Ghostbusters - Box Office Review

The wonderful thing about reboots is that no matter what you think of the reboot you will always have the original. The 1966 Adam West Batman didn't disappear because Ben Affleck is now Batman. We live in a time that allows us to enjoy the past and present while still being excited about the future. So was the Paul Feig reimagining of the beloved franchise "Ghostbusters" enjoyable or will it haunt movie goers as another failed reboot? Let's dive in and take at a look at my thoughts in this box office review...

The cast of this film is fantastic. I'm not limiting "cast" to just the stars. I'm talking about the cast as a whole. The film starts with Zach Woods giving a tour of a haunted mansion in New York and only goes forward from there. If you aren't familiar with Zach go back and watch "The Office" for a look at his comedic timing early on. His delivery of lines is done so well that even simple reactions were funny. From there we get to meet all the ghostbusters, their receptionist and even the Chinese food delivery guy "Bennie" played by Karan Soni (who you might remember as the taxi driver in the Deadpool movie earlier this year). This cast is packed with comedy goodness and that only makes this film more enjoyable. 

The overall story was surprisingly more thought out than I was anticipating however I did feel like all of a sudden in the third act of the film everyone realized we need to up the risk factor. The movie is moving along at an even and delightful pace then suddenly, the world is in chaos. It felt a bit rushed towards the end but in all honesty that's really my only complaint. The characters were great and even "Slimer" was entertaining despite the fact he appeared to be a hillbilly. That was kinda odd but I didn't think too much on that during the movie and won't here in this review.

I am not familiar with Kate McKinnon or Leslie Jones at all. This film was my first introduction to them as actors and comedians. I was bothered by how Jones was portrayed in the trailers because she appeared to be a stereotypical hollywood movie black person which I'm not particularly a fan of because it feels a bit degrading as a main character to be so one dimensional. I am happy to report that her character is much more involved and developed in the film and the trailer does her an injustice. McKinnon had some of the best one liners in the film. One of my favorite comes towards the very end where she talks about who the new president is and how far into the future we are. Also, you can't have Melissa McCarthy without her enduring some physical struggle/slapstick humor. Thankfully that only lasts for one scene and then her character is actually something to enjoy on screen. 

"Ghostbusters" is in theaters now! Overall, I enjoyed this movie a lot. It was a fun time in the theater and it mixes action and comedy very well. After seeing this movie one has to wonder if Paul Feig makes intentionally bad trailers to lower people's expectations or if he just doesn't realize how poorly made the trailers are for his films until it's too late. Either way, go see this film on the big screen. The special effects are pretty solid and since I'm always honest in my reviews you might consider seeing it in 3D. I know that you're probably shocked by that statement if you follow my reviews. You already knew how much I can't stand 3D. However, I did see this in 3D and it was incredible. If you're wondering why I saw it in 3D it's because the only time I could get to the theater to see this film was for a 3D showing. I'm glad I went. It is remarkable in 3D and the movie itself is entertaining. It's nothing like the original and it doesn't have to be. It stands on its own and I'm looking forward to a sequel if one is made. Lastly, the cameo’s from the original cast was a fun time.

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Central Intelligence - Box Office Review

Two powerhouses of entertainment coming together to make what could be the summer comedy hit we've been waiting for. A film that would combine action and humor has the potential to franchise itself if done well. So did "Central Intelligence" meet the expectations I had? Let's dive in and take a look in this box office review...

First, you can't really go wrong with casting Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The guy has so much charisma I'm mostly certain that people would watch him talk about soap for 2 hours. You can't help but find the guy entertaining because his personality is electric. Second, Kevin Hart is probably one of the funnier comedians around right now because of his personality. His jokes might not always hit but you can guarantee that people will laugh at a bad joke when his animated self takes over on stage or screen and blows up into something uniquely special. So putting these two talents in a film together made perfect sense to me. They're both funny, entertaining and charismatic. 

The film itself however didn't quite hit for me the way I had hoped. The characters on screen felt awkward more than they did humorous. It also took far too long to establish the personality of Johnson's character. His overacting and hyper enthusiasm felt unnatural and uncomfortable for me. It's eventually revealed why he acts that way but I would've preferred to get that information sooner than later. At times, especially in the beginning, he's almost creepy. It was an odd choice but eventually it paid off, kinda. 

The story is pretty simple as well. The basic plot is that the CIA believes Johnson's character has murdered his partner and is hunting him down because of the information they believe he has. Of course, it's revealed that he isn't the bad guy but by the time the big reveal occurs I didn't really care because I had concluded that all on my own. The story itself was still entertaining because you have Hart and Johnson leading the charge. Their chemistry on screen was probably my favorite part of the film. These two played off each other so well. Even though the story itself didn't do anything for me, their relationship and interactions did. I'm actually curious if there will be a sequel just because of how much fun watching those two together was. 

The ancillary characters in the film were decent. There is one character who is beyond obnoxious in that he overacts so much in his brief on screen moments I was actually glad he is knocked out by use of a taser. I felt relief knowing he won't be talking anymore in that scene because he's tasered on the floor. So that was a moment of positive film making as far as I was concerned. 

"Central Intelligence" is in theaters now. Sadly, I won't be recommending you view this on the big screen unless you want to laugh and enjoy the main actors. The story is decent, the overall tone is fun but it takes awhile to develop an understanding of the characters themselves and the ending is predictable. It's a fun movie and if you do decide to make it out to the theaters, go for a big screen viewing. You will laugh but you won't walk out of the theater, necessarily, with that same sense of "wow" that you got from action comedies like "Beverly Hills Cop" or Lethal Weapon" films. It's definitely worth seeing on Redbox or VOD. 

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The Nice Guys - Box Office Review

If asked, I’m sure you have a particular director that you look forward to seeing additional films from. Their name appears and immediately your interest is peaked and you anxiously wait for the next film to be released in theaters. Shane Black has become one of those directors who, mostly, has been making entertaining films that I am re-watching almost 30 years later (Lethal Weapon 1987, he wrote it but Richard Donner directed it). When the news dropped that he was writing and directing “The Nice Guys” I had high expectations so let’s dive and take a look at my thoughts regarding this film in this box office review… 

The films starts off in Hollywood California in the 1970s. A girl has gone missing, another one dead and as the story unfolds it’s clear that this won’t be just another easy cash grab job for either of the main characters. There’s violence, nudity, car accidents, humor, great music and more in this film. It’s practically got everything you’d want from a murder mystery/cop drama set in Hollywood of yesteryear. 

Russell Crowe plays a hired hand who beats people up who mess with underage girls. Ryan Gosling plays a private investigator whose most recent case involves a missing person who hasn’t been seen since their funeral. These are not your typical hero’s, in the traditional sense, but they are the two men we are routing for as the film progresses. 

The film revolves around the relationship these two men have with each other as professional colleagues but it’s Angourie Rice who really brings a sense of humanity and realism to the film. Her portrayal as the daughter of Holland March (Gosling) is not only believable but enjoyable. She brings out the best in both Jack and Holland and her determination and intelligence added a fresh personality on screen to keep things moving and feeling fresh. 

“The Nice Guys” is in theaters now! I recommend you see this film on the big screen. It’s not special effects heavy but the story is entertaining and the characters so remarkably done that it’s worth supporting with your hard earned dollars. I have seen it twice now and the second time was even more enjoyable than the first and I thoroughly enjoyed my first viewing. It's a wonderful blending of "Lethal Weapon" meets "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang." If you enjoy character driven stories that keep you guessing and can make you laugh, this is the film for you. It’s quite possibly my favorite film of the year and definitely in the top 10 so far. It's a fresh story and it succeeds without being tied to any other franchise or genre currently popular. Go see this film!

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Money Monster - Box Office Review

There are times when a movie is released and it doesn’t have the best marketing. The movie going audience doesn’t know if it will be worthwhile in theaters or should be skipped until it’s available on Redbox or VOD. “Money Monster” is that film. We were treated to a few trailers but nothing that really sells the movie for what it turned out be after seeing it. So let’s dive in and take a look at 

“Money Monster” in this box office review…

We have Jodi Foster directing, George Clooney and Julie Roberts leading the film. So far we’re on pretty solid ground for expecting a film that’s both engaging and entertaining. It only builds from there. All the characters in this movie bring their own personality to this film and create a world that is both tense, humorous and human.

The story is a revenge tail. Sounds simple, I know. However, the writing in this film takes the basic concept of one man seeking revenge to something much more. I walked out of the theater pleased at how much I enjoyed the overall story and how it surprises within the basic concepts. 

The tone of the film bounces around from incredibly tense, to humorous, to personal. It’s a story written in modern time so the topics discussed are relatable because they impact our life right now. Also, the reaction to some of the events are completely modern. I was impressed with how “right now” this film felt. The writers did their part on studying modern life and implementing that into the film to really elevate this into something that is believable, assuming the events on screen happen in real life. 

“Money Monster” is in theaters now! I could write about how good the acting was but it’s George Clooney and Julia Roberts. This film is worth the big screen viewing even though it’s not a visual spectacular. The characters are developed, the story makes sense, it’s entertaining and worth the ticket price. This is a great date movie or you could spend the matinee ticket price and enjoy it. It’s gonna entertain you and surprise you. Go check it out and share your comments below. 

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Triple 9 - Box Office Review

Dirty cops, the Russian mob, hispanic gang bangers, lots of gun fights, explosions, smoke bombs, abandoned buildings and more are part of what made "Triple 9" an entertaining action film. The pacing on this film was a little slow which was a surprise considering the high volume of action present within. The cast was stacked with talent. The mood and tone of the film were appropriate for the concepts being told. So why did I walk out of the theater thinking, "Eh, not terrible but not great either." Let's explore...

Let's start with probably the largest culprit that lessened my post viewing excitement. The pacing of this film was slow. It wasn't across the board slow either. It would have moments of high energy, edge of the seat, popcorn shoveling, eyes wide open action sequences. Next, the breaks slam down and we're dealing with personal/family tensions that develop the characters and deepen our understanding of the motivating factors of the key players in the film. This happens at what feels like a much slower pace. 

Next up, we have cliche's. I want to be clear that cliche's aren't necessarily a bad thing. If the film is designed to utilize the cliche' characters in a manner that acknowledges the fact that's ok. Comedies do a great job over exaggerating the cliche' new cop on the force who thinks he knows it all. He's a no nonsense, skull busting tough guy. This film seemed to celebrate the cliche' characters and for me personally I didn't particularly care for it. This film led me to believe it's a dramatic look at what the lives of these characters are and the choices their life leads them to in a non comedic way. I rest all the blame for this on the director, who provides the actors instructions on how to portray their characters. John Hillcoat also directed the film "Lawless" which had pacing problems in my opinion. I enjoyed that movie too but I wasn't celebrating it. 

The casting of this film managed to hire several talented actors. Normally, when I post the names I add their IMDB link so you can explore their previous works. As you explore you might find a new film and that might deepen your appreciation for the particular actor, or you might hate it. Either way, you're watching more movies. Since this film has so many talented actors I won't be listing them or their IMDB's but you can click on the link above for the film and peruse there. The casting was the highlight of this film for me. I love seeing all the actors on screen and I was curious to see how well Gal Gadot would hold her own on screen with these other talents. She wasn't in much of the film but her role was pivotal and she performed her character well while seeming believable. I'm curious to see her as Wonder Woman in "Batman VS Superman" but we'll explore that film later this month after I see it. Other than her, I knew exactly what I'd get from the rest of the actors and I wasn't disappointed in their performances. I could've used less cop cliche's but that's not their fault. They were just doing the job the director told them, and they did that well. 

"Triple 9" is in theaters now. I give this film one full magazine of ammunition and a smoke bomb but that's only to make your escape out of the theater and safely arrive at Redbox to rent it. If you enjoy heist films with lots of action and some entertaining plot twists this is the film for you. I enjoyed it but I wasn't walking out of the theater talking to people about it. If you go see it, or have seen it, comment below and share your thoughts.

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Ride Along 2 - Box Office Review

I wasn't expecting much from this film and I didn't get much either. The little I did receive from this film was worth it. I walked out of the theater smiling and thinking, "I wasn't expecting to laugh as much as I just did" and that's ok in my book. So let's take a look at "Ride Along 2" and some areas of opportunity and accomplishments I saw while watching this movie.

First, Rotten Tomatoes has this film at ratings low enough to make anyone question why I'd bother to see the thing. The critic score is abysmal sitting at 13% rotten. I wasn't surprised by that and to be honest I don't care. Certain films are made for a single purpose and this film falls in that category. This film was made to entertain and provide chuckles. So we'll excuse the critic score from the conversation because it's the user score that should more accurately reflect how enjoyable this film was. After all, the user score indicates what we the viewers think and hopefully we're seeing films that interest us. Critics have to see everything. Users pay to see what they prefer. That being said, the user score is 56% rotten. Ouch. Even the people who enjoyed the first one, like the characters, the actors, everything did not enjoy this film by a slight majority.

Overall, this film had potential to be so much better than it was. Unfortunately, I blame the writing and directing for all the short comings present in this film. This movie was stuffed with cliche's and predictable moments. So much so I groaned out loud once or twice in the theater. Additionally, tell one story if that's what your movie is supposed to do. Don't tell tell one story with half the cast, then tell the same story differently but at the same time with Kevin Hart's character and finally add Ken Jeong as comedic relief when one of your stars is Kevin Hart! The whole movie is happening at one speed, then Kevin takes over and changes the tempo of the film. Interestingly enough, it was Kevin Harts character that made the film enjoyable. The manner in which the story developed with his character was the entertaining and enjoyable part. The whole movie is happening and it feels like a process. Then Kevin takes over and the movie becomes entertaining. Then it goes back to process. On, off, on off. It was ridiculous.

Ken Jeong and Kevin Hart sharing screen time and dialogue was great. The timing these two comedic actors have actually made me forget how poorly made this film was. It was like being in a desert of boredom only to find comedic water bottles sporadically along the way.

Kevin's character had a story line that stayed consistent, was humorous and at times very original. Then it switches off him and becomes step-by-step movie making that we've all seen hundreds of times before. I couldn't get over how poorly directed this film was. I went back and looked at Tim Story's IMDB page and found out he's made other terrible films like the early 2000's "Fantastic Four" and the even bigger stink pile that was "Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer".  So, it made sense why the directing was so bad here when there's a pattern of garbage films in his resume. 

"Ride Along 2" is in theaters now! Overall, I don't recommend anyone see this film in theaters. If it comes on TV, OnDemand, VOD or you "win" it at a white elephant gift exchange then take a viewing just for the Kevin Hart storyline. Theres more bad than good here but the good is quite entertaining to be fair. Also, Tika Sumpter is gorgeous in this film so that helps bump up the positives.

Comment below if you’ve already seen it and share your thoughts! Join in on the fun of movie watching and share this post with anyone who enjoys going to the movies.

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13 Hours - Box Office Review

There are two types of films from director Michael Bay. It's either an action packed adventure that delights and entertains OR a mind-numbing, visually dizzying, garbage heap of wasted screen time that frustrates, bores and annoys. You have to possess a piece of the gamblers spirit, I feel, when it comes to watching a film directed by Bay. You never know what film you will get walking into that theater. You have to gamble your time with his films because it could be a complete waste of 2 hours or time well spent at the movies. His most recent film "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" is the latter. 

The film is based on true events that occurred not that long ago in Benghazi, Libya. The CIA has stationed an outpost that is monitoring the sale of weapons by terrorist rebel groups in the area. The CIA are some of the last foreign intelligence in the area. An American Ambassador arrives heightening the tension in the area and the situation spirals into a fatal situation for some and life altering for others. 

The action in this film is done so well I forgot I was watching a movie based on real life events. The actors play their roles well and even John Krasinski was believable in this film as a vet returning to battle as a hired gun. Did it take a second for me to forget he's "Jim" from the hilarious american comedy version of "The Office"? Yes, but only a second. Once the action kicks in I completely forgot his more familiar character and was completely engaged in the action and story I was watching.

My only point of confusion was some of the edits in the film. I understand that the manner in which some scenes were cut was to heighten tension and build intensity. However, quick glimpses, up close, on blurry objects was distracting. It was these brief glimpses at objects out of focus that pulled me out of the film. It was for split seconds only but it was kinda confusing to think someone approved all those shots that I didn't feel were necessary. Other than that, I really thought this movie was done well and I was glad Michael Bay refrained from some of his more common camera angles and devices used in his films.

"13 Hours" is in theaters now! I definitely recommend you see this on the big screen. It's incredibly well done and entertaining. Even if you know nothing about the events that occurred in Benghazi you will enjoy the action, the characters and the story. This movie occasionally pulls at the heart strings. So be prepared to feel some emotions while watching all the battles on screen. Michael Bay did an excellent job telling the story and refrained, thankfully, from the political aspects. It's a movie about the struggle and battles occurring in that region. If you didn't know this was a true story, you'd think you just watched an entertaining action/war flick. Job well done, this time, Mr. Bay.

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Comic Book Review: Darth Vader #13 - Marvel Comics (2015)

Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Salvador Larroca

Vader Down: Part 2 of 6
Darth Vader is under attack after his ship was brought down on the planet Vragos Vos.  The rebels, despite the numbers, do not seem to be much of a match for the Sith Lord.  Han Solo and Princess Leia disagree about where priorities should be.  Leia remembers what happened to her home planet of Alderaan and Han's loyalties are tied to Luke.  Luke finds he and R2-D2 have crash landed near an old Jedi temple.  Aphra and her droids makes their way to Vragos Vos.

The Star Wars/Darth Vader series continues to wow me.  The intertwining stories that are so separate yet woven together is an absolute joy to read.  In the Vader Down #1 review, I was hoping there would be interactions with the characters from Darth Vader's comic book series and the characters from the Star Wars books.  At the end, we get just that!

***Cue the speculation of Aphra as Rey's mother.***

Okay, put down your light sabers, that's a blog and/or podcast for a different day.  We are only in part two of the Vader Down story line and it's been nothing but action and suspense.  Many of the comic book events that I read are a lot of build up and then action at the end.  Not so with Star Wars.  Action, a little more action, comical bantering and then more action.  Grab some popcorn but keep your buttery fingers off the pages.  You're in for a wild ride!

What are your thoughts on the Darth Vader comic book series?  Are you enjoying Vader Down?  What other comic books would you like the Maskerpiece Theatre bunch to review?

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Comic Book Review: Vader Down #1 - Marvel Comics (2015)

Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Mike Deodato

Darth Vader is on his way to Vragos Vos to find Luke Skywalker.  Once there, he meets a rebel fleet and takes them on by himself.

The Darth Vader series has been one of my favorite comic book series going and now it has moved into the Star Wars series as well.  Vader Down is the beginning to the ultimate six issue tie-in.  I know I normally complain about any comic book that is over $3.99 in price.  This doesn't seem to be an ongoing title so I'll forgive the one-off ridiculous price.

 Seeing Vader taking on a fleet of rebel X-Wing fighters was awesome and his eventual take down was remarkable.  The entire rebel army on Vragos Vos get word that Vader is down and Princess Leia sends everyone after him.  You can imagine how Han Solo feels about this.

Luke is down as well and it should be interesting to see if/when he and Vader cross paths. I'm also looking forward to seeing other characters from each book such as  Aphra, BeeTee and Triple Zero from Darth Vader's book interacting with Han Solo, Princess Leia, C-3PO and R2-D2 from the Star Wars books.

What are your thoughts on Vader Down?  How are you liking the Star Wars comic books?  What other comic book series' would you like the Maskerpiece Theatre squad to review?

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A New Years Message From Handsome J...

The year is almost over and what an enjoyable film reviewing ride it has been. So many terrific movies this year and a few duds. I’d argue that 2015 produced a majority of entertaining films. I didn’t start writing reviews for this website until about four months ago which leaves so many other films unaccounted for. This is in no way an indication they aren’t worth seeing. They are, I just wasn’t writing about them at the time. 

Below is a list of films that came out in 2015 and are ready for you to read, if you are so inclined. Each of the movies I saw in theaters and decided to write about for you. The goal is to provide you insight that might help you decide which films are worth your hard earned dollars and which can wait for Redbox. Additionally, I try to keep each review near 500 words. I do this specifically to ensure you have time to read them without it taking up no more than perhaps 5 minutes. I understand that all film is subjective, just like all art, but it’s my hope that you read these and appreciate the perspective I provide.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E, End of the Tour, Hitman Agent 47, Ant-Man, Black Mass, The Intern, The Visit, Sicario, Bridge of Spies, Hotel Transylvania, Crimson Peak, The Martian, Our Brand is Crisis, Spectre, Trumbo, The Peanuts Movie, The Night Before, Secret In Their Eyes, Creed, Krampus, Macbeth, Legend, The Good Dinosaur, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Sisters, The Big Short

2016 is almost here, possibly has arrived when you read this, and I’m excited about what Hollywood is distributing. Below are a few films I’m looking forward to in 2016 and I hope you have films you are excited to see as well! 

The Nice Guys, Captain America Civil War, Batman VS Superman, Deadpool, GhostBusters, X-Men Apocalypse, Dirty Grandpa, Kung Fu Panda 3, Assassins Creed, Zootopia, Star Trek Beyond, Rogue 1, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Suicide Squad, Jungle Book, Hail Caesar, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Zoolander 2, Barbershop the Next Cut, and my most anticipated film of 2016 is Doctor Strange. 

I hope you all continue to tell your friends and family what you enjoy here with Maskerpiece Theatre. Thank you again for your support folks. Here’s to 2016, being a movie junkie and reviewing film!

Cheers,

Handsome J

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The Binge Watcher Review: Awaken (2015)

Awaken (2015)

Staring: Natalie Burns, Daryl Hannah, Edward Furlong, Vinnie Jones

Synopsis:

A random group of people wake up on an island where they are being hunted down in a sinister plot to harvest their organs.

The Good:

Decent story paired with good actors give us a very watchable movie. This film was obviously shot well with a decent enough budget to give us a high end straight to DVD film. Given the many roles of Natalie Burns in this film, she did a decent job with the main role and has enough talent to be the main action hero for the flick. Lets not forget we also get the amazing Vinnie Jones, and he does an amazing job of just being Vinnie Jones. And if you need any more clarification on his talent just check him out in the TV Show “Galavant”

The Bad:

Through out the film we are treated to moments of weak dialogue and some choppy edits. It definitely is a reminder we are watching a straight to DVD Movie.

Final Thoughts:

This movie defiantly falls into the category of “A Action Movie for Guys that like Movies” and in many ways enforces the idea that little to no CGI is the way to go for upcoming movie makers. I started to watch this film expecting cheesy acting and horrible graphics, just hoping that the best I would get was a movie which was so bad it was good. By the end I found myself enjoying the film.

In the end a movie about a sinister plot to harvest organs for black market procedures is good enough for a view, especially on Hulu. But this movie doesn’t have much re-watchability to it. Enjoy it on a Lazy Saturday Morning.

I give this movie One Thumbs Up. Watch the movie and let us know your thoughts below.

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Movie Review: Ex Machina (2015)

Caleb(Domhnall Gleeson) who works for the largest internet search engine in the world wins a trip to hang out with the founder(Oscar Isaac) of the company.  When Caleb meets Nathan, he finds out he is part of something much bigger.  Nathan is in a very secluded and highly secure compound where he is developing Artificial Intelligence.  Nathan wants Caleb to perform interviews/tests to see if his creation, Ava(Alicia Vikander), has a conscience.

Caleb is excited for the opportunity despite the odd behavior of his employer Nathan.  The interactions between Caleb and Ava were shot incredibly well.  Caleb starts to feel things are amiss when he gets into the artificial mind of Ava and his dealings with the heavy drinking Nathan.

Plenty of plot twists keep you wondering what may or may not be real inside this film.  Why was Caleb brought here?  What does Nathan really want?  Can Ava love someone?

On a scale of one to five pile drivers, I'm giving "Ex Machina" four pile drivers.  The film kept me interested from start to finish and really kept me guessing.

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Movie Review: Insurgent (2015)

The sequel to Divergent picks up where its predecessor left off.  The film follows Tris(Shailene Woodley) and Four(Theo James) who are known as Divergents in a world that has separated all people into factions.  If you haven’t seen “Divergent,” this film will make no sense to you.

Alliances are tested as are the wills of the characters in “Insurgent.”  Tris is having difficulty dealing with the guilt of the people she lost.  Four is right there by Tris’ side, as he was in the first film.  Miles Teller reprises his role brilliantly as Peter, a character that keeps you guessing as to which side he is on.

Kate Winslet is still the baddie for this film as she plays Jeanine, the person keeping order and hunting down the Divergent people.  In this installment, you find that Jeanine is not just interested in the Divergent folk to eradicate them, but for another reason altogether.

The sweeping landscape scenes look incredible in “Insurgent.”  The green of the forest and the shots of the city ruins gives this film a distinct and beautiful look.  There’s also a ton of violence and characters that were killed in ways I did not expect.

“Insurgent” receives three out of five pile drivers.  I don’t think it was quite as good as the “Divergent,” but the film ends in a way to make you look forward to the next.

This movie review is from one of my earlier posts on Cinema Head Cheese and you can read more of my reviews there.

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Movie Review: The Dead Lands (2015)

We have a film that starts with a chase and a kill using primitive Maori weapons.  What a cool way to get a movie going!  "The Dead Lands" takes place around the 16^th century in New Zealand, prior to any European exploration.  Two tribes have a long running truce until someone defecates on an ancestor’s skull(literally).  Without their chief present, Wirepa(Te Kohe Tuhaka) is representing  his tribe and he is ready for war.  Wirepa frames the film’s hero Hongi(James Rolleston), who is the son of the rival tribe’s chief(George Henare).  The chief does everything he can to get out of going to war but Wirepa is insistent.

Wirepa and his tribe attack Hongi’s people at night killing off all men except Hongi who, during the attack, ends up at the bottom of a cliff.  The next day, Hongi sees the aftermath and decides he needs revenge.  Hongi has a vision in his sleep of his grandmother(Rena Owen) and she offers advice within the dream.  He tells her he will go where no one dares go, to the Dead Lands where it is said there is a man, possibly a monster, does not welcome outsiders and eats people.   It is then that Hongi decides he will recruit the warrior from the Dead Lands to assist him in his quest to find Wirepa.

Wirepa and his men also happen to be in the Dead Lands, as our main villain is feeling pretty high and mighty and wants to shave off about 5 days from his trip back home. 

Hongi finds the warrior(Lawrence Makoare) and asks for his help in killing Wirepa and his men.  We begin to see the growing relationship of these two.  The flesh eating warrior is reluctant as it’s just been him and his wives for so long.  Throughout the film, you see why the warrior has secluded himself and where the similarities between the two of them form and why he ultimately decides to help young Hongi.

Without giving too much more away, we continue to see Hongi and the warrior track Wirepa’s group and also meet another tribe whose main spokesperson is played brilliantly by Raukera Turei.  This run in, although seemingly peaceful, delves into the mind of the warrior and challenges Hongi’s perception of him.

The fight scenes are incredibly violent and the scenery is beautiful yet also shows some of the treachery of the land.  "The Dead Lands" takes you back to a primitive time, and is exclusively spoken in the Maori language.

The blu-ray extras include a behind the scenes look at the filming, the actors, and also an insight inyo their training.  Maori tribal experts were brought in to make "The Dead Lands" as authentic as possible.  James Cameron is also on one of the blu-ray bonus features singing the praises of "The Dead Lands."

All in all, "The Dead Lands" is an entertaining film.  Lots of action, characters to enjoy and watch grow plus a bad guy you can really hate.  On my scale of 1 to 5 Pile Drivers, "The Dead Lands" gets 3.5.

This blog came from one of my early posts on Cinema Head Cheese.  You can read more of my movie reviews there.

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Comic Book Review: Ringside #1 - Image Comics (2015)

Written by Joe Keatinge
Art by Nick Barber

I have been looking forward to checking out "Ringside" as I am a fan of professional wrestling as well as comic books.  I didn't read any previews prior to picking up the first issue so I had no idea what I was going to be getting into.  I was happy to find out it is looking at professional wrestling more-so from the backstage perspective.

The story centers around Dan Knossos.  Dan is a retired professional wrestler who was known as "The Minotaur."  Dan had been in Japan training younger up and coming professional wrestlers.  He is now back in the United States as he has business that needs to be handled.

The first issue of "Ringside" is a nice introduction to Dan.  He's a man who is well known inside the business of professional wrestling.  He has friends that he is able to meet and get rides around town as needed.  We also get to see some backstory and why he doesn't always like to remember his "Minotaur" days.  Dan also has a place to stay with a young woman friend who is confined to a wheelchair.

Dan is back because he heard from someone named Teddy who is apparently very close to him.  Dan goes on the search for Teddy but is met with someone else and this someone does not want Dan around.  Dan is met with a pipe wrench and a beating from a group of men and is told to leave town and forget about Teddy.

Dan goes back to the friend with whom he is staying and it looks like he has no plans of leaving town.

This was a very good first issue and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.  I like that it's not just about professional wrestling comic but it still includes plenty of violence.  If you're looking for a comic book series to get started on, this would be a nice one to start on as the series is just getting started.  Even if you are not a professional wrestling fan, this is a cool and brutal book.            

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Movie Review - Police Story: Lockdown (2013)

The incomparable Jackie Chan stars as Zhong Wen, a cop who has had a rough go of life.  He’s lost his wife and he is growing distant from his daughter Miao Miao(Tian Jing).  Chan’s character agrees to meet Miao Miao at the beginning of the film in the hot new destination, Club Wu.  The walk from the cab to the club is a pre-cursor to the struggle that Zhong has in his life.  Should he stop and uphold the law when things go slightly awry, or should he continue on to the night club to repair his relationship with his daughter?  This is the theme of his character throughout. 

Zhong and Miao Miao clearly need to patch things up but things go a little crazy and Chan’s character ends up being knocked out and kidnapped.  His captor, the club owner Wu Jiang(Liu Ye) who also happens to be Miao Miao’s new beau.  Miao Miao has no idea she was with such a cruel individual.  The movie from here is set around finding out Wu Jiang’s motives.  Why did he capture Zhong?  Why does he have so many hostages?  What are his true demands?  It’s all part of the ride.

The action in “Police Story: Lockdown” isn’t the normal fast paced and fun action many Jackie Chan fans are used to.  The fights are much harder with a lot of slow motion to show how much pain everyone is going through.  Along with the slow motion, there is a lot of slow music during these fight scenes.  There is also a lot of action that only takes place in Chan’s character’s head.  He thinks about what reactions his actions would cause.

One of the things I really like about many of Jackie Chan’s films is what happens after the movie.  “Police Story: Lockdown” doesn’t disappoint during the rolling end credits as behind the scenes funny outtakes, crazy fight scenes and other stunt work is shown. 

The blu-ray extras for “Police Story: Lockdown” are a little lackluster.  There are interviews with the director, Jackie Chan, Tian Jing and Liu Ye.  The Behind the scenes feature is really just like an extended version of the scenes played during the ending credits of the film.

On the scale of 1 to 5 Pile Drivers, “Police Story: Lockdown” receives 2.5

This blog came from an earlier post on Cinema Head Cheese and you can read more of my movie reviews there.

Maskerpiece Theatre is sponsored by MoviePass. See unlimited movies at a theater near you for a low monthly rate.

You can also support our show by using our Amazon banners or donating on our Support Us page.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) A Masked Blogster Movie Review

Luke Skywalker is missing and the First Order is looking to take over the galaxy in a way that the evil Galactic Empire never could.  The Resistance know they need Luke Skywalker to bring balance to the force as the Dark Side is clearly on the side of the First Order.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the seventh episode in the Star Wars cinematic saga.  Television, comic books, novels and more have attempted to continue the story of the tale but we, as an audience, are finally treated with a film.  JJ Abrams brings the fans of Star Wars the movie they deserve.

Action.  Good luck catching your breath during The Force Awakens as there is plenty of aerial combat, light saber battles, blasters and even a bit of fisticuffs.

New characters.  Our new bad guy is Kylo Ren(Adam Driver) and he wants to be every bit as bad as Darth Vader and the voice is awesome.  Domhall Gleeson and Andy Sirkis are added to the baddies as General Hux and Supreme Leader Snoke respectively.  Finn(John Boyega) is a Storm Trooper who is having a bit of an identity crisis and is a great addition.  Poe Dameron(Oscar Isaac) is the likable hot shot pilot.  Rey is played by Daisy Ridley who absolutely shines in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  Rey and the newest droid, BB-8, are the true stars of this movie and truly make everything go.

Old Characters.  Han Solo(Harrison Ford), Leia(Carrie Fisher), Chewbacca(Peter Mayhew), C-3P0(Anthony Daniels) and Luke Skywalker(Mark Hamill) all make a return to the franchise.  All are back for a reason and that makes this movie even better.

The Look.  The Force Awakens did not feel like everything was computer generated imagery.  Even if it was, it didn't have that "clean" feel that Episodes I, II and III did.  Tie Fighters and X-Wing Fighters actually looked dirty.  BB-8 was actually built.  I also enjoyed the sets immensely.  The inside of the First Order's base had a look reminiscent of the Death Star.  Not a bunch of floating Senate seats but big walls with lights and designs that mimicked episodes IV, V and VI.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is going to be the first film that I have reviewed for Cinema Head Cheese, and Maskerpiece Theatre for that matter, to receive the five out of five Pile Drivers.  I liked it so much, I may need to throw in some other wrestling finishing moves.  It's a great movie and highly recommended.  The theater experience makes it even better as you hear the cheers, oohs and ahhs.

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What did you think of Episode VII?  Leave your comments below.

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Comic Book Review - Darth Vader #10 - Marvel Comics

Written by: Kieron Gillen
Art by: Salvador Larroca

Darth Vader continues to keep the secrets of his dealings outside of the Galactic Empire from Inspector Thanoth.  Aphra, along with droids BT and 000 look to get information about whether Queen Amidala was, in fact, pregnant when she died.

This book series takes place between my two favorite Star Wars movies, "A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back."  You really get a sense of Darth Vader's true motives.  You see that he senses that the boy that blew up the Death Star could be his son.

Aphra has been a surprise character in the Star Wars universe.  She was introduced earlier in this series and she continues to play an integral part in Darth Vader's schemes and cover ups.  The droids in this series are also a sadistic delight.  They're reminiscent of evil versions of C-3PO and R2D2.  These droids take pleasure in causing pain and ending lives.

I'll throw out one complaint as it was noticed in this book.  I hate when science fiction films, comics, novels and otherwise that have no connection to the planet Earth; yet use Earth units of time.  I'll go ahead and but the units of distance being used but time?  The twelve month measurement is based on the Earth going around the sun if I'm not mistaken.  Why would someone, a long time ago in a galaxy far far away, breaking in to a safe on Anthan Prime use a measurement used on Earth.  Worse yet, why do I care so much?

Okay, now that I'm off that tangent, Darth Vader #10 was great.  It's awesome what Marvel is doing with the Star Wars comic books.  I'm just hoping they keep them at $3.99 or less.  I've been staying away from some Marvel titles as they're becoming a bit outrageous with they're prices.

Let me know what you think of the Darth Vader comic book in the comments section below.

You can read more of my blogs here on Maskerpiece Theatre and also on CinemaHeadCheese.blogspot.com

Box Office Review: Black Mass

Murder, drugs, Jai Alai, the Irish, the Italians, Senators, the FBI, DEA, IRA, police, prostitutes, 1970's Boston, Miami and an incredible ensemble of talented actors all participating in the telling of real life crime lord James "Whitey" Bulger. If you're looking for a film that has everything from corruption to redemption this might be it.

It starts with Kevin Weeks (Jessie Plemons) stating, on the record, that he isn't an informant or rat and he is strictly doing business. This is important because it references to something later revealed in the film. From there the audience is thrown into the movie with story telling split between the "present day" and previous events. A story telling device that works to keep the plot moving and it allows the story to jump forward in time without missing a beat. The audience is introduced to topics and events and then we jump back to see them brilliantly acted out.

Johnny Depp's portrayal of "Whitey" Bulger, nefarious and ruthless crime lord, was chilling. The steady ease in which he delivers his lines only to then murder people leaves you believing everything on screen. His methods of murder change so keep your eyes open. Cold and determined, loyal to his family and childhood friends until the end, this character is developed and intriguing to watch.

In fact, every character was so believable that the audience should enjoy the film without being pulled out by poor acting or distractions. The only thing that seemed a bit off was the wispy soft voice and accent of Senator Billy Bulger (Benedict Cumberbatch), Whitey's brother. The accent was believable however it was gentle in comparison to the other male counterparts in the film. A rough and tumble group of male actors who were either criminals or law enforcement, the audience was treated to men of determined spirits, be they just or unjust. This allowed for Billy Bulger to stand out as his speech was more subdued.

FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) was probably the performance of the film. The changes he shows from being a confident and smooth talking agent to the despair and panic as he sees the case unravelling was award worthy. Connolly had the largest arc in terms of character development. You could see the change not just in his mannerisms but in his expressions and ability to silver tongue his colleagues. If you had any trouble picking up on it there's a brief mention during a conversation with his wife to firmly establish his is the performance to watch.

Scott Cooper directed this film and he has an impressive list of films under his belt. His talents as a director are obvious as this film leaves little to question. The art, the clothes, the design of the houses, the cars, the attitudes are all reminiscent of a time now gone. He had a power house cast to work with and he delivered on getting the best performance from each actor.

This film is rated R for good reason. There's violence a plenty that leaves little to the imagination. The language is also stereotypical of what you'd expect Boston street thugs to sound like. If you enjoy gangster films you will not be disappointed.

"Black Mass" isn't a special effects driven movie but the actors are all so wonderful it warrants a theater screening. This might be the film that ushers in "Oscar Season" or it might be the warm up, it's that good. The tension that builds between Whitey and the FBI all the way into the finale is intense and once the film resolves you sit back, exhale and smile because you know what you just watched was a quality film.

I give it two thumbs up and encourage everyone to play "8 Degrees of Separation with Kevin Bacon" because he's also in this film.

If you've already seen it, please comment below and share your thoughts!

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