In Theaters: December 25, 2015

There are a whopping FOUR wide releases this weekend.  And Star Wars will likely keep the number one spot with ease.

Concussion

Will Smith stars in a true story drama about headaches.

Concussion is about a scientist or doctor or whatever who discovers a connection between playing in the NFL and permanent brain damage.  This causes some kind of uproar.  I don't know the details.  Oh, and Will Smith's character is African American.  You know, like, actually from Africa and emigrated to America.

Concussion is rated PG-13 for thematic material including some disturbing images, and language.

Daddy's Home

You won't remember this movie exists in two years.

The idea is funny.  Will Ferrell is a step father to two kids.  Their birth father comes back into the picture, played by Mark Wahlberg.  They compete for the kids' affection.  The trailers do look funny! But not funny enough.

Maybe I'm wrong!  That would be great!

In any case, Daddy's Home is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, crude and suggestive content, and for language.

Joy

A single mother invents a mop.  I'm not kidding that's what it's about.  The interesting experiment here is if Jennifer Lawrence (a millionaire since her early twenties) can elicit feelings of sympathy as a single mother.

Joy is rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Point Break

Luke Bracey does his best Keanu Reeves impression and meanwhile Edgar Ramirez does his best Patrick Swayze impression.

This remake has the same premise as the original.  Extreme athletes are performing large scale criminal acts and an FBI agent/extreme sports enthusiast goes after them.  After a while his loyalty to the FBI is in question.

Point Break is rated PG-13 for violence, thematic material involving perilous activity, some sexuality, language and drug material.


      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: December 18th, 2015

This is it.  The wait is over.  It's here.  But, believe it or not, Star Wars is not the only wide release this weekend.  There are three.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip

I've never seen any of the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies but I'm willing to believe they're at least okay and I bet they each have one or a few laugh out loud moments.

In The Road Chip Dave is about to get married, but the chipmunks don't get along with their would-be-step-brother so they go on a trip to break off the engagement.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip is rated PG for some mild rude humor and language.

Sisters

Is it obvious to anyone else that they're trying to re-capture the box office success of "Step Brothers" except with women?

The fact is I can hardly stand Amy Poehler.  Tina Fey is pretty funny (and she delivers the single funny line in the trailer) but I can hardly stand Amy Poehler.

Sisters is about these two going back to their hometown and throwing a party and reliving memories and stuff like that.

I can't stand Amy Poehler.

Sisters is rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, and for drug use.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I already have my ticket.

There's really nothing I can tell you.  Everybody on Earth has an opinion about this movie.

Here's my opinion.  I hope they didn't drop "Episode VII" from the official title just because it's what George Lucas would have done.  I hope they don't alienate and disown the prequels just because of all the George Lucas haters.  I hope they don't steer the story away from the Skywalker family just because of all the George Lucas haters.  I hope they don't (didn't) make any production decisions whatsoever - based only on the fact that a lot of people were not fans of the prequels.

The George Lucas hate has to stop!  The cold hard fact that nobody wants to admit is this: the world would not be the same without George Lucas.  Star Wars would not have happened.  And when he made the prequel trilogy he made three movies (that were still unlike any other science fiction) exactly the way he wanted to make them, and you should respect that.  He still delivered the thrills and the great set pieces all the same.  The romance between Anakin and Padme and the transition from Chancellor Palpatine to the evil Emperor are the only parts that are still a little hard to swallow for me.  Even so, I would rather watch the prequels than any number of other films today.

Let the new Star Wars films stand on their own feet - lest we have crowds cheering simply because Jar Jar Binks isn't on the screen.  You know what I mean?  I don't want people coming out of the theater thinking, "I love how they weren't like the prequels at all and that made them awesome!"  People aught to come out thinking, "That was an incredible movie!"  A real success here would wipe away the negative feelings toward the prequels, it would make the haters forget their hate for two hours, not cater to it for two hours.  Do you follow?  Bring the joy of Star Wars back to the big screen for those who have been waiting since Return of the Jedi as well as for those who were happy with the prequels and have only been waiting since Revenge of the Sith.

I really hope with Episode VII they don't subtly - or in any other way - denounce any of George Lucas' prior work on Star Wars.  That would be a huge mistake.

But I don't believe they will do that.  I think J.J. Abrams probably is the man for the job.  And like I said I already have my ticket.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: December 11th, 2015

There is only one wide release this weekend.

In The Heart of the Sea

This is a Ron Howard film and those are usually pretty good.  Chris Hemsworth stars and he's usually pretty good.  This is their second film together.

In the Heart of the Sea is set a couple hundred years ago or so.  It's the true story that inspired Moby Dick.  As far as I can tell it's pretty much about a whale that is seemingly evil and likes to beat up little boats.  I'm thinking about going to see it.

In the Heart of the Sea is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and peril, brief startling violence, and thematic material.

"Brief startling violence" is a new one.  I haven't heard that one before.  Hmm.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: December 4, 2015

There is only one wide release this weekend.

Krampus

I really don't get this.  It's a monster that is like Santa Claus but really isn't at all and it's got horns and maybe looks like a goat.  I really have no idea.  It looks weird.

Krampus is rated PG-13 for sequences of horror violence/terror, language and some drug material.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: November 25, 2015

There are three wide releases this week and they all come on Wednesday.

Creed

The truth is I never watched all the Rocky movies.  I've only seen the first one, and I only saw it for the first time like three months ago.  But I still know a couple things about them.

In the first Rocky movie Rocky fights Apollo Creed, a champion fighter.  In the second movie I think he has a rematch with him (correct me in the comments if I'm wrong).  The title character in this movie, played by Michael B. Jordan, is Apollo Creed's son, and Rocky ends up being his mentor.  On a side note, Michael must have worked hard for this role because he is cut.  I respect the dedication it must have taken to look like a modern boxer.

Creed is rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality.

The Good Dinosaur

Because we did not get a Pixar movie last year we get two this year.  It may surprise you that that's actually true!  Inside Out was ready for release last summer, but Disney pushed it back because it didn't fit their slate very well.

All I know about The Good Dinosaur is that it takes place in a "what if" kind of world where the dinosaurs were not wiped out by a giant meteor.

The Good Dinosaur is rated PG for peril, action and thematic elements.

Victor Frankenstein

Can you take the mad scientist Victor Frankenstein and turn him into a modern action hero?  That is the question on all the minds over at 20th Century Fox right now.

My guess is no.

Victor Frankenstein falls under that category that is practically a genre all its own by now: the untold story of some character in a classic story, or the "new twist" on a classic story.  Well if you're like me you've about had it with "new twists".

The story follows Dr. Frankenstein and his assistant, Igor, as they set out to create what will become Frankenstein's monster.  And then it seems it falls on them to deal with the monster.

Victor Frankenstein is rated PG-13 for macabre images, violence and a sequence of destruction.

And that's the first time I've heard a rating mention "macabre images".

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: November 20, 2015

There are three wide releases this weekend.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

I'm not sure if you've heard of the Hunger Games franchise yet, but it's fairly popular around the world, and this is the last one!

In my personal journey with Jennifer Lawrence I started as a doubter.  I didn't think she was all she had been cracked up to be after landing the role of Katniss.  After Catching Fire (the second one) I became a fan.  Kind of a big fan, actually.  And now, after observing different things she's done or said in articles and stuff I am on the cusp of being a hater.  I'm not a hater yet, but I'm over it.  I don't think she's making good career choices.  She's done with this franchise, and in May she'll be done with her other big franchise, and she hasn't picked up any truly major roles outside of those franchises.  Mostly all she's done besides that is play in David O. Russell movies.  That's not enough to sustain her stardom.  It will fade unless she does more.

Anyway, in this, the fourth and final Hunger Games movie, I'm pretty sure the good guys win.  They fight and stuff, I don't really know the details.  But it is pretty exciting, and I do enjoy these movies.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and for some thematic material.

The Night Before

So three friends decide to go big - really big - the night before Christmas.  Including drugs, parties, and every Christmas tradition you can think of!  This one won me over when the trailer said "from the guys that brought you This is The End" . . . "Neighbors" . . . "and almost The Interview".

It's funny because Sony decided not to release The Interview in theaters and instead it went straight to all sorts of streaming services, because of the fiasco with North Korea.  In fact, The Interview was what caused the fiasco with North Korea.

Anyway, The Night before is rated R for drug use and language throughout, some strong sexual content and graphic nudity.

Secret in their Eyes

Nowadays every kind of movie has to be rehashed with female leads.  Even revenge thrillers.  We're getting an all-female Ghostbusters remake, teetering on the edge of an all-female Expendables wannabe, and now there's talk of an all-female Ocean's Eleven remake.  It's stupid.  This trend is stupid.

Secret in their Eyes is a revenge thriller.  Julia Roberts is a mother (and police officer) who loses her daughter, and eventually goes for revenge.

This one looks like Oscar bait to me.  Too much focus on performance, not enough on a compelling story.

Secret in their Eyes is rated PG-13 for thematic material involving disturbing violent content, language and some sexual references.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: November 13, 2015

There are three wide releases this weekend.

The 33

The 33 is a dramatization of the true story of 33 miners that were trapped in a mine in 2010.  The story made worldwide news and all 33 miners were eventually saved (spoiler alert).

The 33 is rated PG-13 for a disaster sequence and some language.

Love the Coopers

You know those movies that try to glorify dysfunctional family situations?  This could be one of those, I'm not sure.  I've watched the trailers and the target audience is definitely the same people that see those kinds of movies, but nothing really indicated that it was glorifying dysfunction.  But it is definitely a comedy centered around family and the odd situations families can get in.  Approach with caution.

Love the Coopers is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, language and some sexuality.

My All American

And Aaron Eckhart has officially started the rounds in the inspirational independent movie circuit.  For whatever reason that guy has never been able to lead a movie by himself.

Anyway, My All American is about a football player living in what looks like the sixties who gets a scholarship to play for Aaron Eckhart at University of Texas.  Apparently he gets an injury and plays through it.  Honestly the trailer didn't show much anything to suggest any serious conflict.  But every movie has to have conflict and the only one it showed was a leg injury.

The trailer didn't impress me very much.  Just go see The Martian again this weekend if you're going to the theater.  It's still gonna be the best thing playing, I think.

      Big Shot Critic

Review: Spectre

Spectre

   James Bond is back.  James Bond will always be back.

   Spectre reunites basically the entire creative team behind 2012's Skyfall.  The only notable exception is Cinematographer Roger Deakins, and believe me, if you remember how beautiful Skyfall was - you'll notice.

   The cinematography is not as good (but, honestly, when you follow Roger Deakins, how could it be?), the movie moved very slowly at times, and the action wasn't the best in the franchise, even though it was distinctly more inventive than the action in Skyfall.  In terms of style and technique, it's a complete Skyfall rehash with Hoyte Van Hoytema (he did the cinematography for Interstellar) instead of Roger Deakins.

   I have to add that there were one or two scenes that I thought were genuinely horrible for pacing.  I found myself wondering what was going on more than once, not because I got lost but because something looked like it would happen and then it would happen . . . sixty seconds later.  It was really strange.

   And one more negative thing.  Don't let John Logan anywhere near any more Bond scripts, please!  His randomly dramatic/thematic dialogue belongs on the stage in Chicago NOT in a Bond film.

   I am happy to say that aside from being too slow and the fact that Sam Mendes is definitely not an action director the movie is quite good.  Where Skyfall brought Q and Moneypenny into the new Bond world, Spectre brings in yet others.  As far as specifics I will only say the obvious: Dave Bautista makes a glorious classic Bond henchman.

   I'm finding it hard to review this film because of all the spoiler-sensitive stuff.  At least in the trailers you saw the evil lair of the bad guy.  It's those classic Bond elements brought into Daniel Craig's Bond world that provided much of the joy of Spectre.

   Opposite Daniel Craig this time around we have Christoph Waltz as Hans Oberhauser.  All I will say here is that Waltz is exactly the natural fit for a Bond villain that you think he is.

   I have always felt that a good measure of a movie is how soon you want to see it again.  From this review you may not believe that I liked Spectre but I would like to see it again soon.

      Big Shot Critic

P.S. I totally did not write reviews for The Martian or The Intern.  Oops.

In Theaters: November 6, 2015

There are two wide releases this weekend.

The Peanuts Movie

I know what you're thinking.  There have been loads of adaptations of childhood favorites lately, and sometimes they go bad.  Sometimes you wonder how they can possibly adapt that cherished property and do it right when so many things have gone wrong.

I do not think you have reason to fear with The Peanuts Movie.  I think they have stayed true to the feel (and even to the look) of the original comic strip.

If you doubt then consider the following.  Peanuts debuted in 1950, and the Christmas special didn't happen until 1965.  There is a fifteen year gap between the inception of Charlie Brown and that piano number we all think of when we hear the name Charlie Brown.  Yet now it is part of Charlie Brown.  This could be too.  I'm not saying it will be, but I am saying this will either be great or it will go the way of the Garfield movies - okay, but forgotten.

The Peanuts Movie is rated G with absolutely no notes beyond that.  How refreshing is that?

Spectre

The legend returns.  Get ready for the 24th James Bond movie.

James Bond holds a special place in my heart.  I actually watched all three of Daniel Craig's prior Bond films just yesterday to get ready for this one (even though I basically have them memorized already).  I really could be Casino Royale's biggest fan.  Let's review just a little.

Daniel Craig is the sixth actor to portray James Bond in the official EON Productions films, and his first was Casino Royale in 2006.  Casino Royale was very well-received by fans and critics (and I completely fell in love with it - it's still my all time favorite film).  Two years later the world got Quantum of Solace in 2008.  It made more money than any Bond film before it, but it only did okay with the critics.  I like to think of it as bite size Bond.  It's shorter than the other Daniel Craig films, and it's practically a direct sequel to Casino Royale (there are no actual direct sequels in James Bond - it's not serialized).  Quantum of Solace was also in production right in the middle of the writer's strike of 2008, so it had a rough road, but all things considered I believe they did a marvelous job.  It's not Casino Royale, but it's definitely Bond.  Not too long after Quantum of Solace, and by no fault of the James Bond franchise, MGM went bust and Bond 23 was postponed indefinitely.  Eventually that all got sorted out and we got Skyfall in 2012.  Skyfall is inarguably a fan favorite, and was a MASSIVE critical and commercial hit to boot.  But truth be told I didn't like it as much as the others.  It moves a lot slower and takes itself much too seriously in my opinion.  It's heavy and contemplative Bond.  To date Skyfall is the highest grossing Bond film of all time, and the highest grossing British film of all time, and it had the biggest opening in England of all time - until last week when Spectre took that record.  Brief history lesson over.

The creative team behind Spectre is more or less identical to the creative team behind Skyfall.  The only notable difference is that Neal Purvis and Robert Wade wrote Skyfall and then John Logan re-wrote it.  This time, John Logan wrote Spectre and Neal Purvis and Robert Wade re-wrote it.  This sounds very small but it could make a big difference.  Neal and Robert are true blue through and through Bond writers while John Logan spends most of his time writing plays for the stage.  And the more die-hard Skyfall fans will forgive me for saying that Skyfall felt a bit like a stage play - like it didn't take full advantage of the film medium.  By the way, director (of Skyfall and Spectre) Sam Mendes does come from a background directing (you guessed it) stage plays.

Suffice it to say I have strong opinions about James Bond.  And in case you're wondering what I think the odds are of Daniel Craig staying as Bond, I'll tell you.  I think odds are good he'll do one more and then go.  As long as no one bothers him about doing another one for about three or four months I think he'll do one more after he's taken some time off.  And who will they get after that?  I hope it's someone out of relative obscurity just like Craig himself.  Idris Elba already said he doesn't want to be remembered for being the black James Bond, and the only real contender in my opinion from among the popular guesses is that red-haired guy from Homeland.

Damian Lewis

But even he might be too old already.  I don't know.  It's up to Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.  If you don't hear it from them specifically just ignore it because it's not true.  They will decide, and no one else.

In any case I am definitely going to see Spectre, even though I expect it to be a lot like Skyfall.

Spectre is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, some disturbing images, sensuality and language.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: October 30, 2015

There are three wide releases this weekend.

Burnt

Bradley Cooper plays the kitchen version of a grown-up child star.  His character had a significant career as a chef at a young age and somehow lost it and now he wants it back.

Burnt is billed as a comedy but there wasn't anything funny about the trailers I've seen.  I bet this will struggle to find an audience, but I can't really say if it'll be good or not.  UPDATE: I just learned John Wells directed it.  So it'll be pretentious garbage probably.

Burnt is rated R for language throughout.  So maybe Gordon Ramsay has a cameo!

Our Brand Is Crisis

This will do for political campaign managers what "We Are Your Friends" did a couple months ago for aspiring EDM DJ's - that is, make a movie about them that no one will see.  And that's really all I have to say on the matter!

Our Brand Is Crisis is rated R for language including some sexual references.

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse

I promise you here and now that this will be remembered as nothing except a black mark on Tye Sheridan's acting career.

Just don't.  And while I'm at it I'll let you know that this is barely a real movie.  And by that I mean it's just one small notch above a direct to video release.  Nobody in this movie - behind or in front of the camera - is of note.  Tye Sheridan might be of note in the future, but that's it.

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse is rated R for zombie violence and gore, sexual material, graphic nudity, and language throughout.

*****

I wish I had some good news for you this week, but all these movies are trash.  Sorry.  Just go see The Martian again, because that movie is outstanding.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: October 23, 2015

There are four wide releases this weekend.

Jem and the Holograms

If you're in the mood for a terrible movie this weekend then look no further.

"Jem" was a cartoon show in the mid to late 80's, and it was a collaboration between several companies including Marvel Productions.  But don't wait for a mid-credits easter egg, because Jem and the Holograms is not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Why did they make it into a movie?  Your guess is as good as mine.  The cartoon wasn't particularly popular.  Actually, if I had to guess I would say they're trying to capitalize on the fan base of Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2, but it's not going to work.

The estimated budget is $5 million, and it's a good thing, because I think they can make that back - just.

Jem and the Holograms is rated PG for thematic material including reckless behavior, brief suggestive content and some language.

The Last Witch Hunter

Vin Diesel wants another franchise.  He looks around, sees what's available, and picks this one.  Can it work?  Will it work?  I'm thinking no.  And it doesn't really matter, because his other franchise makes plenty of money.

Or maybe he just wanted to make a movie where he gets to shoot witches with shotguns.  I mean, I don't know for sure if he does that in this movie, but it's called The Last Witch Hunter and he's carrying a shotgun in the poster.

The Last Witch Hunter is rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images.

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension

They're saying this is the last one.  That's the good news.

It's Halloween.  So we need a horror movie and Paranormal Activity is here to disappoint its fans all over again.  But without the Saw franchise or the Paranormal Activity franchise what will we do next Halloween?  I don't know but hopefully we'll have something better by then.

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension is rated R for language and some horror violence.

Rock The Kasbah

Bill Murray is a really funny actor.  But about ten years ago he fell in with Wes Anderson and all his groupies.  Ever since then he hasn't been as funny.  He's been in several comedies, but they all feel the same.  They all feel cheap and poorly conceived.  Just hearing the premise of a great comedy should make you laugh, and none of them do.  A music producer and talent manager ends up in Afghanistan without an act and discovers some local talent.  Interesting, yes, but not funny initially.  And it's been the same with every movie Bill Murray has done ever since Lost in Translation - which I think was in 2004!  All these dramedies that are just so . . . so bleh.  So middle of the road and mediocre.  I believe Bill Murray is still funny but I don't believe you'll find the proof here.

Rock The Kasbah is rated R for language including sexual references, some drug use and brief violence.

      Big Shot Critic

In Theaters: October 16, 2015

There are four wide releases this weekend.

Bridge of Spies

Steven Spielberg's first movie since about this time in 2012.  Bridge of Spies tells the true story of a prisoner exchange between the United States and the USSR.  Tom Hanks plays a lawyer that negotiated the exchange, and the title refers to a bridge in Berlin where the exchange took place.

Early reviews say that it has the thrills, but maybe pretends to have more depth of story than is actually there.

Bridge of Spies is rated PG-13 for some violence and brief strong language.

P.S. Alan Alda is in this one.  It's always good to see him back on the screen.

Crimson Peak

Guillermo Del Toro's first film since Pacific Rim in the summer of 2013.  Crimson Peak is more in keeping with Guillermo's trippier efforts - like Pan's Labyrinth.

I guess it's about a creepy house with creepy people.  To be honest, this movie looks really weird to me.  And I don't mean in the horror sense of the word, just in the I-don't-get-it sense of the word.

Crimson Peak is rated R for bloody violence, some sexual content and brief strong language.

Goosebumps

My guess is R. L. Stine's wife told him to get off his butt and go make some money again.  This film is aimed right at the one draw it could possibly have - nostalgia.

I will say this, if anyone can save it it's probably Jack Black.

Goosebumps is about a couple kids and the author himself who end up fighting off the monsters from the books.

Goosebumps is rated PG for scary and intense creature action and images, and for some rude humor.

Woodlawn

This is one of those Christian faith-based movies that kinda snuck up on me.  For better or worse they don't get a whole lot of mention in the news except the fact that they are definitely on the rise in the last two years or so.

Just from watching the trailer I can tell you the cinematography in this one is miles beyond recent faith-based movies.

The story centers around a black high school football player in Alabama in the 1970's.  Think of it as Remember the Titans with more focus on one player and thematically centered on Christian faith.

Woodlawn is rated PG for thematic elements including some racial tension/violence.

      Big Shot Critic

Review: Everest

Everest

   This movie was cool.  I saw it almost two weeks ago - and I have since seen a much better movie (The Martian), so it will be a bit difficult for me to recall what made this movie good.  I maintain, however, that Everest is a good movie even though The Martian is better in my opinion.

   Jason Clarke in a leading role is always a good thing.  I think he's from Australia, but in this movie he and several of the other actors play professional climbing guides out of New Zealand.

   The thing about this movie is that it's based on a true story, and from what I can tell it sticks to the real story pretty darn well.  The actual events are pretty amazing and quite sad.  This makes the movie equal parts amazing and sad.  Watching it, you really get a good feel that these characters (portraying actual people) were really fighting for their lives and giving it their all.  As a story of human triumph and hope this movie is pretty unparalleled.

   The basic rundown is that Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) has created guided climbing tours of Mt. Everest (in 1992) and now it's become a full blown industry with other companies forming to do the same thing.  And in this summer (1996) there are something like three to five different teams, each leading their own clients to the top of Mt. Everest.

   The movie does a fantastic job of demonstrating the seriousness of the undertaking to climb Mt. Everest, and an even better job giving the viewer a good working knowledge of the basic geography of the mountain itself - very useful when the storm hits and all the characters are spread across the mountain.  This made it much easier to follow the action and not have to stop and think about what I was watching or who I was watching and knowing what each character needed to do to get out of danger.

   In the end it is sad.  Because it's a true story and not everyone made it back down the mountain.  But more than that it is a very effective story of hope and of normal, real human beings overcoming insane obstacles.  I don't know if people still do guided tours of Everest, but this movie gives the viewer a healthy respect for everyone that has ever climbed Everest.

      Big Shot Critic