Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Welcome everyone to another edition of Phil Goes to the Movies, and today I am reviewing a movie belonging to a franchise I hold dear. It is very nostalgic to me, as I grew up watching Ninja Turtles every day after school and Saturday mornings. Now there were a ton of rumors how the movie was going to be done, and I finally was able to see the finished product. Now was it everything the heroes on the half shell should have been, or was I begging to go back to the original 1990 movie? Lets find out as we dive into this review:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-  Ok, for months after hearing all the rumors like the turtles being aliens, and other ways the writers were planning on changing the movie was driving me nuts. Please, don't destroy my childhood anymore... already destroyed Transformers for me. I have to say the new CGI turtles looked pretty decent, but a tad "hulked" out. I mean, they were freaking like 6'8" or 7' tall. To be honest, its hard to believe something that big and bulky could be an agile ninja moving with great stealth.

The plot, well, once it was revealed it truly sounded like something a Saturday morning cartoon villain would try. I mean, releasing a deadly virus to make the people of New York city deathly sick. Then they would use the exacted mutated blood from the turtles to create the antidote to make a fortune. The turtles have to stop Shedder and the foot clan from succeeding in their plans.

Ok, here are somethings that bothered me about the movie:

1) The movie felt rushed as all holy hell. It was like the writers were like, "Hey, you, the audience, you should already know who the turtles are, so lets race through the story." This made the origin story feel weak and really forced.

2) Every chance they got they needed to make a reference to how hot Megan Fox is...we get it, she's hot. I mean, her performance was decent, but nothing memorable. Honestly, any hot piece of ass with some decent acting ability could have filled her spot.

I did like the action sequences they were really top notch, and they really redeemed the movie for me. Plus, the relationships between the four turtles really showing how they were siblings interacting together. How they really loved and cared for one another, and of course all the one liners they had for one another. I liked when they were alone they acted immature, and less like big tough guys. Perfect example, is when they were in the elevator attacking the foot's home base. They began doing a song by clanking their weapons and making noises with their mouths. Classic!

Final Verdict- 6.5/10, It was a decent film for nostalgic reasons, but it had its flaws, nothing severe. If you are a fan of TMNT then check out this movie otherwise I would skip it.

This appears to be the end of summer block buster season, and it was a blast watching and reviewing all the movies. I mean, there will be some movies in the next couple of months, but the block busters won't be here until the holidays. I'm leaving for a month to see Europe, so I won't be here to review the remaining movies of the summer. This is Phil Goes to the Movies, so you don't have to!

Guardians of the Galaxy

The summer block buster season is coming closer to an end. We are coming to the month, where the best of the best is thrown our way, and your favorite movie reviewer is there to get the info for you to save your money or not. Now this next movie, did i want to rejoice, or did I want to shoot a rocket into my eye? Lets find out as we dive into this review shall we:

Guardians of the Galaxy- To be honest, when i first heard about this movie I had mixed emotions, and I really leaned to not wanting to see it. Then I saw the trailers for it at the beginning of almost every movie this summer. I have to say I began to love the characters more and more. The trailer gave this very easy going, happy feeling with its perfect choice of a song, and the movie had that feeling literally the whole time.

The plot was simple yet engaging at the same time. It had the main character, Peter Quill aka Star Lord, stealing a mysterious floating orb from an old ruin. He is suddenly engaged by these men demanding he hands over the orb immediately. He is able to escape, but is now a wanted man! Then one by one enter all of the characters. Our heroes struggle to keep the orb, containing one of the infinity gems, away from a powerful villain named Ronan.

Each character had it own time to shine, and each had surprisingly enough time to show their personalities very well. Hell, in 2 hours and 2 minutes, there was a tremendous amount of character development. I mean, each of the five people you really kinda fell for them. Take the character, Rocket for example, you learn that he hates what he is, and hates the fact that he was even created. Don't you dare call him vermin or a pest! You really feel for him. The characters are, like I said, extremely likeable and charismatic. They all have their moments of comic relief and one liners. One of my many favorite lines in the movie was this:

Rocket: Don't bother explaining it to him. It will just go over his head.

Drax: It will never go over my head. I'm too fast! I will just catch it!

The line was delivered so well, with just a dry sense of humor that I just lost it when it was said. The movie overall was written well, and everything just flowed nicely. The action scenes were heart pounding with loads of eye candy, and then you mix that together with comic relief... BOOM, you got a hell of a combination there ladies and gentlemen for a summer block buster hit!






Final Verdict-10/10, It honestly has everything you want in a movie and more. Tons of action, great character development, and huge must see in theaters! Highly recommended for everyone!

That's it for now, loyal readers as I get ready to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles this Friday... and I'll try to sneak that in before I go away to Europe for an entire month! This is Phil Goes to the Movies, so you don't have to!

Sex Tape

Welcome to another edition of Phil Goes to the Movies, and today I am reviewing another summer comedy. Did this movie make me want to cringe, or did it make me want to buy the "tape"? Sit back as we dive into this review shall we:

Sex Tape- Ah, another comedy for the summer, and I went to see this film during the matinee with my girlfriend. Glad that I did mostly because this is completely a couples movie. Poking fun at sex, the things men do in long term relationships, and what women do in long term relationships. Then it covers how that transpires over to getting married and having children.

The plot is a couple played by Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel meet and fall in love right away. Then they just can't seem to satisfy the sexual hunger the two have for each other. They have sex everywhere in every possible place imaginable.... then they get pregnant and get married. We fast forward to years later, where the couple is boggled down with everyday life, and they begin to miss the passion in their once vigorous sex life. They decide to make sex tape, and before the husband can delete it... it uploads for everyone of their friends, family, and even the wife's boss to see. They immediately begin to try on a quest to stop the uploading of the video to save themselves of embarrassment. Shenanigans ensue!

I like both Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel together, and I think they have great chemistry and a believable couple. I am glad they are back together again, much probably to do the movie having the same director from "Bad Teacher." Honestly, its a pretty squeaky clean comedy, and it doesn't have that many obscene scenes.... then again I could be desensitized, who knows!

 Final Verdict- 5/10, it was a nice feel good movie, some laughs, but not any hearty, gut busters like many other comedies i have seen in the past. Its worth seeing, but more of a Netflix or HBO movie.


That's its for now, Some big movies coming out that i really need to see, "Guardians of the Galaxy" and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles".... the inner child in me is screaming to see this film. I still have to go see the new planet of the apes movie. Well until then, this is Phil Goes to the Movies, so you don't have to!

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!