100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 96: Frankenweenie

Director: Tim Burton
Genre: Comedy/ Animation/ Horror
Runtime: 88 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Martin Landau, Christopher Lee, Martin Short, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Atticus Shaffer

Description: Young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences.

Review: Making a stop-motion animation asks a lot of a person: decication, time and patience. If I would make a film myself, I would love to try stop-motion, it always amazes me. And Tim Burton is a fan too.
“Frankenweenie” is a story about a boy and his dog Sparky. This is also secretly an ode to classic horror films. Victor is a nice boy who only has one real friend: his dog Sparky. Victor lives in the suburbs. He makes his own horror films, staaring Sparky, but also has a passion for science. When his beloved pet is hit by a car and dies, he just simply doesn’t like life anymore. When a new science teacher tells him about the power of electricity, Victor tries to bring Sparky back to life. And it works. But Victor has to keep it a secret from everyone.
“Frankenweenie” is typical Burton. All the characters look like they came from a horror film and are all weird. They aren’t just macabre, but also have an endearing feel to it. Especially Victor and Sparky.
For film fans it’s great to see all the classic horror movie references. The film is in black an white and this adds to the atmosphere and the ode to the classic horror films. The film looks fantastic and I think it’s one of Tim Burton’s better films.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 95: Get Hard

Director: Etan Cohen
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Will Ferrell, Kevin hart, Craig T. Nelson, Alison Brie

Description: When millionaire James King (Will Ferrell) is jailed for fraud and bound for San Quentin, he turns to Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart) to prep him to go behind bars.

Review: A die hard street criminial would have a tough time in San Quentin prison, but it’s really going to be hard for the softy business man James King. He is worried, after he is accused of fraude, he won’t make it in jail. James asks Darnell Lewis for help, to get him ready for jail, because he thinks Darnell went to jail. He didn’t, which of course gives us some hilarious moments. And the title, “Get Hard”, has a double meaning.
Almost every joke in “Get Hard” is based on clichés or stereotypes. And we don’t get any further then how dangerous jail is and all its gang and that men rape their celmates in jail.
The fact that this movie is funny, is because of Will Ferrell. I think he is one of the funniest actors out there. Kevin Hart, I just can’t get used to. His humor is pretty one sided, not very versatile.
“Get Hard” isn’t great, but it is funny enough to keep me entertained the entire runtime.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 94: Hotel Transylvania 2

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Fantasy/ Adventure
Runtime: 89 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Fran Drescher, Molly Shannon, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Dana Carvey, Rob Riggle, Mel Brooks, Chris Kattan, Jon Lovitz

Description: Dracula (Adam Sandler) and his friends try to bring out the monster in his half human, half vampire grandson in order to keep Mavis (Selene Gomez) from leaving the hotel.

Review: A couple of years ago Sony brought us “Hotel Transylvania”, not one of the best animations, but successful and very enjoyable. And because the young audience liked it, the inevitable happened: a sequel.
At the end of “Hotel Transylvania” hotel ownder Dracula realizes that he has to let his daughter go and let her live her own life. In this second film, it looks like he has taken a step back. Mavis marries Johnny and together they have a son. Dracula doesn’t want little Dennis to grow up in the ‘normal’ world, but as a monster.
The opening of the film is a bit rushed, a lot happens in the first half hour. The film is beautifully animated and has some really good jokes. And although “Hotel Transalvania 2” is entertaining, it brings us nothing really new or memorable.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016: # 93: 300

Director: Zack Snyder
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2006
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Heady, Dominic West, David Wenham, Michael Fassbender, Rodrigo Santoro

Description: King Leonidas of Sparta (Gerard Butler) and a force of 300 men fight the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 B.C.

Review: The Spartans: brutal, big and without any fear. With only 300 men they went to battle with the Persians. This heroic chapter of the Greek history, inspired Frank Miller to a graphic novel: “300”. Drector Zack Snyder wanted to bring this to life on the big screen. Result: a two hour event that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Future king Leonidas is taken from his mother at age 7. He has to undergo a very tough training to get him ready for the future. To proof that he can be the kinf of the Spartans he doesn’t only hsve to be strong, also smart and brave. Twenty years after defeating a big beast, he is ruling as king. And a bigger enemy is coming, an army of a million men.
The movie was entire filmed in front of a green screen, so it took about 60 days to finish that. But everything looks so good. The fighting scenes are amazing, they have a gret dramatic effect to them. And Gerard Butler is very strong as King Leonidas.
“300” is a great adaptation of a graphic novel and very well made. Although the movie is pretty brutal, I think this movie will be liked by people who normally don’t like this type of film.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (246)

Here are this week's trailers.

Goat
Director: Andrew Neel
Description: Reeling from a terrifying assault, a 19 year-old boy enrolls into college with his brother and pledges the same fraternity. What happens there, in the name of "brotherhood" tests the boy and his loyalty to his brother in brutal ways.
Starring: Nick Jones, James Franco
Trailer: Trailer "Goat"
Comment: Freakin' fraternaties....

Imperium
Director: Daniel Ragusses
Description: Nate Foster (Daniel Radcliffe), a young, idealistic FBI agent, goes undercover to take down a radical white supremacy terrorist group. The bright up-and-coming analyst must confront the challenge of sticking to a new identity while maintaining his real principles as he navigates the dangerous underworld of white supremacy.
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Toni Collette
Trailer: Trailer "Imperium"
Comment: He's no Harry Potter anymore.

The Girl with All the Gifts
Director: Colm McCarthy
Description: A scientist and a teacher living in a dystopian future embark on a journey of survival with a special young girl named Melanie.
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Glenn Close, Paddy Considine
Trailer: Trailer "The Girl with All the Gifts"
Comment: This looks amazing!!!

Table 19
Director: Jeffrey Blitz
Description: Ex-maid of honor Eloise (Anna Kendrick) - having been relieved of her duties after being unceremoniously dumped by the best man via text- decides to attend the wedding anyway only to find herself seated with 5 "random" guests at the dreaded Table 19.
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Stephen Merchant, Lisa Kudrow, Craig Robinson, June Squibb
Trailer: Trailer "Table 19"
Comment: I'm really looking forward to seeing this film.

Sing
Director: Garth Jennings
Description: A koala named Buster (Matthew McConaughey) recruits his best friend to help him drum up business for his theater by hosting a singing competition.
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Edgerton, Leslie Jones, Nick Offerman, Peter Serafinowicz, Jay Pharaoh, Beck Bennett
Trailer: Trailer "Sing"
Comment: I can't get enough of these trailers for "Sing".

Top 5 Thursday: Epic Moments from "Game of Thrones" Season 1

Because we have to wait a year for new “Game of Thrones” episodes, I decided to rewatch all the old episodes. I’m going to create a series of top fives, where I will share with you the most epic moments in every season. Starting with season 1.

5. The Fall of Bran
Although Catelyn Stark thinks Tyrion Lannister is responsible for the attack on her son Bran, it was actually the older brother, Ser Jaime Lannister who pushed him. Bran was spying on Queen Cersie Lannister, who was intimate with Jaime, who are also siblings. Neither Lannister could afford their secret relationship to get out. So Jaime decided to push Bran out of the tower window. This crippled Bran for life.

4. The Golden Crown
Viserys Targaryen traded his sister Daenerys to Khal Drogo in exchange for an army to conquer the seven kingdoms. And Drogo didn’t exactly seem eager to keep his end of the bargain. It might have been because Drogo Recognized that Viserys was both foolish and insane. And when Viserys threatened the life od Daenerys and Drogo’s unborn child, he went too far. Drogo kept his promise to give Viserys a crown of gold, but in the form of molten gold poured over his head.

3. The White Walker Attacks Jon Snow
After remaining offscreen for most of the season, the White Walkers attempted to make a bold move and assassinate the leader of the Night’s Watch. For Jon Snow this probably couldn’t have come at a better time. With his father accused of treason and his own standing within the Watch also in question, Jon needed some way to prove himself. After stabbing the undead man, the Walker pursued on him again. Thanks to fire, he burned the walker and Jon survived. He earned a new respect from the men on the wall.

2. The Dragons Rise Again
Daenerys lost nearly everything to the witch Mirri Maz Duur. Her son was still born, her Dothraki horde abandoned her and her beloved Khal Drogo lived on only in a vegative state. At the end of the season Daenerys emerges from the flames, nakes and unharmed. And she is also joined by three new born dragons.

1. The Execution of Ned Stark
Readers of the novels knew that this was coming, as did I, but this is definitely the most memorable moment of the first season. Faced with the difficult choice of maintaining his honor in death or attempting to save his daughter Sansa, Ned confesses his imagined crimes in public and declared Joffrey to be the true king. However, this horrible boy king rejected the clemency plans offered to Ned an ordered him immediately beheaded.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Stark Vs. Lannister, The Direwolf saves Bran, The Last Stand of Syrio Forel, Tyrion’s Trial by Combat, Littlefinger Betrays Ned Stark

Movie Trailer Sunday (245)

Here are this week's trailers.

Sully
Director: Clint Eastwood
Description: The story of Chesley Sullenberger (Tom Hanks), who became a hero after gliding his plane along the water in the Hudson River, saving all of his 155 passengers.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Jerry Ferrara, Autumn Reeser
Trailer: Trailer "Sully"
Comment: Yey, Tom Hanks. Always excited for a new Tom Hanks movie!

Trolls
Director: Mike Mitchell, Walt Dohrn
Description:From the creators of Shrek comes the most smart, funny, irreverent animated comedy of the year, DreamWorks' Trolls. This holiday season, enter a colorful, wondrous world populated by hilariously unforgettable characters and discover the story of the overly optimistic Trolls, with a constant song on their lips, and the comically pessimistic Bergens, who are only happy when they have trolls in their stomach.
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Timberlake, James Corden, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Christine Baranski, Gwen Stefani, Russell Brand, John Cleese, Jeffrey Tambor
Trailer: Trailer "Trolls"
Comment: This is one happy trailer.

Why Him?
Director: John Hamburg
Description: A dad forms a bitter rivalry with his daughter's young rich boyfriend.
Starring: Bryan Cranston, James Franco, Zoey Deutch, Megan Mullaly, Adam Devine, Keegan-Michael Key, Casey Wilson
Trailer: Trailer "Why Him?"
Comment: Who would date a douche like that, but then again James Franco is awesome!

Bleed For This
Director: Ben Younger
Description: The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza (Miles Teller), who after a near fatal car crash, which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sports most incredible comebacks.
Starring: Miles Teller, Katey Sagal, Ciarán Hinds, Aaron Eckhart, Ted Levine
Trailer: Trailer "Bleed For This"
Comment: Reminds me of "Million Dollar Baby"

Bad Moms
Director: Jon Lucas, Scott, Moore
Description: When three overworked and under-appreciated moms are pushed beyond their limits, they ditch their conventional responsibilities for a jolt of long overdue freedom, fun, and comedic self-indulgence.
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Katheryn Hahn, Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett-Smith
Trailer: Trailer "Bad Moms"
Comment: A new trailer, looks like fun.