August Review/September Preview

Today is the last day in August and that means that summer movie season is pretty much over. And just as every summer season, this years’ August had no lack of surprises, disappointments, and just what we expected.

The month started on a terrible, terrible note with the worst super hero movie ever made in Fantastic Four (if you don’t agree with me, then I need you to reevaluate your life). A movie where you can’t blame the cast, or the special effects, or the lack of imagination; there is literally only one person to blame and that is Sony. The one that refuses to make a decent Fantastic Four movie and refuses to give the rights back to Disney and instead thinks that it is okay to produce the 100 minute trailer that they made.

On the same weekend that Fantastic Four was supposed to kill the box office numbers, The Gift came out and delivered everything that Fantastic Four was lacking. A story first of all that although seemed predictable ended up surprising. A cast that seemed sure of their role and portrayed that role with confidence, and a director that controlled the tempo of this film to perfection! (No seriously, watch this movie!!)

August then delivered what I believe to have been the two best movies of the month in The Man from U.N.C.L.E and Straight Out of Compton. Let us begin with The Man from U.N.C.L.E, if you have ever wondered what Superman fused with James Bond would look like then this is the film for you! In a super spy retro flick where the stakes are as high as the destruction of the nuclear weapons that Henry Cavill AKA Napoleon Solo is chasing after. It was a movie that made you feel like you were in the 1960s along for the ride.

Straight Out of Compton won the box office for that weekend and continues to win it as the rap group N.W.A’s bio pic caused “controversy” while also re-introducing the famous rappers to younger generations that were not aware of the back story of many successful music hits that are still popular today.

The following weekend didn’t disappoint but didn’t surprise either. It was a good solid dose of humor in American Ultra and a stereotypical, predictable, and honestly boring action film in Hitman Agent 47. American Ultra delivered a hilarious sorta comedy, sorta action film that gave us weirdly awesome chemistry between Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart. Although I am tired of her choosing roles that compliment her awkwardness, I have finally given up on watching her break out of her shell.

In regards to Hitman Agent 47, I can’t imagine a movie based on a video game that will be good. Not to say it isn’t possible but I just don’t see it happening. However, the basis of this movie is not where it went wrong. It went wrong in the fact that it attempted to surprise you once too many times and ultimately failed. A film that even if the plot was ignored, there would still be too few oohs and ahs.

Sadly, the month didn’t end with the bang that I had hoped for however; watching Owen Wilson in a non-comedic role was more than refreshment to my soul. Honestly I wasn’t as impressed because I knew he had it in him, but in my mind this solidified my idea of Owen Wilson being more than just a funny middle aged actor. (In my opinion) I always compared Adam Sandler to Owen Wilson, well that comparison no longer stands and my hat goes off to Mr. Wilson (now go watch No Escape!!)

I am disappointed with We Are Your Friends! Why? Because I wanted it to suck. I told everyone that would listen how much of a joke this movie was going to be. But what happened? The complete opposite; was this a great movie? No. But it did not suck. I found myself enjoying the corny jokes and the predictability only made me want to keep watching.

SEPTEMBER MOVIE PREVIEW!!

What do I expect to be great?

Hotel Transylvania 2 and Everest. Hotel Transylvania the original was fun. It was a good “sit with the kids” family film, and after watching the previews for numero dos, I can only imagine that it will be just as fun as the first one. Of course there is plenty of evidence that proves that a sequel isn’t always a good idea but let me be positive. And then there’s Everest, I have always been a sucker for natural disaster type movies such as The Day After Tomorrow. Movies that will never be compared to the all-time greats but can give you a wonderful experience when watched in a dark movie theater sipping coke with a twizzler.

What do I expect to be decent?

Maze Runner Scorch Trials and Perfect Guy. Movies based on books such as the Hunger Games pseudo trilogy and the Insurgent movies are gathering very quick fatigue. However the special effects for this movie look crazy along with the scenography that is seen in the trailers. The only question remaining is how much of the books will be in the movie and how much will they change things to make them “movie-friendly.” The Perfect Guy is a movie that I feel has been made before in movies such as Obsessed and The Boy Next Door, although the cast for this movie makes things a bit more exciting, I wouldn’t expect too much from the plot.

What do I expect to be horrible?

The Transporter Refueled Why? Just why? Why on God’s green Earth would you make a new transporter movie and not include Jason Statham?! Granted that Jason possibly was offered the role and declined, that in itself should be reason enough not to make the movie! (In case you are wondering, I feel the same way about Furious 8 and continuing the franchise without Paul Walker.) And if you’re wondering if this is my only reason as to why this movie will be bad then yes, yes it is. Because I will only be thinking “that man isn’t Jason” throughout the whole movie.

So that wraps up my thoughts on what August was and what September might be… Agree? Disagree? What was your favorite movie of August? What was the worst? What do you expect from the slate of September movies? Let me know in the comments box right over… there! ---->