Maleficent Review

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Jon Pardew Movie Review: 6/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 46%

Rated: PG
Sexual Content: 1/10
Violence: 4/10
Profanity: 2/10
Drugs/Alcohol: 1/10

Maleficent is a, "this is how it really happened" narrated story of Sleeping Beauty.  The story goes way back to when Maleficent was a child and a loving fairy.  The world of the fairies and the kingdoms of man are separated due to differences.  Things start to change when Maleficent meets a human boy in her young years and they become friends.  The story of Sleeping Beauty doesn't happen until much later and of course, it is different than you may think.

Maleficent is an enjoyable family movie that is interesting and fun.  Angelina Jolie actually did a good job portraying the sorceress/fairy.  I was nervous about how she would do but after seeing the movie, I was very satisfied with how she did.  However, I don't think that Maleficent stands against other blockbusters this year.  I liked the story very much but there are a few things that were bothersome.  

Here are my 3 criticisms:  Maybe it is just me but the CGI doesn't seem to be up to the industry standard.  The fairies looked cool, they just didn't look like they were really there.  When I can tell that something has been drawn in, it takes me out of the movie.  Another thing is that the character development seemed to be pushed aside.  It was hard to feel for the characters when you don't know much about them.  Finally, The resolution to the conflict was a little cheesy to me.  I wish that Disney didn't take the movie in that direction. For my part, I could see it coming a mile away.  When you see it, you will know what I mean. 

Taking this story and turning upside down to show why Maleficent is the antagonist was fun.  You should not see someone for who they appear.  You know the saying, "Don't judge a book from its cover".  Judgment can come so harshly sometimes.  The thing is, most likely the judgments come because others do not know your past and what made you the way you are.  Maleficent may look bad, but wait, is she really?  You have to look past peoples horns and when you do, you might find a genuine person.  Someone who has, just like you, experienced bitter pain and anguish.    

X-Men: Days of Future Past Review

Jon Pardew Movie Review: 9/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Rated: PG-13
Sexual Content: 3/10
Violence: 7/10
Profanity: 5/10
Drugs/Alcohol: 3/10

X-Men: Days of Future Past begins in the future where mutants are being wiped out by high tech mutant hunting robots called sentinels.  A group of mutants gather in a secret location with a plan to send Wolverine's conscious back to his 1973 self to alter time and try to create a more peaceful world between mutants and humans.   

As far as X-Men movies go, I enjoyed watching this one the most.  The story of Mystique was developed more as you see her struggle with her inner demons as she has to make the most difficult decisions.  The action sequences were really cutting edge!  The way the portals were portrayed in the fighting scenes was unique and it was cool to see how Blink used them in fighting the sentinels.  Quicksilver was also a highlight!  Watching him at the pentagon was especially fun, maybe the best scene in the movie, definitely the most memorable.    

There is a quote from Professor X that was rather profound.  He says "Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn't mean they can't be saved".  Some of the mutants were struggling to find themselves and needed to know that there is still hope for them.  Many people go through the same thing.  They find themselves lost on the wrong path.  The struggles in life can be used to build us up.  We need to find the hope that we will be able to withstand the pains and find better days because they do come.  Of course we will not have to go back in time and cause the course of the future to change but we can have hope for ourselves and what is to come for us.  Then, just like in X-Men: Days of Future Past, we will find those brighter days and we become better people for withstanding those hard times.  

I am also happy that X-Men: Days of Future Past was made because it opens up a whole bunch of doors for more movies.  It will be fun to see where the next one takes us!      

Belle Review

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Jon Pardew Movie Review: 8/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

Rated: PG
Sexual Content: 2/10
Violence: 1/10
Profanity: 3/10
Drugs/Alcohol: 2/10

Belle is a story based on actual events.  In fact the painting that was painted in the movie was based on the real painting.  The actual painting hangs at Scone Palace in Perth, Scotland, is owned by the present Earl of Mansfield and in 2007 was exhibited in Kenwood during an exhibition to run alongside events marking the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act 1807.

The movie starts when Dido Elizabeth Belle is a child.  Her mother, believed to be a Spanish Slave, had just passed away and her father who was a Royal Navy Captain had come to claim her.  He left her in the care of his uncle the Earl of Mansfield, who lived with his family at Kenwood House in Hampstead, just outside London, England.  There, she grew into a young lady confused about herself and where she fit into society because of the color of her skin.  

Belle is a good historical chick flick type movie.  The dialogue was executed very well AND captured the time period.  The way that the English courted in the middle 1700's was a curious thing to witness as well.  Finding a match was a very different affair than we see today.  Among the rich, courting was very political and formal with heavy involvement of their parents to insure that all went according to plan.  

 

Belle shows that the influence of one and change the course of the world.  Dido died just years before the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.  Her influence on political affairs surrounding slaves is evident.  She inspired her uncle and her uncle loved her very much.  I enjoyed his comments at the end of the movie about is personal beliefs and basically saying that slavery is not right.  He held one of the highest positions in the government so his statements were very poignant.  If you get a chance to see this movie, do so.  You will be happy you did.

Blended Review

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Jon Pardew Movie Review: 6/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 11% - no love from the critics

Opening: May 23rd

Rated PG-13
Sexual Content: 5/10
Violence: 3/10
Profanity: 4/10
Drugs/Alcohol: 4/10

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore star together once again in a movie where the two of them fall in love with each other.  This time in Africa!  Jim (Adam Sandler) is raising three girls and working at Dick's Sporting Goods, while Lauren (Drew Barrymore) has her own closet organizing business and is raising two boys.  The movie starts while they are on their first date.  It is a blind date that goes horribly wrong.  They later run into each other again at a convenience store where they confirm their despise for each other.  Things get interesting when Jim finds that the store clerk mixed up their cards and shows up at Lauren's house to switch them back.  While there it is discovered that a blended family vacation wont work out for Lauren's friend who is dating Jim's Boss.  Jim over hears this and on his way out calls his boss and buys the vacation from him while Lauren talks her friend into giving her the trip inside.  They then run into each other in Africa and find themselves in a variety of awkward moments and heart-warming family situations.

I'm not going to lie, I like seeing these two together in a movie.  Blended was probably my favorite.  It has all the gags and silly things that you would expect from a Adam Sandler movie and the story developed nicely. Once they were in Africa, I was rolling on the floor laughing and trying not to "get a zebra stripe in my underpants".  Then I would crack up again at every time  Terry Crews came on singing!

I really enjoyed Adam Sandler's character.  All the things that seemed to label him a stupid man would come full circle and show that those "stupid man" things had deeper meaning.  For me it was a breath of fresh air because I am tired of seeing men portrayed in the media as lazy, grumpy or stupid.  Sandler's character had some of these but there was always a meaning behind them.  Really, he played a very responsible single father who tried his best to be there for his girls.  It spoke clearly about how we should not judge somebody before we get to know them.  Everybody has their own experiences in their own lives and they are molded by those experiences.  Just because somebody does things a certain way, that is different than the way we would do them does not make them bad or lazy.  It probably just means that their past experiences molded them a different way.  

Godzilla Review

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Jon Pardew Movie Review: 9/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 73%

Opening: May 16th

Rated: PG-13
Sexual Content: 1/10
Violence: 5/10
Profanity: 3/10
Drugs/Alcohol: 1/10

IMDb: The world's most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

Godzilla is a monster with a lot of history and depth.  He is also one of films most famous of monsters with his 32nd film out this weekend.  Godzilla was created by Tomoyuki Tanaka as a message about the effects that nuclear weapons have on our world.  In an interview in 1985 Tanaka summed up the symbolism of Godzilla: "In those days, Japanese had a real horror of radiation, and that horror is what made Godzilla so huge. From the beginning he has symbolized nature's revenge on mankind".  Some also believe that Godzilla is a representation of the United States itself, since the U.S. is who dropped the bombs.  

In the new film, director Gareth Edwars explains that Godzilla is a representation of a force of nature.  That he comes to bring balance to nature.  He is not really our enemy, but not necessarily our ally either.  He comes, does his job, and then leaves.  There are things that happen in nature that are out of our control.  Hurricanes, tornadoes, or sharknados are all devastating and terrifying.  They impact those who live through them and in many cases cause people to start their lives over.  After these incidents people come together to help one another out to rebuild.  Balance does seem to be restored as people forget themselves and help their neighbors.  It would be nice if it could always be that way without having a "force of nature" wreak havoc on us.  Perhaps we should be a little more caring.        

I highly enjoyed the movie.  I got excited the first time Godzilla was revealed and chuckled like a happy idiot when he roared.  I was all revved up for the final showdown at the end and was very happy with it.  The movie isn't perfect, but by the end, it is extremely satisfying.  Godzilla's final blow, and you will know what I mean when you see it, was insane and the best part of the movie for me as it brought out my unshakable nerdy side.  Godzilla 2014 is a nice edition to the franchise. I recommend seeing Godzilla and when you do tell me your thoughts, I would love to hear them. 

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Review

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Rotten Tomatoes: 56%

Opening: May 2nd

Rated: PG-13
Sexual Content: 1/10
Violence: 5/10
Profanity: 3/10
Drugs/Alcohol: 2/10

IMDb: Peter Parker runs the gauntlet as the mysterious company Oscorp sends up a slew of supervillains against him, impacting on his life.

Pardew Review Rating: 7/10

The general consensus of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is that it is sub-par.  I would have to agree.  Spider-Man was always my favorite super hero.  So I am somewhat disappointed, but there are still some spectacular scenes that will keep me a fan.  The standoff with Electro was was absolutely electrifying to see ;).

By the way, and this is important; if you wait until the end of the credits for a rumored sneak peek of X-Men or bonus footage for the next Spider-Man you may be disappointed.  Depending on where you are, the scene may not be there.  Instead they want you to pull out your phone during the credits and use the app Shazam.  By "Shazaming" the song that plays during the credits you will be able to access the bonus material on your phone.

The thing that I like about Spider-Man is that he is not the perfect hero.  Spider-Man makes mistakes and has to learn from them.  This lack of perfection makes it so that he is unable to save everyone all the time.  

Nearly every comic book super hero has to deal with the death of a family member.  The difference is that these other super hero's do not become hero's until much later in their lives.  Peter Parker on the other hand is becoming a super hero at a younger age.  People he cares about die while he is a super hero causing him to question who he is, or what he is trying to become.  Even with his biggest downfalls and his greatest losses, he is able to pick himself back up, learn from all of it and become a better hero.

I think that most everyone wants to do something great in their lives.  Leave their mark on the world.  Having ambition is a great thing.  In all the efforts that you may have to be a great somebody, you might trip a time or two.  You might find yourself in an emotional free-fall.  You may start questioning who you are and what you are trying to become.  It's okay to go through all that.  Every time you pick yourself back up, kick the dust off your shoes and push forward towards your own personal greatness, you gain a better sense of who you are and who you are going to become.  With that, you are on your way.