Top 5 Thursday: Movies You Need to Watch in Theaters

I always love going to the theater, but I always choose films that will probably add something extra to the film when watching it on such a big screen. Some movies are just better in theaters, because of the effects, cinematography or the whole experience. Here are my five picks for movies you need to watch in the theater.

5. Avatar
I was stupid enough to not see this in theaters and I regret it to this day. It is such a visually beautiful movie, even on television. So how about on the big screen? It will blow my mind.

4. The Revenant
The story might not be that special, but the cinematography is reason enough for me to watch this. I saw it in theaters and it took my breath away. I wish I made this movie!

3. Inception
This movie looks amazing, what a visual masterpiece. And it’s most impressive on the big screen.

2. Mad Max: Fury Road
This film is one giant adrenaline rush and it really has a great impact when you watch it in theaters. Action in its purest form.

1. Jurassic Park
Probably one of the most jaw-dropping movies I’ve ever seen. And it still amazes me how fantastic and breathtaking this movie is. And on the big screen it’s even more beautiful. It’s one of my all-time favorites.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Saving Private Ryan, Gravity, Star Wars franchise, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Blade Runner

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 126: Evil Dead 2

Director: Sam Raimi
Genre: Horror/ Comedy/ Action
Runtime: 85 minutes
Year: 1987
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie DePaiva, Ted Raimi, Denise Bixler, Richard Domeier, John Peakes, Lou Hancock, Snowy Winters, Sid Abrams, Josh Becker, Scott Spiegel, Thomas Kidd, Mitch Cantor, Jenny Griffith, William Preston Robertson, Sam Raimi

Description: The lone survivor of an onslaught of flesh-possessing spirits holds up in a cabin with a group of strangers while the demons continue their attack.

Review: Ash, The only survivor of a demonic slaughter returns, with his girlfriend, to the same cabin where once the blood was flowing. By playing a tape, the demonic powers are again released and take possession of his girlfriend. Ash has to fight the demons himself.
“Evil Dead 2” is the sequel to the film “The Evil Dead”, that was released six years earlier. But it also parodies the first. The stories of both films are very similar. The difference is in the amount of blood splatter and the running gags.
For fans of the genre, this is pure entertainment. People who don’t like horror or horror combined with comedy, they will not change their minds after seeing “Evil Dead 2”. For me, it was a fun watch. I liked it just as much as the first.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 125: Cinderella

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Genre: Adventure/ Drama/ Romance/ Fantasy
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Hayley Atwell, Ben Chaplin, Stellan Skarsgård, Derek Jacobi, Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera

Description: When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella (Lily James) finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her scheming step-sisters (Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera). Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger (Richard Madden).

Review: In 1950 Disney came with the animated musical “Cinderella” and 65 years later the studios turn it into a live action film. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, “Cinderella” is a surprisingly good fairytale.
Disney always gives us heroes, beautiful costumes, emotion, morals, villains and depth. And although “Cinderella” is sugar sweet, it’s a delightful film for the whole family. And for the hopeless romantics among us.
Cinderella is played by Lily James, who isn’t an extraordinary actress but manages to make her character charming and very likeable. The prince is played by Richard Madden, who we know as Robb Stark from “Game of Thrones”. The stars are actually the bigger names in the cast: Cate Blanchett as the evil stepmother and Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother. These great actresses support “Cinderella” well.
“Cinderella” is filled with great décor and scenery, but also gorgeous costumes. Really something from a fairytale. But it’s not a film that hides behind all the beauty it shows. There is a moral and it’s supposed to inspire, escepcially young girls. “Cinderella” touches you and is really easu to watch. A guarantee to put a smile on your face. I didn’t expect to like it this much. It’s an enchanting film.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 124: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Drama/ Science Fiction/ Adventure
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 1977
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban, J. Patrick McNamara, Warren J. Kemmerling, Roberts Blossom, Philip Dodds, Cary Guffey, Shawn Bishop, Adreinne Campbell, Justin Dreyfuss, Lance Henriksen, Merrill Connally, George DiCenzo, Amy Douglass

Description: After an encounter with U.F.O.s, a line worker (Richard Dreyfuss) feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.

Review: What would it be like to get in contact with extra terrestrial life? Do they even excist? And if they do, are they friendly or hostel? Nowadays we know a little bit more about space travel and such, but in 1977 we didn’t. But that didn’t stop Steven Spielberg to create one of the most realistic science fiction films in movie history. And “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” is about the first contact between people and aliens.
What makes “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” so great is the buildup of the tension, because it’s only in the last part of the film that we know exactly what the extra terrestrials want. It all starts with Roy Neary, who witnesses a strange object in the air while on a job. This also happens to Jillian, who sees weird flashes and also sees her son Barry disappear. For both of them it becomes an obsession and they want to know more about what they saw. And the American government is trying to prepare for the coming of the extra terrestrials. ‘
Steven Spielberg makes it look so simple, how he build up the tension of this film. Objects moving, sound effects, light flashes. And it is that simple. The scene where Roy is in his ca rand experiences all this, or that part where Jillian and Barry are in their house, right before Barry disappears. Those two scenes are the best and are very exciting. And Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Neary is also fantastic.
The movie grabs you and keeps your attention at all times. And the music, by John Williams, is enchanting. “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” is a true classic and a film for every sci-fi lover.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 123: The General

Director: Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton
Genre: Comedy/ Action/ Romance
Runtime: 75 minutes
Year: 1926
Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Charles Smith, Frank Barnes, Glen Cavender, Jim Farley, Frederick Vroom, Joe Keaton, Mike Donlin, Tom Nawn

Description: When Union spies steal an engineer's (Buster Keaton) beloved locomotive, he pursues it single-handedly and straight through enemy lines.

Review: Who would have thought that I would love “The General” as much as I did? The dry humor, a beautiful love story and a clumbsy leading character. All together works. And the film has amazing stunts and action too, somethine I didn’t expect at all.
Buster Keaton is one of the masters of the silent movie. He plays Johnny Gray, an engineer with two loves in his life: his locomotive (the General) and Annabelle Lee. The story is set around 1862, at the start of the American Civil War. Annabelle brother and father sign up for the army, but Johnny is rejected. They don’t tell him why, but this makes his motivation bigger to proof himself to Annabelle. Because she thinks Johnny is a coward. When spies steal the train with Annabelle on board, Johnny doesn’t’think twice and follows them.
What follows is a chase over a railroad, ending in one of the biggest stunts in silent movie history. It’s hard to imagaine how a railroad chase can be interesting for an entire movie, but it is so much fun to watch. Because there are so many creative solutions and the humor is genius. And you would think that there is overacting involved, because of the physical humor. But it’s not. Buster Keaton’s facial expressions are very subtle.
The musical score is great and the love story starring an anti-hero is just perfect to identify with.
“The General” is one of the most fun comedies of all time and definitely a classic.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 122: Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising

Director: Nicholas Stoller
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 91 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Seth Rogetn, Rose Byrne, Zach Efron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Dave Franco, Selena Gomez, Kelsey Grammer, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Description: When their new next-door neighbors turn out to be a sorority even more debaucherous than the fraternity previously living there, Mac and Kelly (Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne) team with their former enemy, Teddy (Zac Efron), to bring the girls down.

Review: For freshmen students Shelby, Beth and Nora decide to start their own sorority outside campus, so they can have parties. And sadly to say, Mac and Kelly Radner are their neighbors. Because after having a fraternity next door, now they are going to have a sorority. And again they are going head to head.
Comedy sequels don’t have a good reputation, but this doesn’t really go for “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising”. It’s not better than “Neighbors”, but it’s again really funny. And when a comedy does what it has to do, make you laugh, it succeeds.
Seth Rogen and Rosey Byrne are again so much fun as the married couple that tries to scare away their new partying neighbors. Their little daughter, that is now not a baby anymore, has the disturbing habit to find her mother’s vibrator and use it as a doll. Zac Efron is also back and surprises again with his humor. Chloë Grace Moritz feels the one out of place in “Neighbors 2: Sororty Rising”. Comedy isn’t yet her genre.
“Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” is a fun comedy sequel, with some really good jokes. Better than I expected, just as fun as I hoped.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Trailer SUnday (259)

Here are this week's trailers.

The Promise
Director: Terry George
Description: Set during the last days of the Ottoman Empire, The Promise follows a love triangle between Michael, a brilliant medical student (Oscar Isaac), the beautiful and sophisticated Ana (Charlotte Le Bon), and Chris (Christian Bale) - a renowned American journalist based in Paris.
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Christian Bale, Charlotte Le Bon
Trailer: Trailer "The Promise"
Comment: The last days of the Ottoman empire, it looks interesting.

Fifty Shades Darker
Director: James Foley
Description: While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her.
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Jarmie Dornan, Kim Basinger, Hugh Dancy, Jennifer Ehle, Marcia Gay Harden
Trailer: Trailer "Fifty Shades Darker"
Comment: Okay, I couldn't care less....

Miss Sloane
Director: John Madden
Description: An ambitious lobbyist (Jessica Chastain) faces off against the powerful gun lobby in an attempt to pass gun control legislation.
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Alison Pill, Mark Strong, John Lithgow, Michael Stuhlbarg
Trailer: Trailer "Miss Sloane"
Comment: I love Jessica Chastain, she is amazing. I know she is going to be in "Miss Sloane".

Nocturnal Animals
Director: Tom Ford
Description: An art gallery owner (Amy Adams) is haunted by her ex-husband's (Jake Gyllenhaal) novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a veiled threat and a symbolic revenge tale.
Starring: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer, Laura Linney, Andrea Riseborough, Michael Sheen
Trailer: Trailer "Nocturnal Animals"
Comment: Definitely on my mst-see list. Can't wait!

Don't Breathe
Director: Fede Alvarez
Description: Hoping to walk away with a massive fortune, a trio of thieves break into the house of a blind man who isn't as helpless as he seems.
Starring: Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette
Trailer: Trailer "Don't Breathe"
Comment: They had it coming!