THE OPTIMIST - MOVIE REVIEWS

      When it comes to the sappy, feel-good stuff with movies, Nancy Meyers never fails to deliver. She has such a pleasant way of balancing emotion and humor in her films that they're really all pleasant experiences all around. Her latest film " The Intern " is a contemporary tale that just makes you feel good. Like, when the the credits roll you feel like you didn't waste your time. Who doesn't love that about a movie going experience? There's a lot of stuff to choose from when it comes to picking a movie to watch today and I'll say it here, The Intern is worth your viewing.    70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker, played by the magnanimous Robert De Niro , has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. After trying endlessly to fill his days with things to do, he feels he may succumb to the black hole of solitude. When a strange new opportunity arises to join a growing online company through their senior citizen intern progra...

          This summer has seen some interesting films. As the summer winds down, we start to move away from the big blockbusters. However, " Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials " is as big a blockbuster as any, and it delivers. I'll preface this review by first stating that I have not read the book so, as to its loyalty to the source material I'm afraid I can't tell you. As for the film itself, it was great. I think the thing that makes it good for me was that it totally took me by surprise. The first movie (which you can read my review for here ) had this feel of intensity and mystery. Not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. This second one doesn't fall short in fact, dare I say, it was better than the first.    Picking up about five minutes after the end of the first film, Thomas ( Dylan O'Brien ) and Co. have escaped the maze and have found themselves on the run out in the open world; a desolate, sand-covered was...

   Okay, I want you to sit back, relax, close your eyes, and tell me the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the name... M. Night Shyamalan ...did your brain explode? Did you cringe with anguish? Did you let out a disgruntled sigh? If so, how dare you! He's amazing!! (*deep breath*) Okay, I suppose you're entitled to your opinion and that's perfectly fine, but let me just preface this review with the fact that I am 100% behind this director, for better or for worse. M. Night Shyamalan is one of my all-time favorite directors--definitely top 5--and though he's hit a rough patch these last few years, I can't help but like his movies. I'm going to try and remain as unbiased as possible in this review and deliver complete honesty as we look at his latest thriller " The Visit ."    Man, where to begin. This movie is going to be hailed, I think, as either a mediocre flop for some critics, or a true return to form by others. Seeing as though...

      I had the privilege, nay the pleasure, of getting an early glimpse at the epically-intense true story that is " Everest ", in IMAX 3D, and it didn't disappoint. The movie opens on Friday September 18, and it has taken me a full week to finally get my thoughts down for your reading pleasure. This will be a spoiler-free review, so don't feel bad about reading this before you see the movie. In retrospect, the film is based on a true event so you could just google the story and spoil it yourself. But alas, don't do that. Go see the movie instead.    The term "based on a true story" seems to be thrown around loosely among Hollywood filmmakers these days. A lot of times, movies that are based on true events are vaguely reminiscent to the real-life moments that inspired the adaptation. I'll be upfront and honest, I did not research this movie or its story, before or after seeing this film. Most of the time I don't when it comes to movies ...