Saturday, May 31, 2014

A Million Ways to Die in the West

Hey, everyone, welcome back to another edition of Phil Goes to the Movies, and today I am reviewing the second comedy to come out this summer blockbuster season. These are tricky genres due to majority of time people see all the good parts in the trailers. Now did i enjoy this movie, or did I hope to die in the west from this stink fest? Lets find out as we dive in:



A Million Ways to Die in the West- I did have high hopes for this movie as I went to see it, because I laughed every time I saw the trailers for it. When the movie began I found it pretty funny, but then I noticed a pattern during the film. It was Seth MacFarlane dropping "F bombs" and setting up the next joke or pun. This formula works on family guy, but here I felt it didn't really work as well. Plus all the really really funny scenes I have already seen on the trailer, so my fears walking into the theater came true. I mean I enjoyed all the actors in the movie, but Seth needs to stick to voice acting with all his crazy voices.

The plot is really simple Seth MacFarlane is a sheep herder whom loses his wife to another man. Plus everyone seems to want to kill him over the silliest reasons. He uses wacky antics to resolve each encounter throughout the film. Then you watch some of the most gruesome death scenes as you see how people die in the west. Then he meets Charlize Theron, and she shows him the ways of the gun fighter as hes in a dual to the death with Liam Leeson's character.

I don't know thought the movie was funny at times it was lacking something, and i really couldn't put my finger on it. I thought the movie "Ted" was far better, and wished I enjoyed this film as much as that one. Oh well, I guess.


Final Verdict- 4.5/10 It was funny, but most of the best parts were already revealed. Some cool cameos through the film, which redeemed this movie at times, but honestly save your money and wait for cable or Netflix for this one.


Thats it for now as I go literally right now for breakfast and then go see "Maleficent" , so I can review that movie asap for you guys. This is Phil Goes to the Movies, so you don't have to!



Monday, May 26, 2014

Godzilla

Hey everyone welcome back to Phil Goes to the Movies, and today I am reviewing a nostalgic genre. The good old monster fights, destroying cities, and people running in a panic state. Oh, I loved those! Especially, "Godzilla" movies, and the cheesy special effects...oh, good times! Back in 1998, I went to see the Matthew Broderick version, and well it was a god damn disaster! This time I am hoping they got it right, lets find out as we dive into this review:



Godzilla- Well, went into this movie with high hopes... ok, first off I wanted to see Godzilla, not a movie about a soldier, played by Kick Ass himself, Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Following this guy around mostly, with his little love story...sigh!

The little kid inside me was like, "Time for monsters, yet?"

Movie replies, "Shut up! Watch the soldier! Monsters are coming!"

I only got to see glimpses of the monster until the final fight, which was the last 20 minutes of the movie, and by then I felt like it wasn't enough!

Bryan Cranston was shown to be this big character for the movie as he appears alot in the trailer. He has a few scenes, but again its mostly about the soldier... I felt like they were pushing Bryan Cranston in your face, and all the scenes from the fights in the last 20 minutes of the film to get you come see the movie! I guess they were trying to appeal to the "Pacific Rim" crowd, another shit movie, don't get me started on that one!


Final Verdict- 6/10, Honestly, wait until HBO or Netflix releases this, and save yourself your money! The characters were well acted, but i felt it needed something more... it was lacking! The final fight was amazing between the monsters, but it took too long for the movie to get there!


This is it for now, I kept this review short because there really wasn't much to say about this film. Next week "Maleficent" is coming out along with "A Million Ways to Die in the West", and I'll be there to review them. So this is Phil Goes to the Movies, so you don't have to!

Friday, May 23, 2014

X-MEN: Days of Future Past

Hey, everyone welcome to another edition to Phil Goes to the Movies, and I hope everyone really likes the new lay out of the blog. I want to thank an amazing woman I was blessed with for giving a woman's touch, and making this blog prettier on the eyes. Thank you sweet heart, I love you! Today, I return to review another super hero title. This is the second of the superhero movie block busters coming out this summer. Did it make me rejoice in its victory, or did I want to back in time to stop myself from ever seeing this movie? Lets dive in:



 X-MEN: Days of Future Past- Ok, when i saw this trailer back in January, I couldn't wait to see this movie. The songs chosen for it stirred emotion and got me amped up. Because when i was younger, three comics i loved to read were Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, and X-MEN. Well, the casts from both the X-MEN trilogy and the newer X-MEN: Origin movies come to together in this film. I love everyone they chose to play the characters on the silver screen. I love it even more they are the same people for the last 10 years still playing this parts. So important for any kind of sequel to successfully work, so they were already on the right track.

The plot, real simple, is humanity created Sentinels to defeat the mutant threat once and for all, but the Sentinels designed to protect the human race turned on them. Now they have declared war on both human and mutant alike. Due to the fact that humans give birth to mutants, therefore, logic dictates destroy them all to wipe the threat for good. The surviving mutants devise a plan to send someone back in time to stop this terrible future from ever existing.

There was some really powerful scenes when the Sentinels were just unleashing on the mutants, and killing them just brutally. You felt the hopelessness they portrayed as each hero was being struck down one by one. The acting was top notch, and there were a lot of laughs here and there between characters with playful banter. Unfortunately, I can't go too deep about the things in this movie because it might give things away!

The only thing I had a problem with, and this is very small and very trivial. Kitty Pride aka Shadowcat, some how had the ability to send someone's conscience back into the past. I was unaware she had this "ability", but like i said its only something me as a fan had a problem with... so I'm just sharing as a fan.

Final Verdict- 9/10, it was hands down the best X-MEN movie to date. Brian Singer returning as director was the best thing for this franchise. I highly recommend for everyone to see this in theaters whenever they are able too.

More movies to come this summer block buster season, and I will be there for all of them for you guys. This way you know which movies are worth your hard earned money! For now this is Phil Goes to the Movies, so you don't have too!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Neighbors

Hey everyone and welcome to another edition to Phil Goes to the Movies... today, I went to see one of the first comedies of the summer block buster season. Now, comedies, much like horror films are a tricky genre, and I'll tell you why that is... Majority of the time you see all the good stuff in the previews, and you're left with trash for the rest of the film. Now did this movie leave me with trash, or did I enjoy hanging out with my neighbors? Lets found out as we dive into this review:



Neighbors- Okay, so the people that brought you, "This is the End," which I loved, brings us their newest comedy. Now, I remember seeing the trailer thinking i have to see this movie. The moment that sold me was when I saw Seth Rogen, being launched into the air by something attached to his office chair. Plus when I went to see the movie opening night, it was sold out, and other websites gave this movie great reviews. I was really ready to sit down and laugh my ass off!

The plot pretty simple, this fraternity, Delta PSI moves into the house next door to a couple, played by Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. They try approaching the frat boys by trying to be cool and edgy, but they come off corny and well I'll say it "OLD." A some what understanding is made, but the frat boys proceed to shit all over it. In turn making the couple call the cops on them due to the noise from too much partying. This sets the tone for the entire film! Shenanigans ensue!

I was expecting to laugh my ass off, and I got a few giggles, and laughs here and there. At no time did I have one of those gut busting laughing spells, where you can't breathe and tear up from laughing so hard. When I watched "21 Jumpstreet", this happened multiple times during the movie, but not during "Neighbors" not at all. For starters, I really didn't give two shits about the main couple. They had shit chemistry, and well maybe its me, but I'm kinda getting tired of Seth Rogen. He's been playing the same freaking guy for like 10 years now! I dunno, maybe all the hype ruined the movie for me, because I was expecting a ton more from this film. Instead, all I got was a drunken frat boy taking a shit on my chest as I slept AKA a real stinker!


Final Verdict- 5/10, its an average comedy at best. I mean, you could wait for it to come out on DVD, or you could go see it in theaters. I feel its a one time watch, yet this film is very forgettable with nothing making it stick out in your mind or any kind of quotable lines.


That's all for now, there are four more titles coming out this month alone, I'm really looking forward too, "Godzilla", "X-Men: Days of Future Past", "Maleficent", and "A Million Ways to Die in the West." I'll be there to review them all! For now this is Phil Goes to the Movies, so you don't have to!

Sunday, May 4, 2014

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Sooooo, excited for this summer block buster season, so many movies I want to see. Welcome back everyone for another edition of Phil Goes to the Movies. Today, I am reviewing one of my favorite superheroes of all time, Spider-Man. Now, did the sequel make me want jump for joy, or did it make me want to hang myself with web shooters? Lets find out as we swing into this review:


The Amazing Spider-Man 2- Ok, I was one of those people that were pissed off when I saw the trailer for this film because they did show waaaay too much. Even though, I practically saw the movie for free, thanks to the jackass editor of trailer I went to see it anyway. Now, its hard to really review this movie without giving too much away, so I will do the best I can not to ruin it for my readers. Before, I dive in, people have been asking me, who do i prefer as Spider-Man, Toby McGuire or Andrew Garfield? Ok, real quick, I like both actors and their betrayals of the character. I do enjoy Andrew Garfield more, I guess because the writing for the character is just better. I believe thats the fairest way to decide. Because, if Toby's version wasn't written so EMO, it would have been a harder choice between the two. Okay, I got that out of the way, back to the review.

The plot continues a little bit in the future, where Peter and Gwen are graduated high school, and time seems to be moving along as they as continue their romance. Peter is seeing Gwen's father more and more guilt stricken from the promise Peter made to the dying man to stay away from Gwen Stacy. This causes a rift in their relationship as it being tested constantly in the film. At the same time, dealing with other issues in Peter Parker's life such as family and returning friends. Plus, finding out more about his parents.

The villains, Jamie Foxx is a talented actor, so it was no surprise to me that he would play a great part as the murderous, unstable Electro. I loved the way he looked and he moved around, with that freaky theme song he had playing every time he was on screen. When he use his powers it was visually stimulating to say the least. Dane DeHaan, played a very different Harry Osborn, where in the comics Harry was always shown as a meek character, and this version portrayed him as a ruthless business man-getting what he wants... SPOILER, Rhino is in the movie the last 5 minutes of the movie, so no big loss there, not sure why they said there was 3 villains in this movie where it felt more like 1.5 villains.

I had some issues with the movie, but they were small nothing to really deter me. One that stands out in my mind the most, is the scene, where Gwen Stacy insists on helping Peter defeat Electro. She states like 2 to 3 times only she knows how to get the system back online. When she gets to the room, theres a plastic cover, with big red letters on it saying,"MASTER RESET." Really? Spider-Man couldn't have figured that out? Was there a great amount of training to learn how to pull a freaking lever?

Final Verdict- 8/10, I enjoyed watching Spider-Man swing through the city, the fight scenes were eye candy to watch, and I really liked the people chosen for their roles.


Go see this film yes, its the movie is long, but what big block buster isn't in the 2 hour plus mark anymore? Well thats it for me for now, many more reviews on their way... This is Phil Goes to the Movies, so you don't have too!