MOVIE REVIEW: The Conjuring 2

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Horror

Directed By: James Wan

Three years ago I sat in a theater and was reminded what it is like to be truly scared, and I couldn't have been happier for it. James Wan's 2013 film The Conjuring was the first time in my life that I sat in a theater full of people where every single person was terrified of what they were watching, sure I'd seen some good horror flicks on the big screen but none like this. Wan crafted a modern horror masterpiece that deserves to be held up there with other greats such as The Exorcist and The Omen, all of which fall under the category of "I can't watch this alone or I will die". It has been three years since then though and just when I was getting to the point of being able to watch this film without crapping my pants he went and released another one and folks, he did it again, oh man did he do it again. 

The Conjuring 2 picks up roughly a half decade after the events of the first film and tells the story of yet another infamous case from the files of Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga). Utilizing the "James Bond" approach this movie once again opens up on the Warrens in the middle of solving another high profile case that will in turn lead us into the main story. In the first film we saw and were horrified by the Annabelle doll (which would go on to make a highly disappointing spin-off) and this time around we open up on the Warrens investigating the Amityville House, which is maybe the most known paranormal case in history. This a fantastic way to intro these movies and if this franchise keeps going I hope it never loses this approach.

We see Lorraine experience some wonderfully creepy things within the house but it isn't long before we are out Amityville and across the pond in England, North London to be exact. This is where a single mother raising four children in a beat up London home have been experiencing horrible things caused by a mysterious paranormal force. After gaining large media attraction in the UK The Church asks Ed and Lorraine to go out to London and give the house a look over to find out of this is real or a hoax. Upon arrival it is hard for them to find evidence of a malicious spirit but they know something is happening here and they won't leave until this family is safe. 

While the first movie took the "by-the-book's" approach and perfected it, making a paranormal flick that hit all the expected beats but in ways we never thought it would and, in turn, scarring and surprising the hell out of us, this second film strays away from the conventional story tropes and cliches.  For starters, rather than tell another story of a family moving into a new home that is actually haunted (a plot line we have seen reused far too many times) this time we drop in on one that has been living in their home for sometime before the unknown force arrives. This makes it quite a bit more scary if you ask me, as this means one of these malicious spirits can arrive at anytime to terrorize you. 

I'm not one to say I believe in all of this stuff, I wouldn't go as far to say I don't believe either, but the fact that these movies are based off of actual case files of the Warrens and features the ghost hunters themselves as the main characters makes these stories feel all the more real and authentic. When you read the opening lines of the title card, which introduces us to the case we will be watching unfold this time, you can't help but imagine what it was really like for these people. Rooting a horror film in reality is always a smart way to create a terrifying atmosphere.

Though this sequel is most definitely on par with the original as far as scares go I believe this film does a few things even better than the original. One of the biggest areas of improvement was the relationship between the Warrens, though they were well played characters in the first movie we watch them go through a full arc within this film. We actually get to watch as the these two, who have been in love since they met, change not only as people but also in their relationship. Within a truly terrifying film we as an audience are able to connect and care about characters on a level we don't typically see in the genre. Not just between those two either, there is a moment where Ed is entertaining the kids in England that pulls more emotional punches than a majority of the films I've seen this year were capable of. 

One of the biggest treats of watching a James Wan film is watching how he uses the camera and the choices he makes with lighting and set design. Through both of this films you sit there for the entire runtime on the edge of your seat and this is because of the choices Wan makes. The camera is almost always moving, panning across empty rooms and dark hallways and you can bet there is a shadowy corner or doorway within each of these shots. This gives the audience little time to relax as every scene and tracking shot has a legitimate potential to scare the living hell out of you. You see all of this on display in the most masterful way in the scene where a certain painting of a nun is used to pull amazing scares. 

Making a sequel to almost any horror film is a huge risk, you are almost always guaranteed less scares and a subpar story. That's not the case for Wan though as this is now the second successful horror sequel he has made (Insidious 2) and I believe this one actually improves upon the original. He took the most terrifying film I had ever seen in a theater and made a follow up that is just as scary and even more engaging than than the first time around. I think I speak for us all when I say that I cannot wait to see what else James Wan does in the future, this guys knows how to make really good movies. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

Comedy, Music, Mockumentary

Directed By: Akiva Schaffer & Jorma Taccone

If you have been watching Saturday Night Live over the past half decade you know the funniest people to still put content on their program is The Lonely Island. The comedic music group made up of comedians Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone who have produced such hits as "Dick in a Box", "I'm on a Boat", and "Jizz in My Pants" have been the only consistency of quality the show has known in recent years. This makes it no surprise that they would eventually get to spin-off into a coveted SNL movie, an honor shared by some really great and not so great movies. They have a bunch of new tracks and a butt load of hilarious social satire to throw in our faces in their wacky "behind-the-music" style film.

Shot as a faux documentary, Popstar follows mega star Connor4Real (Andy Samberg) as his newest record drops onto the market. Made famous through his work in an old school boy band named "The Style Boyz" he broke off into a solo career after they would break up over internal problems, despite being together since they were kids. Connor4Real would become the biggest music star in the world, but his star power is wearing off and when he new record isn't received as well as he'd hoped, he will do anything to keep from falling off the top. From bringing in new blood to open his show to falling prey to cheap stage gimmicks to attract people to his concerts. It's a classic tale of celebrity hubris set in the modern music world and it makes for some brilliant comedy.

Going with the mockumentary style of filming for this movie was the perfect choice, it adds another level of reality to a film that is already a brilliant satire of the music industry and celebritism. Interspersed with handfuls of cameos by real life famous musicians they establish a world where Connor4Real has become the biggest star and it all makes sense. His hit songs like "I'm So Humble" featuring Adam Levine or "Equal Rights" featuring P!nk feel like they would legitimately exist within this world and that they would influence such artists as Mariah Carey and A$AP Rocky. 

The movie follows the same simple beats that any real life Rockumentary would follow but they make sure to execute them in absurd ways that are sure to bring out laughs. When Connor gives Owen (Jorma Taccone) his new helmet his to wear on stage (much like the Daft Punk fellas) they are sure to make it obnoxiously large and colorful so when things go wrong they do so in a wonderfully funny way. It's little things like this that add up by the end of the film to ensure you have a smile on your face throughout the entire flick.

For anyone who's a fan of The Lonely Island going into this movie the most important and exciting aspect about the movie was the new music. We all knew they would be cooking up some new tracks for this one and they definitely did not disappoint. With the official soundtrack boasting well over twenty new tracks the ones that were chosen to be used within the film are all among the best they have ever done. Songs like "Mona Lisa" and "Turn Up the Beef" are sure to satisfy any long time fans as well as bring in some new ones.

Though The Lonely Island were made popular through their work with SNL what many don't know is that these three guys were together well before they made it to the show. They have been making comedy sketches together since college and that chemistry definitely shows within their work. From the collaboration on the actual music to their on screen chemistry it's no surprise these guys have known each other for so long. 

The key to making a good comedy is to make sure that it is funny until the end, if it drags out or loses its comedic touch in the final act it can severely affect the quality of the film. Sitting at a tight eighty-six minute runtime Popstar never loses its luster. Anytime the movie may feel like it's about to drag on something it's over and we are on to the next joke and the next plotline. They are spitting a joke a minute with this movie and even if some of them don't land for you there is plenty to hit your funny bone regardless. They have successfully updated what This is Spinal Tap did all those years ago for a modern audience and the modern music industry, and they do it just as hilariously. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

How Neighbors Brought the College Comedy Into the 21st Century

Thank Neighbors for Saving the "Frat House" Comedy

The Frat house has been the setting of countless "college comedies" ever since National Lampoon's Animal House became a hit back in 1978. It's easy to see why as this is the perfect breeding ground for immaturity and irresponsibility, two of the key components of any slapstick comedy. Unfortunately for many of these movies, despite how well regarded they are and how well much of the comedy still lands, they are a product of their time. What I mean by this is that many of the films made before the turn of the century tend to be misogynistic in nature and feature some ideas that aren't up to our current societal standards.

Take Animal House for example, hailed by many as one of the greatest comedies of all-time, features a scene of a college freshman debating whether or not to have sex with a passed out party girl who we later find out is only thirteen (!) and The Mayor's daughter. Now, as we all know in the film he makes the respectable choice and sends her home (albeit in a shopping cart) but the movie makes the scenario feel like it's no big deal and the devil on his shoulder declares him a "Homo" when he makes that decision. 

Maybe that joke would be able to slide between the cracks today, as he doesn't actually make the wrong choice but let's examine another "classic college comedy" by the name of Revenge of the Nerds. Though the movie centers itself on the basic story of a group of college nerds trying to get back at the "jocks" and frat boys it basically ends up as a story about these guys trying to get laid. Spoiler alert: The main character ends up doing just that and in one of the most disgusting ways you could think of. Our would be "Hero" literally date rapes a girl at the end of the film by tricking her into thinking he is someone else while they are fooling around in the dark. Oh and this is our character's major triumph at the end of the film, he is to be applauded for this action.

I don't mention these in attempt discredit those films, they are very much a product of their time and should be viewed through that lens. Animal House still stands as one of the best comedies of all-time for me and rightly so, but if it were made today maybe that particular scene gets cut. The problem is when these old fashioned ways of thinking make it into our modern attempts at these movies. Films that are universally loved like Old School and Van Wilder find themselves at times falling prey to the misogyny and sexism of those that came before them.

MOVIE REVIEW: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)

Action, Adventure, Comedy

Directed By: David Green 

When Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird first created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics back in the mid 80's their intention was never to be taken seriously. They came up with the story as an idea of a way to parody some of the most popular comics of the 80's, most notably being Daredevil, and they wore that notion on their sleeve as a badge of honor making some of the most outrageous stories and characters in comic book lore. That means it should go without saying that a movie made about these characters should be equally absurd and out of this world and should embrace the insanity of the source material. 

The 2014 film failed to reach that mark for many old school fans (it had no problem locking in the younger crowd) who complained the film focused too much on April and not nearly enough on the Turtles. Complaints were heard apparently because David Greens (Earth to Echo) follow up to the film, Out of the Shadows, goes full on cheese mode and embraces every drop of insanity the Ninja Turtles have to offer. Bringing the Turtles front and center and adding on classic villains Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (Sheamus), as well as super villain Krang (voiced by Brad Garrett), and the fan favorite vigilante Casey Jones (Stephen Amell) make this film one giant love letter to the beloved comics and classic cartoons. 

It has been a year since the boys stopped Shredder (now played by Brian Tee) from destroying the city and attempting to take over the world, but still they are forced to live underground and only go out into the world at night. They cannot take credit for their heroism in fear of letting the world know they exist but when a new threat comes to earth, one that threatens the entire human race, they are forced out of the shadows and into the light. 

In the most literal way I may have ever seen this movie plays like a live action cartoon, so that's about as deep as the plot goes. They don't take time to establish a well thought out story but instead deliver one that is just enough to keep the film moving along. That is completely fine in this case though as the real appeal to this movie and these stories are the characters, and this film fully embraces who those characters are. To do so we as an audience are asked to suspend some of our disbelief and as long as you are able to do that this film is an absolute blast.

This time around the film opens with the turtles running through the city, scaling buildings, and diving through ventilation shafts to find their way to the Knicks game letting us know this time around we will be spending plenty of time with our guys and that they will behave just as we'd hoped they would- silly. We knew from the first film that they understood the turtles so once it was confirmed they would get their screen time the real question became whether or not they could nail Bebop and Rocksteady, and they totally do. 

From the moment Bebop first opens his mouth to dish some truly cheese ball dialogue we instantly know they are embracing these characters absurdity. Nothing they say seems like words any real or sensible human would ever utter but it totally works with these guys. Their relationship with each other is as animated as it could get yet it never feels wrong. Tyler Perry also shows up as esteemed scientist Baxter Stockman and his over-the-top hand waving insanity is just a little more welcomed madness to this flick. Stephen Amell also does a great job as the hockey stick wielding Casey Jones, who should play a large part going forward in these films.

Though the movie is a raucous good time it is far from perfect, and most of the scenes with Megan Fox's April O'Neil and Will Arnett's Vernon Fenwick will remind you of that. The two are fine in their roles but with so much more of the weird and supernatural breaking out in this movie going back to the more "human" plot lines just feels kind of unnecessary and boring. This movie proved that these turtles can lead a movie so I think it's time we phase Vernon out and put April in more scenes with the Turtles rather than off "investigating".

If there was one thing the first movie nailed it was the action, that downhill car chase is still one of the coolest sequences I have seen in recent memory. So it doesn't come as any surprise that they are just as fun this second time around. There are a few moments of incohesive action but other than that the scenes are well choreographed and executed. The CG on all of the turtles as well as Bebop, Rocksteady, and Krang are phenomenal and without these characters would have never been possible to bring to screen believably. 

David Green came into this franchise and did what he could to continue doing right what they had nailed while fixing as many of the problems that first film had and for the most part he is wildly successful. He took a ridiculous property that is loved by so many and made a film that embraces every little bit of that insanity. I stated earlier that this film plays like a live action cartoon and I couldn't be anymore serious about that. The characters are way larger than life, the dialogue is purposefully corny, and the plot requires us to suspend our disbelief quite a bit, but we have such a good time hanging with these character that it is all welcomed with open arms. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: X-Men: Apocalypse

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Directed By: Bryan Singer

The current state of super hero movies would not be what it is without the X-Men franchise, there is no denying that. Bryan Singers first movie, released all the way back in 2000, was the first big blockbuster that showed us that Hollywood could make a really good superhero movie. Singer went on to improve on that first one with the sequel in 2003 and then would leave the franchise until 2014 when he directed Days of Future Past, arguably one of the best in the series. So his return for Apocalypse was seen as a positive. However, after seeing the film I can't help but wonder if the Bryan Singer way of making a super-hero flick has already become outdated. 

The latest installment in the franchise picks up a decade after the events of Days of Future Past, keeping with the trend of the new generation of movies and pitting this story in the heart of the 1980's. Not only does this give us a whole new opportunity for crazy new character costumes but it also brings with it a new crop of characters. For starters we have the title character, Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), who some believe to be the first ever mutant. He's been asleep for a long time and he has awoken to spread his vengeance on the world.

To do so he enlists the help of some powerful mutants, including Magneto played fantastically by Fassbender once again. After the events of the previous film he has fled into the woods to try and live a quiet life, but with him being Magneto and all the story couldn't let that happen. The way they chose to pull Erik from seclusion and onto the side of Apocalypse is one of the weakest points of the film and something I wish they had done differently. They use a cheap plot device that is meant to pull some big emotional punches but without any build up or character development the scene fails to land its mark.

Once he has his four horseman they set out to take control of the world and destroy all that has stood before them. With the human race in imminent danger once again Professor X (James McAvoy) and his X-Men are the only ones who can do anything about it. With the help of some old friends like Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), and Quicksilver (Evan Peters) as well as a few new, yet familiar faces like Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee) in the students they do what they can to stop Apocalypse from enacting his ancient prophecy. 

After resetting the timeline and erasing everything that came before it at the end of the DOFP Singer and screenwriter Simon Kinberg seemed to have gotten a little over excited with their newly acquired clean slate - Apocalypse is simply trying to do too much. They wasted no time getting Jean Grey and Scott Summers back into the picture as well as bringing in, and mostly under utilized, Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Psylocke (Olivia Munn), Jubilee (Lana Condor), and Angel (Ben Hardy), who they still have no idea what to do with. On top of that all the big players return and they even force in a cameo that I'm sure you have already heard about. They could cut that entire section of the movie from the film and not miss a single beat.

In spite of all these characters they were smart enough to give the most time to the ones that mattered the most. Fassbender and McAvoy nail their parts again as Magneto and Professor X. Evan Peters reprises his role and the speedster Quicksilver and once again steals the entire movie. His big action scene is the highlight of it all and is worth the price of admission on its own. Seriously, let's give this kid his own flick, Peters completely owns the part. 

Newcomers Sophie Turner and Tye Sheridan proved to be smart casting for the parts and although they didn't get as much time to develop their story here as I'd hoped, I really liked what I saw from them and can't wait to see more going forward. Unfortunately Jennifer Lawrence gives her worst performance in the series so far coming across rather wooden in most of her scenes, thankfully she has a much smaller role than the previews would lead you to believe. Oscar Isaac also isn't given much to do in the way of acting that you would hope to get from a guy of his caliber, which was a let down.

After seeing Singer crush the end of the world scenario in DOFP watching what he chose to do here is quite disappointing. Nothing about this story brings us anything new to the superhero movie we haven't seen before, it's another apocalyptic story with a lot of flashy special effects (though there are a handful of really, really bad CG effects). Still, with a few fantastic action set piece and a handful of great performances I still came away from the theater entertained enough to justify the ticket price. 

At its highest moments the movie stands up there with the best of the series, but at its lowest points this thing is on par with The Last Stand and Origins. At moments I was cringing from the bad dialogue and at others I was totally immersed in the action (the Quicksilver scene) or a well acted character moment. So, is the Singer way of making an X-Men flick dead? not quite yet, but it's on its way there. From the way he does his opening credits scene down to his standards for action I think his way of doing these films is becoming repetitive and played out. Sure they are entertaining for a watch but with so many of these types of movies in theaters these days is that still all we need?

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: Sing Street

Sing Street (2016)

Drama, Music

Directed By: John Carney

Sitting alone in the cool dark theater this morning I had expected to see a well crafted coming of age story about a boy and a girl who fall in love. What I was treated to instead was a powerful film about the virtue of family, both blood and not, and what creating art can do for a group of kids who had no idea what they wanted out of life until they met each other. Writer/director John Carney brought to life a story that understands that family, be it loving or abusive, is something no one can avoid and it is in how they handle that family that shapes who they are going be and how they are going to get there. 

The film is set in Dublin, Ireland sometime in the 1980's and centers on Cosmo (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) and his slightly dysfunctional family. His parents fight often due to hard financial times and it is revealed early in the film that Cosmo is transferring schools because of those money issues. Although he rejects the idea at first this is where he would meet the people that would set him on the path to his future. One of those being a young girl named Raphina (Lucy Boynton) who is the driving force behind the creation of Cosmo's new band. With the help of his new friends and his older brothers adoration for music they form a band that is far better than any of them ever expected it to be, but is it enough to find Cosmo the heart of the mysterious girl from across the street?

Though Sing Street operates mostly as a basic coming of age story that sees our main character chasing his first love, it becomes so much more than that by the end of film. Once we've reached the ending and know where the story and these characters have gone it is clear that it was about far more than young love, it's about finding out who you really are and why you have become that. Cosmo isn't just changed by his feelings for this girl but also, and more importantly, by his relationships with his new friends and his brother who never really opened up to him about why his life took the path it did. 

This is where I felt my strongest connection to the film, I grew up in a large family and have a younger brother of my own so I found myself connecting to the older brother Brendan, played phenomenally by Jack Reynor. The growing relationship between the two of them throughout the story felt more real than anything else in the film. John Carney understands what a true sibling relationship looks and feels like and I believe this is one of the most realistic interpretations of that we have seen on the big screen in a long time. 

Music, or in a broader sense, art in general is used throughout the film to represent the relationships between Cosmo and each of the other characters. He is writing and creating the music in order to impress a girl he likes, while everyone he is playing with is simply there to play music with friends. Brendan uses his old record collection as an easy way to connect with his younger brother and pass on what little useful knowledge he has to help Cosmo succeed. Once he has immersed himself in the world of music, Cosmo then uses it to rebel against those who have oppressed him, like the headmaster at his new school. In every relationship formed within the film art is in some way used to represent what exactly that relationship means. 

Instead of just using a stacked soundtrack of classic rock songs to populate his film John Carney went the extra mile and had original songs written and performed throughout the movie to directly express the emotions of the story. Cosmo writes numerous songs to explain his growing relationship with Raphina while also creating songs out of anger towards his crumbling life at home and at school. This allows us to really get to know who these people are without being told the specifics of their past.

While Sing Street may not offer up any new twists or turns to the coming of age movie it takes something we already know and turns it into a story of love, passion, and family that anyone can connect too. With a diverse cast of characters that are well thought out and clearly formed throughout the film there is someone for everyone to connect to. For me, it was the older brother Brendan, for others it will be Rafina or Cosmo or any of the band members, or even the angry parents. We all have some kind of family that is directly attributed to who we are today, and this film understands that on a level we don't see often enough on screen.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!