Seventh Son

In a time of enchantments when legends and magic collide, the sole remaining warrior of a mystical order (Oscar winner Jeff Bridges) travels to find a prophesized hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son (Ben Barnes). Torn from his quiet life as a farmhand, the unlikely young hero embarks on a daring adventure with his battle-hardened mentor to vanquish a dark queen (Julianne Moore) and the army of supernatural assassins she has dispatched against their kingdom. 

I feel like every year a movie gets released in early February where it is really just an excuse for fantasy creature special effects.  This is definitely that movie.  It kind of has a story but they pretty much rushed through it to just try to get as many creatures crammed in there.  It reminded me a lot of James The Giant Slayer or the Clash Of The Titans movies.  Lots of flash but not much substance.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to see this movie.  Great effects but not much else.

The Loft

Karl Urban and James Marsden star in the tense psychological thriller The Loft, the story of five guys who conspire to secretly share a penthouse loft in the city--a place where they can indulge in their deepest fantasies. But the fantasy becomes a nightmare when they discover the dead body of an unknown woman in the loft, and they realize one of the group must be involved. Paranoia seizes them as everyone begins to suspect one another. Friendships are tested, loyalties are questioned and marriages crumble as the group is consumed by fear, suspicion and murder in this relentless thriller. 

This movie was a somewhat decent whodunnit.  The plot description pretty much tells you the whole story.  The thing is that any level of really caring is minimal at best.  The movie is ultimately pointless and one would wonder why it was made at all.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's not necessarily that it's bad.  It's just kind of there.

American Sniper

American Sniper

From director Clint Eastwood comes American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history.  But there was much more to him than his skill as a sharpshooter. U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname "Legend." However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world. Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the SEAL creed to "leave no man behind." But upon returning to his wife, Taya Renae Kyle (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind.

WOW!!!  This movie was awesome.  Very intense.  Very real.  Very honest.  I've always liked Bradley Cooper but his acting was more impressive in this than in anything he has done prior.   I knew it was a true story but due to my blissful ignorance didn't know the details.  Wish I did now because I was floored at the end of it.  This movie did such an amazing job of capturing the truly selfless soldier that protects and serves our country.  If I were to go back and adjust the Best of 2014 movies, this would make the top three.

I could go on and on about how great this movie.  Instead you should just go see it.  I give it my must see stamp.

Strange Magic

Strange Magic is a madcap fairy tale musical inspired by "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Popular songs from the past six decades help tell the tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion. Lucasfilm Animation Singapore and Industrial Light & Magic, which created the CGI animation for 2011's Academy Award-winning film "Rango," bring to life the fanciful forest turned upside down with world-class animation and visual effects. Featuring a story by George Lucas.

I am not sure what to think about this movie.  It's as if George Lucas has lost it and is a big fan of the tv show Glee.  Seriously.  The animated cast of goblins and elves and trolls just kept randomly bursting into song.  It had its moments but honestly I watched most of it with a confused dog face on.  

I would not recommend people checking this out.  It's pretty much a big waste of time unless you think mythical forest creatures breaking into song is entertaining.

Still Alice

Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a diagnosis of Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease, Alice and her family find their bonds thoroughly tested. Her struggle to stay connected to who she once was is frightening, heartbreaking, and inspiring.

This was a clear reminder of how good of an actress Julianne Moore can actually be.  She used to be amazing but then pretty much decided to mail it in for years.  She was great in this and so was the rest of the cast.  The family members different reactions to her disease and the progression of it felt so genuine. And watching her deteriorate was very tough and terrifying to imagine going through.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It's a great movie with great acting across the board that should end up getting considered for end of year awards.

Mortdecai

Juggling some angry Russians, the British Mi5, his impossibly leggy wife and an international terrorist, debonair art dealer and part time rogue Charlie Mortdecai (Depp) must traverse the globe armed only with his good looks and special charm in a race to recover a stolen painting rumored to contain the code to a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold. 

This is the definition of a WTF movie.  WTF to Johnny Depp being in this.  Another WTF to Paul Bettany, Gwynneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor being in it too.  WTF to how very not funny it was.  WTF to a movie being so bad that they think its a good idea to a vomit off right there on the screen.  This movie was just very much awful.  

I wouldn't recommend anyone seeing this . . . . . Ever.  It not funny and atrocious written on it on every level.  Save yourselves!!!

Blackhat

Set within the world of global cybercrime, Blackhat follows a furloughed convict and his American and Chinese partners as they hunt a high-level cybercrime network from Chicago to Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Jakarta.

I've always been a huge fan of Michael Mann's films.  I like the film style and his action scenes are always badass.  This movie was no different.  It had that same gritty filming style and when action was going down it was awesome.  The only knock against this was that it took way too long for the movie to really get moving.  It dragged for the first 30-45 minutes and it was all development stuff that you knew about just from the ads.

I would somewhat recommend this movie to people.  I liked it but it did drag for a bit and could be kind of difficult to follow because of all the technical jargon.

Fifty Shades Of Grey

Fifty Shades of Grey has become a global phenomenon and the trilogy has been translated in over 50 languages worldwide since its release. To date, the “Fifty Shades” trilogy has sold over 70 million copies worldwide in e-book and print, making it one of the fastest-selling book series ever. Fifty Shades of Grey  follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele.

Does it matter what I say about this movie?   If you read the book - you are going to see the movie.  It's like the Twilight series but with sex.  And if you liked the book, your expectations won't ne met because there really was no way for them to do so.  My opinion is that the actress was much better than I expected and pretty much carried everything.  The guy pretty much sucked and ruined the chemistry between the two.  I thought that they did justice to that kind of "lifestyle" as tastefully as possible but in doing so made the movie pretty much not sexy across the board.

Again - my recommendation doesn't really matter.  I thought that the movie was eh.

Selma

Selma is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay's "Selma" tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.

This was a great movie.  Amazing performances across the board and the way that the story was told and played out was great.  Movies this well done make you really feel like you were there for these historical events - both the good and bad.  It also is the type of movie that is so well done this should be used for educational purposes and to open those ignorant eyes that still remain closed.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It is an excellent watch and really takes you back to that point in time.

Black Or White

Black or White is the story of a grandfather (Kevin Costner) who is suddenly left to care for his beloved granddaughter. When her paternal grandmother (Octavia Spencer) seeks custody with the help of her brother (Anthony Mackie), the little girl is torn between two families who love her deeply. With the best intentions at heart, both families fight for what they feel is right and are soon forced to confront their true feelings about race, forgiveness, and understanding. Anchored by an all-star cast and based on real events, the movie is a look at two seemingly different worlds, in which nothing is as simple as black or white.

This is one of those movies where you have pretty much seen it by watching the trailer.  You know exactly how it's going to play out.  That being said, movies like these are made or broken based on the formula performances.  Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer both do a good job of pulling the right heartstrings and making you care enough to keep watching even though you know how it will play out.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing out to see this.  It's not necessarily a bad watch but it is just kind of there.