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Hello, fellow moviegoers! The Bourne franchise is considered by many to be the American version of James Bond, and with good reason. The original trilogy featured some of the best action scenes in any film in the 21st century, the plot is interesting and full of twists, and Matt Damon is so convincing as this character. It's hard not to see why audiences fell in love with these films. Jason Bourne is directed by Paul Greengrass, and it stars Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Julia Stiles, and Alicia Vikander. When Jason Bourne returns after a decade of hiding, the CIA attempts to track him down and take him out of the game, permanently. All the while, Bourne uncovers truths about his past that can change everything he thinks he knows about himself.  Part of what makes the Bourne franchise so great is the fantastic mix of a compelling story and fantastic action sequences. Jason Bourne, while its chase scenes are as great as ever, fails to really pull you in with a new original story. That is mainly because there is nothing new or original about the story. Jason Bourne tries to make do with rehashing old plotlines and putting different faces on characters we've seen before. The Bourne Ultimatum tied up that trilogy pretty nicely, so when they announced they were bringing Matt Damon back for a fourth movie, many assumed they'd come up with a new plot for him to follow. You can't help but leave this film a bit disappointed because it really didn't bring anything new to the franchise. There is nothing new here! Once again, it's Jason Bourne trying to learn more about his past, and the CIA is freaking out because they think Bourne is going to bring them down. Then one CIA agent goes behind everyone's back to try and push their own agenda onto Bourne, and it totally backfires. That plot could be used to describe pretty much any of the Bourne films so far. While yes, it was entertaining at the time, by now it's just getting repetitive. While it is by no means a bad movie, the plot fails to be enough to keep you interested throughout the film. Towards the middle of the film, Jason Bourne slows down a lot,and it actually got a bit boring. While it did pick up the pace in the last act, that dull middle part really makes this film feel longer than it actually is, which is never good. I do think it's important to stress that this isn't a bad film. By far, the best parts in this movie (as they are with any Bourne film) are the action sequences. The fight and chase scenes throughout Jason Bourne really got your heart pumping and made you cringe with every brutal punch thrown. Also, yes, he does beat someone up with just a regular household item. The big car chase scene in Las Vegas that you see in the trailers is by far the most entertaining point in the movie. Which made for a strong finish as it's towards the end of the film. Also, they did somewhat introduce a new plot towards the end that might work well in future installments. I'm curious to see where that goes, because you know they have to be looking at turning this into a new trilogy. Part of me is hoping they do because I want to see more Jason Bourne movies. My only gripe is that they need a new plotline. Make it original! At the end of the day, Jason Bourne was pretty good. It recycled the same plotline that we've seen in the previous Matt Damon Bourne films, and it did slow down a bit towards the middle. However, the action sequences were fantastic! Every chase and fight scene got you really excited to see what was happening. It' in those moments that this film really shines, all the ones in between? Not really. If you've enjoyed the Bourne movies so far, then I'd recommend this one to you. If you've been a bit mixed with them, then you can probably wait until it comes out on DVD. 6.5/10  So what did you think of Jason Bourne? How would you rank it amongst its predecessors? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this review, share it on Facebook and Twitter. It really helps! Don't forget, I post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so check back then for more movie reviews and miscellaneous movie thoughts!
Thanks for stopping by! Hello, fellow moviegoers! San Diego Comic-Con 2016 has officially come to a close, and it gave us some pretty good looks at some of the most talked about movies of next year. Whether is was with casting news, official images, or even a trailer, fans came out buzzing about all of their favorite franchises. So, I've decided to break down what I believe are the four biggest trailers shown at San Diego Comic-Con. Keep in mind, these are only the trailers they released online, so obviously I haven't seen the Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 or Spider-Man: Homecoming trailers. However, there were some pretty impressive trailers that surfaced online last weekend. So let's discuss them.  Kong: Skull Island I really had no idea what to expect from the first trailer for Kong: Skull Island. I was interested in the film already due to the stellar cast and the fact that it is in the same universe as 2014's Godzilla. But this trailer blew me away. Kong: Skull Island looks fantastic! The first thing I noticed in the trailer was the cinematography. This was an extremely well-shot trailer. There were so many individual shots that would be the type you set as your desktop wallpaper. In addition to that, the tone built throughout the trailer is one that really stresses feelings of interest and fear simultaneously. The best thing this trailer did was hide Kong. I know that sounds a little weird, to hide Kong in your trailer for a King Kong movie, but hear me out. You don't want to fully show Kong this early on because then the aura of mystery is gone. It's very similar to the trailers for 2014's Godzilla. They didn't really show Godzilla, but they showed enough to get you excited. As I mentioned earlier, this film has a stellar cast. This trailer primarily put the spotlight on Samuel L. Jackson and John Goodman. But you also saw glimpses of Tom Hiddleston and recently-announced Captain Marvel, Brie Larson. The cast alone would've gotten me to see this film. The fact that it looks breathtaking? That makes Kong: Skull Island one of my most anticipated movies of next year!  Wonder Woman The first official trailer for the new Wonder Woman movie really does a good job getting people excited for this film. Wonder Woman is the first film in this new age of comic-book films to focus on a female superhero, so there is a lot riding on this film. Based on this trailer, it looks to deliver on all expectations. There were three things that stood out the most to me in this trailer. The first was the action sequences. The fight scenes in this trailer were brilliantly crafted by director Patty Jenkins. They really show how powerful a character Wonder Woman is, and I'm really excited to see these scenes in context. The second standout was Chris Pine and the tad bit of humor he brought. Putting Chris Pine in anything really is enough to get me excited, but casting him as Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman was an awesome idea. It was nice to see them bring some humor into the DC Universe as well, compared to the extremely serious trailers DC had with Man of Steel and Batman v Superman. Finally, the use of the fantastic score that Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL made for her in Batman v Superman really capped off this awesome trailer in an amazing way. Not only did it get you pumped up with a really well-done score, but it also reminds you that this is the same Wonder Woman that we saw in BvS. So at the end of the day, I would say that this first trailer for Wonder Woman really did its job. It gave fans a taste of what to expect from this film without spoiling anything. The action sequences were excellent, Chris Pine was a great addition, and her score was used to its maximum potential at the end. You can expect to see me in line opening night to see this film.  Doctor Strange The second trailer for Doctor Strange did exactly what a second trailer should do. It gave us enough of the plot to get an idea of what the film is. They showed new footage but resisted the urge to show us too much. They kept it mysterious, as Doctor Strange should be. The choice to bring in Benedict Cumberbatch to play the Sorcerer Supreme was nothing less than brilliant. Cumberbatch is one of the best actors out there right now when it comes to acting and popularity. He looks fantastic as Doctor Strange, and I can't wait to see what he does with the role. The visuals in this trailer were oddly mesmerizing. They really separated Doctor Strange from anything else Marvel has done before. The distinction between each of Marvel's films is truly one of their greatest strengths. Every film Marvel does brings something new to the table while staying within the confines of their universe. With Doctor Strange, Kevin Feige is taking this franchise in new directions that not only are expanding the comic-book movie genre but filmmaking as a whole.  Justice League The new trailer for Justice League was by far the biggest surprise coming out of Comic-Con. Justice League doesn't hit theaters until November of 2017, so nobody expected to see a trailer this early. That being said, showing this was a home run from the Warner Bros marketing department. After Batman v Superman, people were a little weary about the DC Cinematic Universe going forward. Warner Bros and DC needed to get people back on board if they wanted to get them in the theater. This trailer was a magnificent step forward for the DCCU. The most notable difference between this trailer and the DC Universe so far is the tone. Justice League seems like it is just a fun movie. It is still obvious that this is the same world, but it has a different sort of feel to it. They seem to be taking the DC Cinematic Universe in a new, more exciting, direction, and it's one I can't wait to see. Each individual member of the Justice League (except for maybe Cyborg) stood out in this trailer in their own way. Ezra Miller's Flash looks to be great comic relief. Jason Momoa's Aquaman looks like he is going to demolish the belief that Aquaman is lame. Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot both look great, as they did in BvS. Needless to say, this Justice League trailer was fantastic! It was exactly what DC needed to get people back on board, now let's just hope they stay there.  So what'd you think of all the trailers that came out of Comic-Con this year? Which one was your favorite? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this article, share it on Facebook and Twitter. It really helps! Don't forget, I post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So check back then for more movie reviews and miscellaneous movie thoughts!
Thanks for stopping by! Hello, fellow moviegoers! With the return of such beloved franchises Star Trek and Star Wars in the past few years, it's a good time to be a fan of sci-fi. With the Star Trek franchise having been rebooted with direction from J.J. Abrams in 2009 and Star Wars Episode VII hitting theaters last December, also from J.J. Abrams, these franchises are both back in full swing. To the dismay of many fans, J.J. Abrams left the director's chair of this third Star Trek film for the spot in Star War VII. While J.J.'s departure set the film back a bit, Star Trek Beyond is now in theaters with Fast & Furious director Justin Lin at the helm. Star Trek Beyond stars Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, and Sofia Boutella. When the crew of the Enterprise crash-lands on an unknown planet, they start to be hunted by a mysterious enemy known as Krall. With the help of the once-captive Jaylah, Kirk and a few members of his crew must track down everyone else and discover what it is Krall is really after. So does this movie boldly go where no film has gone before?  I am by no means a "Trekkie", however, I have enjoyed the recent films from J.J. Abrams (Yes, even Into Darkness). I was optimistic when they announced that Justin Lin was taking over, and I'm glad to say that he did a great job with this film. Star Trek Beyond is a very entertaining film, that doesn't necessarily push the boundaries of cinema, but it didn't need to. The best thing about this film is that it was simply fun. This is the type of film that you don't need to prepare to watch; you can just watch it on a whim and have a good time. The overall story was pretty good, although it's not going to win any Oscars. There was one plot twist concerning the villain in the film that would've worked really well had it not been spoiled by the advertisements. If you know what that twist is ahead of time, it does detract from the film a bit. The cast of this new Star Trek series is part of what makes it so great. Each member fits so well into their individual roles, and the dynamics between them make for some really interesting conversations. Star Trek Beyond is no exception to that. Chris Pine, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, and the rest of the returning cast is just as great as they were in the previous films. Newcomers Idris Elba and Sofia Boutella were each fantastic in their roles. Idris Elba as the villain in pretty much any film guarantees a terrifying villain. His performance as Krall in Star Trek Beyond made for a great villain to make this already pretty good film into a great one. Sofia Boutella (who you might recognize from Kingsman) is an actress to keep your eye on. She was really good in Kingsman, and she brings that same talent to the character of Jaylah in this film. Hopefully, they bring her back for the next film because she's definitely a character that would work well in the crew of the Enterprise. Star Trek Beyond is, in my opinion, another great chapter in this rebooted Star Trek universe. It's funny, it's action-packed, it's got heart, and it is just a really good time at the movies. The entire cast gives great performances, especially Elba and Boutella, and the dynamics between all of these characters never made the film boring. I would recommend Star Trek Beyond if you're ever just looking for a fun film to watch. If you're a fan of Sci-Fi, then I believe you'll have a really good time with this film. This is definitely one I'm planning to buy on Blu-Ray when it comes out. 8/10  So what'd you think of Star Trek Beyond? Are you a fan of this rebooted Star Trek universe? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this review, share it on Facebook and Twitter. It really helps! Don't forget, I post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so check back then for more movie reviews and miscellaneous movie thoughts!
Thanks for stopping by! Hello, fellow moviegoers! The Secret Life of Pets is an animated film that shines light on what our pets do when we're not around. It focuses on one dog in particular named Max. When his owner brings home a "big brother" named Duke, the life he knows completely changes. When Max and Duke get lost in New York, they must work together to find their way home as their friends trek across the city to find them. This film features the voices of Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Albert Brooks, and Lake Bell. Many people considered Secret Life of Pets to be one of their most anticipated films of the summer, so does it live up to expectations?  I would have to say that The Secret Life of Pets is a really funny, family-friendly film made for pet owners. While it does have some moments that really make you question everything about the film, as a whole the film was pretty good. The best thing this movie did was to keep the plot simple. It didn't get overcomplicated with a million different plotlines or characters. It keeps everything relatively close together. They introduce these characters right away and jump into a plot that will be sure to entertain the whole family. The voice cast throughout the film did a relatively good job. Louis C.K. was fantastic for the voice of Max. Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart were also very good in their roles. The rest of the cast worked as the voices, but none of them really stood out. There was nothing really new from the animation style in Pets. It was the typical animation from Illumination Studios who also made the Despicable Me films. If you've seen any of those films, you know what the animation in this film is like. It didn't necessarily look bad, but it didn't look amazing either. Secret Life of Pets was a really cute and funny film if you're a pet owner. If you don't own any pets, I can't imagine you really loving this film. It really focuses on the humor that comes with having a dog, cat, bird, or any other type of pet. However, there was one scene in particular that really stood out in a bad way. It was just a really odd scene that was less humorous and more confusing. If you've seen the film, you probably know what scene I'm talking about. There really isn't much else to say about Secret Life of Pets. It basically all comes down to whether or not you own pets. The voice cast did a relatively good job, there was nothing new with the animation, and it was pretty funny for the most part. Secret Life of Pets won't be a film that goes down as one of the great animated films such as The Lion King, but it was still pretty good. 6.5/10  So what did you think of Secret Life of Pets? Did it make you laugh much? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this review, share it on Facebook and Twitter. It really helps! Don't forget, I post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so check back then for more movie reviews and miscellaneous movie thoughts!
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Kyle Kruse
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