James' Movie Blog

  We all fear being old, but unfortunately, it cannot be helped. We must face it sooner or later. Even in movies where being old seems like a detriment towards a person, it cannot be escaped. A notable example of this is the 1981 movie adaptation “On Golden Pond” coming from Ernest Thompson's play of the same name. Since its release, the film has received universal acclaim for a lot of things; the most notable example being its acting. This is especially true as the performances are outstanding and, when one understands the context of the movie, it is also sort tragic in a way when you hear about it. And while there are minor problems with the movie itself, that doesn't deter the fact that this movie is brilliant with its subject material. “On Golden Pond” is a reflection on why life is important, especially in old age. The story follows an elderly couple named Norman and Ethel (Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn respectively). They are up in New England, spending the summer ne...

  The Spider-Man universe is a vast and complex multiverse full of opportunities. With this in mind, it does open up the possibilities for many other characters to shine on through. One of these is the mysterious Madame Web, a woman with super telekinesis and can see variations on the future. So, with the massive success of the prior Spider-Man films from Marvel, it would only make sense that the character would soon follow. And the result is, it's fine. “Madame Web” is the most fine interpretation of a Spider-Man character to date. Does it have problems? Of course it does. But with the stuff that's good, is good on its own accord. “Madame Web” tries to breath new life into a big universe concerning the Spider-Man universe, but it just comes off as a tangled mess. Set in New York, the story focuses on Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson), a paramedic who has a near fatal accident, and can now view visions of the future. However, these little visions come at a cost: it more often th...

  Bees are an integral part of our world; without them, planet Earth would not flourish. They are fighters, for sure. But what happens when you use the bee metaphor in the case or real world scenarios? You would get the feature film “The Beekeeper”, an action film starring Jason Statham, written by Kurt Wimmer, and directed by David Ayer. The movie enjoys itself with its copious amounts of action in its hour and forty five minute runtime. Although, the film does have some issues that are quite noticeable, they do not hinder the overall experience whatsoever. “The Beekeeper” is an interesting concept with its title, and a decent action film that grabs your attention to the very end. The story centers on a man named Adam Clay (Statham), who enjoys taking care of bees for an elderly lady. One day, the woman gets scammed and commits suicide, leaving Adam all alone. But he's not alone. It turns out that Adam is what's known as a Beekeeper: a special forces agent that is tasked on f...

  Over 100 years, the Walt Disney company has entertained audiences for generations. More specifically, through their animated features. Founded by Walt himself, along with his brother Roy, the company has secured its place with everyone by bringing timeless stories that audiences can and will enjoy. One of their most recent attempts, is an animated feature called “Wish”, celebrating a centennial of hard work, and some magic along the way. And the result is that this new feature is quite good. Not perfect, but it is still keeping the fairy tale formula well and alive. There are some flaws that are present, but that doesn't hinder the overall experience. “Wish” is a celebration of all things Disney with a modern twist on a classic formula. The story is set on the Mediterranean Sea with the kingdom of Rosas residing over the land. This particular kingdom is important as its king, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) is also a sorcerer who grants wishes to the public. On one particular day, K...

 One of the more interesting comedians that is out there is Martin Lawrence. His take on African American culture, as well as culture in general, has put him on the map as one of the most prolific actor in Hollywood. And in the 90s, he was everywhere on the comedic scene. Landing small roles in both television and film, Martin eventually made a name for himself with the TV series 'Martin'. And eventually, with his 1994 feature stand-up film “You So Crazy”. Filmed before a live audience in New York City, Martin jokes and pokes fun at a selection of topics like drugs and alcohol, and especially sex, all uncensored. That's right, harsh language, and suggestive content is all here for the adults to witness and view. However, considering that this came out in 1994, a lot of the humor as aged and has become dated. But that doesn't mean the film is bad; it's just flawed, in certain areas. While “You So Crazy” may not hold up as well among other stand-up features, it more t...

  We all have been teenagers at one point in our lives. But we could never unleash our full potential. Luckily, through the power of animation, DreamWorks proves that teenage power in their latest feature, “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken”. And while it doesn't fit a three act structure, it does make up for good performances, interesting characters, and good morals in the end. “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” is a decent portrayal of being an outcast in the water; pun intended. The plot involves Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor), a teenager who just so happens to be a descendant from the monstrous kraken that everyone fears. Along with her parents Agatha and Arthur (Toni Collette and Colman Domingo respectively), and her younger brother Sam (Blue Chapman), Ruby must blend in with the humans and try not to go into the water. That is until her crush sends Ruby into the ocean, and transforms her entire body into a giant kraken. Under the tutelage of her grandmother (Jane Fonda), Ruby must protec...

  Opposites attract; quite literally here. With the new animated film from Pixar “Elemental”, we get a variation on the romance trope by using the elements that make up our world. More specifically, fire and water. And while the final product might not be up to standards with, say other Pixar feature films, “Elemental” does do its own unique thing. It may be flawed, but “Elemental” does provide that great and exclusive charm that Pixar is best known for. The story takes place in Element City, where the four major elements converge: earth, air, water, and fire. However, water and fire do not mix, and that can create some tension. That all changes when a fire spirit named Ember (Leah Lewis) suddenly meets a water person named Wade (Mamoudou Athie). Together, both Ember and Wade find out that there are some things that each of them have in common, and can overcome prejudice that concern the two of them in the city. “Elemental” is a rather charming animated feature courtesy of Pixar...

  In May of 1999, Nickelodeon premiered a new series on the channel called 'Spongebob Squarepants', and it was an instant hit. Created by the late Stephen Hillenburg, the show proved to an animated must for those in the late 90s and early 2000's. And once the show achieved massive success, chances of a movie were inevitable. And fortunately, that wish would come true. And, in the year 2004, we got “The Spongebob Squarepants Movie”, which was also a big hit. But with a price. After the movie, Hillenburg left the show, and only served as an executive producer, and many fans consider the seasons post movie not that great. Which only begs the question: is the film that divisive? Well, it's not bad, but it's good, but it does contain some flaws, which will be discussed later on. One good thing that easily be said right off the bat, is that this movie can please everyone. With “The Spongebob Squarepants Movie”, we get an entertaining film that certainly pleases everyone u...

  It's the end of the world as we know it, and I am mildly unimpressed. Yeah, that's the main reaction of this movie here. With “Knock at the Cabin” we get a standard apocalypse movie courtesy of M. Night Shyamalan. And the result is just a big predictable mess from when we saw the first trailer. There are quite a few good things that are present here, like the production value, and the themes explored, but the overall tone and quality is not that great. It feels as if this movie took an awesome concept, and just took it to a rather bland territory. While not the worst film out there, “Knock at the Cabin” is a rather boring experience that really plays it safe with its topics. And not in a good way. The story involves a family consisting of two gay men named Andrew and Eric (Ben Aldridge and Jonathan Groff respectively), along with their young daughter Wen (Kristen Cui) going to spend some quality time at a cabin the woods. Everything goes well until four complete strangers co...

       In theory, this concept should work. The premise that this movie brings forth, tries to work within its setting. Unfortunately, the whole thing just collapses and falls apart. With the movie “Fear”, we do get an interesting idea, but the whole execution just doesn't work within itself. This horror film is the perfect example of how not to do a horror movie in general. From the fast and rushed execution of the story, to the incredible annoyance of the special effects, this film fails in every sense of the word. And yes, I paid real money to go and see this one. “Fear” tries desperately to go ahead and scare its audience, but the end result is just cheap Halloween trick. The story involves a group of friends renting out a cabin in the mountains. It also comes at a time after a global pandemic has died down greatly. However, once at the cabin, the friends admit their darkest fears, and throughout the course of the weekend, these fears will play all kinds of tric...

  We all like to be judgmental about everything; from the clothes we wear, to the places we go. It seems like we want to criticize everything that the world offers. Including food. Food is something that quite a lot of people take for granted, and they want to compliment themselves before they eat what is on their plate. That is where the recent film “The Menu” takes complimenting food to another dark territory. Conceived as a horror comedy, “The Menu” takes its obsession with food, and turns it into a place you do not want to go to. But it is rather fascinating while you watch it. There are a few questions that are not answered within the course of the movie, but the pacing more than makes up for by keeping the viewer engaged throughout the movie's run time. “The Menu” is a blend of suspense and comedy that keeps you on edge, and makes you really appreciate what goes on in constructing a meal. The plot involves a group of people who are heading to a remote island where special me...

  The world of fantasy is a great opportunity for those wanting to explore strange new worlds of excitement and wonder. And all around the world, fantasy is being brought to us in many shapes and forms. One such place where fantasy can thrive heavily is in Japan, and within the realm of animation, fantasy know no bounds. And, there is no better example of a perfect of a fantasy film that outdoes pretty much everything else than 2001's “Spirited Away”. Which was given a proper English dub and release one year later to critical acclaim, and winning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Since its release, the impact that this movie has had, has been phenomenal. Many people and critics have praised this movie left and right, and, honestly, what else is there to say that hasn't been said already? It's amazing. “Spirited Away” is clearly one of those movies that needs to be seen to be believed. Not just on an animation level, not just on a fantasy viewpoint, but as a movie in gener...

  True love. It's common fact that that particular statement has been around for quite some time. And nowhere is this quote more hilariously spoken than in 1987's “The Princess Bride”, a movie that blends together both comedy and fantasy all at the same time. While not a huge hit upon release, the film has certainly gained a following. And rightfully so. Mostly due to how funny it is. Directed by Rob Reiner, with a script by William Goldman based off his book, the movie has endured and enthralled audiences for nearly 35 years. There are some minor problems present, but the overall experience is more than worth the price of admission. “The Princess Bride” is an engaging and captivating film that pokes fun at the concept of a fairy tale. The story has a grandfather (Peter Falk) proceeding to tell his grandson (Fred Savage) a story. In said story, a woman named Buttercup (Robin Wright) falls desperately in love with a man named Westley (Cary Elwes). However, he goes missing, and ...

  The 1980s were full of silly action movies that provided great fun and provided lots of entertainment that made audiences did not care what they were seeing as long as they were being entertained. It's mindless fun and entertainment. Some examples include “Rambo: First Blood Part II”, “Commando”, and “Die Hard” which were all great action flicks that defined the 1980s with energy. But there are some action movies from this time period that stick out like a sore thumb. And “Above the Law” from 1988 is no exception. This film basically shows you how to NOT make a good action film, but at same time you have to admire it for being stupid. And of course, launching the career of Steven Seagal. The movie stars Steven Seagal as Nico Toscani, a cop who used to work for the CIA and now works for the Chicago Police Department. He's rough and tough, but Nico has a dark side that does not want to get let out. One day, Nico stumbles upon a plot that involves terrorists from assassinating ...

  Pixar Animation Studios has always found creative and imaginative ways to tell a story to movie audiences everywhere. From toys that have a life of their own when we're not around, to a family of superheroes that deal with real issues, Pixar has always done something great in terms of story. But what about a love story between a pair or robots? It sounds like a silly concept but that is the case with 2008's “WALL-E”, a simple idea that became a huge hit. Unfortunately, the lesson that is bought up in the movie is pretty predictable, and to a lesser extent, somewhat preachy. Meaning that we get a lot of complicated predictions that we already know about. “WALL-E” is a remarkable little film from Pixar, but it needs a better story. Set hundreds of years in the not too distant future, the human race has heavily polluted the Earth to a point where life is uninhabitable. Enter WALL-E, a robot that can clean up trash, but he is amazed at what humans have left behind like lighters,...

  When it comes to DC superheroes, a lot of people mostly go for either the characters of Batman or Superman. And that is totally relatable, as both Batman and Superman are very popular characters. But lately, mostly thanks to this film, the character of Wonder Woman has seen a resurgence in popular culture. The movie from 2017 took practically everyone by storm. And considering what happened that year in entertainment, it's safe to say that Wonder Woman was at the top of everyone's radar that year. However, that doesn't mean that there are problems with the film in general. Mostly concerning the story and some of the characters, especially concerning the villain o the movie. Yet, the movie is still fun to watch. “Wonder Woman” is a very exciting and engaging thrill ride from beginning to end, and proof that DC can make characters popular once more. The story involves Diana (Gal Gadot), an Amazonian warrior living on an island filled with women. One day, Diana rescues Stev...

  This right here, is a rather silly movie. With 2004's “Team America: World Police”, we not only get a very different side to both Matt Stone and Trey Parker, but also a different side to how movies are made. And what we get is a rather hilarious and funny satire on politics and the world at the time, in one of the most ingenious ways possible. That does, however, deviate the film's legacy a bit, as well as some of the story elements being easy to predict. But that doesn't mean the entire film is entertaining. From beginning to end, the movie is thrill ride of excitement and humor. “Team America: World Police” might not be for everyone, but it is a hilarious comedy poking fun at a time when things were not so harmful. And it all involves puppets. The story revolves around a team of elite forces: Gary, Joe, Chris, Lisa and Sarah. Their mission is to stop terrorists from destroying the world by launching weapons of mass destruction. Now, using their intelligence, the team m...

  Let me take you back to the 1980s. Where movies arguably at the peak of their prime, and a lot of franchises were initially born. Films like “Ghostbusters”, “Beverly Hills Cop”, “The Terminator”, and so much more were created, it would make the decade already memorable. One of these movies that came out, was 1987's “RoboCop”, directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner. When it was released, it became a massive hit, spawning off numerous merchandise and future installments. Yet, everyone remembers it for the amazing special effects as well as pushing the rating system to its limits. While there are some minor issues present, “RoboCop” surprisingly holds up. Despite its primitive status, “RoboCop” is enjoyably even all these years later. “RoboCop” might not have been the first of its kind, but it does put a lot of social commentary that is effective to this day. The story follows good cop Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) who gets accidentally killed on t...