Power Rangers (2017) --- "5 Teens Receive Extra Terrestrial Powers And Ride Giant Animal Robots."

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Plot Summary

High school outcasts stumble upon an old alien ship, where they acquire superpowers and are dubbed the Power Rangers. Learning that an old enemy of the previous generation has returned to exact vengeance, the group must harness their powers and use them to work together and save the world. (1)

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     When I first heard about the Power Rangers being brought back as a film franchise I was pretty excited because – although I was a bit late being introduced as a fan when they first came out – Power Rangers is one of my all-time childhood favorites. With a large number of superhero movies coming out (Thor 3, Spider-man, Justice League, Wonder Woman, etc) it is quite obvious that Power Rangers is a diamond in the rough that has potential but still needs more training.

     It is wonderful to see that Haim Saban and his production crew took great care of staying as true to the original Mighty Morphin storyline as possible. The original concept of a group of overachieving teenagers being selected to become the best of the best makes sense. However, since going dark with classic childhood movies is a trend these days, the Power Rangers needed to have a bit of an edge to them, which is why this new team is made of "diamonds in the rough", ones that society has labeled as screw-ups. I also enjoyed that the Blue Ranger was played by a black dude and The Black Ranger was played by an Asian dude (which is a little less distracting than what happens in the TV show). Also, the new suits are awesome, although the fighting it still a bit corny but that’s a quirk of the franchise. Bryan Cranston is a great Zordon with Bill Hader as his funny echo, Alpha 5. Elizabeth Banks is quite evil as Rita Repulsa and since recent superhero movies have had a weak antagonist, I enjoyed what Banks did with the character and loved to see her on the screen. Also director Dean Israelite (Project Almanac) was the perfect choice for this movie, especially since creating a movie that is centered teens can be tricky but Israelite really seems to have a handle of things.

F&F 3: Tokyo Drift (2006) --- "An Alabama Teen With A Heavy Southern Accent Stands Out Among Tokyo's Drifting Elite."

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Plot Summary

Sean Boswell, an Alabama teenager with a record for street racing, moves to his father's resident city of Tokyo, Japan to avoid a prison sentence in America. Boswell quickly falls in love with the world of drift racing in Tokyo's underground and a Japanese girl named Neela. However, Boswell's presence and growing talent for drifting unsettle the Japanese Mafia, which makes thousands of dollars from the sport. Confrontations arise, and Sean is faced with a simple decision: drift or die.(1)

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     The Fast and the Furious franchise has opened a door to a whole new way of making car movies. Tokyo Drift is a great movie, even without featuring any of the original cast members and it's better than the second installment, (2 Fast 2 Furious) with well-developed characters throughout the movie. Although at times, it seems that the movie goes a bit too fast or moments happen a little too early, Tokyo Drift has one of the best point of views out of the first three films. Out of the three films, I would have to say the Tokyo Drift is my favorite so far.

F&F 2: 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) --- "An Ex-Cop Helps An Attractive Agent Bring Down A Miami Drug Lord."

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EX-LAPD cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) teams up with his ex-con friend Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) and works with undercover U.S. Customs Service agent Monica Fuentes (Eva Mendes) to bring Miami-based drug lord Carter Verone (Cole Hauser) down. (1)

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     The first installment, The Fast and the Furious (2001), became an instant hit with fans due to the intense racing scenes and the great chemistry between Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. And like with most franchises the sequel, 2 Fast 2 Furious was released two years later but it is difficult to say whether or not it pleased fans as much as the first film. In 2 Fast 2 Furious it is nice that the writers kept the connection together by having the characters reference material from the first film which demonstrated the loyalty of continuing the story without diverting completely from the first film. There is one aspect that, questionably, carried over from the first film; the concept of getting caught having a love interest in the business.

F&F 1: Fast and the Furious (2001) --- "An Undercover FBI Agent Falls In Love With The Wrong Side Of The Road."

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LA street racer Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) falls under the suspicion of the LAPD for a string of high-speed electronics truck robberies. Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker) an officer of the LAPD, joins the ranks of Toretto's highly skilled racing crew undercover to convict Toretto. However, O'Connor finds himself both enamored with this new world and in love with Toretto's sister, Mia (Jordana Brewster) As a rival racing crew gains strength, O'Connor must decide where his loyalties lie. (1)

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     Fast and the Furious has by far the best car racing scenes ever filmed, as well as the best cars and these can guys certainly drive them. It does not contain any of the intrigues similar to Mission Impossible; it does not dazzle us with special effects of impending doom like Armageddon nor is it another Gone in Sixty Seconds where all they did was steal cars. Here we have a great story that takes us into the world where people live life "a quarter of a mile at a time" without needing all the frou-frou aforementioned. And while there were not as many race scenes as you would expect, almost every shot is filled with cars and lots of them.

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003) --- "A Prodigal Son Helps A Hobbit Destroy A Ring And Becomes A King Because Of It."

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Plot Summary

The Fellowship divides to conquer as Frodo and Sam, with the help and hindrance of Gollum, continue their way to Mount Doom. Gandalf and Pippin ride to Minas Tirith to help defend Gondor while Merry remains with Eowyn and the other Rohan fighters. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli seek aid from those that live in the Cursed Mountains. All these battles have one goal in mind: distract the Eye of Sauron and buy Frodo a little more time to destroy the ring.

The War of the Ring reaches its climax as the dark lord Sauron sets his sights on Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor. The members of the fellowship in Rohan are warned of the impending attack when Pippin cannot resist looking into Saruman’s Palantir and is briefly contacted by the dark lord. King Theoden is too proud to send his men to help without being asked, so Gandalf and Pippin ride to Minas Tirith to see that this request is sent. They meet opposition there from Denethor, steward of the city and father of Faramir and the late Boromir. Denethor’s family has acted as temporary guardians of Gondor for centuries until a member of the true line of kings returns. This member is none other than Aragorn, who must overcome his own self-doubt before he can take on the role he was destined to fulfill. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam continue to carry the One Ring towards Mordor, guided by Gollum. What they don’t know is that Gollum is leading them into a trap so that he can reclaim the Ring for himself. Though Sam suspects his deceit, Frodo is starting to be corrupted by the Ring’s power and the mistrust of Sam this causes is fully exploited by Gollum. The only way good can prevail in this contest is if the Ring is destroyed, an event that is becoming harder every minute for Frodo to achieve. The fate of every living creature in Middle Earth will be decided once and for all as the Quest of the Ringbearer reaches its climax.(1)

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     If I thought “Two Towers” was the best movie of the trilogy, then I was wrong. Peter Jackson has done it, he has officially created an all-encompassing epic saga. And after coming away from the final chapter I can not only rate this movie as a film on its own but as part of a whole, and it is a perfect masterpiece.

      Rather than this film starting off where Two Towers left, in contrast, the film starts a great distance from the walls of Helm's Deep. It opens with a flashback of Smeagol (Andy Serkis) and the origin of his deterioration into the creature Gollum. This opening recaptures an importance that was somewhat lost in the epic battles of Two Towers, the ring. The Fellowship of the Ring provided heaps of exposition on the ring's importance and influence and in Return of the King we see it pay off big time.

Beauty and the Beast (2017) --- "A Beauty Discovers An Enchanted Castle, Meets Talking Dinnerware, And Falls In Love With A Beast. Is That Even Humane?"

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Plot Summary

 Disney's animated classic takes on a new form, with a widened mythology and an all-star cast. A young spoiled prince (Dan Stevens) is imprisoned in the form of a beast and can only be freed by true love. As time goes by all hope seems lost of ever breaking the curse until one day he meets the beautiful and independent Belle (Emma Watson), who has left her provincial town in search of her missing father (Kevin Kline). While Belle stays at the castle and spends more time with the Beast, she learns that true beauty is found within. 

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     I had some mixed feelings before seeing the movie and that was due to two categories, casting and music; and both linked for similar reasons. At first, I did not approve of casting choices of Emma Watson as Belle (I did not like how Emma Watson’s voice sounded very auto-tuned) and Dan Stevens as the Beast; I and a few friends agree that Emmy Rossum and Sam Heughan should have been the main characters.

(Courtesy of friend, Kayla Wentworth)

     Since comparisons between this version and the 1991 animated version are inevitable; with a certain degree of personal opinion and childhood memories coming into play. Disney has achieved its goal of making timeless childhood animation movies that will last a lifetime thanks to The Little Mermaid (1989), The Lion King (1994), and Beauty and the Beast (1991). Now after 25 years Disney is looking to re-create the magic with Live Action versions; such as Maleficent (2014), Cinderella (2015), and The Jungle Book (2016). And now it is Director Bill Condon's turn of balancing live action, CGI and music for Beauty and the Beast. And when I saw this version of a childhood classic I was blown away by the movie, it had a balanced mix of old and new ideas.

     Luke Evans’ portrayal as a wonderfully pompous and villainous Gaston was superb. Josh Gad’s portrayal of the humorous and loyal sidekick LeFou was spot on and while his character is the center of widespread controversy, those moments of controversy were quick and subtle; I almost missed them when they happened. The castle staff includes Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Ian McKellan as Cogsworth, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Audra McDonald as Madame Garderobe, Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette; each actor brings their own touch to the roles, while still remaining true to the 1991 animated version. And although I was skeptical at first, I can safely say that while Emma Watson is not my first, she has surprisingly proven to be a nice choice for Belle. Emma has what it takes to be both nice and tough, while still being an oddball within her own community. She brings strength, independence, and courage to the role; and these traits are on full display even before her first encounter with the Beast played by Dan Stevens(Downton Abbey). Stevens is the

Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (2002) --- "9 Fellows Continue Their Journey And Discover Two Towers Along The Way."

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Plot Summary

The Fellowship is broken, Boromir is dead, and Frodo and Sam set out to Mordor to finish their quest, while Aragon, Legolas, and Gimli set out to save Rohan – a human kingdom lying in the path of an oncoming war – as well as rescue Merry and Pippen – who have been taken captive by the Uruk-hai.

The two towers between Mordor and Isengard have united, Saruman and Gríma Wormtongue have created a new race of evil – Uruk-hai – and the Ringwraiths have returned in an even more frightening form. Is all hope is lost for the resistance? Will Frodo and Sam survive the journey to Mordor? Will Aragon, Legolas, and Gimli find Merry and Pippen, and get to Rohan in time? Will Rohan survive? (1The two towers between Mordor and Isengard have united, Saruman and Gríma Wormtongue have created a new race of evil – Uruk-hai – and the Ringwraiths have returned in an even more frightening form. Is all hope is lost for the resistance? Will Frodo and Sam survive the journey to Mordor? Will Aragon, Legolas, and Gimli find Merry and Pippen, and get to Rohan in time? Will Rohan survive? (1)

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     The Lord of the Rings is one of the bravest projects ever attempted by a filmmaker, and Peter Jackson deserves every ovation he will receive, every award, every bit of the praise and adoration that will be spoken and written. Peter Jackson truly outdid himself when creating the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and he fails to disappoint us in the 2nd part of the Trilogy. The Two Towers shows us that he is not a one-hit wonder like so many directors are. I actually think that The Two Towers reaches the same level as the Fellowship of the Ring, and sometimes even surpasses it.

     The best part of the film is

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) --- "9 Fellows On A Journey To Destroy A Ring."

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In a world called Middle Earth, where they have elves, dwarves, men, hobbits, orcs, goblins, and more. A sorcerer called Sauron crafted an ancient Ring, called the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule over all of Middle Earth. But it was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-Earth but it remained lost for many ages. That is until it was found by one of the most unlikely characters, a Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. On his 111^th birthday, Bilbo bequeaths the Ring and a perilous quest to destroy it to his young nephew, Frodo but he does not go alone.

He is joined by Gandalf the Grey a wizard, Legolas the Elf, Gimli the Dwarf, Aragorn the Ranger, Boromir steward of Gondor, and his three Hobbit friends: Merry, Pippin, and Samwise. Their quest: destroy the One Ring and end the Dark Lord Sauron’s reign forever. Through mountains and forests, rivers and plains, the Fellowship faces evil and danger at every turn. (1)

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It is official, Star Wars has been dethroned. Although George Lucas' movies are good in their own right, his scripts (which borrow heavily from J.R.R.Tolkien, mythology, and religion) can't compare with the brilliance of the literary trilogy `The Lord of the Rings'. Now granted, Lucas took on an extraordinary task when he became both the writer and director of the story. However, the combination of Tolkien’s words, and Director Peter Jackson’s faithful adaptation and inspired vision, has created something no man could measure up to. In just 3 hours, Peter Jackson has crammed everything essential from the first novel and some of his own creativity into the film by rewriting some scenes and dialogue with lesser characters for the leads, and leaving out only what there wasn't enough time for. In the end,

Kong: Skull Island (2017) --- "Vietnam Soldiers Travel To A Mysterious Island And Discover A Giant Ape."

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Plot Summary 

A diverse team of scientists, soldiers, and adventurers unite to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific, as dangerous as it is beautiful. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden in which humanity does not belong. (1)

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     Kong: Skull Island is a greatly entertaining monster movie that was well-directed, well-written and well-acted, a film full of ideas from start to finish. Its action set- pieces are utterly impressive, the CGI is fantastic, and the story is genuinely interesting throughout; something that I did not expect going in.

     This is by far the greatest achievement in film for a Kong centered movie. The biggest issue

Collide (2017) --- "Guy Drives Drugs Across Europe In Order To Pay For Girlfriend's Medical Bills."

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To pay for his girlfriend's (Jones) medical emergency while abroad, Casey (Hoult) schemes to pull a drug heist for an eccentric gangster (Kingsley). After a failed attempt, he embarks across Europe on an action-packed chase in a race against time to save his girlfriend's life from being taken by an evil drug lord (Hopkins). (1)

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     Although this movie does not have much deep meaning, a complex plot or redeeming value, it was very surprisingly enjoyable. The reason I say this is because Collide is more of an indie movie, rather than a big Hollywood film like Star Trek or Fast and the Furious.

     The main characters, Casey (Nicholas Hoult) and Juliet (Felicity Jones) were more down to earth which portrayed a kind of innocence and believability that most people with they’re past can relate to. They’re acting and chemistry was excellent, sustaining the movie until the end. Although it could be easily assumed that Casey and Juliet were “backpacker”, I can safely say that they are not but rather two ex- pats living and working in Germany. It appears to be common in most movies such as this one, to refer to anyone between the ages of 20-30 as “backpackers.”

     The bad guys, Geran (Ben Kingsly) and Hagen Kahl (Anthony Hopkins) deserve kudos for portraying the rivaling quirky drug lords in a low-key manner. While Kingsley’s character was crazy and easier to talk to, Hopkins’ character was more mysterious and deadlier, but each similarly carried a sense of unpredictability. Antagonist’s such as these are often the most difficult characters to pull off, and this is mostly due to them being overly done. The secondary bad guys, the minions, were relentless in the chase keeping the tension level high throughout the entire movie.

Divergent: Allegiant (2016) --- "Girl Discovers A World Beyond Her City But Is It As Good As The Book?"

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After the earth-shattering revelations of Insurgent, Tris, must escape with Four and go beyond the wall enclosing Chicago. For the first time ever, they will leave the only city and family they have ever known. Once outside, old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless with the revelation of shocking new truths. Tris and Four must quickly decide who they can trust as a ruthless battle ignites beyond the walls of Chicago which threatens all of humanity. In order to survive, Tris will be forced to make impossible choices courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love. (1)

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     Shailene Woodley is a good actress, not necessarily one of my favorite actresses but I am glad to see her pursuing other roles and she is someone to watch. While continually seen as a Hunger Games wannabe, Divergent is both a good story and a well-acted film with good visual effects

     As of now, Allegiant is the worst of the Divergent series to date and unfortunately the

Logan (2017) --- "Wolverine Gets Old And Dies? Find Out How He Comes To A Worthy End."

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In 2029 the mutant population has shrunk significantly and the X-Men have been disbanded. Logan, whose power to self-heal is dwindling, has surrendered himself to alcohol and taking care of the ailing old Professor X, whom he keeps hidden away. However Logan's attempts to buy a boat, and hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces. A decrepit Logan is forced to ask himself if he can or even wants to put his remaining powers to good use. It would appear that in the near-future, the times in which they were able put the world to rights with razor sharp claws and telepathic powers are now over. (1)

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     Logan is a film. A FILM, not a superhero movie, one that I consider being a privilege to have seen and when you see the film you will understand. Ever since X-Men Origins: Wolverine came out, a movie I am not proud of as a fan, I have yearned for a good and honest to God Wolverine movie. Well, ladies and gentlemen; I can safely say that that movie is now a reality.

     Be warned you will see

Divergent: Insurgent (2015) --- "Did You See What Happened In Divergent? What Happens Next?"

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INSURGENT raises the stakes for Tris as she searches for allies and answers in the ruins of a futuristic Chicago. Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) are now fugitives on the run, hunted by Jeanine (Kate Winslet), the leader of the power-hungry Erudite elite. Racing against time, they must find out what Tris's family sacrificed their lives to protect, and why the Erudite leaders will do anything to stop them. Haunted by her past choices but desperate to protect the ones she loves, Tris, with Four at her side, faces one impossible challenge after another as they unlock the truth about the past and ultimately the future of their world. (1)

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Insurgent is most fittingly the sequel to Divergent. Like with any sequel there is always going to be similarities and Insurgent stands on its own. In my personal opinion, Insurgent has separated itself from The Hunger Games franchise just a little bit more. Some viewers may say that Insurgent is similar to Mockingjay Part 1 and you can say that that is true, but it is still different in its own right.

Allied (2017) --- "Guy Discovers His Wife Is Leading A Double Life. What Does He Do?"

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In 1942, a Canadian intelligence officer, Max Vatan, in North Africa encounters a female French Resistance fighter, Marianne Beauséjour, on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. When they reunite in London, their relationship is tested by the pressures of war. In disbelief, with a terrible task in his hands and crushed under a devastating dilemma, Max must find the courage to seek for answers in the perilous streets of bombarded London, regardless of the outcome. In the end, amid duty and love, who shall live and who shall die? (1)

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     I was skeptical of the movie at first, especially because I was expecting it to be a cross between Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Gone Girl, leading more towards Gone Girl. Now, this film certainly does have great action and special effects but it goes beyond that. The actions scenes, when they do happen, are well choreographed and fun to watch, brutal but not overbearing. Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt are both convincing, proving to the audience that they are well- trained spies who don't hesitate to kill as well demonstrating great chemistry together, similarly to Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

     Something I found very interesting about this movie is that while it's not primarily a war film, it did provide a very interesting look at what life was like for people. This was during a time when people partied like the world was ending and also a time when people sometimes watched planes get shot out of the sky. It is a truly intriguing and personal way of portraying the war, and the effect is had on people living through it.

The Great Wall (2017) --- "Guy Discovers A Giant Wall That Protects The World From Alien Monsters. How He Helps Out Is Exhilarating."

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When a mercenary warrior (Matt Damon) is imprisoned within the Great Wall, he discovers the mystery behind one of the greatest wonders of the world. As wave after wave of marauding beasts besiege the massive structure, his quest for fortune turns into a journey toward heroism as he joins a huge army of elite warriors to confront the unimaginable and seemingly unstoppable force. (1) 

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     From the many reviews that I had read and heard of this movie, it received many negative reviews and most of them said to avoid this movie at all cost. In contrast, I was very glad to find that all those reviews were wrong, and for those who doubt my word. Do not underestimate this movie, it will keep you captivated from beginning to end. As a constant filmgoer, I was really impressed with this film. It was entertaining. The story worked well. The acting was great, the visuals were amazing, the cinematography was breathtaking, and the action was incredible.