Reviews

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Rocky met Jake LaMotta in a boxing match? When they were both approaching age 70 and retired?

Grudge Match has arrived to make these boxing movie giants collide, except this time Stallone plays Henry "Razor" Sharp, while De Niro takes on the role of Billy "The Kid" McDonnen. New names in order to avoid getting sued, but similar personalities nevertheless.

A ferocious feud goes down between the two men in their days of boxing, with each man getting a victory over the other. The world wanted a re- match, and Kid wanted it more than everybody. That is when disappointing news came along by Sharp announcing his retirement. With his greatest rival out of the business, Kid's career soon went downhill.

Years later, Razor works a normal, quiet life in a shipyard. Kid owns a car dealership and a restaurant. A promoter by the name of Dante King Jr. (Kevin Hart) stops by Razor's home, and offers him a large paycheck in order to do motion capturing for a new video-game.

Razor turns it down at first, but is convinced when he realizes that he does indeed need the money. He tells King that he will do it, as long as Kid is booked to motion capture his on a different day. The two never got over their bad blood for each other.

Can you guess what happens next? Kid shows up, the two argue on the set, and boom, social media gets a hold of it. The video is popular, a fight is suggested, and the two former rulers of the ring set out to prove that they are not dinosaurs.

Ex-girlfriend Sally Rose (Kim Basinger) re-appears after thirty years, and tries to spark up a conversation with Sharp. Due to her formerly being romantically involved with Kid as well, Sharp is not very interested. This will be built upon as the film progresses.

The films run-time is around two hours, so they decided to fill it with every single known cliché in the books. This is a sport movie that is identical to every other sport movie. You have a romance that is as fun as watching paint dry. Family problems that shamelessly escalate by being forced in order to make a character realize a change is required.

Calling out exactly what happens can be done by viewing the trailer. I will admit that it has a few cool scenes such as the boxers appearing at an UFC event, and getting into an argument with the fighters. It also succeeds at being funny at times.

The laughs are more subtle than the overly stupid approach many comedies are resorting too these days. Stallone provokes a few giggles, as he repeats some of the things he did in Rocky films, but makes fun of them. The acting was not bad for the most part, and some were even great.

Kevin Hart did a fabulous job, and lightened up the screen as King. Alan Arkin did a fine job as Razor's trainer, while Jon Berthal of Walking Dead fame was believable as the son Kid never attempted to meet.

Grudge Match did not need to be two hours. Everyone who had interest in this film cared about seeing Stallone go against De Niro, and not the generic plot devices that would be used to build it. I did not expect this to have the depth of a film such as The Fighter, but my ultimate point is just that the majority of it was slow. I was tempted to hit the fast forward button more than once.

All the build leads to a final fight, which is somewhat not worth the long journey of waiting for it. The fights in the Rocky movies or Raging Bull were superior, and the winner was clear from the start. So were the clichés that went down before the winner was announced.

My favorite part was the post-credits scene with Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield being persuaded by Kevin Hart. It was actually laugh out loud funny, and allowed the film to end with a smile on my face.

Die hard boxing film fans will even be disappointed by this one. It includes a few laughs even if you do not like boxing, but none that will make it worth rushing too. Stallone and De Niro were able to get in convincing shape, and the idea sounded awesome on paper. The execution just failed to live up to the idea.

Read More at: http://thycriticman.com/

Based on a 1998 novel of the same name, written by Irvine Welsh, Filth will bury your television screen in dirt. It will require you to wipe dust off of your Ipad. Movie theaters showing this film will not be clean anymore, and be reminiscent of walking into a porta-potty.

Viewers will also be affected, and likely have a irresistible urge to take a shower. Nasty thoughts will linger into your mind a few days, or even weeks after watching it. Filth personifies filth just as the title suggests. It depicts a Scotland, where the majority are dirty, and far from clean cut.

Lead man position is given to rising Scottish star James McAvoy, who has experienced American fame with his roles in Wanted or X-Man: First Class. In the latter, he played Charles Xavier, or Professor X, for those unaware. The character he portrayed in that film is far from what you'll see here, as McAvoy takes a turn for the worst.

People are accustomed to seeing him play the good guy, but his role as Detective Bruce Robertson calls for the total opposite. And I am going to come right out saying that his acting was top notch quality. At age 34, McAvoy is still in his prime, and capable of making a huge impact in the cinema.

Detective Sergeant Bruce Robertson has only one current goal in life. Edinburgh needs a detective investigator, and Bruce feels he is the only one deserving of the role. He appears to be the top contender for the title, after being assigned to oversee an investigation in regards to the death of a Japanese student.

Problems lie in the mental health of Bruce, which causes severe hallucinations. As Jesus is to God, Bruce is to the devil. Terrible, mean, manipulative, and does not care about a single soul. A master of mind games, a druggie and someone who is willing to resort to sexual abuse, assault, or murder to get what he wants.

His chase for the criminals responsible becomes hindered by his fascination to destroy the lives of everyone around him. Throughout the tale, puzzles pieces of how he came to be will be thrown relentlessly at you.

I was intrigued the whole ride through this crazy world, and by the end, everything is explained leaving no lingering plot holes. If you believed Wolf on Wall Street's Jordon Belfort was an awful person, Bruce Robertson will shock you even further.

While I can draw comparisons between the two all the day, I brought it up more-so to point out the difference. Belfort did what he did for the money and fast life excitement. Robertson turned into a monster due to the events in his life. You'll gain an understanding to some point, and shockingly, may have some sympathy towards this despicable human being.

Flashbacks, hallucinations and crazy nights out intoxicated help connect the dots plot points. And provide some of the humour. Filth lives up to being a dark comedy with its laugh out loud material. I found myself giggling and shaking my head multiple times at the craziness unfolding on screen.

So far, I have only pointed out that McAvoy did a good job acting. Eddie Marsan was perfect in his role as Clifford Blades. A man Bruce loved to manipulate and the only person he considered a friend. Marsan's portrayal of the gullible loser managed to be extremely special and memorable.

Everyone else did a near perfect job as well, so I'd be listing a whole ton of names, and having to leave some deserving out, so I will just leave it at that instead. Cinematography by Matthew Jenson could not have been better, and helped push this unique viewing experience to greatness.

It must be acknowledged that not everyone will walk away from this film with a smile. As I have pointed out, the film resembles filth when it comes to actions, personality traits, offensiveness and the like. The hallucinations that I found creative, and a fun dive into insanity may come off as stupid, silly and poorly made to others.

It is one of those films so messed up that it can go either way. For me, Filth worked wonders, and joins the top rank of movies I loved coming out of 2013. This crazy fun, dive into the dark-side, is well worth the journey.

Superpower Film Scale: 4/5

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

Standout acting heroes: James McAvoy & Eddie Marsan

Read more at: http://thycriticman.com/

It is still very early in the year of 2014, yet a number of films have already been released both on DVD and in theaters. So far, I have only viewed four, with three being nothing short of awful. Coincidentally enough, a film that I had doubt for due to a boring trailer managed to be far superior than the rest.

I would groan every time I was sitting in a theater, excited to see what films would be coming out in the new year, only to see Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit time and time again. After viewing the film, I still hate the trailer. It spoiled a few scenes that could have been pleasant surprises. Such as the fight between Chris Pine and Nonso Anozie's characters, which ended up being quite fun regardless.

The character of Jack Ryan has had quite the past in film history. This character created by Tom Clancy, has already been featured in films starring Ben Affleck, Harrison Ford, and Alec Baldwin. Chris Pine is the fourth, and holds his own in the role. It is likely that it will be the start of a new franchise.

Jack Ryan is a very patriotic young man, who witnesses 911 on television during a day of school. Deeply impacted by the terrorist attack, he decides to drop out and join the marines. However, while serving in Afghanistan, a serious accident renders Ryan unable to walk on his own. Temporarily of course.

Before his marine career abruptly ended, Ryan had sent papers revealing complex economic patterns to higher ups. It was ignored at the time, but did catch the attention of a CIA Agent by the name of Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner).

Harper visits Ryan at rehab, and offers him a job. He must go back to college, get his PhD, and than he will be hired to monitor financial transactions on Wall Street for the CIA. Once recovered, Ryan completes his studies, and ten years later, is working his undercover job as a broker.

He notices that the Russians are up to something sinister, and a man named Viktor Cheverin (Kenneth Branagh) is the source. Travelling to Russia with plans of auditing Viktor's special accounts, Ryan unexpectedly becomes a operational field agent when he is thrown right into the action.

To make matters worse, his fiancée Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley), who is under the impression that Ryan is having an affair, shows up in Russia. You better believe that she will be thrust into danger in classic action movie romance fashion.

The cast is quite wonderful. Good acting across the board, with director and cartoonish style evil villain, Kenneth Branagh, being the stand out. He is both cunning and charming to the ladies, yet unforgiving and merciless with the men. Kevin Costner was impressive, and I was sold on him being an actual CIA agent. His look, demeanor, and personality worked to perfection. Pines was believable as well, and had no weakness with being lead man material. It is a challenging task, and while his charisma is not sky high, I was never bored with his presence. Knightley being involved, and a key figure in these CIA missions did not look appealing. I thought the romance would be annoying, and slow everything down judging by the trailer. While it did lead to predictable scenarios, it was not half bad otherwise. They had chemistry, and were not a boring couple.

Overall, it is a well made film, and it does manage to be the top dog released in the first twenty days of 2014. As a spy movie, it is quite decent and I would be willing to watch a sequel. With that said, it is far from perfect.

The reason being is simply that you have seen the majority of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit before. The terrorist plot of wanting to put American in a great depression, and having them dependent on Russia is a great idea. The way the action sequences go, and the eventual climax is what has already been used. More than once. Countless times actually. The final fight, or big scenario to have the movie go out with a bang is so overused in action films that I face-palmed when I seen where it was going. In 2013, I seen both B movies and theater movies end in the exact same way. Even some superhero films have used this exact same ending, just done in a super powered way essentially.

I get that a lot has already been done, and repetitiveness is unpreventable in the modern world of film. It is just that an ending like this is so lazy and uninspired as this point. You know exactly what, how and where it is going to happen, with no potential for surprise.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit will not send you home with claims that it was the best movie you have seen in years. It still remains far more intelligent than your usual popcorn action flick, and is the standout of January 2014. If you are in the mood for a formulaic spy film, and have no expectations of watching something spectacular, this will be worth the price of an admission ticket.

Superpower Film Scale: 3/5

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

Standout acting heroes: Kenneth Branagh & Kevin Costner

Read more at: http://thycriticman.com/

Demonic possession has been the most popular theme in the horror genre as of late. Paranormal Activity, The Conjuring, Insidious, and the list goes in, have all been the talk of the cinema at one point or another. Devil's Due takes a unique approach by neglecting to incorporate ghosts into the mix unlike its brothers and sisters.

If you have ever heard of, or viewed Rosemary's Baby, it will ring bells and reveal where this take on possession received its inspiration. Is the former a bad place to learn from? Not at all. The problem lies in the fact that the 1968 version is a far superior film. And not just a far walk home from work. I'm talking as far as Canada is from Japan. Walking distance, no plane.

This found footage take on Rosemary's Baby did have some things going for it at the start, but it all went away as the film progressed.

A happy pair of newlyweds, Zach McCall (Zach Gilford) and Samantha McCall (Allison Miller) go to Dominican Republic for a classic honeymoon get-away. Everything looks wild and exciting, until a strange cab driver convinces them to try out a club nearby. Zach persuades Samantha that one more drink will be fun.

The two end up drugged, and forget everything that happened. Viewers witness the camera picking up blurred images of creepy Satanic appearing rituals, as the couple are fast asleep. Once back home, Samantha reveals that she is pregnant.

Joy surrounds the household, until the baby waiting process starts becoming very unusual for Samantha. Nose bleeds, and knock off your feet pains can occur at times for any future mother, but developing a carnivorous appetite, violent aggression, and telepathic powers are certainly not normal.

Devil's Due did a good job with casting. The two leads are easy to like, and both know how to act.

Both have potential to be in bigger and better movies, as they do have the talent. As good as it is to have focus on the characters, I cannot say I was entertained by how long it went on.

It was simply happy family chatter, that added nothing to the plot. Zach is a cocky, funny guy who means well, while Samantha is a more laid back, sweet woman who lost her parents and grew up in foster care. They love each-other very much.

I described the first forty minutes of character development in a ten second read.

It never built up anything particularly special, minus the usual you would expect from this sort of film. People being dragged and tossed by an unseen force is just not amusing anymore. It has been done in Paranormal Activity and Quarantine already, no need for more of that.

Nothing was scary or creepy. The jump scares, with the exception of one that caught me off-guard, were terribly obvious, and poorly concealed. A scene or two did have a cool, or humorous effect, standing out as more memorable than the rest.

Other than painfully phony coughs by the priest (Sam Anderson), the happenings in the church led to an entertaining few minutes. When Samantha is walking through the grocery store, make sure to keep your eyes on the bystanders. Their reactions made me smile.

The two parts I mentioned above were far more interesting than the climax and final few moments. Predictable, boring, and done before countless times. Not to mention the severe usage of plot holes in order to make this film progress conveniently.

Without spoiling anything important, here is an example. A surprise party is thrown for Samantha, but she feels tired and goes upstairs. A child wonders up later, looking for the dog I believe. She wonders into a room, and gets scared off by a creepy, possessed looking Samantha.

Does she go downstairs and make mention of this? Did no one else hear the loud pitched screams of terror? Is Zach going to question Samantha about it in the morning? Nope, explaining things would be difficult I suppose. A young child would surely run down crying, and make a big deal about it. The plot holes revealed in the last scene of a interrogation room are much worse. Asking yourself, "How?", can be expected.

Found footage is far from my favorite type of film. Thankfully, Devil's Due managed to do one thing right. Instead of Zach carrying a camera around constantly, the film makes use of security camera's when in public, and cameras are placed around the house. It is clever, and makes more sense when you think about it.

The bottom line is that this film brings nothing new to the table, or anything worth watching again. The majority of the acting is strong, but the characters themselves are not memorable or special. Scares may come for people who have never watched a horror film, or jump at their own shadow, but the experienced fans will walk out disappointed.

If this is next on your list, I would advise waiting until it comes out on Netlix. And even than, ignoring it would still likely be the smartest decision. This demonic possession phase has run its course. In all honesty, the genius "Devil Baby Prank" used to market Devil's Due is scarier and more entertaining than the actual film itself.

Superpower Film Scale: 1.5/5

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

Standout acting hero: Zach Gilford & Allison Miller

Read more at: http://thycriticman.com/

A slasher with a message about bullying and objectification, Jonathon Levine and Jacob Foremon concocted something up that is rarely seen in a film of this nature. It includes strong production value, a crafty choice of music and a run time that does not overstay its welcome. To add to that, it even has an unique artistic touch with the cinematography. Thank you, Darren Ganet, for letting us watch a slasher kill in artsy style.

Pointless sarcastic overtone aside, it did help All The Boys Love Mandy Lane stand out. So did Amber Heard. But unlike the characters in the film who just care about her due to her looks, I am saying it because of her performance. Despite her character not being written as an exciting one for the majority of the film, she brings life to it, and it works overall.

Mandy Lane is a nice girl, who puts all the other girls at school to shame. Her looks and charm are capable of driving men absolutely bonkers, as this film points out. I believe Johnny Depp goes to bed with a smile each night, knowing that he is engaged, and spending the rest of his life with one of the prettiest girls on the planet.

Oh, wait, I am trying to explain the plot here, yet mixing it with real life. See, bonkers? Told you. I will try to regain my sanity as I continue with my point about how everyone loves Mandy Lane. She does not drink, smoke joints or sniff coke.

And that is not even the most surprising part folks. High school is a place where all the men talk about is sex, and while more quietly, the girls are often discussing it as well. I am twenty-one and still the most popular discussion at the gym, or among friends, or even between acquaintances is sex.

I have a few friends who absolutely refuse to talk about anything else. Story after story, after story. Point is, Mandy refrains from the popular notion of sex. She is the most beautiful virgin on campus, which indirectly renders her the most valuable.

Every man in the high-school wants to be able to claim that they were the first to have sex with Mandy Lane. It is clear that Lane just wants to be normal, and not the subject of everyone's sexual desire. So in hopes of accomplishing normality, she joins a group of friends for a weekend getaway to a cattle ranch owned by one of their fathers.

The boys coming along all think they have a chance, while the girls do their best to corrupt the good girl, but all she really wants is to fit in. That goal changes into simply wanting to survive, when an unknown killer starts to pick them off one by one.

This is as much as a throwback and tribute to the eighties slasher film as you can possibly imagine. With additional insightful themes. Creative kills. Charismatic killer, who seems to enjoy what he is doing. Gore, tension, good pacing, and fun.

It also has your classical bunch of stereotypes to get picked off. None of the cast do a bad job, and everyone fits into their disposable mold. Twists? Yes, of course, were you expecting otherwise?

Unfortunately, they are quite predictable, and one of them was simply pointless to attempt hiding. I called out the second from the opening scene, but I think I just have a lot of experience viewing horror movies, as I am hardly surprised. The second one is also far-fetched, insane, and offers no explanation, but it does not ruin anything. Or it did not for me anyways.

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane is not an original concept, nor is it for everyone. It is both clever yet stupid, simultaneously. An homage film, that is sure to impress anyone who loves the slasher genre. Not a must see by any means, but no point in ignoring it on Netflix. Or buying the DVD if you are a die hard slasher fan.

Superpower Film Scale: 3/5

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

Standout acting hero: Amber Heard

Read more at: http://thycriticman.com/

I never knew how good of an actor Jack Black actually was. I knew going into Bernie that I would be impressed by Matthew McConaughey, so that came as no surprise, but Black? It turns out that Black earned a Golden Globe nomination, and won various awards for his role as the main character, Bernie Tiede.

I was impressed with the acting of the leads, and the rest of the cast, but what also caught my attention is the way this film is organized. It is a mockumentary, and black comedy evidently, but it also incorporates elements of other genres. It is difficult to pinpoint why I found the style so odd and unique, but I can confirm that it worked wonderfully.

Bernie is based on an article that was in the Texas Monthly magazine back in 1998. An 81 year old millionaire named Marjorie Nugent was shot dead by her much younger 39 year old companion, Bernie.

Why is this story interesting? The trial of Bernie required a change of venue, which is something extremely rare. Despite confessing to his murders, district attorney Danny Buck Davidson (Matthew McConaughey), knew it would not be a fair trial if held in Carthage, Texas.

This is because Bernie was essentially a town celebrity. Everybody not only knew him, but loved him. He was the assistant mortician at a funeral home, before befriending the town grump, Marjorie (Shirley MacLaine), after the death of her husband. The friendliest man in town, and the most hated, formed a strange bond.

While she was cold and rude to everyone, Bernie sang songs for people, donated to charity and the church, and all in all, focused on putting smiles on peoples faces. When he was accused of murdering her, and even after confessing to it, people still wanted him to be let off, while others claimed his innocence.

For wrestling fans who may be reading this, you can compare Bernie to Chris Benoit. Everyone spoke about the man being so nice, and while out in the public eye, he was a star. To this day, knowing he murdered his family, people still love him, and talk in high regards about his career. Which would be okay if they separated the two things, but nope, they still think he deserves praise and a Hall of fame spot.

For those who have no knowledge of this incident, I am sure you caught on to the just of it. Well liked person murders someone not nearly as popular or known, yet people still want to see the murderer praised, or not accused. This is a film that you will already know the story going in, but still manages to pull off an highly entertaining and worthwhile watch.

I will point out though, that it is not very funny. In real life, town folk were upset that they tried to make a real life situation humorous when it deals with an actual death. Called it a lack of sensitivity. My problem was not with that, but more just because I did not laugh at anything. I can assure those people that it did not succeed, and still comes off as sad in the end.

The acting is what makes this film shine above what could have been a failure. Black had a role that could have been very easy to overact, and push it to being unrealistic, and silly. Instead, he brought his character to life properly, and you could believe all the events that unfolded. As you should, of course, since the majority of them did.

You can find this hidden gem on Netflix. Voted the best reviewed comedy film in 2012 on Rotten Tomatoes, it seems that others may have even found it funny. While I did not, I still thought it was a well acted, and fun to watch film. I learned that Jack Black had a lot more talent than I initially would have known about, and got to see a good performance as usual, from McConaughey.

Superpower Film Scale: 4/5 On the verge of greatness

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

Read More at: http://worshipthylouie.wordpress.com/2014/01/13/bernie- 2012-review/

I will start by pointing out the plain and obvious. The debut of this much discussed new television series, featuring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, does not seem to be covering an entirely new theme.

Two mismatched homicide detectives. One serial killer. Slow burning with small reveals along the way. On paper, it sounds like something you have seen before. More than once. Possibly more than fifty times before. However, this one may just avoid being another rehash.

And even despite how it may sound on paper, the serial killer on the loose in Louisiana, is quite the scary one. The body of his victim is found in a way that is sure to spook some viewers. I will not spoil it, or give much away, but let me just say, a deer head is involved, and it is creative.

What makes this special? The main focus is not the serial killer like a lot of the other shows or films. Instead, the script takes place in both 1995 and 2012. In 2012, two younger detectives, played by Michael Potts, and Tory Kittles, are interviewing the older detectives, while 1995 is shown through flashbacks. Why? We are not sure. But they are looking for exact details, claiming that the original records were all destroyed by a hurricane.

Point is, this takes prime focus on the actual detectives instead. Seventeen years later, Matthew McConaughey's character, Rust Cohle, is a shell of his former self. He is an alcoholic, who seems like he can fly off the handle at any time. A very fascinating, yet nihilistic man, who will make you want to keep watching.

You can see the toll that the case has had on him over the years. With Woody Harrelson's character, Martin Hart, he kind of seems to be the same man, but struggles at times, especially when discussing details of his former partner. The two had a falling out, yet the reveal is something we are going to have to wait for.

An additional reveal that the writers are keeping from us are details about Cohle's daughter, who is consistently mentioned throughout the episode. The script was well written to the point where I actually care about these reveals, and will be watching to find out.

Speaking of family, the only major cliché is the family man, Martin, having a wife (Michelle Monaghan) who hates that he is a cop. This worrying, your never home, blah, blah, blah, wife character is one I have seen far too many times. Hopefully they have a twist or two in store that will make her a deeper character.

Why do I say this? Martin is a bit overly flirty at times with other women, and some scenes made my mind wonder if he is loyal. See, so much was accomplished in this thought-provoking debut. Superb acting, charismatic characters, and a compelling script has earned True Detectives a weekly watch.

Superpower Television Scale: 4/5 Hero on the rise

1. Cannot be saved

2. Requires rescuing

3. Handles its own

4. Hero on the rise

5. Saves the day

Read more at: http://worshipthylouie.wordpress.com/2014/01/13/the-long- bright-dark-true-detective-review/

A good old fashioned monster on the loose scenario with additional comedy elements. That is what you should expect going into this crazy film. It is in the same vein as the likes of Tremors. Did I mention that you should also be prepared for wacky, Irish folk, drinking their brains out?

Grabbers has found a unique way to merge drinking in a bar, and alien monster into the same movie. How is this possible? Well, it just so turns out that the monsters are allergic to alcohol. The plan of the heroes in this film is to throw a party at the local bar on this remote Irish island that is being attacked.

Offering free beer, you better have already guessed that all the Irish folk showed up for this special occasion. With the majority being unaware about the monster threat however. No, that revelation is going to come when they are already extremely drunk.

This is where the comedy lies. Watching drunk people try to take on tentacle style creatures who use rapid fire tongues to suck blood out of victims is an hilarious thing. You'll see them try to drive, take pictures with the monster for the discovery channel, and even construct a water gun flamethrower throughout the course of a drunken stupor.

Anyways, the film begins with an bright object falling from the sky. It lands on earth, giving an origin to how these creatures suddenly appeared on this island. Whales start to get mutilated, and alcoholic Garda Ciaran O'Shea (Richard Coyle), and his new partner Garda Lisa Nolan (Ruth Bradley), are on the job to find out what happened.

Oddly enough, the only one who has an answer is the town drunk, Paddy (Lalor Roddy), who claims that he was attacked by an odd creature. As expected, no one believe him. But when they do, and when they start to see it for themselves, is when this film actually gets fun.

The acting and characters were all top notch. Although I found the lesser characters to be far more entertaining than the two leads. Ciaran and Lisa had chemistry on screen. They had a believable romance, that did not seem forced in any way, which was a strong point.

Lisa was only just as fun as the secondary characters when she got drunk. Sober, well, no one in this film were half as fun sober. I'd also recommend that you do not watch this film sober. Or if you do not feel like getting tipsy, at least grab a beer or two from the fridge. During my viewing, I did not have any on hand, and that made me very unhappy.

One small nitpick is that at times, the actors and actresses may be hard to understand for some. I missed a few lines due to the strong accents. Not a big issue whatsoever, but just figured I would point it out.

The scenery is this movie is gorgeous. It is very nice to look at, and added to the experience. However, I am sure by this point, you simply want to hear about the actual alien monsters. It looked like it was out of a high budget movie. Completely well done, detailed and realistic.

The special, practical and computer generated effects were great quality, and never hindered the film like it does sometimes in other monster themed affairs. With all the positive I've said, I must go ahead and point out that this film has a very disappointing climax.

I am not talking about the last scene, which leaves potential for a sequel. That made me happy. The final fight itself was the major letdown. You've seen countless monster films end the exact same way. It just had potential to be so much more.

Before the climax, and about forty minutes into the film, things were very exciting. It started off slow for me, but does not seem to have had for others, so hopefully you have more fun with it than I did. When the Irish folk gather up in the bar, and the monsters goes on the attack is when my eyes were specifically glued to the screen, and not wondering anywhere else.

All in all, it is surely worth a watch. Just remember my tip, it is properly enjoyed with a few ice cold brews. If you are a genuine monster movie fanatic, no shame in adding this to your collection.

Superpower Film Scale: 3/5

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

I would never watch a movie about a man who falls in love with an operating system. Wait, are you telling me that I just did? And that I actually enjoyed it. No, that is preposterous! Outrageous! It boggles my mind that people have actually married inanimate objects.

Who does not find it weird that a lady has married a roller coaster, while another engages in sexual stimulation with the Berlin Wall? Oh wait, this operating system featured in the movie has actual artificial intelligence? So it has a personality, and can adapt or evolve just like a normal human being can. Does that make it socially acceptable?

That is a question the protagonist, Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), has to deal with, when asked by others, and when it is debated in his own mind. To answer the debate I had with myself, I am guilty of enjoying something I did not think I would.

I was hesitate at first, as original as the content looked, it was just the fact that a romantic film hardly interests me. One that features a man falling in love with his OS, originally, just did not seem like my cup of tea. With that said, I am glad that I gave it a chance and tried something new.

Theodore is a very emotionally challenged man. His childhood love, Catherine (Rooney Mara), wants a divorce, yet he struggles immensely when it comes to signing the papers. The ironic part is that he works with a website that writes love letters for couples who have problems discussing feelings, and does a wonderful job, but has so many problems himself.

When he decides to purchase a hot, new, upgraded operating system, Theodore is shocked at how much it can learn and grow. Deciding to make it use a female voice (Scarlett Johansson), the two form a special bond quite quickly.

You would be surprised at how much this film manages to cover in regards to love. Love is one of the most complicated emotions known to male and female. It has caused many serious problems, but at the same time, has made so many people extremely happy. Love can transform a hero bad, and a villain good. Yes, it has that much power.

Point I am getting at, is that love is not even an easy thing for two people, yet alone a man and an artificial intelligence. It is even more difficult for a script and a director to create something so believable and gripping. To create something that makes you see and believe the love, that is suppose to be translating on screen, is an achievement.

Spike Jonze succeeded. As I began watching, I was so intrigued and excited to see the eventual conclusion. I wondered if it would work in the end, or if the honeymoon period would fade, or if someone would step in and ruin what they shared.

The plot of Her, features the relationship dealing with everything real life people deal with in them. It is so relatable in comparison, not only making you think solely about relationships, but what the future of technology holds for us. This can, perhaps, be a normal thing in a few years.

It was really believable that a man like Theodore could fall in love with an OS. He was severely depressed, and Samantha, the name of the OS, came to his rescue, so to speak. The futuristic world Jonze created was realistic, and jaw dropping to say the least.

How about the on-screen, or voice acting? I am going to risk sounding like the biggest suck up, so I am not going to just sit here, complimenting everyone to the moon and all. But, just know that I want too. Just know that they all deserve it. As well as deserve nominations and awards. Pretend that I did.

Comedy, romance, sci-fi and drama, all contained in one, incredible package. This is a hype that you should not be embarrassed to buy into it. My favourite genres are horror, thrillers, and action or dramas to a lesser extent, meaning my heartfelt love for this, genuinely surprised me.

This film can generate intelligent conversations between you and your pals. No seriously, it can. It can make you re-evaluate your relationship. I am not saying fall in love with an operating system, but what I mean is, contemplate, if you are with the right person or not. I have not dug into some of the other themes, like the fashion statements, or the multiple ways in which technology has impacted life, but I'm sure that somebody can write an essay or thesis on it based off this film. It is that detailed.

If you are sick and tired of remakes, or sequels, and want to witness a film containing some of Hollywoods hottest stars with an original script, Her will make you happy. In-depth character study, remarkable acting, emotional and insightful plot, I can go on all day, do you get that it was fantastic yet? I recommend viewing this film. Worth every penny. Worth a movie ticket. Worth a DVD purchase. Watch it.

Superpower Film Scale: 5/5

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

That expression about learning something new, everyday, came into play for me today. I have heard a lot of hype regarding this new documentary, and seen that it was on Netflix. As I sat down to eat dinner, I turned it on just to see what it was about. I ended up watching the whole film, despite that originally not being the plan.

I live very close to Toronto, where Ripley's Aquarium of Canada has just been put up. I have been wanting to take my girlfriend there for quite sometime now. However, what this documentary points out, is that the underwater creatures who will be living in places such as this aquarium are held in captivity.

Taken away from family, and the ocean. Stuck in a jail of sorts. Forced to eat meals, and entertain, instead of living naturally, doing what they wish, when they wish. Blackfish takes a focus on orca's, or killer whales, who work in theme parks. The park used in the documentary is SeaWorld.

I never actually put much thought into this before. Or even knew about any of the deaths caused by the killer whales who perform in the parks. Did you know that no killer whale in the wild has ever murdered a human? Only those held captive have.

Did you know that killer whales, have the same life span as a human? Unfortunately, the whales held captive only live around thirty to fifty years at most.

The main focus of this film is to fight against whales being held in captivity, and illustrate the consequences of it. Some of the testimonies by former SeaWorld trainers use worlds like barbaric or cruel, and claim that it will be something that will be frowned upon in future generations, to describe the whales captivity.

One whale in particular, named Tilikum, gets the spotlight, for his role in the death of three people. The most recent one, in 2010, is the one discussed with the most detail. Fun, but not so fun in reality fact, Tilikum is still breeding, and performing today despite his murderous past.

And I am not saying he should be punished for it, nor are the trainers in this film. What I am saying though, is that watching this documentary will open your eyes, and make you think about whether it can be justified or not, that SeaWorld insists on still using this troubled animal to breed and perform?

The trainers interviewed in this film seemed to truly love the whales, and had grown close connections to them. It is remarkable to watch how one trainer who is in serious danger handles the situation of being attacked. I am not going to deny how horrible the SeaWorld owners look due the outlook in this documentary.

The film makes a point to show how many lies, and possible cover ups are using in order for them to stay in business. How much is true, and how much is false? It seems like SeaWorld are not willing to tell us, as they declined to provide interviews for this documentary. And blamed the latest death by killer whale, on the victim herself.

That is perhaps the only thing this film is missing. Hearing two sides of the story is always better than one, but since SeaWorld refuse to talk, we are unable to get it.

With that aside, this was a very educational, yet an entertaining viewing, and it gave me a different outlook on how captive animals are treated. I watched it hours ago, yet images and thoughts are still stuck in my mind. If you love animals, or just want to learn something new, look no further. I cannot promise you will not be frustrated, angered, and full of emotion afterwards though.

Gabrieila Cowperthwaite made her point clear as water with this well made piece of hard work.

Superpower Film Scale: 4/5 On The Verge of greatness

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

Hollywood. A place people dream of. A place where aspiring actors and actresses go in hopes of living out their fantasies. A place where big movies are made, and the makers are proudly paid. The place where Gangster Squad was created, and was the setting.

The flaw of Hollywood made, straight to the cinema films is that sometimes the looks, stars and big budget appeal are the main focus, forgetting about the important essentials of film-making. If you want to make something memorable, something that will be discussed as truly great, the actual plot has to be extraordinary.

But when it takes a backseat, the problems start to arise. I think Gangster Squad, has that exact flaw. And I honestly believe that is why it was so negatively received by critics, and only liked somewhat by general audiences.

A film like his had all the potential in the world. A great real life story to base it off where members of the FBI created a gangster squad unit, in order to take down a notorious mob-man by the name of Mickey Cohen in the 1940's and 50's.

A star studded cast, with immensely talented actors and actresses. With Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, and Emma Stone, among other well known names, you would think that you are in for something special.

And the acting delivered, with Brolin being a legit, intimidating Sargent, and Penn, a ruthless villain, as examples. The characters themselves were so stock, and written so basic, that the only entertainment came from the sheer acting chops of the talent themselves.

Or how about how beautifully shot the film is? I'm telling, it really was a sight to behold. Hollywood looked like it went into a time warp, and we were back in the year of 1949. Everything from the filming to the make-up, to the costumes, was done with detail, and style to the highest extent.

This could have been another amazing mob movie, for instead of creating that, director Reben Fleischer seemed to go the all out action route instead. Which worked in some cases, as the car chase for example is great fun to watch, but as a whole, it got tiring. Bullets flew everywhere, but no one realistically had an idea how to use a gun except the Officer slash cowboy, Max Kennard character, played by Robert Patrick., who uses a revolver that never misses.

So many misses and so little hits just made shed any realistic aspects, but that does not have to warrant negatively in most cases. Being unrealistic does not make a bad film. Overkill does.

Josh Brolin was tasked with creating a gangster squad, and that he did, employing a black man whose a knife specialist (Anthony Mackie), a cowboy (Robert Patrick), and even a genius strategist (Giovanni Ribisi) as the brains. A ladies man in Gosling, and a rookie Mexican cop, in Michael Pena, round out the team.

Here is the thing, all of the plans, with the exception of one, which was planting a wire in Cohen's house, were just straight destroy and murder enemies. No actually brains, or high tension scenarios, as this squad seemed to be made of superheros battling dumb mafia muscle.

Everything seemed easy, and while not all the good guys make it to the end, you can never emotionally invest in them. The majority of the characters are paper thin, and just doing it to take out the biggest bad guy, quite simply. Gosling, who plays Sergeant James Wooters, is the only one given some story. As well as a boring, far-fetched romance add on, with Emma Stone's character.

Sean Penn may have made a fun, over the top maniac, as the villain Mickey Cohen. However, a great villain needs to be able to one up the good guys, and seem like a threat, but he never actually did. Cohen was only dangerous towards his own men, while the Gangster Squad was able to take out an army with relative ease.

This is a film that ditched going for a classic, for a quick weekend movie hit, and hopes of a taking over the box office. Worth a one time watch for a few, well done action scenes, and beautiful scenery, you can call it a guilty pleasure. But as a DVD to add to your mob movie collection, I am not sure if I can deem it worthy.

The biggest issue with this film is that it had all the potential in the world to be so much more. A rental or a view on Netflix when nothing else is on, will provide a fun at time, but easily forgettable film.

Superpower Film Scale: 2/5

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

A twenty minute short that will leave any fan of the slasher film genre begging for more. This is violent, special effect loaded, and creates a sense of hopelessness and dread that will haunt you even in the minutes afterwards.

I know more than one person who is terribly scared of clowns. And I am not talking about scary looking clowns either. They are scared if even the traditional colourful, happy clowns who sport a bag of tricks. So, imagine, exposing these people to one of the creepiest looking clowns in existence. Art the clown is just that, and he is not exactly human either.

How do I describe how Art the clown looks? White face paint. Black lips. Rotting teeth. Long Pointy nose. Mountain shaped eyebrows. Black and white costume. Black top hat on the side of his head. Blood spills, shining vividly, and brightly when on his skin.

How do I describe how Art the clown acts? He smiles when caught in the middle of a violent crime. He laughs hysterically, and mocks, yet no sound comes out. Mysteriously appears in random places.

How do I describe what Art the clown does? Sinister. Violent. Bag of weapons is his bag of toys. Defecates all over public washrooms. Kills no person in the exact same way. Brings victims back to his garage for mutilation, or just does it in public.

Art the clown is a murderous entity. Likely a demon of sorts. Who does not seem to like humans very much. His final kill shows his opinion on women, yet his first kill does not make me think he favourites men either.

For a short film, a lot is accomplished. Filmed in a gritty, old school Grind-house type way, Terrifer creates an atmosphere that is comparable to sitting down in an electric chair just waiting for the trigger to be pulled. You know, complete hopelessness, essentially.

Anyone who gets in Art's way, or lays eyes on him, might as well just give up, reminiscent over the good times, and kill themselves quickly before the clown gets the chance to play with them.

Starts in the traditional sense with a girl, played by Marie Maser, lost at a gas station. The attendant (Michael Chmiel) helps her, after dealing with a weird man dressed in a clown costume, who decided to poop all over the place in the washroom.

The clown, Art, played by Mike Giannelli, walks away harmlessly. Well, after stealing a garbage bag for whatever reason, anyways. Minutes later, the attendant hears a noise, and goes back into the station. Can you guess what happens next?

This is your classic chase between a slasher and his final girl. With a classical filming style, decent enough acting, a wise soundtrack consisting of mostly piano riffs, and a killer clown that is capable of making It's Pennywise jealous, you are in for a treat.

Hell, I'll GO even further and downright say if handled correctly, this killer could be the next major slasher. An anthology film titled All Hallows Eve, was released recently, featuring this short, and while I have not watched it, all I keep hearing is that Art the Clown was the only good thing about it.

Someone give Damien Leone a big budget, and let him write a script to an hour in a half long film featuring Art the Clown. Judging from his twenty minute magic, I think the man has a pretty good idea of what works in a slasher film.

Superpower Film Scale: 4/5 On the verge of greatness

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

If you can read something in a newspaper, what is the point of watching it in a movie? You already know what happens, and you are likely to not learn anything new from viewing it. Drama films based on true stories in the past have failed because of this.

In the case of Fruitville Station, Ryan Coogler had an idea. Instead of choosing to go the obvious, boring, and safe route with this drama, he wanted to bring you into the world of a man who meets his eventual fate. You learn about Oscar Grant III, meet his family and friends, understand his dreams and ambitions, and in a sense, make a new friend.

Weird right? Throughout the course of the film, I felt like I was not just getting to know Oscar, played by Michael B. Jordan, but have actually known him for years. He was that damn relatable. No sugar coating was put on his life. Oscar was a person with many flaws, and bad decisions.

But he was also someone who loved his family, friends, and life. Oscar struggled financially, yet still would put a smile on around his daughter, and loved ones. He had real regret for the bad decisions he made, but it still could not be denied that his mouth and aggressive temper lead to serious trouble.

A man who currently played on both sides of the moral code, but had potential to grow into something more. Perhaps a loving father who helps his daughter through college, or maybe a successful career in a field he was yet to discover, the world will never know due to the events at Fruitville Station in the morning of New Years 2009.

The plot is revealed in any summary, and at the beginning of the film showing real life footage of what happened. Members of the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Police Force) fatally shot this young man from Hayward, California. Shocked bystanders who witnessed the events pulled out cellphones, and recorded it.

The internet had real evidence of the corruptness showcased on this night, by members of those sworn to serve and protect. As a man who has studied to become a police officer, it shocks me that things like these can happen. Blatant racism is exposed as Officer Caruso(Kevin Durand) uses the N word after he hears Oscar say it.

Officer Ingram (Chad Michael Murray) was the individual who pulls the trigger, but none of the law at the scene were reasonable. That is not to say Oscar and his friends were either, as they were somewhat out of control. But in reality, no gun had to come out.

You do not learn what happens after the incident in this film, which is a smart movie. Go online, or read a newspaper to learn what happens to the officers, and family afterwards, that is what it is for. Ryan Coogler focused on attaching you to the man, so that when the situation arises, you'll understand what his life actually meant.

Something that does not happen from simply reading it, or seeing a person's face on the news. Coogler succeeded in what he had set out to do, and has proved to be quite the name to look out for in the future. A very promising director, as his ideas, and the way the film was set up, organized and shown was nothing short of perfection.

With that said, he was not able to do this on his own. He needed a strong cast, and luckily, they did not let him down. The only real recognizable names were Chad Michael Murray, who was talked about like crazy at one point, and Kevin Durand to a lesser extent.

The feature star, Michael B. Jordan, was in Chronicle, and I liked him in that film as well. He also voiced Cyborg in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, doing an exceptional job. The streak of success continues with his award winning breakout performance in Fruitville Station, and I'd like to believe Hollywood will honour his talent by putting him in a big role someday.

The rest of the cast put on powerful performances, despite being strangers to most. You likely might not know Octavia Spencer, unless you watched 2011′s The Help, but she played the mother of Oscar with great ability in this film. The friends of Oscar was excellent as well, and all helped to make this such an evocative film.

Emotionally gripping, award winning performances, realistic characters and a new look on something unfortunate that actually happened in our world, Fruitville Station will stick with you long afterwards.

It will make you question how some people are hired to protect us, when they are not mentally fit for the job. It will make you stop and think about the actual lives and impact of those that show up dead on our television screens, or in the newspaper. One of the best films released in 2013.

Superpower Film Scale: 5/5 Heroic Film

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

This horror film was made for the movie theater. You know, the devour a large popcorn, drink some pop, kick back and have a good time type. If you are looking for something clever, well acted and sophisticated, You're Next is not that. This is action packed, blood and guts, without wasting much time with character development. Dubbed a horror comedy, you may laugh at some of the stupidity, and enjoy the revenge or slasher horror elements, but do not come looking for a film of the year candidate.

A family gathers at their vacation home, and sit down for dinner. Midway through, an arrow bursts through the window killing one of them. Being hunted by men wearing creepy animal masks, the family must work together to survive despite being a tad bit dysfunctional.

The plot is not original. You've seen this before in any other home invasion type film. However, I will give it a lot of credit for being insanely creative and fun with how the tables are turned on the criminals. To be honest, and I am sorry if you do not like my comparison, it kind of reminded me of a Home Alone for grown ups. The main protagonist, Erin (Sharni Vinson), set up traps and used methods that brought the pain to the villains when they opened the front door, or hopped through a window.

I do not believe this film was meant to be taken all that seriously. I could criticize some of the ridiculous decisions characters made, or blabber about the nonsensical arguments they engaged in while their lives were at stake, but that would be pointless. The comedy element may be the excuse for that, so I will choose to ignore it.

What I can complain about is the acting and dialogue. The majority of the actors and actresses I listed above, are not going to be familiar to most. This is because a fair bit of them are directors from low budget horror films. The only one who I can see having a successful career eventually is Sharni Vinson, who does an all around convincing, and exceptional job, as the girl who fights back.

One wearing a fox mask (Lane Hughes), a tiger mask (Simon Barrett) and a lamb mask (L.C. Holt), the trio of murderers were scary enough to leave young children with nightmares. For those over 18, you might just find them very cool. Armed with crossbows, machetes, shotguns, and more, they provide very tough opposition for the family.

The blood is splattered everywhere, and the special effects are graceful. Some very fine kills are in for folks who enjoy seeing the bad guys, or good kills, offed in the most unique ways possible. While some die in standard fashion, others are memorable, such as the death by blender. I really enjoyed this death scene, and even clapped a bit during it.

Here is the bottom line, You're Next is undeniably entertaining. I love the slasher genre, and it makes me happy, but I never go into it, expecting the best movie ever. Mostly if it is one that will be shown in the theaters. With that said, I do feel like this could have been a lot better. Stronger actors, and script revisions, could have done it some justice. I do understand that it was not shot on a big budget, so I appreciate what it was. This film makes for a nice switch up from the ghosts or demons usually haunting the movie theater, and can provide a fun, ninety five, minutes to those interested.

I will say that I would feel better about watching it on Netflix, or renting it than having to buy the DVD. It is not something I think needs more than one watch, but for horror fans, no need to avoid it all together. I am not going to say to seek it out either, but my point is, you would not regret watching it if it is in front of you. Good fun for a movie night with your lady, man, or friends.

Superpower Film Scale: 3/5 Hero unaware of powers

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film

Are you sick of the good guy always being televised? Are you tired of the hero always getting all the glory? Does it sicken you when the hero always defeats the villain? Do you feel that the bad guy deserves the spotlight for once? Would you like to avoid positive messages being jammed down your throat? Do you like the unlikable, the scumbags, the assholes, the men who put fun first, and the law never? If you answered "yes" to all these questions, than "The Wolf of Wall Street" may be the movie for you.

Based on the real life of Jordan Belfort, who did most of the exact same things minus extra exaggeration and an added dose of craziness, Leonardo DiCaprio plays a character of the same name. I personally feel Leonardo has one of the best track records in Hollywood when it comes to starring in high regarded films, and this one did not disappoint getting a mostly positive reception overall.

Leonardo reunites with director Martin Scorsese, in what is the raunchiest, scummiest film of the year. Naked bodies everywhere, drugs left, right and center, swear words coming at a fast rate, and downright chaos on screen at every given second of the films run-time. I read that this movie uses the word, "fuck", a number of five hundred and six times. It features a bad guy, and many bad people who are willing to put down others for the greater good of…themselves. Still Interested? Well, as I've already said, this movie is for you.

Instead of taking the usual approach plot wise, it features Jordan narrating certain parts of of the story, and jumps to the important events in his life.

Jordan befriends a man named Donnie Azoff, played by Jonah Hill. The two create a firm together called Stratton Oakmont, and give jobs to friends and family. Soon enough, it turns into a billionaire company. What did he convince the hard working class to buy into? Penny stocks. The answer is penny stocks. Yes, you heard that right, penny stocks.

He was not concerned with breaking the law, having morals or staying faithful to his first or second wife. What fun is in that? Him, along with his firm, broke the law on the daily, screwing countless people out of countless money. Morals? That was forgotten after endless snorts of coke, or four or five Quaaludes. Staying faithful? Jordan can have hookers or any girl he wants basically any day of the week, so that was out of the question in his eyes.

The Wolf of Wall Street is part biographical film and part satirical black comedy. A lot of the characters in this film such as Donny or his wives for example, are based off people that the real life Jordan Belfort knew. Some of the parts used for comedy are even based off real life truths. For example, Donnie gets made fun of for marrying his cousin. Truth is, the man he is based on actually did.

The comedy elements of this film hit home runs. I laughed out loud multiple times, along with the majority of the theater. Jonah Hill was hilarious, and it is one of the best roles he had in quite some time. Matthew McConaughey makes an extended cameo as Jordan's first boss and mentor. Explaining that cocaine, hookers and masturbation are essential to the life of a stockbroker was the bulk of his appearance, and he embraced it passionately. Knocked it right out of the park when it comes to laughs.

This film is the rise and fall of Jordan Belfort. So as I've pointed out in the intro, it is more of a straight feature on the man himself and does not feature many messages one can take away as a positive. It does show how money can turn a person originally decent and controlled to greedy, unstable, and corrupt. It does highlight the consequences and sloppiness drugs or alcohol can cause. It is exposed that the American dream gained through illegal activities can just as easily be taken away when caught.

The acting across the board is top notch. Every one of the countless actors and actresses featured in this film contributed a good performance and had presence on-screen. Leonardo DiCaprio was a shining star as expected, and his charisma was out of this planet. I still remember the motivational speeches he gave at the firm, and they were extremely fun to listen too. Oh yes, that is another thing, this film was full of fun quotes that I'm sure people will be repeating over dinners, parties or casually in conversation.

I only have one major complaint, and that is the run time. This did not have to be three hours. It would have been a crisper film if it stopped at two. A lot could have been trimmed to make that possible.

My advice, if everything I said sounds like something you would enjoy, run out and see this. Be cautious of the long run-time, make sure to use the washroom before and go light on liquids. And go with people who enjoy raunchy, crude humour and would enjoy something where the day is not saved in the end, and where bad holds its ground against good. Those easily offended, or overboard righteous minded may not enjoy this, but anyone who understands entertainment is entertainment will likely get a kick out of it.

Watch it ASAP

Old friends reunite. Drinking. Drugs. Conflicts arise. Mature character. Asshole character. Neutral character. Crazy night where nothing goes right. Mature character meets girl who has boyfriend. Boyfriend does not like mature character. More crazy. Mature character and ass-hole character do not get along and fight. They must join forces to end conflicts. Mature character and girl engage in a boring romance. Everything magically falls into place so that conflict is solved. All characters somehow connect because it is convenient for the script. Everyone is friends again.

Were you bored reading that? Good. Because I was bored writing that. So why did I? To prove a point. I am usually against the use of spoilers in a review, and I am going to avoid them as much as I can, but damn, you can watch a trailer of this movie, and know exactly where it was going. You can tell what happens, what conflicts arise, and you know a scene will exist where the characters get into a fight, hate each-other, but than have to team up to save the day. Just like how even if a romance is kind of odd, and conveniently placed, it is just clearly a thrown in, just for the sake of being in a comedy movie structure.

And that comedy movie structure is where the problem lies. Are we not sick of that predictable formula? Ever since I was a kid, comedies have been built in that way and I remember even complaining about it back than. These days, a few films do exist that find ways of avoiding that cliché style, but others still make full use of it. Even a film I actually really enjoyed such as 2012′s "Ted" followed it to an extent, but still managed to have a bunch of new tricks to retain its awesomeness.

21 & Over failed to do so. This is because not only was it predictable, and most of the content brought back memories of other films, which did the same scenarios perhaps even better, it also failed to bring many laughs. I sat through it with a straight face through the majority of the film's run time, and that is a problem. I laugh a lot. I laugh at extremely stupid things. I laugh at things most people will look at me and call me extremely stupid for laughing at.

This was the directing debut of Scott Moore and John Lucas, the men responsible for the screen-writing of the original Hangover. The comedy centered tag team wrote this film along with the directing, which makes me feel bad for bashing something they may have been very proud of. I want to make it clear that I am not bashing them, and think they are talented in what they do. The original "Hangover" was a fun movie. This one, well, just fell a little bit short.

I feel like I have already dived into the plot enough with my generic sum-up, but a brief overview is that the three main characters reunite to celebrate a birthday. Miller (Miles Teller) and Casey (Skylar Austin) surprise old friend Jeff Chang (Justin Chon) by showing up at his doorstep. It is Chang's 21st, so they want a night out in the town like the good old days. Chang has an important meeting in the morning in order to secure a career as a doctor, thus his strict father, Dr. Chang (Francois Chau), advises his son not to go out. Of course, orders are not followed, and the drinking gets out of hand, leading to the films conflicts.

Another issue that I had with this film, is that Miles Teller has a lot of potential, and he could have been hilarious with the proper script or dialogue. The acting in this film from the three leads was not a low point. Some of the other actors seemed a bit off, but with the silliness of the script, it was possibly purposely overacted.

With so many other movies available to watch, and at your disposal, be it through DVD, Netflix, or a trip to the movie theater, I just can not justify recommending this flick. You have seen it all before, countless times, and the laughs are not present this time around.

Skip it

Abandoned by his mother at a young age, and dropped off at his grandparents, Luke (Lou Taylor Pucci) is just like any other young man. He enjoys watching television, and is very good at certain hobbies. His aunt is eventually jealous of how just how good of a cook Luke is. Luke dreams of one day working a job, and living on his own. Just like any other young man, he also really wants to screw. But the difference is, Luke is still quite unsure what screwing means exactly.

The Story of Luke is unique to what you may expect from a comedy style, coming of age, tale. It is not about someone living through teenage years, or early twenties that keeps messing up, looking for mates to screw or generally making poor choices. Instead, it takes focus on a person who the world expects nothing from. Luke does not believe this is the case however, as he feels he does have an impact to make on the world, and just wants to be like everyone else.

The struggle of this young man to find a job, be able to live on his own, and to screw is going to be a lot more challenging for him. How so? Luke has autism. When his grandmother dies, and his grandfather (Kenneth Walsh) is eventually put in a home, Luke is forced to move in with his relatives Paul (Carry Elwes) and Cindy (Kristen Bauer). Before his grandfather passes away, he gives Luke some inspirational words of advice.

Get a job, live on your own, and screw. This sets Luke on a journey into becoming a proper man, boosting his confidence and being able to feel comfortable in his own skin. When he does find a job, you'll be introduced to his supervisor, played by Seth Green. You'll witness his first crush on a receptionist, played by Sabryn Rock. You'll even witness Luke muster up enough strength to come face to face with his mother for the first time in years.

This film was finished and over before I even knew it. I was so lost and invested into his journey that it left me wanting more. With that said, those words can mean either a positive or negative thing for a movie. The negative would be that the film did not deliver enough, and left it without a proper conclusion. On the contrary, the positive would be that the film was so good that you just did not it to be over. The Story of Luke was entertaining from beginning to end, and falls into the positive version of wanting more.

However, the ending may not satisfy everyone. It was realistic and far from fairy tale, but not unfulfilled. His journey was worth the ride, and it still concluded on a strong note. Many critics called this heart warming, and I am inclined to agree with them. It made you care about Luke. I actually cringed and felt bad when people said crude words to our struggling protagonist.

The acting was exceptional. Lou Taylor Pucci did his homework, and conducted himself in a manner a person with Autism would. I have a cousin who has it, and I witnessed a few similar, and key traits. It is no surprise that he was both nominated and won awards for this role. Seth Green is entertaining in his role, and so is Luke's family. No one brought this down with bad delivery of the greatly written dialogue, and everyone put significant effort into it.

The comedy elements in this film worked. It is respective, and does not make Autism a laughing stock in any way. The humour is well placed, and you'll be laughing with Luke, not at him. If you are in the mood for a character-driven, feel-good, film with immensely talented actors or actresses, look no further. Director Alonso Mayo worked with people suffering from Autism and Asperger Syndrome, and he used his knowledge to construct a powerful and motivating film that deserves your attention.

Watch it ASAP