THE OPTIMIST - MOVIE REVIEWS

        I always get leery when it comes to sequels. It's sad that they come packaged with this stereotype of being bloated versions of their predecessors, which they mainly are. There's so much potential to expound on material that if you seek to catch lightning in a bottle twice, you'll fail. The approach with sequels should be simple, to tell a great story. Connect it somehow to the first film, but really focus on making it it's own thing. I believe that's what was being attempted with " Sinister 2 ", and despite it's flaws and minor plot holes, I think it serves as a fairly decent follow up to what I believe to be one of the more pivotal horror films in the last ten years.    The movie takes place some time after the events of the first film. A mother, played by Shannyn Sossamon , and her 2 sons move into a rural house, evading her abusive husband who is seeking custody. Unbeknowsnt to them, the property is marked for death. When Deputy So-and...

        When it comes to biopics, I've found that they can be either REALLY good or REALLY boring, like slightly-more-interesting documentaries. It's an interesting genre to tackle I think, within the medium of film. My wife and I watched " Straight Outta Compton " this week and let me tell you, it was an experience like I've never had with another biopic. I'm not saying that it's, like, the greatest movie ever made. What I mean is that I was equal parts entertained, educated, and moved on an emotional level, which (in my mind) separated Straight Outta Compton slightly apart from other great biopics that I've seen, which manages to do one or two of those things. On a personal level, I couldn't have been more disconnected from the source material from this movie, which I think lends itself to my overall reaction. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed myself watching this film.    The movie chronicles the rise of famed music group NWA starting i...

    As far as sleeper hits go, " American Ultra " is right in there. Advertised as a Jason Bourne/Pineapple Express love-child, Ultra surprises in so many ways. Most audiences will probably go into this movie expecting a cookie-cutter comedy that will make you laugh but will ultimately be forgotten long before you get to your car in the cinema parking lot. I'll go as far as to say that this movie isn't the greatest comedy ever, but it's a blast of a ride that will surely be underestimated.     Jesse Eisenberg plays stoner store clerk Mike, who lives with his stoner girlfriend Phoebe, played by the surprisingly-not-annoying Kirsten Stewart. Mike's not your typical stoner though. He's actually a government agent who has no idea he's a government agent until he's activated in the wake of his impending termination. Seen as a liability, Mike finds himself in the clutches of other government agents trying to take him out. But he's too well-trai...

       I was aware that The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was based off of an old TV show. I have not seen said TV show, nor do I know anything about said TV show. What I do know is that there is a movie out by Guy Richie with this title, and the trailers looked interesting. So naturally, I had to see it. Overall verdict: an absolute joy. This film is so much fun I was pleasantly surprised. So right off the bat I suggest all to go see it.      The premise is simple enough: in the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo (played by Superman himself, Henry Cavill ) and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin (played by the Lone Ranger Armie Hammer ) participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons. Their joint venture comes with a comedic tension between the two spies that truly acts as the catalyst for the entire movie's comedic charm. It's a spy movie, and it's everything you would ever want in a ...

      I don’t think I went into seeing any Marvel film with more reservation than I did with this year’s reboot of Fantastic Four . Then again, I don't think any other Marvel movie has been met with the amount of negativity and skepticism than this film has. So there I was sitting in my seat, popcorn and drink in hand, thinking to myself, “I hope this is good. I really want to like it.” It was a new feeling. I wasn’t expecting that from a Marvel film. I always felt safe in their arms, knowing full well that whatever was about to play out in front of me was going to be an interesting ride. Even with unknowns like Guardians of the Galaxy and this year’s Ant-Man , you got your money’s worth, no matter their flaws. They delivered the Marvel experience.      I don’t know what it is about Fantastic Four that gave me such reservation. Maybe it’s because every other iteration was either campy, corny, or just plain awful. The two we got in the early 2000s...