Avengers: The Age of Ultron – The IMAX 3D Experience

They are back!! “Avengers: The Age of Ultron” is a good sequel, but not great! It does not compare to its predecessor.
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) activates a dormant peace keeping program, but somewhere along the way things go awry and the team finds themselves involved in an epic battle to save the planet. The story unfolds from there…
What would have made this installment great is a better plot. The plot is very underdeveloped. Saving the world has now become a hard working job for The Avengers. Their latest nemesis Ultron gives the team all they can handle and more. Ultron is like an energizer bunny, he just keeps coming and coming.
There is lots of non-stop action, edge of your seat thrills and constant mayhem. There is even reason to laugh a bit. “The Age of Ultron” is a definite must see in IMAX, but 3D is not necessary.
If you are a fan of the Avengers then “The Age of Ultron” is a must see.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!!

The Age of Adaline

“The Age of Adaline” is about a woman, Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) who remains 29 years of age for 8 decades due to an accident. Although Adaline does constant research about her strange dilemma, she can find nothing in any medical journal.
So Adaline goes about living a solitary life because she is afraid of running into someone who might reveal her secret. A Chance meeting of a good looking philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) reignites her passion for life and romance. Ellis invites Adaline to his childhood home for a long weekend to meet his parents (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker), but it turns out that Ellis’s Dad is a man from Adaline’s past. The story unfolds from there…
The first part of the film is boring, this is due to the fact that Blake Lively sashays through her scenes as if she is on a runway. Once Helen Burstyn, Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker appear in the movie, things get interesting. Unfortunately they are not in the movie very much.
I can think of several other actresses (Anne Hathaway, Sandra Bullock or Julia Stiles just to name a few) who could have played the role of Adaline Bowman better.
With all of that being said, “The Age of Adaline” is still a “Date Night” movie.

This is a 2 1/2 Star Movie!

Danny Collins

Based loosely on a true story, an aging 70’s rocker Danny Collins (Al Pacino) continues to live the fast life of an entertainer, but when his manager presents him with a Birthday gift that is an undelivered hand-written letter from John Lennon, after reading the letter Danny decides to clean up his act and chart a new course by attempting to mend some fences related to his estranged son and find a new love.
The story unfolds from there…

The story is witty, entertaining and engaging. Al Pacino keeps the story moving. This is probably Al Pacino’s best performance in years.
The only problem is that the movie ends a bit abruptly. You are sort of left hanging.

Only open in limited-release; “Danny Collins” is definitely worth a look.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!

Woman in Gold

Based on a true story; “Woman in Gold” is about a woman Maria (Mirren) who fled to America during the Nazi invasion of Vienna who now sixty years later is trying to get back valuable paintings and family possessions that were seized by the Nazi’s.

Maria employs the services of a young spunky lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Reynolds) who also has a family heritage in Vienna and Poland. Together they meet with continued opposition from the Austrian Establishment, but this does not deter them. Maria and Randy will take their fight all the way to the United States Supreme Court. The story unfolds from there…

“Woman in Gold” is a very moving and entertaining story. There are some holes left unfilled, but over-all it’s a pretty decent film. The injustices done by the Nazi’s are on full display. It’s a constant reminder of historical events that took place abroad.

“Woman in Gold is worth a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

The Longest Ride

Based on the Nicholas Sparks best-selling novel, “The Longest Ride” tells two different stories that are similar, but separated by time.

The story centers around a former Champion Bull Rider, Luke (Eastwood) who is trying to make a comeback meets and falls for a college student Sophie (Robertson) who is about to embark on her dream job in New York’s famed art world.

Luke and Sophie make a connection with Ira (Alda), who has vivid memories of his own decade’s long relationship with his wife (Chaplin), who recently died. Ira has a basket filled with letters that tell the story of his courtship and marriage. There are many similarities to the two stories. Each story has its challenges which the movie explores.

Nicholas Sparks` movies are usually about true and lasting love; “The Longest Ride” is no exception. The problem is one of the stories in the movie is very intriguing while the other one is not.

The movie isn’t bad, but it’s definitely not great.

“The Longest Ride” will warm your heart if you are into Romantic Drama’s.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!

Fast & Furious 7: The IMAX Experience

They saved the best for last!!

“Fast and Furious 7” is 2 hours and 20 minutes of “Non-Stop Action, Suspense and On The Edge of Your Seat Thrills. They take “Pedal to the Metal” to another level!! It’s a MUST SEE IN IMAX!!!

In this installment, Torreto (Vin Diesel) and the gang face some unexpected challenges from a new International Assassin who is out for some sort of revenge from a past incident that occurred.

The gang is up to the challenge and is not about to allow anyone to destroy them or their family.

There are some out of this world stunts, some crazy, scary driving. They really did take this to another level. The movie is very entertaining. The cinematography is fantastic!!

This has been one franchise that has lived up to the hype. There is a wonderful send off for Paul Walker at the end. If you are a fan of the “Fast & Furious” Franchise, “Furious 7” is not to be missed.

This is a 4 Star Move!!

Insurgent: The IMAX Experience 3D

“Insurgent” is a “Hot Mess!!” The movie is a menagerie of dreams, events and chaos which collectively is supposed to mean something, but doesn’t.

In this installment, Tris (Shailene Woodley) searches for answers and allies in the ruins of futuristic Chicago. Tris and Four (Theo James) are now wanted fugitives on the run; they are being hunted by Jeanine (Kate Winslet) the leader of the Erudite elite.
Racing against time Tris must find out what her family risked they lives to protect and why the Erudite elite would do anything to stop her and anyone who helps her. The story unfolds from there…

As I stated previous, “Insurgent” is a “Hot Mess”. There is tons of violence and chaos. The story is confusing and uninvolving. The best elements are that the movie is fast-paced and non-stop, but in the end you will not hunger for the next installment.

“Insurgent” is best viewed on cable.

The Gunman

I had high expectations for “The Gunman” unfortunately it does not deliver, not by a long shot.

Terrier (Sean Penn) is a member of a mercenary assassination team tasked with taking out the minister of mines of the Congo. When the mission is accomplished Terrier is forced into hiding. Eight years later Terrier returns to the Congo only to find out that he has become the target of a hit squad. The story unfolds from there…

From the very beginning the story is disjointed. The dialog and some of the exchanges do not make sense. There is no real story line or plot. The actions and events do not make sense. The stage is not set properly, so you will spend a lot of time scratching your head. You will see events and scenes that will remind you of other movies that were executed better of the same genre.

Needless to say I am disappointed. I expected better. This movie was directed by Pierre Morel who did “Taken”.

“The Gunman” is best viewed on cable.

Run All Night

I thought the weekend was going to slip by before I could see “Run All Night”. I have been severely under the weather with an Acute Sinus Infection and on Antibiotics. Heavily medicated I was NOT going to let a Liam Neeson movie pass by if I could help it. So off to the movies I went late this Sunday afternoon.

Liam Neeson plays Jimmy Conlon, a mob hit-man in this crime thriller. He and his estranged son Mike Conlon (Joel Kinnaman) are fleeing the wrath of a vengeful crime boss, Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris) after Jimmy kills Shawn Maguire’s son in self defense to save his own son, Mike. The story unfolds from there…

There are lots of twists and turns and intrigue. It’s in your face violence. There are some interest stunts and moves, but nothing to far out of the way that it’s totally unbelievable.
The only strange element is actor Common playing a sort of “Cyborg” Hit Man. He is out of place here…Common is good looking and debonair. He should stick to the “Lover” type roles. He does not transcend to bad guy very well.

If you like Crime Suspense Thrillers and Liam Neeson, “Run All Night” is worth a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, is a sequel to the 2011 “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”. Now that the hotel is full with long term residents, co-managers Muriel and Sonny (Maggie Smith and Dev Patel) have dreams of expansion.

This movie highlights the journey that Muriel and Sonny take to get the expansion completed.
At best the movie is “Ho-hum”. I was a bit bored. It does pick up during the last 20 minutes.

“The Second Best Marigold Hotel” is best viewed on DVD, Cable or Blu-ray