Author: moviewarrior

I am an IT Professional who has loved the movie going experience since Kindergarten. My favorite Genres are Action, Suspense/Thrillers, Drama, Sci-Fi, Animation, Art House and Romantic Comedies.

Mr. Holmes

“Mr. Holmes” is another chapter in the life of the world famous Sherlock Holmes.
In this chapter set in 1947 we find an aging Sherlock Holmes on his return journey from Japan where he was searching for a rare plant that has powerful restorative qualities. He has witnessed the devastation of the nuclear war. Now Sherlock returns to his remote seaside farm house to live out the rest of his days.

He spends his time tending to his bees. The only company he has is his housekeeper and her young son Roger. Sherlock battles with a diminished mind and he relies on his house keeper’s son Roger to help him as he grapples with the circumstances of an unsolved case that forced him into retirement. The story unfolds from there…

“Mr Holmes” is a gripping tale. The story takes you back and forth between the aging Bee Keeper and the elegant younger detective that Sherlock was known to be.

Ian McKellen is a force on the screen. He plays Sherlock Holmes effortlessly.
“Mr. Holmes” is only open in a limited-release capacity. Check it out if you can.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

Southpaw

“Rocky” this is not!! But it does have its own identity.

“Southpaw” tells a riveting story about Billy “The Great” Hope a reigning Junior Middle Weight Boxing Champion of the World.

It appears that Billy has a great life and successful Boxing career, a loving wife and an adorable daughter. When tragedy strikes, Billy’s entire world is turned on its axis. His long-time friend and manager Curtis (50 Cent) up and leaves him. Billy hits rock bottom. Now in dire despair Billy turns to an old ally who owns and operates a run-down gym from Billy’s early boxing days. The story unfolds from there…

“Southpaw” is “Bloody”. The movie is physically brutal during the boxing action. It’s a bit tough to watch. The action scenes are very surreal. I felt that Jake Gyllenhaal did an excellent job portraying Bill Hope. The movie ends a bit abruptly leaving the family dynamic part of the story unfinished.

This is a 3 Star Movie!

Marvel’s Ant-Man: The IMAX 3D Experience

“Ant-Man” one of the founding members of Marvel’s The Avengers is brought to life on the big screen.

Master thief Scott Lang “Ant-Man” is called upon by his mentor Dr. Hank Pym to help protect the secret of behind the phenomenal Ant-Man suit.

With the ability to shrink to less than the size of a dime, gain extra-ordinary strength and speed, “Ant-Man” along with some of his closest friends (human and ants) device a plan to stop Dr. Pym’s secrets from not only being discovered and used for evil, but they must also save the world. The story unfolds from there…

The story starts off a bit slow, but soon becomes a runaway freight train and is very entertaining. The Cinematography is great!! The special effects are very cool. The movie is funny, clever and has plenty of action. The movie is better than I expected.

If you are going to see “Ant-Man”, it’s a definite must see in IMAX.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie

Self/less

“Self/less” is “Selfish”!! Its “Selfish” in its Execution and “Selfish” in its Delivery.

An extremely wealthy business man Damien (Ben Kingsley) is dying from some form of neurological cancer. He is offered a chance to undergo a form of radical treatment that transfers his consciousness into a healthy younger man.

Once the transfer takes place and the healthy young Damien (Ryan Reynolds) wakes up, is rehabilitated and starts his new life, all is not what it seems. As the younger Damien starts to uncover the mystery of the original older Damien, the secret society behind the treatment will stop at nothing to protect its cause.
The story unfolds from there…

This is one of the worst executed stories I have seen in a long while. It seems that the story is being made up as it moves along. There are so many miss-connected dots. The story does not flow at all. It starts off odd, gets odder as the movie continues and ends in strange fashion.
This is a movie that should have gone straight to video. Its not worth the money. In fact it probably should have been placed on the cutting floor.

It was a waste of Ben Kingsley and Ryan Reynolds acting abilities.

I do not recommend “Self/less”

Inside Out: Real 3D

“Inside Out” is a brilliantly executed animated movie about the emotions that live in all of us. The movie is centered on Riley, her Mom and Dad. The business of growing up can get a bit bumpy along the way.

Riley’s Dad gets a new job and has to up root the family to move from Minnesota to San Francisco. The challenges that this move represents to Riley causes her emotions to struggle with the day to day changes. The emotions live at Headquarters in Riley’s mind. Joy (Amy Poehler), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Bill Hader) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith).

At one point “Joy” and “Sadness are lost, so “Anger”, “Disgust” and “Fear” take over at Headquarters. The story unfolds from there…

“Inside Out” may be an animated movie, but it’s for adults as well as the younger set. I found myself in tears at one point because there were parts of the movie I truly can relate to my own childhood.

“Inside Out” is cute, funny, thought provoking, meaningful, touching and at times sad. The movie explores family challenges that occur in everyday life.

Check out “Inside Out”.

This is a 5 Star Movie!

Magic Mike XXL

I did not see the 2012 installment of “Magic Mike”. I thought it was cheesy, so I decided to skip it. After seeing an extended trailer I decided to give “Magic Mike XXL” a look.

All I can say is “Ooh La La!!! Eye Candy, Six-Packs and G-Strings Galore!!”

Mike (Channing Tatum) has given up the Stripper Life and owns his own Furniture making business in Florida. His old stripper friends come calling. They want to do one last blow-out show. With great reluctance Mike (Channing) agrees to join them, so they hit the road for Myrtle Beach.

What keeps “Magic Mike XXL” from being a 4 or 5 star movie is that the first 40 minutes is BORING!!

In comes Rome (Jada Pinkett Smith) and wow! The story picks up! From that point until the end you do not want to leave your seat!

Its sultry eye popping moves and G-Strings flying. The enticing dances are smooth and slick. “Magic Mike XXL” works really hard to keep it “R” rated, but with a little imagination it’s all “X” rated.
BTW…For you NFL fans, former NY Giants player Michael Strahan is in this movie. You will see him like you have never seen him before. I was shocked!!

“Magic Mike XXL” is definitely a “Chick Flick”. It’s all for the ladies. It’s definitely worth seeing even though the first 40 minute are a drag. The music is awesome!

I anticipate that “Magic Mike XXL” will do better than the $40 million opening weekend its 2012 predecessor enjoyed.

This is a 3 Star Movie!

Terminator Genisys: The 3D IMAX Experience

I can sum up “Terminator Genisys” in a couple of sentences…

It’s better than the two previous installments, but unfortunately it’s not as good as the first two installments.

“Terminator Genisys” is the same story only it’s being told with a time travel twist. The one intriguing element is that the time travel is done in the nude.
There are lots of explosions, action and gun fire. The best thing about the movie is Arnold Schwarzenegger. If he were not in this installment, it definitely would not be worth watching. His grin is hilarious.

The trailers made this installment look really interesting and worth seeing. Unfortunately the story is disjointed and there are two many sub plots that are not completed. This is the first of a new series of installments of this franchise. I am not sure where they are going from here, but I guess we will find out in a couple of years.

“Terminator Genisys” is best viewed on DVD or Blue Ray.

This is a 1 1/2 Star Movie!

Jurassic World: 3D The IMAX Experience

Finally the long awaited next installment in the Jurassic Park Series has finally arrived!!

“Jurassic World” is a thrilling ride!! It’s definitely edge of your seat entertainment. The cinematography and special effects are very good and there is a lot of action.

The absolute best elements of “Jurassic World” are actor Chris Pratt and the T-Rex’s. The remaining cast-of-characters are very underdeveloped. Bryce Dallas Howard appears to me as if she is afraid to act or show any emotion in the movie. The story is a bit sketchy. You are not really sure what the plot is.

Although the characters are from the famed writer Michael Creighton’s books, his stamp is not as apparent as in previous installments.
If you are a fan of the Jurassic Park franchise, by all means do see “Jurassic World”. It’s a definite must see in IMAX, but not 3D.

This is a 3 Star Movie!

Tomorrowland The IMAX Experience

“Tomorrowland” was not on my original “Watch List”. I wished I had left it that way…

“Tomorrowland” is about an idealistic former boy-genius and a optimistic teenage girl who has a scientific curiosity, they together embark on a dangerous adventure to a place somewhere in time between the past, present and the future known as “Tomorrowland”. They must find a way to unearth the secrets that threaten to destroy the present. The story unfolds from there…

The story starts off a mystery and remains a mystery throughout to the end. There are parts of the movie that show promise, but when the light starts to dawn, it dims quickly. The story is all over the place and never in one place. There is some nice cinematography and some interesting special effects but that’s about it.
George Clooney is very good in Dramatic, Political, Suspense type movies. He should stick to those.

I was not impressed with “Tomorrowland”. In fact I was bored and thought about leaving mid-way through, but decided to stay until the end so I could see how it finished. There was no real bright spot at the end either.

“Tomorrowland” is best viewed on cable. I would not spend money on the DVD or Blue Ray.

This is a 1 1/2 Star Movie!

Mad Max: Fury Road The IMAX Experience

“Mad Max: Fury Road” was not on my original “Watch List” as I am not a fan of the Classic Mel Gibson installments, but after I checked out some very early reviews, I decided to give it a look.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” is insanely crazy!! It’s explosive, It’s strange, but very entertaining.

Thirty years later here is the fourth installment in the Mad Max Franchise. Director George Miller takes things to a new level. It’s like Steam Punk meets The Cannon Ball Run which in turns meets a Road Derby.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” is thrilling, violent, and action packed. Dirt flies like never before. You won’t be bored. There are plenty of surprises. It’s also strangely weird!! If you are expecting a plot of some sort, forget it!! “Mad Max: Fury Road” is void of such elements as a Plot or Story. The movie is just non-stop craziness.
Charlize Theron is brilliant as “Imperator Furiosa”.

If you are a fan of the Classic Mad Max films, “Mad Max: Fury Road” is not to be missed.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!