Special: Green Room/The Secret Life Of Pets/Bad Moms Mini-Reviews

Green Room:

Synopsis: Down on their luck punk rockers The Ain't Rights are finishing up a long and unsuccessful tour, and are about to call it quits when they get an unexpected booking at an isolated, run-down club deep in the backwoods of Oregon. What seems merely to be a third-rate gig escalates into something much more sinister when they witness an act of violence backstage that they weren't meant to see. Now trapped backstage, they must face off against the club's depraved owner, Darcy Banker (Patrick Stewart), a man who will do anything to protect the secrets of his nefarious enterprise. But while Darcy and his henchmen think the band will be easy to get rid of, The Ain't Rights prove themselves much more cunning and capable than anyone expected, turning the tables on their unsuspecting captors and setting the stage for the ultimate life-or-death showdown.

My thoughts: Dark, thrilling, bone chilling, edge of your seat excitement. The cast was stellar, Patrick Stewart is scary as hell and Anton Yelchin is amazing once again (R.I.P.). The only thing that held this back was it's dependence on gore, which I admittedly am not a fan of. Near perfect flick otherwise.

Final verdict: 4 box cutters out of 5.

The Secret Life Of Pets:

Synopsis: For their fifth fully-animated feature-film collaboration, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures present The Secret Life of Pets, a comedy about the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day. Comedy superstars Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart make their animated feature-film debuts in The Secret Life of Pets, which co-stars Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Jenny Slate, Bobby Moynihan, Hannibal Buress and Albert Brooks.

My thoughts: In a year filled with animated hits The Secret Life of Pets may end up ultimately getting forgotten but it provides a lot of laughter and a lot of heart, something most non-Disney-related films can't pull off. The Secret Life of Pets deserves a better fate but at least Illumination can hang their hats on finally creating an original film on par with heir first, Despicable Me.

Final verdict: 4 destroyed collars out of 5.

Bad Moms:

Synopsis:In this new comedy from the grateful husbands and devoted fathers who wrote The Hangover, Amy has a seemingly perfect life--a great marriage, over-achieving kids, beautiful home and a career. However she's over-worked, over-committed and exhausted to the point that she's about to snap. Fed up, she joins forces with two other over-stressed moms on a quest to liberate themselves from conventional responsibilities--going on a wild, un-mom-like binge of long overdue freedom, fun and self-indulgence--putting them on a collision course with PTA Queen Bee Gwendolyn and her clique of devoted perfect moms.

My thoughts: Not as bad as I expected, though it was an incredibly cliched and predictable script, the cast was just strong enough to make you forget about that. It had a few laughs but obviously being a childless male I'm likely not it's target audience. But fellas, if your lady really wants to see this, you will be able to easily survive it.

Final verdict: 3 donut holes out of 5.

Special: Central Intelligence/Batman: The Killing Joke/Jason Bourne Mini-Reviews

Central Intelligence:

Synopsis: The story follows a one-time bullied geek, Bob, who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent, coming home for his high school reunion. Claiming to be on a top-secret case, he enlists the help of former "big man on campus," Calvin, now an accountant who misses his glory days. But before the staid numbers-cruncher realizes what he's getting into, it's too late to get out, as his increasingly unpredictable new friend drags him through a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage that could get them both killed in more ways than Calvin can count.

My thoughts: Odd pairings have been a staple in movies for eon's but Central Intelligence takes it to a new level. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable and adds a new level of humour to the scripted laughs even if the movie follows a formulaic and predictable plot.

Final verdict: 4 odd-couples out of 5.

Batman: The Killing Joke:

Synopsis: Based on the acclaimed DC Comics graphic novel, take a journey into the dark psyche of the Clown Prince of Crime. Now escaped from Arkham Asylum, The Joker sets out to prove that one bad day can make anyone just as insane as he is. Featuring the return of Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as The Joker and Tara Strong as Batgirl, witness the birth of a super villain, the fortitude of a hero and the punchline that will leave you speechless!

My thoughts: The Internet hate machine will have you believe that this movie is full of unsettling sex and violence but that's anything but the case. Sure the prologue was a little long in the tooth and the relationship was surprising but not entirely out of left field. The animation was a great nod to Bolland's art and the voice acting is top notch as you would expect. Definitely in the upper echelon of DCAU movies.

Final verdict: 5 severed spines out of 5.

Jason Bourne:

Synopsis: Bourne remains on the run from CIA hit squads as he tries to uncover hidden truths about his past. When former CIA operative Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) hacks into agency databases to uncover evidence about its illegal assassination programs and on Bourne's recruitment, Bourne begins to understand who he truly is. After Parsons' breach, CIA Director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) orders CIA cyber head Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander) to find the pair.

My thoughts: Not the strongest in the Bourne series but the movie gives you just enough of that old Damon/Greengas nostalgia that it makes you forget that this film can't hold a candle to the original or Damon's last romp as Bourne. But there is enough excitement and well choreographed action scenes that the film moves along as a steady pace, although it is a bit uneven at times.

Final verdict: 4 Vegas car chases out of 5.

Special: Taken 3/The Wedding Ringer/Justice League:Throne Of Atlantis Mini-Reviews

Taken 3:

Liam Neeson returns as ex-covert operative Bryan Mills, whose reconciliation with his ex-wife is tragically cut short when she is brutally murdered. Consumed with rage, and framed for the crime, he goes on the run to evade the relentless pursuit of the CIA, FBI and the police. For one last time, Mills must use his "particular set of skills," to track down the real killers, exact his unique brand of justice, and protect the only thing that matters to him now - his daughter.

My thoughts? Although it's toned down the violence in order to get a PG-13 rating, Taken 3 is still a fun ride and it was able to avoid feeling like a carbon copy of the previous two films by not having a kidnapping plot, something that Taken 2 was hurt by as it felt like a retreaded, but worse, copy of the original. Taken 3 is a breath of fresh air for the franchise, which is still open to further entries despite the fact that 3 was marketed as the last time. My only issue with this film was about halfway through I realised Neeson hadn't actually took down a bad guy as most of the first half is stylised chases and him disarming and outsmarting cops. Taken 3 was an improvement on it's predecessor but is still a small shadow over the original and even last year's Non-Stop.

Final verdict: 3 (bordering on 4) evil Russians out of 5

The Wedding Ringer:

Doug Harris (Josh Gad) is a lovable but socially awkward groom-to-be with a problem: he has no best man. With less than two weeks to go until he marries the girl of his dreams (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting), Doug is referred to Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart), owner and CEO of Best Man, Inc., a company that provides flattering best men for socially challenged guys in need. What ensues is a hilarious wedding charade as they try to pull off the big con, and an unexpected budding bromance between Doug and his fake best man Jimmy.

My thoughts? I'll be honest, I don't really give Kevin Hart the time of day... Anytime people get obsessed with a comedian I always find them disappointing... Remember the Dane Cook Phenomena from 10 years ago? Yeah... But here Hart handles his role very well and opposite the equally funny Josh Gad the two have instant chemistry. It's not the most plausible movie, nor does it have the chops to hold up on it's own against The Hangover or Anchorman franchises, but it's still an extremely funny romp that warrants a watch every couple months.

Final verdict: 4 purchased groomsmen out of 5

Justice League: Throne Of Atlantis

In the aftermath of Justice League:War, the world is at peace or so it seems. When Atlantis attacks the Metropolis for the death of their king. But the Queen has different plans and requires the Justice League to find her lost son. But while they search for him, Atlantian troops lead by Ocean Master, continue their assault. Who will win?

My thoughts: Although I appreciate the WB and DC Comics listening to it's critics about these movies being too adult for kids, the violence was still there though not as bad, maybe that's because it was "trenchers" that were being decimated instead of humans as in Son of Batman, the coarse language was toned down, I heard "shit" once and there were certain dialogue where you could tell that they would usually have dropped an expletive was replaced with a more kid friendly line, it affected the story negatively. All in all Throne of Atlantis is a great comic storyline that missed the mark in the DCAU. There's been worse films made, but the DCAU's typical high standard slipped a bit here as this is easily the worst to come out since before Flashpoint. The voice acting was just okay as Batman and Wonder Woman especially continue to bug me, luckily Batman is probably one of the leaguer's that gets the least screen time which is kinda refreshing.

Final verdict: Barely 4 Atlantians out of 5