Tammy Review

This movie made more money in a single day than
The Immigrant has made in a month-and-a-half. We have failed
people. We have become monsters.

Let's get this out of the way; Tammy isn't a good movie. In fact, I'll even be bold and say it's a bad one. It's not abysmally, soul-crushingly awful like God's Not Dead or Transformers: Jesus Christ, That Movie Refused To End, but yes, Tammy is bad. And it's poor quality is only emphasized by the ambition that project contains. Ya see, the movie is really more of a drama than anything else, with numerous moments that are supposed to be devastating in terms of emotional impact. And considering Melissa McCarthy was one of three writers on the project, I gotta give her props for attempting to expand the range of movies she appears in.

Happy 4th Of July Nerds!!

Yes, it's that terrific holiday where we celebrate this great country of ours by, in my case, eating tons of food,  dealing with a headache and watching Jeff Goldblum blow up aliens! Obviously, that means no other content besides this post will go up today (no The List!! this week, but it'll return next Friday!) But a review of Tammy will go up tomorrow, and regular daily content will return on Monday! Feel free to browse the many reviews on this site over the weekend, as well as all the other wonderful weekly columns I write every weekday.

Have an amazing Independence Day guys and gals!! MURICA!!!!

Box Office Predictions: Transformers Will Reign Over McCarthy, Aliens and Demons

In Box Office Predictions, I take a look at the forthcoming weekend and see how new releases and holdovers will fare.

We've got quite a meager bunch of movies for this particular 4th of July weekend. But even meager offerings deserve some predictions (even if I'm cheating a bit this time around since all the new releases have been out for a day already), so let's get to it!

I Wanna See That!: Where The Wild Things Are

In this Thursday fixture, I Wanna See That!, I take a look at specific trailers that are both well crafted and have some kind of importance to them beyond just informing you a film is coming soon. This week, I start a Wild Rumpus over the trailer for Where The Wild Things Are.

DC Double Dose! First Photo Of Superman From New Movie, Plus Adam West Batman Coming To Blu-Ray!!

I believe this is half of the cast for Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice

DC Comics has been in news overdrive this past few weeks, whether its been announcing the official title for the new Batman vs. Superman film, or unofficially announcing whose playing Aquaman. Two big things have dropped onto the internet today, one directly related to the expanding DC Cinematic Universe started by Man of Steel, the other dealing with the first ever home video release of Adam Wests Batman show!

Classic Write-Up: No Country For Old Men Review

You're Not Ready For What's Coming

This review contains Spoilers

Texas is a state that seems to be constantly at war with itself. There are cities of course, hustling and bustling metropolises overflowing with activity. Yet, the state is so big that there's a wider array of terrain than just cities. Sometimes there's old-timey towns that seem to have been sent from the year 1957. Others are emtpy vistas of sand and rubble. Where I live in Texas is predominantly business driven, with a Wal-Mart or such stores around every corner. But the ideals of the folks certainly do seem old-fashioned at times, which makes for a fascinating paradox. And really, what better state to set a tale like No Country For Old Men depicting universal thoughts of humanity than in a state that is a relentless quandary?

Franchise Frenzy: Transformers

SOOOOOOO AWESOME!!!!

Robots in disguise, waging their war against the evil forces of the Deceptions....ah, what a theme song! For many 80's kids, along with this Transformers nut, that tune is one that brings up memories of a fun show with likable characters and....Dinobots!!!  I got into it older than most (13, when it was finally released on DVD in preparation of Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen), but while I feel things post-Season One can be iffy, the show at its best puts these movies to shame. They embraced material with absurdity where the films attempted to convert it into overly serious gibbly-gock. Where the shows laughs derived from cheesiness and character interactions (Megatron and Starscream were always a hoot!), these found "laughs" in racism.

Even if now far superior cartoon existed, the Transformers franchise would be a never ending series of disappointments.....except for that first film.

From The Interwebs: Film Critic Hulk Takes A Look At Michael Bay

The glasses really make this picture for me, as well his hands

I don't wanna use the phrase "Great minds think alike" here, since I don't wanna imply that my mind is in even the same realm of greatness as the masterful film lover Film Critic Hulk. So lemme just say that Film Critic Hulk (whose Twitter feed is as glorious as the critic himself) also took a look at the filmmaker Michael Bay, and wow, is it great. Check it out immediately.

If you haven't yet, also take a gander at my essay on my long, emotional turmoil-filled experiences with Michael Bay, as well as my Box Office Analysis on why the Transformers franchise has lasted so long. And of course, I have a massive review of Transformers: Age of Extinction for your pleasure. And finally, come back tomorrow for when Franchise Frenzy returns (my bi-weekly column looking at various notable film franchises) to conclude all this Transformers coverage by looking at all four movies and answering the immortal question, where'd it all go wrong for the robots in disguise when it comes to 21st Century filmmaking?

Editorial: You Got A Bay....Or Nah?

So, Michael Bay did it again. Another big hit for the filmmaker, another movie torn to shreds by critics. One of those critics happen to be yours truly, who would easily consider Transformers: Age of Extinction one of the worst movies, not just of the year (it's by far the worst, juuuuuust edging out God's Not Dead) but of all-time. It's an incoherent mess that can't even use robotic dinosaurs in a fun manner, let alone give us a screenplay that works on any level.

So, I Was On Netflix: Reservoir Dogs Review

This is quite a monumental review for me, for you see, this is the very first Quentin Tarantino movie I've ever seen. And when one is going to start watching one of the most iconic directors of all-times work, why not start at the very beginning? In this case, that is indeed a very good place to start, as this movie not only shows why the director is so beloved, but is also just a damn fine piece of cinema on its own merits. Gripping, terrifying, unflinching, shocking, astounding; those are the words that come to mind when considering this movie like no other.

Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader Are Siblings In Crisis In Skeleton Twins Trailer

Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig are two very talented people that share three things in common. 1) They were both on SNL. 2) I absolutely adore both of them. 3) They have had really unique careers in the world of film. Normal SNL vets leave the show, and either become big comedic stars or don't. While exceptions to that rule exist, Wiig and Hader are the most notable (and arguably most talented) example that those exceptions exist.

Box Office Analysis: Can Some Franchises Go On Forever?

The Dinosaurs are barely in the movie. There. Just saved you from
seeing this garbage.

I've got a lot to talk about when it comes to Transformers this week; I've got a Franchise Frenzy entry on all four movies, and I've got an Editorial brewing for tomorrow about the movies defenders. But for now, let's talk about the biggest opener of 2014 (I know, I know, I'm terrified too), and look at if some franchises really can go on for eternity.

Classic Write-Up: Hot Fuzz Review

At this point, my respect and admiration for Edgar Wright is far beyond most artists in the entire world, let alone just ones in the film industry. The man, along with frequent collaborators Joe Cornish and Simon Pegg, has this ability for being able to incorporate hefty subject matter like growing up and letting go of the past into stories that are full of laughs and excitement. I've seen most of the directors works, but one major work of his that I somehow hadn't seen was Hot Fuzz. Now that that's changed, I can honestly say I regret not seeing such an utterly exquisite movie earlier than I did.

The List!!!: Five Notable Fourth Movies

                                     
In The List!!!, I do a list that just reeks of being click-bait, analyzing a particular topic or subject that pertains to something major occurring in pop-culture. This week, in honor of a fourth Transformers movie being unleashed onto the world, I take a look at other notable movies that were the fourth entries in their respective franchises. Just a heads up; to be in this particular list, you have to be the fourth movie released in a franchise, not fourth chronologically. 

Transformers: Age of Extinction Review

You Know, We Have A Saying On My Planet As Well....I Don't Care

WARNING: THIS REVIEW IS CHOCK FULL OF SPOILERS. I NORMALLY DON'T DO THAT WITH MY REVIEWS, BUT GOOD GOD I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS MOVIE AS OPENLY AS POSSIBLE

There are movies that are just powerful in ways we can't explain. The very nature of film criticism is to boil down the beauty of movies to the format of words, but sometimes, the images put on the silver screen just cannot be given justice through the medium of writing. That being said, I shall try my hardest to convey how much of a painful endurance test Transformers: Age of Extinction truly is.

PACIFIC RIM 2 IS HAPPENING OH YES YES OH YES YES OH YES

Just to let you guys know...Pacific Rim 2 has been set for April 7, 2017!!! All the Kaiju and Jaegars will be back to take part if deliriously well made Guillermo Del Toro mayhem!! Guillermo Del Toro told Buzzfeed this about the awesome sounding film:

"The characters I love will return, Raleigh, Mako, Newt, Gottlieb and who knows, maybe even Hannibal Chau – but we are taking them into a fresh territory that will display amazing sights and battles. The first film set the stage and now we’re ready to have a blast."

Box Office Predictions: Transformers 4 Will Be Massive...But How Massive?

In Box Office Predictions, I take a look at the forthcoming weekend and see how new releases and holdovers will fare.

Unless the Frankie Valli fanboys come out in droves this weekend, the Autobots will wage their war against the Decepticons to humongous numbers. The primary question of course is how big this movie can possibly be.

I Wanna See That!: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

In this Thursday fixture, I Wanna See That!, I take a look at specific trailers that are both well crafted and have some kind of importance to them beyond just informing you a film is coming soon. This week, I take a look at the trailer for one the great film Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, and it's not so great trailer. 

New Jungle Book Movie Adds Ben Kingsley To Awesome Cast!

Ben Kingsley?Trevor Slattery 

I absolutely love Disney (which, interestingly enough, was my first word spoken as a human being!), but I'm especially fond of their work on the animated side of things. Out of all 53 animated features Walt Disney Animation Studios has made though, my all-time favorite may be The Jungle Book, a superbly crafted masterpiece that just has no shortage of energy, fun and engrossing characters. That classic film is the next Disney animated film in line to be given the live-action/CGI treatment that was bestowed upon Alice In Wonderland and Maleficent. A remake of this movie should make my blood boil, but with the talent already lined up for it (and plenty more to come!) the project so far sounds delightful.

Country Music Spotlight: Eric Church

The first singles of Eric Church's career made him stood out from the crowd from the get-go. Him and (especially) Brantley Gilbert have an iron grip over the image of a biker country boy, one adorn with scruffy jeans, baseball hats and perhaps a touch of remorse in his soul. That image was reinforced by his tunes that introduced him to the country music crowd, one of which was titled Two Pink Lines, which dealt with two folks, after spending the night together, awaiting the results of a pregnancy test.  Not exactly the stuff Junior Brown would croon about, but then again, for Eric Church, the norm was just another barrier to burst. But he wouldn't burst through one particular barrier, that of incredible success, until his third album, Chef.