All Good Things

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 17

Nipping at #10's heels:

Chiefs (#16), Bills (#15), Texans (#14)

Cardinals (#13), Eagles (#12), Ravens (#11)

2014 Winter Movie Reviews - December

December 12th

Exodus: Gods and Kings: The defiant leader Moses (Christian Bale) rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton), setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.

Opening Weekend: $24.1 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 28%

Review: It is unclear if there truly is a resurgence occurring in Hollywood of sweeping Biblical epics or if the emergence of Exodus and this year's earlier Noah are merely passing fads of the year. But it is clear that filmmakers do enjoy telling such grand tales of God and men. Exodus takes fewer liberties with the original source material found in the Torah than Noah did (though I still appreciated the effort put into crafting a conflicted Noah character), giving it less of a fairy-tale feel and more of a historical account. Of course, the infliction of the classic plagues upon Egypt are fantastical in nature, but legendary director Ridley Scott (Gladiator) finds ways to depict them as both visually and narratively compelling. Stars Bale (The Fighter) and Edgerton (Warrior) craft engaging, complex characters and Exodus is truly only held back by not focusing on them enough. The visuals are outstanding, though I'd have liked to have seen more of Moses's interactions with the people he leads to understand why they follow him so devotedly. In the end, Exodus boasts impressive imagery and captivating story, making it worthy of a viewing for religious and nonreligious alike.
The Final Word: 3.5/4 - Go buy a ticket.

2014 Fall Movie Reviews - November

November 7th

Big Hero 6: A special bond develops between plus-sized inflatable health-care robot Baymax, and inventor prodigy Hiro Hamada as they team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.

Opening Weekend: $56.2 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Review:
The Final Word: 3.5/4 - Go buy a ticket.

2014 Fall Movie Reviews - September & October

September 19th

The Maze Runner: Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) and Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) are deposited in a community of boys after their memories are erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require them to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape. Also starring Will Poulter and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.

Opening Weekend: $32.5 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 63%

Review: We've had an over-saturation of dystopian young adult adaptations recently and I'm burned out. But I honestly really enjoyed The Maze Runner just as much as, if not more than, the (overrated, imo) Hunger Games films. It's exciting and intriguing, propelled by earnest efforts from its young cast. And what's fascinating is that even though the end sets up a sequel, it's clearly not going to be a carbon copy of this first entry, but something new, and that is truly breaking the current pattern of dystopian young adult adaptations. I'm looking forward to seeing where the Maze Runner franchise leads.
The Final Word: 3.5/4 - Go buy a ticket.

Somewhat Familiar

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 16

Nipping at #10's heels:

Texans (#16), Chiefs (#15), Chargers (#14)

Bills (#13), Bengals (#12), Cardinals (#11)

Every Week is a Playoff Now

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 15

Nipping at #10's heels:

Texans (#16), Bengals (#15), Chiefs (#14)

Dolphins (#13), Steelers (#12), Chargers (#11)

Pack Passes Pats

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 14

Nipping at #10's heels:

Saints (#16), Ravens (#15), Steelers (#14)

Dolphins (#13), 49ers (#12), Bengals (#11)

Thankful for Football

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 13

Nipping at #10's heels:

Chargers (#16), Dolphins (#15), Ravens (#14)

Steelers (#13), Bengals (#12), Chiefs (#11)

A New League Order

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 12

Nipping at #10's heels:

Chargers (#16), Dolphins (#15), Ravens (#14)

Steelers (#13), Bengals (#12), Seahawks (#11)

Entrenched

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 11

Nipping at #10's heels:

Chargers (#16), Bengals (#15), Ravens (#14)

Steelers (#13), Browns (#12), 49ers (#11)

A Wide Open League

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings

2014 Week 10

Nipping at #10's heels:

Chargers (#16), 49ers (#15), Ravens (#14)

Saints (#13), Chiefs (#12), Seahawks (#11)

Superhero Schedule

Unscripted Superhero Preview

2015 (3)

May 1: Avengers: Age of Ultron (Marvel)

July 17: Ant-Man (Marvel)

Aug 7: Fantastic Four (Fox/Marvel)

Uncertainty

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 9

What a tough week to do rankings! Out of the 10 teams in the Top 10 last week, 6 of them lost this past weekend! So who follows the Broncos at #1? That was a tough call. As were really the 8 slots after that! For example, should the Patriots be as high as they are currently? Many might disagree with this week's New England ranking, but when they win so decisively and when every team that was ranked above them loses, what else do you do? Hopefully next week provides more certainty for this confused ranker.

Nipping at #10's heels:

Saints (#16), Chiefs (#15), Steelers (#14)

49ers (#13), Ravens (#12), Bengals (#11)

Well How 'Bout That

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 8

Nipping at #10's heels:

Steelers (#16), Panthers (#15), Chiefs (#14)

49ers (#13), Bengals (#12)

The top teams seem so competitive right now,

I couldn't help but give #11 it's own blurb as well...

Feel A Change Coming On

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings

2014 Week 7

Nipping at #10's heels:

Browns (#16), Bears (#15), Panthers (#14)

Packers (#13), 49ers (#12), Ravens (#11)

Stability

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 6

Nipping at #10's heels:

Bears (#16), Falcons (#15), Panthers (#14)

Patriots (#13), 49ers (#12), Packers (#11)

Clarity

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 5

Nipping at #10's heels:

Patriots (#16), Bears (#15), Cowboys (#14)

Packers (#13), 49ers (#12), Panthers (#11)

What A Week

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 4

Nipping at #10's heels:

Ravens (#16), Lions (#15), Saints (#14)

Colts (#13), 49ers (#12), Packers (#11)

Tough to Tell

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 3

Nipping at #10's heels:

Bills (#16), Falcons (#15), Ravens (#14)

Bears (#13), Cardinals (#12), Saints (#11)

Reality Check

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 2

Nipping at #10's heels:

Ravens (#16), Steelers (#15), Panthers (#14)
Lions (#13), Chargers (#12), Cardinals (#11)

Defenses Start The Season On Top

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 1

Stock up on your Asian Zing and Honey BBQ sauces, Buffalo Wild Wings, because football is back and I'm hungry! My weekly football-watching Sunday meal aside, a number of teams have their own routines to get back to; namely, trying to win football games and a place in my Top 10. Defenses are reigning in the list, which has caused some shuffling from last time, Post-Draft. However, it is offensive play that had me doubting the 49ers, along with previously Top 10 threshold teams like the Panthers, Texans, and Buccaneers. I'm still not giving up on the Texans - my other underdog hope this year with the Falcons - if they don't take too long to figure out Ryan Mallet is their QB of the future. Enough intro talk though, let's get to it; hike!

Nipping at #10's heels:

Lions (#15), Cardinals (#14), Bengals (#13), Ravens (#12), Bears (#11)

What Robin Left Us

I was, as were most people, devastated at the news of the suicide of legendary comedian Robin Williams. He was a singular force of happiness in my childhood and on Wednesday, for the first time, Robin Williams made me cry tears that were not of mirth, but of misery.

There is so much to talk about following his passing, and as an advocate for mental health illnesses and treatment I know how important these conversations will be in changing lives - hopefully for the better - and shaping national dialogue about suicide and mental health. Perhaps I may sometime post my own views on the "choice of suicide," one of the most controversial issues which have arisen in the past week (just Google "Robin Williams," or for more extreme dialogue "Matt Walsh Robin Williams," and you'll get just as many opinions as there are links).

But for today, since this is primarily a movie blog, I thought we might look ahead to the five films Robin completed in 2014 and left for us before his heartbreaking death. As Robin's character in Dead Poet's Society said, quoting Walt Whitman, “What good amid these, O me, O life? Answer: That you are here -That life exists.”

And what is life but stories? My story, your story, the stories of each person, all intertwined and interacting. So let's listen to the last stories told by one of the great storytellers of our time...

Marvel's Balance Between Super and Stale

This is a condensed and somewhat edited version of a more in-depth article by Andrew Wheeler which can be read in full over at ComicsAlliance.com

Guardians Of The Galaxy just enjoyed a very successful week at movie theaters, setting industry records left and right with its box office earnings. The movie also stands at 92% positive reviews on aggregator site RottenTomatoes, joining all previous Marvel Studios movies in receiving predominantly favorable notices.

Marvel Studios is doing very well. In six years and ten movies, it has avoided both critical and commercial disasters, and frustrated naysayers who hailed the demise of the superhero movie at every step. So how does Marvel do it, and can they keep doing it?

2014 Summer Movie Reviews - August

August 1st

Calvary: After he is threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest (Brendan Gleeson) must battle the dark forces closing in around him. Also starring Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, and Dylan Moran.

Opening Weekend: $47,149 (from only 4 theaters)
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Review: Character actor Brendan Gleeson is best known to modern audiences as Maddy-Eye Moody, from the Harry Potter films, but from Braveheart to In Bruges (and so many more fantastic roles before, in-between, and after), few have accomplished as eclectic a career. And few have found themselves in such a profound and engaging film as Gleeson in Calvary. An engrossing exploration into the moral heart of a small Irish town, as seen through the eyes of a seasoned priest, one who has been threatened with murder during a secret confession, the film carries all the emotional weight of the best dramas in recent years. You truly feel a priest's struggle to stand faithfully for good among so much doubt and pointed cynicism. Bolstered by a strong supporting cast, but carried largely by the presence of Gleeson and a sharp, well-written script from writer/director John Michael McDonagh (Ned Kelly), Calvary is an obvious top tier film of the year.
The Final Word: 4/4 - Go buy a ticket, the poster, & the DVD.

2014 Summer Movie Previews - August

August 1st

Cabin Fever: Patient Zero: When a group of friends enjoying a bachelor cruise in the Caribbean stumble upon a research facility on a remote island, a deadly virus is unleashed. The group must find a way to survive before the flesh eating virus consumes them all.

Trailer here.

Calvary: After he is threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest (Brendan Gleeson) must battle the dark forces closing in around him. Also starring Chris O'Dowd.

Trailer here.

Get On Up: A chronicle of James Brown's (Chadwick Boseman) rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history. Also starring Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Nelsan Ellis.

Trailer here.

2014 Summer Movie Reviews - July

The following are reviews of the movies released in July 2014. Enjoy!
*Previews of these movies and all the ones I haven't had a chance to see yet can be found here.

July 2nd

Deliver Us From Evil: NY police officer Ralph Sarchie investigates a series of crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest, schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the possessions that are terrorizing their city.

Opening Weekend: $9.7 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 30%

Review: With a terrifying trailer and a writer/director with bona-fide horror credentials (Scott Derrickson [Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose]), there was a lot of hype for Deliver Us From Evil preceding its release. While it was a decent horror movie that added an element of investigative mystery to the tropes of typical thrillers, it was a film that at the end of the day fell into expected clichés. Eric Bana (Munich) and Édgar Ramírez make a good co-starring pair and the story is engaging enough, but by the end Deliver Us From Evil looks like any other possession movie. Too bad; it looked so unique.
The Final Word: 2/4 - Wait to rent it.

2014 Summer Movie Previews - July

I'm finally done with the biggest chunk of my summer grad school work! It didn't allow me time to write reviews, but I did still manage to see most of the movies so far this summer. So in the next few posts I'll write up some quick reviews of the movies I've seen so far, as well as previews of the movies I haven't yet watched.

July 2nd

Deliver Us From Evil: NY police officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) investigates a series of crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest, schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the possessions that are terrorizing their city.

Trailer here.

Earth to Echo: After receiving a bizarre series of encrypted messages, a group of kids embark on an adventure with an alien who needs their help.
Trailer here.

Premature: A high school senior has to re-live losing his virginity over and over again until he gets it right.
Trailer here.

School Dance: If he can win a spot on the school's hottest dance crew, Jason might have a shot with Anastacia. But before he does, he'll have to overcome his battle-ax of a mother, survive Anastacia's gangsta brother, and pass the crew's initiation.
Trailer here.

2014 Summer Movie Reviews - June

I'm finally done with the biggest chunk of my summer grad school work! It didn't allow me time to write reviews, but I did still manage to see most of the movies so far this summer. So in the next few posts I'll write up some quick reviews of the movies I've seen so far, as well as previews of the movies I haven't yet watched.

Reviews of What I've Seen

June 6th

Edge of Tomorrow: An officer is caught in a time loop while at war with an alien race. His skills increase as he faces the same brutal combat scenarios and his union with a Special Forces warrior brings them closer to victory.

Opening Weekend: $28.8 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Trailer here.

Review: Tom Cruise jumped on a couch once, had a couple divorces, and has a different religion than you. Why they hell that matters to anyone I don't know, but for some reason people have decided they don't like one of the best actors of our time and, unfortunately, many of his recent films have not received the box-office numbers they deserve. I'd like to point your attention above to the relatively weak opening gross for Edge of Tomorrow compared to its astoundingly high Rotten Tomatoes score as proof of this premise. Do not let this inventive, engrossing, and thoroughly entertaining film - one of the best of the summer - slip past you unseen.
The Final Word: 3.5/4 - Go buy a ticket.

2014 Summer Movie Reviews May

I'm finally done with the biggest chunk of my summer grad school work! It didn't allow me time to write reviews, but I did still manage to see most of the movies so far this summer. So in the next few posts I'll write up some quick reviews of the movies I've seen so far, as well as previews of the movies I haven't yet watched.

Reviews of What I've Seen:

May 2nd

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 - Peter Parker runs the gauntlet as the mysterious company Oscorp sends up a slew of super villains against him, impacting his life.

Opening Weekend: $91.6 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 53%

Trailer here.

Review: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is another reboot that fails to live up to previous works, held back by writing, directing, and acting that makes it feel more like a 90's Batman film. The chemistry between the two leading characters, however, make the film bearable. Full review here.

The Final Word: 2/4 - Wait to rent it.

Okay...

Review: The Fault in Our Stars

*Share this post on Facebook or Twitter to be entered to win a FREE Fault in Our Stars movie poster AND book!!! Just tag me in the post (links to my accounts are on the right) so I know to include you. I'll randomly select one winner on Sunday, so you've got all weekend to share!!!

"Men at some time are masters of their fates.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves..."

So says Cassius in the famous line from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The lesson he imparts on the conflicted Brutus is that we have the ability, and in fact the responsibility, to reclaim our lives from a destiny written in the stars and instead forge our own fortunes; that a life worth living is not bestowed by providence, but pursued by those who have the courage to do so.

In The Fault in Our Stars, Gus thinks this way also and, just as Cassius passes this mindset on to Brutus, so Gus is inspired to share his worldview with Hazel. Both Gus and Hazel are victims of cancer - Gus is a survivor, minus one leg, while Hazel remains in the midst of her battle - and, despite being too tragically young to have to do so, both are forced to deal with notions of life and death and destiny as normal parts of their day-to-day existence.

Never Fear, Underdogs are Here

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Post-Draft

Back to football! I know you've missed it as much as I have. At this point it is incredibly tough to truly predict how good any team is or will be by Week 1. The Top 4 are pretty much agreed upon by everyone, but aside from that, predictions are kind of a crapshoot. So now's the time to take some credibility risks and bump up some underdog teams. I say the Texans (Clowney AND Watt? Seriously?) and Falcons will have comeback seasons and the Lions will finally start matching the incredible talent on their roster with actual play on the field. The Colts have the easiest schedule in the league, so they get a bump, while the Panthers have fallen as they lost receiver after receiver. They're not in my Top 15, but the Buccaneers are a team to watch out for also. And finally, I'm giving a shout-out to the Ravens. I'm always lower on them than everyone else, so this time instead of telling them to prove me wrong, I'm rating them high and telling them to prove me right. So how did everything play out after Free Agency and the Draft? Let's get to it; hike!

Nipping at #10's heels:

Cardinals (#15), Bengals (#14), Texans (#13), Lions (#12), Panthers (#11)

Hanging On By A Thread

Review: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

I hope you'll forgive me for a short review; I'm in the midst of a rather busy and stressful week of Grad School Finals. But I know summer is when most of you look to my blog on a more consistent basis (look for a 2014 Summer Preview next week!), so I wanted to put out a mini-critique of the film kicking off the summer movie season: The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Picking up where the first film left off, Peter Parker is struggling with his conflicting love for Gwen Stacy and the danger his role as Spider-Man could put her in (not to mention that he promised her father on his deathbed that he would no longer date her). As the couple works through their relationship issues, a new super-villain emerges. Electro started out as a nerdy electrician who just wanted attention, but his need for affection turns to rage when he is seen as a bad guy while Spider-Man gets all the love. Also, Harry Osborn shows up and is dying, so he wants some of Spider-Man's blood. Also, Peter finds some spare time to go on a big search for the reason why his parents disappeared so many years ago.

A Superpowered Political Thriller

Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

"With liberty and justice for all."

Those words have more complex meanings than ever before in the modern age of terrorist cells, surveillance drones, and digital threats. Captain America: The Winter Soldier captures these tensions and interprets them through the eyes of the titular 1940s hero now thrust into today's gray areas of freedom, ambiguities that didn't exist in Steve Rodger's black and white past.

Still trying to discover what the place of a member of the Greatest Generation might have among all us pesky millennials, Captain America faces the dangerous unknown in more than ways in one. A shadowy figure from the past has emerged and begun wreaking havoc upon SHIELD, a government counter-threat agency that may itself be corrupted by age-old foes.

Credit for much of the film lies with two creative duos: director brothers Anthony and Joe Russo (Community) and the screenwriting team of Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (The Chronicles of Narnia series). Knowing they had to make a very different film than the first, WW2-set Captain America film (also written by Markus and McFeely), these four set out to pay homage to the spy film classics of the 70s, a decision which lets Cap 2 feel less like the typical superhero movie and more like a typical political espionage thriller.

A Complicated Cruise

Review: Noah

For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you Noah, and you shall come into the ark, you and your family. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

To recap for our friend Noah - God is going to destroy all of humanity, except you. The future of all life on Earth has been set entirely on your shoulders.

Imagine the strain of such responsibility. Imagine what it must have been like to shut the ark door on your fellow man, as the flood waves crashed over them. To hear their screams as they are washed away, while only you and your family survive. We know how the story goes - Noah obeys God, building the ark and gathering the animals to survive the worldwide deluge. But in that obedience, Noah must have been one emotionally conflicted guy.

The Bible doesn't provide details about how Noah and his family felt about the Great Flood, but director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) attempts to explore this oft-unthought of aspect of the famous Genesis story with mixed, but largely successful results in the new film Noah.

Noah Rides the Waves into Theaters

Review: Noah

Guest Review by Caleb Smith

One of the most famous Biblical stories, if not the most famous, has finally come to the big screens. When I heard Hollywood was making a Noah movie over a year and a half ago I was thrilled.  Then I heard that Russell Crowe and Emma Watson (two of may favorite actors and actresses) would be some of the stars in the film I was ecstatic.  For almost two years I waited for this movie knowing that it would be a big hit.  And finally at a pre-showing the day before the release I got to sit back and observe this Hollywood production.

Going into this movie I had already been warned of its twisted and altered version of the story in Genesis.  Glenn Beck stirred up some controversy earlier this week when he called the film a "Babylonian Chainsaw Massacre".  Personally after seeing "Noah" I think that it a bit of an exaggeration; however Beck did have a few points that I agree with in his review.  Being a Christian I of course had some doubts about "Noah" just as any Christian should when it comes to their religion, however I know that Hollywood is not made up of all Christians so changes are to be expected.  I think people should remember that "Noah" is a Biblical adaptation and therefore will be different than what it is in the Bible.  I wasn't going to let that stop me from enjoying the film though.  After watching the movie I immediately went back and read the story in Genesis to make sure I could correctly make comparisons between the two.  But let's dive right in to what I thought about it.

2014 Academy Award Picks

So here's how this works: I'll give you a list of the nominees for each of the major categories, then I'll name who I think is the favorite to win, as well as who I would give the award to. Short and sweet.

And while you're at it, check out My Top 10 Movies of 2013!!!

Now onto the business at hand...

Most Anticipated Movies of 2014

I want to start off by saying I generally view "Most Anticipated Movies" lists as pretty useless endeavors. Most movies that are going to come out in 2014 haven't even finished being made yet. Some sound interesting, but will end up being terrible. Some sound terrible, but will end up being amazing. So I have no idea how I'm supposed to say what's going to be good until I see at least see a trailer, of which very few have been released yet.

But. So many of ya'll have asked me what the big movies are 2014 are going to be, I've gone ahead and put together a quick list of movies that should have a big draw. You'll notice many of them are sequels and adaptations, which makes sense since we know there's already a fan base of the material. You'll also notice almost all are action movies, since it is especially hard to predict the future of indie movies. So, with the disclaimer that there will be many, many, many good movies to come out that I haven't listed and that some of these might turn out to be flops, here are some movies I'm looking forward to in 2014.

Top 10 Movies of 2013

2013 was a pretty darn good year at the movie theater. I'd like to think I know, having seen over 90 films released last year. So it has been a tough task attempting to value and compare the abundance of cinematic riches provided by Hollywood. Though I will say that I particularly consider the Top 3 movies on this list to be head and shoulders above the rest. Before we get going, we've got a little housecleaning to do...

A Blast From the Past: Check out the following links for my Top 10 Movies of previous years: 2009 - 2010 - 2011 - 2012

What I Watched - 2013 Movies

As of this writing - January 12th, 2014 - I have seen exactly 95 movies which were released in 2013. Crazy, I know, but it makes me really excited to put together my Top 10 Movies of 2013 post, coming soon!!! Here's what I watched in 2013...

Playoffs? You Kidding Me?

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2013 Week 18

In the words of Jim Mora, "Playoffs? You kidding me? I just hope we can win a game!" He provided the material for that famous video in a different context than the postseason, but his words should ring true for the 12 teams fighting for a spot in the Superbowl. You can't make it to the end of playoffs without beating the very next team on your schedule; just hoping you can win that next game. Focus will be perhaps the most essential ingredient for teams to make it to the big game in MetLife Stadium. Well, that and turnovers. And scoring more points than the other team. That's how you win football games, in case John Madden hasn't taught you that already.

Before we really get going on the Top 10, I just want to say thanks to everyone who kept up with my random football turn here on the blog. I've had a lot of fun writing it and talking with all of you about it. And yall have given the blog a few thousand more pageviews on football posts alone during the season, so again, thanks for much for tuning in! But enough with the mushy stuff, let's talk about grown men trying to beat each other down. Hike!