Review: Mr. Holmes

Mr. Holmes

What is the opposite of compelling?  I don't mean that in a nasty way.  This movie doesn't pull you along and it doesn't push you along.  It just goes and invites you to follow.  For those that accept the invitation there is a rewarding viewing experience to be had.

The first thing I noticed that I liked was the music.  There was a different type of theme playing at the beginning.  Not epic.  Not scary.  I guess I'm too used to superhero movies or dinosaur movies and the bombastic scores they carry.  I was, however, slightly disappointed that there was really only one major theme in the music throughout the picture that I noticed.  How very BBC of them.

This movie starts off with an aged Sherlock Holmes.  He is 92 years old.  And Ian McKellan plays old very convincingly.  So convincingly that I wondered some about how many years we have left before he dies!  But the flashback scenes where he plays a (slightly) younger and sharper Sherlock Holmes gave me hope that the old man he was playing was just an act.  Thank goodness.  Of course Ian McKellan is old.  Just not that old.

The supporting cast ranges from good to great.  I'm really an easy critic when it comes to acting.  I believed in all the characters on the screen therefore they did a good job!  The one special mention goes to the boy actor who plays a major supporting role and certainly does a grand job for his age.

Many movies that use the same protagonist as a prior movie claim that in the new installment he (or they) face a new or different kind of challenge.  A kind of challenge that the protagonist has not faced before.  Mr. Holmes doesn't claim that.  But Mr. Holmes might be the first movie to deliver it.  Here we have a Sherlock Holmes story that truly is a different kind of challenge for the character.  And the payoff at the end is better for it.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: July 31, 2015

There are two wide releases this weekend.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

This movie should at least get the oscar for most pairs of sunglasses on a single poster.

So anyway, back in 2012 when Mission Impossible 5 was just a twinkle in somebody's eye, Jack Reacher came out.  A movie starring Tom Cruise that was written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie.  I myself enjoyed that movie quite a bit and I was impressed by it.  Soon after that movie came out it was announced that Christopher McQuarrie was hired to write and direct a fifth Mission Impossible film - which brings us to Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation.

Because I was so impressed with Jack Reacher I have little doubt that this movie will be very solid.  Anything more than that?  I don't know.  The trailers are cool but nothing amazing.  Hopefully that's because they're saving the best for those who buy tickets.  But let it be known that I think it would be worth it to see this one.

Vacation (Wednesday Release)

At least this R-rated comedy was decent enough to keep all the foul stuff out of the trailers.  Well, out of the normal trailers.  I don't do red band trailers.

Vacation is a reboot of the old Chevy Chase Vacation movies.  As a matter of fact the main character in this movie is the son of the original Chevy Chase character, and Chevy Chase does make an appearance.  Chevy Chase is a funny guy but I don't like R-rated comedies so I'm skipping this one.  The only good thing I've seen in the trailer is the shot of Navajo Bridge in northern Arizona:

from the trailer

The shot is taken facing south down the Colorado River.  If you follow the river for just a few more miles you end up at the North end of the Grand Canyon.  But that's enough Geography for today.  If you are planning to see this movie this week, just plan a trip to beautiful Arizona instead!  And if you already live here then go see Mission: Impossible instead.  It'll be better.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: July 24, 2015

There are THREE wide releases this weekend!

Paper Towns

These poor actors.  They are probably so excited to be leads in a movie but their names aren't even on the poster and nobody knows who they are.  Also, her hair is not only partially blocking his face, but hers too!  Does this poster remind anybody else of Get Smart?

Except that in the Get Smart poster the hair blocking the face was the joke!  With the Paper Towns poster I'm pretty sure they're not going for comedic effect.

Also, apparently it's a rule now that any serious teen romance dramas must have names that are so poetic that they sound like absolute nonsense.  And why not?  Teenage girls certainly don't seem to mind.

When you get down to it this movie looks pretty dumb.  It's about a high school boy who has loved his neighbor since they were little but hasn't gotten around to doing anything about it when she suddenly drops in and takes him along on an adventure one night (getting back at her ex).  The next day she disappears.  Like, literally the police are looking for her and stuff.  So our hero and his friends try to follow the clues she left behind.  Since, you know, who doesn't disappear every once in a while and leave a trail of clues for your destined lover boy to follow?

This movie was made because teenage girls like the feeling of there being a boy who would do all this for them.  They are willing to pay for that feeling.  Or get their parents to pay, whatever the case may be.  So, a PSA to any high school girls reading this blog: Find a guy that loves you and treats you right, but do it in like three to seven years.  In the meantime do your homework and steer clear of losers.

Pixels

A few years ago someone released a short film called Pixels.  It was nothing more than a reel of footage depicting classic video game characters attacking New York City (Yes, I am aware that is San Francisco in the poster, but the original short was all in New York).  This short film did the rounds on the internet and eventually Adam Sandler saw it.  Then he said, "I want to turn this into a feature length movie."  Fast forward to 2015 and it's here.  For better or worse.  My money's on worse.

Southpaw

Southpaw chronicles the real-life struggles of Jake Gyllenhaal, a lefty living in a right-handed world.  Just kidding.  In Southpaw Jake Gyllenhaal plays a champion boxer.  He gets in a bit of a dust up outside the ring and a bullet that was meant for him kills his wife.  The movie is about him overcoming this trial.  It actually looks pretty sweet but it's rated R so I'll be skipping it.

      Big Shot Critic

Review: Ant-Man

Ant-Man

      Paul Rudd joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in spectacular fashion.

      Actor Paul Rudd is - in my opinion - the best addition to the MCU since Robert Downey Jr.  The existing fanbase and comedic skills that he brings with him are substantial.  And with RDJ departing after just three more movies, maybe Rudd's appointment is no accident.  Maybe we are meant to have another potential fast-talker in the ring.  The point is that he's good enough to be the heart of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as RDJ has been thus far.  Nothing against Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, or Chris Pratt, (gosh there's a lot of Chris's in this franchise) but they don't have the kind of screen presence, charisma, and charm that Robert Downey Jr. has.  Paul Rudd does.

      While Paul Rudd is very very funny in this movie, the comedy comes from all around.  Most notably from Luis (Michael Peña), who is probably Marvel's funniest supporting character to date.  Director Peyton Reed delivers the laughs and all the fun of a taut heist movie.

      What I found most refreshing about Ant-Man was the distinct lack of outer space locations, characters from outer space, or wanton destruction on any excessive scale.  The last MCU movie we had that was completely earthbound and without excessive destruction was Iron Man 3 more than two years ago!  That may not sound like a long time but there have been four MCU releases between Iron Man 3 and Ant-Man.  To have a superhero movie on a more local scale really was a breath of fresh air that the franchise needs, I believe.  A good return to a tone more similar to the original Iron Man that started this whole party, and a welcome departure from the misguided, so-called "grown up" approach to Avengers: Age of Ultron.

      As with all MCU movies, Ant-Man gently leads the audience to return to the movie theater to see the next installment (the keen observer will also note connections to prior installments Iron Man 2 and Captain America: The Winter Soldier).  Most happily, Ant-Man includes the first (very very brief) acknowledgement of SPIDER-MAN joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe!  And be sure to stay for BOTH the MID CREDITS and the POST CREDITS scenes that hint at things to come in next May's Captain America: Civil War and beyond.

      In summary, Ant-Man is a welcome and worthy addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: July 17, 2015

This week there are TWO wide releases.  Also, stay tuned afterward and read on for some changes to the blog.

Ant-Man

This year's second Marvel Studios release is Ant-Man.  This movie has actually been in some level of production for about seven years.

Ant-Man has a suit that lets him change size and become very small while maintaining the proportionate strength of a normal sized man.  Also, Ant-Man has the ability to become larger than normal size.  This hasn't been seen in any of the trailers, but I would be surprised if he doesn't go giant in the movie.

With Age of Ultron (not to be confused with Age of Adaline) being generally considered an underwhelming installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ant-Man has some legwork ahead of it to keep moviegoers excited about Marvel.  In my opinion, if this one doesn't really catch on, Marvel could be in a tight spot.  However, if Ant-Man just does okay then expectations will be low for Captain America: Civil War next May, which will allow it to REALLY shine through, as I expect that one to be one of the better Marvel movies.  If you've forgotten what happens when people go to a movie with so-so expectations but the movie is really well made, think back to when the first Iron Man came out.  It made quite a splash to say the least.

Trainwreck

Disgusting.  Don't bother.

Andrea's Birthday

It's my sister's birthday on Friday!  Woo!  Happy Birthday, Andrea!

Blog Update Information

Starting in August I am going to change things a little bit.  Instead of doing small briefs on movies coming out every week I will do it every month, covering every wide release coming out for the entire following month.  But also starting in August I will write up a full review for every movie I see in theaters, plus some others possibly.  A lot of people are under the impression that these are reviews anyway (they aren't).  Tell me in the comments if you think this plan is bad or good.  Thanks for reading!

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: July 10, 2015

There are three wide releases this weekend.  Also, I've been slacking and I didn't do the last two weeks so we'll be doing some catching up.  SPEED ROUND style.  Less facts and figures, more opinions, all around faster!

The Gallows

It's a horror movie and it looks stupid.  Gosh, I hate horror movies.  In this one a bunch of teenagers (a horror movie centered around delinquent kids??  How original!)  break into their high school auditorium and get haunted by some kid who committed suicide a few years prior.  Or something, it looks really dumb.  NEXT

Minions

Some people really like Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2.  I don't.  I don't find the Minions funny.  I certainly don't think they can carry a movie (even though the Penguins of Madagascar did earlier this year).  However, I've been in the theater when the trailer for this plays and people laughed, so maybe it'll do okay.  I won't be going.  NEXT

SELF/LESS

Here we have a sci-fi thriller with some potential.  Although, honestly, I don't think it will realize its full potential.  Ben Kingsley plays an old and wealthy man who is approached by a company offering him a sort of immortality.  They transfer his mind into a younger body (Ryan Reynolds) but he starts to have flashes of another life.  It turns out the younger body was actually kidnapped.  What do you do?  I don't know!  If you really want to find out you can go see it this weekend!  NEXT

THE FOLLOWING WERE RELEASED ON JULY 1

Magic Mike XXL

It's a movie about a male stripper.  Actually it's a sequel to a movie about a male stripper.  The lead is Channing Tatum.  Basically this is the same target audience as 50 Shades of Grey.  (people who are at least a little bit gross)  NEXT

Terminator: Genisys

This one I actually just saw last night.  I really liked it!  No complaints.  It kept me guessing, it set up for a sequel AND gave me a proper ending, and Emilia Clarke is more than a little bit good-looking.  And Arnold's back!!

This one might be a bit confusing for those who are unfamiliar with Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).  But don't worry about Terminator 3 (2003) and Terminator Salvation (2009) as this movie pretends they don't exist - and rightfully so, they weren't very good.  As a matter of fact, James Cameron himself has gone on record to say that he considers this the true third movie in the franchise!  (James Cameron created the franchise and directed the first two)

Go see this one.

THE FOLLOWING WERE RELEASED ON JUNE 26

Max

A dog in the marines works with a soldier.  That soldier dies.  The dog is given to the soldier's younger brother.  Together they save the day from one of the soldier's old friends who is a total jerk now.  NEXT

Ted 2

Sequel to Ted.  Critics say it isn't funny.  I don't think it looks funny.

THE END OF THE SPEED ROUND

Phew!  We're caught up!

      Big Shot Critic