Highs and Lows of July

The Lone Ranger

   I think I'm getting tired of Johnny Depp. Ever since he dropped out of the Whitey Bulger biopic for not being given his standard salary, it has been fully revealed that this guy has gravitated into the realm of actors, whom longer possess the craft and value of performing and just take on any crap just for a buck. Speaking of crap, The Lone Ranger was an effortless pile of garbage, that contained Disney's inability to abstain from they're immaturity of showing the Old West tragedies, such as Indian massacres. If this studio is going to constantly handle serious issues like these in the most innocuous ways, then they should just leave it all alone. I wish I could say that was the only problem with this movie but. So, when do sidekicks take the lead roles in films? When those sidekicks happen to be weird enough, to where, Johnny Depp can chew up the scenery and make that character even weirder, to the point where the protagonist is nothing more than just a side character. I would be simple to just ask why Johnny Depp didn't just take the role of The Lone Ranger, but an even simpler answer would be that The Lone Ranger isn't someone to goof off with, unlike Tonto, who Depp has no care for making a complete fool out of, along with the entire Native American culture. Absolute Garbage, plus why did I feel like I was watching Night at the Museum.

Pacific Rim

 Great, fun Blockbuster. Although, the Imax version was so underwhelming compared to Prometheus, the greatest looking movie ever in Imax. Other than Idris Elba and Ron Perlman, not really any standout performances. Don't know why didn't let Charlie Hunnam use his Australian accent. 

      RIPD

 

The Proposal, Safe House and The Croods. All three films received mixed to positive reviews, also all three were financially successful. Wolverine Origins and Green Lanterns. Both failures, critically. Both comic book films. Throw RIPD in that category, you got another failure. Message to Ryan Reynolds: hang up the tights and stay away from comic book movies. As a matter of fact, just stay away from bad movies all together. Reynolds is very similar to Jackie Chan. I remember seeing Rumble in the Bronx for the first time and just being blown away by this guy. I through my Bruce Lee collection to the side for space for Jackie, anticipating his next flick. Super Cop, wow. Rush Hour, great. Rush Hour 2, mmh good. Tuxedo, what the hell, man. It gets worse from then on. I first spotted Reynolds in Blade Trinity. Horrible movie, but Reynolds was flawless. Unlike Chan's gradual decline into disappointment, Ryan Reynolds just went head first and hasn't come up for air since. Yeah, Safe House was financially successful , but that movie sucks. Now, onto this, which isn't as terrible as you might think. However, the positives do not include Reynolds. Jeff Bridges along with Kevin Bacon steal the show, while Ryan's just dull. Some of the dialogue was very funny. Horrible visuals. Where did the 130 million dollar budget go? This movie's failure at even trying to be derivative to MIB just shows it's hopelessness. Wouldn't call this trash, but it's certainly is bad. Looking at Ryan Reynolds, I couldn't help but think this guy is a future soulless actor, playing in a traditional CBS sitcom with a laugh track playing behind him. Wake up, pal.

Red 2

 When I was going into this, I was hoping that they toned down all the old jokes, which they did. My feelings for Red 2 are about the same as the first installment, just a little better for this one. The chemistry between Bruce and John Malkovich really shine, bringing out the humor and great scenes. Lee Byung-hun and Neal McDonough are great additions to the movie, even though McDonough seems to playing like his Robert Quarles character from Justified, plus I think he wears the same suit as that character. Still, he plays a great villain. I wish I could say the same for the pointless Catherine Zeta Jones and Anthony Hopkins, who pays the price for trying to chew up scenery with such a pitifully written role. Who got him to sign up for this? Louise Parker and Helen Mirren were also great. Okay flick. Good to see Bruce Willis actually stayed awake during his performance, unlike A Good Day to Die Hard.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             The Conjuring

                                                                              

   Best movie of July. It's more than just a horror film. Whenever there's a World War Z, a Last Exorcism Part 2, or a ridiculous sequel to the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre that just pisses you off, James Wan will come out of nowhere and take you by surprise. This guy really deserves the title of 'Master of Horror'. Can't wait to see what he has in store for Fast and Furious 7.

                                                       Only God Forgives

                                                                               

   Good movie by Nicolas Winding Refn, but not his best film. His approach to Valhalla Rising, which is pretty similar as far as artsy style, had a much more stable direction in it's narrative, while Only God Forgives was all over the place. This movie felt like the director was trying so hard to detach himself from Drive that he made a convoluted movie that even confused him.

                                                               The Wolverine

                                                                               

As I write this review, my opinions towards it are constantly changing. Hugh Jackman is a good actor, but he does not make a good Wolverine, except for the first X-men, when he's jacking up Cyclops, and his claws don't look like crap. It's amazing how after the first X-men the Wolverine claws get worse and worse. Going back to Hugh Jackman; I'm just tired of this guy, but like I said he is good and he gave it all, unlike the rest of the cast, mainly the two female Asian roles. Usually it's the under developed characters that can bring a performance down, but in this case, where the two roles are well written, but Tao Okamoto and Rila Fukushima are horrible actresses, who aren't really actresses but plain ole models who've been in a couple of flicks. I don't care how vulnerable you make Wolverine, this guy vs. a bunch of Yakuza thugs is really weak. Well, at least they're not as dull  as these ninjas, aka. poor man's Foot Clan. Michael Dudikoff's American Ninja, Ninja Assassin ninjas. Where were these cool, mystical warriors. I would say that the action scenes were great, if the trailers didn't show a glimpse of every action scene and left the uninteresting stuff out. Okay. A lot better than X men Origins: Wolverine. As popular as the Wolverine character is, he's only as interesting as the characters around him, which is why X1 and X2 were so good. You distance this character and he goes nowhere.

Fruitvale Station

 

Very interesting case that makes you want to learn more about it. This film's deliverance of this case to me is really the only good thing I say about this movie, which through the 1st and 2nd Act are just going through the motions just to set up for the 3rd Act. The performances are good but nothing that requires a push for an oscar nom. Whenever someone's getting a phone call, a blue cell phone screen pops up on the screen, which makes it look like a cheap T Mobile commercial.  Decent movie, but very overrated.