Blog Archives

5 Worst Films of 2016

12/31/2016

Hello, fellow moviegoers!
Every year we see plenty of great movies that we can’t stop talking about, however, for every Yin, there is a Yang. In this case, there were plenty of really bad movies that came out this year. Just for the heck of it, I decided to count down the five worst films I saw this year. Remember, this is just my opinion. You may have liked these movies; you may not have. Based on the films I saw, these are what I consider to be the worst of the year.
Keep in mind that I did not see every film that came out this year, and I even avoided seeing some that I heard were really bad, such as Assassin’s Creed, Gods of Egypt, and Collateral Beauty. That doesn’t make these films any less horrible, but there might be worse.

DISHONORABLE MENTION: Alice Through the Looking Glass

5. Zoolander 2

The original Zoolander is a film that you either love or hate. Personally, I love it. It’s ridiculous stupid humor. Zoolander 2 on the other hand, is just really stupid. There is no defending this movie. It’s a really poor attempt at trying to capitalize on the success of a film that came out fifteen years ago. When watching this film, it made me wonder if this was how some people see the original Zoolander. I don’t know, but what I do know is that Zoolander 2 is horrible.

4. Free State of Jones

Free State of Jones is a movie that should have been amazing. All of the trailers looked great, it was a film set during the American Civil War, and it starred Matthew McConaughey. What could go wrong? Apparently, everything. It’s not that it was actively horrible like some films on this list; Free State of Jones was just extremely boring. It had no plot direction whatsoever, and it was overall just an unpleasant experience. In fact, I was so disappointed by this film when I saw it that I didn’t write a review for it. I just didn’t want to talk about it. I still don’t, so moving on.

3. Inferno

In all honesty, it didn’t feel like anyone involved with Inferno even cared about it. They were all just showing up to set thinking “Oh, I have to work on this garbage fire again, hooray”. Similarly, to Free State of Jones, this film had the potential to be great. It starred Tom Hanks and Felicity Jones, it was directed by Ron Howard, and it had a really cool concept behind it. Watching this film felt like playing a two-hour game of Clue with people you don’t like.

2. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

Well. This happened. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is every bit as awful as its title would suggest. To put it plain and simple, this movie was bad. Like, really bad. It feels like it should have been a direct to DVD film that nobody sees or cares about. It feels like the story is just being made up as the film goes along, then at the very last minute, they decided to ditch one of the big reveals they’d been setting up. The title suggests that you should “Never go back”, but I’m saying you should just avoid it in the first place.

1. Independence Day: Resurgence

Independence Day: Resurgence is by far the worst film that I saw all year, and I saw a lot of movies this year. The worst part, you can’t even have fun making fun of this movie. From the performances, to the plot, to the visual effects, to just about everything in this film, it is horrendous. I’m not saying that just to be dramatic either, that is an accurate description of this waste of time. Watching this film is one of the most unpleasant experiences you could ever have in a theater. The good things in this film start and end with Jeff Goldblum. That’s it. When I reviewed this film initially, I gave it the lowest score I had ever given a film, 1/10. It still holds that record, and I would still give it that if I were to review it today. Please, do not subject yourself to the torment that is Independence Day: Resurgence.

So what were some of the worst films that you saw in 2016? What didn’t you like about them? 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!

Comments

5 Most Underappreciated Films of 2016

12/30/2016

Comments

Hello, fellow moviegoers!
Every year we see those movies that we absolutely love, yet when we talk to people about them one of two things happen: they haven’t heard of the movie, or they just don’t care about it. There’s nothing wrong with that, we each have our opinions. However, here is my list of the five most underappreciated films of 2016. Keep in mind that these are films that either nobody cared to see or everybody forgot about. Some films might not have made a lot of money, but critics raved about them, hence them not being on this list. This films might not have been good enough to make my Ten Best of the Year list, but they still deserve your attention.

*You can read my full reviews by clicking on the titles!

5. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

This was a film that I actually didn’t like a whole much when I first saw it. In fact, I gave it a negative review. However, as time has passed, I’ve been surprised by how much my opinion has changed! I often find myself quoting this movie to my friends, and having conversations with people about how ridiculous, yet funny it is. If I were to review Popstar now, it would undoubtedly be a positive review. I’ve been reviewing movies for over two years now, and this is the only film that I have drastically changed my mind about over time. It’s a shame almost nobody saw this movie when it came out!

4. Storks

Storks was a film that I wasn’t expecting anything out of, and it ended up being one of the biggest pleasant surprises of the year. This film had heart, humor, and just the right amount of emotion built into it. It was a very clever movie that never ceased to surprise me as to how much I enjoyed it. This is a film I would definitely recommend for families, and I’m holding out hope that it will get some love come awards season (at least one nomination, please?), but it probably won’t.

3. Money Monster

The biggest surprise about Money Monster, to me, is the lack of discussion about it. When watching this film, it really stood out to me as a film that would start some sort of debate or conversation. But there was, and still is, nothing to hear about this film. George Clooney and Julia Roberts both gave good performances, but I thought for sure that people would talk about Jack O’Connell in this film. He’s fantastic in it, and nobody’s talking about him! Please, watch Money Monster if you ever get the chance!

2. Pete’s Dragon

Pete’s Dragon was probably the biggest surprise of the year. I expected this film to be mediocre, at best. To my surprise, I walked out of this film having absolutely loved it from beginning to end! The performances throughout were really good and this film has some of the most heart out of any film I’ve seen all year. The visual effects on Elliot, the dragon, were great as well! This is a film that I find myself happy just thinking about. It’s a heartwarming film that I could not recommend highly enough!

1. Captain Fantastic

Once upon a time, Captain Fantastic was my favorite film of 2016. It has since lost that position, and it didn’t quite make my Ten Best of the Year, but it did get an Honorable Mention. Viggo Mortensen gives a fantastic performance in this film, and it’s overall just a refreshingly original film that has some great messages and themes throughout it! I was really happy to see the Golden Globes recognize Mortensen for this film, however, I don’t believe he has any legitimate shot at winning, unfortunately! Captain Fantastic was, without a doubt, the most underrated film of the year!

So what did you think of this list? Which films would you consider to be the most underrated of 2016? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this article, share it on Facebook and Twitter! It really helps! In addition to that, check back tomorrow for a special article covering my 5 Worst Films of 2016!

Thanks for stopping by!

Comments

Kruzereviews' Top Ten Films of 2016

12/28/2016

Comments

Hello, fellow moviegoers!
2016 has come and gone and with it, there have been plenty of movies to talk about. Whether it was the disappointment that was Batman v Superman or any of the numerous pleasant surprises, many films this year have caused a lot of conversation and debates. So, I guess I’ll just get to the point. Here are my 10 Favorite Films of 2016! Keep in mind these are my favorite films of the year. You might disagree with this list, but that’s what makes movies so great. So here we go!

*You can read any of these reviews by simply clicking the title of the film!

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

10. Don’t Breathe

I am not a big fan of scary movies. For whatever reason, they’re just not my thing. Don’t Breathe, however, is a completely different story. This wasn’t really a horror movie; it was more of a thriller, and it was great! The film builds a massive aura of tension that never leaves over the course of the film. Don’t Breathe keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
In my original review, I stated that the title of the film was unknowingly a command that the audience willingly followed, and I still stand by that statement. There was not a sound out of the audience while watching this film. Everyone was so nervous about what was going to happen next, and every minute inside that house was exhilarating! I would highly recommend Don’t Breathe, especially if you’re a fan of scary movies!

9. The Edge of Seventeen

The Edge of Seventeen was one of the biggest, pleasant surprises of the year. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this film, and I was absolutely blown away by what I got. This film was a realistic look at a modern high school, and the attitudes that many kids have nowadays. This film is often described accurately as a modern Jon Hughes film, and it is definitely deserving of that description.
The best part in The Edge of Seventeen was, without a doubt, Woody Harrelson as the teacher. He was such a funny and sarcastic character, and Harrelson played him wonderfully. The Edge of Seventeen wasn’t afraid to go serious with some of its characters, and ultimately it paid off. The realism of this film was a big part of what made it so great, but it never got too serious. It knew how to get just the right balance between humor and drama. Edge of Seventeen was a fantastic coming of age film for a modern audience!

8. Captain America: Civil War

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the most successful franchises to date. Yes, part of that is because many people just have a natural admiration of superheroes. I would argue that another major factor is that they’re not afraid to try something new. Captain America: Civil War was the culmination of that idea.
This film delivered on all cylinders. It gave us a fantastic fight and moral dilemma between Captain America and Iron Man, and it also introduced us to great new MCU characters such as Black Panther and Spider-Man. This film split its audience in a positive way. Many people are still debating as to which side had the right idea. The whole "Team Cap and Team Iron Man" marketing strategy was brilliant, and it definitely got people talking about it.

7. The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book was a technical masterpiece. It gave us some of the best visual effects we have seen maybe ever. All of the animals in this film were hyper-realistic, and each voice actor fit their respective role magnificently! The casting in this film was perfect. I mean, Bill Murray as Baloo? How is that not amazing?
We’ve seen the story of The Jungle Book before, but this rendition just felt different, in a good way. I expected The Jungle Book to be good, but I didn’t expect it to be that good! It was exciting, it was emotional, and it was a fantastic take on the classic story. If this movie did anything, it gave me faith that all of these live-action renditions of classic Disney films might actually be really good! Let’s hope!

6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was an extra dose of the Star Wars universe that we didn’t know we needed. It was the first film in a slew of spinoffs being produced by Disney, so they needed this one to be great. Luckily for them, it was!
This film delivered so many different scenes that will undoubtedly become classic Star Wars moments. There is one specifically towards the end that I won’t spoil, but yeah. That happened, and it was wonderful. This film was the story told by the opening crawl in the first Star Wars film, and now having seen it, I watch the original film from an entirely new perspective!

5. Arrival

I have seen a lot of alien invasion films in my life. We all have. However, I’ve never seen one quite like Arrival. This was not the typical aliens attacking Earth movie. This film approached the coming of these beings from an intellectual perspective. The best word I have to describe this movie is “cerebral”.
Arrival focused around Amy Adams’s character who was attempting to translate the aliens’ language while teaching them ours. It taught the audience a lot, not just about language and the way communication works, but it also taught us not to jump to conclusions. The truth isn’t always what we think it is.

4. The Nice Guys

Russel Crowe and Ryan Gosling are two of the most charismatic actors in Hollywood right now. Now imagine what they would be like together in a detective comedy taking place in the 70s. That’s what The Nice Guys is, and it’s wonderful. This is the type of film that every time you watch it, it gets better. For example, when I started working on this list about three weeks ago this movie didn’t make the top five.
Witty dialogue, great performances, and an interesting plot make The Nice Guys one of the year’s best films. Gosling and Crowe had incredible chemistry on-screen together, and Angourie Rice who played Gosling’s daughter was arguably just as good as those two. This film is a lot of fun, it’s not for everybody, but those it appeals to will absolutely love it!

3. Deadpool

How can you make a list like this and not have Deadpool on it? This film worked wonders not just for the character of Deadpool, but also for the superhero genre in general. This was a character that almost nobody outside of comic-book fans had heard of, and now after the film, he is one of the most popular superheroes out there (He’s more of an anti-hero, but you know what I mean).
This film was such a clever take on this character and the genre as a whole. With every viewing of this film, you can pick up on more and more hidden jokes. Deadpool’s constant mocking of the typical action movie sets this film apart from many of the typical major blockbusters. Similar to The Nice Guys, this is definitely not a film for everybody, but there is a whole lot to enjoy about this movie!

2. Sing Street

Sing Street is a film that almost nobody has heard of, and that’s a shame. It tells the story of an Irish teen in the 1980s. When he transfers to a new school he meets a girl he really likes. He asks her to be in a music video for his band when she says yes, he gets extremely excited. He then proceeds to walk over to his friends and say “We need to form a band.”
Based on that description, you probably get an idea of how clever a film this is. The original music throughout the film sounds like genuine 80s music, and it’ll get stuck in your head for days on end. The performances in the film were wonderful, and it has a lot of really good messages for people of all ages. This is a truly underrated film that you need to see! It’s on Netflix, so go check it out!

1. La La Land

La La Land is, without a doubt, the best film of the year. The film follows two characters as they chase their dreams in Hollywood while simultaneously falling in love with each other. Oh, and it’s a musical. Musicals are really hard to get right, but La La Land pulls it off perfectly! Each of the songs felt completely natural to the plot, and it never felt abrupt when they started singing.
This isn’t just the best film of the year, it’s one of the best films of the past few years! It’s been nominated for seven Golden Globes, and it will definitely be nominated for a few Oscars as well, deservedly so. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone star in this film, and they both give absolutely amazing performances. From the music to the cinematography, to just about anything in this film, La La Land is absolutely magnificent!

So do you agree with my list? What were some of your favorite films of the year? 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!

Comments

'La La Land' Movie Review

12/26/2016

Comments

Hello, fellow moviegoers!
La La Land is directed by Damien Chazelle, and it stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. It tells the story of two people, one a jazz pianist, the other an aspiring actress. The two keep running into each other, and eventually they start dating. This film explores that relationship, as well as their careers in Hollywood just trying to make a living doing what they love. Oh, and it’s a musical, so there’s that too.

I knew that I had to see this film before I made my Top Ten of the Year list (which will be coming out later this week). I had heard that it was really good, and I was a big fan of Chazelle’s 2014 film Whiplash. I was really looking forward to this film, and I can honestly say that it is everything I wanted it to be, and more. Much more.
   Let’s start with the obvious thing. La La Land is a musical. However, it’s not a musical in the way you might expect. It’s not like most musicals where it’s extremely obvious that it was made to be a musical. This film doesn’t feel like a guy sitting in a room thinking “I’m going to write a musical. It’ll have this many songs, and this is where they will be”. No, La La Land gives the vibe that while it was being written Chazelle thought “Hey, a song would work well here”. All of the music naturally fit into the film, and it wasn’t distracting at all. Not once did I catch myself thinking “Oh, they’re singing now.” Every time a song would start to be sung, it was such a seamless transition. It never felt sudden or abrupt.
   About the actual songs and music in the film, they were fantastic! They were all so catchy that you actually might go out of your way to listen to them outside of the theater. For example, I am actually listening to the soundtrack while writing this review. All of the songs are so different from each other, and they are so elegant yet fun. The main song that plays between these two characters was absolutely beautiful. It’s a recurring tune throughout the film, and every time it played, I couldn’t help but smile. Justin Hurwitz did the music for the film, and he will be winning an Oscar for it. There is no doubt about that.
    The two main characters in the film were the kind that you can’t get enough of. When this film came to a close, I found myself thinking that I could’ve easily spent two more hours with those characters alone. They were both such interesting and in-depth people individually, and every second they were on screen I couldn’t get enough of them. When they were together, that joy of being with them is increased exponentially. This jubilation is only heightened by the powerhouse performances given by both Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. They were both perfectly cast in their roles, and they will without a doubt be nominated for Oscars for this film. I wouldn’t doubt them winning either. They both carried this film magnificently.
    One thing that stood out to me was the dialogue, or rather lack thereof. There are times in this film where it feels like you haven’t heard a line of dialogue in ten minutes. It was just music and watching these events and characters on screen. This technique was used brilliantly! The audience learns just as much about these characters through these scenes as they do when they are actually having a conversation! It’s a technique that I’m sure has been used before, but it worked wonders in this film. It only added to the overall sense of awe that this film creates.
   There are a lot of different themes that become evident throughout this film. Beyond the surface theme of love, there is so much more to unpack in this film. There are themes about doing what you love no matter what happens, there are themes about not pandering to audiences and tons more. I cannot wait to see this film again, and again to see what else there is to uncover.
   Finally, I want to talk briefly about the ending (Don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything). I loved the ending to this film so much! It went a direction that I was not expecting, but it fit the overall feel of the film extremely well. It was handled amazingly! It was so fitting when considering what events had happened throughout the film. It leaves you feeling happy for the characters, but you’re also sad for reasons I won’t give away.
   La La Land wasn't just an amazing film, it was an experience. It was a love letter to classic Hollywood, but it also had a modern feel to it. The music by Justin Hurwitz was elegant, and the grand musical numbers feel natural to the plot. The characters were extremely realistic and believable, and they were only heightened by Gosling and Stone’s performances. All of this was tied together by the flawless directing by Damien Chazelle. I loved La La Land! I’m glad I saw this film before I made my Top Ten List because it might just be at the top of it. I’m always apprehensive to give these out because so many people do it so frequently, but there’s no doubt about it. La La Land was perfect!

10/10

So what did you think of La La Land? Did you love it as much as I did? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this review, share it on Facebook and Twitter! It really helps! Check back later this week to see my Top Ten Films of 2016!
Thanks for stopping by!

Comments

<<Previous

5 Worst Films of 2016

5 Most Underappreciated Films of 2016

Kruzereviews' Top Ten Films of 2016

'La La Land' Movie Review

Kyle Kruse

See more of my reviews and articles on The Daily Nebraskan!

Follow Me for Updates!

Categories

Archives

Contact Me!

5 Worst Films of 2016

5 Most Underappreciated Films of 2016

Kruzereviews' Top Ten Films of 2016

'La La Land' Movie Review

Kyle KruseSee more of my reviews and articles on The Daily Nebraskan!

Follow Me for Updates!

Categories

Archives

Contact Me!

Kyle Kruse

See more of my reviews and articles on The Daily Nebraskan!