Trailer Based Review: Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol

The Plot

          When a bomb blows up the Kremlin the IMF takes the fall.  The agency is shut down and all agents are disavowed.  Rather than bringing Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team back to America, as requested by the American government, the IMF president enlists the team to clear the organization’s name.  Hunt and his team must find and expose the party responsible for the bombing.

The plot plays out similar to the previous 3 Mission Impossible movies.  There are new gadgets and a new team, but Hunt must once again break into an extremely secure facility, with the help of his team, and retrieve evidence clears the IMF’s name.  In an obvious plot twist it is revealed that the bombing actually was commissioned by a rogue agent in the IMF organization.  If you are looking for a movie where you don’t have to think and there are lots of explosions, this is the movie for you.

The Good

+Lots of high intensity action sequences.

+Best Mission Impossible movie since the original.

The Bad

-Sadly being the best since the original doesn’t mean much.

-Plot is almost nonexistent.

-One would think that a rogue team would try to not cause so many disturbances.

Final Rating 2/5

*I have not seen this movie; this review is based purely off of assumptions made by watching the trailer.  Some plot references are assumptions and do not represent the final product.

Trailer Based Review: The Big Year

The Plot

          Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson), Brad Harris (Jack Black), and Stu (Steve Martin) are three men at various stages in their lives.  However, these men share two things in common: they are unhappy with their current lives, and they are avid bird watchers.  When El Nino, a climate change, causes a large variety of birds to fly up to the United States extraordinary bird watching conditions are created.   The three men decide to spend a year bird watching and experiencing life, which quickly turns into a competition to see who can spot the most birds.

            Rather than being a relaxing vacation, the trip is filled with mishaps that the trio has to overcome.  During the competition the men all have revelations.  Brad realizes what he wants to do with his life, Kenny realizes how to fix his marriage, and Stu realizes how to live life without work.  In the end Kenny wins the competition, but they all go back to their lives much happier.

The Good

+Martin, Black, and Wilson work well together, each providing their own type of comedy.

+Full of comedic situations.

The Bad

-However, all these situations are predictable.

-Jack Black’s physical humor is overplayed, which quickly becomes unfunny.

Final Rating 2/5

*I have not seen this movie; this review is based purely off of assumptions made by watching the trailer.  Some plot references are assumptions and do not represent the final product.

Trailer Based Review: 50/50

The Plot

            Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) lives the life of an average 27 year old.  He lives with his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen), a pot head, and still has feelings for his ex-girlfriend Katie (Anna Kendrick).  However, Adam does have one problem that most people his age don’t have to deal with; he has just been diagnosed with cancer.  He has been given a 50 percent chance of surviving, but feels that he should come to amends with everyone in his life just in case.

            The second half of “50/50” plays out very similar to the plot of the movie “Funny People”, Adam reaches out to let people know of his condition.  This includes his ex-girlfriend, Katie, who feeling sympathetic for him begins to talk to him frequently.  Still having feelings for her, Adam tries to win her back and succeeds.  However, just when he becomes happy with his life the cancer takes over, ending his life.

The Good

+Levitt provides his usual great acting.

+Rogen supplies enough humor to keep the movie from becoming depressing.

The Bad

-A very somber ending.

-So similar to “Funny People” that it almost seems like a rip off.

Final Rating 3.5/5

*I have not seen this movie; this review is based purely off of assumptions made by watching the trailer.  Some plot references are assumptions and do not represent the final product.

Trailer Based Review: Tower Heist

The Plot

            Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda) runs a panzi scheme, and is one of the richest men in the world, but when the panzi scheme falls apart his employees realize they have been defrauded.   After Josh Kovack (Ben Stiller) learns that Shaw has 20 million dollars hidden in his suite he devises a plan to steal it.  Kovack enlists the help of his fellow coworkers and a professional criminal, Slide (Eddie Murphy), to get revenge and take back the money they have lost.

            After taking part in several humorous training sessions conducted by Slide, the employees are ready for the heist.  What ensues is a robbery along the lines of Ocean’s Eleven, but with a lot more action and comedy involved.  All the employees are very comedic characters, and their successes and failures during the heist will keep you laughing.  In the end Slide gets shot and they discover that there is no secret stash.  It is a bittersweet ending, but the ride more than makes up for it.

The Good

+Classic Eddie Murphy.  This is the best Eddie Murphy movie since the early 90s.

+ The rest of the cast is great as well.

+The laughs just keep coming.

The Bad

-The scenes without Murphy are not nearly as funny.

-The action sequences are sometimes a little overdone.

Final Rating 4.5/5

*I have not seen this movie; this review is based purely off of assumptions made by watching the trailer.  Some plot references are assumptions and do not represent the final product.

Trailer Based Review: The Rum Diary

The Plot

When Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp), a freelance journalist, relocates to Puerto Rico to write for the local newspaper, he quickly finds himself immersed in a new world.  A world fueled by alcohol and run by greedy exploitative men such as Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart).  Kemp quickly becomes romantically involved with Sanderson’s Fiancé Chenault (Amber Head) and in doing so finds himself on the wrong side of one of the most powerful people on the Island.

            

Kemp fights back the only way he knows how, by writing an article to expose Sanderson’s illegal practices.  Sanderson does not take this lightly and Puerto Rico quickly becomes a dangerous place for Kemp.  While Kemp tries to survive, Sanderson attempts to hold onto his power after being exposed. This story ends as most however, with Kemp being victorious and winning the girl.

 

The Good 
+Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, and the rest of the cast turn in great performances.  
+Several moments will keep you laughing, despite the fact that this movie is a drama.  
+The extravagant Puerto Rico lifestyle is exciting and keeps you wanting more. 

The Bad 
-The conclusion leaves you feeling a little unsatisfied. 

Final Rating: 4/5

*I have not seen this movie; this review is based purely off of assumptions made by watching the trailer.  Some plot references are assumptions and do not represent the final product.