Movies You Expected to Hate, but Loved

I think everyone can make a list like this. You see a trailer for a movie or read about an upcoming flick and you just roll your eyes. Because you will most definitely hate it. But when you eventually see it, you really really really love it. Here is a list of my misjudgments, the movies I expected to hate, but actually loved.

John Wick (2014)
I thought it was going to be one of those terrible revenge movies, kind of like how Steven Seagal makes them. But it eventually turned out to be such a great film with awesome fight scenes. And the sequels get better and better, I love those even more. It still is an old-fashioned revenge movie, about a former hitman who is becomes vengeful after a bunch of Russian mobsters kill his dog.

The Lego Movie (2014)
Who really needed this movie? Well, apparently I did. Nobody expected a movie about the most popular bricks would be such a huge hit. I was fascinated with how it was made and “The Lego Movie” was extremely funny. And that song.....

Avatar (2009)
I avoided this film, for as long as I could. I didn’t want to see it, thought it was just another cash-grab and found the blue creatures super weird. But I eventually caved and saw it, at home. And now I’m sad that I never saw it on the big screen. I never expected this film to have such a strong message and it looks amazing. The film still has a lot of haters, but now I don’t understand why. Because “Avatar” is such a beautiful film.

Game Night (2018)
It seemed kind of boring and goofy, and Jason Bateman starring didn’t really look inviting, since most of his comedy work is silly. Yet, I was very wrong and think this is one of the best comedies of the 2010s. I loved the starting point of this film, enjoyed Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman together. Such a funny comedy.

Spy (2015)
A spy comedy, ugh. With Melissa McCarthy, who will probably do what she always does. But “Spy” is hilarious. And Jason Statham, whom I’m not a big fan of, is the best part of this film (never thought I would EVER say that). “Spy” is one great comedy!

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
I like spy movies, but I expected “Kingsman: The Secret Service” to be another James Bond clone. I was so surprised with how good this film was. It has humor and does mock the genre at times. Great action and that scene in the church with “Free Bird” playing is one of the best scenes I had seen that year. A fantastic action flick.

Happy Death Day (2017)
Just another teen slasher I thought. It actually turned out to be a very funny and clever horror film. Much better than I expected it to be.

Ant-Man (2015)
I really thought ”Ant-Man” was going to suck, because I wasn’t really sure if Paul Rudd could pull off the superhero vibe. And director Peyton Reed was mainly known for some comedies he made. Little did I know that “Ant-Man” would eventually become one of my favorite MCU films. Now I can’t think about anyone else playing Scott Lang. I enjoyed the comedic tone the film has and Rudd really is perfect for it. I also really loved the fact that it brought back Evangeline Lilly, I have loved her since I was introduced to her in “Lost”.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
I mainly hated the idea of it being rebooted, since I really love the original “Jumanji”, even though time hasn’t been kind to it at all. The CGI is very outdated, but still. When I did see “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” it really pleasantly surprised me. I loved the cast and how they told the same story, but adapted it to the modern world.

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Cameos of 2015

Still looking back on 2015 as a movie year, I’ve started listing the best cameos in movies of that year. It was pretty tough, I had to dig deep. But here are my five favorite cameos of 2015.

5. 50 Cent (“Spy”)

The rapper has been in the acting game for a while now, but in “Spy” he plays himself while on a way to a concert near to the end of the film. Mostly alongside Miranda Hart’s character Nancy.

 

 

4. Daniel Radcliffe and Marisa Tomei (“Trainwreck”)

Radcliffe and Tomei show up in the movie within the movie. Amy Shumer’s character and John Cena’s Steven go and see it. It’s an Indie parody called “The Dogwalker”.

 

 

3. Hugh Jackman (as Wolverine in “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”)

Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon had no idea if he was going to be able to snag Hugh Jackman to voice a picture of Wolverine in Rachel’s room. But when he told him about the scene, Jackman signed on.

 

 

2. Liam Neeson (“Entourage” and “Ted 2”)

Although I wasn’t a huge fan of either of the movies, Liam Neeson makes it all a lot more fun. In “Entourage” he does something we all want to do: he gives Ari Gold the finger. In “Ted 2” he buys a box of US cereal Trix and is concerned it’s just for kids. Really funny.

 

 

1. Mark Hamill (“Kingsman: The Secret Service”)

Mark Hamill pops up as professor Arnold, a scientist that the Kingsmen send Lancelot to rescue. This mission doesn’t go that well though. And Professor Arnold ends up, well…. He explodes.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Stan Lee (“Avengers: Age of Ultron”), Nemo (“Inside Out”)

Top 5 Thursday: Movies I Watched for My Challenge (March 2015)

I didn’t see that many new movies this month, I rewatched a lot of films. But I could still make a top 5, so here are the best first views of the month of March.

5. Kingsman: The Secret Service

When I first saw the trailer I wasn’t interested at all. When I saw and read all those amazing reviews about “Kingsman: The Secret Service” I got curious. So I decided to check it out for myself. It was one hell of a good time.

 

 

4. Take Shelter

A very dark and gloomy film, with great acting. Slow, but very good. I really loved Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon.

 

 

3. St. Vincent

You can always trust Bill Murray. His role is magnificent and I enjoyed his performances. I liked seeing Melissa McCarthy in a more serious role, she did a good job. And Naomi Watts was also fantastic.

 

 

2. Enemy

What a mindfuck! This movie left me thinking for days and it really freaked me out. This is a cinematic masterpiece. For the fans, please check out this video of Chris Stuckmann, where he explains the movie. It really helped me understand it more.

 

 

1. Psycho

This is one of the best movies ever made, I just love Alfred Hitchcock movies. What were they thinking making a new version of it? “Psycho” is a movie everyone should see!

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: The Ice Harvest, An American in Paris

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 33: Kingsman: The Secret Service

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Genre: Action/ Crime/ Adventure/ Comedy

Runtime: 116 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Mark Hamill, Sofia Boutella, Michael Caine, Sophie Cookson, Jack Davenport

Description: A spy organization recruits unrefined, but promising street kid Eggsy (Taron Egerton) into the agency's ultra-competitive training program, just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius (Samuel L. Jackson).

Review: Yeah to the spy movie! Matthew Vaughn made one of his best with “Kingsman: The Secret Service”. Pretty good for a movie I didn’t really expect much from. Vaughn, who made movies like “Kick-Ass” and “Layer Cake” really exceeds himself this time. The movie has everything you need for the next two hours: elegance, a good cast and a great script. But it’s overall its youthful character that makes this film so pleasurable. It’s like Vaughn just watched his first spy movie and jumped into this project with childlike nativity and creativity.

Based on the comic book series “The Secret Service” by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar, “Kingsman: The Secret Service” shows us how secret agent Harry Hart recruits rebel Eggsy. Hart gets Eggsy in to a secret agency called The Kingsmen.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” is full of nostalgic: the love for the spy movie genre is clearly present. But you can’t compare it to other movies in that genre. Vaughn managed to create something that stands on its own and is fresh and bold. Everything that makes a spy movie great is present: extravagant gadgets, a charismatic villain, stylish spies, beautiful women and a cool soundtrack.

Colin Firth, the face of British cinema, is good as always. Stylish and proud he shines as bad-ass spy. If you think he’s stiff, then this movie might change your mind. Who would have thought that Firth could easily overpower a pub full of rioters? Also Samuel L. Jackson is convincing as the bad guy, although I don’t know why he has that weird lisp. But it’s in fact new guy Taron Egerton, who plays Eggsy, who wins over our hearts.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” succeeds in being funny and exciting consistently, without overdoing it. It’s a real joy, from beginning ‘till end and time flies when you’re watching it. “Kingsman: The Secret Service” is cinema with balls, a movie that will give you a grin even after you left the theater.

Rating: 4/ 5