Unfriended

            Hey everyone, I’m that one girl who seems to disappear more often than she is here, TheCinemaChick!  I’ve actually been doing real work as of late and let me tell you, wrangling children is tiring work.  Not to mention, I can officially say I have been spit up on.  Here’s a lesson I learned the hard way, never wear your favorite shirt to work if it means you’re handling babies.  Especially babies with full tummies.  They can projectile spit up.

            As usual, you’re not here to listen to me whine about work, you just want to know about the movies!  Have I seen anything good lately?  Nope!  I’m disappointed in the movie I’m reviewing, however, I also feel it is deserving of praise in its own special way.  It touches on a very hot topic in a way I haven’t seen before.  The content was fairly disturbing and I was far more annoyed than I was scared but overall, it wasn’t completely horrible.  So, close Facebook, finish that iMessage and step away from Skype, we’re going to look at “Unfriended”.

            I have to admit, I didn’t have high hopes for this one.  The trailer did have me intrigued, but even then, it seemed like another typical horror movie.  A group of friends did something wrong in the past so a vengeful spirit is out to get them, how original.  (Note the intended sarcasm here)  It had the potential to be good but it starts off with a weak, overdone premise.  A teenager has committed suicide, it’s the anniversary of the death and weird things start happening to a group of friends who knew her.  Plus, it’s a found footage film and you should all know how I feel about those.  I want this genre to die.  I am so sick of it.  And on top of all that, we have the stereotypical teens.  We have a drama queen, a slut, a pothead, a party boy, an airhead and a jealous boyfriend.

            My biggest pet peeve?  The fact that you know how these characters are going to die as soon as you meet them.  And this one won’t be a spoiler since it’s in the trailer: One of them is shown mutilating his hand by sticking it in a running blender.  Well, when we first meet him, he’s got a blender in his hand and he’s talking about his salsa.

            However, do remember that I see more movies than the usual person, so I have figured out the formula to almost every movie out there.  This is why I hate romantic comedies and I can never seem to be scared by horror films.  While I’m usually bored to tears with most films, some of them have qualities that redeem them.  Believe it or not, “Unfriended” has some things about it that I liked enough to keep this movie off of my “Worst of” list this year.  One of them is the topic of cyber-bullying, another one being the end of the film.

            Again, since the trailer shows this, it’s not a spoiler.  It centers around a girl who commit suicide due to some videos that had been posted of her online.  After putting up with a lot of abuse on YouTube and Facebook, she kills herself with a gunshot to the head.  The movie starts on the one year anniversary of her death, as is the cliché.  The movie starts off innocent enough and I have to admit, that’s something I liked.  It’s a bunch of teenagers having a call on skype just to talk about casual teen things.  It feels realistic.  I have skype calls with my friends and we talk about the dumbest things.

            As the movie progresses, things get incredibly tense.  You don’t know who’s going to be next or for what reason Laura will target them.  The more you find out, the more you realize that these teens are horrible people.  They have done things so shameful I can’t even repeat it.  Plus, if I did, that’d be major spoilers.  But I was shocked at what took place.  Okay, okay, I know things have changed drastically since I was roughly seventeen or eighteen.  And yes, I know teens drink, do drugs and have sex but back in my day (I feel so old now) it wasn’t as prominent.  Underage sex was more of a taboo.  Movies never addressed it, television never showed it and the music was a lot more…the best word I can think of is wholesome. 

            Am I ranting about sex?  Yeah, I am a little.  Sex and sexuality have become a mainstream topic these days.  And you know, that does bother me.  I’m sorry but I was raised to believe that what happened in the bedroom stayed there.  Now we have things like “Fifty Shades” out there which…I plan to review it, I just don’t know if I can do it without needing a shower after.  I don’t like this borderline glorification of sex and how it’s become so common and casual.  There’s more of it in movies, television shows and I can’t even listen to the radio now because so many of the songs offend me with their content.

            Enough about that.  I could go on for a while.

            Like every horror movie that comes out lately, this one’s full of the typical tropes.  It’s predictable, you know what’ll happen, things I’ve already pointed out.  And the idea of doing it all on a computer screen isn’t even new.  There’s a film out there called “The Den”, which I haven’t seen yet, that did something similar.  However, I like the idea that it’s all shown through Blair’s (the “main” character) laptop.  We get to see everything she sees and the panic becomes more and more real.  It’s like staring at your own screen as these things take place, which gives it a nice edge.

            But you get to see the strange messages she gets, see the music she picks but honestly, if you’re in a group call, why are you listening to music?  Another element I liked is that as the movie goes on, Laura seems to be more and more in control of the situation.  She starts picking the songs, she answers Blair’s messages before she can even send them.  There is a genuine sense of tension and panic throughout.  I also have to commend the use of various means of social media throughout.  It was good. 

            Like I said, this won’t by my favorite film this year but it won’t be the worst.  I did enjoy it and I might actually sit through it again at some point.  To me, the overall tone was just annoyance because the notification sounds are amplified so they are way too loud.  That’s the one thing that kept getting to me.  I’d be bored, dozing off then DING!  You have message!  To the movie’s credit, it’s a great way to keep your audience awake during the slow parts.  Personally, I think it could have been downplayed a lot more and still had a good effect on the general feel.

            Would I recommend “Unfriended” to the masses?  I would actually say this is a good movie that the younger crowd needs to watch.  Let this one be a lesson about what you post online.  Remember, what you put on the internet becomes permanent.  That picture you took in college where you’re drunk, half naked and holding of a bottle of Jack?  Your parents might find that.  Pictures of you cuddling an ex?  Oh yeah, the internet remembers that.  Keep that in mind next time you take a ton of pictures at the next party when you’re drunk.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I’m haunting your Skype right now.

2015 Films So Far!

Hey everyone, I’m the girl you know and love, the one, the only (as far as I know) TheCinemaChick!  And before you say anything, yes, I’ve been sick again.  I don’t know what’s going on with 2015 but I have spent most of this year incredibly sick.  So far, I’ve had pneumonia, bronchitis and the flu.  Each illness has lasted longer than I have ever been ill before, so I’m starting to think I might have another health issue.  So, while I’m not feeling like death, let’s look at some movies I’ve seen this year. 

The sad thing is, I haven’t seen anything that’s gotten me excited.  Everything has been mediocre at best.  I am disappointed because there are some huge titles that have been released this year.  Nothing has lived up to its hype.  What do I mean?  Well, let’s have some mini reviews so you can understand what I’m ranting about this time.

First off, let’s start with Blackhat.  It was supposed to be this cyber-crime thriller starring Chris Hemsworth of Thor fame.  However, it fell short of its intentions.  It wasn’t terribly exciting nor was it really about cyber-crime.  Sure, the criminal activities were mentioned and they were a huge focus but the film just kept going off track.  It would start going into the pasts of the hacker and the detective and how they were best friends at one point.  The detective even admits he’s partially responsible for this virus and no one penalizes him.  Then his sister gets involved and her and not Thor have a fling.  Why is there always time for a sex scene in action movies?  Seriously, it’s even true in James Bond movies.  He’s in the middle of a top secret mission but still has time to nail the hot chick.  To be fair, he gets killed later on, so I guess he does get punished for his actions.  But even then, I couldn’t be sympathetic because they add in so many characters I forgot who he was.  It’s so hard to keep track of everything going on but they never give you time to acclimate to one part of the story.  It starts off slow, then gains more and more speed that just rushes it to a highly unsatisfactory happy ending.

Then there’s Jupiter Ascending.  I know, this one was supposed to be huge.  It was meant for release last year but the date was pushed back so there could be some post production 3D conversion.  I will admit there are some highly positive things about this movie.  The visuals are absolutely gorgeous.  You can tell the Wachowski clan put a lot of time, thought and effort into how they wanted this movie to look.  I was blown away by the beauty of it.  The costumes, while a bit odd, are also beautiful.  If I had to base this movie solely on visuals, it would be amazing.  However, I do think the story suffered.  I mean, we’ve seen intergalactic politics in other films and honestly, the other movies handled it much better than this did.  I get it, Jupiter (Mila Kunis) is the reincarnation of the mother of the Abraxos family but let’s not forget, she inherited the galaxy.  For the most part, she is useless and relies on Cain (Channing Tatum) to save her from the ridiculous situations she puts herself into.  By the end, I was just confused and unimpressed.  Other than being pretty to look at, Jupiter Ascending did not wow me.  I was left with too many questions.  Also, Eddie Redmayne, you just won an Oscar.  You are better than a role that reduces you to a weirdly dressed man who either whispers or screams.

Now, let’s move on to The DUFF.  This is basically another cheesy teen sex comedy.  I know it’s supposed to be about accepting who you are and being proud of yourself and all but it goes about it in all the wrong ways.  It was very awkward and clunky, so the flow wasn’t so great.  Plus, it tried to include this side message of cyberbullying being wrong but that never really panned out for me.  Honestly, it never really had resolution.  It went exactly how I thought it would happen so there wasn’t anything special about it.  What I really hate is when they do stories like this, the nerdy, awkward “ugly” girl always ends up getting this amazing makeover so she becomes attractive.  I’m sorry, but isn’t this supposed to be about accepting yourself and your unique quirks?  Why does it always have to happen like this?  Why does the girl have to change herself to make a man or rival female happy?  This has always bothered me to no end.  If you want to make a movie that’s inspiring or even more realistic, show me a film where the lead female doesn’t have to undergo a makeover and change her personality in order to find love.

Here’s my lesson to all teenage girls.  Embrace your oddities.  Don’t let anyone change you to make you into something you’re not.  Be you, be beautiful and be happy.

Now let’s look at the Kingsman: Secret Service.  I actually really enjoyed this movie.  It was fun and fast paced and somewhat ridiculous.  It was sort of like a spoof on James Bond but in a more serious manner.  Plus, Colin Firth is kicking some major ass in a suit and looking good doing it.  The story is solid, albeit a little far fetched.  Samuel L. Jackson is really good as the villain.  What made me love this character is that he is so sensitive to violence.  What bad guy gets physically ill at the sight of blood?  Even when he does finally kill one person, he has such a negative reaction that you feel sorry for him.  I was angry that he had murdered a very important character but his immediate show of remorse and disgust made me like him.  It’s not every often we find a sympathetic evil guy…unless you count Loki but that’s another blog for another day.  My only problem with the movie was the amount of cursing and the ending.  I understand, spies normally don’t have to watch their language but the amount of F bombs I heard in the run time was almost appalling.  Not to mention, people brought their young children to this movie!  Fry and I were at a late showing, so it was well past midnight when we left.  Why are you bringing your kid to a movie this late?  They were getting cranky and kept asking questions.  Not to mention, they basically show the beginning of two people having inappropriate relations.  The ending could have been so much better, but they went with the smutty route.  Overall, not bad.  I wish they didn’t curse so much but in general, I enjoyed it.

And finally, let’s talk about Cinderella.  Maybe it’s me and I’m jaded but I can’t stand fairy tales.  This is another one of those things were lying proves to be beneficial.  I admit, I did like a lot of things about this film but overall, it did nothing for me.  They chose to focus on the darker side of the story so much that it brought a fairly depressing tone to it.  I love Cate Blanchett, don’t get me wrong.  I want to be best friends with her but this wasn’t her best role.  She’s supposed to be the wicked stepmother but at most, she was just annoying.  In the animated version Lady Tremaine had this air of evil about her so you automatically didn’t trust her.  In this one, however, she just came off as a gold digger with two daughters dumber than my lovely dog Hammy.  And believe me, Hammy’s an idiot.  I wanted to like it because it is meant to be a masterpiece.  And here’s where I will praise it.  The visuals and setting are absolutely gorgeous.  I mean, that gown Cinderella wears at the ball is to die for.  Seriously, this should be considered during awards season for the costuming.  Everything was done perfectly, down to the smallest details.  One thing I loved is how Anastasia and Drusilla are always dressed similar but not the same, just like in the animated film.  And if you’ve seen the movie, you know just how breathtaking that pumpkin carriage was.  Oh!  Can we talk about Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother?  How awesome was she?  I love that she’s slightly absent minded and makes mistakes with her spells.  I make no secret of my love of Helena Bonham Carter, I would love to be friends with her as well.  To me, she is the best part of the film. 

So yes, there are multiple redeeming qualities and overall, it is a good movie  It’s not too long, it’s sweet, it’s great for little girls but for me, I just don’t care for the “happily ever after” feel good flicks like this.  Cinderella was never my favorite fairy tale anyway.  I admit, I am stoked to see the upcoming live action Beauty and the Beast remake with Emma Watson and Luke Evans.  I was liked a good fantasy with magic and monsters and strong(ish) female characters.  I give Belle more credit because she fell in love with the prince because of who he was, not because he was hot.  Sure, we could get into the whole Stockholm Syndrome thing but I’d rather not.  If you don’t know what that is, google it.

I do have one more movie to look at, but I have purposely waited for the hype on this one to die down.  Yes, I did see Fifty Shades of Grey but I did not want to immediately jump on the bandwagon.  So many people were excited to see it that I didn’t want to ruin it for them.  Apparently, my opinion can hold some sway over people.  I’ve had people tell me that they chose not to see a movie just because I did an unfavorable review.

Folks, I can’t decide what you do and don’t see. Everything I say here is just what I think.  Hell, I’m not even a professional.  I am simply a blogger who loves movies.  I appreciate knowing that you actually take the time to read my blogs and think about what I’ve said.  However, I would never discourage anyone from seeing a movie they want to see…unless it’s that bad.  I know I’ve seen several movies where I have flat out said “Stay away!”

Well, that’s all for this time guys.  Much love and thanks for sticking with me all these years and through multiple hiatuses.  I’ll try not to get sick again and soon, I should have some horror movies to look at and you know what?  Just for the fun of it, let’s make a list of movies I’m geeking out about this summer.  That’s right, summer movie season is coming and that’s when a lot of big movies are released.  We’ve got the second Avengers to look forward to, Pitch Perfect 2, Fast 7, just to name a few.

What are you excited to see?  What summer movie blockbuster has you amped up?  Let me know!  Talk to me, send me some feedback!  Is there a movie out now that you think I need to see?  IS there something on Netflix that you think is worth a look?  I’m always open to new suggestions.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I may or may not be a Cyberman.

Upgrade in progress…delete, delete, delete…

2015 Academy Awards Predictions

Best Picture

American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

Who will probably win: Boyhood

Who I want to win: Honestly, this one’s tough.  I think “The Theory of Everything” will pull through.

Best Director

Alejandro Innaritu, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game

Who will probably win: Richard Linklatter

Who I want to win: Richard Linklatter

Best Actor

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper, American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

Who will probably win: Eddie Redmayne

Who I want to win: Honestly, I have heard nothing but amazing reviews for Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bradley Cooper and Michael Keaton.  I would love Cumberbatch to win this round but I’m fairly certain it’s going to Redmayne.

Best Actress

Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Who will probably win: Julianne Moore

Who I want to win: Julianne Moore, hands down.

Best Supporting Actor

Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Who will probably win: Ethan Hawke

Who I want to win: Honestly, Mark Ruffalo or J.K. Simmons

Best Supporting Actress

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Laura Dern, Wild
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Emma Stone, Birdman
Meryl Streep, Into the Woods

Who will probably win: Patricia Arquette

Who I want to win: Keira Knightley or Meryl Streep

Best Adapted Screenplay

American Sniper
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

Who will probably win: American Sniper

Who I want to win: Another toss up between The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything.  But, let’s be honest, it’s most likely going to American Sniper

Best Original Screenplay

Birdman
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Nightcrawler

Who will probably win: Boyhood

Who I want to win: Nightcrawler

Best Cinematography

Birdman
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ida
Mr. Turner
Unbroken

Who will probably win: Birdman

Who I want to win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Costume Design

The Grand Budapest Hotel
Inherent Vice
Into the Woods
Maleficent
Mr. Turner

Who will probably win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Who I want to win: Into The Woods

Best Film Editing

American Sniper
Boyhood
Grand Budapest
The Imitation Game
Whiplash

Who will probably win: Boyhood

Who I want to win: Boyhood

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy

Who will probably win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Who I want to win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Original Score

The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Mr. Turner
The Theory of Everything

Who will probably win: The Theory of Everything

Who I want to win: The Imitation Game

Best Original Song

“Everything is Awesome,” The Lego Movie
“Glory,” Selma
“Grateful,” Beyond the Lights
“I'm Not Going to Miss You,” Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me
“Lost Stars,” Begin Again

Who will probably win: “Glory” Selma

Who I want to win: “Lost Stars” Begin Again

Best Production Design

The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Into the Woods
Mr. Turner

Who will probably win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Who I want to win: The Imitation Game

Best Sound Editing

American Sniper
Birdman
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
Interstellar
Unbroken

Who will probably win:  American Sniper

Who I want to win: The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (because I’m biased)

Best Sound Mixing

American Sniper
Birdman
Interstellar
Unbroken
Whiplash

Who will probably win: Interstellar

Who I want to win: American Sniper

Best Visual Effects

Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy
Interstellar
X-Men; Days of Future Past

Who will probably win: Interstellar

Who I want to win: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (because why not?)

Best Animated Feature

Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Song of the Sea
The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Who will probably win: The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Who I want to win: The Boxtrolls

Best Documentary Feature

Citizenfour
Finding Vivian Maier
Last Days in Vietnam
The Salt of the Earth
Virunga

Who will probably win: Last Days in Vietnam

Who I want to win: Citizenfour

Best Foreign Language Film

Ida
Leviathan
Tangerines
Timbuktu
Wild Tales

Who will probably win: Leviathan

Who I want to win: Tangerines

Best Animated Short

The Bigger Picture
The Dam Keeper
Feast
Me and My Moulton
A Single Life

Who will probably win: The Dam Keeper

Who I want to win: Feast

Best Live-Action Short

Aya
Boogaloo and Graham
Butter Lamp
Parvaneh
The Phone Call

Who will probably win: Boogaloo and Graham

Who I want to win: Aya

Best Documentary Short

Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press One
Joanna
Our Curse
The Reaper
White Earth

Who will probably win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press One

Who I want to win: The Reaper

American Sniper

            What’s up everyone, I’m the one and only movie blogger known as TheCinemaChick and I’m finally reviewing something in the New Year.  I will admit I did see one other movie so far, but I was also battling a nasty case of bronchitis.  It was horrible.  My throat was swollen and sore, I couldn’t talk, couldn’t eat…ugh.  So glad that’s over.

            But, good news everyone!  I am healthy and healed and have gotten back into the real world.  I have seen two movies this year so far but let’s start off on a good note.  And I have to warn you, I am going to get a little political during this review.  I know everyone has their own thoughts.  Please respect my opinions as I try to respect all of yours.

            Keeping that in mind, let’s look at “American Sniper”.

            First off, let’s get the controversial part over.  I do not support war.  I am a pacifist, I am strongly anti-gun (purely because the of a semi traumatic experience), and I do not condone sanctioned murdering.  I know it isn’t intentional murder but when so many civilians are caught in the crossfire and killed…I just feel like its murder.  They had nothing to do with the war, they were just innocent bystanders.  Think about it, women and children are being killed.  I do not and will never support any type of war.

            However, I do support the troops.  I applaud their bravery and courage for going out there and protecting our country.  They deserve to be lauded for what they do.  People in the military are some of the strongest people ever but they are also some of the most fragile.  When they come back from war, they might be injured or left disabled or suffer from PTSD.  I have had family members that served and I have friends who are in the army.

            So no, I am not pro war.  I am pro armed services.

            “American Sniper” is a film based on a novel of the same name.  I have not read the book but after watching the film, I want to.  It is a biographical movie, based on the life of a man named Chris Kyle.  He served in the military as a sniper.  This movie has two main focuses: Kyle’s life overseas and his life at home.  Overall, the movie was very tasteful and to my surprise, did not contain copious amounts of violence.  I don’t like war films for that reason.  Violence, gore, blood…things like that cause me to get nauseated.  There were two scenes that made me slightly sick but other than that, it’s good.

            By the way, you know how everyone’s saying Bradley Cooper deserves an Oscar for his performance?  Oh yes, he earned it.  He became Chris Kyle.  I went into this knowing who the actor was and it still took me a minute to realize, “Oh yeah, that’s Bradley Cooper!”  He just wraps himself into this role and never once did I find it unbelievable.  Sometimes, when I’m aware of the actor, I can’t see him as the character but in this case, I did not see him.  Sienna Miller was also incredible as well.  She threw herself into that role and stuck with it. 

            What I loved the most about the movie was that it kept me on edge the whole time.  I knew the ending, I knew Chris Kyle’s fate but the moments leading up to it had me hooked.  The tone began fairly light, showing his childhood and how it shaped him, then slowly became darker and darker.  I got a good look into his mind as the PTSD started taking over.  Certain sights or sounds cause little triggers in him and for the audience, it creates tension.  It makes me wonder what’s going to happen.  Bless his wife for being so patient and loving with him.

            I could never sit through this movie again, despite it being so amazing.  It was emotionally draining and I cried at the end.  The ending…oh man, the ending…I won’t spoil it because I think this film is worth seeing.  However, I will say this: the ending is footage of an actual event that while cause you to tear up.  I didn’t know it had taken place in Arlington, Texas because I did not know about Chris Kyle until I heard of “American Sniper”.  This event literally happened fifteen minutes from me in 2013.

            Bravo to everyone who worked on this film.  It was far better than I’d thought it would be and the audience applauded at the end.  It is a wonderful movie that I honestly believe should be seen.  Some people will be able to handle it better than me.

            Chris Kyle was a hero.  His family should be very proud of him and what he did for our country.  I felt a sense of pride after watching the movie.

            To everyone who serves in the military, whether it be in combat or tactical or whatever, I appreciate everything you have done for this country.

            I’m TheCinemaChick and coming soon, this year’s Oscar nominations and predictions.

            I am also pleased to announce that I am in the process of creating my very own website!  It will have my podcasts on there, along with my reviews.  I also have people who will be contributing to my site.  Kit Kat will be joining, along with my podcast partner, Draco Ro’tor.  It will be a while since I have no skills on building websites, so bear with me on this.  But soon…I will be moving on to bigger things.

            Thank you guys for your continued support, even during my extended leave due to illness.  You are awesome.

            On a personal note, I have seen the comments made by Michael Moore and Seth Rogen about the film.  As I’ve said, everyone is entitled to their opinion.  And with that said, I would like to say that I believe Michael Moore is wrong about snipers.  They are not cowards.  Snipers must make very tough decisions on the fly and are often haunted by those choices.  Sometimes, you have to decide if you must kill a woman to save your company.  Cowards are men who hide behind Twitter and say such terrible things using inexcusably bad grammar

            Just saying.

            ***No copyright infringement is intended.  All opinions expressed in my blog belong to me and this is purely for entertainment purposes.***

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.

Into The Woods

                Hello everyone and welcome to the end of 2014!  I bet you are just dying to see which movies I actually loved, but that’s going to be announced tomorrow!  Yes, I am actually capable of liking something which might seem off.  I know, I know, most of the time I’m a really negative critic but I’m not completely stone hearted.  So, one last review before we head off into the brand new year!

                Let’s talk about “Into The Woods”.

                First off, this is one of those films I actually really enjoyed.  It wasn’t perfect by any means since I did get bored a few times but the acting was spot on.  I have to say, I think Chris Pine was the stand out character for me.  He’s part is smaller than most of the others, but when he’s on screen, he just steals the scene.  There is one point where he has a duet and it’s both amazing and comical.  If you've seen the movie now, you know what I’m talking about.  The melodrama in the one song is so cheesy that you can’t help but laugh.

                Now, I saw this with Fry and my Other Mother.  Yes, on occasion, Other Mother joins us because she is totally awesome.  She also has excellent taste in books.  We were all impressed with the casting because all of the actors could sing.  Some of them weren't exactly great (Chris Pine, even though he gets an A for effort, is not the best singer) while others genuinely surprised me.  I knew Anna Kendrick could sing since I've seen “Pitch Perfect” but in this…where has she been hiding this voice?  She’s absolutely amazing!  This woman has more range than I thought and if she dabbled in music, I’d buy her album.

                Same thing goes for Meryl Streep.  Bravo, madam, bravo.  I was a fair weather fan of hers before this and now, I’m totally Team Meryl.  She gave us an outstanding performance as the witch and I would absolutely see this movie again, buy the soundtrack and own this movie on DVD.  I’m not saying this because I adore this musical that much but I would love to see the behind the scenes action.  It would be even better to see the rehearsals.  I would also like to see the stage version of this because I’ve heard it’s also quite good.  However, I’ve also heard it’s quite…adult.

                No matter what, it’s definitely with the price of a ticket.  It’s thoroughly enjoyable and there are some really good moments of humor mixed in.  I’ll admit, there are some things that left me a little confused but when I look at the film as a whole, I can overlook them.  Obviously the music is the main attraction and for me, that’s a perk.  A lot of the time, the music can be an issue since some actors try to sing but can’t.  In this case, everyone did really well.  It’s a crazy ride but it’s worth it.

                The songs fit every mood and my favorite ones by far are “On The Steps of the Palace” and “Hello, Little Girl”.  Both songs have been stuck in my head since leaving the theater.  And honestly, I knew Johnny Depp could sing but his performance in “Into The Woods” was incredible.  He oozed a strange raw passion, which is actually kind of creepy when you see what his part of the story is.  I was highly uncomfortable while watching it.  Not exactly a spoiler alert, but if you know the story of Little red Riding Hood, you know what happens to the Big Bad Wolf.

                Oh! I cannot write a review about this and ignore the true breakout star, Lilla Crawford.  I looked her up and I do believe she has done some work on Broadway.  This girl is about 13 or 14 but her talent is mind blowing.  I am envious of this chick’s voice.  She has a powerful, steady voice and she could easily beat the rest of the cast in the talent department.  I really, really liked her and I think she will do great things in the future.  If she’s not on film, I think her Broadway career is sealed.  Seriously, she can do anything with her talent.

                I will admit, there are a lot of things wrong with this film.  There are characters brought in with no introduction, some plot lines are just abandoned without explanation and some back stories don’t seem to add up.  I still can’t hate it though.  It was a great fantasy romp through fairy tales and the music is rather catchy.  Even though it won’t be my favorite film of the year, but I would really encourage everyone to see this at least one because it is worth seeing. 

                There is some dark humor and moments that could be scary so I don’t recommend this one for the kiddies.  Leave them at home for this.  The witch and the wolf might frighten them because the wolf made me uncomfortable.  Again, when you see it, you’ll understand why.  The plot might be stupid and the continuity might be off but it’s just a good, fun movie that’ll take your mind off things for a while.  I really hated the final act because it felt so forced and tacked on.

                The previews do show a boy chopping down a beanstalk, which is important to the story and that’s also why I don’t like the ending.  It could have ended sooner and left out that final part and I would have been fine with it.  And the absolute ending didn't leave me wholly satisfied either.  Normally, I’m not a fan of epilogues, but I wanted that final resolution here.

                Overall, I’d say matinee.  I didn't hate this movie but I’m not absolutely gushing over it either.  I did enjoy it, I do want the soundtrack and eventually the movie itself because I do believe I will want to watch this over and over.  Having seen it, I can also see why Meryl Streep was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.  I seriously cannot say enough about her in the movie.  She was amazing and commands attention when she’s on screen.  True, she’s done another musical before but let’s be honest here.  “Mamma Mia” was not the best place to showcase her talents.  The music wasn't as good as it was in “Into The Woods”.

                Well, this is going to be a short one since I still have my “Top 14 of 14” to write.  I recommend “Into The Woods” as a great fantasy movie with some outstanding music in it. 

                I’m TheCinemaChick and I’m a little teapot.