2015 Summer Movie Season - Tomorrowland: Review & Analysis

 

  

For the Dreamers and the Doers!!! Brad Bird’s Sci Fi Film Is Most Misunderstood and Substance Filled Film of The Summer!!!

Review By: Brandon Porter

Welcome to the Place Where Nothing Is Impossible.

Story

                In the area between time and space, a technologically advanced utopia exist where the best and brightest inventors shape history in a place where imagination runs free and where nothing is impossible. It is a place of limitless wonder and discovery almost nonexistent to the outside world until now. When a young science enthusiast (Britt Robertson) stumbles upon this mysterious world via a pin that send her there with a single touch, she becomes infatuated with this amazing place but can only visit for a short time before being transported back to her world. Desperate to find a way to return there, she soon seeks the aid of a grizzled and grumpy old inventor named Frank Walker (George Clooney) who was once a resident of the mysterious utopia but was unfortunately banished years ago. When powerful forces descend on them, the two must work together to solve a game changing mystery that could potentially threaten that world and theirs. Welcome to Tomorrowland.

Frank and Casey confront each other at Frank's house

Analysis

Disney’s new sci-fi mystery adventure had a lot of things going for it in the beginning. With a up and coming lead actress, an acclaimed award winning actor, and a talented and ambitious director in Brad Bird, Tomorrowland had the makings of a sleeper hit. After the release, reception of the film was dived right down the middle. Tomorrowland earned a straight 50% via rotten tomatoes with a slightly better rating of 63% among movie goers. Praise came for the films’ visual presentation while criticisms aimed at the movie’s storytelling. Financially, the film performed well in a relatively slow Memorial Day weekend nabbing $32.2 million as of May 24, 2015. Overall, reception for Tomorrowland seems to be divided. Whether it be high expectations or low, the potential summer hit might not be in this films future.

Hang On!!!!

Review

                There comes a time where some movies are full of such strong substance and meaning only to be written off because it doesn’t look or have a certain appeal. Tomorrowland is one of those movies. Director Brad Bird brings a sci fi tale that knows what it wants to be and doesn’t let other things tear it away from its goal. After seeing it in IMAX, I am happy to say the film is so much more than what people are making it out to be. Before we get to that, let’s get the basics out of the way first. Visually, Tomorrowland is beautiful. From the cinematography and editing, the film is brimming with life and color. Acting wise, the film is decent throughout. George Clooney and Britt Robertson do great in their roles as does Raffey Cassidy. They are all likable in their roles and you clearly see their enjoyment of being on screen together. But aside from the acting and visuals, the true strength of Tomorrowland lies not in what is displayed on screen, but the powerful message it’s trying to send to people. The recurring theme of the movie is that we live in a world that has embraced its presumably imminent doom. Whether it be from video games, constant news coverage of global chaos, or movies and books series, it is a society that says the world is ending and there is nothing we can do but sit here and wait for it to arrive. But what Tomorrowland is telling you is that this world doesn’t have to be like the post apocalyptic wastelands you see in movies and books like Hunger Games, 1984, and Mad Max. It’s a film that lets you know that you can change this planet’s future as long you don’t give up or let other people tell you it can’t be done. It tells you that you can make it work, you can fix it, and you can help in giving the world a better and brighter future. At the end of the day, that is the main goal the movie is trying accomplish. It’s not trying to be some high octane sci fi summer action movie, it’s a movie that is playing messenger where its success depends on who actually got the message. That is why Tomorrowland is such a great film, it is an inspirational note to all the dreamers and doers in the world who are driven by their imagination, creativity, and heart to make this world a better place. I for one got the message and applaud Brad Bird, his team, ad the Disney family for delivering a terrific film that has true substance and a true statement to make.

Rating and Final Thoughts

Visually beautiful with a great message for the dreamers of today, Tomorrowland is a smart, inspiring, and severely misunderstood gem brimming with hope that people out there can change the future and make it work.

The message was said loud and clear and only those with the ambition and imagination to hear it will be the ones to launch us into the future we both want and deserve.

2015 Summer Movie Season - Pitch Perfect 2: Review & Analysis

 

 

Aca-Awesome!!! Pitch Perfect 2 Offers Great Laughs, Fun Surprises, and Memorable Performances!!!!

Review By: Brandon Porter

They’re Back Pitches

Story

                After winning the top prize at the national a cappella competition three years in a row, The Barton University Bellas are a nationwide sensation. Their recognition so high that they are given the honor to perform for the President of The United States. However, the Bellas soon find themselves at a critical low as an onstage mishap causes a nationwide controversy. Suspended from all competition, the Barton bellas now find themselves once again the laughingstock of the university. Determined to get back in the good graces of their fellow peers and the country, The Barton Bellas embark on a larger than life endeavor in the form of an international a cappella competition that will pit them against the best a cappella crews from around the world. The task made even harder knowing that no American team has ever won the competition. Odds stacked against them and facing more talented opponents. Beca Mitchell (Anna Kendrick), Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson), and the other members of the Barton Bellas must rely more on one another and bring honor to their country and rebuild their reputation.



Bellas Confronted After They’re On-Stage Mishap

               

Analysis

After the colossal success of the sleeper hit Pitch Perfect, Pitch Perfect 2 offers a much larger and more global film for their fans to embrace. Critically, the film did admirably earning a solid critical rating of 68% from critics while earning an equally impressive 78% from audiences and fans. Financially however, Pitch Perfect 2 sung its way to the top earning $70.3 million in North America dethroning Avengers: Age of Ultron as the #1 movie in America. With an additional $38 million in other territories, Pitch Perfect 2 earned a worldwide total of $108.4 million as of May 18, 2015. With another successful installment in the books, the Pitch Perfect franchise is starting to find its voice as a sleeper hit series for Universal Studios and all signs point to another big-time installment in the future for fans to get crazy for.

Bellas on Stage at the World Championships

 

Review

                In September of 2012, critics and movie goers alike were all taken by surprise by the sleeper hit musical comedy Pitch Perfect. Delivering laughs, heart, and show stopping musical renditions of music hits, the film became the most talked about out of nowhere box office success story of the year while also putting the once ridiculed practice of a cappella on the national radar. 3 years later, Elizabeth Banks takes the reigns as director in the anticipated sequel. In the overall grand scheme of things, Pitch Perfect 2 is a fun and entertaining treat. The film doesn’t have the uniqueness of its predecessor, but it does offer fans plenty of stuff to enjoy. The majority of the original Bellas all return with new additions to fill the void. Returning cast members Brittney Snow, Ester Dean, Rebel Wilson, Hana Mea Lee, and Anna Kendrick all return to form as their deal with the reality of life after college graduation. Among them all, Rebel Wilson is clearly given a much bigger role in this film given her status as the fan favorite. As for the newest edition to the series Hailee Steinfeld, who plays bright eyed and eager new bella Emily Junk, it was extremely refreshing to watch her on screen. Over the years, Steinfeld has stuck to doing serious roles in the action and drama department. Pitch Perfect 2 is really my first real look at her taking on the comedic genre. She does come off as awkward at times, but whether it was her or the way she portrayed her character, these issues will be fixed the more she dives into the genre. Aside from her performance, the biggest thing I took from Steinfeld’s performance was the surprising and refreshing revelation that she can actually sing and do it quite decently. Kudos to her for stepping out and giving movie goers a glimpse of what she is capable of. As for the a cappella sequences, they were much more memorable and up the ante from the first movie while offering some great surprises. From surprise appearances to the emotionally charged final act, series fans and a cappella enthusiast were given plenty to smile about. All in all, Pitch Perfect 2 is really for the fans that made the first movie such a hit three years ago. The sky is the limit for this potential franchise and only time will tell if this pro-a cappella film series will ascend the reigns as a true Hollywood powerhouse.

               

Rating and Final Thoughts

The sequel to the sleeper hit of 2012 offers great laughs, fun surprises, and memorable musical numbers for fans to indulge in the their hearts content.

The Barton belles find themselves at the top again as they deliver an aca-awesome sequel worth singing for.

 

2015 Summer Movie Season - Avengers Age of Ultron: Review & Analysis

 

 

A New Age Dawns!!! Second Avengers Movie Offers Surprises, Big Action, and Hints on Studios Course of Direction.

Review By: Brandon Porter 

Avengers ASSEMBLE!!!!

 

Story

                Four years ago, the world discovered just how connected to the universe we are. Facing imminent destruction, a group of super powered individuals known as The Avengers stood up and defended the earth in its darkest hour saving countless lives and making themselves a force to be reckoned with. Since that fateful battle, the members of the team face a new and more formidable threat. With SHIELD decimated and threats popping up at a consistently rapid rate, the Avengers now are tasked with more responsibilities and little time to rest. To help take the burden off, Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr) unearths a secret peacekeeping program known as Ultron (James Spader). Programmed to defend human life, Ultron takes his role to heart but in an entirely different and deadly way. Now facing a menace bent on saving humanity by destroying it, Stark, Steve Rodgers (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) must assemble once more to face Ultron, his legion of robotic minions, and a pair of mysterious super powered twins (Elizabeth Olsen and Arron Taylor Johnson). When the dust settles, the very fabric of the world will change forever and bring forth a brand new age.

 

 

United but divided

 

Analysis

Since the colossal success of Marvel’s The Avengers, Marvel Studios has seen much change. With 4 movies spanning 2 years including two record breaking blockbusters last year, Marvel has quickly risen to become one of the most marketable film studios in Hollywood. Their latest installment in the ever growing Marvel Cinematic Universe comes in the form of the second Avengers movie, Age of Ultron. In a year already packed with potential blockbusters, Age of Ultron was a sure fire top pick on everyone’s list. After the film’s release, the film both delivered and not delivered. From a critical standpoint, Avengers: Age of Ultron earned a solid but shockingly low critical score of 74% on rotten tomatoes as opposed to an above average score of 90% among audiences and fans. Financially however, the film performed just as you might expect. Age of Ultron earned an outstanding $191.3 million in North America with an additional $439 million in various other territories. As of May 6^th, Age of Ultron has earned a total of ___ million worldwide. Several records were also broken by the film including $84.46 million on its opening day making it the biggest opening day for a superhero film and the second-biggest opening and second-biggest single-day gross, behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in addition to and IMAX opening weekend record of $25.2 million, a title previously held by The Dark Knight Rises, while also breaking the record for the fastest movie to make over $40 million in IMAX theaters in a span of just 12 days. Despite the critical shortcomings of the second “assembling” of earth’s mightiest heroes, Age of Ultron is no question one of the biggest box office hits of the year. With more potential blockbusters on the way, the film no question makes its case as the film to beat this summer movie season.

 

The Avengers Fight off Ultron's Minions

 

 

 

Review

                Even though I have been following Marvel since The Avengers 3 years ago, I only recently became a true fan of the foundation that the studio was building. Avengers: Age of Ultron, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2012 bonified classic, saw the return of Joss Whedon and the original cast to deliver a worthy sequel and another key installment to the MCU. Happily, I can say it accomplished both. Seeing it in IMAX 3D, I am very pleased with how the film turned out. Writer and director Joss Whedon does an admirable job balancing an enormously loaded list of material and making it work to the best of his ability. Though I’m still piecing together details, I was still able to make the connections that allowed me to not get too lost. This defienatley speaks volumes to Whedon’s ability as a screenwriter and a director. The writing in the movie is as well structured, witty, and satisfying as the original while offering fun surprises and catering to the film’s darker tone. As for the principle cast, terrific all around. Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, and Robert Downey, Jr all do great in their roles exhibiting new found flaws that challenge their characters mentally as well as physically. Jeremy Renner, I’m pleased to say, has a much more defined role in this movie having more screen time and showcasing than he did in the first. As for the new additions, Aaron Taylor Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen, who play scarlet witch and Quicksilver respectively, are welcome additions into the MCU. Elizabeth Olsen is the true standout of the two doing a great job exhibiting Wanda Maximoff’s cunningness but yet reserved and thoughtful personality. Her impact on not just the team but the story itself is so vital offering some of the film’s more emotionally driven moments as well as possibly giving a glimpse at what might be coming to the MCU down the road. Aaron Taylor Johnson is solid as Quicksilver in the movie as well. Though he had to reach the high bar set by the Evan Peters portrayed Quicksilver in last year’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, Johnson was fun to watch in the screen time he was given. James Spader as Ultron is a solid follow up villain next to Loki. Exhibiting a unique charisma and a driven spirit to pursue supreme order, Spader's Ultron does well in is own right, but not quite good enough to top Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki in the first film. Paul Bettney's Vision is also a great new character in the film. offering as a polar opposite to Ultron, he carries a more calmer more compassionate demeanor and also had one of the film's biggest surprises. Definitely fun seeing him on screen. Action wise, it is structured differently than the first film. Instead of small action sequences leading up to a spectacular climactic brawl, The movie has different but large epic scale set pieces spread out throughout the film. From the beginning raid in sokovia, the raucous Hulk vs Hulkbuster sequence, and the chase sequence in Korea, Age of Ultron offers nonstop action and more memorable action sequences that will surely thrill and excite. Despite the more action sequences offered, the movie’s climactic battle delivers the same great showcase style that made the first movie so special while offering some very big surprises along the way. All in all, Avengers Age of Ultron is a more than worthy sequel to the 2012 blockbuster and offers subtle hints on where Marvel is going with this ship their sailing on. With a foundation set and pieces still left to be in play, all we can do is enjoy the ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rating and Final Thoughts

Large scale action, darker tone, and solid screenwriting and directing make Avengers: Age of Ultron a terrific addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and foreshadows the destinations the brand is heading.

 

Dark times prepare to descend on the MCU as a certain someone decides to take matters into his own “hand”.