"All Booked Up" Episode 3

   A new week means another all new episode of "All Booked Up" everyone! This week me and Michelle give our review of "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri" and we suggest some Christmas movies that are awesome if not entirely Christmasy! Check it out below or go to Soundcloud and search us on your computer or phone! Dont forget to comment and let us know what you think.

https://soundcloud.com/allbookedup/episode-3-december-18th-2017

"Hell or High Water" Movie Review

  For all intents and purposes the classic western is a dead genre nowadays in terms of American cinema however the so called "Neo-Western" is alive and well and "Hell or High Water" is an excellent example of why that is.

   Based on a script by Taylor Sheridan, who also penned last years also amazing "Sicario", the film follows brothers Toby and Tanner Howard (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) as they go on a bank robbing spree through west Texas to raise money to save the family ranch. Meanwhile Texas Rangers Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham) are hot on their trail as Marcus is on his last case before retirement. A cliche plot perhaps but there's a reason people keep using it, because it works. Especially in a case like this where you assemble such a talented cast and let them go to work.

   At the top of the bill is Jeff Bridges, a man who has perfected the "lawman on his last job" character as he's played it a few times before. He brings the gravely voice, southern twang humor you'd expect but also injects Marcus with quite a bit of sadness. This is a man who knows how to do only one thing, be a Texas Ranger, and will soon be giving that up due to the creep of age and is left realizing that the job he's losing is all he has left in this world. We initially see him as a rather jovial figure, laughing and ribbing his partner and generally appearing to enjoy himself. Its in the times he's by himself that we realize what a sad and lonely figure he truly is. While everyone else speaks of their families or plans for the future Marcus has only this job left and soon he won't even have that anymore. He's built his whole life, his whole identity, on being a Ranger and being "one of the boys" but what is left for a man after that time is over? Bridges handles this complexity brilliantly and gives us one of his better recent performances in recent years. Nothing flashy or over the top, just subtlety mixed with gravitas and tragedy. Gil Birmingham is also very good as Marcus's put upon Mexican/Native American partner. Constantly the punchline for all of his partners off-color and racial jokes who is both tired of his Marcus's constant teasing but also knows its all the man has left and puts up with it anyway, partially because it'll all be over soon. 

   The other duo is the Howard brothers. Toby is the down on his luck family man who came up with the idea of robbing the same banks who are trying to steal their land through a reverse mortgage deal that was upon their dying mother in her last few years. He now has less then a week to raise $40,000 or lose the family land, upon which oil was recently discovered that could change his families lives forever. To pull this off Toby calls upon his unstable brother Tanner, recently released from jail after a 10-year stay for manslaughter and the only person Toby knows he can rely on to do this. 

   Chris Pine is playing the role of straight man Toby here and is better then expected in this spot. We see a guy who has never done anything illegal before but is forced into it by circumstance and who also is resigned to the idea they won't be getting away with it without going to jail, all that matters to him is securing his estranged children's future and changing his families fortunes for the better. His desire to change his families fate while also being resigned to his life most likely ending in jail gives Pine a chance to flex some acting muscles he doesn't get to do very often and he handles it very well. Ben Foster is right in his wheelhouse here as the unstable brother Tanner. Tanner's self-destructive behavior and disregard for his own safety/future gives Foster a chance to be a bit more flashy in his performance but luckily he keeps it just below to parody line and delivers a very compelling character who feels like someone who would grow up in West Texas. This behavior seems to highlight a guy who can't stop jumping from one adrenaline high to another and seems destined to end his days either in prison or at the end of a gun. Both performances are outstanding by themselves but its the when the two are together that the real magic happens. Pine and Foster do indeed feel like brothers onscreen as they play off and compliment each other perfectly. Their playful nature with one another, as well as the loyalty they feel towards defending one another, is really the heart of this movie and if it didn't work the whole thing falls apart. Luckily that's not at all an issue here as you can feel the bond and love between the brothers even when its not explicitly stated.

   I'd also be remiss if i didn't at least mention the pseudo other main character in "Hell or High Water" and that's the state of Texas itself. This movie feels like it could only take place in Texas and it takes full advantage of that. From the scenery to the history of Cowboys vs Native Americans to even the fact it seems everyone in Texas is carrying a gun this is a movie that takes full advantage of its setting and, in a way, makes it a character all its own. It adds to the flavor even more when things take a more action-centric turn near the end and the idea of this as a modern western is truly revisited in the last few scenes. Not to mention how you decide to interpret the ending and where it leaves our remaining characters. 

   Whether you're looking for a crime movie, a western or a character driven action film "Hell or High Water" delivers on all fronts and shows why so many critics deem it as one of the best movies of 2016. Don't miss this one folks!

**8.5/10 Stars**

Yippee Ki-yay get along little doggies

My Top 10 TV Shows of 2016

   OK its that time of the year.....the end. So in honor of that I've put together a few lists of the best and worst in movies and television that I've seen this year. Now before you go sending messages about omissions and such let me clarify. This is a listing of movies and TV I've actually seen this year. While there may be better movies or shows out there since i didn't see them yet they're ineligible for this list. Anyway now that's we cleared that up here's my list of top 10 TV shows of 2016 starting with a few that almost made the list.

Honorable Mention: Ash vs Evil Dead, Black Mirror, Vice Principals, Silicon Valley

10. Daredevil

   Now that's how you up the ante in a season 2! "Daredevil" exploded in its second season expanding the world, the action scenes and the series mythology leaps and bounds. This show absolutely went for broke introducing new and exciting elements like Elektra (Elodie Yung), The Hand and of course Frank "The Punisher" Castle (Jon Bernthal). Charlie Cox is once again pitch perfect as Matt Murdock and is wonderful portraying a man who is trying to do good things but can't stop them from spiraling out of control. The story of Elektra and the Hand also is a nice toe dip into the more fantastical elements of the comics as well as a subtle set-up for the upcoming "Iron Fist" series. Anytime you introduce magicish things it has the chance to throw the series out of whack but that doesn't happen at all here and leaves me excited for whats next. The action as well has been ramped up as not only did the series go in a more R-rated area in terms of blood and such the addition of a literal Ninja army opened up a huge opportunity for larger scale fights that the crew takes full advantage of! Its probally the best fight choreography on television. Of course the star of the season (and soon his own show) is Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle, what a perfect choice he ended up being. He's the perfect mix of physicality and suffering. Bernthal is able to mix the seething anger he has over the death of his family with the guilt he feels over possibly being the cause that you completely believe him as a man who can snap at any moment. Its hard to make a man who's basically a mass murderer sympathetic but you do here and can understand his reasoning, which leads to some great philosophical discussions with him and Murdock about the morality of killing. Just great stuff all around and can't wait for season 3!

9. The Exorcist

   Talk about a show that i had zero expectations for and proved me wrong in basically every way. I figured this was going to be a TV adaptation of the movie and boy was i wrong and never more happy to be so. As a "Hannibal" fan i should have known horror shows have a place on Friday nights and this one was another example. This is a sequel to the movies as they make mention (and more?) of the events in the original movie. It centers around a Chicago family led by Geena Davis and Alan Ruck. Their daughter begins to act strangely and through a series of creepy and unsettling events we come to see she's been possessed. This being "The Exorcist" we also once again have a duo of priests to help the girl. A grizzled full-time exorcist whose been trained since childhood to deal with these demons, you can imagine his mental state over that, and his partner who is more devout but also questioning if he wishes to remain a priest due to being in love with a married lady friend. The set-up sounds exactly like the movie but its here that the show takes its most interesting twist that i wont spoil here suffice it to say it kicks the show to another level! That's to say nothing of the conspiracy storyline and freaky organ stealing subplot that's also unsettling. The demon Puzuzu is also personified in this show by Robert Emmet Luney giving the show an actual villain we get to see torturing both mentally and physically our poor possessed lead. Speaking of possession this is not a show that skimps on the scares as there are multiple very well done scenes you'd expect to see from this franchise. Amazingly this is a TV show that actually adds layers into an existing and well established franchise very well and fully deserves a place among the top 10. Don't miss this show.

8. South Park

   In its 20th season under super stressful and unpredictable times "South Park" continued to amaze with its incredible new season. The election really screwed allot of people up and "South Park" was an example of a show that had to make huge changes on the fly. Lately the show has been going a more serialized route and doing season long story arcs. This allows them to do more in depth stories but also can open them up to unforeseen issues gumming up their plans. That happened this year in that if you look back on the early part of the season pre-election you can see that the story lines they seemed to be setting up to be the main plot and villains, JJ Abrams and the 'Memberberries, get swapped for Mr. Garrison and the Denmark Trolling as the main focus after Trumps election. The idea that Trey Parker and Matt Stone were able to rework their entire planned story on the fly and produce a new chapter in it every single week and still remain funny and relevant is incredible. Also amazing since the episodes are all quite funny as well. At no point was the humor lost in the stinging satire that was being lobbed, most notably at Trump and his supporters. Even the story lines that took awhile to develop like Cartman and his girlfriend had excellent payoffs by season end. Also anytime Butters just loses it and goes rogue as he did with his wieners out movement you know we're in for gold. These guys haven't lost a step and can't wait to see what they have in store next season.

7. Narcos

   How do you build tension on a show where everyone watching it knows how the story ends? Well just watch "Narcos" to find out how. The ongoing story of Pablo Escobars reign atop the drug food chain is the same intense and absorbing drama in its second year. This is one of the best acted shows on TV, let alone on Netflix, as every cast member is pitch perfect in their roles. Wagner Moura is scarily believable as Pablo Escobar. He not only looks the part but is able to be both charming and terrifying at the same time, much like the man himself was. The way he uses his entire body and voice to convey every emotion is reason enough to watch. As if the acting wasn't enough reason this show is an example of why sometimes real life is better then anything a writer can make up. If you don't know the story of Pablo and the Medellin Cartel then you are in for a treat. Some of the real-life twists and turns, getting to build your own personal resort prison for instance, are almost too far out to be believed but happen they did. Don't be confused and think this is a boring and formulaic docu-drama either. There is a ton of good and violent action to be seen scattered throughout for all adrenaline junkies out there. Also being filmed on location in Colombia adds a layer of authenticity and beauty that is itself enough to recommend it. Nothing feels staged or plotted as the environment itself in a way becomes its own character. If you're looking for a good crime drama look no further then "Narcos"

6. The Strain

   Vampire shows are really hard to do uniquely and well but that's exactly what Guillermo Del Toro has done with his FX show "The Strain". The "Strigoi" as they're called are unlike any vampires you've seen in movies up til now. They use 6-foot long tongues to feed and infect victims and that infection isn't through some supernatural possession but instead is a worm that infects the host. The plot revolves around an ancient Strigoi named "The Master" (yeah a bit goofy i know) who has decided now is the time to make his play at world domination. Standing in his way is a ragtag group of heroes including a CDC Virologist (Corey Stoll), a NYC exterminator (Kevin Durand) and an old vampire hunter with a grudge (David Bradley) who intend to kill the Master and stop the threat once and for all. Make no mistake this is not "Mad Men" in its plot but for what its trying to be, a pulpy, dark and violent horror show, it succeeds wonderfully. The premise is intriguing and only gets better as the story unfolds and as season 3 just ended things are fully in high and unexpected gear! The cast is outstanding top to bottom and really helps the show from devolving into campiness in its lesser moments. If you're on the hunt for a horror show with a great mythology/premise, excellent casting and a A+ pedigree of creators the don't miss "The Strain".

5. Better Call Saul

   Its hard for a prequel to really stand on its own, especially when said prequel still contains multiple characters from the original show. "Better Call Saul" however has managed to do just that and escape the long shadow of "Breaking Bad" by doing something that's both familiar and original. One of the main reasons it stands is because of its excellent cast starting with Bob Odenkirk. He takes the role of Jimmy (Sauls real name BTW) and is pitch perfect. We know that this man morphs into the "Criminal Lawyer" Saul Goodman but for now he's just Jimmy McGill, a low level personal injury lawyer trying very hard to gain his brothers approval that will never come. His ability to add comedy to what is ultimately a tragic story considering we know what will happen to him is one of the more impressive acting jobs on television this year. Jonathan Banks also returns as Mike Ehrmantraut, future Gus Fring Fixer and former Philadelphia cop, and also gets to add depth to his character through the tragedy of how his life has turned out. These performances also help to flesh out their roles in "Breaking Bad" as well and add a new layer to already complex characters and events there. The co-stars are all stellar as well. Michael McKean steals every scene he's in as Jimmy's mentally unstable but brilliant lawyer brother Charles. Rhea Seehorn also shines as Jimmy's love interest Kim, and extra tragic element because we're left wondering what happens to her that she's not around in the future? What many people assumed would just be another drug and crime show, which there is allot of don't get me wrong, is actually more interesting when it delves into the lives and interactions of its stars. When its more a character study then crime show. The added bonus of it standing on its own, you don't need to have seen "Breaking Bad" to enjoy it, is just the icing on the cake as to why this is one of my highest rated shows of the year.

4. Penny Dreadful

   Gothic horror is a really hard genre to get right but Sam Mendes got it perfect with his Showtime series "Penny Dreadful". Taking full advantage of his industrial revolution age London setting the entire show has a poetic and dark feel to it that is perfectly suited to the themes and characters. If you don't know what the show is about it revolves around a group of individuals all based on old literary monsters (Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolfman) and revolves around their life in turn of the century England. This third season specifically involves the group taking on Dracula and his minions. This show isn't the usual monster vs monster hunters trope however as along the way we learn of each characters dark and tragic past through interactions with each and some of the best monologues on television. Every member of the cast is a perfect choice for their respective role. Eva Green would be considered the star as she's the one whom all the evil creatures are drawn too and trying to control. Along the way she is joined by Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton and Rory Kinnear, each who has "demons" of their own they are facing but unite against the ultimate evil. This show gets everything from the casting, tone and music exactly right. You can feel the dirt and grim of this time period and it really helps to suck you into this world. If you're looking for one of the best acted shows, and possibly the best horror show ever, look no further then "Penny Dreadful".

3. Stranger Things

   The 80's nostalgia trip is in full force nowadays but the best use of it comes in the form of Netlfix's new series "Stranger Things". This show feels like Stephen King and Stephen Spielberg decided to collaborate and all the awesomeness you'd expect shows up on screen. The plot revolves a group of pre-teen boys who are trying to find their missing friend and in the process find a mute girl with telekinetic powers and a monster from another dimension hunting them. The beating heart of this show is the performances starting with the kids. Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard and Caleb Mclaughlin all exceed every expectation in their roles. They each have different roles in their group and pull each one off seamlessly. Most importantly though this group comes off as being real friends. Nothing seems forced here between them and since this is a show that lives and dies by their relationship this is extremely important. Not to be outshone however is 80's star Winona Ryder in a career revitalizing role. What could have been looked at as stunt casting turns out to be brilliant as not only is she in top form as the missing boy's unraveling mother but her movie career up until now bleeds into the show as a whole and helps give it even more authenticity. This show is a love letter to the cinema of the 80's and Ryder helps cement that in her performance and her presence. Rounding out the cast is David Harbour as the town Sheriff. Harbour is another familiar face who takes his first real opportunity as a lead and runs with it. He gives us the male lead with the tragic past. An obviously capable Sheriff who is haunted by memories of his past. Cliche sure but done wonderfully here, never going into melodrama and allot of the feelings kept right below the surface. That's to say nothing of all the supernatural goodness this show has to offer, you'll never look at "Dungeons and Dragons" or Christmas lights the same after watching this show that's for sure. Don't miss out!

2. Game of Thrones

   Getting to the top here and no surprise really that HBO holds the top two slots. First off is the mega-hit "Game of Thrones". I don't have to spend any time really selling you on why you should be watching this series, unless you've been living under a rock you should be well aware of how good it is and its impact on pop culture. What makes this year different and noteworthy however is this is the first year the show runners didn't have a book to base the story on. George RR Martin is having a quite public bit of writers block and is still fumbling away at "Winds of Winter". This meant Benioff and Weiss had the unenviable task of almost predicting where the story would go but also bringing the show into its home stretch with only 13 episodes left after this year. There was no time to waste and the "Double D's" delivered masterfully. Revelations and reveals happened almost every week. The series at times has been known to drag its feet at times in story lines but this year everything kept its forward momentum. Once again it was shown no one is safe as many important characters met their demise but none felt cheap or for shock value. Everything made sense on what has been built before and we were even given our first idea as to what the ultimate endgame might be. Not to mention this season giving us some of the best action of the series to date, most notably the penultimate episode "The Battle of the Bastards" which had not one but two of the biggest battles in television history! Its not too late folks to get into the zeitgeist but with only two seasons to go time is running out. If season 7 is any clue about whats to come jump in now because you're not going to want to miss it! Let me just hold the door for you.......

1. Westworld

   "These violent delights have violent ends..." Its with that Shakespeare quote (quite prophetic when you realize where its from) that HBO found its new hit show with "Westworld", a reboot of the 1973 movie written by Michael Crichton. The idea of a theme park going awry is not a new concept in sci-fi at all, neither is the idea of is Artificial Intelligence capable of being alive (and what does that mean anyway?) but the way its done here is one of the ways this show stands alone. Make no mistake anyone why enters, this is a deep show. There are layers to it that won't reveal themselves on the first viewing. Small details that slip by you the first time will hit you upside the head on any re watch. The beautiful way its plotted and executed really sucks you in from the first moment you see it. This is a show that rewards you for paying attention and asking questions. The more you think about it the better it becomes, an impressive feet for sure. HBO went all in on "Westworld" with $100 million budget and even allowed a delay for a shutdown while some kinks were worked out. That investment paid off as what they produced is one of the best pieces of television, and cinema in general, to come along in years! For starters its absolutely gorgeous. The setting and vistas look more at home on the big screen but we're treated to them here. The contrast between the wide open expanses of the park and the cramped/cold setting behind the scenes are stark and really help set the two worlds apart. This is aided by an amazing soundtrack by Ramin Djawadi. Using modern songs in player pianos for instance both gives authenticity to the world of the hosts but is also something i could imagine a theme park doing to keep guests entertained. Once you get over how beautiful the show is too look at then you start digging into the lore, themes and the mystery and that's where this show really shines. Right from the first episode we're not only given pieces to the puzzle but simultaneously receiving answers to ones we haven't asked yet. Ideas of what being alive really means, can AI and robots ever truly have free will? What would your average human do or become if the constraints and laws of modern society were taken away? I don't want to reveal too much about the mystery and the more philosophical questions the show poses but you'll be on the edge of your seat with you thinking cap on trying to figure it out. This far into my recommendation and i haven't even gotten to the best part of the show with the acting. This is truly a star studded affair with Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy winners front to back lead by Sir Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins gives his best performance in years as Dr. Ford, the man who invented "Westworld". His ability to threaten and intimidate both mentally and physically with just a word and a raised eyebrow makes him one of the best characters on TV today. You never know exactly what he's really up to and you get the feeling he's always one step ahead, masterful stuff. Ed Harris is equally as intriguing as "The Man in Black", i mean how cool is that name? He's set up as villain early on but is there something else going on perhaps? Thandie Newton and Evan Rachel Wood are also excellent as two of the female hosts who may or may not be "evolving" and gaining free will for the first time, both give tortured performances at times that really make of think what kind of horror show this park would be from the Hosts perspective. Folks everything about this show is A+ and any more description and I'm risking revealing too much. Just rest assured this is by far in my opinion the best TV show of 2016 and one you cannot miss!

My Top 10 Movies of 2016

   OK its that time of the year.....the end. So in honor of that I've put together a few lists of the best and worst in movies and television that I've seen this year. Now before you go sending messages about omissions and such let me clarify. This is a listing of movies and TV I've actually seen this year. While there may be better movies or shows out there since i didn't see them yet they're ineligible for this list. Anyway now that's we cleared that up here's my list of top 10 movies of 2016 starting with a few that almost made the list.

Honorable Mentions: Sausage Party, Keanu, Hardcore Henry, Deadpool

10. The Shallows

   Talk about a movie coming out of nowhere to become a hit a pretty good movie at that. Not it is true i  was in Florida when this movie released and to say the marketing was everywhere for this film down there is an understatement. Don't let that fool you however as this is actually a very effective thriller. Blake Lively is actually quite good, especially when you consider she basically carries the entire movie. Its also a very pretty movie to look at and is very well directed. Its not one that's going to curb any fears of the beach but still well worth a watch as its probably the best shark attack movie since "Jaws"

9. Triple 9

   Here's one that is destined to become a cult action movie for years to come. "Triple 9" was kinda overlooked this year but anyone who saw it definitely has excellent things to say about it. Comparisons to "Heat" and "Training Day" were unavoidable considering the plot is about crooked cops and double crossing criminals but that's not a bad thing, The action is fabulous, the plot is intriguing and always keeps you on your toes and the cast is beyond stellar, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kate Winslet, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus and Gal Gadot all appear which makes it even more surprising how most people passed over this movie. Don't be one of them and check it out

8. Star Trek Beyond

   The third part of trilogies have a reputation as often being the weakest entry in a series but with "Star Trek Beyond" that streak has at least been temporarily broken. The third in the JJ Abrams "Star Trek" series might actually be the strongest in the series, The cast has all grown into their roles and are totally comfortable in them, even making them their own in many ways while remaining homages to the original. That care for the original series is also seen in the plot itself as this movie feels the most like a part of the original movie and TV shows then before. The action is good and colorful and some of the best in the entire series as a whole. The cast both returning and new are universally excellent and have a real rapport with one another that really makes you but them as a cohesive team. This movie proves there really is more life in this series, hopefully we get to see more of it as despite its excellence it was a disappointment at the box office. Don't miss out folks!

7. Doctor Strange

   Ahhh Marvel movies, the gift that keeps on giving. Marvel was apparently a bit concerned when they first began preparing "Doctor Strange" fearing audiences wouldn't get it and that they wouldn't be able to properly bring the character to the big screen, luckily for us they pulled off both masterfully! Benedict Cumberbatch is perfect as the titular doctor as he brings both gravitas and smugness, plus a surprising does of humor, to his character. The magic of the film is handled with care and fits perfectly into the already established universe like a glove, The film is also visually breathtaking, giving us visuals we haven't seen on film in years! Do yourself a favor and check it out in 3D if you get a chance, they really take advantage of it and it adds another layer to the already impressive visual feast!

6. 10 Cloverfield Lane

   When word came out that "Cloverfield" was getting a "sequel" i was both excited and nervous on what to expect. The cryptic trailer enforced that and had me wondering how this film connected to the first (it doesn't BTW) and if the second could build on the franchise, can you really do another big monster movie? Well once it came out and you see it all those worries and ideas disappear and what you're left with is one of the best thrillers of the year. Mostly taking place in an underground bunker the movie is basically a three person play with John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher Jr as they try to survive an attack on the surface, The movie is at its best whenever John Goodman is on screen, he's absolutely on fire as the man who built the bunker who also seems like he has a secret and whose temper could be more dangerous then whatever is outside. His performance alone is enough to suggest checking out this film as its fantastic from beginning to end. As the mysteries of the bunkers begin to show themselves the movie just keeps getting better and better, not going to spoil anything but if you are looking for a stripped down sci-fi thriller with incredible acting this is the one for you!

5. Hell or High Water

   This is a movie that almost doesn't exist but thank goodness it does! Based on a black listed script by Tyler Sheridan "Hell or High Water" is a neo-western centering on brothers Toby and Tanner Howard (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) as they run a series of bank robberies across Texas. They're pursued by a pair of Texas Marshall's in Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham). This is not a heist movie that relies on gun fights however as it aims more for character development and complex script. This movie will at times remind you of "No Country for Old Men" but considering that was a Best Picture winner that's not a bad comparison at all! If you're looking for a heist movie for adults this is your film.

4. The Nice Guys

   Shane Black has long been one of Hollywood's best action writers/directors ever since his work on "Lethal Weapon" and his newest movie "The Nice Guys" keeps up that winning streak as he brings us one of the best buddy comedies in years. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling seem to be having an absolute ball in the 70's setting, Gosling in particular is fantastic as he gets to flex his comedy muscles as well as some dramatic parts to even it out. Crowe is perfectly cast as the grumpy and grizzled half of the team and gives one his best performances in awhile. The film is a great mix of action and comedy and definitely gives off a "Lethal Weapon" vibe without coming across as derivative. If you're looking for an adult popcorn movie then here's the movie for you.

3. Captain America: Civil War

   Team up movies were all the rage in Hollywood this year but the only one to nail it was Marvel's entry with "Captain America: Civil War". This could easily have been released as "Avengers 3" and honestly in many ways its a much better film then even "Age of Ultron". The movies basically covers what happens after an accident as well as an attack leads to the governments of the world to create the "Sokovia Accords", basically the cinematic version of the Superhuman Registration Act of the comics. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) believes this is the only way to gain some order in a rapidly escalating superhuman community by keeping tabs on the enhanced, meanwhile Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) believes that this is taking away the freedoms of these people and could be used for evil means if enacted. This leads to a literal split of the Avengers as all the characters you love (minus Hulk that is) that exist in the movie universe to pick sides and face off, which leads to one of the best team fight scenes in movie history! Ever want to see.......well I'm not going to spoil the match-ups, All of that and we haven't even gotten to the actual villain of the movie (whether that is a good or bad thing is up to you when you see it). As far as big event movies this was easily one of the biggest and best executed and stands heads and tails as one of the best movies of the year,....oh yeah and SPIDER-MAN!!!!

2. Arrival

   Sci-fi has been making a comeback in terms of prestige movies lately and "The Arrival" is the latest excellent addition to the genre. Director Denis Villeneuve is one of the top young talents in Hollywood today and his latest is a work of sci-fi genius. The movie centers on Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) as they attempt to communicate with one of 12 alien spaceships that have mysteriously appeared around the globe and determine why are they here. What seems to be a rather basic set-up quickly becomes a much richer and thoughtful piece of art once you realize what is really going on. In addition to the usual questions of how would the world react to this sudden occurrence it also takes a surprisingly deep dive into how communication with an actual alien species might occur. This attention to minute detail and procedure may sound laborious but it actually is quite absorbing and helps draw you into the mystery more. It also dives into much headier topics about fate, life and pre-destination that will make you think deeper about yourself as well as the characters on screen. The performances are incredible as well as seem destined to score Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner Oscar nominations and Director Villeneuve the nominations for Best Picture and Best Director he was robbed of last year with "Sicario". The plot, the music, the acting are all top notch and lead this to be one of the most wonderful movies of the year.

1. Rogue One 

   "Star Wars" tried something different this year as the first movie not to be a part of the core Skywalker narrative was released and the result? The best movie in the franchise since "The Empire Strikes Back" that's what! This movie took a throwaway line from the first movie about the theft of the Death Star plans and turns it into a hybrid heist/war/team movie that at times more resembles movies like "The Dirty Dozen" or ""We Were Soldiers" as opposed to the "Star Wars" movies we've had up to this point. This movie boasts a narrative that is both wholly original while still weaving in classic characters that never seem like fan service at all. Any cameos make sense as to where they'd be at the time in the overall story. It makes sense that they're there as opposed to just pop up to appear. Not only that it also adds to the overall mystique of all returning characters! As awesome as all those are though they still are only second level to the new characters who are destined to be fan favorites going forward, Jyn Erso (Felicity Huffman) joins a pantheon of strong female characters in the franchise and carves a niche all her own. Her quest to free her father and redeem him and how that eventually leads to her help form the rebellion is a better character arc then Darth Vader received over three movies in the prequels. The other members of her team also have moments to shine and none seem like they're just along for the ride, each is able to contribute and seems a vital part of the mission as a whole. The acting, the plot, the call backs and the addition of who may be the best droid in the series with K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) makes this the can't miss movie event of the year and my top film of 2016!

My Worst 5 Movies of 2016

   OK its that time of the year.....the end. So in honor of that I've put together a few lists of the best and worst in movies and television that I've seen this year. Now before you go sending messages about omissions and such let me clarify. This is a listing of movies and TV I've actually seen this year. While there may be better movies or shows out there since i didn't see them yet they're ineligible for this list. Anyway now that's we cleared that up here's my list of top 5 worst movies of 2016!

5. Suicide Squad

   Movie trailers are a funny thing, they can really make chicken salad out of chicken shit....which is exactly what they did for "Suicide Squad" where the 2 minute trailer is by leaps and bounds better then the finished product. This movie is an absolute mess from top to bottom. First off the whole plot concept is ridiculous. Now i can see the logic in forming a super villain team to combat supernatural threats but with one exception this team has no enhanced abilities whatsoever. I mean the threat in this movie lays waste to waves of highly trained and armed special forces operatives but a girl in hots pants and a baseball bat backed up by a guy throwing boomerangs gets by unscathed? Too say nothing of the fact the villain is a former team member who broke bad about 5 seconds into the movie. Besides the terrible plot (good thing the bad guy stalled on their plan long enough for the team to grab a drink and chat halfway through) the CGI is bad as well, most notably in the big final fight scene where i could have sworn i was watching a mid-90's action movie by the CGI  monstrosities that were assaulting my eyes. They do realize this movie is in HD right? Oh but lest we forget the thing that ties the entire horrible package together.....Jared Leto's Joker. Boy oh boy did that not work. Now I'll give them credit for taking a big ole swing with this interpretation and some parts have potential but just the visual look alone is so distracting it completely takes you away from the performance. I mean the tattoos, the teeth, just the whole general Halloween costume look of the thing just didn't work. Wasted potential is the real theme of this movie, do yourself a favor and stay away.

4. The Witch

   Its becoming clearer lately that when you hear the words "creeping dread" in a description of a horror movie what they really mean is "slow and boring" because that's what you got here with "The Witch". It all starts out well enough with a old fashioned baby snatching in a pretty intriguing set-up of Puritan era America but then decides to take the next hour and a half and fill it with lots of close-ups of goat heads and call it horror. Now I'm not saying you have to have monsters running around or a lady in a pointy hat making threats to have add terror but "The Babadook" showed the proper way to build suspense and dread while also sprinkling in some pay-offs throughout the movie. "The Witch" seems uninterested in that and decides to go more of a character study route which is not the direction to go in with material this dry. All this can be forgiven however if in the end there's some big payoff waiting for us......but there's not. Quite the opposite actually as just as the movie starts to pick up some steam and get interesting we get the always terrible cut to black ending! This is made even more egregious when you realize the movie is barely 90 minutes long and they really could have given a proper ending without being overlong. Considering the pretty good acting and interesting setting its a shame this movie took too long to get where it was going and became nothing more then a bore.

3. Independence Day: Resurgence

   What happens when you make a sequel no one wants 20 years too late and take away the charismatic lead from the original? Why "Independence Day: Resurgence" that's what. Not even Jeff Goldblum using all his Jeff Goldblum powers can save this stinker. Now I'm not gonna bag too much on the plot, this is an "Independence Day" movie after all, but i mean guys were you even trying at parts of this? You literally have a character drive across the country from New York City to Nevada in less the 12 hours, this in the middle of an alien invasion mind you so never mind the traffic issues alone. Then instead of focusing the movie on our established hero and letting Goldblum headline the movie, he has done it successfully before, you decide to introduce way to many new characters that no one cares about nor will they. I can see introducing new young actors to maybe take the reins of the series but why a misfit group of kids in an RV? Why spend time that could be spent on plot development by introducing new cannon fodder we don't care about when you have several returning cast members that can serve the same purpose? While the effects are pretty good things like the space fighters and energy weapons now used by Earth come across as cheesy and give the whole affair a kind of B-movie sci-fi feel. It doesn't help that the majority feels like it was shot on a green screen which further gives it a sanitized SyFy channel feel. With a price tag of around $200 million that is inexcusable. Just watching it you can't help but wonder why did they even bother since it almost seems no one was really taking it seriously and that's why you should avoid it as well.

2. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

   When it takes 7 years to get a movie off the ground and finished that's strike one. When that delay means the book its based on is no longer pop culturally relevant that's strike two. Finally when you're on the tail end of a string of Zombie based movies and TV and you melt into the crowd you're done for. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" was based on a 2009 book and has been stuck in development hell for 7 years and after seeing the finished product you can see why. The idea is simply bonkers, a zombie story mixed with the Jane Austen "classic", but its the execution that determines this to be a failure. While it can at times look visually interesting you soon find yourself realizing just how hollow it is. It takes lines of dialogue right out of the book but anyone who has read Jane Austen knows that's not always the most audience captivating thing to do. The idea of these people seemingly going on with their lives semi-normally even with an in progress zombie outbreak is just.....stupid. I mean I'm having a hard time even writing this synopsis because the whole set-up is just boring and dumb. That's not aided by the unconvincing acting either. This whole movie could have been helped by any member of the cast realizing what kind of movie this was and playing it a bit looser and playfully. Instead we get a cast of people almost playing the ridiculous concept totally straight and it turns the whole thing into more of a parody then the serious tone they were going for at point. In addition this serious tone makes even less sense when then action kicks in and all the daughters are kung-fu and wire-working their way through waves of the undead. The whole idea of that screams campy but for whatever reason the Director doesn't lean into that and plays it straight instead, big mistake. Another glaring mistake is why are all the zombie gore effects CGI? This is post "Walking Dead" here guy, not saying you can't use CGI to enhance the look as the show does but when all your zombie effects are digital it further takes away any tension you may inadvertently create. Things like a entire room full of zombies being taken out by the sisters but not a single drop of blood getting on any of them completely destroys any suspension of disbelief you may have built up. If they're not even going to bother with small details like that why should i give their terrible premise a chance in return? This movie is an example of a concept/movie missing its window but still stubbornly released anyway. Do yourself a favor and stay away.

1. Gods of Egypt

   If i wrote nothing else here except the fact Gerard Butler and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau play Egyptian gods that would be sufficient explanation as why "Gods of Egypt" is the worst movie i saw this year. In fact it doesn't stop there as unless you're a slave there's not a single Egyptian person in this movie. In fact besides Elodie Yung (French Cambodian) and Chadwick Boseman (African American) this entire cast is lily white as can be! Troublesome racism and whitewashing aside (Butler doesn't even try to hide his Scottish accent at all) this movie doesn't get any better once it gets going. For a $140 million budget the effects are complete garbage. You can easily tell the entire movie was shot on a green sound stage as everything has that too smooth look to it that immediately tells your eye "this is fake". The fact that this whole movie boils down to a robot bird fight in the end, yes you read that right, gives you a glimpse of what we're working with here. Now i will give the actors credit that they all give it their all, Boseman actually seems to get what kind of movie this is and leans into it, but even they can't save an at times pointless script. There's more then a few plot lines that go nowhere that are inserted for seemingly no reason and do nothing except bloat the run time to over 2 hours! You can also tell they had franchise in mind when writing this as in addition to plots that go nowhere some are just kind of dropped to be handled or explained later, that's shameless even for me. So we have an unfocused plot, terrible effects and subtle racism right off the bat. Oh did i mention the gods are 25 feet tall so half the time two people in a scene together aren't even filmed at the same time, you can imagine what that does for timing and rapport. Listen at this point its just beating a dead horse but for your own sake just take my word for it and stay away from "Gods Of Egypt"

"Rogue One" Movie Review

   When "Rogue One" was announced a lot of people looked at it with cautious optimism. It was going to be the first "Star Wars" movie to not be centered around a Skywalker and its early synopsis showed it was going to cover a part of SW lore, the acquisition of the Death Star plans by Rebel forces, that people have been curious about since it was introduced as a throw away line in "A New Hope". Now that it's here though you can take the cautious out of there as "Rogue One" delivers on every front and is in the running with "The Empire Strikes Back" for the top "Star Wars" movie of all time! Now that may seem to be hyperbole but folks I assure you it is not, if this is the quality we can expect from future installments then the franchise is going to blow your mind for years to come.

   A lot of criticism was leveled at "The Force Awakens" for being more or less a rehash of "A New Hope", which in all fairness it kinda was. Director Gareth Edwards must have been listening as even though he has a movie more closely tied to the original trilogy then "The Force Awakens" he has created something that feels both entirely original and yet still part of the existing universe. The term "war movie" has been used to describe "Rogue One" and that description is quite accurate. There's a gritty feel to this movie that isn't really present in other installments. There are no Jedi in this installment which takes away a kind of win button the other movies could rely upon. Now instead we get real soldiers and a real sense of tension as we realize our heroes are almost hopelessly outmatched by the Empire but remain intent on their mission that could turn the tide of the war to the fledgling rebellion. While this is without a doubt a "Star Wars" movie by stripping away the more fantastical elements in favor of a more militaristic and grounded approach the movie never gets bogged down and keeps its momentum going for the entire running time.

   So "Rogue One" follows our lead Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) as she is recruited by an as yet unformed Rebellion to retrieve the plans for a new rumored super weapon from an Imperial pilot defector Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed). This weapon is being developed by her father Galen (Mads Mikkelsen) and the Empire and has the potential to enslave the galaxy for generations to come. She is accompanied on this mission by Captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and Imperial Droid K2-SO (Alan Tudyk), Two members of the Rebellion who have a secret mission of their own in addition to retrieving the plans. Along the way they also run into a pair of defenders of the force in Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen) and Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen). The group then teams up to take one last swing at stopping the Empire no matter what. This simple set-up is just the jumping off point of course but the way these actions are woven into the fabric, seamlessly at that, of the original trilogy is just one of the ways this movie surprises. Not to give anything away but its almost impossible to walk out of this movie and not immediately go home and start watching Episode IV as this is the perfect lead into watching it. "Rogue One" is able to make itself both completely necessary for but not dependent on the previous movies and established lore. Its truly a remarkable feat and one that exceeded all expectations.

   So lets get into the acting shall we, absolutely incredible across the board. Felicity Jones effortlessly holds the movie together as Jyn, Ultimately this is her movie and she is more then up to the task. She is able to exude a sense of vulnerability and toughness at the same time that would be completely lost by a less capable actress. At no point does she come across as anything less then believable and this makes her an easy heroine to root for, not to mention in just one movie she's already managed to create a character that stands out in a series full of strong female leads. This is the kind of star making performance that should launch her into that next level of Hollywood she was just flirting with before. She's not alone though as Diego Luna is also excellent as conflicted Captain Cassian, a man who is torn between his mission/orders and what he thinks is best once he's in the action. You never question his motives or his decisions even though they don't always line up with Jyn's or what we the audience thinks he should do as his justifications seem completely honest and legitimate. As good as they both are however they are routinely shown up by the newest amazing droid in the "Star Wars" universe as K2-SO is an absolute scene stealer every time he comes on screen. His sarcastic tone and comedic timing help break the tension in many parts and add some much needed levity at times. Its hard to make an impression as a droid in this universe but if he doesn't walk away as a lot of people's new favorite character I'd be amazed. In lesser roles we have Donnie Yen who brings a stoic but unyielding faith to the force as a Jedi Temple defender, no surprise given his talent that he provides the best hand-to-hand fighting scenes in the movie as well as a good amount of the comedy and heart as well. Jiang Wen isn't given much to do but that actually ends up working as his quiet and disillusioned mindset, as well as his weapon choice, is a perfect contrast to his partner Yen and the two work off each other excellently as they play the "old gunslinger" on one last mission roles.

   Another interesting addition is a character off the TV series with hero of the "Clone Wars" Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) adding what the more extreme version of the rebellion looks like. Its through him and Cassian that this movie explores the more morally ambiguous side of the rebellion and makes it less of the black and white good vs bad the original movies were and more of a grey area. By asking questions about how far is too far and is the rebellion necessarily any better then the Empire when they resort to torture and guerrilla tactics without regard for civilian casualties this movie gains a more adult and nuanced feel that's refreshing when viewed against the more stark lines of previous movies. It really does make you ask questions about what is OK to do or become even if you're ultimate motivation is a positive one. Is it ever OK to assassinate civilians? Is lying to people about their actual mission OK if you know they wont agree if they knew the truth? At what point do civilians or soldiers become expendable in the course of a war? It's these morally ambiguous questions that really make you think about what war is really like and are also ideas that can be applied to our own world both now and the coming years.

   Speaking of villains we can't do a review without covering that as "Rogue One" is simply brimming with top tier villainy. The main bad is Director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), Imperial Science officer and man in charge of the Death Star's development and construction. Mendelsohn is excellent as he gives the character a kind of slimy ambitious yet charismatic charm that if you were on his side you could totally see yourself being on his side. His ability to manipulate people or situations, whether through pure charm and intelligence or more dubious blackmail and coercion we receive a portrait of a man who we can see would advance through the ranks of the Empire as we know it with relative ease. As villainous, talented and ambitious as he is however the fact that he's the THIRD most evil villain is what truly makes this movie special. Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) is back in a much hyped return and let me tell you it was not over hyped. Any menace or intimidation Vader may have lost with the prequels or even the end of "Return of the Jedi" is brought back and then some in this appearance. We see exactly the reason Vader is the most feared man in the galaxy. His mere presence is enough to intimidate anyone without even saying a word and when pushed into action we're reminded about just how much of a bad ass he truly is. This return to form is one of the best surprises as Vader is once again a villain worth being afraid of.....but he's still only the SECOND biggest bad in the film. No our big bad is actually the return, quite literally really, of Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing). Yes you read that right as Peter Cushing is brought back from the dead through the use of digital effects and steals every scene he is in. This is a man who can actually talk to Vader as an equal without fear and if you can do that, without the possession of any physical power to speak of, you know we're dealing with a special kind of villain. Through a mix of unused footage, audio tracks and digital recreation we see a man brought back from the dead and even though we know its not real we still believe every bit of it. The coldness and matter of factness of his entire aura is 100% recreated here, bringing to life once again one of the series most iconic bad guys, If this is the future of digital technology I'd be very nervous if I was an actor right now because the tech is incredible!

   Another highlight of "Rogue One" is the action. No lightsabers or force magic to be found here folks. Instead what you get is a movie that feels more "Full Metal Jacket" or "We Were Soldiers" when it gets to battle then a "Star Wars" movie. Our camera angles on the ground are down with the troops, we feel their almost panic as they're pinned down behind a sand dune with blaster bolts landing all around them. We see huge walkers towering overhead and bearing down on us as the rebels desperately try to retreat and regroup. The use of actual military tactics is a must as they can't simply rely on a Jedi to come save them and therefore we the audience can feel the immediacy and almost desperation that the troops feel during these battles. This feeling of being outnumbered and almost hopeless is ever present, especially in the movie's third act and adds a grittiness that the series has avoided until now but still feels right at home. At the same time we're also treated to one of the best space battles in movie history as the action flows from space to the air to the ground and back again with such grace and fluidity that you'll be on the edge of your seat the whole time. This isn't the mindless space battles of the prequels either but much more in the vein of the original trilogy but with an extra layer of violence that simply wasn't possible in the '70's. That and the use of unused footage from Episode IV (it makes sense) just makes this movie feel......right. There's no other way to put it really. Everything about this movie just feels right. 

   All of this writing and I haven't even gotten to all the cameos and fan service that is all throughout this movie.......and i still wont now. Suffice it to say there are a HUGE amount of them and all of which will bring a huge smile to your face if you're an avid "Star Wars" fan. Its just incredible with today's technology what filmmakers are able to do in terms of effects. Not to mention looking forward that there is now a whole generation of filmmakers who may have their own idea for a "Star Wars" story and now that its been proven that you can make these kind of concepts work i can't wait to see what some of these talents may have in store! In short of you are a fan of "Star Wars" this movie is a must see but if you're just a fan of movies in general "Rogue One" also will be able to capture your imagination and take you along for the ride. Check this movie out as soon as you can.

**10/10 Stars**

I am one with the Force, The Force is with me

"Resident Evil 4 HD" Game Review

   They say that you can't go home again, that you can never recreate a certain time and place and any attempts just tarnish the original experience. Well that seems to be the case for "Resident Evil 4 HD", a once great game that the past 11 years haven't been kind too.

   So why don't we start with the good news, the story still holds up. For those who have been living under a rock it follows "Resident Evil 2" co-protagonist Leon Kennedy. Leon now a special government agent and is tasked with finding and bringing home the missing daughter of the President, seems they'd send a few more people then just one for a job like this but no matter. Anyway the Umbrella Corporation is no more, turning a whole city into zombies and then blowing it up tends to have a negative stock and legal consequences. Instead Leon runs into a cult names "Los Illuminados" whose members are infected with the "La Plagas" parasite. Sure its a form of zombie but one that is far quicker, smarter and more aggressive then before. From there it goes off onto the usual "Resident Evil" conspiracy path but still holds itself together. I don't want to give away any plot spoilers for those who are new but there are many twists and turns to be had before the end, including a few old faces returning. There are the ridiculous elements to be sure, the trench coated vendor being the most obvious example, and the story does go crazy at times but that's always been apart of this series and i dare say some of its charm.

   Other bright spots include the environments, enemies and level design. Sure they're not the open world variety we're used to now but the game does a good job mixing it up between large, multi-tiered areas more compact and claustrophobic ones. You're also kept on your toes by QTE events that pop up from time to time. This series has always done a good job in changing up enemy types as you go and ramping up their difficulty as you progress and "Resident Evil 4" is no different. By the end you'll have fought quite the rogues gallery of enemies and that's always a good thing for a game. Not to mention you'll have felt like you've been on a journey as all the acts are different from one another, saving you from the sense of boredom that might set in. Sure there's some backtracking involved, this is a "Resident Evil" game after all, but this game is definitely geared more towards combat then exploration. It was a big change at the time to put the emphasis more on action then survival. looking back it was the wrong way to go for the franchise but in this case it works like a charm. 

   So what exactly is the problem with the game then? Well pretty much it all has to do with it being basically a port of a very good 2005 game that only the graphics were touched up on. It seems to me that if you're going to do a remaster that you have to do more then just a minor upgrade to the graphics. This series has already done an amazing job with the original "Resident Evil" remake by updating graphics, game play/control scheme and even adding entire areas to the classic mansion to make a more modern game that fans and newcomers could both enjoy. What we have here is none of that finesse. The environments, while varied, often feel empty and somewhat soulless. There's no real secrets to find as the whole game is fairly linear so you'd imagine the areas would be densely packed with stuff. That's not the case however as most places have a few crates or baskets to destroy but that's about it. That made sense with the limited power of the Gamecube but here in 2016 on modern consoles its very noticeable. The graphics too will leave you expecting much, much more. For an HD remake everything looks very muted and even gross at times. Textures look fuzzy and pixeleated even from a distance and the closer you get the worse it becomes. Everything also has a "blocky" problem as many of the character and weapon models seem to have sharper edges and corners then one would not expect to see nowadays, especially when looking at the hands and feet. This is an old problem developers were dealing with for a long time but seemed to have worked passed, which is why seeing it here was so glaring to see it now. I'm not saying rebuild the code from scratch but if you're offering an HD upgrade things have to look better then they do here. In fact no parts of this game jump really scream HD at all. I found myself more feeling like i was simply playing the Gamecube version on a new console, not at all what i was looking for.

   All that could have been forgiven though until we get to the biggest issue with this game, the controls. Yup they pretty much took the exact control scheme from the original and left it on here without and updates or options to change it and said "good luck". Maybe I'm just bad at games all of a sudden but i could not re-wrap my brain around the old tank controls. Even the aiming system i remember so fondly back when i first played this at first release was serviceable but barely. The not being able to move while aiming may have added tension a decade ago but now it just adds frustration. Its basically just find a spot with as much distance as you can and aim for legs and heads til they get close and you have to move again. That and the fact you can't look around with the camera as its stuck just your front POV is also unforgivable in the modern gaming times. Again these are mechanics i didn't mind 11 years ago but now they sucked me right out of the game. Games like "Dead Space" used similar mechanics but they also adapted as time goes on. Maybe a new control scheme would have slightly broken the game and made it easier but frankly that would have been preferable to the mess it was to play now. I don't know how many times i died simply because the controls either seemed so obtuse or i had to actively remember in the moment how to do something, neither of which are feelings or thoughts you want to have for a game, especially an action one.

   What a disappointment this game was. I remember playing the original on my Gamecube and imagining how if this was the future of gaming i was all in on it. However after playing this one i look back at my old self and wonder what the hell was i thinking? I suppose for the story if you haven't played "Resident Evil 4" give this one a try but if you have and are looking for a nostalgia trip just leave this one alone and stick to your memories.

**4/10 Stars**

Leave the past in the past