No one expected Taken to be as massive a hit as it was. The film, released in 2009, was a sleeper hit at the box office and reinvented Liam Neeson's career as an action star, leading to many films where Liam Neeson punches and kills quite a lot of people or things (see: Unbroken, The Grey, Non-Stop). In addition, due to Taken's massive success, two sequels were made: Taken 2, an unnecessary mess of a film that was essentially the same film as the first one, only this time he and his wife were taken, and this (supposedly) final installment, Taken 3 (or Tak3n, as it's stylized because....the kiddies will think it's cool).
In this latest installment, Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is trying to live a normal life in L.A. with his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) and ex-wife Lenore (Famke Jenssen), who is having marital problems with her current husband Stuart (Douguray Scott). One morning, Mills returns home to find Lenore's throat slashed in his room and the cops descending on his location instantly. It seems that Mills has been set up to look like he murdered his wife. Now, he must go on the run, evading Inspector Frank Dotzler (Forest Whitaker) while trying to keep his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) safe from harm.
It still amazes me that this franchise is still going when it clearly should have ended at the first one. Taken 3 still doesn't improve much over the last film, as it is a brainless, idiotic action film that clearly show signs the franchise needs to end.
The only positive thing about the film is that Liam Neeson is still an absolute blast to watch. He still commands the screen whenever he shows up and, at the age of 62, he moves very well and handles all of his action scenes with ease.
However, the movie does not seem to realize this and instead decides to follow around Forest Whitaker and his merry band of misfits around for a solid 15-20 minutes. Let me rephrase that: Liam Neeson, the only reason to keep watching these movies, disappears for 15-20 minutes. When your biggest asset in your movie decides to disappear for 20 minutes and the movie decides to pad things for a while, there's a problem. While entertaining as he might be, even Neeson isn't enough to save this movie.
Forest Whitaker, while a good actor in his own right, has a character that is one of the most clichéd, predictable characters in the entire movie. Whitaker is a good actor, there is no doubt about that. But he's given so many cheesy lines like, "He couldn't find a tail if it was attached to a dog" and does every single beat you would expect this character to do. Following him and his fellow cops around feels rather pointless, as if the film was too short so they decided to pad it a lot more. Finally, Whitaker's logic behind why Neeson could be innocent might be one of the stupidest moments in film that I have seen this year.....and it's only January.
The rest of the supporting cast doesn't fare well either. Maggie Grace is literally given nothing to do other than worry about her dad and making sure he's OK, even though she's CLEARLY seen him take down bad guys with ease before, especially in the first movie when she was kidnapped. Dougray Scott, as Stuart, is also given very little to do until the final 25 minutes of the film.
On a technical level, the film fails miserably. The setting this time is in LA, not abroad in Europe. Due to being stateside, the film feels very cheaply made, as if everyone involved really didn't care at all about the making of the film. The script, written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, who wrote the last two installments, is incredibly boring, as not much happens within the film until the final 30 minutes. It's mainly people walking around, finding Mills, and talking on cell phones. There's no tension behind any of what happens.
Director Oliver Megaton (Taken 2) furiously cuts and edits the film during the action scenes, which are among some of the worst editing I have seen in films. The editing moves so quickly and furiously that you can barely tell exactly what is going on. Not only that, but the editing essentially tries to tell us that we are watching a quick paced, exciting thriller, when in reality, all it ends up is one dragged out and overlong action thriller.
Overall, Taken 3 really proves why it's time for this franchise to die. Liam Neeson and Forest Whitaker try their best to rise above the film, but they're bogged down by bad dialogue, an incredibly boring script, and bad guys so generic you're going to forget them as soon as you leave the theater. The film proves that just because lightning struck once, doesn't mean it was going to happen again.
GRADE: F
Have you seen Taken 3? If not, do you plan to? Sound off with your thoughts on the film in the comments below!
Well, we've looked back at the past year for movies, the good and the bad. Now let us turn ahead to the future. 2015 has SO many good movies coming out that it was hard just to whittle it down to 15 alone. This is going to be a great year for films I can just tell. But let us not waste any more time, let's jump right into the 15 films I can not wait to see in 2015 (see what I did there?)
Now this list was perhaps the hardest list to create out of all the films on this list. If there is a film I may have missed on the list, I either did not think of it or did not warrant it for these 15 films. That does not mean I'm excited for it, these are the films that truly have my interest in the course of the year. Also, I will be adding a trailer to those that have one below after my thoughts on each film.
Finally, as always everyone, this is my own list. You are welcome to your own opinions, as film is subjective. All I ask is that you respect mine.
And now....
These are my top 15 most anticipated films of 2015. #15. In the Heart of the Sea (March 13)
Ron Howard has been making some eclectic and unique films in his career. First it was the adaption of Dan Brown's thrillers The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, then it was 2013's vastly underappreciated Rush, and now he returns with this at-sea thriller. The film is based on the true story of the whaling ship the Essex, which, in 1820, is destroyed by a massive sperm whale, forcing the crew to be marooned for 90s days. The tale is also what inspired author Herman Melville to create his masterpiece, Moby Dick. The premise itself is intriguing alone. and the cast is rather excellent, with Chris Hemsworth teaming once more with Howard after a phenomenal turn in Rush. In addition, I'm extremely curious to see how Ron Howard handles a big sea disaster film, as we've seen very few good ones since The Perfect Storm. I'm enjoying the fact that Howard is moving into more darker, dramatic territory and hopefully In The Heart of the Sea will be able to continue that trend.
#14. Inside Out (June 14)
It's been quite a while since Pixar released a film hasn't it? 2014 saw nothing released from the animation giant, an unusual occurrence as there usually is a Pixar movie every year. Well, not only is Pixar back with two films this year, and this first one looks like an incredibly strong return to the original stories that made them household names in the first place. The idea is that young Riley is uprooted from her home and moves to San Francisco. Her emotions inside of her, including Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness, try to help her adjust to her new life while also struggling with the change themselves. Not only is this such a unique and cool idea, but it's backed by a stellar voice cast: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, and Diane Lane to name a few. It's been quite a while since Pixar had a great movie on their hands, and I'm hoping that this (as well as the upcoming The Good Dinosaur) bring them back to that glory.
#13. Ant-Man (July 17)
Marvel, you never cease to amaze me. Originally, I was not going to put this film on here, as while I was looking forward to it, I also didn't have much interest in it. After all the behind the scenes drama with Edgar Wright leaving the project and then having Peyton Reed, the director of Bring it On and The Break-Up, you know, GREAT examples to direct a superhero film, I was skeptical if this would continue Marvel's winning streak, or start showing the real chinks in their armor. And then.....the teaser trailer debuted last night during Agent Carter. I am genuinely surprised by how great this looks, especially the design and use of the Ant-Man suit. The effects look great and the tone of the trailer completely me took me by surprise, as it's much more serious and dramatic than I was expecting. I think what the real winner about this whole trailer however is that we're focusing on the relationship between con man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and his young daughter, which in turn gives him a reason to become a hero and prove his worth. This is an idea not really explored in much superhero films, how being a hero can affect your family, and I like how Marvel is going with this angle. Marvel, I don't know how you did it, but you did the impossible: got me excited for this movie.
#12. Crimson Peak (October 16)
Very little has been known about Guillermo Del Toro's return to gothic horror, but from what I keep hearing from Comic Con and based off this first image, it's going to be a true return to classic horror. I love the cast involved, especially the involvement of Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain, and the design seems to mix gothic buildings with Del Toro's own style of creating worlds. All I know of the plot is that Mia Wasikowska's characters falls for and marries Tom Hiddleston's character, who turns out to not be all he appears to be. This seems like the first true horror film to come out in a long time, and based off this first picture of Chastain, I can hardly wait.
#11. The Revenant (December 25)
I am greatly curious in The Revenant. There hasn't been many Westerns out in the last few years, with the True Grit remake, Django Unchained, and yes, even A Million Ways to Die in the West among the bigger ones. However, the plot feels like a good old fashioned revenge story: When fur trapper Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) gets mauled by a bear, his compatriots (Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, and Domhnall Gleeson) rob Glass and leave him for dead. Glass survives and sets out to take down the men who betrayed him. I'm hoping that this could be the role that finally gains Leo an Oscar win (hopefully). Not only that but this is the next film that director Alejandro González Iñárritu is making after coming off of his critically acclaimed Birdman. I can't wait until an official trailer for this film is finally released.
#10. The Peanuts Movie (November 6)
I absolutely love the Peanuts gang. Charles M. Schultz's cast of amazing characters has been a massive part of my childhood from day one and the annual holiday specials are traditional required viewing in my household. When I heard that they were making a CG movie, I was understandably nervous, as most classic things from childhood are updated with god-awful pop culture references, like twerking, characters rapping for no reason other than it's hip to the kiddies, and really, painstakingly obvious current jokes kids will get. Blessedly, producer Paul Feig has been working closely with Charles' son Bryan and grandson Craig in order to deliver a proper Peanuts movie- one without Snoopy or Charlie Brown rapping/twerking. This first trailer seems to deliver on that promise by celebrating what Peanuts, and in turn Schultz's vison is about: dreaming big and using your own imagination to be happy within life. This is my most anticipated animated film of the year, as when you watch the trailer, you'll feel like a child again, giddy at seeing so imaginative and creative.
#9. Jupiter Ascending (February 6)
Usually when a film gets pushed back from its original release date to next year, it's never a good sign. Jupiter Ascending was supposed to be out last July, but was pushed back to February due to needing more time to complete some 2,000 effects shots left. Honestly, I'm glad they took the time to finish things up, as this looks like one of the most original science fiction films to come out in a while. Alien royalty has been harvesting life on other planets in order to create a type of youth serum. Three siblings, one of them played by Eddie Reymayne, is at war over who gains their late mother's inheritance. They then find that there is an unknown heir: Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), a house cleaner on Earth. Balem (Reymayne) immediately places a bounty on her head, causing warrior Caine Wise (Channing Tatum) to protect her. The Wachowskis are known for their big, grand stories (see The Matrix and Cloud Atlas for examples), and this looks like to be one of their biggest yet. I like the mix of gorgeous CGI worlds with the use of more practical effects (such as Caine's gravity shoes). It's very rare to see an original property not based off a comic or a book or a reboot or even a sequel, which makes Jupiter Ascending all the more enticing.
#8. Tomorrowland (May 22)
I can't wait to find out more about this movie. This movie is one of the biggest mysteries of the year, as plot details are kept are about as tight as a J.J. Abrams movie (well okay....this film hasn't invested in anti-drone technology like Abrams, but it's still kept pretty tight). The teaser trailer, shown at this past year's New York Comic Con, does exactly what a film of this magnitude is supposed to do: tease you, make you want to find out more about it. George Clooney, who usually never takes on these kinds of event blockbusters, looks like he'll be excellent as always, and I have faith in director Brad Bird, who has proven to excel greatly in animation with films like The Iron Giant and The Incredibles, and in live-action, such as the excellent Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol. I can't wait to find out what Bird and screenwriters Damon Lindelof and Jeff Jensen have planned.
##7. The Hateful Eight (November 16)
I was going to actually put this at #8....but then I realized that would have been an awful pun so moved it up one due to avoid incredible amounts of bad humor. So with a new Quentin Tarantino film out this year...there was no way I WASN'T going to put this in my top 10. I love Tarantino's work greatly, and I'm excited for him to return to the Western genre after Django Unchained. This film almost never came to be, as a script leak forced Tarantino to shut down production of the film. However, it seems he had a change of heart and is now releasing the movie this November. The plot follows eight people holed up in one location during a blizzard, who may not all make it out alive. Tarantino always assembles a stellar cast, and this is no exception: Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Madsen, and Tim Roth are just some of the names listed in the cast and them mixed with Tarantino's excellent dialogue is simply a match made in heaven.
#6. Furious 7 (April 3)
How is it The Fast and the Furious films are some of the most entertaining films out there. We are now seven films in and this series shows no signs of slowing down whatsoever. This latest installment takes places after the events of the sixth, as Han has been murdered by Ian Shaw (Jason Statham), Owen Shaw's big brother. He wants revenge for what Dom and his crew did to his younger brother, and now Dom, Brian, and the rest of the gang must take down Ian to avenge one of their own. The film went through a bit of tragedy last year, as franchise star Paul Walker was killed in a fiery car crash. After figuring out what to do with the rest of the franchise as well as how to respectfully give Brian a proper send off, Universal and the rest of the Fast team have come up with a film that looks crazier than ever (cars jumping out of planes and parachuting down to the ground!) while also potentially setting up the series' endgame. James Wan, in his action feature debut, seems to have a handle on the action scenes and I'm just...really really excited to see both Dwayne Johnson AND Vin Diesel take on Jason Statham.
#5. Jurassic World (June 12)
Hard to believe, but it's been almost 13 years since we last saw the name "Jurassic Park" on our theater screens. In that time, the technology for computer generation has improved greatly and the original Jurassic Park still remains one of the most beloved films today. That's why it's a perfect time to reintroduce people to this world, with an idea so ingenious, it's the only next logical step for this franchise: the park actually works. The park, now called Jurassic World, has been open for 20 years and is thriving, being one of the world's most popular attractions. However, attendance numbers are down recently, so Bryce Dallas Howard's character, taking on the John Hammond role, comes up with a way to create a hybrid of two dinosaurs. Obviously, this is an absolutely terrible idea, and the dinosaur goes on a rampage, causing Chris Pratt's dinosaur expert to figure things out before it's too late. The film looks like it recaptures the spirit of the original film, as Colin Trevorrow has a clear love for it. The film feels not as if it's a cheap cash grab, but genuine: a film people actually want to see get made and care about the source material behind it. That and the image of a giant amphibian dinosaur eating a shark in a splash zone is a really cool image. Chris Pratt riding with velociraptors....well I'll wait until the film gives me more context.
#4. Mad Max: Fury Road (May 15)
After 30 long years, director George Miller returns to the original franchise based on speed: Mad Max. Set in between The Road Warrior and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, the film follows Max, now played by Tom Hardy, as he helps a woman, Furiosa (Charlize Theron), across the post apocalyptic desert. Naturally, some men, led by Nux (Nicholas Hoult), begin chasing them, and what follows looks like of the most ridiculous and insane car chases I've ever seen. The whole film, for its runtime, takes place mostly over one giant long car chase through the desert, which sounds like a great idea for an action movie. One continuous chase over the span of two hours sounds like a unique opportunity for some cool action set pieces. Hardy looks like he'll take Gibson's mantle just fine as Max and Hoult looks insane as Nux, leader of the group chasing the pair. What a lovely day indeed.
#3. Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1)
The first Avengers, released way back in 2012, was the culmination of an experiment that brought so many famous superheroes together on the big screen. It was the payoff of a four year build up that no one was unsure if it would work or not. Now, three years after the first Avengers film, things are very different: all eyes are on Marvel, one of the most successful studios working at the moment, as they release the culmination in their "Phase Two." The sequel finds the team together once more, as they are dealing with the fallout from their own adventures. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) decides to build Ultron (James Spader), a peacekeeping robot that can watch over and fix the troubles of the world while the Avengers are able to take a break. However, Ultron soon deems that mankind's worst enemy is itself, and soon begins to eradicate the entire human race. Now it's up to The Avengers to stop him, joined by Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). The tone of this film looks much darker than last time, as the team looks to be in dire peril than dealing with the Chitauri. In addition, Spader, who does the motion capture and voice of Ultron, is incredibly creepy, giving just the right amount of menace for the character. Avengers: Age of Ultron looks to once again shake up the MCU and judging from the footage, it looks like they might succeed.
#2. Spectre (November 6)
Had it not been for a certain other film on this list, this probably would have been my number one pick, as everytime a James Bond film comes out, it feels like an event. You want to be there to see what will happen after all the hype and secrecy surrounding the production is unveiled. After the events of Skyfall, James Bond (Daniel Craig) uncovers a cryptic message from an unusual source that leads him to navigate the organization simply known as SPECTRE. He then uncovers a secret that could destroy everything he protects and loves. Just the fact that SPECTRE is finally back in the rebooted Craig series is enough to get me excited, but then we have the stellar new additions to the cast, including Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Monica Belluci, Dave Bautista, and Andrew Scott. We also get the return of Mr. White from Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, allowing for some connective tissue between all the Craig films so far. Also, I am greatly curious about Waltz's role, as he is playing Franz Oberhauser, a character from the original novels who was Bond's ski teacher as well as a type of father figure to Bond. However, I can't help but wonder if they made Oberhause the new Blofeld, the head of SPECTRE in the older films, for this new one. While Spectre is VERY high on my list for most anticipated films, it would have been number one if it was not for this next film.
And my #1 Anticipated film of 2015 is.....
#1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (December 18)
I know, it's a cliché at this point to put the new Star Wars film at #1 for most anticipated film of the year but this spot is completely justifiable. Where as I mentioned earlier a new James Bond film is an event when it's released, anytime Star Wars gets a brand new movie, it turns into THE event. This might be one of the most hotly anticipated films in this decade. The hype surrounding this film rivals that of the hype surrounding Episode I upon its release. And for me, this turned into my anticipated film of 2015 long before the year started, when production began. To me, this film means so much more than being a new Star Wars film: I was six years old when Episode I came to theaters, and I remember thinking it was pretty mediocre. My dad showed me the original films immediately after, and I longed for having Star Wars films like my dad had gotten. Ten years after Episode III, the opportunity comes again. Plot details are kept tighter than plans for the Death Star, but J.J. Abrams looks to have created a film that captures the spirit of the original films perfectly, creating a film that not only new generations of fans can enjoy, but any older generations who received the prequel films as their Star Wars films can be entertained as well.
I screamed louder than a girl at a One Direction concert when the Falcon showed up.
So what films are you looking forward to in 2015? Sound off in the comments below or follow me on Twitter @filmfan108! Here's to a great year for movies!
Well...we already covered the best films that came out this past 2014. Now it is time to look at the stinkers. These were the films that were either massive disappointments, or just absolute garbage. There are no honorable mentions unlike the last list (or would that be dishonorable?) so let's just get right into it.
Again, like in the last list, these are simply my opinions. Film is subjective and everyone has an opinion on films. All I ask is that you please respect my choices for this list.
These are the 10 films I thought were the worst in 2014.
#10. The Monuments Men
This had great potential written all over it. You had a pretty stellar cast (George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray AND John Goodman involved), a plot that sounded incredibly entertaining to watch, as if it could mix an old war movie from the 40s with a heist movie from the 50s, as well as it being based on a true story In the hands of Clooney, who HAS proven to be a capable director, and with a great cast and interesting story, I should have been entertained by the film. Not completely bored to tears by it. What happened? Perhaps it is the fact that Clooney had difficult finding the tone of light humor with the serious nature of the subject matter (rescuing pieces of art history in WWII before Adolf Hitler destroys them forever). Maybe it's the fact that it's a bit TOO rooted in its nostalgia. Whatever the reason, I came into The Monuments Men with pretty high expectations and came out of it feeling sorely disappointed. It feels like there could be potential for a great movie in there, the execution was just rather poorly executed.
#9. Need For Speed
Another year, another pointless attempt at adapting a video game into the feature film format....seriously, will we ever learn that these do not work? The latest attempt is an adaptation of EA's Need For Speed franchise. What's sad is I was actually HOPING for this to be good, mainly due to this being the first post Breaking Bad project for star Aaron Paul. Paul tries his best to rise above the material given to him, but his character of Tobey Marshall comes across as bland and almost a little too angry for his motivations. The plot itself is absolutely preposterous. While I understand this is nothing more than a mindlessly B movie, there is a fine line between entertainingly stupid (Fast and the Furious for example), and just....incredibly stupid, of which the movie falls into. I'm sorry, but how is Kid Cudi able to pull helicopters and tanks and all other vehicles out of his pocket like they are wrappers in the wind? And without getting in heaps of trouble for about two-thirds of the film? When I have to think of questions such as those in a movie where I shouldn't be thinking those questions, then we have a serious problem.
#8. The Amazing Spider Man 2
I am probably going to garner a lot of controversy for this next choice, but the fact of the matter is that this new Spider-Man movie was....pretty bad. The only things I can salvage are that Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone have fantastic chemistry and the effects were decent, the entire movie around them is god awful. The plot of this film suffers from the exact same problem that Spider-Man 3 suffered from: TMSGO, or Too Much Stuff Going On. The script is unnecessarily crowded. Why was Rhino in the film? To set up for the Sinister Six movie of course! Why did we need to see what happened to Peter's parents? Because we screwed you over last time and wanted to give you something that has NO impact on the story whatsoever! Why was Chris Cooper in this movie if he was going to DIE five seconds later? REASONS! Also, the villains in this movie were just terrible. I was really excited to see Jamie Foxx finally bring Electro into the Spider-Man film universe, but what Foxx gave us was a villain who flip flopped between good to evil within five seconds. He gets mad at Spidey....because Spidey was trying to help him? Oh-kay that's cool....I think. Also, Foxx utters some of the worst dialogue in the entire film, such as:
I would like to point out this happens during one of the film's better moments
Another problem I have is all the potential build up that the movie shoves forcefully down your throat in regards to their plans for an expanded Spidey Cinematic Universe. We get it, you are all really excited by your plans for a Sinister Six movie.....now stop shoving all of this in my face. Sony, just do us a favor.....give the rights back to Marvel Studios. Let them handle the character and see what they do with it. It would probably be less convoluted than this.
#7. As Above, So Below
Out of all the horror movies I managed to see this year (which trust me, wasn't a lot), this was the one that stood out as one of the worst ones. You had a cool idea (something evil lurks in the catacombs of Paris) and for the first 20 minutes, sets up this idea extraordinarily well. But then, as the film goes on, it just falls into the same old tired clichés that we've seen in so many horror movies in the past: group gets trapped and decides to find another way out, insert some type of supernatural element here, the list goes on and on. This is also a found footage movie, and man is it completely awful. The idea of found footage and enclosed spaces where you have to wriggle around a lot was a terrible idea, as I started not only trying to figure out what was going on, but feeling incredibly sick as well, even to a point where I had to step out a couple of times, which is rare for me. As Above, So Below tries desperately to break the mold of most found footage films, only to find itself falling into those routines halfway through.
#6. Dumb and Dumber To
I know this might seem pretty pointless to put on this list, as the whole idea of this movie is...well to be dumb. But the thing about Dumb and Dumber To is that it tries and fails miserably to capture what made the original so fun in the first place. Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, and the Farrelly Brothers knew they were being idiots and they played along with it and had fun with it, which in turn allowed you to have fun as well. There was a certain charm to the 1994 original that still holds very well today. With this sequel, it feels as if they were much more mean-spirited this time around and trying in absolute vain to recapture the charm of the original film, making the whole film unpleasant and rather unfunny to watch. I laughed maybe once, but other times, I was trying to force a chuckle out. The story itself is basically the same as the first, making you realize throughout the film you could have just stayed home and watched the original. Dumb and Dumber To tries to be funny, but perhaps it has been 20 years too late.
#5. A Million Ways To Die In The West
I like Seth MacFarlane. The man can actually be genuinely funny at times. Sure, Family Guy has stumbled in recent years and sometimes the jokes can be....astonishingly crass and misogynistic. But the man is capable of making genuine humor, and that showed with his 2012 directorial debut, Ted. That film reminded me that Seth MacFarlane could still be very funny and was awaiting what he could do without the restrictions of television by having the landscape of comedy on film. Unfortunately, A Million Ways to Die in the West is the most disappointing and worst comedy I've seen all year. All the best jokes that the film had were spoiled in the film's trailer (seriously, why would you spoil the cameo from Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown? That would've been an absolutely great reveal) and the other jokes, while some funny, you'll barely remember within 10 minutes of walking out of the theater. In regards to Seth MacFarlane....he just makes for a really unlikable male lead, as he spends most of the film literally listing off why the West is awful. The script is also a bit of a mess, as some of the jokes feel slapdashed together for the sake of needing a joke. It's a real shame because I know Seth MacFarlane HAS the ability to tell good humor, it just did not show here.
#4. Transcendence
Well, now that Christopher Nolan has introduced a wave of smart science fiction films for a new generation, we have people trying to follow in his footsteps. This brings us to Transcendence, the directorial debut of Nolan's longtime cinematographer Wally Pfister. With an idea involving Johnny Depp being uploaded as an artificial intelligence, this had numerous possibilities for being a sleek and thought provoking science fiction thriller. Unfortunately, the film's pace is so incredibly slow, dragging out its 119 minute run time. Not only that, but the plot holes in this film are huge, as most of the film's logic seems to make absolutely no sense (so....we're just going to upload his brain into a computer....without any sort of consequence....okay thanks Jack Palgen). The film's great cast is entirely wasted on this premise and while Pfister knows how to set up a beautiful shot, it can't save him from helping create one utter mess of a film.
#3. I, Frankenstein
Take a look at the image above. Go ahead, just take a look. Everything that is wrong with this movie is captured in this image. I, Frankenstein might be one of the most inane, idiotic movies I have ever had the misfortune of seeing. The idea to basically turn Mary Shelley's classic story into an Underworld knockoff (seriously....you're knocking off UNDERWORLD of all things) was an awful idea. The acting is terrible, the dialogue is awful, and the story....OK I'm going to veer into spoiler territory but this is a plot hole that is so big it basically negates the movie's existence so spoilers ahead:
So Aaron Eckhart is forced to kill Jai Courtney's gargoyle character near the end of the film, because he has no soul so he is able to kill both demon, and, if need be, gargoyle. The demon king Naberius (Bill Nighy) wants to use Adam as a vessel for a legion of demons, as Adam has no soul and therefore can be possessed like a human corpse. Naberius also plans to use Frankenstein's formula of creating Adam to make hundreds more like him. However, when Adam's body starts to become possessed, he rejects it and is still normal, stating that he has a soul. Now....correct me if I'm wrong....but he killed an angel just moments prior after being forced to.....I'm pretty sure you are not just GIVEN a soul and forcing to ascend an angel does not qualify as such. Also, he is human made not born like everyone else....pretty sure you also CAN'T grow a soul all on your own.....it's this kind of idiotic logic that pretty much negates this film's existence.
##2. The Legend of Hercules
Oh wow....wow was this film bad. What's even more shocking to realize is that this film was made on a budget of $70 million and looks like it was made on the budget of those Saturday night schlock fests you see on Syfy. Everything in this movie, from the costumes to the CGI to the action, looks incredibly cheap and fake and it is incredibly easy to tell how fake it looks. Also, the story is...bad. This focuses on how Hercules, before being told he is the son of Zeus, was a soldier, then betrayed, then becoming....Spartacus? The story isn't fun enough to keep yourself entertained nor is the drama in the story enough to keep you invested. Not only does this film look like it ripped heavily off of 300 if it was done on a shoestring budget, in terms of story and effects, but it also fails in the acting department. Kellan Lutz is an absolutely terrible choice for Hercules. He is bland, boring, uncharismatic, and speaks everyone of his lines as if he's reading for a middle school play. Do yourselves a favor: Skip this Hercules and see the far more superior and entertaining film starring Dwayne Johnson.
And the worst film of 2014 is....
#1. Transformers: Age of Extinction
I. F*****g. Hate. This. Movie. Everything about Transformers: Age of Extinction fails on every single level. Michael Bay has reached a new level of garbage that I did not even think was possible to reach. First off, the film is THREE HOURS. There are parts in this movie that could have been honestly cut out and made the film a lot more quicker. The scenes in Shanghai for example, are extremely unnecessary as we are just there to see new Transformers tech (and to give Bay an excuse to be blatantly racist to the Chinese). But honestly, even if you did cut a lot of this out, I don't think that would have even helped out as the acting and dialogue is some of the worst I've seen. Honestly, I feel bad for Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci. They're both extremely good actors but they both are bogged down by the idiotic script and dialogue that are given to them. Tucci tries, he tries so very hard to escape it, but it's not helped by lines like "Death is on our tail, death is on our tail!"
The rest of the supporting cast does not fare well, with Nicola Peltz actually somehow being a worse actress than Megan Fox. Finally, we come to the action scenes, or rather, being bombarded with mindless explosions left and right. Now, I love action and I love seeing explosions as much as the next guy. Bay has proven to be an explosion master. However, what I don't like is having my mind bombarded with bright lights and explosions attacking my senses to the point where it's just numbing to look at. When the Dinobots, who you know are the main focus of the marketing material, show up almost TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER, I should be excited, not praying to whatever movie gods are out there for this torture to just end already. Not only is Transformers: Age of Extinction the worst movie of 2014, but it is one of the worst movies I have ever seen period. It's lazy, unfocused, and an attack on how much your senses are able to withstand this much garbage. Somehow, it managed to reach a new level of crap I didn't even think existed.
Also, GOOD GOD BAY COULD YOU NOT BE ANY MORE SUBTLE WITH YOUR PRODUCT PLACEMENT??
So that was my 10 worst of 2014. These are the films I pray I will never have to watch again. Got any films you hated seeing that I forgot to mention? Disagree with some of my choices and want to discuss? Sound off in the comments below or follow me on Twitter @filmfan108!
Now, as we move away from the past and say goodbye to 2014, let us look ahead to the future, and see what 2015 has in store. Stay tuned for my 15 most anticipated films of 2015!
Well....another year has come and gone. In regards to films, this was a pretty great year for movies. We got a ton of surprises in the form of a talking raccoon, construction toys, and a twelve year journey.
But what were some of the best films of the year? Which ones did I think truly stood out among everyone else. Well, here they are: These are the top 10 films that I managed to see in 2014.
I would also like to mention that this is simply just my list and that these are my opinions. Film is subjective, everyone has an opinion. I welcome your own thoughts on best movies of 2014, but I also please ask that you respect mine.
Before we begin, there are some honorable mentions that JUST missed the cut for the top 10. These are fantastic films, but I thought there were 10 films better than these.
THE HONORABLE MENTIONS
Gone Girl
Big Hero 6
Foxcatcher
X-Men: Days of Future Past
22 Jump Street
How To Train Your Dragon 2
Edge of Tomorrow
Godzilla
And now, onto the list!
#10. Snowpiercer
This film came out of nowhere for me this past year. We don't see a ton of dystopian future movies that are meant to be seen for adults. That's what makes Snowpiercer so refreshing to watch, it's not a young adult dystopian future film, but rather, it's a gritty, hard hitting, and extremely well done. The premise feels like it's from an 80s action thriller but with a more poignant message, that of the class system and how far one can go in order to achieve bliss. The cast is incredibly solid, with Chris Evans turning in a commanding performance along with Tilda Swinton, who's near unrecognizable. It's a fresh original take on the dystopian genre that's been overrun by young adults these days.
#9. The Babadook
It's been a pretty bad year for horror movies. From As Above, So Below to Ouija, horror movies this year became rather stale and uninteresting. So it came as a pleasant treat to find this truly terrifying film hidden among the garbage we got this year. What's so great about The Babadook is that rather than relying on showing the creature immediately, it just builds tension throughout the course of the picture, to the point that when the monster IS revealed, you're absolutely terrified as to what will happen. It's exactly what a horror movie SHOULD do, rather than rely on crappy jump scares. The film also benefits from fantastic performances from leads Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman.
#8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Marvel Studios had a pretty fantastic 2014, and man did they kick things off with a giant bang. Captain America: The Winter Soldier was a film that didn't just improve on The film effortlessly combines usual Marvel and superhero tropes with a whipsmart, edge of your seat political thriller that alters the course of the Marvel Cinematic Universe forever. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo combine wonderful action with great humor and the cast, particularly Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, and Robert Reford, give some excellent performances.
#7.Nightcrawler
I dare you to find a performance more unsettling and downright creepy this year than Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler. As Leo Bloom, Gyllenhaal gives the strongest performance of his career. You can tell underneath the charm and charisma that something almost...evil lies within this character. In addition to a tour de force by Gyllenhaal, the film is a rather impressive directorial debut for screenwriter Dan Gilroy. He makes the nighttime escapades of Leo Bloom feel almost delirious, as we're caught up in the thrill of finding the next big scoop. Part of that also goes to cinematographer Robert Elswit, as he makes the city of Los Angeles look drop dead beautiful and almost haunting at night. But this is mainly Gyllenhaal's show, and he commands every second of it.
#6. Guardians of the Galaxy
If Captain America: The Winter Soldier helped continue Marvel Studios' successful run, then Guardians of the Galaxy solidified them as the most successful makers of comic book films working today. There are so many ways that James Gunn's sci-fi action comedy could have failed miserably. After all, this is a movie featuring a talking raccoon and a tree that says only one sentence. Yet Marvel and Gunn prevailed, delivering a genuinely fun and entertaining summer blockbuster. Gunn makes the movie feel almost as if it's a late 80s, early 90s sci-fi movie (bolstered by the wonderful soundtrack), as I felt the same excitement watching this movie as I did when I watched those types of films as a little kid. Chris Pratt proved he's now a bona fide box office star and the chemistry among him and Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper is incredibly fun to watch. Guardians of the Galaxy is one of Marvel's most obscure comic book heroes, but now they're finally welcomed into the spotlight.
#5. The LEGO Movie
This is not a deep, engaging, drama that makes you question the meaning of life and everything around it. This is a movie involving LEGO Construction Toys and it is easily the best animated movie I have seen this year. When I first heard the phrase, "a movie based on LEGO construction toys," I rolled my eyes, as did most others. But what directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who are two of the best comedy directors/screenwriters working today, do with this movie is not make a 113 minute toy commercial. Rather the film is a celebration about the legacy of LEGO itself and what it means to play with LEGOs: to be your own person. March to the beat of your own drum, and create your own world, not follow the instructions of what others tell you to create. The final 20 minutes of this film is perhaps some of the most surprising and touching scenes I've seen on film this year.
#4. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
How does one improve on a surprisingly enjoyable reboot that surpassed many audiences' expectations? Simple: by expanding upon the groundwork that the first film laid and provide a story that not only delivers great action, but provides thought provoking ideas involving politics, leadership, equality, and the tough choices one must make in order to keep everyone happy. Also, having an ape wield dual frigging machine guns while riding on horseback kind of helps. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was the rare summer film that was not only for the average movie-going audience, but for the thinking man's moviegoer as well. It made you leave the theater actually thinking on what you just saw while also trying to control your heart from racing any further. The idea to set the movie 10 years later was a brilliant move by the screenwriters. In addition, Dawn proved once again why Andy Serkis is the motion capture king, giving one of the best performances of his career returning as Casear. He makes Caesar more world weary, as he is trying to keep the peace between humans and apes. Also equally fantastic? Toby Kebbell as Koba. This character is terrifying to watch, as he wants what Caesar is trying to prevent: all out war against the humans he despises. (Please Academy....take these two into consideration for a nomination at the Oscars this year). Dawn is essentially what Empire Strikes Back was: a film that surpasses its predecessor on every level.
#3. The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson is one of the most unique filmmakers working in the industry today. His style, from the characters to the setting to the camera shots themselves give his film their own sense of quirkiness. The Grand Budapest Hotel is the latest in a string of great films that Anderson has made as of late. The film, which focuses on Grand Budapest Hotel owner Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) and his most trusted friend Zero (Tony Revolori) as they recover a priceless painting, is so delightfully charming in its presentation. On a visual aesthetic, the film looks gorgeous, with vibrant colors bouncing off of the screen. The sets themselves look particularly beautiful, with Anderson's minute attention to detail showing in every single frame. The film also boasts some fantastic performances from everyone in the cast, particularly Ralph Fiennes as Gustave. Fiennes turns the charm up to 100%, as he is an absolute delight to watch in every scene he's in. His chemistry with young Zero is also enjoyable, as both react almost nonchalantly to what is going on around them. This is due to the wonderful script by Anderson, which has some of the funniest dialogue I've heard on screen this year. If Anderson keeps making great films at this rate, with now Moonrise Kingdom and this film under his belt, I eagerly await his next project.
#2. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
When Academy Awards season begins later this month, one name should (hopefully) dominate a lot of conversations: Michael Keaton. In Birdman, Keaton gives the best performance of his career. Due to Riggan Thomson's career after starring in the Birdman movies mirroring Keaton's own life, Keaton is able to pull off a lot of the bitterness and longing that Riggan feels. He has everything riding on this Raymond Carver play. If it fails, then he can no longer be considered a serious actor. Keaton manages to showcase this expertly and I can see an Oscar potentially in his future. In addition, the rest of the cast is exceptionally strong. There is not one weak link in the cast everyone comes in and brings their A-game. This is also one of the most biting and brutally honest films about fame and success I have ever seen. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu creates an honest and very self aware story about fame and being in show business, a story that has no problem in satirizing numerous truths about being famous as well as the acting process (Edward Norton's character is a fine example of satirizing method actors who go DEEP into the role). The film also brilliantly manipulates the whole film into looking as if it is being shot in one take, which is quite a feat as I could barely tell where the cuts were. Birdman is one of the most unique takes on fame shown on screen in a long time, due to its excellent story and brilliant cast.
And the #1 film of 2014 is....
#1. Boyhood
There was no way I was not going to make this #1. Since seeing the film back in August, Boyhood has been the film that has stuck with me the most out of every film I saw this past year. The fact that Richard Linklater was able to shoot this film over 12 years without any kind of hitch is nothing short of incredible, but what really got myself thinking while walking out of the theater is what the film's message is. It's that you aren't defined throughout life by the big moments; the graduations, the birthdays, getting a job etc. Instead, it's the small moments, whether they last an instant or a couple of minutes, that define who you truly are as an individual and what kind of person they'll shape you to be. Every moment that we see of young Mason's (Ellar Coltrane) life is a moment that someone can relate to on a personal level. Coltrane is also backed by a great supporting cast, with Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette delivering career-making performances as Mason's parents, with Ethan Hawke's character Mason Sr. going through his own personal journey over the span of 12 years. Linklater also, rather subtly, lets the audience know what year it is through the use of music or small events, an idea I thought was very well executed. When I see a movie, I want to be entertained, I want to be able to relate and feel for the characters, and I want to be able to walk out of the theater with a lasting impression. Boyhood managed to surpass my highest expectations and still sticks with me to this day. It is for this reason that it is my favorite film of 2014.
So what were YOUR favorite films of 2014? Sound off in the comments below or follow me on Twitter @filmfan108!
Get ready for a couple more of these lists coming out in the next couple of days, as I count down the 10 worst movies I saw in 2014. as well as my 15 most anticipated films for 2015.
