The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

(**1/2 out of five)

     As the final chapter in the series, I was thrilled and saddened to see the voyage of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) finally coming to an end.  With a cast that I truly enjoyed, and a large battle, I should not have compared it to The Lord of the Rings.  For those that have seen the others, the Hobbit did not match up to the epic proportions of its predecessors.  It was definitely worth the watch for fans like me, but don't expect to be on the edge of your seat.
     The last of the Hobbit films focuses on a war between several armies.  Bilbo is not only forced to be a burglar, but he also becomes the voice of reason.  Even though Gandalf knows that Bilbo has the ring, he knows that Bilbo's heart will allow him to have self control.  Bilbo wants to prevent conflict, but he knows the war is inevitable.  As a dragon sails to destroy towns, Bilbo has to keep the elves and the dwarfs from destroying each other, all while other armies are marching to the same mountain and killing anyone in their path.
     What I didn't expect was for Legolas (Orlando Bloom) to become such an important character.  He spectacularly fights off Orcs and other large creatures, while Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) takes a disappointing step back in the third film.  Tauriel was definitely the solider the of the second film, but in the Battle of the Five Armies, she seems to lose her strength as fighter.  This lasts only until she begins fighting for her true love, a dwarf named Kili.  Legolas and Tauriel know they will be banished from their kingdom if they chose to fight a battle that is not theirs.  They are willing to make the sacrifice, sealing their fates to the end of the movie.
     The action and story keep the audience focused to an extent.  There were times when I felt bored and maybe even nodded off for a few minutes in the theater.  While it is definitely a film for fans, I am not sure a general audience would truly enjoy it.  The film does end with a nice little transition into the Lord of the Rings.  I went home and immediately wanted to start the trilogy.  The graphics are easy to watch, but the film truly lacked an emotional connection between the audience and the characters.  If you aren't a fan, wait to rent this one.  If you are, you'd better go see it while it is still in theaters.

Wild

(*** out of five)

     From the director of Dallas Buyers Club, comes his new film, Wild.   It's a beautifully shot movie about a young woman who travels the entire Pacific Crest Trail over a period of three months.  It is a true story and from the book about Cheryl Strayed.  I have not read the book, but I'm sure it's good.  Also, don't confuse Wild with another movie that just came out called Tracks.  While the two have a similar plot, the characters are extremely opposite.
     The film opens with Cheryl (Reese Witherspoon) setting off on her trip.  With little to no experience in hiking, she is so unprepared that she cannot even put on her own pack, which receives the nickname "Monster" by some other hikers.  Along the way, she has flashbacks about her family and her life before the hike.  Cheryl was a good kid growing up, and then after a traumatic event, she becomes promiscuous, and a heroin addict.  After her husband cannot take care of her anymore, he files for divorce.  Cheryl realizes the place she in, and believes the hike will help her rediscover the girl she used to be.
     The cinematography is beautiful.  I knew there were several different terrains along the Pacific Coast, but it is breathtaking to see.  It made me want to bust out my old hiking gear from storage.  Much of the film takes place in the Mojave Desert.  It gradually changes to grasslands, mountains, and forests.  It is scary that she is by herself.  She has a few dangerous encounters with men along the trail.  But the good news is that she does make some friends, too.
     The opening scene is quite gruesome, and we know that she has been hiking a while before the story starts from the beginning.  There is always a part of her that is wanting to quit, and she is constantly tempted.  The only contact she keeps on the road is with her ex-husband.  It hurts her to contact him, but it also teaches her an important lesson about the mistakes she made and the affects they have on others.  Cheryl reflects on wisdom given to her by her mother, Bobbi (played by Laura Dern), and recognizes what to do in uncontrollable situations.  This hike is teaching her how to grow up, how to mourn when it is deserved, and how to be strong without the expectations of others.
     I didn't feel extremely moved by Wild.  It might have been that I recently saw Tracks, or that Into the Wild was such a great movie.  Either way, it is a movie that I will watch again soon.  It was entertaining and emotionally moving, but not to the extreme.  Some people might describe it as a "feel-good" film, and every now and then, I need to see a film like this. It won't be a hugely nominated film, and Witherspoon has taken on tougher roles, but it'll be fun to talk about.

Birdman

(**** 1/2 out of five)

     Wow!  This film was a shocking surprise.  You may have to visit a local independent theater to see it, but it is definitely worth every penny.  I originally thought Jake Gyllenhaal would be winning the Academy Award for best actor after seeing Nightcrawler, but I have never seen such phenomenal acting from Michael Keaton.  And honestly, I didn't expect him to pull off a performance like this.  I probably would have skipped this one if I hadn't read the other critics raving about it.  Now, I understand what they meant.  It also took some real balls for Michael Keaton to play the role that he did, considering it is partially shadowing his real life.  So, what's Birdman about?
     Michael Keaton plays a washed-up actor.  He was famous for two Birdman movies he did years ago (obviously the Batman films).  The entire movie is set in a theater, shot in eight continuous shots.  Yes, this was a little distracting to me.  I kept waiting for edits, but they barely happened.  I went home and researched the cinematography.  Eight shots.  And I only noticed one.  Basically, it feels like watching a play.  The actor is trying to put on a Broadway show, rejuvenating his previous fame, but struggling with his identity throughout the movie.  Emma Stone had an amazing scene in which she tells him that he is a failure and his glory days are over.  Another character, a theater critic, tells him that he is a celebrity, not an actor.
     As opening day approaches, a new supporting actor is needed, and Edward Norton is introduced into the film.  Just like Michael Keaton, Norton is obsessed with himself and his importance, causing a thrilling clash between the two.  Keaton is reappearing into stardom, and he cannot have Norton getting in his way.  The Birdman actually speaks to Keaton several times in the film, and even appears a few times as his malicious voice of reason.
     What makes the movie so edgy, is that, yeah, this is where Michael Keaton is right now.  He hasn't done any movies in several years.  He probably misses the gossip about him.  Think about it.  When's the last time you heard about a movie starring him?  He is trying to make his big comeback.  In Birdman, he does.  Congratulations Keaton.  You nailed this one.
     Birdman is a fast-paced drama, and it will keep you entertained the entire time.  It has its deep moments, specifically when Birdman is telling Keaton that the audience doesn't care about his thought-provoking play; they want explosions and gunfights.  The viewer might feel a bit guilty.  I know I did.  Birdman is a film that cinema has been missing.  It will entertain and move you in many ways.  Do not miss out on this spectacle.  And good luck to Keaton!  You deserve the Best Actor award for this one.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

(*** out of 5)

     Mockingjay Part 1 is the film that is starting to wrap up loose ends.  If you haven't seen any of the other films, then you will most likely not understand what is going on in this one.  The first two films are now readily available on Netflix if you are needing to get in the game.  Pun intended.  I was slightly skeptical as to why the last book was being split into two films, but after seeing it, I completely understand.  I do not consider Mockingjay an action film, but a drama buzzing with sci-fi.  Here is what to expect.
     *SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE FIRST TWO FILMS, DO NOT CONTINUE UNLESS YOU HAVE NO DESIRE TO SEE THEM, AND, FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, YOU WANT TO READ THIS REVIEW.  I DON'T JUDGE.*
     Mockingjay Part 1 is an intriguing flick, but it struggles to find its independence from its predecessors.  The Hunger Games presents us with Katniss Everdeen, a teen struggling to protect her mom and sister in a community that is barely alive.  After she and Peeta win the Hunger Games, a small spark of rebellion has started to appear in the other districts.  In Catching Fire, she is thrust into the political world, trying to comprehend how she can be a public figure.  Unhinged from the terrors of the first games, the President throws a broken girl into a second round of games.  As turmoil heats up in the districts, she is rescued during the games, but her beloved, on-screen boyfriend is left.
     This new film is dark.  Hunger Games and Catching Fire are all about the games; the audience is rooting for a winner.  Mockingjay not only shocks the characters into reality, but the audience as well.  The lives of countless others now count on the direction that Katniss takes.  Just like fighting for freedom in the Hunger Games, she now has an army at her disposal.  However, she must prove that the war she sparked is worth fighting for.
     The dark undertones carry throughout the film, from beginning to end.  It opens with Katniss in a hospital, tinted with dark yellows.  She hears someone crying and gets out of bed to find Finnick sobbing on his bed, wishing that everyone were dead.  Shortly after, several people are shown getting executed at gunpoint in the districts.  Later in the movie, Katniss is asked to sing for the Mockingjays.  The Hanging Tree is haunting.  She sings while the audience sees a group of rebels attempting to bomb a dam at the Capital.  Yes, like everyone else, I was dreading that this was about to turn into a corny musical number, but it doesn't.  It's probably one of my favorite scenes in the movie.
     Under the advisory of the rebel leader, President Coin, Katniss must learn to accept that she may never see Peeta again, and if the battle is worth fighting for.  Can she stir the rebellion and get them to wage war?  Or will she fail, leaving the other districts at the mercy of the Capital?
     The movie lacks action.  I felt a little empty after leaving.  While the story was required in order to set up for the final film, it didn't seem to stand out.  I did enjoy the drama and hope that the last film follows in its steps, yet giving it the action that it deserves.  The running time is around two hours, but it goes by fast.  If you have a free night and nothing on your plate to see, this one won't disappoint.

Nightcrawler

(*** 1/2 out of 5)

     Having a random Tuesday night off of work, I browsed through local showings and decided upon the film, Nightcrawler, starring Jake Gyllenhaal.  The previews did not reveal much about the movie, so I only knew from reading reviews what the premise was about.  To help aid a potential audience, it is about a crooked man who wants to be successful at something.  This man eventually finds out that he has a knack for getting gruesome videos of crime scenes, and attempts to sell these to local television networks.  Gyllenhaal did an excellent job of encompassing a character that crucially defines the entire movie.  I would not be surprised if this film earns him any awards.
     What struck me the most about this film was how it made me feel.  The main character is a crook, and although I knew he was creepy and villainous, I found myself rooting for him.  The director never reveals any back story.  The film opens with the main character stealing copper and other metals to sell at a junk yard.  He's all alone, poor, and committing theft just to make it by.  How did he get there?  At first it matters, but as the story progressed, I asked less about the back story, and more about the future of the character.  The film builds and builds, eventually leading up to a fun car chase.  He's a bad guy with a good goal, willing to stop at nothing to reach it.  I left the movie with malicious grin, and I'm sure many others will, too.
     I know there are several other popular films out right now, and the new Hunger Games is about to be released, but Nighcrawler is a film you don't want to miss.

Interstellar

(*** out of 5)

     For starters, I would like to apologize for the long gap in between movie blogs.  There haven't been any movies that I have been interested in seeing, but a friend reminded me that, as a movie critic, I have a responsibility to see everything.  This is true.  Lately, I have been sitting at home, indulging in television shows such as American Horror Story, and The Walking Dead.  I will try to be more open-minded when it comes to seeing movies I have no interest in.  Let's talk about Interstellar.
     One phrase comes to mind after seeing this film: Meh.  Maybe I expected too much from director Christopher Nolan, but it was much less of a bumpy ride and more of an emotional roller coaster.  The basis of the movie is that Earth is running out of food, and a father agrees to pilot a spaceship through a black hole in search of other planets with food.  The concept is simple and intriguing.  The previews didn't reveal much.  There are several amazing actors in the film.  The story is easy to follow.  The graphics are okay.  The running time is way too f****** long.  Two hours and forty-nine minutes.  Be prepared.
     Rather than focusing on space exploration, the film truly focuses on the relationship of a father and daughter.  The father is traveling in space trying to find an answer to Earth's problems, while the daughter is trying to find the answer on Earth.  Two souls, separated by space, trying to solve the same problem, makes an excellent parallel.  For me, their dialogue became tiring after a certain point.  Honestly, I was waiting for one of them to die so the movie could continue on.  And I am not going to spoil anything, but the ending tried too hard to be existential and weird.  Imagine last year's film, "Gravity," but with less action and more dialogue.
     Yes, there were times when I was on the edge of my seat, especially with the haunting musical score.  There are a few action sequences, and a few times when I was shocked by scientific data the astronauts uncover.  Overall, it wasn't a bad film, but the running time and the constant emotional display in the film took it from sci-fi to drama.  I did talk with a few people that enjoyed it, and one of my friends that I saw it with even cried, advising that her parenting instincts really made a difference as to how she reacted to the triumphs of the main character.  I'd say it is worth seeing, but only once.  I know that I won't see it again until it hits DVD.

Gone Girl

(**** out of 5)

     I had planned on seeing this on opening night, but due to work and a weekend out of town for a bachelor party, I had to wait until Sunday.  I've been very excited about Gone Girl ever since they announced a film was in the works, and I was impressed by the outcome of it.  While I think the buzz of possible academy awards is being a little overdone, I did enjoy this film.

     If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it.  Gone Girl is about a man who finds out his wife has gone missing.  Evidence is slowly uncovered, pointing to Amy's husband as the kidnapper and possible killer.  But don't expect the entire to film to be a mystery.  About a third of the way through the movie, the plot completely changes.  Unfortunately, that is all I can reveal about the plot.  Unlike the book, the movie smoothly transitions through the three parts.

     The reason, I believe, that this movie will be so successful is how it was developed.  David Fincher is an amazing director when it comes to adapting books (Fight Club, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, as well as The Social Network and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).  You may have read and then seen The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which offered very different perspectives.  The director does the same with Gone Girl.  The book is written with intermittent journal entries.  The movie starts out the same, but then lets the writing fade and the characters develop.  Another great aspect was that the author of the book also wrote the screenplay, adding a slight change to the ending (and for those of you that were hoping for a major change like me, you'll be disappointed.  It changes a little, but nothing major).  It's hard to place in a category, because it is part mystery, part thriller, part romance, and part comedy.  I hate the characters, because they are terrible people, but I am drawn to them, wanting to know how they are going to unravel.  You will laugh, you will be frightened, and you will be grossed out but a gruesome bloodbath scene.

     Ben Affleck (Nick Dunne) and Rosamund Pike (Amy Dunne) did such an amazing job of encompassing the characters.  I had no issues with the casting.  I don't even like Tyler Perry, but his role in the movie was fine.

     So, why did I only give it four out of five stars? If I don't leave a theater wanting to call all of my friends and tell them about it, then it only gets four.  The film is fun, but it's nothing that leaves a long-lasting impact.  For a fun and dark escape, give Gone Girl a chance.