Movie Reviews #100%!

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! So, this is going to be my last review under the name "Movie Reviews with Tudor". Tomorrow the name is going to change into "Movie Talks", with new reviews and a brand new topic, "Best and Worst of the Month". But for now let's talk about the new movie from Luc Besson. Listen, I love "The Fifth Element" and I enjoyed "Lucy". Plus I like the "Taxi" and "Taken" series plus "Leon: The Professional" is awesome. This one is 50/50 for me. The movie's forte are the visuals. The movie looks amazing, spectacular, full of colors and extraordinary. It's not called the most expensive french movie ever because you can see that they took full advantage of the immense budget that they had. And they used it very well and the 3-D enhances the experience. The soundtrack is interesting too and the performan...

Dunkirk (2017) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! So, finally, I have one of the reviews that I promised. I just done watching "Dunkirk" and, I have to say, one of the best war movies in the last few years. And, maybe, the best movie that Christopher Nolan ever made. Ya, even better than "The Dark Knight" or "Inception". From the beginning of the movie, you are immersed in the story. It picks you up and holds you until the end. Great camera work, with impeccable angles of filming and movement. He knows how to work a camera, captivating you with every image. Beautiful cinematography as well. And some scenes consist only in gestures, movement and an incredible and deafening score by Hans Zimmer. In the exact scene that the score is heard, is perfectly used to bring you the emotions of that particular scene. And how Nolan decided to tell the story, from three different angles, the beach, the sea and the air, was a stroke of genius. Yes,...

Unforgettable (2017) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! Today, it's time for a bad movie. A few minutes after I saw this movie, I stood on my chair and asked myself why am I torturing myself by watching these endless domestic thrillers that are bad. And then it hit me! I am a movie reviewer and it's my job to review movies, however bad or good they are, even those in the middle, just to give you, I hope, some guidance and pieces of advice about these movies. So here I am reviewing another domestic thriller, the second this year. The first one I saw, this year, was "You Get Me", which was very bad. I expect, at least, some originality with these movies, since they are so popular, but it's always the same goddamn story. Maybe there are some few changes with this one, but, at it's core is the same thing. The plot is unoriginal, the story sucks, the script is bad and lazy, the dialog is awful and the performances are less than desirable, alt...

Going In Style (2017) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! So, I just returned from my vacation in Greece and, although, this is not the review I promised, I will eventually see "Dunkirk" and "Valerian". Until then, I will leave you with my thoughts about this movie. Look, the problem with this movie is that I've already seen this type of movie before. We have so many, like "RED" 1 and 2, "Last Vegas" and "Stand-Up Guys". The type I'm talking about are comedies with elderly actors. Plus, the plot is not original at all. But the movie addresses a very serious problem, which is that the state does not care what happens with the elderly people. And that is a real problem that is happening today. And I appreciated how they combined it with comedy. And there are some few laughs in this. Unfortunately, the movie plays it to safe and it gives you the feeling that they did not want to developed the story a bit more....

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING! Hello guys and welcome back! As I said, earlier this day, I will make an announcement to tell you about some changes about the blog and the reason why the review from today is the last one for a while. So, tomorrow I am going on vacation to Kavala in Greece and I will return towards the end of the month. When I do, I will post my reviews of "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" and "Dunkirk" plus some other movies. The second bit is that, beginning with August, the name of the blog is going to change from "Movie Reviews with Tudor" into "Tudor Does Movies". I'm changing the name because, also from August, I will have another topic of discussion on my blog called "Best and Worst of the Month", where I will give you my best and worst movie from the previous month, for example in August I will give you my best and worst from July. Movies that I saw in the movie theater or at home but, specifically,...

To The Bone (2017) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! This is going to be my last review for a while and I will tell you the reason in my announcement that I will be posting later this day. So, this movie tackles a very sensitive and emotional problem, anorexia. Mainly on women. It tackles the subject in a way that is both insightful and inspiring. Some publications criticized the movie on being uninsightful and insipid but, like I said, it's exactly the opposite, in my opinion. It may bother some people, mainly with this affliction and some images may disturb some viewers with a more sensible state but the movie is like a wake up call. Just wake up and live your life, don't be a coward and choose to give your life away. And, as the movie depicted, it affects, not only your life, but also the lives of the people who love you. Plus, it's more grounded to reality when the director, Marti Noxon, said that the movie is inspired by her life and her afflict...

Planet of the Apes (2001) Review So, it's torture to even talk about this movie but to see it it's beyond torture. Because the rebooted trilogy apparently ended, there are talks about another 2 or 3 movies, I've decided to revisit the reason why we got these reboots. And it is awful. I've seen the 1968 original and this remake is nothing like it. That one is more interesting and has more intense scenes than this one. Poor and confusing script, illogical plot and story, terrible performances from good actors, bad special effects and, plainly, a boring movie. Not even the third act, with that fight between apes and humans, was capable of making this movie a bit interesting and engaging. Think of "Phantom Menace" but with apes and without that excellent pod racing or the duel with Darth Maul. The whole movie is a agony from start to finish. And boy, what an end! Confusing, stupid and plain bad. I don't know what Tim Burton wanted to do with this, maybe c...

War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! Today we conclude the rebooted "Planet of the Apes" movies on a very high note. This is the most intense and the most emotional entry in the series. It starts off excellent, like the other two, with a action scene that is impressive. Plus, the opening sentences explained very well the story of the whole trilogy plus they did a nice move with enlarging the words "rise", "dawn" and "war", the very three that describe each of the three movies. There are some links with the original, mainly the little girl, Nova. Which is great. This movie is focused more on the apes than the other two combined. This is their movie, their story. Plus hearing Caesar speaking for the entire movie is awesome. I'm amazed on how well this entire trilogy constructed and developed this character, ending his arc on a very intense and emotional note. Speaking of Caesar, he is s...

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! Today it's ape time again with the second entry in the rebooted franchise, which I liked a bit more than the first one because it amps the emotional and quality of this series. Matt Reeves takes the reigns from Rupert Wyatt and does an amazing job. The character of Caesar that was introduced in the first movie gets more exposition and more screen time. The main theme of the movie is family and we see a correlation between Caesar and Malcolm because both of them want to protect their family, so that link between them and the goodness that resides into Malcolm's soul and his family reignites that trust for humans that Caesar lost in the first movie. And there is another correlation between Caesar and Koba, who are complete opposites. Caesar saw that humans can be good but Koba saw only the worst part of what humans are and that is why he turns on Caesar. And to see that dynamic unfold ...

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! Today it's monkey time. Or ape time, more accurately! It's the first movie in the rebooted franchise. I'm not sure what to say about this movie that has not yet been said. Rupert Wyatt does an amazing job with the direction of this movie and the direction he chose to begin the story. An amazing story by the way, well putt and well crafted. The script is very good, plus the special effects are amazing. The apes look so real. From the very beginning of the movie, you side with the apes because the humans in this movie, their only goal is to make money, with a few exceptions. They don't care about the repercussions. And when all hell breaks loose, in the amazing and very intense third act of the movie, they do not assume their mistakes, as a result of messing with mother nature. It's never a good idea to do that. I mentioned that there are a few exceptions, in the human depa...

The Mummy (2017) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! So, I knew, going into this, from other critics that this movie is universally, pun intended, bad and I did not have any expectations. But, man, this movie is really bad! I mean, not really bad, it has one or two good things but the movie does not work as an opening act for Universal's Dark Universe. Instead of the campy fun that was the 1999 "The Mummy", this version takes a more dark and suspenseful tone. The story lacks any emotions. The plot is flimsy, the characters barely have a backstory, the script is bad and the action has no thrills, except for that plane crash, which is a nicely done scene. I did not think I could dislike another Tom Cruise movie besides the sequel to "Jack Reacher" from last year. But even that had some good action and chase scenes plus that one scene from the beginning. I know Tom Cruise took over most of the production and writing of this movie but I don...

CHIPS (2017) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! There is a trend in Hollywood these days and that trend is to remake a old school TV Show into a movie. There were hits like "21 Jump Street" and it's sequel and misses like "Starsky and Hutch". This movie is also a remake of an old school cop TV Show from the 70's but offers nothing original in this genre. This movie misses the mark on everything. Script is awful, hence the unoriginal plot, the dialogue is horrendous, the humor consists only in stupid jokes plus the usual but and dick jokes and not even the action scenes can save this mess. Acting wise.... The movie is bad so the acting does not improved it! Fairly, there is a action and chase scene that is pretty engaging but that is it. This movie is bad and it should not exist. And it's predictable as fuck! I don't know the TV Show, I was born years and years after it but I'm definitely sure that it wasn't like this! 5...

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! So, last night I went to see "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and I really liked it. I did not love it and I will tell you why. The movie does what a second reboot of a franchise would normally do, touching every aspect of the same franchise but not be overwhelmed with the pressure of making a movie universe. It's funny but not exaggerated, like "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" was, filled with excellent action scenes and brilliant special effects. Tom Holland shines as both Peter Parker and Spider-Man and most of that is made believable by his appropriate age. I mean, you can truly believe that he is in high school. I think this is the most funny movie iteration of Spider-Man. It's clearly targeted for the younger audience from it's light, colorful and family friendly story to it's snappy and high school humor. Imagine a movie by John Hughes but in the superhero world an...

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) Review Well, this time they stroke out at two. This movie had the same problems as "Spider-Man 3". It is, basically, the same movie. It has the exact same faults. Stuffed with too many plot lines and stories and an overabundance of characters that were forced into the main story and not fully developed. Put there only the set up the "Sinister Six" movie, which, I think, would never be made. It was pointless and a bad move from Sony. Why did you need Rhino? He appears only in the beginning and at the end, with no impact whatsoever. Why do you have Felicia a.k.a Black Cat when she is very little in the movie? Plus that stupid illness that the Osborns have, that will turned them into a real Green Goblin? Where did that came from? Do we really need another Harry Osborn becomes Green Goblin and fights Peter again? No we don't because we've already seen that. The action is great, the special effects are awesome and the cast did...

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! Today I will talk about both of the "Amazing Spider-Man" reboot. Let's begin with the first one that, because "Spider-Man 3" was a bit of a letdown, exists. You will find the story very familiar because it's retracing almost every step and plot point from the 2002 "Spider-Man", with some minor differences. The cast is all but new and a great cast it is. Andrew Garfield is no Tobey Maguire but he brings a sort of coolness to the character, a rebellious state. And his performance is great plus his chemistry with Emma Stone, who also elevates the character that was roughly introduced in "Spider-Man 3", is excellent and very real because they did also date in real life and that really helped. The character of Curt Connors, who in the other movies was introduced just as a teacher, is the main villain in this one. A good villain and the CGI of the Lizard is ...

Spider-Man 3 (2007) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! So, this is the one that ended the Sam Raimi/ Tobey Maguire Spider-Man saga. That's what you get when the studio meddles with your movie. Too many plotlines that make the movie not interesting but confusing, too many characters plus a couple of new ones making the movie a bit crowded and stuffed, too many villains that were necessary plus the transformation of Parker into emo Parker. And that dance man! Who the hell thought that was a good idea to put in the movie?! The whole scene is just awful and inappropriate. Nonetheless, there are a few things that you can still enjoy with this movie. The action is still great, the soundtrack is very good, with Christopher Young taking Danny Elfman's place and he did a really good job, the effects are mostly improved plus that scene with Sandman's transformation is excellent. A whole range of emotions just thru image and gestures. Visually stunning scene. Co...

Spider-Man 2 (2004) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! With this movie, Sam Raimi follows in the footsteps of James Cameron with "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" and Bryan Singer with "X2". With this, I mean that he improved everything from the first movie. The story, the villain, the emotional focus, the action, the characters and, overall, the whole movie. The emotions are bigger in this one and the character study as well, mainly the hero and the villain. Both of them confronts loss in this movie but, in the end, they find the hero inside of them. Plus, if you look closely and remember the first movie you will see two scenes that are in contrast with two scenes from the first one, involving Peter Parker. And I think that this is brilliant. The villain is more complex in the second movie because we was a good man that was turned into a criminal by experiencing loss but, eventually, that good side emerges for one last time. Peter Parker is also ...

Spider-Man (2002) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Reviews! "With great power, comes great responsibility"! Man, it's a great line and very thought provoking. But I'm not here to talk about this line but the actual movie as a hole. Before the MCU and before Spider-Man was even a part of it, we got the first live action appearance of everybody's favorite web crawler in 2002, with Sam Raimi as director and starting Tobey Maguire. I was so happy when I found out, I'm a big Spider-Man fan, that I got a ticket on the day it was released. And that was my first theater experience. So, the movie is excellent. It combines very well the web swinging action with a good amount of heart, emotions, some humor and very good performances, mainly from Tobey Maguire. The special effects, now look a bit dated and not very good but I don't mind that, as long as the movie is good. Alongside the first "X-Men", it started the whole superhero movie madne...

The Lost City of Z (2017) Review Hello guys and welcome back to Movie Review! Today, we are taking about a movie that will make you reminiscent of epic adventure/exploration movies. It is based on a 2009 novel written by David Grann that was also based on real life events, mainly the exploration led by British explorer Percy Fawcett in Bolivia looking for signs of an ancient city, who later disappeared alongside his son in that same jungle. The movie follows the source and the real material very well, with excellent visuals and stunning cinematography. Most of the movie is captivating and thrilling but there are some bits that we did not need. The pacing is state, although in a couple of scenes, the pace is even slower and it kinda diminish the quality, briefly. The movie is also elevated by the performances. Charlie Hunnam surprised me again this year, the first time being his role in "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" which I have already reviewed and it's on the b...