​When you boil it all down, movies are pretty by the numbers when it comes to crime stories. We meet an intelligent detective; our respective criminal and we are then treated to a fun and enthralling cat and mouse game before our intrepid gumshoe brings down the bad guy and the credits roll.  That's not meant to be an insult to those films by any means, after all, everyone loves a happy ending.

But sometimes it's a good thing to mix things up and surprise the audience along the way. Usually that's done with something a little more shocking on screen when it comes to the crime in question, or by changing up the formula for the characters. However, once in a great while, a film comes along that simply changes everything for its respective genre, turning every trope and every concept upside down and in 1995, the crime/murder story received one heck of an upgrade with David Fincher's Seven.

The story to this one we all know and love because this is a film that most of us have watched over and over again to enjoy every little nuance because well...it's a brilliant motion picture. Few films in this genre have ever taken the time to present murder as an everyday thing, a job for detectives if you will like this film does. It doesn't glorify it or celebrate it in any fashion, as evidenced by Detective Somerset's views on life and his job for that matter, but it is part of this world. It happens, it's ugly and it's simply a thing to be dealt with and the rawness of that is stunning to say the least. Most of these stories feature a level of reflection upon life and the life taken, whereas this film focuses squarely on the fact that it is an act that has been completed, and the only thing that can be done about it is to find the person responsible as quickly as possible.

But the bleakness doesn't end there. The lack of naming the city in the film, the constant rain and the design of this world consistently looking broken down and disheveled provides us with a grand dystopia where it seems that people are struggling to survive, and our intrepid detectives are overwhelmed and overworked as they desperately fight to bring justice and balance to a world that chugs along to the best of its ability.  Plus, one cannot forget that John Doe as a character is unique in his own right. He is a cold and calculating villain of the finest caliber since he truly believes in the righteousness of his actions and well, the fact that in essence, (SPOILERS) the bad guy wins in this film makes for a jarring experience that has little for us to feel good about when all is said and done. 

So why then, do we continue to fawn over this movie and celebrate it considering darkness and despair permeates virtually every single frame of the film? Because the story is honest enough to present the world as the rough and tough place that we already know it is, and the fact that Somerset and Mills are actually trying to do some good in the world. Sure they may be surly and disenfranchised with the world they inhabit, but they feel they have no other recourse in this life but to do something worthwhile and that is perhaps the film's greatest trick, that there is hope buried in all that despair after all and it takes the time to teach us that while sometimes the bad guy does indeed win, there are those out there, still fighting the good fight, despite the odds being against them.  

Shae's Review
This movie is awesome. And not just because it has a song entitled ‘Everything is Awesome’. That's just circumstance! No, but really, this movie far exceeded my expectations. I went into it expecting some pointless movie made with Lego figures. Well, I was wrong. The movie's actually got a great message, enjoyable themes, and a fantastic plot, and a cast of fantastic actors lending their legendary voices!

Lord Business, the evilest of evil bad guys, steals the most powerful of all weapons from Morgan Freeman--I mean Vitruvius. The magical God-Like-Wizard tells a prophecy, a chosen one will find the Piece of Resistance that will stop the Kragle and Lord Business. This person is known as The Special. This is where Emmet, our hero, finds the Piece of Resistance. He's found by Wildstyle, a totally kick butt chick whose boyfriend is Batman. Seriously, Will Arnett did an amazing job of voicing Batman! Mad respect for him! They're chased by Badcop, Lord Business' right-hand man (Liam Neeson is one of my heroes!) and a bunch of robot henchmen.

In the end, Emmet reveals that he's not the Special, Vitruvius admits that there was no prophecy, he made it up. The underlying message is that it didn’t matter who would have found the Piece of Resistance, everyone is special in their own unique way. Add in some plot twists you don't see coming, a special, heartwarming ending, a catchy song, and you have a fantastic movie. It's fun for kids of all ages. Including us grown ones.

Scott's Review
Following the instructions is something that we were taught early in life by our parents. Even though we were being conditioned to be safe when we grew into adults, most of us still look back to what we learned and continue to observe the lessons that we were taught. When we deviate from the rules that were laid out in front of us, we learned about failure and had someone standing over our shoulder waiting to say, ‘Told you so.’ Everyone has experienced this, but the positive thing that comes out of doing this, is it makes you your own person.

Emmet Brickowoski is a normal construction worker that has lived his life by following the instructions laid out for him.  Only wanting to be accepted, Emmet is not willing to deviate from the rules that everyone around town follows for living life but is unable to figure out why he does not have a large number of friends.  Not doing anything original around his group, he is not recognized for anything other than being present and doing things, but Emmet’s life is about to become more complicated. 

When preparing to leave the construction site, Emmet notices a stranger that is milling around, but when trying to confront the intruder, he falls into a cavern below the old building. Losing his instructions, he is met by the Piece of Resistance that will make him the most important person in the world. Being captured by Bad Cop with the Piece of Resistance stuck to his back, Emmet is rescued from the corrupt official by Wyldstyle who needs to take ‘The Special’ to meet with the Masterbuilders to save the world from a villain that has the power of the Kragle.

But when Wyldstyle finds out that Emmet is just an ordinary guy with nothing special about him whatsoever, she starts to doubt the validity of the prophecy that was told many years earlier. When meeting the Masterbuilders, Emmet comes clean about his past and is straight forward with who he really is.  He is not received well and that is when he is forced to come up with plans of his own to take down the evil Lord Business with help from his remaining friends.  Building skyscrapers from the instructions, Emmet knows every nook and cranny and will be able to lead a team to save the world from Lord Business but will anyone end up following a non Masterbuilder into the heat of battle?

A fun movie to say the least.  With so many great actors lending their voices, it is hard to keep track of everyone. With plenty of jokes, and a twist that occurs late in the movie, there is no reason not to cheer on your favorite characters as the story progresses. It is hard to find one character that could be your favorite, as there are so many good ones, but I will have to admit Batman made me laugh quite often, but Unikitty had grabbed my heart from the very beginning. Being your own person is something that everyone strives to be and the only way we are able to accomplish it, is to break the mold and have just a little bit of originality. Happy viewing.

In the days that followed my viewing of Avengers: Infinity War, I have to admit that a particular question kept popping up in my mind over and over again when it comes to the MCU in that, how on earth was Marvel going to top this particular story? I mean, this one really had it all. Every single epic moment that we nerds could have asked for in a comic book movie presented itself on the screen, leaving the other Marvel releases slated to hit before the next Avengers movie with some large shoes to fill.
 
If anything, that particular question was on my mind when I settled in to watch Ant-Man and the Wasp the other day because we are now in uncharted territory for the MCU where anything can happen and, in all honesty, I’m glad that I walked into this one with a little bit of worry in my soul so to speak, because as it turns out…this movie was able to soothe all of my concerns. Because this next chapter in Scott Lang’s wild life was downright magnificent through and through, and kudos to Marvel for taking the opportunity to use this film to serve as the anthesis to Thanos’ evil machinations.
 
Because what makes this film so great, is that it is quite the lighthearted affair, with plenty of downright hilarious moments that leave you chuckling and the movie also does a fine job of resurrecting the comedic awkwardness we all enjoyed in the first Ant-Man film and much of that is of course driven by Paul Rudd and his portrayal of Scott Lang since he does such a phenomenal job of playing the ‘loveable loser’ so to speak and Rudd’s honest take on the character is what allows for the film to become so incredibly relatable when all is said and done. 

​I say that, simply because, there’s a real honesty to this particular film since every single character in this story does a fine job of putting their emotions on display and that honestly caught me off guard while I was watching it since you rarely see that kind of stuff in comic book films. But hope, fear and doubt are all on display here when it comes to our heroes and seeing them exude that sucks you into the story right away and it helps for you to root for the Pym family and Scott to be successful in their mission and really, it is the mission, one revolving around saving Hank’s wife from the Quantum Void, that truly impressed me most of all since it helps to combine all of these elements together to create what is in essence, a throwback superhero film.
 
After all, these days these types of movies tend to focus on the darkness within and overcoming great odds and adversity on all sides to either become a hero or maintain a status as one but none of that is present here. Everyone, with the exception of Sonny Burch (who is played with a magnificent zest and zeal by Walter Goggins) is working to do something good in this film and even the villain is trying to improve their way of life and well, that’s just refreshing to see in superhero film for a change and as I mentioned, this all serves as a throwback to more classic movies from this genre wherein the heroes were inherently good and only focused upon doing wonderful things.
 
Though, I do suppose, that if I have any particular complaint about this film, it would be that it needed more of Luis’ patented rants because nobody pulls those off like actor Michael Peña. But that’s really as far as my fussing will go when it comes to this movie, and that’s good thing because it’s a great film. It’s fun, it’s heartwarming and it’s downright hilarious and it really is a lovely pallet cleanser for the MCU and while there are some tie-ins to the dark events of Infinity War, the smile that is plastered to your face when you leave the theater overshadows any of that because it’s simply a feel-good superhero flick, and one that everyone should see as soon as possible. 

There was a time when corporations were viewed as a wonderful thing. After all, they took care of their employees by way of great wages and benefits, but somewhere along the line, something changed. Profit and shareholder satisfaction became the true focus for the corporate world and making that a priority over their employees has put corporations in a well-deserved bad light as they make misstep after misstep these days, all in the name of the almighty dollar. 
 
But while we shake our heads in disgust when we see stories about corporate greed pop up in daily headlines and try to combat it by supporting small businesses as often as possible, we can at least take comfort in the fact that corporations don’t put people in harm’s way in order to make a profit. However, it’s a thought/possibility that’s crossed all of our minds and it is a concept that can safely be explored in fiction and recently, I had the opportunity to look at a motion picture that takes the notion of corporate greed and harming others to make a healthy profit to a whole new level in Inferno: Skyscraper Escape.
 
Now in this film we are introduced to Tom and Brianna Bronson, a couple that quite frankly, are going through quite the rough patch in their marriage. Because Brianna is spending all of her time working for Beaumont and Associates on their latest investment, the UBX Tower and that’s definitely put a strain on her relationship with her husband, and things go to bad from worse for the couple when it is revealed that Brianna is cheating on her husband, prompting Tom to file for divorce. But what is truly incredible about this turn of events is that Beaumont’s company is behind it all. They faked Brianna’s infidelity to keep her away from everything illegal that’s been going down behind the scenes at the UBX Tower construction wise, and as fate would have it, she and her husband and her kids are inside that very tower on a day when things are about to go terribly wrong within its walls. 

​Now, I know what you’re thinking. With a title like that, this has to be some kind of a low budget cheese fest, right? Well, no. While I will admit it’s obvious that this film didn’t get a two-hundred-million-dollar budget, what it lacks in production funds it makes up for with story because there really were some interesting story elements to be found in this one. For starters, it tackles corporate greed and evil head on, making Beaumont and Associates as slimy as they come, and you really do root for these greedy jerks to get their just desserts in this tale and that quite frankly, draws you into the movie.
 
As an added bonus, the story, and your experience are further enhanced by the Bronson family. Because there is an honesty and realism to their plight in this tale and this family’s bond is strong and you’re rooting for them to come together safely and this part of the movie is a success thanks to the strong performances that come forth from Jamie Bamber and Claire Forlani who play Tom and Brianna respectively and I really appreciate the fact that Brianna ends up being the heroine of the story since she takes charge in saving her family and risks everything in doing so and really, that particular twist was just downright refreshing since most of these films always have the man playing the role of the savior.
 
But, in the end, I think what I really appreciated about this movie the most is the sheer fact that it doesn’t try to be more than what it is, and by taking that honest approach, you know exactly what you’re getting into. But of all the awesome things that this motion picture features storytelling wise, let’s be honest, there really is one reason that this movie caught our eye, the fact that it advertises an action-packed ride and it delivers on that front too, with plenty of dangerous and stunning moments that make it worth your while, and that’s honestly why I recommend you see this film. Because it’s an easy to way to kill an hour and a half and you’ll be entertained while you do so since it has so much to offer.  

I’ve always found it fascinating just how bittersweet it can sometimes be to meet and speak with someone who expresses their desire to outright change the world. Because while they are inspiring people in their own right, and they often leave our spirits soaring thanks to their infectious ambition and their optimism, deep down we find ourselves a touch skeptical in regard to their quest because we realize that they are facing some incredible odds when it comes to accomplishing their goal.
 
After all, in order to truly bring about change in our world, one has to win over every single heart and mind out there and unite the people to a single cause and that’s quite the tall order since there are always people who believe that the status quo is the way to go and there are others who are utterly terrified of change. But, we wish those who want to change our world the best because hey, at least they’re making an effort and they often do inspire our imagination to wonder; just what would our world look like if someone could find a way to get every single person on the same page? And oddly enough, that particular question is explored in the most creative way imaginable in the science fiction film, Mad Genius.
 
Now in this film, we are introduced to an incredibly intelligent young man named Mason, who definitely believes that the world can become a better place, and rather than just lament the situation as it currently stands, he works on projects that might in fact improve our world and he uses an alter ego online, Mr. Vix, in order to speak to the planet’s problems and inspire change. But what few people know, is that Mason has hatched a plan in that giant brain of his to finally change the world, one that involves mapping the human mind in order to alter its programming. But he’s not the only one whose come up with such a notion and it will be a race against time to see who discovers the secrets of the human mind first, and the winner of this race will either make the world a better place…or send mankind to its doom.

So really, the first thing I noticed about this motion picture, is the sheer fact that it is a wonderful throwback to the Cyberpunk films of the 1990’s, complete with colorful and kitschy characters that jump off the screen and the decision to go that route from an aesthetic and design standpoint for the film, instantly sucks you in to the story. Because those films of yesteryear always featured a genuinely good protagonist and Mason definitely falls into that category because he genuinely wants to do good in the world and his plan seems pretty logical, to the point where you instantly find yourself rooting for Mason to succeed and that’s where the magic really begins when it comes to this story.
 
Because this movie, features an incredibly layered and thoughtful screenplay, one that truly digs into what it would take for the world to embrace change and rather than cram a single answer down our throats, it offers a veritable cornucopia of possibilities. One of which, is that we have to be better individuals to begin with, and that notion comes about by way of Mason’s storyline and the fascinating twist of him embracing an imaginary friend named Finn in order to ‘properly’ function in life, and it also explores how we have to inspire people to want to improve their lives and their surrounding environment rather than demand that they do so, otherwise the end result is more of the same and the film also briefly touches upon how that kind of negative push can also lead to the creation of monsters like Eden, who is played brilliantly by actor Faran Tahir. 
 
If anything, all of these elements make for a refreshing science fiction film, one that embraces the best parts of the genre and really, I loved this motion picture. It’s fun, it’s quirky, subtle, smart and poignant and credit is due to all of the cast for bringing these magnificent characters to life and to Writer/Director Royce Gorsuch for providing us with a lovely vision of a future world where technology has indeed taken over our lives in every single way imaginable, but still finds ways to inspire people to be more in life and all of these elements just make for a wonderful viewing experience and this is honestly a movie that you need to see as soon as possible since this film really is just a delight through and through.  

Unfortunately, in life, sometimes we are forced to deal with rough patches and hardships. But no matter how hard those parts our lives turn out to be, we always find solace in the fact that these issues are only temporary. In fact, that mantra of ‘this too shall pass’ likely helps to galvanize us to the point where we push ourselves to do anything and everything to get out of the respective situation that’s causing us strife, and in reality, it really is the right mindset to have when bad things come along.
 
However, perhaps one of our greatest collective fears when it comes to the bad in life, is that there is a remote possibility that the bad…will never come to an end. That despite our positive thinking and push toward recovery, the ugly stuff will simply remain, and we fear that, simply because we don’t know what our lives will look like, or what we will become, if that kind of unpleasantness continues to persist and recently, I had the opportunity to watch a motion picture that explores what happens to our psyche when we have to endure incredible hardships for far too long in The Lighthouse.
 
Set in 1801 and based upon a true story, this is a film that takes us to a remote lighthouse, 25 miles from shore for a routine shift change, and it is during this personnel swap that we meet two men; Thomas Griffiths and Thomas Howell, a pair of lighthouse keepers who are polar opposites in life but tolerate one another because they’ve got a job to do and they only have to deal with one another for a short while until they are relieved by the next pair of keepers. But a tough complication arises for these two men, in that…a powerful storm has arrived in the middle of their watch, one that won’t let up and now these two men will be tested like never before as it becomes apparent that they may perish in this remote and lonesome place, since the storm is preventing any boat from rescuing them…

​So, I have to fully admit, that I was ill prepared for how dark this motion picture turned out to be, because holy cow, this is one bleak story, the kind where you need a moment to process the horrors that you’ve just seen when it comes to an end and in all honesty, that’s a good thing. Because film should serve as an experience, regardless of whether it’s good or bad and this film accomplishes that with ease. Because once that storm hits, you lose hope as well and what makes this part of the story so powerful, is the sheer fact that you join these men on their downward spiral and the film holds nothing back when it comes to that.
 
It makes a for a visceral experience, one that at times feels like a waking nightmare and quite frankly, is extremely tough to watch because you do bear witness to some serious suffering when it comes to these poor souls, to the point where you wonder if the torture will ever end and, in all honesty, while that seems like an awful experience to endure when watching a motion picture, it’s not. It’s simply amazing to see something this raw and powerful unfold before your very eyes because few films out there take the time to truly pull the audience into a disaster the way this one does.
 
In fact, you really only find this kind of psychological hardship in the horror genre, except, there’s no monster waiting in the rain for these men, just despair and when all is said and done, this is a movie that quite frankly, is worth your time. In part because it’s a slice of history, but also because, it really is unique in what it brings to the screen and really, kudos need to go to actors Mark Lewis Jones and Michael Jibson, who play the two Thomas’ in question, because they are the ones that sell this harrowing tale and credit is also due to Co-Writer/Director Chris Crow, for putting together a powerful story that reminds us of how tough life can be, when we are robbed of hope. 

Spending special days with your friends is a must if you want to keep that relationship intact. Birthdays are one of these special occasions that you must attend, even if it is a fun lunch or dinner with your friends, just so they know that you care. But sometimes you want to do something a little extra to make the occasion a little bit more momentous by taking them on a trip or something in that vein. While you want to make the event memorable for your friend, you must also understand what they want to do, since not everybody enjoys getting older every year. 
​
Getting his wife loaded into the car, Matt is trying to document everything that is going on for Jessica’s final ultrasound before they become parents. Making sure she understands how important this is for the both of them to finally have a family of their own, Matt keeps the camera focused on Jessica while not watching the road. While the couple are very excited about their next step in life, their car is t-boned in an intersection and their dreams, along with Matt’s eye fly out the window. After Jessica loses the baby, Matt has gotten over the fact that he will not be a father, but also comes to the decision that he will never lose a loved one ever again.

Months have passed, and Matt is ready to take his good friend Joe on a birthday bash that he will never forget. Retrofitting a camera inside of his prosthetic eye, Matt is ready to make this a party that they will never forget. Picking up Joe and Liz, the couple also makes a stop to pick up Jessica’s little brother Trey and his new girlfriend Julia to come along for the ride. While the three couples joke in the car, Trey is dying to show off his brother’s little invention and freaks out Julia by showing her the fake eye. Being able to get it back before the dog is able to eat it, Matt and his family have made it to Gracefield and are ready to take in the sights from his boss’ Bigfoot hunting cabin. 

Seeing that this is no ordinary cabin in the woods, but a mansion, the group picks out their rooms and get ready for the party of a lifetime. While playing outside however, they are privy to a meteor falling out of the sky and Matt and Joe want to document everything that they have seen. Being able to locate the fallen rock from the sky, they quickly find out that they are not alone in the woods as there is some sort of beast that is trying to hunt them down. Thinking that it is a Bigfoot, the group is able to make their way back to the cabin for safety, but little do they know the extent that the creature will go to, in order to get its property back from the unwilling group.

I liked the description of the movie and have been waiting on pins and needles to watch it, but I must admit that I was disappointed in the end. If I was not one for storytelling and continuity in movies, I am sure I would have loved it, but there were so many holes in the story and shots that you just don’t find in a found footage movie that it left me wishing it never came to be. If the movie was more of a comedy, it would have made much more sense and been far more enjoyable, but with the filmmakers consistently trying to play it straight, it really made for a subpar viewing experience. With a meteor, a group of friends disappearing one by one, high jumping aliens, a strange symbol, a missing dog, a human with helium filled lungs and plenty of balloons, you will be left wondering what really happened to the family pet over everything else. While I don’t like to take shots at independent movies, this one really took a swing and missed, but if it does get re-cut as a comedy, I will be all in. Happy Viewing.