Movie Review: Exodus:Gods and Kings 2014 *Kings Are Made By God*

Arguably, this could certainly be one of the most looked forward to movies for 2014. Personally it couldn't have skipped my priority watch list. (Checkout my TOP FIVE movies to End 2014 with)

A lot of noise had been made about this title pending its release. I remember exactly how stunned I was after I first saw its trailer months ago. It looked very promising and I would believe that anyone else that saw the per-release trailers had high expectations for this movie.

In April this year, Noah was released and received with mixed reactions and comments. Personally, it did leave a very sour taste in my mouth and I could only hope that Exodus would be much better. 

I would describe both movies as spin-offs of very well known bible stories told with huge Hollywood budgets. 

Exodus tells the story of Moses who rises up against Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses in a bid to set free 600, 000 Hebrew salves. 

I believe this is a very well known bible story for not just Christians but non- believers as well. Everyone might have heard off or is familiar with this story. (Well if you haven’t then it’s never too late to start reading your bible).

I had very high expectations going in to see this movie, so much that I couldn't afford to miss the first day showing and certainly wasn't bothered about the close to one hour delay before its start. (The delay was well explained and made a lot of sense anyways). I would say… I as much as I did enjoy watching this movie I wasn't totally impressed or blown away entirely by it. 

This Ridley Scott (Famous for directing Gladiator and Black Hawk Down) directed movie had a lot of things right. Most noticeable of these was the casting. I feel it was a very wise move casting the affable and talented Christian Bale (Three time Bruce Wayne\Batman for Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy) for the lead role of Moses. Anyone who is familiar with Christian’s works would possibly fancy the idea of seeing him in something of biblical precedence. I feel he did justice to this role and really did embody the Moses character in all sense. I dare say that he did a better job than Russell Crowe did playing Noah. (He had originally been cast to play Noah but couldn't because of scheduling conflicts) Joel Edgerton who I remember very well from the 2011 hit Warrior also gave an equally stunning performance playing the Pharaoh Ramses on the other side. I loved his cold looks and demeanor. Other supporting casts including, Ben Kingsley, Aaron Paul and John Turturro did add some spice to it. I was hoping to see Aaron Paul (Need for Speed) in a much bigger role though. Besides that I cannot in anyway fault the casting. Even the child actors were spot on.

I also liked the fact that the movie did not have to start with the story of the birth of Moses and how he grew up living under the roof of the Pharaoh. The movie just sets off with a full grown Moses and Ramses going into a battle for the Egyptians. Taking the story from that point upwards was very necessary considering that it lasted a total of 150mins, other than that I believe it would have been either much longer or much lighter in terms of the dept of the adult life of Moses. 

I was also impressed with the visuals. The makers did not make use of excessive graphics in terms of setting so the whole scenery looked real and believable to a large extent. It was very much pleasurable seeing all those buildings and ancient Egyptian construction work in such detail. I was taken to Biblical Egypt and back. Entirely, the 3D viewing was OK and not too over done even though it did seem quiet unnecessary at some points.

[This Point on wards may contain some minor Spoilers] Pardon me…..very necessary for the sake of this review. 

What I didn't like most about this movie was, just like Noah, it seemed to have strayed or been rewritten from what is popularly known or expected. That is why I would describe them as spin-offs. I believe everything the bible says to be fact and not fiction so would certainly find it uncomfortable accepting anything that tends to depict or demonstrate otherwise. I don’t seem to get why they can’t just make the movie as it has been told in the bible. I don’t remember Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ having any conflicting ideas or contradictions with what the bible says about the death of Christ. 

I might not be a theologian or anything close to that but I do not remember the bible saying or expressing anything like Moses’ encounter with the burning bush as a dream or him inscribing the Ten Commandments with his own hands. Neither did it mention anything like God constantly appearing to Moses in the form of a young boy. I would want to believe there is reason for these contradictions but then they would not be justifiable nonetheless. For the sake of the truth (The Bible) can’t these stories be told just as they have been written and expressed in the Good Book? 

Disapprovingly, I feel the story tried to provide mundane explanations for the Plagues that God sent upon the Egyptians. Besides the graphical representations of these plagues being quite good they certainly lacked accuracy which sort of downsized the efforts put into interpreting those parts of the story. 

Surprisingly I was hoping to see Moses and Ramses actually have a go at it: one on one, but that didn't happen. I think the trailer led me to expect a lot of fighting and some epic battles (I am a huge fan for battle scenes) so I was hoping to see a lot more of that.

I would rate this movie 6.5/10 only because it was nice to watch and enjoyable but certainly not as mind blowing and wowing as I had initially anticipated it to be. 

I sensed that a lot of the people who also saw the movie at that time were also disappointed to some extent. Most noticeable of them was Ace Ghanaian Record Producer and CEO of The Last Two Music Group; Da’ Hammer who was obviously very disappointed by the movie.

Regardless, I would agree with anyone who says that this was a far better movie that Noah and I would most certainly want to watch this one again. (I have watched Noah only once and have no interest in seeing it again.)

It’s Christmas and for anyone who wants to do anything other thing besides the usual eating, drinking and partying I would gladly recommend you go spend some time (and money) to see this movie. It is worth it.

My only hope is that the next biblical big budget Hollywood venture doesn't associate with the need to provide contradictions and conflicting backdrops to maim its success. 

Merry Christmas.

Do well to go see this movie too.

[Click Here To Watch Trailer]

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Movie Review: The Hobbit; Battle of the Five Armies 2014 *The Defining Chapter*

I am sure every movie lover knows that feeling that precedes having seen the climax of a very great movie…. The battle of the Five Armies indeed did serve as a perfect long awaited climax.

This movie I am sure could possibly be the most expected movie for 2014. After two very successful prequels everyone must have been dying to see the conclusion of this trilogy. Well for me it felt more like a need than a want…. I just had to make sure I watched this title. (Check out my TOP FIVE movies to end 2014 with)

The battle of the five armies continues exactly where The Hobbit: The Desolation of the Smaug ended… such a dreadful cliffhanger that left me, and I believe, everyone else yearning for the final installment.

This particular one sees, Bilbo and the rest forced to conquer the smaug and then battle several combatants with different motives for treasure.

Of course you would have to see the first two movies to be able to fully appreciate and follow this one. (If you haven’t….Then.. You should be arrested and tortured lol). The titles are based on a book so you wouldn't be doing yourself any good seeing this one without having the first two to guide you.

Director Peter Jackson really put his all in to this…. an Epic defining chapter that perfectly sums this all. Personally I am of the view that.. The Hobbit Trilogy was a very huge step up on The Lord of The Rings Series. (Note that The Hobbit stories are set 60years before the lord of the Rings stories). I am considering watching Lord of the rings all over again just to be sure. The first two movies served as a perfect build up for this.

The battle of the five armies from the start just takes you where the second installment left of without having to bore the viewer with very much unneeded prologues. It’s almost like you are expected to know what the story is about so it just dives in right from the start. We see the Smaug descend on the Laketown to display its ferocious wrath, immediately the viewer is welcomed with a pulse of excitement, fear and suspense. This certainly prepares you for the epic battles and fight scenes that keeps the entire movie upbeat and never dull from start to finish.

The action was definitely breath taking; it is almost like they really did save all the best for the last. I was more than impressed with the sequencing of the battles. I don’t think there has ever been a perfect use CGI as compared to this. In my books, I would say it was flawless. Yes CGI is very necessary to tell an epic fantasy so it’s always evident when it goes wrong but in Hobbit’s case… It was just so perfect. (If you waste your time to watch some shitty CAMRIP don’t blame me for missing out on this visual effects masterpiece).

Besides the marvelous action scenes, the story had quite some emotional moments that really deserve acknowledging. At several points I found myself along with majority of the audience fuming, gasping or sighing to some of the scenes. Also the story did have some minor levels of wit which I believe everyone needed to sort of lighting the mood and seriousness of the entire movie. (I just laughed out loud just remembering one of those scenes). Evidently, the entire Hobbit series I believe was made to explain or broaden certain aspects of the Lord of the rings and this was made clear in this movie which I also think is huge upside. I am sure I am not the only person who wants to see the Lord of the rings again after watching this final installment of the hobbit.

Although by far this movie did exceed my expectations I did have a few minor problems with it.

I observed that Legolas the elf character played by Orlando Bloom had much smaller ears than he had in the previous movies, even in Lord of the rings. I know it might seem like such a minor unnecessary detail but to someone like me who likes to pay attention to even the minute details; it just didn't feel right. I got the impression that they just didn't take the costuming seriously enough. I also didn't like the fact the he didn't have as many fight scenes as I had expected to see. 

I also felt that most of the dwarfs did not get as much screen time so they only seemed like supporting fill in cast or extras. Maybe because there wasn't anything major in the script for them but it still didn't feel right for me. Surprisingly this epic climax turned out to be the shortest of the series, I was expecting more than just 144mins for this. For me it seemed like they just wanted to get in over and done with. Not to say that it was a turn down but I just hoped that it would have lasted much longer. Certainly these are just minor shortfalls (in my view) which can in no way void the progress that this installment had capped over the span of three years.

Overall this was a very great movie and I enjoyed seeing it. The interactions from the audience made it even more enjoyable. It is always nice seeing that others share in the same thrill as you.

I would not hesitate to rate this movie 8/10 and forcefully recommend it to anyone who loves a great story.

I don’t know if there is any other book or story by the writer J.R.R Tolkien that might be linked to these great franchise but if there are I have no doubt that, they too would turned in successful screenplays. 

You don’t have to waste anytime going to watch this movie, for the first time I observed a fully packed theater with an equally enthused audience. Shows how much The Hobbit has a huge following here in Ghana.

Don’t forget to catch up with the previous installments before you see this one so you can really enjoy it.

The Hobbit Trilogy box set would surely be a part of my DVD collection.

[From Trailer]

Bilbo Baggins: You’ve won the Mountain. Is that not enough?

Thorin Oakenshield: Now, we defend It.

[Click Here To Watch Trailer]

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Movie Review: Horrible Bosses 2 2014 *Horrible Can be Hilarious*

I am behind by like five reviews or more not by choice but by circumstance.  (Sucks!!)

Got some time on my hands today so I decided to go watch a movie and possibly drop another review for my lovely readers (I know you do read lol). I had initially planned to watch The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, but I changed my mind at the last minute and opted for this.  And I am glad to say….. YES…. I did make a good choice (As always). Not to down play Hunger Games in anyway but I was really in need of a “de-stress” moment and boy was  I right picking this.

I am very familiar with the 2011 hit Horrible Bosses so I had to make sure its sequel did make it to my priority list. (Check out My TOP FIVE movies to end 2014 With). For anyone who has seen Horrible Bosses they would get what I am saying. I like to describe it as “Stupid Funny”. I am sure a lot of people would agree with me on this.

In Horrible Bosses 1 who saw three friends conspiring to murder their awful bosses after they realized that they were the reasons for their lives being miserable.  

But in this sequel we see these three friends as their own bosses after they decide to start their own business but get ripped off by a slick investor prompting them to plot a misguided scheme to kidnap the investor’s son and hold him for ransom as leverage to get their company back.

I know this seems very plain but with Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day as these three friends you are certain of more than a good laugh. Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Aniston also reprise their roles from the prequel.  Chris Pine (Jack Ryan) plays the adult son of the investor played by Christopher Waltz (the villain Chudnofsky from The Green Hornet).

You might be asking yourself by now…. in what way is a kidnapping funny. I did too the first time I read the plot of this movie but after seeing this movie it was clear how creative and inventive the writers had to be to put all of this together.

Honestly, I think this was definitely a step up from the prequel. The writers knew they had bigger shoes to fill considering how hilarious the prequel was and they gave it their all.  Despite my high expectations for this movie I had prepared my mind for some level of disappointment should in case it failed to crack me up like the first one did.  This was in no way a failure… The first one was classified Comedy and Crime but this one ..just comedy. Tells you they really meant business with the humor. This movie like the first one had me laughing from start to end (Not just me… Everyone else in the cinema at that time was) except this one made me laugh even more. You just have to pack a good sense of humor to guarantee that you would enjoy this movie as much as I did.  Surprisingly, it also stunned with a high speed cop chase that was not only thrilling but equally funny in a very creative way (I enjoyed that ride).

Oh yeah… How can I forget the soundtracks used throughout the movie… They really did add some element of depth to the progress of the movie. I even spotted someone in the audience using the Shazam app at one point to try to pick up one of the soundtracks that was used.

Besides some time lapses that didn't quite add up for me, I didn't like that I was almost predicting every step of the movie… well maybe because I was enjoying it too much and was following it keenly. Also there were quite some offensive, stereotypical jokes that might sound too blunt and unnecessary  to some people which I feel were not needed at all considering the scenes they where used in. I would agree with anyone who says the cast or script tried to be too funny. And would also agree that there seemed to be not even single scene of seriousness in the entire film.  There is also too much use some very strong foul language which I am quite sure some people might not be comfortable with.

Although this can stand on it’s own…  I strongly recommend that anyone who hasn't seen the first one should do so before seeing this one so as to avoid getting lost in some of the wittiness that are linked with the prequel. Either which way,  I am sure you would be able to follow this one even if you are not able to see the first one before.

I doubt if there is going to be a third movie but I won’t be surprised if there is… which I believe would largely depend on how successful this one does over time. I strongly feel the movie was released at a very wrong time though considering all the competition from well known franchises with huge yet growing following but let’s just wait and see…. I hope this review is enough to make someone want to go out and see this movie.

I would give this movie 7.5/10 because it did fulfill its purpose of entertaining me from start to finish, my 108mins were well spent.

I sure won’t mind paying to see this movie again because it was worth it.

If you are in dire need of a good laugh look no further…. Let the HILARIOUS Horrible Bosses crack you up.

[Click Here To Watch Trailer]

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