DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2014) review
written by: Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver
produced by: Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver
directed by: Matt Reeves
rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence with brief strong language)
runtime: 131 min.
U.S. release date: July 11, 2014
This time back in the summer of 2011, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”, was less than a month away. The trailer looked intriguing, but James Franco and an overall ad nauseam sensation for remakes made us apprehensive. Everyone was still trying to shake off the memory of that Tim Burton debacle that had come out ten years prior. No one predicted what happened. 20th Century Fox wound up delivering a surprise summer hit with “Rise”, impressing us with a story with a brain, engaging characters and phenomenal visual effects. – a rare combination for a summer blockbuster. The next chapter, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”, runs with that approach, surprising us again in new ways, offering a deep and nuanced examination of two species navigating how best to evolve.
TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION (2014) review
written by: Ehren Kruger
produced by: Don Murphy, Tony DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura & Ian Bryce
directed by: Michael Bay
rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, language and brief innuendo)
runtime: 165 min.
U.S. release date: June 27, 2014
I viewed “Transformers: Age of Extinction” at the immense Navy Pier IMAX theater in Chicago with several other critics, days before its actual release. Others around us had received passes for this screening and had filled the rest of the enormous theater with a palpable sense of anticipation for the movie to start – all 2 hours and 40 minutes of it. Try as I may to maintain a sense of optimism when approaching any movie, this latest ‘rinse and repeat” noise fest from Michael Bay tested that mindset. Trepidation kicked in, knowing full well this guaranteed blockbuster product would be a test of endurance. At least I was in the best place possible to take in the undoubtedly superb sound and vision of this inane and repetitive franchise – still, it nevertheless left my butt numb, my head aching and my moviegoing psyche mad.
THE ART OF THE STEAL (2013) review
written by: Jonathan Sobol
produced by: Nicholas Taborrok
directed by: Jonathan Sobol
rating: R (for language throughout including some sexual references)
runtime: 90 min.
U.S. release date: October 24, 2013 (festival) and March 14, 2014 (limited)
DVD/Blu-ray release date: May 06, 2014
Here’s a trend that’s been developing over the last 10-15 years in Hollywood, one I see popping up more and more in recent years. Well, basically since “The Sixth Sense” first appeared in 1999. Movies aren’t just interested in pulling a fast one on you with a great twist. They’re obsessed with doing it. That’s all fine and good until it becomes so ridiculously forced that said twist almost ruins the process of getting there. Case in point, last year’s “The Art of the Steal”, one I’m still mulling over.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 review
written by: Dean DeBois
produced by: Bonnie Arnold
directed by: Dean DeBlois
rating: PG (for adventure action and some mild rude humor)
runtime: 102 min.
U.S. release date: June 13, 2014
Back in 2010, DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon” soared into theaters and blew everyone away with it’s rich visuals, spirit of adventure and poignant story. Really. I don’t know anyone who’s seen it, that hasn’t either thoroughly enjoyed it or, in the very least, praised the feature’s wonderful tale of acceptance and compassion (to name a few themes) and, of course, vikings and fire-breathing dragons. A sequel was inevitable and, to be honest, quite welcome. I vividly recall being disappointed when the first movie was over. I wanted more time with the boy and his dragon.
22 JUMP STREET (2014) review
written by: Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman
produced by: Neal H. Moritz, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum
directed by: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
rating: R (for language throughout, sexual content, drug material, brief nudity and some violence)
runtime: 112 min.
U.S. release date: June 13, 2014
Going in the way back machine all the way to the ancient times of…..2012, “21 Jump Street” was one of the biggest, most pleasant surprises I can remember in theaters in recent years. It was genuinely funny, mixing smart and stupid humor. Raking in over $200 million in theaters, the flick ended on a positive note, even hinting at a tweaked sequel. And here we sit, with the much-anticipated sequel “22 Jump Street”.
A MILLION DAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST (2014) review
written by: Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild
produced by: Seth MacFarlane, Scott Stuber and Jason Clark
directed by: Seth MacFarlane
rating: R (for strong and crude content, language throughout, some violence and drug material)
runtime: 116 min.
U.S. release date: May 30, 2014
Seth McFarlane is one of the more polarizing personalities currently working in Hollywood. The creator of TV’s “Family Guy” and man behind 2012’s very funny and very wrong “Ted”, MacFarlane typically inspires a ‘love him or hate him’ reaction from audiences. I typically come down on the ‘love him’ side, loving “Ted” and for the most part liking Family Guy. So when I read MacFarlane was working on a comedy film western….well, color me curious.
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COMING SOON poll – June 2014
Recently, it occurred to me that I haven’t asked you to vote yet this year. That ends now. June is actually a good month to take a look at what movies you’re willing to spend your hard-earned cash on (or wait in extra-long lines at screenings, for those of you that applies to) at the theater. The 2nd summer movie month definitely has some anticipated movies lined-up. Two sci-fi action thrillers are generating some good buzz even before they’re released. “Snowpiercer” (which, depending on where you live, will either get released in June or July), the latest from Korean director Bong Joon-ho (“The Host”, “Mother”) is highly anticipated after having made its way on the festival circuit and to the surprise of many, early word on “Edge of Tomorrow”, the latest Tom Cruise flick (expect a ton of running) is great. Go ahead and read that twice, if you need to, and then check out our early review here. Beyond the sequels (“How to Train Your Dragon 2” and “Transformers: Age of Extinction”) that are expected to earn a ton of moviegoer cash, there are also the limited release indies that deserve your attention, possibly turning into a delightful gem or a sleeper hit. Alright, it’s time for you to vote!
DRIVING MISS DAISY: BROADWAY (2014) review
written by: Alfred Avery
produced by: Richard Moore and Jill Bilcock
directed by: David Esbjornson
rating: unrated
runtime: 90 min.
U.S. release date: June 4, 2014
“Driving Miss Daisy” is getting a limited engagement release in theaters from June 4th through June 10th here in the States. Why? It could be because it’s the 30th anniversary of the Oscar-winning film, but this isn’t a re-release. It’s not a remake, a prequel or a sequel, either. This “Driving Miss Daisy” is a play, just like it originally was. It’s also a movie in that it’s a filmed live stage production of the play from a tour a couple of years back starring two seasoned award-winning actors. The idea is to bring a Broadway theatrical presentation to the movie theater, so as many people as possible get a chance to see it.
IDA (2014) review
written by: Rebecca Lenkiewicz and Pawel Pawlikowski
produced by: Eric Abraham, Piotr Dzieciol and Ewa Puszczynska
directed by: Pawel Pawlikowski
rating: PG-13 (for thematic elements, some sexuality and smoking)
runtime: 80 min.
U.S. release date: March 26, 2014 (limited)
It happens once, maybe twice a year. At least I hope it does. A certain film will completely win me over. It will remind me of the transporting power of cinema and it will introduce me to actors I’ve never heard of or seen before or a director whose films I haven’t yet seen – in this case, Pawel Pawlikowski’s “Ida” did all of that and more. It’s the first film of the year that I can call beautiful and touching and hypnotic. It’s also the first film I’ve seen this year that made me want to see it again – immediately.
EDGE OF TOMORROW (2014) review
written by: Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth (screenplay) & Hiroshi Sakurazaka (story)
produced by: Erwin Stoff, Tom Lassally, Jeffrey Silver, Gregory Jacobs & Jason Hoffs
directed by: Doug Liman
rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and brief suggestive material)
review: 113 min.
U.S. release date: June 6, 2014
The trailers do the film a disservice, and not just because we barely see anything from them beyond the first half hour – “Edge of Tomorrow” is decisively not “The Twilight Zone” meets “Starship Troopers” meets “Groundhog Day”. It’s very much its own animal, and one that’s relentlessly ambitious. It’s a genre busting opus, one part alien invasion, one part mecha fantasy, and one part time travel. Director Doug Liman and his multiple screenwriters (Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, and John-Henry Butterworth) refuse to settle, and the result is a visual sprawl that extends every bit as far as the complex story.
