The World's End

      What a blast!   The team of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost have brought us their best work yet in The World's End.  It's great to see Pegg and Frost together again to fight the powers that be at controlling our lives.
       This time around in the trilogy in spirit only, Pegg plays Gary King, an alcoholic that won't let go of the good old days back in high school.  He ropes in the old gang to reattempt, "The Golden Mile." Five guys, twelve pubs, twelve pints.  Frost plays Andy Knightly.  Now, the former friend of King's that reluctantly goes on the trip because he believes Gary has changed.  He was wrong.
       Along the way, they discover their hometown has been taken over by robots, and the only way out is to act normal and finish the pub crawl.
       All of the actors played wonderfully off of each other.  Their banter going from the immaturish to english literature.  Martin Freeman is especially great as the movie progresses and he changes attitudes about the situation.
       It almost hits too close to home as you get older and realize this is what happens in life.  You lose touch with old friends and trying to recapture the magic just doesn't go as well as you would think.  It's only your history that keeps you together and in The World's End it's only their history of each other that keeps them alive.
       My only small complaint is the climax.  It's not bad, it's just silly.  The Gary and Andy emotionally climax in the scene previous and it leaves the movie to still wrap up the great robot problem.  It's a much more serious moment for the two, while the robot leader makes its appearance and sounds like a tired teenage assistant manager voiced by Bill Nighy.
       It's not enough to bring the movie down.  The movie is a wonderful ride that will lead you all the way to the end of the world.

5/5 stars

Crazy Prediction of the Day

        Now, you're gonna have to stick with me on this.  It's a bold prediction that involves at least one major company crossover.
        As some of you may have heard, the new Avengers movie will be called Avengers:  Age of Ultron.  Some of you may not have heard that there was a recent Marvel Comic storyline called Age of Ultron.  Of course, this is all being meant to be a coincidence.  But what if it is not?
        Just imagine....
       The end of The Age of Ultron comic leaves the Marvel Universe in shambles.  Their timeline is messed up according to writer Brian Michael Bendis.  It is evident with Galactus crossing over to the Marvel Ultimate Universe.  What if that wasn't the only being to end up in a different timeline?  What if Ultron has crossed over to the Marvel Movie universe?    It could be a similar set up to to the new Star Trek.  Ultron knows the Avengers, but a different Avengers.  And he still wants to kill them all.
       But wait there's more!   Over at Fox Studios, another Marvel world is experiencing some time travel troubles.  The movie X-men are dealing with Days of Future Past.  Hugh Jackman is more than ready to bring his Wolverine to the Avenger's arena.  Maybe that's not a wish, and it's a hint?
      So that's two worlds that are dealing with time travel woes.  Who better to notice alternate world's causing problems on a cosmic scale than our boy, Thanos, who we saw at the end of the first Avengers film.  The Infinity Gauntlet exists in the Marvel Movie world as seen in Thor.  It can give him the power to change the fabric of reality.
     Then!  Avengers 3 rolls around.  The Avengers!  X-men!  Thanos!  Comic Book Crossovers!  The fate of the universe in the palm of a hand!
     I'll see you there.

Ghost Shark

      The Syfy Network has decided to ride the wave of Sharknado fever.  They bring out their original movie that combines two of their favorite subjects:  sharks and ghosts!  The spirit of a shark wrongfully killed seeks vengeance on an unsuspecting town.
       Ghost Shark is one of the better Syfy original movies.  Too bad its attempt at Twitter recognition went a little flat.  Ghost Shark just doesn't have the trending sound to it, like shark tornado does.  The plot keeps around the main characters and shortly breaks off for soon to die characters or the small B storyline.
       And small B storyline that is.  There is a plot revealed about the crazy old man and him accidentally murdering his wife.  The wife's spirit is rarely seen, but continues to play a bizarrely crucial role throughout the plot.  She is a part of the second act that forces us to the third.  Luckily, there was a museum curator who though he doesn't believe in ghosts is more than willing to show these kids how to defeat a ghosts.
       The greatest thing Ghost Shark offers is the massacre of its victims.  A lot more kids die than I would have suspected.  You'll never drink a glass of water again.  Also, apparently, obese is the new black.  That's progress, ladies and gentlemen.

The Conjuring

    A few years ago Paranormal Activity set a trend of using the slow burn to get at its audience.  People sit in the theater for two hours and slowly simmer until the final big scare at the end.  The Conjuring does the opposite.
    The first ten minutes will have you gripping your seat and you then have to find a way to settle into the theater as you watch the rest of the movie.  Even as the story calms down a bit, those first ten minutes still have a hold on you.  It will not go away, and just when you think it does they revisit it.
    While the rest of the plot isn't entirely new to the horror genre, it plays to all of the strengths and is an entertaining film.  Things move around the house, strange noise come from places that they shouldn't be.  It proves that old cliches can still work.  You just have to have confidence in them.  The direction and camera work let you know where you are in the house in relation to everybody else.  You get a sense of familiarity then you lose it all when something comes clapping in an empty room.
     Go get scared.

4/5 stars

Kick-Ass 2

        Kick-Ass 2 near rocking good time, that just falls short of its predecessor.  The best thing about the first film was Hit Girl played by Chloe Grace Moretz.  It's unfortunate that they regulate her through the movie as just her alter ego, Mindy.  They gave her the entire third act in Kick-Ass.  They should have continued the trend.  Instead we are treated with our title character, Kick-Ass, and much of his selfish ways.  

        You could argue that's what makes the Kick-Ass franchise different.  The hero is supposed be very real and flawed.  He rarely wins fights.  But that's not why I watch movies.  I want to see somebody go out there kick ass, and take names.  Hit Girl delivers that.  Oh well.  

        The rest of the movie plays well as you watch the world of superheroes begin to unfold.  More people come out dressed as a crimefighter and patrol the streets.  It's only natural that somebody would take up the fight for the other side. 

         Christopher Mintz-Plasse returns as the former Red Mist,  now known as The Motherf*****.  He is joined by Black Death, The Tumor,  Genghis Carnage, and Mother Russia.  Each name is as stereotypical as you think.  Which is the point, mind you.

         Kick-Ass is the attempt at poking fun of the superhero genre while still reveling in it.  It shows just how outrageous somebody would have to think to dress up in a costume and go out to either fight crime or commit it.  They are all there for the glory and the theatrics.  The Motherf***** brings this out the best as each step he has to try and play by supervillian rules.  

         Go out and enjoy the insanity of it all.  It'll make you want to fight crime and kick ass.

4/5 stars  

       

Eluan Falls: The Inheritors of the World for free this weekend

You can download my newest book for free exclusively on Amazon August 17th and 18th.

Eluan Falls: The Inheritors of the World

        Peace has finally come over the Eluan Empire.  Heric Caning is the heir to the throne and rumors of his fathers deteriorating health have begun to spread.  He bears the world on his shoulders while his cousin, Nikali wastes away his days in taverns, drinking magic into his body.
        When it is announced the Eluan Empire has finally passed the canyon with no bottom, Heric and Nikali will journey across to meet their new neighbors in the Louson Kingdom.  The knowledge they learn and what follows them back will be the beginning of the end for their powerful society.
         The fall begins in this five part series.  Download it today.

The Heat

          I was looking forward to this film.  I really was.  The idea of a buddy cop film starring two women peaked my interest.  It's no big secret in Hollywood that lead action roles are rare for women.  The Heat looked like a chance to break down a few boundaries, and show that women could kick as as much as the men can.
          Too bad that the movie falls just a big short of the mark.  The Heat relies too much on quircky comedy and characachers to be taken too seriously.  The opening sequence would have you believe its a throwback to cop films from the 70's.  Then modern day character types and personalities come right out.
           Sandra Bullock plays Agent Ashburn, a career woman who has given up on a personal life to be the best FBI agent around.  Despite her impressive record she is not taken seriously because of her off putting personality.
           Melissa McCarthy stars as Officer Mullins, the ruff cop from the streets that may be a pain in the ass, but gets the job done.  When these two meet up, it's a clash of personalities until they realize they both have the heart of being a good cop.
           McCarthy is the best thing going in this film.  She shines as every foul insult comes out of her mouth, but unfortunately it is Bullock's show and sometimes you have to wait for McCarthy to come back.
           While having some strong moments, this script falls apart toward the end.  The theme of women in a man's job gets touched several times.  A DEA agent becoming the personification of the misogynistic role for the women to deal with.
           Then the script falls into a bind, and just puts the remaining pieces its set up wherever it can.  It might not be the greatest story development, but hey its there.  Somebody did there job.
          Wait for this movie to come out on dvd.  You'll get a few laughs.

3/5 Stars

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Reviews coming soon!