Best of 2014...brought to you in 2015

Hello everyone and welcome to the first blog of 2015!  Happy New Year’s Day everyone!  My name is TheCinemaChick but you knew that already.  I’m sorry this was not written and posted earlier but it seems that a severe cold that I had for 2 weeks has come back with a vengeance.  I lost my voice due to a very sore and swollen throat.  However, I will get through this so you can learn what my top 14 of 2014 are.  You've seen the worst, so now it’s time for the best.

Let’s just jump right into it, shall we?

                Before I begin, I’ like to say that I saw a grand total of 45 films this year.  Two of them I will never speak of again because they were quite disgusting.  Overall, I’d call 2014 a good year.  It was great but it wasn't horrible, it was more in between.

                And now, in no particular order:

1.       12 Years a Slave

This one was just rough.  I wasn’t sure if I could even finish it at some points but the story was just amazing.  It deserved all the awards it got and it brought us Lupita Nyong'o.  I’m telling you, she’s going to be huge in the future.  If you can get through the stomach churning scenes of torture and the uneasiness of the blatant racism that took place in that time, I definitely recommend it.  The entire cast puts forth an outstanding performance and this film should be marked as one of the greatest movies in recent history.

2.       Saving Mr. Banks

I honestly didn't expect to like this one.  It’s a nice, light story about the woman who wrote “Mary Poppins” and how that story came into being.  Tom Hanks dazzles as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson really captured P.L. Travers’ personality.  I think this would be a great movie for the whole family.  It’s clean, it’s wholesome, even if there is a few scenes with smoking and a few scenes that some may find disturbing.

3.       Godzilla

I’m not a huge fan of this franchise but I was interested in seeing this reboot.  After seeing the older one with Matthew Broderick, my hopes were not high on this one.  However, the acting was top notch and the music was absolute perfection.  In my original review, I raved about how the score successfully set the tone for the entire film and I stand by that.  It’s definitely worth a watch but I think it needs more Bryan Cranston.

4.       A Million ways to Die in the West

I am so embarrassed to like this one.  It’s rude, it’s crass, it’s disgusting but it’s so funny.  I laughed so hard and I have watched it several times since.  You’ll feel bad for liking it but it is just so funny.  And then there’s Neil Patrick Harris…he’s going to pop up in this list again…I seriously hate myself for living this movie so much.

5.       Begin Again

This movie wasn’t anything spectacular.  It was a love story about a broken hearted girl and her rock star boyfriend.  I wasn’t wowed by it, but I will say this.  I have a new found respect Keira Knightley.  She sings all the songs on the soundtrack and she’s good.  True, she’s not spectacular but I adored her voice.  It’s so soft, so dainty but the lyrics packed a punch.  It was a nice, refreshing movie, a break from the over hyped, big budget stuff that had come out.  I enjoyed it and again, I recommend giving it a look.

6.       Guardians of the Galaxy

Who didn’t love this one?  It’s by far not my favorite Marvel film.  That honor goes to the Thor franchise because I love the visual effects and settings.  Sorry, but Asgard still leaves me in awe when I see it.  But this one seemed like a more down home kind of adventure.  I know, no one’s seeking out a mystical orb with an infinity stone, but the characters were relateable.  Gamora had an overbearing father and wicked sister, Peter Quill was a thief trying to earn a buck and Drax wanted revenge on the man who killed his family.  They were the last people you’d expect to work together and it just came together.  I do look forward to the sequel and hopefully more Rocket.  And remember, I am Groot.

Also, Lee Pace.

7.       In Your Eyes

This one is on Netflix as we speak.  Go watch the most original love story I have ever seen and I loathe and abhor romance movies.  Joss Whedon, you are an amazing man for giving us this beautiful film.

8.       Chef

I loved how fast paced the food scenes were.  Overall, it was just fun to watch and it made me want to learn how to cook the Latin foods I saw.  It was also so cool to see the cross country road trip to learn about the nation’s cuisine.  The father-son relationship felt very natural, which made the film more enjoyable.  Nothing felt forced and it all just flowed organically.  True, I still don’t like Sofia Vergara because I think she is overexposed (in many senses of the word) and she’s too flamboyant.  Having seen her role on television and this one, they seemed identical: a whiny wife.  She’s the only thing that detracted from the movie.

9.       Into The Woods

I won’t go into too much detail since I did post my review a few days ago.  The music, the atmosphere, the casting, all perfection.  It drags at times and the plot gets a little muddled and the entire third act feels tacked on but I still enjoyed.  Meryl Streep, I envy your acting and singing skills now.

10.   Gone Girl

This movie was so creepy.  I’d read the book so I knew what to expect but seeing it on screen was so much more intense.  The amount of time and effort Amy put into faking her own death and vanishing is astounding.  I genuinely hated her at the end.  I felt so sorry for the people’s lives she ruined.  Neil Patrick Harris was great as the oblivious but supportive ex who tries to help Amy out but he has a horrible fate.  Seriously, Neil Patrick Harris can do no wrong.

11.   Frankenstein

Honestly, I wasn't even sure if this one counted since it was a re-broadcast of a live play from Britain.  Then I figured, well, I saw in a movie theater.  Benedict Cumberbatch played The Monster and he nailed it.  That play…I wish it was on DVD because I do want to see this over and over.  I also want to see it again because of the alternate casting.  Cumberbatch, along with Johnny Lee Miller, switched roles so they both played Frankenstein and his Creation.  If you get the chance to see it, jump on it.

12.   Big Hero 6

I loved this movie.  It was a beautiful blending of California and Japanese culture.  The ending caught me by surprise and almost had be in tears.  It was sweet at times and the main characters were awesome.  Believe it or not, this is based on a Marvel comic so there is a Stan Lee cameo.  There is also an end credit scene which was both hilarious and slightly gross.  It’s meant for children but there are some dark moments mixed ink, so it works for everyone.  Use your own discretion on this one.

13.   Penguins of Madagascar

It was really mediocre but there is some awesome wordplay in the film.  The puns are so bad it hurts but I still laughed at them.  Plus, penguins.

14.   The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Let me start by saying, this was my least favorite film of the trio.  It was jumbled, overrun with bad CGI and personally I think it was just bloated.  The battles themselves were exciting but the film focused more on everyone being mad at Thorin, who’s going insane looking for the Arkenstone.  I wasn't satisfied and it left me wanting more.  The Tauriel-Kili love story feels so forced that I wish she have never been brought on.  I can’t hate a Tolkien film.  It could have been trimmed down a bit and been improved.  The death scenes were heartbreaking and when Thranduil fights, it’s quite breathtaking.

Also, Lee Pace.

That’s all for 2014!  There’s a bunch of new films coming out in 2015 that I am dying to see.  You know me, I’d never miss a Marvel movie, so you know I will be one of the first in line to see the new Avengers film.  I’m also super excited to see Pitch Perfect 2, Mad Max, Jupiter Ascending, the live action Cinderella and Pan.  The list could go on and on, trust me.  There is 12 months of movies to see and I’m just one girl who wants to see them all.

I hope you all stick with me in this new year of adventure, action, horror and comedy as I will do my best to bring you all the reviews I can.  We’re in this for the long haul, guys and gals.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I am quite possibly medicated for my horrible cold.

Saving Mr. Banks

 Hey guys, I'm your habitually tardy film blogger, TheCinemaChick! I'm about 2 weeks behind with all my reviews but I'm going to catch up. So if I bombard you with reviews, I'm caught up. My last movie was “12 Years a Slave” which was a very moving film that has left a huge impact on me. This film is also emotional, but nowhere near as intense as “12 Years”.


Folks, let's look at “Saving Mr. Banks”.


I know, this one came out late last year, but I did not get around to seeing it until this year. Actually, I resisted this one because I thought it would be kind of cheesy and sappy. Fry convinced me to give in and see it. Well, it was not what I was expecting. It has moments where it was a little too much for me but overall, its enjoyable. Emma Thompson is brilliant, Tom Hanks is spot on and even the smaller roles are perfect. The casting director deserves a medal for this one.


**Spoilers Ahead!**


Thompson stars as P.L. Travers, the woman who penned the Mary Poppins books. Yes, there are books, not just the one. She was a very difficult woman to work with, shooting down any ideas the music writers had, throwing the script from the window and being fairly demanding. The woman wouldn't even show kindness when taking her tea, unless it was done her way. Milk first, then tea, then sugar. Towards the beginning of the film, she is so unlikeable, I hated to movie right off the bat. I didn't want to watch but you know, you pay to see it, why waste the money? I didn't even like Walt Disney at first. He was confident and cocky and just rubbed me the wrong way..


Yet, as the movie went along and I got to know more about Travers, I began to like her. I also learned the true story of how Mary Poppins came to be. The story is much sadder than I originally knew. It's based on the author's actual life and how she had a nanny. The nanny tried to help the family when the father was sick. However, unlike the film, this story does not have a happy ending. He dies and she blames the nanny for his death. So it turns out Mary Poppins is there to save the father, not the children.


The film itself can be a bit jarring since it can cut between present and past with no warning. Recognize the mother in this film? If you saw “The Lone Ranger” you should. Ruth Wilson played Rebecca Reid in the now infamous box office flop. Fortunately, she redeems herself with “Saving Mr. Banks” where she plays Margaret Goff. Her performance is absolutely breathtaking and she is the reason I chose to keep watching. There's a scene she's in, I won't spoil this one, that completely changes the tone of the story, making it more interesting.


After seeing this movie, I looked up P.L. Travers and it turns out, she really was that horrible in real life. She was shrewd, uptight and generally unpleasant. She never married or had kids though she did unofficially adopt a child who ended up leaving her life. It makes me appreciate Walt Disney a little more, even if he was supposedly a very discriminating man. I'm not going into the rumors that he was sexist, racist and whatnot. I don't know if its even true but people believe what they want to believe.


It's a shame this one didn't get many Oscar nods because it genuinely is one of the best films out there right now. For the most part, it is family friendly, though younger kids might get bored because its not action packed. But the performances were spectacular, the movie itself was very well done and it encaptures the people it represents. Tom Hanks is up for nominations for his role in “Captain Philips” which is great and all but “Saving Mr. Banks” is just better. Emma Thompson definitely got snubbed this year. As far as I know, this film has one nomination and its one of the categories no one really cares about, Best Original Score.


This is really one of those few films that everyone can enjoy. While so many films are full of sex, violence and cursing, this is is light, clean fun. It has a word or two that might be too coarse for the little ones and you see Mr. Disney smoking once for maybe three seconds. Other than that, where else are you going to find a good movie for the family? There isn't anything! It disappoints me that so many of the top grossing films are about war or sex or corruption. A few years ago, there was something good for everyone coming out monthly but now...it's like the G rating doesn't exist anymore. Seriously, Disney and Pixar and even Dreamworks are moving into the PG territory.


I'm not a parent, but an aunt. I want to be able to take my nieces and nephews out to the movies and not have to worry about them seeing something that might frighten them or being too adult for them. We need more animated Disney films out there. “Saving Mr. Banks” shows that he was all for making movies for everyone, not just the grown up crowd. And if Mrs. Travers can accept how they adapted her book into celluloid, then surely we can find more movies for the children.


Seriously, she hated the movie at first. It took a long time to convince her to sign over the rights to her book. She was THAT difficult.


“Saving Mr. Banks” is a good movie for families, for a date night or if you want a movie that truly earns and deserves its happy ending. It starts off rocky but trust me, it just builds and gets better. Colin Farrell, who used to be Hollywood's resident bad boy, is wonderful as a family man. Granted he's also an alcoholic but he still shows complete devotion to his children. Paul Giamatti is also highly underrated. He's a real jerk in “12 Years a Slave” as a man holding the auction, but in this one, he's so sweet and endearing. As Ralph, he always makes sure to fix the tea in the proper way and he's one of the few people Travers opens up to. She even offers to sign a book for his disabled daughter, then gives him a list of people who overcame their disabilities to prove you can be anyone you want in life.


Do yourself a favor and see “Saving Mr. Banks”. You'll laugh, you might cry but you'll definitely walk away feeling warm and fuzzy.



I'm TheCinemaChick and I'm rather cold today.