Category: Movie Reviews

My personal views on Movies I go see.

Movie Reviews

A Mediocre Biblical Film | Review of ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’

By: Cynthia Ayala

Egyptian Princes Moses (Christian Bale) and Ramses (Joel Edgerton) are raised together as brothers. When Ramses becomes pharaoh, Moses is his most-trusted adviser. However Moses soon discovers his Hebrew parentage, and Ramses banishes him to the desert — often a death sentence. But God has a mission for Moses: Free the Israelites from slavery. Moses returns from exile and demands that Ramses let his people go, but the arrogant ruler is unmoved, leading to a battle of divine wills.

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Movie Reviews

A Spellbinding, Charming and Hilarious Musical for All | Review of ‘Into the Woods’

By: Cynthia Ayala

“Into the Woods” is a modern twist on several of the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them.

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Movie Reviews

The [Unnecessary] Defining Chapter | Review of The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies

By: Cynthia Ayala

Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

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Movie Reviews

A Haunting Action Film | Review of ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1’

Mockinjay Part 1 is the third film in The Hunger Games series that follows one Katniss Everdeen as she discovers the truth about District 13 and the rebellion forces. With Peeta held captive by the Capital, his loyalties and Katniss’ are put to the test as they brainwash him and Katniss fights for him. Continue reading A Haunting Action Film | Review of ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1’

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Movie Reviews

Flash Film Review: ‘John Wick’, ‘Nightcrawler’ & ‘Book of Life

Okay so I bet you’re wondering what is going on here.  Well I have fallen way behind in my writing.  I sort of got into a funk with a lot of everything.  I’m still trying to figure out the cover design for my next novel and I’m editing it as well and I’m reading and writing but then I want to be lazy and play Kingdom Hearts.  So I’m just trying to get myself out of this funk that I’m in, so here we are! Continue reading “Flash Film Review: ‘John Wick’, ‘Nightcrawler’ & ‘Book of Life”

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Movie Reviews

A Jaw-Dropping Drama | Review of ‘Gone Girl’

By: Cynthia Ayala

Gone GirlOn his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne reports that his beautiful wife, Amy, has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife?

Gone Girl is an incredible film that paints a story and just dives right into it.  The story was expertly written and constructed as it follows Nick Dunne as he comes home to his wife missing and the house in shambles.  This leads the police to pick away at his marriage and unearth the events that led to his wife’s disappearance.  This leads to the course the film takes and the style and direction of the film itself.  The film begins in one way, to tell a story and set it up to paint this marriage, to paint this connection between these two characters so that viewers can see just how far this marriage has fallen.  Going back and forth, between past and present, the movie continues to build in a marvelous way using misdirection beautifully. Continue reading “A Jaw-Dropping Drama | Review of ‘Gone Girl’”

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Movie Reviews

Not with a Whimper but with a Bang | Review of ‘Fury’

By: Cynthia Ayala

April, 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy commands a Sherman tank and her five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Outnumbered and outgunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.

Fury is an amazing movie with an amazing ensemble that really brought to life all the harsh and painful realities of war. Not just what it’s about but rather what it does to an individual.

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Movie Reviews

A New & Unique Perspective | Review of ‘Dracula Untold’

By: Cynthia Ayala

In 15th-century Transylvania, Vlad III, prince of Wallachia, is known as a just ruler. With his beloved wife, Miren, Vlad has brokered a prolonged period of peace and ensured that his people are protected, especially from the Ottoman Empire. However, when Sultan Mehmed II demands 1,000 of the country’s boys, including Vlad’s son, for his army, Vlad makes a deal with a monster that will enable him to defeat the Turks — but cost him his humanity.

Dracula Untold is written as a precursor to Bram Stoker’s Dracula that decides to take a deeper look into history and go back to the roots of the Dracula mythos.
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Movie Reviews

A Higher Level of Crime Drama | Review of ‘The Drop’

The Drop follows lonely bartender Bob Saginowski through a covert scheme of funneling cash to local gangsters – “money drops” in the underworld of Brooklyn bars.  Under the heavy hand of his employer and cousin Marv, Bob finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighborhood’s past.

The Drop is a dramatic crime thriller based on Dennis Lehane’s 2009 short story “Animal Rescue” and stars Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Galdolfini, Matthias Schoenaerts, John Ortiz & James Frecheville.
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Movie Reviews

A Fun Heartwarming Film | ‘This Is Where I Leave You’ Review

By: Cynthia Ayala

When their father passes away, four grown, world-weary siblings return to their childhood home and are requested – with an admonition – to stay there together for a week, along with their free-speaking mother and a collection of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. As the brothers and sisters re-examine their shared history and the status of each tattered relationship among those who know and love them best, they reconnect in hysterically funny and emotionally significant ways.

– Synopsis provided by movie | fone

A film with a lot of heart as the characters deal with the loss of their father and see where their lives have fallen compared to what they wanted. Jason Batemen plays Judd and he is the main protagonist in this film. The film opens with him coming home to discover that his wife is having an affair with his boss, and has been for a year. With nothing left after he quits his job and divorces his “whore of wife” – direct quote from the film – he gets a call from his sister, played by the ever so charming Tina Fey, informing him that that their father has passed away.
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