100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 106: Green Room

Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Horror
Runtime: 94 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Patrick Stewart, Mark Webber

Description: A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing a murder at a neo-Nazi skinhead bar.

Review: A punk rock band accidentally witnesses a murder in a neo-Nazi skinhead bar. From that moment on, the group of musicians has to fight for survival.
I heard many things about this movie before seeing it, it made me curious. The setting is interesting and the movie is fast paced. There isn’t a lot of build up, although the story starts calmly. Director Jeremy Saulnier know what story he wants to tell, even before the characters say a word you know a lot. And there is no scene that feels it doesn’t belong there.
“Green Room” is not your typical horror. It’s more a thriller with horror elements. The violence in this movie is always sudden, shocking and confronting.
Patrick Stewart plays a strong role, but his talent is underused. Anton Yelchin, unfortunately no longer with us, is the highlight of the film. His performance is so intense and realistic.
“Green Room” is not a movie for the weak stomach. It’s pretty raw and graphic. But I think it’s a fantastic film, sadly it didn’t really get any attention in my country. A hidden gem.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 105: X-Men: Apocalypse

Director: Bryan Singer
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 143 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Oscar Isaac, Rose Byrne, Evan Peters, Sophie Turner, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Olivia Munn

Description: After the re-emergence of the world's first mutant, world-destroyer Apocalypse, the X-Men must unite to defeat his extinction level plan.

Review: With “X-Men: Apocalypse”, director Bryan Singer concludes the second X-Men trilogy. It’s Singer’s fourth X-Men film, but the first final film in a series. And Singer delivered a great superhero film.
This time the world’s first mutant comes back and wants to destroy mankind. The X-Men have to join forces again to try to defeat him.
Eventhough “X-Men: Apocalypse” is the final film in the trilogy, started by Matthew Vaughn, the story takes some time to introduce new characters. Well, not really new, because we already knew Jean Grey, Scott Summers and Nightcrawler. We meet their younger versions and how it started for them. This way it doesn’t only feel like a great finale, it’s also a fresh start.
James McAvoy is really good as Charles Xavier and Jennifer Lawrence can exploit her character more in this film. Oscar Isaac is villain Apocalypse and is doing a solid job. Bt none of the actors ever reach Michael Fassbender’s level, who plays Magneto.
“X-Men: Apocalypse” is an entertaining and action packed conlusion in a good trilogy. The movie is over two hours long, but the time passes really quickly. That’s a good sign. I really enjoyed “X-Men Apocalypse”.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 104: Strangers on a Train

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 1951
Starring: Farley Granger, Robert Walker, Ruth Roman, Leo G. Carroll, Patricia Hitchcock, Kasey Rogers, Marion Lorne, Jonathan Hale, Howard St. John, John Brown, Norma Varden, Robert Gist

Description: A psychotic socialite (Robert Walker) confronts a pro tennis star (Farley Granger) with a theory on how two complete strangers can get away with murder - a theory that he plans to implement.

Review: Guy Haynes, a famous tennis player, meets the eccentric Bruno Anthony during a train ride. They start a conversation and quickly they start talking about private issues. Guy is married, but also has an affair with an upper class woman. Bruno has a terrible relationship with his father. Bruno says he has the perfect solution for their problems: he kills Guy’s wife and Guy kills Bruno’s father. The perfect murder, because the police won’t be able to track the real killer.
“Strangers On a Train” is a typical example of why Alfred Hitchcock is such a great director. Everything is just right. The plot is inventive, original and executed very well. The settings are good and the film has some humor. The movie is never boring and its script is fantastic.
A classic, no doubt about that.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 103: The BFG

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall, Bill Hader

Description: A girl named Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) encounters the Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance) who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because, unlike them, he refuses to eat children.

Review: I grew up with Roald Dahl books and when I was a teacher I read his stories a lot too. For his 30th film, Steven Spielberg made this genre film filled with children’s fantasy. Finally “The BFG”, one of Dahl’s best stories, is brought to the big screen.
Little Sophie lives in an orphanage and sees a giant in the middle of the night. This giant, the BFG, takes her into the world of giants.
This type of film really has to rely on the chemistry between the fable like creatures and the little admires. Ruby Barnhill, who plays Sophie, does an excellent job. With both the charisma of an adult and the amazement of a little girl, she is believable. Mark Rylance is a charming BFG, heartwarming and just loveable.
The animation is amazing, it looks really impressive. The expressions on the face of the BFG are so realistic. This film is jawdropping, when it comes to its techniques. And the chemistry between Sophie and the BFG is so good, especially in the more quiet scenes.
“The BFG” is bit lighter then the book and a little less complex. It was a film I really looked forward to and it brought back the little girl in me that loved this book. It didn’t disappoint, Spielberg hardly ever does that.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (249)

Here are this week's trailers.

Blair Witch
Director: Adam Wingard
Description: After discovering a video showing what he believes to be his sister's experiences in the demonic woods of the Blair Witch, Blane and a group of friends head to the forest in search of his lost sibling.
Starring: Corbin Reid, Wes Robinson, Valorie Curry
Trailer: Trailer "Blair Witch"
Comment: Really....

Office Christmas Party
Director: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Description: When his uptight CEO sister threatens to shut down his branch, the branch manager throws an epic Christmas party in order to land a big client and save the day, but the party gets way out of hand...
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Kate McKinnon, Olivia Munn, Rob Corddry, Courtney B. Vance, Vanessa Bayer
Trailer: Trailer "Office Christmas Party"
Comment: A little too soon for an office Christmas party.

Split
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Description: Kevin (James McAvoy), a man with at least 23 different personalities, is compelled to abduct three teenage girls. As they are held captive, a final personality - "The Beast" - begins to materialize.
Starring: James McAvoy
Trailer: Trailer "Split"
Comment: I really want to see this.

The Great Wall
Director: Yimou Zhang
Description: A mystery centered around the construction of the Great Wall of China.
Starring: Matt Damon, Willem Dafoe, Pedro Pascal
Trailer: Trailer "The Great Wall"
Comment: I love Matt Damon in action movies!

Hacksaw Ridge
Director: Mel Gibson
Description: WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Vince Vaughn, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Richard Roxburgh
Trailer: Trailer "Hacksaw Ridge"
Comment: An uber patriotic story.

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 102: Jason Bourne

Director: Paul Greengrass
Genre: Action/ Thriller
Runtime: 123 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel, Julia Stiles, Bill Camp

Description: Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), the most dangerous former operative of the CIA is drawn out of hiding to uncover hidden truths about his past.

Review: Jason Bourne is back. After a spin-off with Jeremy Renner and almost 10 years without Jason Bourne, director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon joined forces again and brought him back to the big screen. Bourne knows about his past, but there are still hidden truths to uncover.
The return of Matt Damon as Jason Bourne is so pleasant. The film starts with an amazing chase scene. Fast paced and it gets your immediate attention. The rebelling of the Greek citizens against the government is a perfect theme, but they stay with referecenses to recent happenings. The plot goes over to a subplot that isn’t as compelling.
Nicky Parsons introduces a new mystery in Bourne’s past by leaking important information. And then there is also Aaron Kalloor, who gives information to the new CIA boss. There is this whole social media thing going on. This subplot is not interesting at all. Because of this, Jason Bourne almost becomes a supporting character in his own film.
The acting is great. Matt Damon proof he hasn’t lost it yet and Tommy Lee Jones does a solid job as the CIA boss. Vincent Cassel is a convincing villain, but Alicia Vikander probably plays the best part.
Luckily for us the action is still there and very well done. And “Jason Bourne” is by no means a bad movie. It’s just the least of all the Bourne movies and the story isn’t as compelling.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Epic Moments from "Game of Thrones" Season 4

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. This week, season 4.

5. Ygritte’s Death
It was bound to happen from the first moment they crossed swords, but that didn’t make it any easier. Jon Snow bid a bittersweet farewell to his wildling sweetheart Ygritte. They should have stayed in the cave.

4. The Red Viper Gets Popped
Ellaria Sand’s face was mirrored by countless viewers at home. If “Game of Thrones” taught us anything, it’s that there is no such thing as justice and victory is never assured.

3. Shae’s Betrayal
Shae’s falsified confession during the trial of Tyrion served up one of the season’s saddest moments. Faced with the betrayal of his former lover, Tyrion finally broke down in court after endurinf a lifetime of senseless prejudice. It was a heartbreaking moment.

2. Lysa Arryn is Thrown Out of the Moon Door
Littlefinger is one of those characters you love to hate, but I never liked him more than that moment where he shoved Lysa Arryn into the moon door. And right before he proclaims his love to her sister Catelyn Stark.

1. Joffrey’s Death
I think I never cheered as loudly as I did this episode when an important character died. Finally the bratty boy-king, who has cause so much pain and misery, is dead. Let’s not forget, he has threatened to rape Sansa, killed a prostitute with his crossbow and ordered Ned Stark’s head to be chopped off. It was just a pity that Tyrion couldn’t slap him one last time before Joffrey was poisoned.

They Almost Made the Top 5: The Death of Tywin Lannister, Ygritte’s Death, The Judgment of Jorah