Day 265: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows (2016)

One of my favorite childhood memories was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles whether it was the original cartoon series or the original films. With the series back in action, I decided to take the chance and watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows. In the second film of the reboot series, the turtles Leonardo (Pete Ploszek), Michelangelo (Noel Fisher), Donatello (Jeremy Howard), and Raphael (Alan Ritchson) are still living in the shadows because they feel society is not ready for them. With the threat of Shredder (Brian Tee) out on the loose and a giant Rhino and Warthog causing havoc, the duo are forced to come out and try to save New York City from a threat they never thought imaginable from another dimension. The film also stars WWE Superstar Sheamus as Rocksteady, Gary Anthony Williams (The Internship) as Bebop, Megan Fox (Jennifer’s Body) as April O’Neill, Will Arnett (The Lego Movie) as Vernon Fenwick, Stephen Amell (Arrow) as Casey Jones, Tyler Perry (Diary Of A Mad Black Woman) as Baxter Stockman, Tony Shalhoub (Monk) as Splinter, Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) as Krang, Laura Linney (Mystic River) as Chief Vincent, Brittany Ishibashi (Everything Before Us) as Karai, Jane Wu (Captain America: Civil War) as Jade, and the film was directed by Dave Green (Earth To Echo).

I have to admit that I liked this film better than the first one because they kind of got it right with this one. I was super pumped to see Bebop and Rocksteady in the film and they were awesome. They were everything you would expect from them and major props to Sheamus for a job well done in this one. I was also very happy to see Krang and how they made him look in the film. It was a cool nod to the cartoon version of Krang especially with his robotic body. One thing that was a major improvement from the first film to this one was Shredder as he went from Super Shredder in the first film to a bad ass looking Shredder in this one. Although I do have to say that I could of used a little more Shredder than we were given, but that’s OK because we had Bebop and Rocksteady. The movie had plenty of action that keeps you glued to your seat and plenty of comedy especially from my favorite turtle Michelangelo. One of my favorite moments in the film is when the duo is in Brazil and Raphael hits the water and he sees a regular turtle on the shore. I just thought it was a funny moment between the two. I also love the battle scene between Casey Jones and Bebop and Rocksteady. It was a game of wits between the three and we can all imagine who came out on top. This was a step in the right direction for the series and I can only hope that maybe we’ll get one more, but I am not sure. It definitely made more money than what it cost to make so here’s to hoping for a third film. I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

Day 220: Gone Girl (2014)

I am continuing down the long list of films that I haven’t seen that I have always wanted to see or am curious about. The film that I chose for today is definitely one of those must see films for me in 2014’s Gone Girl. Ben Affleck (The Town) plays Nick Dunne, a struggling writer who seems to have it all with the perfect wife and such, but he doesn’t seem to be happy. If he isn’t, it’s because Nick’s wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) has just gone missing. As things start to develop in the case, it looks more and more like Nick is at the center of this case and that he may not be that innocent after all. Nick will have to get it together to prove that he isn’t his wife’s killer and that she may not be dead after all. The film also stars Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) as Desi Collings, Tyler Perry (Alex Cross) as Tanner Bolt, Carrie Coon (The Leftovers) as Margo Dunne, Kim Dickens (Hollow Man) as Det. Rhonda Boney, Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous) as Officer Gilpin, Emily Ratajkowski (We Are Your Friends) as Andie, Missi Pyle (The Artist) as Ellen Abbott, Scoot McNairy (Wonderland) as Tommy, Sela Ward (Sisters) as Sharon Schieber, and the film was directed by David Fincher (The Social Network).

Spoiler Alert: There may be information contained in this Article that could potentially spoil the plot of the film so continue with caution or do not read any further if you do not want to know. The one thing that I will say about this film is that this is one twisted and clever story. I will admit to all of you that I never read the book so I didn’t know what to expect out of it as opposed to those who did read it. I do have to say that Rosamund Pike put on one hell of a performance that just steals the show and makes you scared of the crazy girls. Ben Affleck also put on one heck of a performance that makes you kind of understand why they chose him for the role of Bruce Wayne. I do however want to get back to the story because that is where the gold is for this film. It’s a beautifully constructed story of fatal attraction and how men can be easily framed because of our nature. She creates the perfect plan, she executes it, and almost succeeds, but a monkey wrench is thrown in and she still recovers. It’s the true sign of a manipulative psycho path at her finest in this film. This is definitely one of those perfect crime, drama, mysteries that you watch and wonder if he’ll make it or will they find out that she is alive. If you have not seen Gone Girl then I would definitely stick this one on the list of films to watch. I am going to give Gone Girl an A- for a final grade.