Movie Review: Hercules (2014)

Recently I haven't been watching any films I thought would be worth reviewing, not because I couldn't say anything about them, because they are not films many people know of. That has changed recently...

You know the hardest story for Hollywood so far has been? The story of Hercules. They have not been able to faithfully adapt this Greek Mythical tale about a man achieving Godhood for a good film. As things stand, the best movie for the character has been Disney's take on it, and it is not accurate. I'm not talking about that film though. I'm talking about one of the two Hercules films we got last year. The Brett Ratner directed feature starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the hero. I would hate to see the other take on this story, because this was the better one from last year and well... It's a film that turned out about as well as one would think knowing Brett Ratner.

The Pros: The casting is actually good. Dwayne Johnson is actually a good choice for Hercules today and he fills the role in great ways. The supporting characters and the antagonist are the same way. They do the best with what they have been given.
When we see practical effects, they look good. the weapons actually look heavy and you can see how some actors struggled a little with them. More the unnamed characters than the leads.

The Cons: The set and scale shots look like a video game, without the enjoyment of it. Let me explain, video games are made for the person to become involved in the world, become the character. if you try using that same visual in a movie, it just looks like cheap CGI, which this film has a lot of.
Bad camera work ruins any tension that should have been there during the fight scenes. I was never this bored during a fight scene in a movie, and I have seen all 4 Transformer movies and Battleship. 
Where they could have used an old English style of speech, they go with a modern style of dialogue, which is more distracting and makes me yet again, want to play a video game instead of watch the movie. It also makes some laughable scenes as well where it doesn't fit, but they want to use a certain swear word just to use it. It's not hard to catch.
The pacing is atrocious! Parts that didn't need exploring got exploring and parts that needed it didn't get it. Towards the end it leaves you emotionally confused and not caring when the plot twist actually happens in the film, which you could see from a mile away just from general observation.
The magic of Hercules is not in this film. Greek Mythology is interesting because an element of Magic is involved. This movie doesn't have that and in the end, this could have been a movie about any character and it would have fit regardless. This could have been a movie about David Crocket saving the United States from a tyrant, and it wouldn't have been any different.

Final Verdict: 4/10 What damages this movie the most is how little the Director cared about this project. In the hands of someone else, this could have been a good movie. In the end, this movie is barely worth the first watch and maybe someday we could have a good Hercules film that is faithful to the original myth. It could have been this one, but it isn;t.

Album Review: Breaking Benjamin's Dark Before Dawn

Many people ask my about my favorite genre of music and this has been a hard question to answer. Not because I'm picky, but because I don't usually fin myself leaning towards one specific genre of Rock. If I was forced at gunpoint to pick, I would have to say either Heavy Alternative or Rap Metal. Some of you may be asking now, "Why is it saying this! Get to the review!" I say this because Breaking Benjamin has reminded me why I love Heavy Alternative as much as I do.

With a new line up in the band (the only original member is Vocalist and Guitarist Ben Burnley) They have not only brought in a new sound, but kept the original sound intact as well creating this hybrid sound that makes the hair on my arms and legs stand in goosebumps. This could be the best reset for a band, I have ever seen.

You not only hear every instrument, but they have this perfect balance to make a beautiful song every single time. As far as lyrics go, Ben Burley has always used double meanings in his style of writing, with Jason Rauch, the new lead guitarist, writing as well, it keeps up that tradition and makes some extremely poetic and symbolic lyrics that go beautifully with Ben's vocals that even after having a 13 year professional career in music still sounds as good as when he originally started.

Breaking Benjamin is one of the founding bands of the Heavy Alternative (when they originally came into the scene, people couldn't classify them into a specific genre.) and this album is proof of that. This is something that exceeded my expectation and I almost cried when I heard it.

This is the second album this year to earn a 10/10! You have to buy this! Support this band. If you love the Heavy Alternative genre, go back to a founding father and hear what he is doing with a whole new line up.

Movie Review: Noah (2014)

In a day like this, it is easy to get offended. Honestly, every time someone makes a joke about someone different they are called racist, sexist, or prejudice. For example, if I make a joke about black people, I will be labeled racist and be hated even though I have befriended black people in the past and personally have nothing against them. This is why Hollywood tries to be careful, but fails miserably. Because of this, there are multiple movies that people label "offensive" and is deemed unwatchable, no matter what critics say about it. Noah, is one of those movies. Just look at it's page on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics gave it a positive rating, but viewers hated it. Why? Did they not know that with an adaptation, changes had to be made.

Pros: It has a great cast. The actors portray the characters in a great way, even though it does not coincide with the Bible (more on that later), they are well liked. There is a good and bad side to both of them, and it makes them "human." I like this, because they have multiple layers and not one dimensional. I know a lot of people have complained about Noah's character in this film, but prepare to get mad at me, I liked how he was portrayed in this film. I believe every man has to have a moment of temptation and doubt and he had that. It makes for a strong story and a character who learns, which is realistic!! Not only that, but the message the Bible Story teaches us is in this movie without it being preachy. That is what I wanted from the very beginning. The CGI also looks incredible. Better than what other films of last year looked like.

Cons: They tried combining all beliefs into one here, in turn changing a lot of things. This is why people are offending. Director, Darren Aronofsky really tried, but it came up with contradicting ideas from all religions and no one being happy about it. The villain isn't very original and his monologue moments are pretty comical.

Final Verdict: 7/10! It's not as bad as people say it is, it's actually pretty good. I was not offended by it, but I can tell what it was doing. It does feel more like an Action Fantasy film more than a Bible film. I have seen more offensive films than this. Heck! Anything Adam Sandler has done in the last 10 years is more offensive than this. Check it out, but don't expect a full accurate representation. This is not the same Noah story as the Bible, but it doesn't need to be to be enjoyed.

Movie Review: Divergent

When it comes to Young Adult Fiction, it is really easy to tell whether it is a good story or a bad one. That is just as true when it comes to the film adaptations as well. Where we have great movies, like the Hunger Games, we have some awful films in the same young adult genre, like Twilight or the Host. Divergent is unique because it is somewhere in the middle.

The Good- Most of the actors do the best with what they have in the script. The chemistry between the two main characters, Tris and Four, is actually better than in most other Young Adult films I have seen. I believed that they are a strong couple.

The Bad- This world the characters live in makes zero sense at all. Separating the factions based on personality? Then, giving others a choice on what faction they choose (if you can call it that)? Society works due to multiple personalities, why change that?
The main actress, Shailene Woodley, bless her heart! There are moments when she tries and it is decent, but there are other times where it is too much or not enough of the right emotion, ruining a scene.
 All of the minor characters are quickly forgotten. I remember probably 5 or 6 characters throughout, and that is not a good sign with as many characters as this movie has. We got focus solely on the main two characters, and not enough with everyone else

Final Verdict- 4/10! This movie had potential with some characters you can get behind, but the story held it back leaving you with more questions than you would want after the first in a series. If you are curious, I won't stop you. All I can do is warn you.

Album Review: Red's Of Beauty and Rage

Sorry, I haven't posted for awhile. Life has kept me busy for multiple reasons and I missed talking about some albums I think some people were hoping I would talk about. Anyways, I just had to talk about the new album from the band, Red.

I have been a fan of Red from the moment I heard their music. With changes in members throughout their life cycle, some people think that can actually hurt a band sometimes. In some cases, that is true. In others, it is the complete opposite and it can strengthen a band. In the case of Red, changes in members has only made them stronger. That shows in their fifth album release, Of Beauty and Rage.

Talk about a great way to start 2015! Red has taken all the elements I loved in their previous albums and combined into this beautiful, heavy, melodic, and surprisingly uplifting. I have never wanted to stop everything and listen to an album before. It is so beautiful, it almost made me cry. Nothing from others of my favorites bands have done that before.

The guitar work is heavy and intense, which is a surprising mix with the classical string instruments used on every song. The vocalist has never been this strong since the band began. He has aged like a fine wine or great cheese for people who don't drink alcohol. The new drummer also compliments the intensity with the drum work on every song. You can also hear the bass work in every song. Whatever they are using, it is working. Every instrument stands out and you hear everything. Yes! This is the 3rd album where I cannot choose a favorite song since starting my blog. Everyone who reads this and trust what I say, buy this album as soon as you can! You will not be disappointed! My verdict is a 10/10!!!

Album Review: Seether's Isolate and Medicate

Seether for me has been kind of a childhood enjoyment. I first heard them when I was 12 and I have constantly found myself going back and listening to them. They are also on of the bands that got me interested in the guitar company that makes the guitar I have in my current picture. So, I may be late to the party for this album, but I still wanted to take a good look at it and write this review.

First of all, every song is different; One song it has their signature, the next has Heavy Metal riffs, and the one after is kind of relaxing. I've mentioned before how much it bothers me to have every song on an album sound exactly the same and Seether doesn't do that. Most of the messages they have is very much like previous works. Seether is known for the more angst and anger in the lyrics and that is no different, whether it is about politics or personal experience, it is left up to interpretation. The lyrics are written to fit what is bothering you right now. I have very little to complain about.

The only gripe is the explicit language in two or three songs. That is what stops me from recommending to everyone, like I did with Chevelle. If the language is not a bothering factor for you, check it out. My verdict is a 9/10.

Favorite songs: Word's as Weapons, Crash, Suffer it All.

Least Favorites: Same Damn Life, Nobody Praying For Me.

Anime Review: Madoka Magica

As far as magical girl anime is concerned, it has the problem of being not only predictable, but also cliche. Ever since it's founding show, Sailor Moon, every magical girl anime has been pretty much the same thing. Madoka Magica is actually a step away from the cutesy, pretty magical girl genre.

Not only is it dark in art style and tone, but also in how the characters act. They all have tragic backstories that we learn early on and we get to experience their tragic ends. The anime is only twelve episodes long, so we don't get enough character development to really bond with the characters. You feel for them and start to care, but before you get to fall in love with them, they're gone. It makes you wish it was longer. Not only that, but they aren't unique characters in anime either. They are unique to the genre, but you see similar characters that are better portrayed in other genres. So you think about those other characters sometimes.

The worst one is the main character. It is very hard for me to like this character. She is not only emotionally unbalanced (which can work) but she is developed into that character that is self sacrificing and gives up everything for what they love. Kind of that Messiah (Savior) character. That is in a lot of psychological thriller anime and some action anime. She isn't unique at all.

Everyone else is okay. They all have definitive personalities and they are likable. I would just like to get to know them better. The problem is that it is short and feels kind of rushed. It is unique to the magical girl genre, but familiar in other anime in general.

My final verdict is an Emo Playhouse/10. It's like nothing we have seen in the genre, but the more you look at it, you can tell someone has done it before in other genres. I won't discourage or encourage anyone from watching it. If you are curious, check it out.