RoboCop

     RoboCop is back and stealthier than ever.  Luckily for us, he's on our side.  Unlike most 80's reboots Robocop manages to hold itself up from the structure of the original and update itself for the modern day.
     While the aspect of senseless violence desentizing society is gone, the threat of corporations taking over is as strong as ever.  OCP discusses how to brand their new machine, and market him to the general public with disreagard to Alex Murphy or his family.  They invent lies to build off more lies.  All in a days work.
     Then instead of the story of a man clawing his way back to humanity from death we're brought the story of a man having to fight for his identity.  Technology oversees the world and offers the illusion of control.  It's easier for mankind, but the threat of totalitarianism is never far behind.  Who is really in control?
     The new ideas are great, although some aspects are never fully fleshed out.  Enough of the movie is different enough that most people won't complain that it's the same movie, even some additions that you just know would have been in the original if the technology existed, but at the same time there are little nods to the original that seem out of place.  References just for the sake of references.  The rest of the movie plays out like an action movie.  
     If you're a fan of the Robocop Franshise check out the newest addition.  It's better than RoboCop 3.

3/5 stars.

The Lego Movie

    "Everything is awesome!  Everything is cool when you're part of a team.  Everything is awesome when you're living our a dream."
     Get ready to have that stuck in your head for the rest of your life.  The song used as propaganda to subdue many of the people in Legoland works for a reason.  It is very catchy.
     Emmet has lived his ordinary life, following the instructions, and getting himself nowhere.  Then one fateful day he becomes attached to a legendary artifact and the adventure begins.  He is joined by familiar faces from childhood, the biggest being Batman.
     The movie is a blast.  While some of the writing comes off as "So Random" it is few and far between.  Only once does the plot take an easy out to progress the story, but it is made up for in nostalgia points.  Not the greatest replacement, but good enough.
     There are dozens of characters from all around pop culture that make cameos in this movie.  Plus, toys you'll remember having played with as a kid.  It is amazing to see just how many brands Lego has gotten into.  This is probably the closest we'll get to a DC/Marvel crossover for years.
     Find an excuse to see the movie.  Take your kids, take your buddies, take your parents.  You'll all have fun.

4/5 stars

The Monuments Men

     It was a great idea.  Unfortunately, that's all it was.  The Monuments Men follows a group of soldiers that have been tasked to preserve art during WWII.  They are scoffed and laughed at by other soldiers, but their colleagues know better.  Fighting a war means trying to preserve your way of life.  That can not be done if there is nothing left.
     The story sticks to the fringes of the war.  The men hardly see battle.  That does not mean there is any less danger.  It just means it isn't as exciting to watch.
     Each member of the crew have their moments to shine, but it feels lacking.  Many of the characters are there just to have a humorous break in the story and show that war isn't glamourous.
     Also being based on a true story, the movie struggles with finding a true antagonist.  Instead the crew bounces from bad guy to bad guy depending on how far into the war they are.  Once the Nazis are out the Russians come in with mediocre setup.
     The movie is well done.  We've just come to expect more from these men.

3/5 stars