horsemen, because I do not want anyone who hasn't seen the movie to be stripped of the opportunity to have their mind blown. Looking back towards the rising actions of the film, it is obvious to point out clues that lead to who is behind the robberies, but when that person steps forward to reveal himself, my jaw hit the floor. However, as much of a shock as it was, it soon became clear that the mystery magician's plan was way to complicated for anyone's good. Their plan almost reminds me of the problems critics had with the plot-holes surrounding The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. Yes, the characters had thought up brilliant, complicated, and well thought-out ways of getting what they want. Yet, when it came to the reality of the length of time it must have taken and the things that certain character had to put themselves through in order to accomplish that task, it leaves audience members unwilling to believe what had just unfolded before them. What if a certain piece in the game had chosen a different path, or if some crucial element failed to deliver? With such a time-consuming, elaborate plan, the shock of the movie's twist was swallowed by a sea of questions.

It was quite an intriguing ride that the movie delivered as the viewers joined the fictional detectives to figure out what was behind the Horsemen's tricks, and the acting/script/etc. were far from horrible. That being said, I can't say that it was a spectacular film. Besides the surprising (yet unbelievable) twist, many elements of the movie failed to stand out. In my opinion, Now You See Me will soon join the ranks of the forgettable gems; movies that are very enjoyable and fun to watch, but fall quickly into obscurity. I wouldn't be to surprised to find it premiering on cable television within the next couple of years.


FINAL VERDICT: It's worse seeing, but either wait to rent it or catch a matinee

"The Purge" Review

If I had to choose only one word to describe director James DeMonaco's second directorial project, it would have to be....meh. Yes, I know that might not be an actual word, but it was the first thing that came to my mind after viewing his film on Tuesday. I believe Anthony Misiano of Reel Butter put it best when he said that The Purge is "the most mediocre movie I've seen in a long, long time."

 Film Summary: In the near future, America's society is blossoming; unemployment is at 1%, crime is at an all-time low, and everyone seems very satisfied with their lives. All of this happiness is the result of an annual event known as "the Purge". For a 12 hour period, all crime is legal, and even encouraged. During one such night, a well-to-do family is terrorized by a group of Purge participants after the youngest son gives shelter to their chosen target.

I will admit that I was incredibly excited for this movie! The trailer got me super pumped, and the concept of a world where all crime is legal was quite intriguing. To my dismay, the film failed to live up to my expectations. There was only about two occasions where I felt truly scared, and the "twist" towards the end was really nothing too shocking. The script was less than impressive and most of the characters were so unlikeable, I wasn't too upset when something unfortunate happened to them. It did help, however, that the acting ranged from passable to pretty impressive. Leading the pack is Lena Headey (300, Game of Thrones). Her terrified, compassionate, yet strong and courageous mother-figure allowed me to spare some sympathy for the family's plight.

As for the ending, there was much left to be desired. In fact, there were several factors of the film that left me feeling rather unsatisfied. Many of these stemmed from the universe of the movie itself. Set in the United States during the spring of 2022, it is implied that America's financial and social structure had become so hopeless, that a complete makeover of the country's government was a crucial necessity. Their leaders, simply known as the New Founding Fathers, initiated the annual Purge in order for citizens to "release the beast" (a phrase completely overused throughout the film) and make it possible for society to control their urge for illegal activity and help make their homeland become better place. A controversy circulating throughout this world is that the Purge was not simply a way for people to satisfy their basic, violent urges, but to also eliminate the weak and lower class; thus causing America to thrive.

Who are these New Founding Fathers? We don't know. How was the idea of an annual night of uncontrollable violence and crime able to be OK-ed by the American people? No one is really sure. The movie leaves a great deal, perhaps a little too much, to be imagined. The only reason I would encourage a sequel to The Purge would be if it took the opportunity to expand on the universe of the film, and explain how the New Founding Fathers and the Purge came into existence.

After talking with several other friends of mine who came out of this just as disappointed as I was, all of them said the same thing to me: "I was expecting it to be like The Strangers, but it wasn't at all!" It baffles me that so many were comparing The Purge to Bryan Bertino's far superior, 2008 horror movie, but I could see where they were coming from. Both films primarily play on the fear of home invasions and malicious unknowns with a lust for blood. Yet, there are some key differences between the two that make one much more gratifying to watch than the other.

For one, the situations found in The Strangers are much more relatable and disturbing than that of The Purge. It's hard to envision our own society as it is today that allowing such an event as the Purge to be legal, while the tragedy of Bertino's film could very well be a reality. Also, the reasons behind the antagonists' actions prove which villains are the terrifying. The Ken Doll-masked group of Purgers are intensely scary; taunting their victims by playing out grotesque scenes for the house's security cameras, banging on its metal-plated windows and doors, and eventually proving that they have to power to break into something that was rumored to be impenetrable and viciously take what they want. But in their world, it is their right. Their actions, however horrible they might be, fail to be seen as shocking in that society, and even to the movie's audience at times. The murders of The Strangers are the complete opposite. They have no right, nor do they have any true motivation behind their actions besides the main characters happened to be at home. A large group of wealthy, over-the-top killers pale in comparison to silence and mystery behind the three strangers.

To the film's credit, it wasn't a bad film. It was able to capture my attention for the entire running time, and it did give way to a very interesting and horrifying story idea. But, perhaps with a different screenwriter and a more satisfying ending with actual consequences, The Purge might have been able to live up to the hype it had gained before its release.


FINAL VERDICT: Wait until it shows up at RedBox

INTRODUCING "OVER-PRICED HONESTY" MOVIE REVIEWS!

Everyone enjoys going to the movies! But with ticket prices the way that they, it almost isn't worth dropping 10 bucks on a movie that really isn't worth seeing.

That's where Over-Priced Honesty comes into play! Our goal is to save you and your wallet from wasting your hard-earned cash on a Hollywood dud for a movie you might actually enjoy!

This movie-review blog will primarily focus on new releases in the theaters, but will also cover recent DVD and rental releases. Opinions and requests for movies to review are welcomed and appreciated!