Top Five:Movies To End 2014 With

For all movie lovers like my self 2014 has been totally another awesome year movie wise. We've seen some killer reboots, dazzling sequels and the build up of some possible franchises.

Oh yeah.. We've also soon some outrageous story lines, epic leaks and some huge flops as well.

Personally I have still not been able to see some of the titles that made it to my watch list and it kills me to know that the year is fast drawing to an end. Some way some how I am going to find a way to watch all those titles before the year ends. (Yh right!!)

Earlier on this blog, I gave the Top Five movies you should have seen as at August 2014.

Since we are just two months shy of finishing up 2014, I invite yo to take a peak into my top priority watch list.

In no particular order of preference except scheduled release dates, here are my Top Five movies to end 2014 with.

Enjoy the read up and look forward to watching these titles…  I would make sure I get reviews for all of these within the first weeks of their releases.  (So help me God).

They are all UK release dates because it seems that’s the pattern that Silver Bird Cinemas (Ghana) follows.

1.       Interstellar     7^th November 2014

A group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Wes Bentley, Jessica Chastain and Casey Affleck

I have seen the trailer for this and it looks very promising. I love futuristic Sci-fi movies except that most of them seem too over exaggerated and certainly outrageous. This one was shot on an estimated $ 165,000,000 USD budget so I really have high hopes it won’t disappoint. The title alone is catchy…. Interstellar.  (Shivers!!)

[Click Here To Watch Trailer]

2.       The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1     20^th November 2014

Katniss Everdeen is in District 13 after she shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta and a nation moved by her courage.

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson

This happens to be the third installment of the franchise and the first part of the final book of The Hunger Games Trilogy. Meaning there is going to be the fourth (final…hopefully) installment of the franchise next year.  So far I have personally enjoyed the first two installments and I can’t wait to see how this one goes.

[Click Here To Watch Trailer]

3.       Horrible Bosses 2     28^th November 2014

Dale, Kurt and Nick decide to start their own business but things don't go as planned because of a slick investor, prompting the trio to pull off a harebrained and misguided kidnapping scheme.

Starring: Jason Sudiekiss, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jennifer Aniston and Jamie Foxx

Lol..  I am laughing just remembering scenes from the prequel … Horrible Bosses.  That movie gave me a good laugh and I can only imagine same for this one after seeing the trailer so it’s on my top five. For anyone who appreciates good humor this one is a sure pick for you.  Even if you haven’t seen the first one you still have to see this when it’s finally released.

[Click Here To Watch Trailer]

4.       The Hobbit: Battle of The Five Armies     12^th December 2014

               

Bilbo and Company are forced to be embraced in a war against an armed flock of combatants and the terrifying Smaug from acquiring a kingdom of treasure and obliterating all of Middle-Earth.

Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly and Richard Armitage

Another very successful franchise… the entire Hobbit Series is set 60years before the happenings of the also very successful Lord of the Rings franchise. This is the final installment in the series and you should have no excuse not to see this epic climax. I am certainly not missing this in 3D.

[Click Here To Watch Trailer]

5.       Exodus: Gods and Kings     26^th December 2014

The defiant leader Moses rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses, setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.

Starring: Christian Bale, Aaron Paul, Ben Kingsley, Joel Edgerton and Sigourney Weaver

This one is another biblical story being re-told. The trailer looks more than appetizing. I only home it doesn't leave a sour taste in my mouth like Noah did. I am also keen on watching how Aaron Paul plays this role.  I am a getting a front row seat to this one. My friend Kwame Anim has promised me a ticket. Lol

[Click Here To Watch Trailer]

OK so there you are…. My TOP FIVE movies to end 2014 with. There are a host of other movies yet to be released before the close of 2014.  And yours truly would certainly looking out for those and dropping reviews on them if possible. 

Lets end our movie year in style… 

Some of the titles that almost made it to my top five include; Jessabelle, Dumb and Dumber to, The Gambler, The Pyramid, The Imitation Game and FoxCatcher

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Movie Review: Dracula Untold 2014 *The Blood Legend Begins*

  

Ok so my friend Lewis hit me up on Monday via text and said “Yo, lets go watch Dracula on Wednesday night, tickets on me” I immediately did my read up on the title and watched the trailer and replied “Hell Yeah”. 

Before that, I had come across the title but it wasn't on my watch list, I have already seen too many Dracula and vampire stories so wasn't sure about this. The trailer won me over immediately; it promised a lot so I had high expectations for this movie.

Dracula Untold,

With his kingdom and his family under threat from a warlord, a King makes a deal with a dangerous supernatural force whilst trying to avoid succumbing to the darkness of the power he is given himself.

Sounds pretty much plain, right? Well this is SIMPLY the BEST Dracula story I have ever seen. Yes, the movie didn't disappoint.  Who ever came up with this story line really did well. Since the idea of “Dracula” is just a mythical legend with no actual facts (that I know off) to confirm or support it, I feel this script certainly does well to give some actual meaning to this idea of “Dracula”. This one is more believable that any of the others I have seen. We get to see a man go to the very extreme for the sake of his family and his people.

The movie starts of with a young boy’s voice giving a narrative that almost immediately captures your attention and prepares you for an interesting story line. Actually the movie doesn't stray away from its main path. The writers knew exactly what they wanted to tell and went straight for it. That made its 92mins duration seem quite shorter. If you get engrossed in the story like I was, I am very sure you wouldn't even notice the time pass that quickly.

Luke Evans  (Shaw from Fast & Furious 6) plays the role of King Vlad (Dracula). His cold and vindictive nature really suited the role. Top of my head, I can’t imagine anyone else playing this particular role better than he did. I can only guess how difficult it can be for any actor to play a “Good-Bay guy” or a “Bad-Good guy” role. I can’t fault any of the other actors in the movie as well. Dominic Cooper (the warlord) on the opposite side did an excellent job as well (his accent was so good; I almost didn't recognize him till half way through the movie). For me the casting was right on track.

For a movie classed not just Action and Drama but Fantasy as well there would certainly be the need for some Computer Generated Imagery (GGI) to portray the fantasy element well enough. This movie did deliver on that. The visual effects were so good that at some point I thought my eyes where playing tricks on me. A 2D movie that had so much of a 3D feel. Yes it was that good; I wonder why the movie wasn't made in 3D. In fact, the visual effects did add more spice to this movie and made its viewing more pleasurable.

Aside the fact that there too many night time scenes (Obviously necessary for the story line) which I didn't like I hated the terrible camera angles for the fight scenes. I don’t know if it was as a result of the use of CGI ….but…. I just couldn't follow the fight scenes and most of the time I would be left asking “What just happened or who hit who?”  For me it became more like a job trying to figure out what was actually happening in those scenes. I am very much sure I would have enjoyed them better if the angles where much broader.  Well lucky enough… It wasn’t that unnecessary slow motion kind of fight scenes.

Surprisingly the movie ended with a twist that left me wowed…. Looks like there is going to be a SEQUEL. From the way it ended it’s pretty much obvious that there would be a follow up title (unless they are just messing with me), and I honestly can’t wait to see it. It would definitely make it to my watch list this time without any hesitation.

Overall I would rate this movie 6/10. It would have gotten a point more if the fight scenes hadn't let me down that much.  I was really in need of something to entertain and clear my head and going to see this movie really did help…..rough days.  (That’s why I am putting down this review even before I get some shut eye.)

Although this wasn’t an all round perfect movie, Lewis and I did enjoy it. You just have to see this movie for yourself and find a way to not disagree with me on how awesome it is. I would definitely love to watch it all over again and certainly get my self a DVD when it is released. In the mean time it just opened in cinemas so you should go check it out.  It is worth it.

For any one who wants to just have a fun time watching a vampire movie without being either bored or scared I strongly recommend this title for you. Waste no time... Go see this movie.

Master Vampire: I have been waiting an eternity for a man of your strength to arrive. But what kind of man crawls into his own grave in search of hope?

Vlad: A desperate one.

[Click Here To Watch Trailer]

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Movie Review: Horns 2014 *Love Hurts like Hell*

Finally got some time on my hands to write this review…. (Work demands)… Enjoy.

“A beautiful love story told in a bizarre demented kind of way”… that was me thinking out loud as soon as this movie ended. I had seen the trailer just over a month ago and I immediately put it on my watch list pending its release.  Not to say that the trailer was mind blowing but I guess I was just interested in seeing what Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) was doing in this one. Yes he plays the lead role in this title.

I am not a Harry Potter fan (I lost interest in the whole series after the Prisoner of Azkaban) but I sure do fancy seeing a movie  that stars Daniel Radcliffe other than the HP series.

Horns ….. tells the story of a young man who wakes up with horns sprouting from his head following the mysterious death of his girlfriend who everyone thinks he is responsible for. These horns give him the power to make people completely honest about their innermost sinful thoughts and dark secrets.

Sounds interesting enough? Well… a movie that tries to combine Fantasy, Drama and Horror together better have the mix right. I think this one tried…… but….. fell short in some areas. I am very much sure that if this movie hadn't starred Daniel Radcliffe or any other lead actor I wouldn't have been so much interested in seeing this title as much as I was. It wouldn't have gotten even close to my “Top Priority” watch list.

 It also starred Max Minghella, Juno Temple and Heather Graham  (Not your usual “everyday” cast).

Apparently this title is based off a book with the same title. The story to me was good. Yes…like I said.... a love story told in a bizarre demented way.  Right from the start of the movie you begin to feel that element of mystery associated with the story. But that was too short lived…. I almost could predict the direction that movie was going just about 20mins in. It could be because I was paying too much attention or maybe because it was just too shallow.  Or it could be the acting, the characters where so easy to figure out for me. Some how… watching Daniel Radcliffe felt like watching a kid trying the play the role of an adult. The facial hair didn't do the trick for me. I don’t know exactly the age the character he was tasked with was supposed to be but it still seemed like he was too young for that role as compared to the other cast he was acting along side. Regardless of all that, he did play his role to perfection.

I read that Shia LeBeouf (Transformers) had originally been cast for the lead role. Honestly, I feel he would have been much suited for it. Maybe I would have enjoyed this movie better if he had.

Surprisingly, the entire movie lacked the “Horror” element that it promised. There was no point in the movie that scared me at all for it to pass as a horror flick except for the snakes. (I HATE SNAKES). In fact, it made me laugh more than it was supposed to scare. Yes… there are some witty scenes that I feel were totally unnecessary which made the whole movie seem rushed and sloppy. This did ruin the whole “seriousness” vibe it had from the start.

I like that the story did have some elements of religion and belief … interestingly it does. It’s always good to be reminded that Good indeed does triumph over Evil. Certainly, God works in mysterious ways. And this movie has a way of showing that. We all need to be reminded of that regularly one way or the other. To me that is more truth than Fantasy.

The makers managed to escape an almost huge failure with the use of very bad Computer Generated Imagery (GGI). As much as it was necessary to complete the story it wasn't done properly. More reason why the movie seemed rushed.

Regardless of its sloppiness I did enjoy this movie and it isn't one of those movies I regret wasting my time to watch… 120mins in this case. I would score this movie 5/10 for its efforts. That is why it deserves this review.

I did enjoy the story and I am very much sure that anyone else would. For me it wasn't much of a success and is most likely not going to win any awards but it is certainly not a waste of time watching this movie.

If you are a die hard Daniel Radcliffe fan, then you should have no excuse watching this movie.

Ig Perrish: I'm gonna love you for the rest of my life.

Merrin Williams: Just love me for the rest of mine.

[Click Here To Watch Trailer]

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Movie Review: The Giver 2014 *Knowing Can Change Everything*

Intriguing title… I just wondered what this would be about. (I get that curious most times). So I decided to check this movie out. The trailer I had seen before going to watch this movie was quite….should I say boring or not promising. Either which way i was still willing to spend 97mins of my time to see this Sci-Fi Drama with an intriguing title…… Here are views on it.

The Giver…plays out a story based on a book by Lois Lowry, about a perfect world were everyone is happy without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice. A young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man (who happens to be the community’s holder of memories) about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world that includes sadness, war and all the unhappy truths of human nature. Confronted by this new reality this boy is introduced to, he faces difficult choices about his own life and the future of the entire community.

I know you are bored already…..Yes, I agree the whole story sounds boring and almost clearly something most people wouldn't be interested in. Unless you are a Movie freak like me. 

This title starred Jeff Bridges, Meryl Steep, Alexandar Skarsgård, Katie Holmes and Brenton Thwaites(Oculus & Maleficent).Not the usual widely known cast or fan favorites that most people look out for when they go see a movie. But they did deliver and I can’t think of anything bad about the way they embodied the characters they played. Oh…how could I forget the small cameo role from one of my sweethearts Taylor Swift. 

For something that was based on a book I feel it was too cliché making a movie like this… especially at this time when there are already a few Science Fiction franchises building ground. Yes… from the start of the movie all I could think about was The Hunger games and Divergent. The first few scenes with the narrative from the lead role Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) had so much of feel of those two movies I mentioned. It exuded another futuristic perspective very quiet similar to those two movies. Then I was beginning to wish I wasn't going to watch this movie…. but then I had already started and I just had to see my self through…. hoping for something unexpected to make The whole experience worthwhile.

I noticed that the movie started in black and white… confusing. A future in black and white? I thought it was a technical error or something of that sort…. But later on as I followed the story I got to understand the reason for this “Futuristic” story starting in black and white. Yes, the use of black and white with color later on did add a layer of depth to this story. In my books that was well played. But sadly enough those who might not be paying attention to the movie as it unfolds might not get this. The main story line of the movie or should I say the book itself is not something easy to figure out. (Paying attention makes everything simple). It wouldn't be a good Scifi if it was plain and easy to understand. 

Yes… I said GOOD. To my own surprise I ended up enjoying this movie more than I anticipated I would after the first few minutes in. Think about all the human emotions and imagine life without them. You would only understand me better after you have watched this movie. That is why I would rate it an average 5/10 which I think is fair. 

I didn't like the romance that was fused with the story though… not that I have so much disdain for love stories… but this one seemed too awkward for me. As much as I agree it also added some depth to the story I just didn't like it. Evidently this movie can’t be compared to The Hunger games and Divergent and can’t even stand toe to toe with them… but it did pack a little smidge of action to climax it which I feel was a thumbs up considering how otherwise boring my 97mins would have been without it. Everyone likes a bit of action. I In this case too much of it would have been unnecessary. I would love to read the book this movie was based on someday though.

I would certainly recommend this movie for anyone who wants to kill sometime provided that they are willing and ready to pay attention (Otherwise what’s the need) as the story unfolds. 

If you don’t like to pay attention this one is most definitely not for you.

You would love this movie….. Regardless of how boring it might seem. Take my word for it. 

Besides … I feel this title gives off a very thought provoking message…. 

We need the bad to be able to enjoy the good. 

You should go see this movie…. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Click Here to Watch Trailer]

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Movie Review: Lucy 2014 *Power of The Brain*

Ok so I finally got the chance to go watch Lucy. I know my review is late anyways but I am still going to share my thoughts on it.

I had seen a couple of pre –release date trailers and behind the scenes and nothing wowed me enough to make me so interested and eager in seeing this title. Well… I was curious about how this story would be told but I wasn't really interested. I had no expectations going to watch this movie.

Lucy tells the story of a woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal that turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic. 

One of my girlfriends (I wish) Scarllet Johansson plays Lucy. It also stars Morgan Freeman and a host of Asian and French cast.

I must say I was impressed with the story line of this movie….what I would describe as lovely cocktail of Sci-Fiction and thrill garnished with some Action. 

The story reminded me of one the hits of 2011, Limitless which starred Bradley Cooper. Just like Lucy they both talk about how a mysterious drug/pill that unlocks the full potential of the human brain. Apparently, us humans are only able to utilize up to 10% of the capabilities of our brains and anything beyond that is super human. (According to science… me I don’t know). Might sound silly to most people but it is quite informative… A movie that is informative is enough to keep me seated from start to finish. In this case… for 89mins. Another short movie by my standards… 89mins… is that all? Come on!!!

Either which way I would say the movie was OK. My girlfriend (Scarllet Johansson) played a role quite different yet a bit similar to her most famous role of Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff from the Avengers… and she best suited the character. No other person comes to mind that could have done a much better job. (Innocent yet lethal). 

It wasn't much of a big budget movie (40,000,000 USD) but it did deliver in terms of location setting and visual effects. Nothing too fancy/outrageous or minimal/mediocre….just right in between. We have seen movies that worked on a much bigger budget but still flopped as a result of outrageous visual effects. 

I just didn't like that I had seen a movie with a similar story and the repetition to me was almost a huge turn off. The biggest down side for this movie was the huge absence of action sequences. Well there were a few but…. they were not enough for me. I was expecting to see more gun fights and Scarllet kicking some ass. I didn't see enough of these to impress me on that side. That explains why it was that short. The ending too… (some way bi)… just left me asking “What happens next?”. I don’t think there would be a sequel to this movie (I would be surprised if there is)….But I feel the climax was a bit too more like….”figure it out for yourself” kind of. 

That is why I would rate this movie 5/10. Obviously, because I might have learnt a thing or two from it. Its’s certainly not one of those Sci-Fi movies that is more lies than facts.

If you haven’t seen Lucy yet ……You should… Good movie to de-stress with and certainly worth 89mins of your time. It still showing in cinemas.

Lucy: We've codified our existence to bring it down to human size, to make it comprehensible, we've created a scale so we can forget its unfathomable scale.

[Click Here To Watch Trailer]

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Top Five: Favorite Horror Movies of All Time

New job so I am still trying to adjust to my new schedule…. (Yh right)… But another blog post is finally here, Enjoy.

Horror…. This is one of the many genres for classifying movies. I had always wondered what qualifies a movie to fall under this genre and I have always guessed… “If it scares you enough, then it’s Horror”. 

These movies most often play around our hidden fears, nightmares, fear of the unknown or the unexpected to give you a thrill. Movie writers most often just infuse the idea of an evil force or supernatural entity, event, personality or situations into other wise everyday scenarios to achieve this.

I have seen many titles under this genre….the kinds that just leave you scared and afraid to sleep with your lights turned off, the kinds that just mess with your head and confuses you, those that make you know you are not supposed to trust anyone no matter the circumstances (my favorite) and the strange kinds that leave you asking “Can this really happen?”. 

Ok so in no particular order (Well except release years)…. these are my TOP Five Horror Movies of all time. 

1. Child’s Play [1988] 87mins

A serial killer on the escape from cops takes his soul and buries it into playful, seemingly good guy doll, Chucky. A single mother gives her son a beloved doll for his birthday, only to discover that it is possessed only after it has committed numerous murders. Once the adults accept boy’s story as truth, it's too late.

Starring: Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Alex Vincent and Brad Dourif

I remember first watching this when I was quiet little on VHS … but I never forgot it…. It scared some sense into me. There are several equally good sequels (five) to this (the writers did build quite a franchise) and I have seen them all but the first one can’t seem to get out of my head. If you like dolls … you should see this movie. (You might just change your mind about them). I really want to watch this one again.

My name is Chucky, Do you wanna play?

[Click Here to Watch Trailer]

2. Final Destination [2000] 98mins

A group of students board a plane to France on a school trip, when suddenly one of them gets a premonition that the plane will explode. They are thrown off the plane before it takes off, to their horror, the plane does in fact explode. Death now hunts them, as each of the surviving students fall victim and dies in some strange circumstances one by one. 

Starring: Devon Sawa, Ali Later, Kerr Smith, Tony Todd and Roger Guenveur Smith

Honestly, I don’t know how this movie manages to scare this much…. Maybe it is the fear of death by unknown circumstances. All the other four installments that follow this one are indeed intriguing. It sure does mess with your mind a bit if you let. You might have seen one or two of the Final Destination movies but to get a better thrill of the whole series you have to see this one as well as all the others you might have not seen.

[Click Here to Watch Trailer]

3. Jeepers Creepers [2001] 90mins

A brother and sister driving home witness a mysterious person dumping something down a tunnel. Deciding to discover what was dumped down there; they discover a huge disturbing hideout full of modified bodies and set off to get help, unaware that the individual is now aware of who has been down the tunnel. They soon realize that their pursuer is not just a mysterious person, but something even more horrifying, who has more in store than they could possibly imagine.

Starring: Justin Long, Gina Philips, Jonathan Breck and Peggy Sheffield

I really loved this movie even though it did its job of scaring me (the idea of horror flick). The creature’s looks are definitely impressive. There was a follow up sequel to this one that I liked also… and that soundtrack Jeepers Creepers would definitely give you the chills each time you hear it after watching this movie.

[Click Here to Watch Trailer]

4. Saw [2004] 103mins

Two men wake up to find out that they are chained to pipes set facing each other in a dirty bathroom in the secure lair of a serial killer who's been nicknamed "Jigsaw". The men must follow various rules and objectives if they wish to survive and win the deadly game set for them.

Starring: Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Ken Leung and Tobin Bell

This movie has seven installments and there are already rumors about an eighth. The first saw was definitely a flick you can’t forget, unfortunately, for me, follow up sequels seemed to have diluted the adrenaline that the first two or three packed. But either which way…..once you get to understand the whole idea of the movie you are sure going to love it. It packs some gory scenes so be prepared for it… that is if you haven’t seen this one or any of the others in the series. There are so many twists to the story so doesn't just scare you but keeps you interested as well.

[Click Here to Watch Trailer]

5. The Hills Have Eyes [2006] 107min

A family travelling through the great American southwest but their trip takes a detour into an area originally used by the U.S. Government for nuclear testing that was intended to be empty...or so they thought? They are stranded and the family soon realize that what seemed like a car casually breaking down, might actually be a trap. This trap might be perpetrated by the inhabitants of the site who aren't pulling a prank, but are out to set up a gruesome massacre.

Starring: Ted Levine, Kathleen Quinlan, Dan Byrd, Billy Drago and Robert Joy

This is one of those “Run for your life and try to Survive” kind of horror flick. It is actually the remake of 1977’s The Hills Have Eyes which I haven’t seen. Would love to though….considering how much I enjoyed the scare and thrill of this one. There is also a follow up sequel to this that I enjoyed as much. It’s the disturbing type of gruesome killings but definitely provides some adrenaline rush….well it did that for me. If you don’t have the stomach for bloody scenes this isn't for you.

[Click Here to Watch Trailer]

Ok so... there you are…. My Top five Horror Movies of all time. 

They might not do it for you as much as they did for me but these are certainly some good horror titles that I have enjoyed and would recommend for any one who loves the genre but hasn't yet seen these. Other equally good movies that narrowly made it to my Top Five include, Drag me To Hell, Mama, The Conjuring, The Last Exorcism, Orphan, Insidious, Chernobyl Diaries and Hostel. 

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