J-Bang Reviews Present: Furious 7

IT'S OFFICIAL! The Fast and Furious franchise has become a parody of itself. Just when you thought the limitations of a car had finally been reached, Furious 7 comes along and destroys the laws of physics and road safety all in 2 hours and 20 minutes. It seems like every movie seems to out-do the last one terms of stunts and ridiculousness! But it's safe to say, that Furious 7 is (for this month anyway) the movie to watch!

After watching "Furious 7," I swear I thought I was watching a Michael Bay film. I mean "come-on!" Sexy women, shiny fast cars, EXPLOSIONS!!!!!! They're almost completely identical. But you see unlike Michael Bay, this film portrays it in an acknowledging, humorous, and noticeable manor. Before I go into the Pros of this movie, I would like to point out the Cons. First of all, I would have preferred that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was in more of this film. His screen time can be summed up into like 18 minutes (Not an exact number) and since Fast Five, he has been a highlight of this franchise. His character, Hobbs, is pretty damn likeable and just a complete bad-ass! In a way, he symbolizes the modern version of 80's action heroes. Cheesy but humorous one-liners, hard-hitting combinations of fists and bullets, and a charismatic sense of authority and confidence! Basically, I think he should of played a bigger role. Secondly, Jason Statham being casted as the villain for Furious 7 was a good call by the end of Fast and Furious 6, but although he was a consistent antagonist for our heroes, I wished he just had more lines! I mean, he kicked SO MUCH ASS! He was fearless in his pursuit of vengeance and when he did talk, he came off as cocky and arrogant, just like a villain with his skill-set should come off as. Unfortunately, there was more talking about Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham's character) then there was of Deckard Shaw actually talking. Last issue I had isn't exactly with the film but with the marketing itself by Universal Studios. Honestly, I think the movie would have been more surprising and suspenseful if they hadn't showed the best parts in their trailers prior to release. So there's that!

Now entering the building (other than that car above) are the PROS! Personally, I thought the fist fights in this movie were more entertaining than the car stunts. Don't get me wrong, the car stunts were IMPRESSIVE, but the fist fights between Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Tatchakorn Yeerum were more fulfilling. Kurt Russell was a welcomed new addition to this film. Russell gave a very convincing performance as his character, Frank Petty, and every time he was on screen, well, I'll just say he was "awesomely chill." The numerous cameos that were scattered throughout the movie were fun. But I will say the best part about the movie was also the most sad. As most of you know, Paul Walker died in car crash in late 2013. It was a tragedy. Paul Walker and Vin Diesel both are the embodiment of the Fast and Furious franchise. But the way the film ended, the way they delivered their tribute to Paul Walker, will truly tear your heart apart. As matter of fact, people in the theater were actually crying once it was over. I didn't cry though. Almost did...but I didn't. Still sad though.

 

Furious 7 is an entertaining and heart warming joy ride as long as you don't take it seriously. J-Bang Reviews gives it a score of 3.5 out of 5.

J-Bang Reviews Presents: Selma

"Selma" is a movie that follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s pursuit of African American's right to vote and focuses on the marches he led from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in order to obtain it. Once watched from the first minute to the last minute, I must say it is a truly dramatic film that must be watched by all nationalities. The cast is absolutely stellar, led by a David Oyelowo's breakout performance. The performances feel very real and the tempo of the movie is unsettling but efficient. There are multiple moments in this film that are brutal and uncomfortable to watch but will most likely break your heart, as it did mine. Selma is a very serious film that does not only simulates the chaos and racial tension of the 60s but also even draws parallels to recent events that have occurred in our own modern society. The movie is sad at times but can also be considered uplifting by the end. It's hard for me to describe, but my ultimate suggestion is for everyone to see it with their own eyes.

J-Bang Reviews gives "Selma" a score of 5 out of 5.

Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2015

 

 

 2015 is just around the corner, and with a new year, comes a new line of movies! And since some of you have no idea what movies are coming out next year, I took the liberty of making a list that consist of which movies you should be looking forward to in the upcoming months. Your Welcome!  

 

Number 10: Marvel's Ant Man

Release Date: July 17, 2015

This was a last minute decision. Based on the fact that production of this film has been problematic, with Edgar Wright quitting as director, and the abundance of actors who followed, I was surprised to find out that, just recently, they just finished filming. So although, I am not that excited about a superhero who has the power to shrink and control ants, I am impressed with Marvel's determination to get this film out to the public. 



 

Number 9: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

Release Date: November 20, 2015

Considering how depressing Part 1 was, I'm hoping that Part 2 tops off the series with a happy ending. Especially, since I haven't read any of the books ( For me, it keeps the movies suspenseful). "The Hunger Games" saga has been exciting and entertaining since its inception in 2012, and here's hoping that the finale is a grand one.

 

Number 8: 007: Spectre

Release Date: November 6, 2015





Formally known as "Bond 24," this Bond film has been kept under wraps until recently last week, where it was revealed it would be titled "007: Spectre." The plot reads as followed, "A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE." Sounds intriguing. Plus, Christoph Waltz, the great German Doctor from "Django Unchained," might have been casted as the villain of this film, so my hopes are high, plain and simple, because of his inclusion.

 

Number 7: Ted 2

Release Date: June 26, 2015

The first "Ted" was hilarious. I actually have it on DVD because it was that funny. Unfortunately, I cannot provide any backstory for this upcoming "Ted 2," because no one really knows what it's about yet. That's how secretive Seth MacFarlane has been about it. I just hope it's just as good as the first one, if not better.

Number 6: Tomorrowland

Release Date: May 22, 2015

Based on the popular attraction at Disney World, this movie stars the talented George Clooney and Hugh Laurie, and will be directed by Brad Bird, director of "The Incredibles" and "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol." This movie could go either way. It could be good, or bad, but I'm excited to find out which one it will be.

 

 Number 5: Terminator: Genisys

Release Date: July 1, 2015

No, I did not spell "Genesis" wrong, that's just the way the studio decided to spell it. Anyhow, the Terminator franchise has had it's ups and downs. The most notable "down" being Terminator: Salvation. But I truly believe that this movie will put the franchise back on track, especially since it's focusing on a time traveling "Back to the Future Part Two-ish" story arc. Kyle Reese goes back in time to save John Connor's mom, Sarah Connor, from a Terminator sent to kill her. Difference is, when Kyle goes back in time, Sarah is an experienced killer, protected by a Terminator of her own, and now the timeline goes haywire because something obviously went wrong. Classic time-traveling scenario!

 

Number 4: Furious 7

Release Date: April 3, 2015





Just when you thought the limitations of a car had finally been reached, out comes "Furious 7" to show us what more they can do with a motor vehicle. The movie looks like it's gonna be pretty action packed based on the trailer but there are only three reasons why I'm seeing this film: (1) See where the series goes after the tragedy that was Paul Walker's death. (2) See how ridiculous the cast can get with the usage of a car, and (3) Vin Diesel vs. Jason Statham vs. Dwayne Johnson.

  

 Number 3: Jurassic World

Release Date: June 12, 2015

"Jurassic Park" was a part of my childhood just as much as it was anybody else's. That's quite an accomplishment, especially since it came out in theaters 4 years before I was even born. That being said, I'm ecstatic that I finally get the chance to see a "Jurassic Park" movie in theaters along with hundreds of other people. The official synopsis points out that "Jurassic World" is the rebooted and successful version of John Hammond's "Jurassic Park." It is a safe and operational park that attracts over hundreds of thousands of visitors everyday. When visitation numbers begin to drop, the corporate owners of "Jurassic World" decide the best thing to do is CREATE A NEW DINOSAUR! It's a safe bet that this is the reason chaos ensues inside Jurassic World. The plot may sound all too familar to that of a B-rated creature feature on the SyFy Channel, but at least it's different and offers up a lot more creativity than what the previous sequels had to offer.

 



Number 2: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Release Date: December 18, 2015

Unthinkable! Unbelievable! What are they doing?! These were the words that popped into my head when I first heard that Disney was going to produce a new trilogy of films that would follow the original Star Wars trilogy. I was uneasy. But now that I have seen the first trailer to Episode 7 and learned that the original cast will have a presence in this film, I believe that "the force is strong with this one."

Number 1: Marvel's the Avengers: Age of Ultron

Release Date: May 1. 2015

Just downright awesome! The first Avengers film was a dream come true! I loved every minute of watching it. Now, when I learned about the sequel, I couldn't help but feel worried. I mean, "HOW CAN YOU TOP THE AVENGERS?!" My feelings towards this movie was full of uncertainty. That was until I laid my eyes upon the first trailer of "Age of Ultron," and MY GOD! IT WAS A MASTEPIECE! Expectations are high for this movie, but based on what I saw in the trailer, I have no doubt in my mind that those expectations will be met above and beyond! Avengers Assemble!

J-Bang Reviews present: Interstellar

                                                     J-Bang Reviews present: Interstellar

Interstellar is like a bottle of fine wine...it gets better with age. That being said, I very much enjoyed this movie as it progressed. One thing that viewers should take note of before watching this movie is this, "Don't go looking for realistic characteristics in this film!" It will better for you to watch this movie accepting that fact that it dives deep into the realm of sci-fi and spirituality rather than realism. Ok? Ok! Let's move on!

Interstellar tells the story of a dying Earth that is slowing being destroyed by dust storms. The only hope for mankind's survival is inter-dimensional space travel through different galaxies in search of a new planet to live on. This expedition is led by our protagonist Cooper, played by Matthew Mcconaughey, who reluctantly leaves his family to pursue this mission. The beginning of Interstellar is fairly slow, and quite frankly, boring. It takes probably 40 to 45 minutes until it become interesting. Once the lift off has taken place and our journey in space begins, we are greeted with wonderful CGI and trippy space travel. In order to appreciate the full value of this film, I encourage you all to watch in 3-D IMAX presentation. Believe me, it's like being there. Anyway, as the sci-fi adventure continues, conflict ensues, and suddenly it changes the whole dynamic of this film. From then on, it feels as if anything could happen in this film, and that sense of adversity made it easy for me to truly grasp how dangerous and frightening this mission really was for these characters.

Interstellar is a fantastic sci-fi film that feels somewhat akin to 2001: A Space Odyssey, but also takes other characteristics from past sci-fi films and pays tribute to them. For example, "the Ranger," the spacecraft above used in this film, gave me flashbacks to the time traveling delorean used from Back to the Future in terms of it's flight and speed. Personally, I thought that was pretty cool.

 

I know I'm giving a lot of praise to this film but that just personally means the pros outweigh the cons. The cons however are that sometimes, you can't fully understand the dialogue. By that, I don't just mean the accents of both Michael Caine and Matthew Mcconaughey. I mean the dialogue of this film is full of scientific "mumbo-jumbo" that can easily be interpreted only by REALLY SMART PEOPLE, and in a movie where you have to pay attention to every little detail, including the dialogue, it can be exhausting and too much to handle! Other than that, IT'S A PRETTY SOLID FILM.

Great...

Interstellar gets a score of 4 out of 5



The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

J-Bang Reviews present: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. Well, well, well...here we are, the beginning of the final chapter in the Hunger Games saga and I will say this, "Don't expect to find any happiness in this sequel, because THERE IS NONE! My God, this movie is SO DEPRESSING, it almost made me lose all sense of hope in this world. The tone of this movie is dark and grim, and every scene in this movie, gives you every reason not to smile. I didn't think it would get any darker than Catching Fire, but it did in this one. That being said, it's a pretty good film, it's just that is does feel a little incomplete, as it should. I mean it is only just Part 1. The special effects are better than before and the main characters you love do return...but in small doses. There's alot of Katniss and Gale, but characters like Peeta, Primrose, Finnick, Haymich and Effie are only seen rarely throughout the film. The film also seems to appears as a war movie rather than a sci fi adventure. It's very traumatic through the eyes of the characters but one specific dynamic I'd enjoyed throughout the movie was Katniss's evolution from scared girl reluctant to lead a revolution to ruthless leader that inspires hope. Every time she delivered a memorable speech or had a memorable moment, I enjoyed watching the result it had on the districts and people she inspired. There's not a lot of action in this movie, but it is fittingly replaced with suspense and unsettling mystery. I can hope by the next film, there might actually be a happy ending for our heroes but the only thing we can do now, is wait for Part 2. Mockingjay Part 1 gets a 3.5 out of 5

J-Bang Ranking present: Top 10 Movies produced by Marvel Studios

Since the release of Guardians of the Galaxy a month ago, comic book fans and then some have been waiting in anticipation for the culmination of Marvel’s Phase Two movie line-up, Avengers: Age of Ultron, which will be the sequel to the box office smash hit of 2012. Before Age of Ultron hits theaters in May, I have taken the liberty of ranking all of Marvel’s movies released thus far. Unfortunately for some fans, the Spider-Man and X-Men movies will not be ranked in this list simply because the rights to those films are owned by different studios. This list will expand to as far as 2008, when Marvel Studios released its first film as an independent company. Let the games begin…

10.) Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2 is still a good movie. It’s just that the other movies happen to be better. Iron Man 2 does contain some memorable action packed moments, my favorite being the incident on the race track where Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark is attacked by Mickey Rourke’s villainous and vengeful Whiplash. But the thing about Iron Man 2 is that it doesn’t have enough action and the subplot of Stark dying as a result of his Arc Reactor felt forced and unnecessary. Not to mention the only time Whiplash proves to be a dangerous adversary is on the race track. Other than that, he is useless and is basically forgotten about until the third act. And even in the final fight, he is completely underwhelming for he is destroyed within basically a minute. Boo! Sam Rockwell is convincingly entertaining in his portrayal of Justin Hammer and Don Cheadle proves to be better than Terrence Howard in the role of James Rhodes but other than that, Iron Man 2 is somewhat forgettable.

9.) Thor

Thor was one of those movies that made me feel indifferent. It gave us the first screening of a hero with God like powers and the way director Kenneth Branagh introduces him to us is by stripping away his powers and making him mortal. What?! Why would I want to see an overpowered superhero not be a superhero for almost two hours long? It’s like watching a Superman movie about Clark Kent only doing Clark Kent things. It gives you a “Meh” feeling. But the film focuses more on character development rather than action packed entertainment. The chemistry between Thor and Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster feels genuine but rushed. Also, the best scene of the movie finally comes when Thor regains his powers and finally clashes with his brother, Loki, on the rainbow bridge. Luckily, the sequel makes up for all of the issues of Thor.

8) The Incredible Hulk

Although the Hulk is indeed my favorite superhero, all personal feelings aside, I had to rate his reboot at number eight. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the film. It had hard hitting action sequences, great special effects, an exceptional villain, and a compelling story of cat and mouse. But my problem is that in an effort to correct the wrongs committed by Ang Lee’s 2003 Hulk movie, the movie ended up taking no risks. Where the 2003 Hulk movie lasted too long, this version happened to be too short. I even felt like the final battle between the Hulk and the Abomination, although spectacular, could have gotten on a little while longer. Surprisingly, Edward Norton found a way to portray Bruce Banner in a way where I felt sympathy for our hero, but thanks to “behind the scenes” conflicts, we will never see Norton in that role again. In the long run, I believe it was for the better. #Ruffalo for the Win

7) Thor: The Dark World

The much better sequel to Kenneth Branagh, Alan Taylor finally showcases the full power of Thor. Much more adventurous than the first movie, Thor reunites with his lover, Jane, on Earth and discovers that she has been possessed with the evil force of the Aether, also known as an Infinity Stone in movie form. Even more interesting is that not only does it take place after the events of The Avengers, it places the “ever loving” Loki in the role of Anti-Hero instead of villain. As a result, he steals the show. In the role of villain however, Christopher Eccleston plays Malekith, a dark elf that wants to destroy the universe “just because…” It’s safe to say he is the worst villain ever produced in a Marvel movie. He rarely speaks and when he does, you are forced to read subtitles. He has no charisma, but the final fight between him and Thor is unique and entertaining enough to place this movie at number seven.

6.) Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3 was marketed throughout media as a darker story that would give us a villain that truly would challenge the might of Tony Stark. Once the movie was released in theaters, we ended up with an action packed comedy that delivered one of the best plot twist in recent memory and a more than exciting final fight that debuted an army of Iron Man suits. Safe to say, Iron Man 3 was a big step up from Iron Man 2.

5.) Captain America: The First Avenger

This was another one of those big risk movies Marvel made because it was a period piece that took place in the 40s with World War II as its background. The unusual setting for a superhero film proved to interest viewers and proved to be a pretty good film. Chris Evans is a convincingly loveable character as Steve Rogers a.k.a Captain America. The supporting cast is interesting as they are funny and Hugo Weaving’s Red Skull is respectable as a villain for Captain America but rarely showcases the true potential of his power. And by the way, I still don’t think he’s dead!

4) Iron Man

The movie that started it all. The excitement. The adventure. And the universe that slowly grew in front of our eyes. Truly a compelling tale of how genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist Tony Stark transformed into the heroic Iron Man. Feeling responsible for many of deaths as a result of the weapons he built from Stark Industries and seeing how must damage they did up close and personal, Stark shutdowns the weapons department of his company and starts a journey of redemption by building an ironically weaponized suit to fight crime in. It’s pretty cool to see how for half the movie he builds the suit and tests it out before taking it into the warzone and the scene where Stark encounters the jets while flying back home was fun to watch. Robert Downey Jr. proves to be perfect for the part of Tony Stark and proves that it’s not possible for anyone else to play the role as good as him.

3) Guardians of the Galaxy

Quite frankly the funniest movie Marvel has ever produced, “Guardians” proved to be worth the risk. Especially since nobody knew who the Guardians of the Galaxy were before they had a movie. StarLord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot are all great and loveable characters and prove to be quite the formidable team. The soundtrack is excellent and memorable. Add in James Gunn’s direction and you have the perfect tribute to 80’s space adventures while proving to be one of the best on their own behalf.  The special effects and action sequences are “out of this world” and I am willing to admit my favorite scene of all was the Prison Break.  

2) Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: The Winter Soldier became far more than just a better sequel to “the First Avenger.” With the help of directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, this Captain America movie went from being a superhero flick to a political spy thriller. As a result, it became pretty much Marvel’s best solo movie. And the fact that it delivers the most brutal and realistic action sequences in recent memory, makes this one of my favorite movies of all time. This movie came close to being my number one, but I think we all know who came out on top of the list...

1) The Avengers

Just an all-out dream come true. A movie that features practically all of my favorite superheroes and puts them in a war against an alien invasion. Truly, a Joss Whedon masterpiece. Considering that all the character development occurred in the movies prior, we are greeted with no stop action and awesome moments from the Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Nick Fury and Loki.  When there is no action, there is comedy, where none of the characters have any problem insulting and making fun of each other. It is an all- around good time that is enjoyable every minute. Basically, The Avengers is not only my favorite Marvel movie but my FAVORITE SUPERHERO MOVIE OF ALL TIME!!!!!

Guardians of the Galaxy

J-Bang Reviews present Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. (1 minute before film begins) Ah man, this is gonna be hilarious. I can't wait for it to start. (2 minutes later after film begins) ...Damn. What the hell?! Did this movie take opening scene lessions from Pixar's "Up." I'm sad now. I won't spoil anything but all in all, Marvel Studios manages to surprise me yet again with another great film. To be honest, once I saw the first trailer for this film, I thought it would be Marvel's version of a comedy film, and did not expect this movie to be great. Especially when you factor in that a movie was being made about a comic book team no one really knows about, it lowers your expectations. The nice thing about this film is that, YES, IT STILL IS A COMEDY, but also packs in terrific Sci-Fi action sequences and does a great job in developing characters we are suppose to care about. Everyone in this film is special in their own way. Groot, is adorable and magical in terms of his facial expressions and physical mannerisms. Gamora is a bad-ass whose personality can be appreciated by both feminists and guys. Drax the Destroyer is a beast that will please all blood-thirsty muscle-men. Star-Lord is the enthusiastic adventurer that represents the little kid in all of us that wanted to explore the stars. And Rocket...Well, Rocket is Rocket :) He's a cocky ass-kicker who looks like a racoon. Think of him as the "Han Solo" of this film. I make the "Star Wars" reference because this movie is more like a Intergalatic Space Adventure than it is a Marvel Superhero film. Sure, there's the heroes vs. villian dynamic but it's more based on responsibility. The heroes start out as criminals. Incarcerated for their own selfish reasons. One of them finds something, unknowing of it's power, that everyone wants. Once the heroes find out that what they have in their possession is an Infinity Stone (research it), they figure out that it is too dangerous to just give away or sell. Especially, while finding out the person who wants it the most is the villian, Ronan the Accusser. Instead of giving in to their greed, the heroes decide it's their responsibility to keep the dangerous Infinity Stone away from Ronan, by any means necessary. It's a fun journey to watch, and is terrific in scope. Ronan the Accuser is a big step-up from Malekith the Accursed (the villian from "Thor: the Dark World"). Ronan the Accuser isn't exactly the most memorable of villians from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he was a believable and intimidating threat. And considering that this was the Guardian of the Galaxy's first film, it was a smart move to focus more on developing reasons for us to care for our heroes rather than remind how serious of a danger our main villian is. As wonderful as this film is, I will say that in terms of the "Avengers timeline," it was completely unnecessary. We all know that the next film is the highly anticipated "Avengers: Age of Ultron," and if you saw "Captain America: the Winter Soldier" from beginning to end, then you're set to see the next Avengers movie. In all honesty, you do not have to see "Guardians of the Galaxy" right away. If anything...if you really wanted to... you could wait for it to come out on DVD. But seeing it right now, helps motivate Marvel Studios to explore more comic books figures to make movies out of such as Doctor Strange, Black Panther and other Superheroes that deserve a movie. Since we are pretty much done with Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Guardians of the Galaxy would have been more meaningful if it came out after "Avengers: Age of Ultron," during Phase 3. Since Marvel has made fans aware that the final villian for the Avengers is Thanos, this movie gives us a taste of what we could expect in the Avengers 3, and believe me, it's scary. We get a glimpse at the destruction one Infinity Stone can cause and how godly Josh Brolin's voice is when used to voice Thanos, the Mad Titan, who is quote, "the most powerful man in the universe" endquote. Think about those two things. The Avengers facing the MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE UNIVERSE, who happens to be aided with not one, but SIX INFINITY STONES?! That insane combination makes the third movie a must-watch before it even begins production. That's why I think this movie should have been in Phase 3 rather than Phase 2. Because it kind of belittle's the true threat Ultron really is for the Avengers in the second film. But we will just have to wait and see, don't we Joss Whedon and Kevin Feige?!! Anyway, Guardians of the Galaxy gets a 4.2 out of 5.