How to Train Your Dragon 2

Hey, everyone and welcome to another edition of Phil Goes to the Movies, and today I am here to review the animated genre of movies. Probably a tad late on this one, since its been out for about 3 weeks already, but I figured I would still give my 2 cents. Nowadays, animated movies are becoming more and more for all ages with their hidden adult jokes, which seem to fly over all the youngsters heads, and the adults get to enjoy the movie on a different level. Well, lets get on with the review shall we:

 How to Train Your Dragon 2-  The first movie was incredible, with loveable characters, and a pretty straight forward, solid plot line. It became an instant favorite of mine, and if it is on TV, I always make sure I watch it. Now the second movie has come out continuing the story, a few years later, with the viking village continuing their lives with their new dragons. All the same voice actors return getting the movie onto the right start.

The plot is the chief of the village, played by Gerard Butler, wants to name his son, Hiccup played by Jay Baruchel, the future chief. Hiccup has other plans for himself, as he wants to discover the world with his dragon, Toothless, and continue creating new inventions to better the villager's lives. This of course causing friction between Hiccup and his father. One day, Hiccup learns there are new enemies capturing dragons for their own personal gain. These men are working for the villain, Drago played by Djimon Hounsou, and he plans on building a dragon army to rule to the world. During a brief scuffle with the villains Hiccup is rescued by a mysterious stranger whom lives amongst the dragons. Enter the new character of the movie, Hiccup's mother, which is revealed in the trailer, so no I didn't spoil anything.

The movie overall had the same chemistry with the characters, and I enjoyed them greatly. The visuals were bright and basic eye candy! The story line was a little weak, and seemed to start to fall flat when the mother was introduced. I mean, really she has been gone for 20 years, and she couldn't return to her family in that time. It was revealed there was an alpha dragon, so I'm pretty sure they could've survived fine without her. Plus, Hiccup and his father were so easily forgiving to her for pretty much choosing her love for dragons over her family. That's whole another can of worms, I will stay away from, because I could on an on about how ridiculous that plot appeared.


Final Verdict- 7/10, It was a good movie, but I felt the first one was much better. The visuals alone are worth seeing in theaters.


Thats it for now, loyal readers! More summer movies to conqueror as we are half way through this summer blockbuster season.... This is Phil Goes to the Movies, so you don't have to!

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Hello, boys and girls and welcome to another edition of Phil Goes to the Movies. Today, I am reviewing another Michael Bay movie, which is taken from my childhood, a simpler time, and lets see if he smashed my favorite toys into the ground. Did my inner child scream for more, or did it just scream? Lets find out:

Transformers: Age of Extinction- So, this is the fourth installment of the Transformer franchise, and the fourth time Michael Bay is the director. What hasn't been said about these movies in the past that can't be said now? The plot takes place immediately following the big attack on Chicago, and the American government  has declared war on all Transformers, Autobot and Decepticon alike. Leading this crusade against the robots is played by Kelsey Grammer, who in my opinion played a really diabolical villain. I don't care what many people say, I really like Kelsey Grammer, and think he does a great job in whatever role he plays. Plus, hes teaming up with a Transformer, who was sent to collect Optimus Prime and others, so he can bring them back to the "creators."

Then we are shown the new humans the story will revolve around now. Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) and his daughter Tessa Yeager (Nicola Peltz), and probably the most forced comic relief, side kick, Lucas Flannery (TJ Miller).... i loved when he died, because I couldn't take another second of him! I know its a spoiler, but trust me he brings nothing to the film other than annoyance.

The action was like a sexual orgy for the eyes, with big robots and explosions, exactly like all the other previous films. The only things that ruined the film for me were:

1) No matter what happened to the main human characters they never received any injuries. For example, Bumblebee is doing like 60 mph, and transforms into his robot form, and he ejects Tessa out of him. She tumbles around, violently, along the black top coming to a stop, and shes completely unharmed, gets up and starts running. No road rash, not even a fucking scratch, but shes sweaty and basically glows on camera. There are more events in the movie like this... apparently when you hang with the transformers you become super human!

2) Constantly throwing Dinobots in our faces on the previews, the big cardboard cut outs, and everything advertised for this movie was pushing the big bad Dinobots. They are in the last 25 minutes of the movie, and Optimus simply releases them from the ship, a quick fight and boom they are helping. I felt cheated on waiting for so long to see the Dinobots on the silver screen.

Final Verdict- 7.5/10, its a decent movie, a guilty pleasure like the others, and they even set it up for a 5th installment. Its worth seeing on the big screen, but if you're not really a fan, then just wait for DVD or Netflix.


More movies on their way, even another movie from my childhood involving Michael Bay. Oh, well please don't suck! This is Phil Goes to the Movies, so you don't have to!

Maleficent

Hey everyone, well, I was able to see all the current blockbusters I really wanted to view. Well, until next month, lol... anyway, I saw the newest movie released by Disney. Now, did I want run for the hills while watching this, or was it an impressive twist on an old fairy tale? Lets find out as I review "Maleficent."

Maleficent- Well, I was blown away when I first saw the trailer for his movie months ago. The lines that got me to say, "I need to see this movie." Was the young Aurora walks up to the dark forest,

"Come out, I know you're there," says the curious Aurora, "Don't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid," Maleficent replies.

"Then come out."

"Then you'll be afraid."

Chills ran down my spine and I said yup need to see this film. Angelina Jolie nailed this part, and she really gave a presence that she would eat your heart. Her face is so angelic, it really helped to sell her appearance as this angel/fairy character. I think her performance as the Maleficent was amazing. She had charisma and a sense of evil from a tortured soul. She made you believe this character is real, if you get what I'm trying to say. She blew this part out of the water, and thats probably because she was the only big name in the cast. Most of the other actors I feel anyone could've played their parts to be honest.

This movie, had all the characters from the fairy tale, like the 3 little fairies, Prince Philip, and Aurora with her royal family. Now without giving too much away in the review, the twist in this film is it actually gets you to root for Maleficent. When I watched "Sleeping Beauty" as a youth, I was like fuck this evil bitch! Then after I saw how Maleficent was wronged and betrayed by the King. I was like yeah fuck that baby! She deserves to be curse!

Funny how, when things are shown at a different perspective, suddenly you could be rooting for the "villain." The only complaint I have about the movie is it was too short! 1 hour 37 minutes. It was such a engrossing storyline that it just flew by, and before you knew it.. poof it was gone!






Final Verdict- 9.5/10, Strongly urge people to see this movie. It was a great twist, and done so very well. If I go on anymore about this film I'll give too much away.

That's it for now everyone, see you all in June for the next round of summer block buster films to come out in theaters, and I'll be there waiting to review them all. This is Phil Goes to the Movies, so you don't have to!