In Theaters: August 1st, 2014

There are two wide releases this weekend.

Get On Up

This could be a fascinating biopic.  Director Tate Taylor (fresh off The Help) seems a natural fit for the James Brown story: Get On Up.  Star Chadwick Boseman is best known for playing Jackie Robinson in last year's 42.

To be honest I know very little about James Brown but I enjoy a good rags to riches story as much as the next guy.

Early reviews are very positive.

Get On Up is rated PG-13 for sexual content, drug use, some strong language, and violent situations.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Here it is.  This year's second entry from Marvel Studios (after Captain America: The Winter Soldier).  This will also be the last movie from Marvel Studios before The Avengers: Age of Ultron in early May next year.

Marvel Studios has become my most trusted source for movies.  I now trust them to make a good movie more than I trust Pixar or Christopher Nolan to make a good movie!  They've earned that from me.  In case you're wondering, the following is their track record:

Iron Man

The Incredible Hulk

Iron Man 2

Thor

Captain America: The First Avenger

Marvel's The Avengers

Iron Man 3

Thor: The Dark World

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

So, yes, I trust them to make a good movie.  Who can argue with that?  Did I mention that the "Marvel Cinematic Universe" is the highest grossing franchise in film history as of this year?  (but if you adjust for inflation James Bond still wins)

Also, I was able to participate in a 17-minute IMAX preview for Guardians of the Galaxy a few weeks ago.  It was basically a scene from the middle of the movie that was likely edited a bit differently than the final product.  The bottom line?  It rocked.  Everyone loved it.  And I highly recommend this movie.

Guardians of the Galaxy is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: July 25th, 2014

There are three wide releases this weekend.

And So It Goes

I literally didn't know this movie existed ten minutes ago.  But these days that just means it's not a superhero movie.

Michael Douglas plays an insensitive man with little family and no friends.  The trailer didn't really tell me what the movie was about beyond that.  According to IMDB Diane Keaton plays his neighbor who helps him take care of his granddaughter when his son drops her off suddenly.

As the poster proudly states, this is from the director of The Bucket List and When Harry Met Sally, Rob Reiner.  It came as a surprise to me that he also directed The Princess Bride!  Wow.  That's something to have under your belt.

Writer Mark Andrus is mostly known for As Good As It Gets.  I sorta get that vibe.  I'm almost ashamed I didn't guess that before learning it.

And So It Goes is rated PG-13 for some sexual references and drug elements.

Hercules

Just look at that yelling face.  How can you not want to see this movie?  But beware.

This is a Brett Ratner film.  We don't speak much of him here.  He is the great ruiner of what could be.  The great squanderer of potential.  Don't believe me?  Watch X-Men 3.  We still haven't forgiven him for that.

Hercules is about Hercules the legendary hero.  And Dwayne Johnson plays Hercules.  Any questions?

Hercules is rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences, violence, suggestive comments, brief strong language and partial nudity.

Lucy

We've been waiting for this one.

First of all - Luc Besson.  And that's it, I don't need any other reasons.

We've talked about Luc Besson on here before.  He is the writer/producer behind two other features released earlier this year, 3 Days to Kill and Brick Mansions.  He has a distinct way with action that I love.  It's always inventive and it's always a joy to watch.  His movies also have a unique lightheartedness to them amidst all the action.  It's fantastic.

Scarlett Johansson stars as Lucy, a young woman who is unwillingly recruited to be a drug mule.  Things start to get a little crazy when the drugs give her superhuman abilities.

Lucy is rated PG-13 for . . .

Oh no.  Darn it all.

It's rated R for strong violence, disturbing images, and sexuality.

Okay now I'm sad.  I have a strict personal rule of no R-rated films.  Excuse me while I go try to pull myself together!  I really didn't know it was R until just now!  *sob*

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: July 18th, 2014

There are three wide releases this weekend.

Planes: Fire & Rescue

The follow-up that nobody asked for is here.

Less than a year after Planes hit theaters Fire & Rescue is coming at you.  Last year's Planes was developed and produced by Disney's direct-to-video team.  It wasn't even meant to see the silver screen until somebody changed their mind.  It's this kind of thing that gets Disney such a bad reputation with my generation.  Planes was a half-cocked attempt to ride on the success of Pixar's Cars franchise.  I make special mention that Pixar is not involved in Planes in any way.

There is something interesting about this sequel, however.  Something interesting and absolutely terrifying.  There is no writer credited with this screenplay.  I have never seen that before.  What does that mean?  I really don't know!  Could it be so bad that nobody wants their name attached?  Maybe.  Either way it's terrifying.

Planes: Fire & Rescue is rated PG for action and some peril.

The Purge: Anarchy

James DeMonaco returns to write and direct this horror sequel.

The Purge was another inexpensive and fairly successful horror film.  Of course it gets a sequel.  The basic premise of both movies is an annual "purge" day when nothing is illegal for 24 hours.  Because, you know, horror movies.

The Purge: Anarchy is rated R for strong disturbing violence, and for language.

[DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE FOR MY BLOG]

There is a third wide release that I don't care to mention here.  When the content of a movie is offensive that's one thing.  But when the title is something I wouldn't mention in front of kids - that's something else.  And there is no room for that on my blog.

      Big Shot Critic

UPDATE!

There is now a fourth wide release scheduled for July 18th, 2014!  It is . . .

Persecuted

Now here is a movie that might be interesting.  When I first saw a trailer for it I didn't think it would get a wide release, but here we are.

Persecuted is a political thriller centered around a televangelist turned fugitive who is framed for a murder after refusing to get out of the way of religious reform.

Frankly, this hits close to home.  I see Christians all over being persecuted for "outdated" beliefs all the time, albeit in much less dramatic ways than being framed for murder.

See the trailer here.

Persecuted is rated PG-13 for violence and thematic elements.

In Theaters: July 11th, 2014

There is only one wide release this week.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Forever to be confused with 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn picks up eight years or so after the end of its predecessor.

First things first.  Rupert Wyatt did not return to direct this sequel.  I remember when I heard that news and I was a little disappointed.  There was subtlety in Mr. Wyatt's direction that I fear will be lost here in the second one.  Instead we have Matt Reeves who is known for the critically acclaimed 2010 horror film Let Me In, which I know nothing about.

All producers and writers are returning from Rise.

Worth noting is the cast.  They all seem very good.  Of particular interest is Jason Clarke as the lead human character.  He is a bit of a rising star these days.  He will be playing John Connor in the Terminator reboot next year.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief strong language.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: July 4th, 2014

There are three wide releases this week and ALL are opening on Wednesday, July 2nd.

Deliver Us From Evil (Wednesday)

From veteran horror director Scott Derrickson comes my pick for the best horror movie of the year.  But it's rated R and I don't go for that sort of thing so I will not be seeing it.  But I'll still tell you a little bit about it.

By the looks of it this one doesn't go for outrageous gore or stupid stuff like that.  It goes for good ol' psychological horror - the best kind.  That's my kind of horror movie.

Deliver Us From Evil is rated R for bloody violence, grisly images, terror throughout, and language.

Maybe I spoke too soon about this one not including outrageous gore.  I only read the rating information as I was typing it.

Earth to Echo (Wednesday)

Found footage has finally found its way into kids' movies (I had to do it, I'm sorry).  It is my personal opinion that found footage worked once.  Ever.  And that was in 1999.  I don't like it, but it's cheap so it's gonna stick around.

This is about some kids who make contact with an alien robot.  The robot is friendly and it wants to go home.  They try to help while the big bad adults try to capture the robot.  Will Lil' John Boyega and his friends be able to save their new friend?  I don't know.  And, tragically, I don't care.

John Boyega

Lil' John Boyega

Earth to Echo is rated PG for some action and peril, and mild language.  It is also Dave Green's feature film directorial debut.

Tammy (Wednesday)

I don't like Melissa McCarthy.  I find her annoying.  I haven't even watched a single trailer for this movie.  I'll attempt that now.

Well I made it through.  That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!  Okay so the main character (Tammy) is down on her luck and just needs to get away for a while (or something).  Her and her grandmother (portrayed by Susan Sarandon) take a drive to Niagara Falls.  I guess somewhere in there they do funny things.

Tammy is the directorial debut of Ben Falcone who is best known for voicing Henery Hawk on the The Looney Tunes Show or for playing a character called Howard on the short-lived Friends spinoff, Joey.  Take your pick.

Tammy is rated R for language including sexual references.

      Big Shot Critic