Get on Up - Chadwick Boseman Was On It!

Most people I know will see or have seen Get on Up:  a biopic about The Godfather of Soul, James Brown.  The movie is fun, energetic, and entertaining.  A James Brown fan will enjoy the movie even if the story wasn't very well told or directed.

But, Chadwick Boseman does such a fantastic job as James Brown that you are so enthralled into the movie, you almost miss that lack on continuity in the plot.  Chadwick has his voice and his moves down to a tee.  He was exciting on the stage.  Mr. Boseman as Mr. Brown made me wish I was born in that era to experience The Godfather in person.  Even with the bad make-up and horrible lacefront, Chadwick brought James' essence to the big screen like no other.  I really can't imagine anyone else playing the part better.

The magnificent Viola Davis, plays Susie Brown, James's mother.  Her part is so small that just about anyone could have done it, and Chadwick Boseman acted so well, that he stole the scene from the two-time Academy Award nominee. Fellow nominee, Octavia Spencer, is Aunt Honey.  Aunt Honey, the owner of a whore house, takes care of James.  Dan Aykroyd is James Brown's manager, and Nelsan Ellis, plays James' best friend and back-up singer, Bobby Byrd.  Nelsan is such a fantastic actor.  He's my favorite character on True Blood, and I think he and Chadwick will both have a long career in this business.

With all of these seasoned actors and actresses, you would think that a better story could have been written.  I got what the writers, Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, were trying to do, but it just wasn't executed well.  A true story really wasn't told.  We got glimpses into James Brown's life, and there were heartfelt moments, but it wasn't cohesive (sorry, I just finished watching Project Runway).  An example, James Brown gets upset about someone using his bathroom, so he gets a gun and threatens a room full of people.  We never learned why that upset him so much.  Luckily, there was funky music and a great actor to help push all of that aside.  I guess sometimes you don't need a good story, just good entertainment.  Chadwick Boseman as James Brown was just that in Get on Up.  He would have made Mr. Brown proud.

Lucy - One Badd Bish!

Ever watch a movie, and when it was finished, you were confused by your feelings toward the movie, but you'd watch it again?  That's how we felt about Lucy starring ScarJo (that's Scarlett Johansson to you).  I went to see the movie with my movie buddy, E, and one of my closets friends who happens to be his girlfriend, K.  E and I kinda dragged her along.  E and I both agreed that we would watch it again, but couldn't decided if we liked it or not, and K, well, she made it through it.

Lucy is a French-American sci-fi action film with very little action, a lot of asians, and a whole lot of science-fiction.  Lucy has ingested a powerful drug that is allowing her to use more of her brain capacity because humans only use 7% of their brain power.  Because of this drug, she continues to use more and more of her brain power as the day continues which causes her to evolve in a way that allows her to have complete control over just about everything and everyone.  Morgan Freeman's character, Professor Norman, has studied the human mind his whole career and is eager to learn from Lucy how her newfound brain capacity effects her.  Throughout all of this, some asian drug dealers are after her to get their drugs back.

The movie is intriguing.  I was very eager to see what was going to happen next.  There wasn't nearly as much action as we would have liked, and the end got to be EXTREMELY science-fiction.  I don't know what we were supposed to learn at the end of the movie, but I was entertained and questioned if more brain capacity is a good thing.  For sci-fi junkies, it's a must see and I feel like it will be a cult classic.  I, also, feel like I need to see it again.  Lucy is one of those movies that every time you watch it, you'll catch something else.  Is it great?  I'm undecided, but I'll give it another chance, and so should you because regardless of how I feel about it, Lucy is one badd bish!

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Animal instinct or human nature?

Have you ever seen a monkey riding a horse waving two semi-automatic weapons in the air?  No, it's not the circus, it's part of the plot in the newest instillation to the Planet of the Apes series, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.  I know that a horse riding monkey seems quite comical, but honestly there was nothing funny about a massive amount of apes coming at you by trees, by feet, or by horse.  Caesar was one intimidating talking monkey on horse or not.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes picks up ten years after Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  Caesar (a monkey from the previous movie who learned a lot of human traits by living with a human) and his monkey crew have gone into the woods and developed a life together while the human population has dwindled away due to the simeon flu.  We find that because of Caesar's intelligence, he's taught his pack to live a lot like humans in make-shift and somewhat elaborate homes, how to read, write, and speak.  A small group of humans looking for a dam that will help them survive, accidentally find the apes and war between humans and apes is on the verge of starting because of the actions and emotions of both humans and apes.

Watching this movie, a feel like a question has been posed, "are our emotions animalistic or human nature?"  Apes show many emotions in the movie: anger, compassion, love, hate, etc.  Hate and anger lead to war, while compassion and love try to stop the war.  Does that mean that we are more animal-like than we would like to admit?  I know a lot of humans believe what sets us apart from animals is our ability to control our emotions and make decisions, but what if how we feel is apart of our natural animal-instincts? Caesar and his group of apes live by the motto, Ape shall not kill Ape, and humans have been trying to live by a similar value since the beginning of time and failing miserably.  What does that say about our human-nature?

I'm not so sure if the writers of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes were trying to make the movie so thought provoking, but I found it to be.  With all the heart-pounding action, ape-tastical violence, ferocious fight scenes (ape vs human, ape vs ape, human vs human), and gut-wrenching emotion, I'm sure we were just supposed to be entertained by what is on the screen, and I was, but I couldn't helping thinking were the apes using their animal instincts or what they learned from humans to fuel their emotions?  Either way, I enjoyed the movie and can't wait to see where the next movie takes us because I'm sure there will be another Planet of the Apes movie after this.  

Transformers: Age of Extinction - Extinction of a Franchise

First big bummer of the summer is Transformers:  Age of Extinction.  I was hugely disappointed, and I think you will be too.  Honestly, the movie franchise has been going down hill since Sam Witwicky's mother ate a pot-laced brownie in the sequel.  I didn't like that one, and although the third installment was slightly better, this one just didn't do it for me either.   I really think that Michael Bay, the director, needs to cut his loses before the Transformers' legacy is ruined.

Huge problem number one:  This movie is too long.  It's almost three hours long!!!!  It just keeps going and going and going.  The fourth movie in the series starts off promising, but things quickly take a turn for the worst on the screen and with your patience level.  There were many opportunities for the movie to end, but it didn't.  At the two and a half hour mark, I was so done, but then yet another action scene began.  I will say this, during the three hours, you will get tons of actions.  The Autobots have a numerous amount of enemies this time, so the action never really lags, but it does get a bit monotonous.

Huge problem number two:  Storyline.  Storyline.  Storyline.  While the story sorta makes sense, it just doesn't flow very well.  Set mainly in Paris, TX (where everyone who really lives there have thick accents and yet no one in the movie did, for once) and Hong Kong, the Autobots are now fugitives while a corporate CEO has created his own transformers using parts from Megatron in an effort to be the leading supplier of these new human controlled transformers.  Meanwhile, prehistoric Transformers are trying collect Optimus Prime and take him back to their creator while helping the government who is in cahoots with this CEO to create these new transformers.  There's so much more, but if I tell you anything else, I'll give too much away.  And, if your head hurts trying to figure all of that out, just know you have three hours to sit there and do it.

Huge problem number three:  The dialogue.  There's no more Shia Lebouf, but I don't think he would have made it better.  Funnier, but not better.  FYI, it has many funny moments, so he wasn't even needed for that.  Mark Wahlberg is a quirky engineer who finds Optimus Prime, and spends the entire movie trying to protect his daughter while helping giant robots because they really need some tiny little human's help.  Stanley Tucci, John Goodman, and Kelsey Grammer are the other big stars in the movie, but unfortunately their experience can't help the horrible script.  The dialogue is terrible.  They were just saying things, mostly stupid things, just to be saying something.  "I'm not here to help you save your daughter; you're here to help me save my girlfriend," is by far my favorite.  I mean, they all say pointless things like that.  But, when you're trying to fill three hours with a weak storyline, I guess that's what you have to write.

I really wanted to like this movie.  I kept hoping it would get better, but sadly it didn't which sucks because I was really excited to watch it with my new movie buddy, E. Weezy (shout out to my Twin for allowing to borrow her boo).  The first Transformers movie was the best one.  They are  honestly and truly going to make this franchise extinct if they don't pull it together in the next feature.  Oh yes, they'll definitely be a fifth movie.  yeah...

Think Like A Man Too - Too Funny

Think Like A Man based on Steve Harvey's self-help book was an extremely entertaining movie.  I laughed so hard, mostly at Kevin Hart, so I was very eager to see the sequel.  Think Like a Man Too picks up in Vegas with the entire cast returning for the wedding of one of the couples in the group.  Kevin Hart's character, Cedric, is the best man.  He's determined to be the best best man ever, and through an awesome bachelor party in Vegas.

The women are determined to have an even better bachelorette party.  The maid of honor has all types of Vegas activities planned, but first that have to get passed the none-too-thrilled future mother-in-law.  All sorts of comical travesties occur for both the men and women.  At one point, they end up in jail at the same damn time.  During these events, all of the couples discover things about themselves or their relationships.  For example: one of the men tries to come to terms with the possibility of being a father, one of the women gets her sexy back, and one of the men discover that maybe they are ready to settle down and get married too.  These revelations are kinda cheesy, but I'll let 'em make it because the rest of the movie is just too funny to care.

Kevin Hart isn't the only funny man in the movie, but he is by far the funniest.  That little man makes you laugh in darn near every scene that he opens his mouth.  Bennet, played by Gary Owens, had me rolling.  He and his fanny pack are so dorky that you can't do anything but laugh.  The women had their moments especially when they were singing my all-time favorite dance song, "Poison".  When I was cracking up at them, was wishing I could break out and dance on the table in Vegas with them.  They all did a fantastic Job.  I will say, I didn't really understand why LaLa Anthony was there as she was completely pointless and she's not a very good actress.  But, neither is Terrence J.  SN:  I really need Terrence to eat a steak or something.  He's just way too skinty.  You know who isn't skinny and was looking very yummy?  Mr. State Farm himself, Dennis Haysbert as Uncle Eddie.  Uncle Eddie could get it...but I digress.

Think Like A Man Too is just as funny as the first.  We lose the whole purpose of the original movie which was to teach women in a comical way how to use their brain differently when trying to cultivate a relationship.  That all is thrown out of the window to simply tell a story.  The story is good enough without all the lesson learning even though everyone does learn a lesson one way or the other.  Go see this movie.  It's great for all races and sexes.  A good time will be had by all.

I move to Houston, TX tomorrow and will be working on Fridays again, so I may not be able to catch movies so early anymore, but when I do, I'll be here writing for you all, so stay tuned.  Transformers is next week.

How to Train Your Dragon 2: 2 Cute

I was super excited to see How to Train Your Dragon 2 because the first one was super adorable.  Well, the second one is super cute too.  How to Train Your Dragon 2 picks up five years later.  The dragons are companions to everyone in Berk, the Viking village high atop a mountain.  Hiccup, the chief's son, goes on a journey of self-discovery after his father tells him he's ready to become chief.  (SPOILER ALERT) Along the way, he finds his mother and tries to convince Drago, a dragon hunter, that dragons are friends and not to be feared.  When he fails, a dragon war begins.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 has an all-star (mostly B-list) cast.  Jay Baruchel reprises his roll as the voice of Hiccup, and so does Gerald Butler as Hiccup's father, Stoic, The Chief.  America Ferrera is Hiccup's fearless girlfriend, Astrid.  The twins are voiced by Kristen Wig and TJ Miller.  Jonah Hill, Craig Ferguson, Christopher Mintz, Cate Blanchett, and the sexy Djimon Hounsou round out the cast.

The kids were very quiet throughout the entire movie, even during the sad parts, and they cheered and clapped at the end.  So, I'd say the kids will be entertained, and there are enough adult jokes in the movie for you to get a chuckle.  Some of the bigger dragons may be a little scary to very little ones, but other than that I think everyone in the family will enjoy it.

Maleficent - Magnificent

I'm so proud of Disney.  They have really stepped up their fantasy game, and joined the modern age where women are independent and self-suffecient and don't need men to take care of them.  Bravo!  I hope the days are gone when Disney and Pixar make movies about a damsel in distress who desperately need a man to save the day.  Maleficent, is such a movie.  Disney takes one of their oldest stories, "Sleeping Beauty", and decides to tell the tale from the "villains" point of view.  

Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie, explains why Maleficent cursed the King's daughter, Princess Aurora, played by Dakota Fanning's little sister Elle and the youngest Jolie-Pitt, Vivienne.  It starts with Maleficent as a child, finding love as a teenager, and having her heart broken as an adult to the point that she seeks revenge on all humans in the nearby kingdom.  This is a visually pleasing and exciting movie.  There's lots of fantasy inspired creatures and fairies, and the magnitude of Maleficent's magical powers are fascinating and enchanting.

This isn't really a movie for children under the age of like ten.  It's kind of violent.  There are dark battle scenes, a fire-breathing dragon, ferocious fighting trees, and Maleficent can be kind of scary performing her magic and casting spells.  Some of the creatures of Moor (a magical realm near a human kingdom) can be cute and frightening at the same time.  It could give a sensitive little one nightmares.  The adults will enjoy it.  I sure did.  The pre-teens in the theatre with me applauded when it was done.  I'd say, they enjoyed it too even though they were a bit squirmy in the beginning when the action was a little slower.  

I thought Maleficent was magnificent especially since there was a twist to the happy ending.  There was just one thing I didn't like about the movie, the only black man in the movie getting bitch slapped by the white king.  Totally wasn't ok with that.  Other than that, it was great!  You'll enjoy it, but keep the teeny tiny ones at home.  You can thank me later. 

Nothing to see next week, but "Orange is the New Black" starts on June 6th.