The Martian

The Martian was a fun, edge of your seat, film viewing experience.  I really liked the survival aspect of the film and the fact that it used (mostly) real science throughout the film.  I've seen others say that it was to "frat boy" like, but if you were stranded on Mars by yourself you'd get a little goofy too.  Yes some of the things done in the film were over the top, but for the most part it's believable enough to not draw you out of the film.

Acting

Matt Damon is great, the fact that he can make you believe he's cool and confident at one moment and freaking out the next is great, and the whole time you can feel the fact that he's lonely underneath it all.  As usual Matt Damon knocks it out of the part.  I'm going to be honest I  don't really think the rest of the cast needs much since the film was primarily focused on Matt Damon, but that having been said they all did a wonderful job.

Story

As I said I feel this was wonderfully written, it really draws you in and holds you.  Even though I'm not a huge fan of random location switches this film did it in a way that didn't hurt it, from Mars to Earth, from Huston to China, it was all done in a way that didn't hurt the film.

Music

Not really anything I can remember.  That's a good thing in my book, it means it didn't hurt the film.  Yes there was the disco music being played by Matt Damon, but I'm talking about the score, I don't remember anything about the score if there even was one.  Disco still sucks though.

Conclusion

The Martian is a great film, I think so at least.  Some will love it, some will hate it, and some will just think it was alright.  Either way if your a fan a suspense and sci fi I'd say give it a shot, you might just enjoy it.

Hitman Agent 47

Hitman Agent 47 was a good action film, it was not however true to the source material.  I'm not a huge gamer but what I do know is that the Hitman games are all about discretion, and this film really had none of that.  That being said I still enjoyed the film, I watched it as an action film and not as a representation of the Hitman games so I was able to just sit back and enjoy.

Acting
Rupert Friend played Agent 47 quite well, I think he really understood the part and would have been more well received if the film had been more true to the game.  Hannah Ware was fine, she was able to make you believe she was clueless about her past then when she figured it out you believed she was who she was playing.  Zachary Quinto was alright, really he seemed to be playing killer Spock, it was just to wooden even for his character.  Ciaran Hinds was good for what he was there for, he wasn't a draw back from the film, but he didn't add much either.

Story
Alright as I said before this has almost nothing to do with the source material, that being said if you can get past that and watch it as an action film instead of a Hitman film then you can enjoy it.  Yes the story is totally over the top, and of course it would never happen, but The Terminator wasn't exactly a down to earth film either and you can still enjoy it.

Conclusion
If you can get past the fact that Hitman Agent 47 is not true to the game then you might be able to enjoy it.  If your a die hard Hitman fan then you will probably want to skip this one as your going to hate basically everything that happens in this film.  If you've never played the Hitman games and just want to watch an action film then give this a shot, I think you'll enjoy it.

Survivor

Survivor is an example of poor film making with good intentions.  The story is disjointed, and over the top.  The acting is stiff, the dialog seems forced, and the story it's self ignores things that are just common sense.

**WARNING SPOILERS BELOW**

Story

Well like I said it's bad, having an expert profiler be over looked like Milla Jovovich's character is, is just ridiculous, if she was that good in real life she'd been heading up a team, not over looked.  Then there is the hiring a hitman to take her out with an explosive instead of just shooting her from a window.  Then blowing up a building in London and no one asking any questions.  Then filling the New Year's Eve ball in Times Square with a deadly gas with no government over site.  And then over course the person being hunted by two governments and a hitman and has no field experience, single handedly stops the terrorist and save millions of people.

Acting

The acting was bad, not the worst I've ever seen but still bad.  It was like no one really wanted to be there and it was just for the paycheck, which it most likely was.  Milla Jovovich and Pierce Bronsnan are normally great actors, but this time they just sucked, maybe they just didn't feel the vibe and regretted taking the role, I don't know.

Conclusion

Skip it.  Don't even waste your time.  If you happen to be a masochist and want to watch this film at least stream it.  But if you really like this film and want to stick it to me buy the film through the link below.

 

TED 2

Ted 2 is the usual follow up to a decent film, not as good as the original.  The film just took it's self to seriously, a bunch of potheads making fart jokes and getting high are not going to come up with a way to define a talking teddy bears humanity.  If they had just made a funny film without taking it seriously it would have been fine, but it was just to stupid.

Acting

The acting was fine, Mark Wahlberg was fine, nothing worth writing about though.  Seth MacFarlane did Ted's voice just fine.  And of coarse the Scrappy Doo of the film Amanda Seyfried was fine for what she was there for.

Music

Wasn't much to speak of, what there was of the music was fine but nothing worth writing about.

Conclusion

If you watched the first Ted film then you might as well see Ted 2, you'll get some laughs out of it, but it's not going to be anywhere near the best film you'll see this year.

Mississippi Grind

Mississippi Grind is the story of two compulsive gamblers who feed each others addiction by going on a gambling trip.  This is really just a dark depressing film that will leave you feeling sad in the end.

Story
Well I've told you the story and as you can see it's not very compelling, honestly if I had read some of the reviews for this film I probably wouldn't have rented it in the first place.  The writer just seems to drag on and on, and yes most of the film is important to the film but I feel that small parts could have been cut and the film would be slightly better off or it.

Acting
Ryan Reynolds is great as always, he's not as funny as you would expect and I think that hurt the film since it could have used a little more humor to ease the dark depressing mood of the whole film, but this film does prove that he can play a part without having to be funny all the time.

Ben Mendelsohn was believable as the down and out gambling addict, he really showed the pain of the addiction without having to actually say it hurt.  I have to admit this is the first film I've seen him in where he stood out (he was a main character here after all) and even though I had seen him before he wasn't in any major roles so I didn't know I had seen him.  He is certainly a talent that should be used more, and this film should not be held against him.

Music
The music in the film as light, it was mostly played in the scene and it worked well for each scene.  I guess since the music didn't pull me out of the film all I can say it that it was good.

Conclusion
This is the gambling version of Sideways and so if you enjoyed that film then you might enjoy this one.  If on the other hand you're like me and you couldn't even finish Sideways then I'd say skip Mississippi Grind.

Hotel Transylvania 2

Hotel Transylvania 2 is a fun film that really holds up to the original, no small feat as most squeals are almost never as good as the originals.  Having fun with monster is always fun for the kids, and this film does that is all the best ways.

Acting
Well it's all voice acting but the voices really fit the monster.  You can actually see the real monsters talking and acting like they do in this film, and at the same time it's not scary enough for the kids to be scared.  Adam Sandler is great as Dracula, and I love the fact that Mel Brooks is Vlad he's perfect!

Animation
What can I say, it's smooth, it's clean, and just plain looks great.

Conclusion
Hotel Transylvania 2 is a great follow up to the original and is fun for the whole family, if you've got kids or are just a kid at heart give it a shot, I think you'll enjoy it.

Sorry for the short review here, I just never know how to do a full review for animated films.

Prisoners

Prisoners is a "it could really happen" suspense film that starts off slow but by the end you'll be tense and wondering what will happen next.  The tension doesn't take long to build up, and once it starts it doesn't let up!  The writer (Aaron Guzikowski) obviously sat around and tried to to think how would people actually react if their child had been abducted, and I really feel that they came up with some good ideas.

Story

The story is good, it takes twists and turns that are believable, and keeps you guessing as to what is really going on right up until the end.  The story is written well, and is such a way that there isn't much of the wasted dialog that most films suffer from, some of the best parts are things said with a facial expression.

Acting

Speaking of facial expressions Hugh Jackman give a rock solid performance here, he shows pain where he needs to and cold determination when appropriate.  You really start to feel for his character and believe the pain he's in though out this film.  Jake Gyllenhaal is cold and mostly unfeeling for the entirety of the film, and that seems to be what he's best at.  Don't get me wrong that is what's called for in the film for the part he was playing and he does it perfectly, I just feel that it's all Jake can do right.

The rest of the supporting cast is fine, but nothing to really write about.

Conclusion

If you're a new parent I would suggest skipping this film, it will give you nightmares.  But if you like a good suspense film you should really give this under rated film a chance, it will pull you in and have you on the edge of your seat before it's done.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron is a real disappointment, it was just a bland attempt to make money on a successful brand.  There are so many things wrong with this film I'm just going to break my format and give a list.

• Lack of a real story - there is a thin story to this film it's, bad guy wants to do bad, good guys stop him, that's all it is.
• Bad Jokes everywhere - I could understand have jokes in lighthearted scenes or one or two in fight scenes, but it seems like every five minutes there was a groan worthy joke being made.
• Ulton is bad - There is no real explanation of Ulton, it's just here's Ulton and now he's pure evil.
• Way to many characters - I think the goal was get as many Marvel Universe characters into this film, and they came damn close.  There was just to many characters to keep track of, you kept having to go back and remember who everyone was!

Action & Jokes

While this film does provide great action, the problem is they keep telling jokes while fighting and it takes all the tension out of the moment.  This film needed to have less characters and more character development.

Love Story

And as for the love story, I won't say who it involves, but it once again is left very bland.  It's basically two 12 year olds to shy to commit to anything.  The only thing I'll say for the love story is I can see how it sets up a new story down the road, but it could have been done MUCH better.

Acting

The acting was fine, no one was bad, the script was the problem.  It's sad when a script is so bad that it makes Hawkeye one of the better characters with more of a story than anyone else.

Conclusion

I'd say see the film just to keep up with the Marvel Universe but don't expect this to blow your mind or be the best thing you've seen so far, because it's not.

**SPOILERS BELOW**
For a two minute summary of Avengers: Age of Ultron check out this LEGO video by How It Should Have Ended.

Lucy

Lucy is a film that you go into with the mindset of a superhero movie, if you go into it thinking it's going to be be based totally on facts then you'll hate it.  Lucy is a sci-fi action film, not a commentary on morality or the human condition.  Yes Lucy is over the top, yes it's totally unrealistic, yes it's a script written around gun battles and car chases, but as a pure entertainment film it works.

Story

Well the story was kind of thin, there certainly was a script but I think it came second to the gun battles and car chases.  The whole idea of a drug that increases your brain power has been done, Limitless for example, the only difference is Lucy isn't a smart film, it's a dumb action film with fake science to try and make it look smart.  My biggest issue with this film is that it just felt rushed, it seem like they were trying to fit a 2 hour film into a 89 minute slot, if the director had just made the film a little longer and given the audience a little more time to breath this might have been a better film.

Music

The music fit the film very well, fast paced music to drive the scene, drawn out music for the tense moments.  Nothing else really to say, the music fit the film.

Acting

Scarlett Johansson goes from party girl to super cold in one scene, it was kind of like watching her become an even colder Black Widow.  Morgan Freeman was as always great, he could have played every character in Batman & Robin and I still would have to say the acting was great, even if he had bat-nipples!  The rest of the cast was fine, nothing to really go on about so I'll just leave it there.

Conclusion

Lucy is a pure sci-fi action film that is meant as entertainment only, if you can go into this film with that mind set then you'll enjoy it.  I'd say give it a shot, it's not long, and it's just dumb fun.

Citizenfour

Citizenfour is an interesting film, it's a documentary about Edward Snowden as he was preparing to release the NSA spying documents.  Most of the film takes place in Snowden's hotel room in Hong Kong, and while that can sound boring, it was interesting because you see the measures he went to just to make sure that the facts got out and that that the story was about the facts and not him.  The film touches on how the United States is becoming more and more a surveillance state, and the dangers that brings, and what is privacy nowadays in our world.  Also it shows how much Edward Showden had to give up and risk to release this information to the public, it couldn't have been easy and I don't know if I could have done what he did.

Music

From Wikipedia:

The soundtrack consists of portions of the Nine Inch Nails album Ghosts I–IV, which was released under a Creative Commons license (BY-NC-SA) in 2008.

I thought the music fit the film very well, it gave it that edge that you felt while watching it.

Conclusion

Regardless of what you think about Edward Snowden and what he did you should see this film, just to see his side of the story and maybe you'll see just how far the NSA and government is really going to bring an Orwellian 1984 police state to reality.

Justice League: Gods and Monsters

Justice League: Gods and Monsters takes an interesting twist on the origin stories of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, it take place in an alternate universe where the characters are very different and so is the world they live in.  Batman is a half man half bat that drinks blood, Superman is the son of General Zod, and Wonder Woman was married to Darkseid's son.  The Justice League rules with an iron fist, and is willing to kill, leading to the world turning against them.  It's a totally different take on the Justice League but I have to say I liked it.

Story

Overall I liked they way this story was done, it never really lost me and flowed at a good pace.  I liked the fact that there were flash backs for all three of the Justice Leaguers at different times of the film to tell how they came to be the person they became.

Acting

Well it was voice acting, and as much as I love Kevin Conroy and Tim Daly I don't think their voices would have worked as well for these characters.  Also there is the fact that the charterers are much different people than they are in the Justice League we all know and love.  Benjamin Bratt as Superman was a good choice, not to far off from the voice we all know but just different enough to let you know it's not our Superman, same for Wonder Woman with Tamara Taylor voicing her, it was close enough to to the Wonder Woman we all know that it played well.  As for Batman I like that it sounded nothing like the Batman we know, he's the only one in the group who was completely different in every way, casting Michael C. Hall with his monotone voice was perfect for the Batman of this universe.

Music

Well it was a DC film so music wasn't really an issue here, yes it has some music but it never really did anything for me so I can't really say anything other than yes it was there, not that it was bad just that it never really grabbed me.

Conclusion

Justice League: Gods and Monsters is another great film from DC, it sits up there with Under The Red Hood and The Flashpoint Paradox, both excellent films from DC.  One thing I must note though, this is rated PG-13 for a reason, there is murder, blood, and a little language, so if your going to let you children watch this one make sure they can handle that before hand.

If your like me and a fan of the DC Universe then you should definitely see this film.

The Gambler

The Gambler is a complicated film, despite it's title it's not really about gambling, it's about a man who would rather die than live a mediocre life.  In an attempt to fill the void of his current mediocre life he gambles, he doesn't care how much debt he builds up with loan sharks who will kill him because he would rather die than live his life the way it's going.  Some people will not understand the theme of this film and hate it, but if you've ever striven for more in your life and hated the way your life was (or is) then you can understand the theme of the film and connect with Mark Wahlberg's character.

Story

The Gambler is a complicated story, there are layers to it.  Overall it's a very well written story, it's not so dense that you can't follow it but it's deep enough that it will make you think.

Acting

Mark Wahlberg just looks like he's someone who has given up and doesn't care anymore, and that's what the character called for, you can really believe that this person doesn't care if he lives or dies.  John Goodman plays the caring scumbag part perfectly, he knows there's a problem and tries to help but deep down is still a scumbag and makes things worse.  Jessica Lang is the concerned and tired mother, you can see the hurt that she feels and really believe that she's feeling what the character is supposed to feel.

Music

Not much to speak of here, there was a little radio in the background style music but over all there wasn't really anything to speak of in the film.

Conclusion

Everyone should take a gamble of this film, it's not going to be for everyone but if you've ever felt out of place or incomplete in life I think you'll enjoy this film.  Just remember that just because this film is called The Gambler it's not really about gambling, it's about a life unfulfilled.

Sunshine

The film Sunshine written by Alex Garland was a surprise joy to watch, I didn't have high hopes for the film based on the description but by the time I was half way through the film I was glued to the screen.  The film takes place in 2057, the sun is slowly dying causing a solar winter on earth, a team of astronauts are sent to the sun with a nuclear bomb the size of Manhattan to restart the sun and bring it back to life.  Things start to go wrong and what follows is a tense, edge of your seat thriller right to the end.

Story

I'm not going to lie, the story it's self sounds terrible, but once you see the film you'll understand that the basic story has little to do with the actual film.  The film is about the drama and suspense built up around the events going on during the mission to the sun.  While the idea is ridiculous, the story is well written and will entertain you to the very last minute.

Music

There really wasn't much music to speak of here, mostly you got little bits of orchestra music to help set the tone of the scene.  I think this was a good choice, the film takes place in the vacuum of space, and the lack of music really helped give that dead space feeling to the film.

Acting

Cillian Murphy once again delivers an outstanding performance, ever since I saw him in Batman Begins I've been amazed at his acting abilities.  He plays the weak nerdy man who of course in the end has to overcome impossible odds, and the whole time he is on screen you believe in his character.  Chris Evens is the jock type, but still has the brain to make it believable that he would be on a highly technical space mission.  Mark Strong was perfect, the way he was shot in this film gave you just enough to feel the fear the other characters were feeling while not going over the top and drawing you out of the film, even in well lit scenes you don't get a clear look at him only the fear on the other charterers.  Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh, Cliff Curtis, Troy Garity, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Benedict Wong all play their parts perfectly, helping to build suspense while keeping the story flowing.

Conclusion

Sunshine is a must see thriller film, don't let the description fool you it's a great film that has been overlooked.  The story is great, the acting is wonderful, and in the end you will be happy you've seen it.  Just to prove to you how much I enjoyed this film, as soon as it was over I bought the film and added it to my collection, I have a feeling this will be one of those films that I go back and watch again and again picking up little things I missed before.

American Sniper

American Sniper is the story of Chris Kyle, and US Navy SEAL Sniper deployed 4 times to Iraq, based on the book of the same name.  The film is an emotional roller coaster, you'll see the highs and the lows of a warrior, and you'll see the emotional and physical toll war takes on our warriors.  I've seen a lot of controversy surrounding this film and I'd just like to say that the people calling Chris Kyle a murder should also thank him for his service to this country because it's in the United States that you have the freedom to say those things, no matter how much of a scumbag it makes you.  Look I was against the Iraq war from the beginning, but like it or not the troops were there and Chris Kyle was protecting his fellow warriors, it wasn't his job to protest the war, his job was to do what the Commander-in-Chief ordered him to do, and that was protect his fellow warriors and take out terrorists.  Is it Hollywood propaganda?  A little.  But it's also showing you people what warriors go though and tremendous toll it takes on them and their families.  Maybe all those who say this is Hollywood propaganda and glorifies murder should take a second look and actually watch the film and see the real story.

Protest the government, not the troops.

Story

Amazing.  Obviously it's not going to be able to tell the whole story in just two hours, but what you see is powerful.  The horrible choices his forced to make, the toll those choices take on him, the hardship his family goes though, it's all enough to make you want to cry.  Knowing it's true just makes it hit you even harder.

Music

Well there really isn't any, and I like that.  The fact that there really isn't any music in this film just heightens the tense feelings and drama.

Acting

Bradly Cooper was fantastic, he dove into this part and really made me believe he was Chris Kyle, he didn't even look or sound like himself, it was just amazing.  If you watch the making of documentary for American Sniper you'll see just how much he did to play the part perfectly, his dedication to a single roll is astounding.  Truly I think Bradly Cooper is one of the best actors of this generation.  Sienna Miller was great, he could be snarky and loving and frantic all without taking it to far.  She also impressed me with her level of dedication to her part as you can see in the make of documentary.

Conclusion

A must see film.  Everyone should see this film at least once, and if you don't get the true story about the toll war takes on the warrior and the family then you need to watch it again and understand what the film is trying to tell you.  This film is not glorifying murder, it's exposing what war does to the people who fight it and those whom they love.  So rent it, buy it, what ever you do, just see it.  I know it's been added to my collection.

Grudge Match

Grudge Match is a film about a pair of aging boxing rivals are coaxed out of retirement to fight one final bout, 30 years after their last match.  It's a comedy/sports film that will make you laugh but it's not a pure comedy.  I really enjoyed this film, I wasn't laughing throughout the film but when I did laugh I laughed hard.  It's kind of funny seeing De Niro from Ragging Bull and Stallone from Rocky come together for one more boxing film, only this time it's two guys you'd never expect to see in the ring.

Story

The story was good and believable, it tugs on the right heart strings and makes you laugh at the right times.  It's a bit like Rocky, and down and out former boxer gets the chance to prove himself in the ring and still has time to fall in love, and bring his old trainer out of retirement to help him, and in the end fight the high roller other boxer.  The film poke fun at some of the stuff done in the Rocky films and has some cheesy one liners but it holds up and never really get old.

Music

I'm just going to be honest, there isn't much, so I can't really say anything here.

Acting

Stallone plays Rocky, he's just in Pittsburgh this time.  Some people don't like Stallone but he's a fine actor and did a fine job here.  De Niro plays the white Apollo Creed, he showboats and taunts but ultimately fights.  Another fine performance from De Niro, he really knows how to sell it.  Kim Basinger plays Adrian, Rocky's love but this time with a little twist.  Basinger plays it fine, I've never been a huge fan of her work but she is fine here.  Alan Arkin plays Mickey, he even has the hearing aid!  Arkin is great, he's a pervert and a hard ass all at the same time, I love it.  Kevin Hart is Don King, he's an asshole and the butt of the joke.  Normally I don't really like Hart but this time he was perfect, he made you hate him while still laughing at him.  Over all the acting was fine, everyone sold their parts and made for an enjoyable watch.

Conclusion

If you haven't seen Grudge Match I suggest you rent it, it's worth it.  It's not going to be the film you want to keep going back to over and over again but you'll enjoy watching it, you may even enjoy watching it a second time later on.  I'd say give it a shot.

Ex Machina

Ex Machina is a simple idea with a deep meaning, basically it asks "what make us human".  The story is basic, a billionaire lives in the middle of no where so that he can secretly create an Artificial Intelligence (AI) android that will pass as human and he brings one of his employees to his private estate for a week to perform the Turing Test on the android he has created.  It is a little slow, but it's also thought provoking throughout so you won't get bored, watching the progression and asking questions as they come up really holds your attention and makes this a great and entertaining film.

Story

While the story is simple, the subtext is deep.  This was just a well written script, it takes everyday fears (Google, crazy rich people, android that look and act human) and brings it all together to play on those fears while still making the viewer think.  Some may find the film far to "wordy" but that's part of what makes it so good, the "wordy" part is what makes you think and plays on your fears.  This is an Alfred Hitchcock level film is you ask me, it plays on real emotions, and slowly builds suspense, absolutely perfect.

Music

While there isn't a lot of music to speak of, the little that is used really sets the mood of the film.  Mostly it's classical music played while Nathan (the billionaire) is working out while overlooking the gorgeous scenery.  Other than that the only other music you hear is during the credits and that is more modern music.

Acting

Domhnall Gleeson was great, he starts off this shy programmer and throughout the film he slowly changes into a more bold and angry man, by the time you get near the end you almost feel what he feels.  Oscar Isaac plays the crazy billionaire but at the same time seems somewhat normal, he can really make you feel like he's trying to do the right thing while delivering lines that tells you otherwise.  Alicia Vikander is Ava the Android, an my god did she pull of this part well, even just minor head movements give her a robotic feel and yet still she can give off the feeling that she's human at the same time.  Her part had to be the most difficult to play while also being the most important to actually get right, and I feel she nailed it. Sonoya Mizuno is the maid and cook with no lines and while that may seem to be an easy part it's not, he can't express what her character is feeling with words so it all has to be expressed with her face and and her actions.  This had to be incredibly difficult yet she pulls it off and makes the viewer feel for her and question everything about her at the some time.  This is the first time I've seen most of the actors perform (except Oscar Isaac) and I have to say I was blown away by their performances, overall it was an outstanding cast.

Setting

I know I don't normally say anything about the settings of films I review but I have to say something about this one.  Part of the film was shot in Valldalen, Norway and my god is that a beautiful place, if I was a crazy billionaire I think I move there too!  The other half of the film was shot in a studio and the sets they used really make you feel like they are in prison while still free, even the interview room was set up to give you the feeling that while Ava has more freedom she is also trapped, I don't think I could have does a better job myself.

Conclusion

Ex Machina is a great film, it will play on your emotions and make you think, but in the end it's just a good film to watch.  It is rated R due to violence and nudity, but it's not that bad, just don't let the little ones watch this one, though I doubt they would want to since it's more of a "grown up" film anyway.  If you enjoy thought provoking films or Alfred Hitchcock film you will certainly enjoy Ex Machina.

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Kingsman: The Secret Service is like John Wick meets James Bond, it's witty, its funny, and it's action packed.  Most "action" films these days are watered down PG-13 trash that show just enough action for you to know there is a fight going on but don't show you any real action, Kingsman on the other hand is an R rated film for a reason, it's actual action with all the over the top blood and guts you want in a real action film.

Story

Ok yes the story is over the top and totally unbelievable, but if you can suspend your belief for this film and just enjoy a good old fashioned spy action comedy film then you can totally enjoy this film.  As long as you don't go into this film thinking it's a Bourne film and understand it's basically an R rated Bond film you'll be fine, otherwise you'll be throwing popcorn at the screen and yelling "oh bullshit" throughout the entire film, remember this is a "suspend your beliefs and just enjoy" type of film.

Acting

Just superb, Colin Firth seems to really be in his element here, he's able to play the high class gentleman while still having knock down drag out fight scenes, in other words he was great!  Samuel L. Jackson was funny and annoying at the same time, which was exactly what his character needed to be, even his lisp was perfect for his character, it was just the perfect combination of crazy billionaire and evil genius.  Mark Strong always seems to amaze me, I've seen him play the tough guy, the weak nobody, and everything in-between and every time I can believe it, and here again he plays more of a tech guy throughout most of the film and you still believe it for every second.  Michael Caine while not a huge role in the film still provided just enough snooty jerk to really push the plot along and make you root for the main character.  Taron Egerton was fun to watch, and even though this was the first time I've ever seen his work, if he can continue to put out films like Kingsman then I would be happy to watch his films.  The rest of the cast was great as well, and of course we have to give a special mention to Mark Hamill for his performance, funny yet believable.

Music

There was a fair amount of British rap in this film along with typical orchestra music and to be honest it worked for this film, I'm not a fan of rap in general but the tone the rap set in this film worked perfectly for the scenes it was used in along with the orchestra music.  The music never over powered the action or drew me out of the film, in fact I think it only drew me in more.  Over all I'd say this film nailed it when it came to the music, and that's not an easy thing to do.  To many times the people behind films decide to overpower the film with music and end up destroying the film, sometimes less is more and Kingsmen gets that.

Conclusion

Kingsman: The Secret Service is an over all fun film, it's not for children hence the R rating but it's just good old fashioned over the top action and comedy that you can sit back and enjoy.  I would suggest that if you haven't seen this film yet you should, I'll bet you'll enjoy it!  As a testament to how good I think it is as soon as I finished watching my rental copy of the film I went out and bought myself a copy and now have it in my collection forever.  And if the rumors are correct and there is a squeal to this film I won't make the mistake I made when this one came out and wait until it comes out for rental, I will go to the theaters to see the squeal.

Blackhat

Blackhat is an out of touch disaster, that makes no real world sense, and stretches the imagination so far that it breaks and your left hurting for the rest of the film.  I had high hopes for this film since Michael Mann was involved and he's done some great film making over the years, Heat, Collateral, The Kingdom, just to make a few, but sadly I was left disappointed and slightly upset at how dumb the film makes must think I am to even buy into half of this turd they call a film.

Story

For the love of god this story was horrible!  I will say that if 90% of the story had been rewritten to make it at least somewhat believable then the basic premise at the end of why the bad guys are doing what they are doing would actually work quite well.  Sadly the people behind this film obviously asked that guy on the internet called 4chan what hackers did then made a film based on what they were told.  I'm pretty sure that the most advance computer the makers of Blackhat have used is the Apple Lisa, because they obviously have no idea what they are talking about and must think anybody who can do a google search must be a wizard.

Music

It was fine I guess, honestly I don't really remember any music.  Maybe it was so perfect that it blended into the scene and I didn't even notice it, or more likely the film was so bad that I was screaming in my own head and couldn't hear the music.  Either way I have no real comment on the music.

Acting

I so badly what to just slam everything and everyone in this film but I can honestly say that the acting was fine, no amount of good acting can save this film, but at least there is one positive for this film and it is the acting.  Really the only big name in this film was Chris Hemsworth and while he was fine, and I would watch other films with him in them, I have to admit I couldn't stop thinking Thor!

Conclusion

Skip it!  Seriously this is just an out of touch attempt to cash in on the trend of older people not understanding how "them computers and interwebs work".  Plus they must have known that they were making a total turd of a film so they spend the majority of their casting budget on Chris Hemsworth to try and save a doomed before release film.  Don't waste your time with this one, it's horrible, and it will leave you wish for the two hours of your life back that it just stole from you.