Review: Gone Girl

Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris
Directed by: David Fincher
Language: English
Rating: R
Running Time: 149 minutes

Before the massive announcement of a movie release, I saw this book circulate quite frequently. I asked a co-worker about it and she expressed her honest thoughts about it. I voluntarily asked about the ending, which she had a problem with, as I didn't originally plan on reading the book or seeing the movie. Once I saw the preview for the move with my mom and I, we were suddenly interested in it.


Amy Elliott Dunne has gone missing! Her husband Nick has no idea whether she's dead or alive, but he is desperate to find her along with Amy's parents. Nick is very cooperative with the police in their investigation, but all signs point to him as a guilty suspect in the case. But he's innocent, isn't he? Either way, the most important question is: where is Amy?

Where to start with this review? *sighs* Right from the start, the movie sutures its viewers in. I immediately felt locked into the story and distributing feelings for nearly every character. Pushing aside knowing the conclusion, I was curious how it led to it, which was a very tense and exciting ride. With great pacing, presentation, and action, it was easy to be immersed and have your mind trying to figure out the mystery.


Currently, I'm reading the novel, so I can't give a full comparison but I feel like the main casting choices were spot on. Ben Affleck gave me everything Nick demanded emotionally and he effectively created this emotional conflict you have with his character. Rosamund Pike also did a fantastic job in the same emotional department as his wife Amy. The scripting was on point which was done by the author herself Gillian Flynn. The minor exclusions with some scenes and detail emphasis was also well placed.

For those worried about Tyler Perry's appearance, fear not, I thought he did a good job. Neil Patrick Harris on the other hand...well, he fulfilled his "something is off with this guy" role, but the sex scene was awkward to watch. It didn't feel authentic and I think they could've tried filming that again. Also, a little warning, it might be awkward watching the sexual content with your parents, at least I felt that way with my mom. Sorry~

Overall, the movie is fantastic! So far with what I've read, it is a successful adaptation. Either medium will suck you into the universe and you're immediately curious what direction the story will pull you along. I recommend checking out both the movie and the book, if you have time.


Rating: 4.5/5

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Review: Annabelle

Starring: Ward Horton, Annabelle Wallis, Alfre Woodard
Directed by: John R. Leonetti
Language: English
Rating: R
Running Time: 98 minutes
After the success of James Wan's The Conjuring, rumors of a sequel circulated quickly. I was content with simply having it a one off and not producing unnecessary installments for a potential subpar franchise, especially since Mr. Wan announced he would not be doing horror movies anymore. When Annabelle was announced, a friend and I figured this would be a straight to DVD release, of course, it was not.


John and Mia Form are expecting a child and are excited about their new lives together. One day, John decides to surprise his wife with a rare doll, Annabelle, that she's been looking for. Unfortunately, this thoughtful gift becomes more of a nightmare-ish problem for the couple. Together they try everything to free themselves from the evil curse placed upon them and protect their newborn baby.

As unnecessary as this movie was, it was a harmless addition. I have already reviewed The Conjuring with a more in depth review from Ophelia. We both loved the movie and acknowledged how it brought back elements that modern horror is missing or lacking. But we both were aware of the criticism it received from new generation horror fans. Despite not having Mr. Wan's direction, I wanted to check it out.

Annabelle may appeal to the new generation a little more than its predecessor, meaning this movie has plenty music stings and jump scares. As annoying as it is to me, it didn't affect my enjoyment too negatively. The pacing and characters try to mimic The Conjuring while keeping the story moving along to keep the viewers' attention, especially the new generation.


Going into this movie, you automatically might think this is the new Chucky, but honestly it really isn't. While Chucky has free reign to interact and react, Annabelle's terror and overall creepy aura is purely stationary and more possession, which makes her all the more creepy. She definitely does as much as any porcelain doll staring into your soul from your grandma's shelf. One more thing I want to point out is that I like that the movie suggests similar viewer's thoughts in The Conjuring that is shown in this movie. The Conjuring addresses "why doesn't the family move" and Annabelle addresses "why don't they get rid of the doll and move". I like movies that do that.

Aside from the music sting and jump scare combos, I wish this movie gave its characters more depth and less of movie role tropes. The actors did well with what they were given and the backstory of Annabelle was unique or at least different than what you would expect from an evil doll.

Overall, I believe The Conjuring utilized suspense a lot more than Annabelle. It didn't rely on its jump scare payoffs to get its audience, but there were a few really good suspenseful moments featured throughout Annabelle. The story is entertaining and intriguing and the movie delivers some decent scares.


Rating: 3.5/5

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Quick Movie Review

Divergent (2014, USA) | Rating: 2/5
When this movie was in theaters, I really had no interest in it. It just felt like it was cashing in on the teen novel craze that series like Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games have brought to theaters. Also, the content just seemed too similar to what we already have as well. Since my mother said it was a really good movie and the preview for Insurgent looked pretty epic, I gave it a chance and honestly, I really couldn't get into it. The story seemed to drag, the romance lacked chemistry, and nothing seemed to pull me in. Doesn't help that I couldn't remember all the different groups or character names. I'm not sure if I will make Insurgent a theater priority or not, but this movie hasn't really convinced me to bother reading the books.



Enemy (2013, Canada) | Rating: 2/5
I believe I saw a preview for this in a movie I rented and it also has a doppelganger concept of sorts. Unlike Double, this movie might be a little harder to understand, even the ending is very wtf-ish compared to it. I do like Jake Gyllenhaal way more than Jesse Eisenberg, but the content is a bit of a mess. The initial motive of hearing about someone who looks exactly like you in a movie is a good and realistic catalyst; the actions that follow are a bit harder to grasp the logic of. Cat and mouse games are no stranger to these types of movies, but it takes skill and good writing to make it comprehensible for viewers to understand when both cat and mouse look exactly alike.



22 Jump Street (2014, USA) | Rating: 3/5
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum return as partner in this Jump Street sequel and I'm kinda surprised that this happened. I believe the movie was successful and I did surprisingly enjoy it. I must say...I enjoyed this sequel as well. The profanity is toned down a little and the jokes are still funny. Hill and Channing's chemistry is great and they provide plenty of entertainment throughout the whole movie. The end credits are hilarious as well and pokes fun of the movie itself while having some unexpected 21 Jump Street cameos. Although I wouldn't want a whole slue of Jump Street movies, I would recommend it if you need a good laugh.



Annie (2014, USA) | Rating: 3.5/5
Like most movies, this remake wasn't really necessary, but unlike a lot of remakes, this one was pretty good. I enjoyed the casting, the revisions to the original story, and the musical numbers. They picked some very talented actors for this one and the chemistry felt real. I know this movie has received a lot of criticisms and most of them are ridiculous. Most deal with the movie's existence or the obvious race change, but honestly, I think this version improved upon and updated the original Annie and I might have enjoyed it a little more too. So, I advise you ignore the negative criticisms and annoying bigots and check it out.



The Maze Runner (2014, USA) | Rating: 1.5/5
Similar to Divergent, I had no real interest in seeing this movie, but I watched it out of curiosity. Once again, I really couldn't get into the story. There was so much terminology to remember and the characters were very bland to me. Everything that was presented had been seen before in other movies that came out this year like Divergent, The Giver, and The Hunger Games. The only difference in this movie is that there is a lot more testosterone pumped into it. I really wasn't expecting much from this movie and, honestly, I fell asleep once the main character really entered the maze. I am curious whether or not this movie will receive the same treatment as Divergent and The Hunger Games in receiving a movie for each novel installment. Either way, I won't be watching them.


If there's something you want me to review (or want a more in depth review of the movies above or previous ones), check out this post on how you can submit requests.

Most Shocking/Disappointing/WTF Asian Music Moments of 2014

PSY & Snoop Dogg Collaboration
Whether you're a kpop fan or not, there's a good chance you know about the foreign phenomenon that was "Gangnam Style". It was nearly impossible to escape the track in 2012. PSY made a follow up single, "Gentleman", which didn't get as many hits as the first on YouTube, but people were aware of it and it still got parodied. I'm not sure if PSY or YG Entertainment wanted to make another attempt of worldwide or even viral relevancy by having this collaboration with Snoop Dogg (or Snoop Lion, I'm not sure what he was going by at the time), but it seemed like listeners were very split about this project. Some saw it as a great anthem for post-drunkenness, while others found it as more of an annoyance. Plus there was a controversial blackface co-signing by Snoop. Nonetheless, I don't think the single caught on as much as the previous efforts.


Jackie Chan's KPop Group Debuts: JJCC
I still find it so odd to know that Jackie Chan created a kpop group. Of all the things he could make! I guess we needed more rookies in the sea of...um...rookies? I don't want to put these boys down in the least, because I actually enjoy their music so far...excluding "Bing Bing Bing (Oneway)", I'm still trying to figure that one out. I know this is a minor statement, but it's very wtf worthy. I wish JJCC a long, prosperous life in the kpop universe. Also, check out their guest appearance on K-Populous.


BABYMETAL & Crayon Pop Open for Lady Gaga
Most people are familiar with BABYMETAL with their YouTube appearance on @midnight with their "Gimme Chocolate!!" live and Crayon Pop with their brief viral popularity with "Bar Bar Bar" and maybe their MAMA collaboration with Ylvis of "Fox Song" fame. I'm guessing because of these two moments in 15 minute musical fame sparked interested in Lady Gaga to welcome them aboard her artRAVE tour. I was tempting to go myself as Lady Gaga is on my wishlist of musicians I would love to see live, but I'm not that big of Crayon Pop fan and I wasn't planning on traveling to see BABYMETAL either. Nonetheless, I'm happy that both of them received some exposure in the States and I hope that BABYMETAL makes another round of touring here as well that's closer to home.


J-Indies Favorites Disband
Every year I have to face the disappointment of a promising j-indies band putting their musical journey to a halt. Some I'm sure I will see members in newly formed bands, but of course it is never the same. I know that indies bands disband every year, but it's nice to acknowledge some of my favorites. Some were new to me like Lil.y and EVE and others I have been following for years: LICKER, Jackman, Suicide Ali, downer, xTRiPx, and THE KIDDIE. I suppose it is less surprising, but still saddening, BLACK LINE. I'm sure fans will miss and support these bands in this new chapter of life in 2015.


Simon D Joins AOMG
After the unfortunate disbandment of Supreme Team, E-Sens tried to piece back together his rap career and Simon D impressed his fans with a brand new solo album, then things got quiet. So, I was so excited, along with the fans, that Simon D resurfaced to an amazing R&B and rap track with Jay Park and GRAY called "Metronome". I thought this collaboration was a one-shot, but fortunately for us, Simon D signed up as co-CEO of AOMG with Jay Park, so I'm expecting a lot of epicly amazing things with this new addition. Hopefully, they'll spread their live performance wings a little further into America and make a trip to the south.


Band Member Departures
Similar to the feeling of losing a band is the feeling of losing a beloved member. Whether it's creative differences, health, personal obligations, or other uncontrollable circumstances, it can be hard for both the band and fans to accept letting go of a member. A few I feel worth mentioning are Sala (Black Gene from the Next Scene), Rui (SCREW), John (Sel'm), Kazuki (Royz), Yui (Ganglion), Kifumi (BORN), and Shingo (GOTCHAROCKA). Some of these are rather surprising as they've been part of their band for many years and others may be in new or increasingly popular visual kei bands. Nonetheless, I wish them the best of luck for 2015!


Dahee (GLAM) & Lee Jiyeon Charged with Blackmail
This news was a bit on the unusual side, especially for kpop. GLAM isn't part of the big leagues like SNSD or 2NE1, but Dahee and model Lee Jiyeon's target, Lee Byung-hun, is a very high profiled star. At first, it was uncertain who Dahee's accomplice was or what their motivations were. The details are still partially unknown and I'm not expecting it to get any clearer than what I know or anyone who reads Seoul Beats and Asian Junkie. I don't know much about Lee Byung-hun other than the very few little things I've seen him in, but apparently he has a controversial reputation and may even be on the unlikable list for some. I don't know anything about his habits or his relationship history, but either way, blackmailing is never acceptable, especially when you're at the bottom of the barrel of idoldom. The whole situation was an amusing read to say the least and it seems like Dahee and her partner in crime will be apologizing for quite some time. I suppose the future of GLAM is bit unknown at this point as well.


Janghyun Leaves Sunny Hill
During Janghyun's mandatory military service, the ladies of Sunny Hill continued to produce music for their fans and send their well wishes to their composer and leader. Upon his return, fans were excited for another gripping and unique concept from the group a la "Pray" or "Midnight Circus", but was given the news that Janghyun would not be returning to the group. Instead, he has decided to continue being a producer, which is great news as I believe he makes high quality work. I still find it strange that all the kpop sites I follow have not mentioned this news whatsoever, but I'm glad I found out about it and can share with you guys. I wish Janghyun and the remaining members of Sunny Hill the best of luck for the new year!


2NE1's Series of Unfortunate Events
YG Entertainment has been quite busy in 2014, considering some other "speculations" were unsurprisingly postponed (i.e. Any new material from Big Bang or that mystery girl group). The kpop world was introduced to WINNER, iKON, and Akdong Musician and we finally received some new material from 2NE1 (which will be reviewed momentarily). Despite releasing a new album for their precious Blackjacks, 2NE1's more controversial news stood out a little more: Minzy's plastic surgery and change in her Twitter handle, one of CL's live performance misusing Muslim incantations, her potential U.S. debut, and her unsatisfying and confusing collaboration with Skrillex, Diplo, and G-Dragon. But the member who took the cake was Park Bom as she attempted to bring home amphetamine tablets from the U.S. This scandal caused Bom to pause all activities meaning she had to depart from the reality show Roommate and absent from any live performances with 2NE1. Then there was that minor diss rap news from A.KOR's Kemy too...


Kim Hyun-joong's Domestic Abuse Case
Most people are aware that kpop fans are very delusional, otherwise the saying "oppa/noona didn't mean to" wouldn't be a popular mocking phrase among the well adjusted set. When it comes to domestic abuse, all statements like that should not exist, especially when so much concrete evidence exists. I like one or two songs by Kim Hyun-joong, but I am not a fan of his. Even if I was, I wouldn't excuse his behavior toward his former girlfriend nor try to convince others that he doesn't deserve punishment for what he did. It was sickening to read fans defending his actions and even more appalling how long it took for things to move along with this case. There might some moralistic discrepancies, but either way I find it unexcusable that he was allowed to continue live performances abroad while he was actively avoiding the police to place a statement. It's probably wishful thinking, but I hope the consequences of his actions catch up to him sooner rather than later.


Band Revivals
Even though band revivals are temporary events, they're pretty exciting when they do happen. It's like a second chance to have that live experience with the band and the fandom in an intimate setting enjoying music. A lot of these live revivals I wish I could've attended such as Pierrot, SIGNAL, D'espairsRay, Transtic Nerve, LuLu, Otogadead, Psycho le Cemu, and Doremidan. More exciting is that some of these revivals are more than just a one or two day live event, but a reboot of activities such as Rin, MY BACTERIA HEAT IsLAND, and D.I.D. I'm looking forward to hearing more music and hopefully I have a chance to indulge in a live performance as well.


Hideto (Amber Bullet), Yuuza (~E'm Grief~) & K (Moi dix Mois) Passes Away
I am a casual listener of Amber Bullet and I don't quite know the members' names, but it was sad to hear that their bassist Hideto had been struggling with an illness. I'm not really a fan of Moi dix Mois or ~E'm Grief~, but a passing is worth mentioning, especially since I know people who are very fond of these two bands.






Alice Nine Leaves PS Company
Another band decides to leave the evil clutches of PS Company to return back to their roots. I'm sure fans cheered for victory as I don't feel that Alice Nine's activity have been very...productive. From my perspective, I see the GazettE as the most active group while Alice Nine focuses more on their show and occasionally will release a single or something. When they do release music, it seems like a hollow shell of what originally pulled me into the band. They've already released pictures of their new look and logo. Since things have been going pretty well for Miyavi and SuG post-PSC, I'm hoping the same good fortune will come for Alice Nine. Now...if only the GazettE would leave...


Joon & Cheon Doong (Thunder) Leave MBLAQ
Compared to the Japanese music industry, I never really hear any big news about members leaving a group nor fans making a huge deal about it. Most departures seem pretty quiet, maybe due to the fact that the group isn't very popular, or it is simply labelled as a graduation of sorts like After School. Hearing this was very surprising, but seemed understandably necessary in a weird way. I haven't gotten around to seeing Lee Joon as an actor, but I've heard many good things which makes me extremely happy. Reading the news seemed like a tug of war of unconfirmed information, but soon it was settled (or at least mostly settled) that MBLAQ's legacy would be discontinued. I wish things turned out better for them during their musical journey and I sadly have to put part of the blame on Rain for neglecting what he started, but I look forward for what's to come for these five young men.


TS Entertainment Contract Dispute
It's been a rough year for kpop and I'm guessing some fans are having flashbacks to 2010 (give or take a year). Personally this news is not that surprising, but for others, I guess they were blinded by the consecutive releases. Anyway, B.A.P as a whole filed for nullification of their contract as they hadn't received the payment they expected. This case is somewhat similar to what happened with Stardom Entertainment and Block B last year. Block B is doing quite well under their new label Seven Seasons, so I'm hoping the same will come with B.A.P along with some much needed rest. There are rumors that labelmates SECRET and Untouchable may be joining the lawsuit bandwagon. Hopefully, we will hear a fair conclusion to this unfortunate situation in the coming year.


SM Entertainment Back Lash
I am not the biggest fan of SME's and their supporters are the worse~ Sure, a few good and interesting things have happened for them like giving solos to SHINee's Taemin and Super Junior M's Zhou Mi and next year SHINee's Jonghyun and f(x)'s Amber. Unfortunately, the massive black cloud overshadows any excitement SME has delivered to its followers. The set of news dealt with up and coming boy group EXO and the other with one of Korea's most popular female groups SNSD. I haven't forgotten about them giving f(x)'s Sulli a hiatus during their "Red Light" promotion or that one of the members of Super Junior is getting hitched, it just doesn't stand out as much as what happened with Kris, Luhan, and Jessica. The first strike against SME was Kris (EXO-M) filing lawsuit, then Luhan (EXO-M) followed suit and demanded financial compensation for promotions. No matter how you read Jessica's situation, in my eyes, SME booted her out of SNSD as it sounds like she was committed to the group, but wanted to also venture in other smaller projects. It is possible to maintain a musical career and put together a line of merchandise; American artists do it all the time! Even some Japanese artists do other side projects alongside their musical career. Since I'm very anti-SME, I'm hoping more idols (in general) will continue to speak up.


Ladies' Code Car Accident
2014 seemed like a year of management lessons for the kpop industry: how to handle saesang fans, deal with dating "scandals", settling contract lawsuits, and, in this entry, safety and scheduling issues. There are many great discussions about Ladies' Code's car accident, most of them pointing out the problem of managers trying to cram too much in a day. Please check out these insight links about the incident: Eat Your Kimchi, Asian Junkie, and Anti-KPop Fangirl. I know in America we are told to pull over if we're feeling too tired to drive and to slow down when the weather conditions aren't very favorable for driving above the speed limit; these are tips that have been brought up as well. Nonetheless, it was very unfortunate to lose such talented young ladies, EunB and RiSe, especially at the rise of their musical journey. I hope this incident will change the way managers schedule idols' activities and that car safety regulations will become stricter.

Movies Watched in 2015

Get ready for Round 7!

Starting date: January 1, 2015
Finishing date: December 26, 2015


1. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001, USA)
2. Raising Arizona (1987, USA)
3. The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008, South Korea)
4. Like Father, Like Son (2013, Japan)
5. Shinobi: Heart Under Blade (2005, Japan)
6. Into the Woods (2014, USA)
7. Hide and Seek (2013, South Korea)
8. Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005, South Korea)
9. No Good Deed (2014, USA)
10. Unbroken (2014, USA)
11. At the Devil's Door (2014, USA)
12. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014, USA)
13. Whitney (2015, USA)
14. As Above, So Below (2014, USA)
15. The Guest (2014, USA)
16. The Man from Nowhere (2010, South Korea)
17. Horns (2014, USA)
18. The Boy Next Door (2015, USA)
19. Tyler Perry's Madea's Tough Love (2015, USA)
20. Slumdog Millionaire (2008, USA)
21. Amusement (2008, USA)
22. Frank (2014, USA)
23. Antiviral (2012, Canada)
24. Mockingbird (2014, USA)
25. Not Safe For Work (2014, USA)
26. John Wick (2014, USA)
27. Honeymoon (2014, USA)
28. White Bird in a Blizzard (2014, USA)
29. Tusk (2014, USA)
30. Tricked: The Documentary (2013, USA)
31. 13 Assassins (2010, Japan)
32. Himizu (2011, Japan)
33. I Saw the Devil (2010, South Korea)
34. Dear White People (2014, USA)
35. Video Games The Movie (2014, USA)
36. The ABCs of Death 2 (2014, USA)
37. Patema Inverted (2013, Japan)
38. The Suspect (2013, South Korea)
39. Addicted (2014, USA)
40. Focus (2015, USA)
41. [REC]3: Genesis (2012, Spain)
42. Ginger Snaps (2000, Canada)
43. Miss Meadows (2014, USA)
44. The Lookalike (2014, USA)
45. Fear Clinic (2014, USA)
46. Dangerous Minds (1995, USA)
47. Life Itself (2014, USA)
48. Dracula Untold (2014, USA)
49. The Boxtrolls (2014, USA)
50. Beyond the Lights (2014, USA)
51. Jessabelle (2014, USA)
52. Big Hero 6 (2014, USA)
53. Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge (2008, Japan)
54. Open Windows (2014, USA)
55. Insurgent (2015, USA)
56. Nightcrawler (2014, USA)
57. Let's Kill Ward's Wife (2014, USA)
58. The Rum Diary (2011, USA)
59. Before I Go to Sleep (2014, USA)
60. The Book of Life (2014, USA)
61. The Voices (2015, USA)
62. Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014, USA)
63. Enter the Dangerous Mind (2013, USA)
64. Queen of the Damned (2002, USA)
65. The Man with the Iron Fists 2 (2015, USA)
66. Maps to the Stars (2014, USA)
67. The Babadook (2014, Australia)
68. Woman is the Future of Man (2004, South Korea)
69. God Help the Girl (2014, UK)
70. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015, USA)
71. 47 Ronin (2013, USA)
72. Battle Royale (2000, Japan)
73. Ex Machina (2015, USA)
74. Tomorrowland (2015, USA)
75. Mortdecai (2015, USA)
76. Everly (2014, USA)
77. Pitch Perfect (2012, USA)
78. Come Back to Me (2014, USA)
79. Jinn (2014, UK)
80. Song of the Sea (2014, Belgium)
81. The Cobbler (2015, USA)
82. Jurassic World (2015, USA)
83. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015, USA)
84. No Tears for the Dead (2014, South Korea)
85. Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013, Japan)
86. Eastern Boys (2013, France)
87. Inside Out (2015, USA)
88. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014, UK)
89. A Girls Walks Home Alone at Night (2015, USA)
90. The Lazarus Effect (2015, USA)
91. High Tension (2003, France)
92. The DUFF (2015, USA)
93. Stray Dogs (2013, Taiwan)
94. Black Christmas (1974, Canada)
95. Session 9 (2001, USA)
96. Grave of the Fireflies (1988, Japan)
97. The Changeling (1980, USA)
98. Trick 'r Treat (2007, USA)
99. Reality Bites (1994, USA)
100. Project Almanac (2015, USA)
101. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013, Japan)
102. Taking Lives (2004, USA)
103. Bedlam (2015, Australia)
104. Liars, Fires and Bears (2012, USA)
105. Willard (2003, USA)
106. It Follows (2015, USA)
107. Ant-Man (2015, USA)
108. A Good Marriage (2014, USA)
109. Fantastic Four (2015, USA)
110. What We Do in the Shadows (2014, New Zealand)
111. Hobo with a Shotgun (2011, Canada)
112. Insidious (2010, USA)
113. The Others (2001, USA)
114. Maggie (2015, USA)
115. Straight Outta Compton (2015, USA)
116. Cube 2: Hypercube (2002, Canada)
117. Attack the Block (2011, UK)
118. Scrap Heaven (2005, Japan)
119. Cut Bank (2014, USA)
120. The Gift (2015, Australia)
121. True Story (2015, USA)
122. Journey to Agartha/Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011, Japan)
123. 13: Game of Death/13 Beyond (2006, Thailand)
124. The Birdcage (1996, USA)
125. Unfriended (2014, USA)
126. The Age of Adaline (2015, USA)
127. The Visit (2015, USA)
128. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015, USA)
129. Run, Hide, Die (2015, USA)
130. Boulevard (2014, USA)
131. Battle Royale II: Requiem (2003, Japan)
132. Crimson Peak (2015, USA)
133. Lila & Eve (2015, USA)
134. Pitch Perfect 2 (2015, USA)
135. Poltergeist (2015, USA)
136. The Gallows (2015, USA)
137. San Andreas (2015, USA)
138. Cry Baby (1990, USA)
139. The Peanuts Movie (2015, USA)
140. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 2 (2015, USA)
141. Dark Places (2015, USA)
142. The Loft (2015, USA)
143. Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013, USA)
144. Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015, USA)
145. Dope (2015, USA)
146. Hidden (2015, USA)
147. Final Girl (2015, Canada)
148. The Chaser (2008, South Korea)
149. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001, USA)
150. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015, USA)
151. I Wish [Kiseki] (2011, Japan)
152. Return to Sender (2015, USA)
153. Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011, USA)
154. Donnie Darko (2001, USA)
155. Self/less (2015, USA)
156. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015, USA)

Quick Movie Review

Deliver Us From Evil (2014, USA) | Rating: 2.5/5
Maybe I'm not remembering this correctly or something, but I was watching one of the many movie reviewers I follow and I believe they said that they enjoyed this movie. Originally, I had no interest in it as it just added to the boring possession movies that Hollywood keeps dishing out, but since they enjoyed I figured I'd check it out. They're pretty reliable. I might go back to that review and see if I'm remembering it correctly, because honestly, I lost interests on both attempts. First attempt, I fell asleep and second attempt, I was just bored...and I probably still dozed off. Eventually, I gave up trying to watch it and brought it back for the next person to view it. I guess it does offer a somewhat creative take on these inspired by documentary with a police officer.



Repentance (2014, USA) | Rating: 2.5/5
I noticed this movie was getting checked out quite often and one of my co-workers said that movie was good, but she didn't like the ending that much. I wasn't completely sure what this movie would be about, but one guess was that it might have some sort of religious tie in or something. In short, it was a revenge story with some little twists and turns here and there. I thought the story was kind of unique as it altered some typical aspects I normally would see in movies like this. There are some emotional conflicting moments when it comes to the main characters as there is a slight blur between who is right and wrong. Despite the little unique aspects of the film, overall it is a bit forgettable, but it definitely isn't a waste of time if you decide to watch it.



Anna (2014, USA) | Rating: 2.5/5
Plots dealing with a professional working with a mentally and/or emotionally disturbed patient tend to be hit or miss for me. Sometimes it can be quite silly like Case 39 or deeply intriguing like Identity. I believe this might fall a little closer to The Quiet Ones which is kinda interesting and entertaining, but nothing to get too excited about. I was tempted to avoid this movie for the simple fact that Taissa Farmiga is in it. I don't dislike her, but she can sometimes come off as rather bland or even borderline annoying and this is only basing it on her characters from American Horror Story and American Horror Story: Coven. She did have a little life as Anna, but Mark Strong made the movie interesting and slightly lasting on the mind. Honestly, Strong's character provoked more emotion from me than Farmiga's.



The Double (2013, UK) | Rating: 2.5/5
I don't really care for Jesse Eisenberg. He's like a slightly less annoying Michael Cera. Watching this movie was a slight challenge considering Eisenberg had to play two characters: one being his usual typecast awkward guy and the other being an arrogant, manipulative sleaze. The movie might be a little confusing because of the doppelganger aspect, especially toward the end. The story was indeed interesting, putting all negative bias aside. Eisenberg did a good job interacting and reacting to his other self, even if he is still annoying. If you do decide to watch this movie, it might take a couple tries to grasp everything that happened...especially the end, but don't be surprised if you end up a little frustrated with certain characters either.



God's Not Dead (2014, USA) | Rating: 3/5
Ah, another religious movie. Originally, I was supposed to watch this on my church's movie night, but everyone was tired and it was rather late for the elderly folk. So, I decided to check it out on my own since I've heard some pretty good things about it. The story was quite enjoyable and I enjoyed the conflict the protagonist had to face with his teacher. I think this movie represents Christians well while not bashing other religions to present it in a good light. One problem I had were the side stories that tied into the main plot as they seemed a bit unnecessary during majority of the movie until the final act. A couple actors seemed a bit inauthentic at times such as Josh's girlfriend, but her purpose of being a bit of the unlikable Christian was successful. I couldn't understand why most of the cast were jerks, but I guess you need some jerks to propel the movie forward. Ignore the comments on IMDb and go with your own feelings on whether you want to see this movie or not.


If there's something you want me to review (or want a more in depth review of the movies above or previous ones), check out this post on how you can submit requests.

Quick Movie Review

Toys (1992, USA) | Rating: 2.5/5
I guess this is one of Robin Williams' lesser known movies, because I've never heard it nor did anyone I asked about it. According to IMDb, it has a very average score and plenty of commenters defending its social commentary about toys and war and whatnot. I picked this movie for the obvious reason of Robin Williams starring in it and I've never heard of it before. I can see this movie not appealing to everyone as certain moments do seem a bit silly at times, but the silliness has a purpose. It's a sibling rivalry over a toy factory and it seems as though, I'm assuming, older brother doesn't quite understand the purpose of creating toys for kids when they can be used for warfare. I thought the movie was entertaining enough; not enough to revisit any time soon, but it was decent.



Only God Forgives (2013, France) | Rating: 2/5
I've seen this movie on the shelf at my work for a while and that it got checked out frequently when it was brand new. I didn't have much interest in it until I saw a preview for it in another movie. I must say this movie has a lot of visual appeal! The lighting is very stylistic, the fight choreography is exciting, and just overall it is a treat for the eyes. Unfortunately, this movie lacks one very important element: story. There is a plot, a simple one, but it exists. The execution of the story surrounding said plot is very lacking. There's some vague dialogue and a few thoughts expressed verbally, but it's hard to understand what the heck is going on when you listened to what the characters are saying, which is pretty important. It's very sad that this movie has such weak execution with its storytelling, because you really want to like the movie due to its sheer visual appeal.



Snowpiercer (2013, USA) | Rating: 4/5
My mother told me about this movie after reading a newspaper review and I skimmed over it, noticing a familiar name, Joon-ho Bong. Most would know Joon-ho Bong from the movie, The Host (not to be mistaken for the movie based on the Stephanie Meyer's novel), but I recognize the name from a perhaps lesser known movie, Mother. I didn't know what to expect from this American directorial effort as some Asian directors tend to have lackluster movies for their international audiences. Although this might not be for the casual moviegoer, I found myself enjoying another perceptive of a post-apocalyptic world with class system. The concept is probably getting annoying, but as long as the movie makes it interesting and entertaining, then it doesn't get boring. This movie is set on a train and has some very diverse set of people in each class. There's a possibility I might return to reviewing this movie and giving it a full review, because it has so many layers, great visuals, and some characters that you can easily attach yourself to.



Life After Beth (2014, USA) | Rating: 3/5
Zombies are still in, right? If you're sick of the zombie craze lately, then you should take a pass on this movie. But honestly, it is an amusing comedy with some very funny actors. The story seems pretty simple, but it seems to take a twist and turn here and there that makes this simple story truly entertaining. Although the entertainment factor is pretty good, the lasting appeal is easy to fade from your memory. Aubrey Plaza is funny, but from time to time her character can be annoying. I'm sure that was on purpose though so you can truly feel the conflict of Dane DeHaan feels with her: love, sympathy, and frustration. There's a little more than just zombies presented here, so it does bring something new to the zombie comedy genre. Of course, Zombieland will always be the winner for me.



Mr. Peabody and Sherman (2014, USA) | Rating: 3.5/5
Surprised, yet not surprised that this retro short from the The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show was going to be brought to the big screen as everyone has been digging in the vintage pile of people's childhoods. Unlike the The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle from 2000, this movie is actually good and funny. I was very curious how they would play off this educational animated short, but they managed to create a simple story that ties in those historical elements that adults remember from their childhoods. It might not be overtly or even obviously educational as it focuses more on the simplistic plot, but there's little tidbits here and there to subliminally slip into your children's minds.


If there's something you want me to review (or want a more in depth review of the movies above or previous ones), check out this post on how you can submit requests.

Quick Anime Review

Shiki + Specials (2010) | Rating: 4.5/5
I feel like this is a series that people should be talking about. I don't know if they did when it came out, but I will definitely mention my thoughts about it here. Vampire concepts have been done, of course, so the challenge is to make the concept interesting and this anime does that. What they do differently is play on the secondary concept of good and evil, making the viewer decide whether to side with the humans or the "vampires". The choice seems obvious in the beginning, but when you learn more about certain characters, your conscience tends to sway and you want to sympathize with them. The story is very interesting and the pacing is great. If you watch the special episodes, which aren't necessary for viewing, it offers supplementary story outside of the main cast which is just as entertaining to see. Lastly, I want to praise the unique, somewhat dark artwork that complimented the tone of the show.



Tokyo Ghoul (2014) | Rating: 2.5/5
I saw some hype for this show via Tumblr; not as much as Attack on Titan or Free! Eternal Summer, but enough that it has gained attention from avid anime viewers. I was intrigued by the artwork, concept, and the character appearances to check out this show (more specifically Uta). The concept kinda meshed around my brain since I was finishing up Shiki at the same time. So, I guess human eating is a thing. heh The constant complaint I hear from fans is that the anime misses crucial storyline and development that the manga offered. Whether I knew this or not, the story did feel like there were parts missing, which is quite unfortunate because I truly wanted to get into this show. At the moment, it doesn't seem like any American distributor has picked up the manga series for English translator, but I hope the popularity of the anime changes that as I would like to get into it more and perhaps join the Uta love bandwagon.



Free! (2013) & Free!: Eternal Summer (2014) | Rating: 3.5/5
This will be my first entry into the realm of sports anime. Never had a real interest in it, but I was never opposed to it either. The genre just never came to mind really. I heard about this series quite a lot last year and of course everyone and their feels were everyone on social media about the latest season. So, I figured I'd give it a shot and it was actually pretty entertaining. The show is more than just fanservice for lonely otaku girls. It presents a story about friendship and, obviously, the trials and tribulations of competitive swimming. The characters are interesting, fun, and unique and make the story entertaining. So, guys, if you want to watch the swim anime and you're afraid you'll run into some boy love territory, don't worry. Man up and check it out!



Kuroshitsuji II + Specials (2010) | Rating: 3/5
I enjoyed the first season, despite the gripes some fans had about the series compared to the manga. I will admit as I delved further into the manga, I started enjoying it more than the first season as well, but I didn't dislike the first season. Since Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus came out this year, I figured I'd catch up on the rest of the anime. It took me a while to get into the second season, mostly because I disliked Alois Trancy's personality a lot. Claude Faustus was an interesting butler for him and Hannah and the triplets added something a little different, but they just can't compare to the undeniable chemistry that Ciel and Sebastian have. It wasn't until the end half of the series that I got a little more involved with the series. Compared to the first season, it seemed a bit unnecessary. As for the specials, those were quite entertaining, non-cannon stories.



Zankyou no Terror (2014) | Rating: 4.5/5
Similar to last year, I didn't watch everything or even close to every new series this year, but I would declare this series the best of 2014. Like Danganronpa, I don't think this series was talked about that much, which is a shame. Before going into it, I didn't know much about the story, but the behind the scenes element was leading toward a winning series. You have the director of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo Shinichiro Watanabe and acclaimed composer Yoko Kanno doing the soundtrack. That's a win-win already! The story and art is fantastic and presents a more serious tone that is not seen in Watanabe's well known series I mentioned earlier. Those series have serious moments with a dash of comedy relief, but there is no laughing matters in this daring anime. I highly recommend this series for those who are fans of Watanabe or anime fans who want something more mature and serious.


If there's something you want me to review, check out this post on how you can submit requests.

Quick Movie Review

Let Me In (2010, USA) | Rating: 2/5
I heard about this movie through a friend and was told to avoid the American remake, but I got curious and wanted to compare. I know I didn't review the Swedish original movie as I didn't have much to say about it. It wasn't a bad movie at all, it was more so I didn't know what to talk about. It was a good movie and explored some new areas with vampires that not many mediums touch on. In the remake, it seems a bit lackluster in places. The characters aren't as interesting and they wanted to make matters a bit more gruesome. Chloë Grace Moretz didn't give her character much depth or offer the viewer some sort of emotional attachment compared to the original and Kodi Smit-McPhee's character was either bland or a little annoying. In short, the remake was unnecessary, so I suggest to watch the original Swedish version. There is an optional English audio track, so there's no excuses!



Grand Piano (2013, Spain) | Rating: 2.5/5
This is the second Elijah Wood film I've watched recently that I've never heard about. At least, not in mainstream movie news. I was intrigued by it because he's in it and the premise seemed simple, but somewhat interesting. The movie presents a slightly unique hostage take with a piano performance. Wood's character has been on hiatus from playing and is part of a special concert, but a threat shifts the atmosphere of his return performance as an avid fan or piano enthusiast threatens Wood's character through his phone. Despite the simplicity of the plot, there's some good tension going on, even if you can somewhat predict what is going to happen a few steps ahead of the movie. I thought the movie was entertaining enough, but probably isn't all that memorable compared to the last movie I reviewed of his, Maniac. Of course, it doesn't compete with The Lord of the Rings series or even The Good Son. If you're curious, I will not discourage anyone from seeing it.



The Dark Crystal (1982, USA) | Rating: 3.5/5
I know this Jim Henson classic has been a part of many people's childhoods, but I've actually never seen it until now. Since watching Syfy's Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge, it made me interested in watching more of his movies. I know this movie is one of people's favorite childhood movies and I can understand why. It might seem a little dated at times, but honestly the puppetry is still very effective to this day and the story is very simple for children. It isn't too dark, but it has a tiny sense maturity for an older set of children. The characters are easy to distinguish and feel the appropriate feelings for. I can also understand the nostalgic feeling this movie brings, even if you've never seen, but have seen something similar to it.



Frankie & Alice (2010, Canada) | Rating: 2.5/5
I don't really pay attention too closely to a lot of actors, but I may be wrong on this one, I think Halle Berry might've hit a little slump with movies lately. I remember seeing previews for this, but never spotted it in theaters, so I'm wondering whether it didn't do too well in the box office or it was simply a limited release situation. Nonetheless, I'm surprised my workplace had it in its collection and I proceeded to check it out. Even though multiple personalities have been tackled in movies, I thought it had a nice little variation on the subject matter. Halle Berry did a pretty decent job with the material given. The movie in general wasn't anything spectacular, but it is worth giving a chance. The subject matter does deal a little more than just multiple personality disorder, but other potential problems that Berry's character is facing with her family and past.



Son of God (2014, USA) | Rating: 3/5
This is probably a rare sight to see. A religious movie! Yeah, I saw this one with my church as a favor to my mom and it was pretty good. I vaguely remember this movie being taken from a television mini-series, The Bible. To the trained eye, you can tell that this was a made for TV movie by the way it is shot, but there are hints in the way the story flows that this was taken from somewhere else. I enjoyed the content presented in the movie, but the editing isn't very smooth as it feels like fragments from something bigger, which it is. I think I would rather watch the series to fill in the gaps and see the story flow more smoothly. Despite the progression, the content itself is enjoyable and the actors did a great job with their roles. I also want to applaud the casting director for the diversity as well. Too bad Exodus didn't do the same thing.


If there's something you want me to review (or want a more in depth review of the movies above or previous ones), check out this post on how you can submit requests.