Re-Porter Blog: Year End Post (Top 5 Films of 2014)

Hey Followers!!!! We are now in day 365 of 2014. It has been a great year!!! So many great moments both good and bad!! But now, 2015 is just hours away and the trailers and photos prove the movies that await us in the New Year will be truly unprecedented, but more on that in tomorrow’s post. Today, the last day of 2014, let me share with you my top 5 favorite films from this year….

 

 

 

Top Five Pick #1

Marvel Studios dominated the pop culture scene at the movies this year with two epic spectacles. One of those is Captain America: The Winter Soldier!!! I honestly cannot say enough about this movie for it not only delivered some of the best action of all the films this year but the incredible twist within it completely shook the MCU itself. Marvel proved with this film that they aren’t afraid to take risk, and this risk has them soaking in all the rewards. With another huge ASSEMBLING arriving next year, Marvel put the pieces in place to raise their flag even higher.

 

Top Five Pick #2

 

“Just because someone stumbles and loses their way, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever”. That line delivered by Charles Xavier says a lot about life and what DOFP did for the 14 year old superhero franchise. Delivering and dark and grim atmosphere, top notch performances, and an emotionally strong fiber, X-Men: Days of Future Past not only celebrates its past successes but breathes new life into the series and starts begins the path of the new era for the heroic mutants.

 

 

Top Five Pick #3

 

Christopher Nolan delivers once again in the thought-provoking sci-fi epic about humanity’s next great step. Nolan always finds a way to engross his audience into his films turning his movies into an experience. Strong performances from Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, and Anne Hathaway, a emotionally strong story, and typical Nolan awe and scope create an out of this world experience that satisfied me in almost every shape and form.

 

 

Top Five Pick #4

After the surprise hit Rise, You would not expect the reboot of the late sixties sci fi franchise to find new relevance in the new age of films. Well Dawn of the Planet of The Apes proves that a reboot can give an age old franchise new life as well as relevance. Delivering a darker tone, tremendous performance capture and acting, thrilling action, and a strong plot. Dawn shines as one of 2014’s best and shows that it has the potential to reach heights that even the original couldn’t even reach.

 

 

Top Five Pick #5

In August, the movie world became hooked on a feeling for Star Lord, Groot, Gamora, Drax, and Rocket. These cosmic criminals turned heroes came into the cinema universe and the MCU with skepticism and came out as the most talked and obsessed about pop culture characters of the year. Guardians proves Marvel knows exactly how to bring characters into their Cinematic universe and give them new meaning and purpose. The film stands tall as one of the most complete films in the MCU and in 2014. Truly impressive…for a bunch of a-holes.

 

These 5 films are my top five picks for the year. However, their were other films that were under consideration. Here is a list of the notable films that I considered putting on my list.

 

 

 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Leaving Mockingjay Part 1 off the list was a very tough decision. However, even though I am a huge fan of the franchise, I have to put this latest entry in the series as the weakest installment. It does contain some of the best acting out of all the films, but it's lack of action and dragging pace hurt it more than help it. Good news is, that the film perfectly sets up what is sure to be an epic grand finale.

 

 

 

The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner was, out of the films on this runner-up list, under serious consideration for being on my top five. The film did something that no other young adult film not named Hunger Games did, come close to reaching the high bar set by that franchise. Fast paced action, dark tone, intriguing premise, and all the while staying true to the source material, The Maze Runner makes it's case to be the wild card among YA film adaptions. Be on the lookout for Phase two come next.

 

 

 

Big Hero 6

Baymax and the gang had a welcome introduction to the screen in Disney's first ever film featuring Marvel characters. Great action, humor, and heart were at the center of this animated adventure about 5 genius and the impossible not to fall in love with health care companion. I anxiously await to see these heroes suit up for their next mission

 

 

 

 

How To Train Your Dragon 2

It is pretty rare that you see a sequel to an acclaimed animated classic be more action packed, stunning visually, and emotional. But that is exactly what How To Train our Dragon 2 is. I enjoyed the first one very much but the sequel is I feel light-years ahead of the original. If the third installment is anything like this one or better, than a top 5 spot is in the bag for sure.

 

 

 

 

Five films, 4 runner ups, multiple studios, one memorable collection of movies!!!! It has been a great year for movies and I don’t think I have to stress to you how nuts 2015 is going to be. But just in case you need a reminder, check in tomorrow for my top 10 upcoming films for 2015. Have a safe new year’s eve everyone!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

District 13 Special Briefing

 

As the Capitol began making their way through the various Districts securing tributes for the eventual 74^th Annual Hunger Games, their final stop brought them to the mining colony District 12. As the reaping commenced, Capitol representative at the time Effie Trinket pulled a name out of the female jar and read the name “Primrose Everdeen”. As the frightened 12 year old made her way to the stage, a hysterical young woman cried for her from behind and as she pushed her way through peacekeepers she firmly announced she would volunteer in her sister’s place. As the brave young woman made her way to the stage with her heartbroken sister being carried off crying behind her, the girl known as Katniss Everdeen stood in front of a crowd of stunned citizens who gave her the district exclusive three finger salute. This was truly the first of many moments of hope this young tribute would become part of.

 

As Katniss Everdeen made her way to the capitol to begin her training and participation for the Games, the tribute parade and her interview with Capitol host Caesar Flickerman were important moments for it truly showed that she had the ability to capture the attention the citizens of the districts and the citizens of the Capitol. From her breathtaking entrance with fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mallark to her enchanting appearance during the final interviews, we here in District 13 saw this as the true indication of this girl influence on a nation.

However, the biggest moment that defined Miss Everdeen’s influence on the Districts happened during the Games. After surviving the initial brutal and bloody first days of the 74^th Hunger Games, Katniss befriended a shy and high spirited young girl from District 11 named Rue. From the start, the two quickly connected emotionally probably based on the fact that Rue reminded Katniss of her little sister Prim back home. The two even were able to successfully sabotage the supply line for the career tributes sending them into a handicapped frenzy. Sadly, the alliance was short lived as Rue was tragically slain by one of the career tributes after falling into a trap. As she lay there dying while Katniss sings her to sleep, we here in District 13 saw something that floored us all. Within this woman’s eyes was an intensity that was filled with sadness, rage, and fury. She then proceeded to make Rue a small funeral sight and tearfully gave the three finger salute to her and to her home district 11 under the impression they had seen the whole event. Little did Miss Everdeen know that her act of love and gratitude for this young girl would ignite the initial flames of rebellion as a number of the districts including 11 broke out in full scale riots causing mass hysteria and giving us a glimpse into what was to come.

 

After making it all the way to the end, Peeta Mallark and Katniss Everdeen faced a difficult decision as the Capitol revoked a previous rule change allowing two victors from the same District to return home as champions. Faced with the possibility of ending her District partner’s life, Katniss made a bold move and proceeded to convince Peeta and herself to indulge in poisonous berries causing this Hunger Games to have no victor. Not willing to allow this to happen, the Capitol was forced to allow both Peeta and Katniss to be victors of the Hunger Games. This blatant defiance and outsmarting gave Miss Everdeen a bigger presence on our radar while also putting her at the top of President Snow’s hit list.

 

Soon after the 74^th annual Hunger Games, initial riots and uprising started to occur across Panem. However, Miss Everdeen never truly knew the extent of her actions in the arena until she arrived in district 11 on the first stop on the annual victory tour. Upon tearfully expressing her love for her fallen friend Rue, the entire square blossomed with her three finger salute. This was the first time Katniss had witnessed how heavily her actions impacted the nation. As a result, massive hysteria broke out as peacekeepers attacked the crowd and gunned down an elderly man who had started the display of rebellion. The displays of rebellion didn’t stop there. As Katniss visited the majority of the districts, signs of defiance against the Capitol were in full display as various citizens showed their bravery and out right defiance against the Capitol. Try as she might to calm the flames of the incoming revolution, the spark that she had lit was too strong and the flames of war started to burn to the third degree.

 

 

 

After the victory tour, we were convinced that this woman was the key in helping rally the nation into igniting the revolution that would change our future. With the help of our skilled sleeper agent Plutarch Heavensbee, we were able to convince President Snow into having the Annual Quarter Quell featuring past victors of the Hunger Games which included Katniss Everdeen. Little did Snow know that we had strong connections to a handful of districts and their victors including Finnick Odair, Beetee and Wiress Latier, and Johanna Mason. With the pool of tributes set and everything in place, we were ready to embark on this extremely important mission with one goal in mind: Keep Katniss Alive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a long hard fight and a well-executed plan, Plutarch, Haymitch, Finnick, and Beetee were successful in extracting a very injured, battered, and bruised Katniss Everdeen from the destroyed arena. Her extractors were forced to tell her about everything that had transpired and that it was always the plan to get her safely away from the Capitol. Her reluctance, confusion, and rage became more present when it was discovered that Haymitch’s team failed to rescue Peeta Mellark resulting in his apprehension by the Capitol. But the troubles of our dubbed “Mockingjay” only got worse. On the team’s return trip back to base, we received word that President Snow ordered a fatal bombing run on District 12 resulting in the majority of the population being killed. According to Katniss’ close friend Gale Hawthorne, he was able to evacuate a small group of citizens before the attack took place including Katniss’ mother and her sister Prim. Gale tells us he later informs Everdeen of the bombing much to her dismay and rage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTENTION!!! ATTENTION!!!! THIS IS A HACKED TRANSMISSION FROM DISTRICT 13!!!!!!

HELLO READERS!!!! PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT CONTROL OF THIS BLOGGER PROFILE HAS BEEN SIEZED BY THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT 13!!!! WE REQUEST THAT YOU STAY TUNED FOR A SPECIAL BREIFING IN THE COMING DAYS!!!!

2014 Summer Movie Season Special Edtion

2014 Summer Movie Season Awards

 

 

 

 

Hello Followers!!! Hope you are all having a great day. It has been a memorable summer movie season. We laughed, we cried, we cheered, and even jeered. Now, we are on the cusp of the Fall film line up, the time has come to recognize some of the best movies of the 2014 SMS!!! Here are the winners….

 

 

 

Best Animated Film

 

DreamWorks’ How To Train Your Dragon 2 takes the crown as the summer’s best animated movie. Beautiful animation, fast action, and an emotionally heartfelt story, Dragon 2 is just another brilliantly done adventure that will more than likely get some possible Oscar nods as well.

 

 

Best Drama

Their little infinite captured the hearts of millions. The on screen adaptation of John Green’s beloved novel offered a heavy dose of humor, emotion, and boxes upon boxes of used tissue. The terrific performances from Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort made sparks fly high and the females swoon in this very well done adaption of the beloved romance novel.

 

 

 

 

Best Studio



 

20^th Century Fox grabs the honor of best studio during the 2014 summer movie season. With all 4 of their summer films (The Fault in Our Stars, Dawn of the Planet of The Apes, X-Men Days of Future Past, How To Train Your Dragon 2) garnered critical and financial acclaim and were among some of the season’s best movies. Shout out to the folks at Fox for coming up big this year

 

 

 

 

 

Best Action Movie

 

The Bay-hem takes center stage in this award. Transformers Age of Extinction, despite its endless list of flaws, still delivered the best action out of all the movies this year. What the film lacked in substance in made up for in action and spectacle. Oh well, we’ll take what we can get.

 

 

 

Best Surprise Film

 

The biggest surprise film of this summer season comes from the heroes in a half shell. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. With great on-screen depictions of the four lovable brothers and some good hearted moments that made the film really stand out. TMNT rose above its initial criticism to become the summer’s surprise gem. BOOYAKASHA!!!!

 

 

 

 

Best Superhero Movie

 

X-Men Days of Future Past is my choice for the best superhero movie. Of all the superhero movies I have seen, DOFP was one of the most emotionally powerful ones I have ever experienced. Top notch acting and a well-executed story make the film stand out among the competition.

 

 

Best Sci-Fi Film

 

 

ALL HAIL CEASAR!!! The sequel to the surprise box office hit of 2011 rises to become not only one of the summer’s best movies but one of the best films in 2014 period. Delivering a gritty, substance filled epic with stellar performances and action, Dawn stands tall as one of the best sequels in recent memory.

 And now the top award for the 2014 summer movie season!!!.......

 

 

 

Movie of the Summer

This one here is a no brainer!!!! The award for the summer’s best movie goes to the lovable criminals turned galactic defenders. Marvel Studios delivered arguably the most talked about, obsessed about, and most beloved movies in 2014. It has already established itself as 2014’s highest grossing movie with fellow Marvel Studios film Captain America: The Winter Soldier nabbing the #2 spot. The entire nation is hooked on a feeling for one of Marvel’s best films ever. WE..ARE..GROOT!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Congrats to all the films who nabbed awards this year. I want to thank all you followers for supporting the blog for yet another year. Your support drives me to continue bringing these post to you. Be on the lookout later this year for more post and of course the latest reviews for the highly anticipated 2015 Summer Movie Season. Until We Meet Again Followers!!!! Have a great Fall and Winter!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 Summer Movie Season - Month By Month Recaps

Month 4 Recap (August 2014)

 

Happy Labor Day Followers, The month of August has been by far the most memorable in recent memory. Records were broken and fun was definitely in full effect. With that said, let’s look back the final month of the summer movie season and the stand out movies.

Guardians of the Galaxy

 What more can be said about one of the year's most quoted, funniest, heartwarming, action packed, and memorable films from the prestigious folks at Marvel Studios. Guardians of the Galaxy reached and surpassed the sky high expectations to become not only one the most  talked about films of the summer movie season, but the highest grossing film of 2014. Not bad for a bunch of A-holes. 

 

 

 

 

Get On Up

Brimming with soul, funk, and humor. The biopic chronicling James Brown's rise to super stardom became a true triumph among the films shown this year. However, movies such as Guardians and Turtles overshadowed the true potential this film had to become a blockbuster. But that in way meant that the funk still wasn't felt.










Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

With all the controversy and negativity thrown its way, the reboots of the heroes in a half shell actually turned out to be better than people expected. With great humor, fast action, and terrific depictions of the turtles you know. TMNT ended up being a quite enjoyable and memorable experience. BOOYAKASHA!!!!

The Expendables 3

You ever heard the expression, "We're getting too old for this"? well, Somebody from the Expendables crew should start speaking up. With watered down action and a weak cast of young newcomers, The Expendables 3 should probably be the white flag in this action franchise. Might be time to trade that assault rifle for a cane or walker.








Here is a Breakdown on How the Following Films Did Financially and Among Critics

 

Best Box Office Numbers

1. Guardians of the Galaxy: $547.7 Million

2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: $274,506,000 Million

3. The Expendables 3: $83,539,000 Million

4. Get On Up: $29,005,665 Million

 

Best Critical Success (via. Rotten Tomatoes)

1. Guardians of the Galaxy (92% Certified Fresh)

2. Get On Up (78% Certified Fresh)

3. The Expendables 3 (34%)

4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (20%)

 

 

What Was Your Favorite Movie in August 2014? Be sure to stay tuned in the next few days for the Summer Movie Season Awards. See you then.

2014 Summer Movie Season - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Review & Analysis

 

 

 

Shell-Shocked!!!! Ninja Turtles Reboot is Surprise Jewel of the Summer Movie Season!!!!

By: Brandon Porter

Mutants, Turtles, Teenagers, Ninjas, Brothers.

 

 

Story

                In the city of New York, Crime and corruption run rampant. The city finds itself in the Iron grip of the mysterious foot clan who have the city under lockdown and also keeps the police in check as well. But hope come from an unlikely place. Deep from within the sewers, 4 young mutant warriors rise up and stand ready to defend New York at its darkest hour. With the powerful samurai overlord Shredder ready to plunge the city into chaos, the warriors known as Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello emerge from the shadows to save the city and be the heroes they were destined to be.

April visits Master Splinter and the Turtles in their lair.

Analysis

Upon news that the popular sci fi mutant ninja turtles franchise was to be rebooted, fans were both skeptical and curious to see how Hollywood would bring the turtles back to the big screen. That curiousness was met with fan outrage when it was announced that Michael Bay was to be involved in the reboot. After controversial storylines grabbed everyone’s attention including the casting of Megan Fox to the rumored aliens from outer space premise, it was clear that the rebooted franchise was on the wrong side of the anticipation line. Once released, the lack of a warm reception carried over into the opinions of critics and fans. Critics hammered the film with a horrid 19% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes despite a passable 64% fresh rating from critics. Despite being bashed by critics and fans, the film still grabbed top box office honors with a 65 million dollar total. Overall, the turtles may be back, but their welcome is far from warm.

The turtles take on Shredder

Review

                Initially, I had no interest in watching the rebooted Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But after a while, the film started to grow on me so I decided to give it a shot. In the end, I’m glad I did. The film is surprisingly good. It has a different vibe and look to it, but still harbors the light hearted fun that makes the turtles so lovable. In terms of the turtles themselves, they are the best thing about the film. All the turtles may look menacing and kind of scary, but once you get past the looks which I did pretty quickly, you realize these are accurate depictions of the pizza loving ninja heroes you know and love. Leo is grounded and loyal, Raph is hot headed and tough, Donnie is tech savvy and nerdy, and Mickey is..well…Mickey and in the best way possible. Pete Ploszek (with Johnny Knoxville providing the voice), Alan Ritchson, Noel Fisher, and Jeremy Howard do a great job in capturing these characters and bringing them to life. However I must say, Mickey is by far the film’s biggest bright spots. His outrageous gags and antics had me laughing out loud on several occasions. He is clearly the films scene stealer. Megan Fox is also surprisingly strong as April O’Neal. She caputures her spirit and fieriness quite well and I am very pleased with her performance even if others aren’t. The action in the movie is fast, fun, and fluid with memorable sequences like a great snow mountain chase scene and hard hitting martial arts action that young fans are sure to be practicing in their bedrooms for many nights to come. All in all, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles turned out to be a pretty great time with plenty of laughs, action, and good all-around performances. That said, I actually wouldn’t mind if the heroes in a half shell made a return if the right improvements are made to make it even better.

               

Rating and Final Thoughts

Nice action, good performances, and great all around fun make this reboot of the ninja turtles franchise a surprise gem of the summer.

The turtles are back and they are having a good time along the way.