Movie Review: Avengers - Age of Ultron - A Little Fun, a Little Meh

So, after years of waiting and years of build up, Avengers: Age of Ultron has finally arrived. As expected, it was a box office beast in its opening weekend, taking in more than $191 million on its way to becoming the second biggest opening film of all time (trailing only the $207 million take of its predecessor). Now, the crazy thing is that this is being seen as a disappointment, it had been expected to surpass the first Avengers film. One has to wonder what it was that kept it from taking the record, but then you have to think, it still took in $191 million! That is nothing to sneeze at. I also have to say I was amused at the idea that the boxing match had an effect on it. Geez, it made $191 million! Just be happy.

Blu-ray Review: Snowpiercer

Snowpiercer is an endlessly fascinating film that does something that many other big action type films forget to do, and that is be entertaining as well as intelligent. These things are not mutually exclusive. This is why we need to celebrate it when we find it. Snowpiercer is a big, explosive, crowd pleasing science fiction/action film, but it is also smart and has a lot to say. It is a movie that tries hard to not necessarily be believable, but simply be believed. That is all this movie needs to be. It is not a literally believable movie, but it is easy to be believed within its own creation. It is endlessly fascinating and allows for as much or as little to be read into it as you want.

Movie Review: Snowpiercer

It was perhaps a month or two ago that a co-worker messaged me to suggest I see Snowpiercer. At that point I had never heard of it before. To be honest, I didn't really give it any mind at all, almost forgetting the message. In the time since I had been asked about a movie where everyone was stuck on a train, and The Host director's first English language film, as well as a new science fiction movie starring Chris Evans. At some point you would think I would have put all the pieces together, but oh no, not me. None of it would click until I saw Snowpiercer pop up on the movie theater's schedule. Then I couldn't wait for it.

Movie Review: Captain America - The Winter Soldier

Captain America has never been much of a favorite of mine. The character was too much of a boy scout, the costume always seemed goofy, and it just never really did much for me. Now, it has been a long time since I have been a comic reader/collector, maybe he has changed over the years. Anyway, back when The First Avenger came out, I was curious how they adapt the boy scout in the red, white, and blue and somehow make him appealing as a cinematic hero. I was happy to see the movie was a solid introduction and I particularly liked the way it spent a lot of time as a WWII film. The Avengers helped the character a bit more, but it is only now, with The Winter Soldier, that I am sold on him as a cinematic marvel.

Blu-ray Review: Cellular

Cellular has an interesting pedigree. The taut, simple thriller was written by none other than Larry Cohen (well, the story anyway, screenplay credit goes to Chris Morgan who would go on to pen movies like Wanted and Fast Five). You don't know who that is? Cohen is well known among the cult and horror crowds with films such as It's Alive, Q, The Stuff, and Maniac Cop. He occasionally makes forays into more mainstream fare, and this 2004 feature is one of those times. It does not have the gore quotient or cult aspect of much of his earlier work, but it does feature an energetic, if simple, story, that believes in the kindness of strangers.