The Martian Review

The last few years have been really hard for director Ridley Scott. With many disappointing films (Prometheus & Exodus: God’s & Kings) and some down right awful (The Counselor) it seemed as though this once great legend had lost his magic touch. The Martian, however, is a return to form for the legendary director as he has made his best film since Gladiator.

Based on the novel by Andy Weir, The Martian, stars Matt Damon as astonaut Mark Watney who is part of a survey team exploring the desolate planet of Mars. Disaster soon strikes the team as a massive storm arrives presumably killing Mark and forcing the others to abandon their mission and return home to Earth. Unbeknownst to everyone on Earth, Mark actually lived and now has to figure out how to survive on the Red Planet until the next Mars mission arrives in four years. Once NASA finally discovers that Mark is alive it becomes a race against time to get him home before he runs out of supplies.

Matt Damon is sensational in the movie. Giving one of the best performances of his career, Damon is so likeable that it is impossible to not root for him. What makes him so great is that for the majority of the movie he is on screen by himself, but you never get bored. He will definitely be in the discussion for Best Actor this year.

Along with Matt Damon is a great supporting cast. Jeff Daniels is superb as the Director of NASA. In a role that could have come across as the evil mustache twirling business man, Daniels brings a humanity into his performance where you understand why he makes some of the hard decisions that he does, but at the same time wants his astronaut home just as much as everyone else. Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Pena, and Kristen Wiig also were great in this all-star cast. It was also nice to see Sean Bean in a role where he doesn’t die for once.

At 140 minutes, The Martian flies by. While not filled with much action, the drama throughout carries the story and never gets dull. In the hands of a lesser director the story could have easily lost focus, but every scene in film serves a purpose and never feels like filler. Not once did I feel like the film was too long. The only subplot I could have done without was the romance between Kate Mara and Sebastian Stan’s characters, but it is so minor that it barely distracts from the film.

In what should have been a dark and grim story, screenwriter Drew Goddard (Cabin In The Woods) infuses humor that helps keep the movie light and allows you to become emotionally attached to the characters. The Lord of the Rings reference in the film is one of the funniest scenes I’ve scene in a movie this year.

As we start to head into Oscar season, The Martian is a early contender for a Best Picture nomination.

Rating: 9.2

Random Thoughts: Oscar Nominations 2015

So the Academy Award nominations for 2015 were just released with both Birdman and the Grand Budapest Hotel leading the way with nine nominations apiece. Like every year there were many surprises and snubs.

1- For me the biggest snub of the year was The Lego Movie for best animated film. This was the best animated film of the year and an absolute pleasure to watch. If you had asked me in February when the movie came I out I would have told you there was no way this movie wasn’t going to get a nomination. I still don’t believe it.

2- The best actor category this year was completely stacked with every person nominated deserving the selection. There were two notable names left off the list, however, David Oyelowo (Selma) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler). Both of these performances were outstanding and a shame to have to be left off. As great as Steve Carell’s performance in Foxcatcher was, though, I think I would have chosen one of the other performances over his. That being said I wouldn’t complain over any of the five choices winning.

3- I found the Best Director category this year to be very interesting. While I fully expected Linklater (Boyhood), Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel), and Inarritu (Birdman) to get nominated, I was a little surprised to see Bennett Miller from Foxcatcher to get a nod especially since the movie didn’t receive a best picture nomination. I personally would have rather seen the director of Whiplash (Damien Chazelle) or David Fincher (Gone Girl) get that spot.

4- Best Supporting Actor category was also very well selected as all five of the nominations were deserving. I would have liked to have seen Andy Serkiss from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes on the list, but it is clear that the Academy is not ready to nominate a motion capture performance regardless of how deserving it is.

5- There were no real shocks this year among the eight movies nominated for Best Picture. All of the films this year were fantastic and earned their spot on the list. While I am slightly surprised that Foxcatcher didn’t make the cut I don’t think it ultimately deserved one. With the potential of there being up to ten nominations I really would have liked to have seen Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Captain America: The Winter Soldier or X-Men: Days of Future Past selected. All three of these movies were outstanding and despite being genre films they were some of the best film experiences of the year.

Check back in a few weeks as I will give my picks and predictions for the Oscars.

What did you think of the Oscar nominations? Let me know in the comment section.

Follow me on twitter: @jpf1701

Top 20 Movies of 2014

It’s the end of the year which means that it is time for my list of the top movies of 2014. Overall it was a great year for film with many exceptional big budget and independent movies that it was hard to keep this list to just twenty. What was even harder was picking my top film of the year as all of my top five movies received consideration for the number one spot. Ultimately it came down to two films and I alternated between them several times before deciding on my pick. I hope everyone enjoys my list and I highly recommend every film on it.

*Note: There were still a couple films that I didn’t quite have enough time to see that came out late December. I should be completely caught up by the time of the Oscars.

20. The Grand Budapest Hotel- Wes Anderson is a director that you either love or hate. His unique and quirky style has made him one of the most derisive filmmakers in Hollywood and his latest film, The Grand Budapest Hotel is no exception. Set during the 1930’s, the movie tells the story of the world renowned concierge Gustave H and his assistant Zero Moustafa. Ralph Fiennes is great in the lead role as he must clear himself from a murder he did not commit. Part of the fun of this movie is catching all of the films various cameos.
19. John Wick- I freakin’ love this movie as John Wick is easily one of the best action movies of the past decade. Starring Keenu Reeves as the perfectly cast John Wick, the movie is about a retired hitman who returns to his old profession as he seeks revenge on a man who killed his dog (which was a gift from his dead wife) and stole his car. What makes this movie so great is that it is a call back to the action movies of the 80’s that I loved so much as a kid. This film is a mindless action movie and it doesn’t try to be more than what it is. All of the fighting sequences are top notch and Reeves gives his best performance in years.
18. The Lego Movie- Based on the classic toys, The Lego Movie was a surprise hit that turned out to be one of the most fun movies of the year. Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (of 21 & 22 Jump Street fame), The Lego Movie tells the story of an everyday lego worker named Emmett (Chris Pratt) who is tasked with stopping Lord Business (Will Ferrell) from destroying all of lego land. Will Arnett steals the show as the dark and brooding Batman (he has dead parents afterall) and Liam Neeson is hilarious as Good Cop/Bad Cop. The Lego Movie is a movie that will have everyone in the family laughing. EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!!
17. Foxcatcher- Based on a true story, Foxcatcher is about Olympic Gold winning wrestler Mark Shultz (Channing Tatum) who in an effort to escape the shadow of his older brother decides to train with millionaire John du Pont and become the best wrestler in the world. What follows is a very dark and foreboding film that leads to a shocking murder. Steve Carell gives a chilling performance as du Pont and Mark Ruffalo is a real standout as Mark’s brother, David. Though the movie has a slow build to it, Foxcatcher never loses its hold on the audience as it establishes the relationships between the various characters. While it can be a tough film to watch at times, the story and great performances elevate it to another level.
16. Interstellar- It has almost become impossible to go into a Christopher Nolan films without sky high expectations. In just fifteen years, Nolan has established himself as one of the top directors in all of Hollywood as he has yet to turn in a bad film (with The Dark Knight Rises being his weakest film). While it was not the masterpiece that we all hoped for, Intersellar is still an incredibly ambitious film that very few directors would be able to pull off as well as Nolan does. This is a movie that swings for the fences, but at times would miss as it makes several leaps in logic that detract from the overall experience as you spend more time thinking about it. Matthew McConaughey is once again great as the man tasked with saving the world. His relationship with his daughter in the movie is fantastic and is the driving force for everything he does. With its massive scope and amazing visual effects, Interstellar is a movie that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
15. Locke- In most cases watching someone drive a car and talk on the phone for ninety minutes does not sound like a good time at the movies. That is unless the actor is Tom Hardy. In the best performance of his career, Hardy plays a man who’s entire life is crashing down as the women who he had an affair with is about to give birth to his child. While on this drive to witness the birth of his illegitimate child, Hardy must face and ultimately come to terms with the ramifications of his mistake. Hardy is so captivating in the role that you completely forget that he is in a car by himself and you get completely ensnared by its story.
14. Nightcrawler- Jake Gyllenhaal has always been a solid actor, but in Nightcrawler he takes it to another level. Playing Lou Bloom, Gyllenhaal is hypnotic as a psychotic man who will do anything to become the best crime journalist in Los Angeles. Using his video camera, Lou spends his nights searching for crime scenes and gruesome accidents so that he can sell his footage on local television. Over the course of the movie, Lou manipulates those around him as he works to achieve his goals. Rene Russo is very good as the tv producer who gives Lou his big break. While I felt the movie had some pacing issues, Gyllenhaal is so outstanding in the role that I can overlook some of its flaws.
13. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1- Last year, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire turned out to be my favorite movie of 2013 so the third film in the franchise had a lot to live up to. While I still prefer Catching Fire a tad bit more, Mockingjay is another excellent movie in the young adult franchise. Jennifer Lawrence is once again fantastic as Katniss Everdeen, as the story shifts away from the games themselves and focuses on the growing revolution of the twelve districts against the oppressive capital. What really stood out to me was how the movie shows how both sides use propaganda to achieve its goals and sway public opinion in its favor. With its shocking cliffhanger ending I am eagerly awaiting the final film.
12. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies- Many people feel that it was a mistake to turn The Hobbit into three movies, but for me I can’t get enough of this Middle-Earth adventure. Featuring a forty-five minute long final battle, this was a satisfying conclusion to J.R.R Tolkien’s story and a great setup to The Lord of the Rings. It is sad knowing that this will be the last movie set in that fantastical world.
11. Chef- Written, directed, and starring Jon Favreau, Chef is a film of pure joy. Favreau plays Chef Carl Casper who after quiting from a prestigious restaurant, goes on a journey to rediscover his love of cooking and bond with his son. With it’s top notch cast featuring Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo, and Robert Downer Jr., Chef is a movie that does an excellent job of keeping its tone light, but also having many heart felt moments. After seeing this movie you’re going to want to eat all day long.
10. Gone Girl- Based on the book, Gone Girl is one of the most engrossing movies of the year. Starring Ben Affleck, Gone Girl is about a guy in a loveless marriage who comes home and discovers his wife has been violently kidnapped. Director David Fincher brilliantly utilizes flashbacks to establish the decay of the relationship and lays clues that lead you to believe that Nick Dunne (Affleck) murdered his wife. While it starts off as a typical murder mystery, by halfway through, Gone Girl evolves into a film that will completely leave you guessing as to what will happen next. Rosamund Pike is absolutely captivating as Nick’s wife, Amy.
09. Edge of Tomorrow- I will be honest that I went into this movie with very low expectations. With its lackluster trailers and coming off of Tom Cruise’s last film, Oblivion, which was a disappointment, Edge of Tomorrow felt like it would be a forgettable sci-fi bore. Damn was I wrong. With its clever time loop story and awesome special effects, Edge of Tomorrow turned out to be my biggest surprise of 2014.
08. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes- Rise of the Planet of the Apes was one of the surprise hits of 2011 and set the bar high for its eventual sequel. Not only does Dawn of the Planet of the Apes surpass its predecessor, but it is one of the best science fiction films of recent years. Andy Serkiss once again plays Caesar, who now ten years after the events of the first film leads the genetically enhanced apes as they begin their conquest of the planet. Though the movie features a group of humans struggling for survival, it is the apes who are the real stars of the film. Serkiss and Toby Kebbell (Koba) take motion capture to another level in the movie and show true emotional depth for the two apes fighting for control of the fate of their species.
07. Snowpiercer- Set in a dystopian future where the world is covered in ice and the only survivors live on the train that circles the planet, Snowpiercer is one of the most unique films of the year. Chris Evans stars as Curtis who leads a revolt of those who live on the back of the train against the wealthy who live on the front. As Curtis moves his group from train to train he must face new challenges and eventually learn the secret of what is truly going on. What is on the surface an action film, Snowpiercer is in fact a commentary on the have’s and the have’s not in society and what happens when you allow one group to suppress another. This movie does what good science fiction is supposed to do and tells a story of contemporary issues, but set in a future society.
06. Guardians of the Galaxy- Based on an obscure Marvel comic book, Guardians of the Galaxy was the most fun movie of the year. Chris Pratt leads a small group of outlaws that include a gun toting talking raccoon and walking tree in a mission to save the galaxy from destruction. With its amazing soundtrack and incredible dialog, Guardians was the movie that I saw the most in theaters this year. It is nearly impossible to watch this movie and not have a smile on your face the whole time.
05. Boyhood- This was a movie twelve years in the making. Starting in 2002 and ultimately completed in 2013, director Richard Linklater (of Dazed and Confused fame) tells the story of a boy as he grows up into adulthood. Although the movie doesn’t have a story in the traditional sense, what it does so brilliantly is capture the moments in life that everyone experienced growing up.
04. Captain America: The Winter Soldier- At this point there is almost nothing that Marvel Studios can do wrong. Following the success of The Avengers, Cap 2 is yet another incredible super hero movie. Chris Evans plays the titular character once again, this time as an Agent of S.H.E.L.D. who uncovers an insidious plot located in the heart of the organization that is tasked with protecting the world from evil. Featuring amazing hand to hand combat straight out of a Jason Bourne movie and an intricate plot that feels like a 1970’s political thriller, The Winter Soldier has now surpassed The Avengers as my favorite Marvel Studios film.
03. X-Men: Days of Future Past- There really isn’t much about this movie that I didn’t love with its cool time travel story and amazing performances from the entire all-star cast. Days of Future Past is not only one of my favorite films of the year, but it is also one of the greatest comic book films ever made. You can read my full review where I go into further detail on its awesomeness.
02. Birdman- While this movie just missed out on being my top film of the year, Birdman is an incredible film going experience. Michael Keaton stars as an actor who is best known for playing the superhero, Birdman. In an effort to distance himself from the role that made him famous he decides to write, direct and star in his own play. What follows is an acting tour de force from Keaton as he slowly goes insane from the pressure of having to put on this show and at the same time deal with his egotistical co-star (Edward Norton) who is trying to steal the spotlight away. Directer Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu does a masterful job of utilizing long single takes that completely draw you into the film. There are times where it feels like the movie is shot in a single take. Norton, Emma Stone, and Zach Galifianakis all give great stand out performances.
01. Whiplash- Out of all of the movies that I saw this year this is that one that has stayed with me the most and has earned its place as my favorite film of 2014. Whiplash tells the story of a musical prodigy named Andrew who dreams of becoming the greatest drummer ever. Played superbly by Miles Teller, Andrew is accepted into one of the top music schools in the country where he must impress it’s top instructor, Fletcher. What follows is an intense battle of wits between teacher and pupil. J.K. Simmons gives what is sure to be an award winning performance as the abusive teacher who will say and do anything to achieve his goals. He is so intense and ruthless in the role that you truly feel for everything Andrew has to endure and you are left emotionally exhausted by the time you reach the films climax. The last third of this movie has several fantastic twists that helped it earn its ranking. As time has gone on my appreciation for this movie has grown and I hope one day it finds the audience that it so greatly deserves.

A Few Honorable Mentions-
Fury
Neighbors
22 Jump Street

The Man of Steel Award for Most Disappointing Film of the Year-
The Amazing Spider-Man 2- I had high hopes for this after the first film proved to be a solid reboot in the highly popular Marvel franchise. Andrew Garfield turned out to be fantastic as the new Spider-Man and his chemistry with Emma Stone made me extremely excited for the follow up film. While I did not completely hate it, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was a massive let down. The story for the movie was a bloated mess with horribly cheesy villians that felt straight out of Batman & Robin. Dane Dehaan was good as Harry Osbourne, but his turn in the film felt so sudden that it really detracted from the overall experience. For me the lone saving grace of this movie was Garfield and Stone. Their chemistry was so good that it saved this movie from being a total disaster.

The Last Airbender Award for Worst Film of the Year-
Transformers: Age of Extinction- The less said about this movie the better as it was a colossal mess. It was three hours of endless explosions with no plot whatsoever to speak of. I felt dumber for having watched this.

What was your favorite movie of the year? Let me know in the comment section below.

You can also follow my ramblings on twitter @jpf1701

Top 10 Comic Book Movies

In honor of X-Men: Days of Future Past being released I have decided to make a list of my top ten comic book movies. This list does change periodically as new movies come out or I change my mind over time.

10. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World- It was a movie not many people saw, but damn is Edgar Wright’s adaption of the comic series funny and awesome. The plot of Scott Pilgrim is very simple. In order to win the heart of the girl of his dreams (literally), Scott must battle her seven evil ex’s in a battle to the death. With its unique style, surprising cameos, and amazing sense of humor, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is a great time.

9. X-Men: First Class- Following the disasters that were X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine it appeared that Fox was beginning to let the quality of their X-Men franchise slip away. Then came X-Men: First Class. Directed by Matthew Vaughn and set in 1962, this movie reinvigorated the series with its telling of the origins of the X-Men, but with a James Bond feel to it. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender elevate the film with their strong performances as a young Charles Xavier and Magneto.

8. V for Vendetta- Remember, Remember the fifth of November… Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore, this unique film tells the story of a totalitarian Great Britain and the mysterious masked man named V who inspires a revolution. Unlike most comic book films this one stands out with its strong political message and great anti-hero lead.

7. The Dark Knight- There is not much that I could say about this movie that hasn’t already been said. This is the definitive version of the world’s greatest detective.

6. Superman: The Movie- It is the movie that made you believe a man could fly. Though the movie was made in 1978 and is a little dated, Richard Donner’s film is the first true comic book movie and tells its origin story better than any film that has come after it. Christopher Reeve will always be the one and only Superman and it features the greatest superhero theme of all time by the immortal John Williams.

5. X2: X-Men United- For most of the past decade it was this movie that stood as my second favorite comic book film. Featuring a breathtaking opening and a strong ensemble cast, X2 is a great film that still holds up after over a decade.

4. The Avengers- This is the greatest superhero team up movie ever! The fact that this movie happened and then exceeded all expectations is a marvel to me. Joss Wheden (all hail Joss!) found a way to take characters from four different films and combine them in a way that made each one feel important to the plot. I will never forget that amazing feeling of seeing all of these characters that I love all together on the screen for the first time. It is a fun movie that just gets better and better with each viewing.

3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier- Captain America is generally considered to be the most bland of the Avengers (I disagree, he is my favorite), though this movie is anything but. With some of the best hand to hand fighting in any film since the Bourne Trilogy and a plot out of a Tom Clancy novel, this political thriller is actually the best movie from Marvel Studios. The Winter Soldier does an amazing job of showing how Steve Rogers deals with adjusting to world that is no longer black and white. With its awesome villain and unexpected major twist this is the new Marvel film to beat. Hail Hydra!!

2. X-Men: Days of Future Past- The best of the X-Men films, Days of Future Past does the impossible task of combining the original cast and the First Class crew in a great and exciting way. It is a movie about finding hope in dark times and James McAvoy is truly exceptional as a broken Charles Xavier. This movie with its great story nearly beat out my number one pick which is….

1. Spider-Man 2– This is the comic book movie in which all others must be judged by. Sam Raimi’s second film in his trilogy has it all. From its amazing action pieces, compelling villain, great character development and strong story, Spider-Man 2 does not hit one false note. What this movie does better than any other superhero film is bring a real humanity to its lead character as you witness and feel the struggle of Peter Parker as he juggles life as Spider-Man, tries to pay rent and deal with his feelings for the love of his life, Mary Jane Watson. Featuring an amazing train fight and great visual effects throughout, Spider-Man 2 will forever be tough to beat.

Let me know below what your favorite comic book movie is and why.

You can follow me on Twitter: @ jpf1701

X-Men: Days of Future Past Review

*This article does contain some spoilers

Eleven years after bringing us the exceptional X2: X-Men United, director Bryan Singer has finally made his return to the x-franchise with X-Men: Days of Future Past which is based on the classic comic of the same name. However, many feared after the disappointment of Superman Returns and Jack the Giant Slayer that Singer would be unable to capture the magic of his first two X-Men films. Not only did Singer succeed in recapturing the magic and make the best X-Men film yet, X-Men: Days of Future Past is one of the greatest comic book movies ever made.

Days of Future Past is a sequel to not only the first three X-Men films, but X-Men: First Class as well. Set in the dystopian future of 2023, mutants have been hunted to the edge of extinction by machines called Sentinels. Now the few remaining X-Men, led by a reborn Professor Charles Xavier (it’s a long story) must try to survive in a world without hope and never ending death.

Fortunately, Xavier (played by Sir Patrick Stewart) has a plan. It turns out that Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page) whose mutant powers allow her to walk through walls also has the ability to send a persons subconscious back through time into their younger self. Xavier realizes that this provides a chance for one of them to go back in time to 1973 and prevent the shape shifting mutant Raven Darkholme aka “Mystique” (Jennifer Lawrence) from assassinating the creator of the Sentinals, Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage). By doing so, Xavier believes that this will prevent their dark future from ever taking place. The trip to the past, however, is dangerous and only Wolverine (played by Hugh Jackman for now the seventh time) with his healing ability can survive. Once in the past Logan must bring former friends and now turned enemies, Charles Xavier and Eric Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) together to stop Mystique and change the future.

Although, it would seem that the majority of the movie would focus on Wolverine, the real star of the film is a young Charles Xavier played by James McAvoy in an incredible performance. When we first meet the younger Xavier he is a broken character who is taking a serum created by Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult) that allows him to regain the use of his legs which he lost at the end of First Class due to getting shot in the spine. In exchange for the ability to walk, however, the serum suppresses his telepathic mutant power. Essentially becoming a drug addict now, Xavier has locked himself away in his mansion and has lost all hope in his quest for peace between mutants and humans after the betrayal of Eric, the loss of Raven, and the escalation in the war in Vietnam. Now it is up to Logan to help Charles regain all that he has lost and lead him on the path of creating the X-Men.

The strength and core of the X-Men comics and films has always been the relationship between Professor X and Magneto. What makes their relationship so compelling is that they are characters who both want the same thing, the acceptance of mutants, but have two completely different views on how to achieve it. Xavier believes in a Martin Luther King peaceful approach while Magneto is more like Malcolm X in that sometimes the best way to achieve peace is through violence. Both McAvoy and Fassbender do an outstanding job of building on their relationship that was established in First Class and show how two men could have the utmost respect for one another, yet completely disagree with each other. What helps makes these scenes even more powerful is when Singer cuts back to the future and shows us an older Xavier and Magneto, who both on the verge of death, realize that after fighting for all of those years it only helped bring about the end of their species as opposed to saving it.

While, Days of Future Past contains several outstanding action sequences it is ultimately the story and characters that make it a cut above its fellow genre films. In what is essentially a sci-fi time travel story, the movie never loses focus or gets confusing with its intricate plot which is something that could have easily happened with its dozens of characters and then also jumping back and forth through time.

What this movie also does great is bring closure to the first set of X-Men films. By sending Wolverine into the past, Singer and the screenwriter Simon Kinberg were able to rectify many of the mistakes the franchise had made in the past (namely X-Men: The Last Stand) and create a new timeline. Now the franchise has a clean start that will no longer be bogged down by its convoluted timeline. I can’t wait to see how they decide to move forward with X-Men: Apocalypse.

X-Men: Days of Future Past is not only a great comic book movie, but it is a great film. As of now it is by far the best movie of 2014 (though there is still a long way to go).

Rating: 9.8/10

Some random thoughts…

-Quicksilver was amazing. He was easily the best new addition to the franchise and him breaking Eric out of prison was the best sequence since Nightcrawler’s White House attack in X2.
-My favorite scene in the movie was the confrontation between Eric and Charles on the plane to Paris. It was an incredible scene with two powerhouse performances.
-Jennifer Lawrence was much improved in this movie. I didn’t really care for her in FC, but this time I really bought her as Mystique.
-Seeing McAvoy and Patrick Stewart on screen together for that one scene was an absolute joy.
-As someone who has loved the X-Men my whole life (it is my favorite comic) seeing Cyclops and Jean Grey again had a big impact on me. I have never gotten over what Brett Ratner did the franchise so to see that movie wiped away allows me the chance to finally move on.
-Cool to see Kelsey Grammer back for that split second as an older Beast.
-Blink kicked ass and it was great to finally see Bishop even though he didn’t do much.
-It was a nice change of pace to see a kinder gentler Wolverine.
-What is going on with that last scene? I’m really curious to see what plans Mystique has for Logan. Does this mean he won’t join the Weapon X program?
-The end credit sequence with Apocalypse and his four horseman was incredibly epic.

Comment below and let me know what you thought of X-Men: Days of Future Past. Did I give the film too high of a score or am I way off?

You can also follow me on twitter: @jpf1701

And So It Begins…

I love movies. For me there is nothing better than going to the cinema and having a communal experience with total strangers and then talking about that shared experience afterward. I decided to start this blog so that I could share my thoughts on movies with the world (or in reality the one or two of you who might actually read this).

My goal with this blog is to write reviews and comment on the big news in the world of movies. The majority of my writing will focus on genre movies (sci-fi, comic book, and fantasy), but from time to time I might throw in a small independent film or comedy that catches my interest. For the most part I plan on focusing on the big screen, but I might occasionally also foray into television. I also plan on posting opinion pieces as well as a few top ten lists (because honestly, who doesn’t like lists?).

The great thing about film is that it is subjective and that no two people will ever completely agree on one movie. These are just my opinions and feel free to challenge me on what I say. Debate is the spice of life and I look forward to hearing what everyone has to say. Just remember everyone’s point of view is valid and be nice to your fellow cinemaphile’s.

I plan on posting as much as I can and I look forward to talking movies with everyone.
May the Force be with you all,
Jeremy

You can also follow me on Twitter: @jpf1701