Step Up All In (2014)

Genre

Dance | Drama | Romance

Director

Trish Sie

Country

USA

Cast

Ryan Guzman, Adam G. Sevani, Briana Evigan, Misha Gabriel, Alyson Stoner, Izabella Miko, Mari Koda, Martin Lombard, Facundo Lombard, Christopher Scott, Stephen Boss, Luis Rosado, Chadd Smith, Parris Goebel, Stephen Jones, David Shreibman, Celestina Aladekoba

Storyline

After assembling a new crew, Sean (Ryan Guzman) joins a dance competition in Las Vegas and will battle for a victory that could define his dreams and career, as well as those of his new friends.

Opinion

The Step Up franchise is not known for its brilliant plots or characters, but for the dancing, which until now has been overall good. Then they made the fifth installment, this film, which is easily the worst film of the series.

Just like the previous entry, "Step Up All In" suffers with a mediocre story. Once again (not so) young people wanting to make money doing what they love most, dancing. But the storyline is so thin, it's basically just an excuse to make another film that is some sort of a reunion with the most known characters of the franchise. And just like always, a clichéd romance is thrown into the mix as well as some dramas and childish behaviors.

But what's the point in complaining about that? That's how the whole franchise is made, you get a dance scene, a glimpse of a plot, another dance scene, and so on.

But at least the other films had nice choreographies. Unfortunately "Step Up All In" takes a huge step back and brings the worst dance sequences of the franchise. The choreographies indeed aren't spectacular. Rather they are dull because they are made of the same steps and movements.

The acting also helps to sink the film. I am not sure if it's more laughable than atrocious or the other way around, but it's definitely horrible. Not to mention the non-existing chemistry.

Adam Sevani's Moose is the only breath of fresh air, which isn't that fresh anymore since he has been overused so much in the franchise. His steps are still good though.

The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Directors

Chris Renaud | Yarrow Cheney

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Hannibal Buress, Jenny Slate, Bobby Moynihan, Steve Coogan, Albert Brooks, Tara Strong, Chris Renaud, Michael Beattie, Sandra Echeverria, Jaime Camil

Storyline

The peaceful life of Max (Louis C.K.) is turned upside down when his owner (Ellie Kemper) brings home Duke (Eric Stonestreet), a stray whom Max instantly dislikes.

Opinion

I've been waiting for this film since april when I saw the trailer for the first time. It seemed fun and considering it came from Illumination Entertainment, the studio that created "Despicable Me", I decided to watch it. And I wasn't fully happy with it.

The main reason is because "The Secret Life of Pets" is a slapstick comedy, and while I love some good slapstick, it just doesn't have a good outcome here because it target kids at a very young age. Let's say those who are not able to follow good dialogue.

Another reason is the trailer. I know this thing happens a lot, but if you have seen it, you have seen the funniest parts of the film already. It basically gives away all the fun. Perhaps that's why I was disappointed, maybe I was expecting animals being wild when their owners weren't at home.

Which brings me to the plot. Still delivering several messages about friendship and adaptation, and somehow managing to be entertaining and engaging, it doesn't bring anything new to the table. If you have seen "Garfield: The Movie" it's like you have already seen this film. Owner brings home a new pet, the main pet is jealous and does everything to get rid of the new guy, they get on an adventure together and become besties.

There are a few positive notes though. First, the animation is amazing. Not Pixar amazing, but still amazing. The city is very detailed, and the animals are very beautiful. The music is also nice as well as some of the characters - I really liked Snowball, a white rabbit voiced by Kevin Hart whose expressions and attitudes made the character a lot more interesting.

V for Vendetta (2005)

Genre

Drama | Thriller

Director

James McTeigue

Country

USA

Cast

Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Stephen Rea, John Hurt, Stephen Fry, Tim Pigott-Smith, Rupert Graves, Roger Allam, John Standing, Eddie Marsan, Ben Miles, Guy Henry, Sinéad Cusack, Natasha Wightman

Storyline

In a future where Britain is filled with torture cells, unfair punishments and prejudice against minorities, a shadowy freedom fighter known as V (Hugo Weaving) plots to overthrow the tyranny with the help of a young woman (Natalie Portman).

Opinion

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November." Well, I remembered, that's why, for the occasion, I rewatched this film and I was left disappointed. Apparently my opinion about "V for Vendetta" has changed a bit since the last time I saw it, and, while I still think it is a nice dystopian film, I couldn't help but notice how many problems the film has.

First up is the plot. It is not very complex, it's actually quite clichéd and standard, but it still manages to be engaging. Even though it features a romantic subplot that could have easily been left out. No, that should have been left out.

So, yeah, the story could have definitely been better. But on the other hand there is the message the film delivers through that plot, which is a rather important one. It is a warning about giving up personal freedoms for the sake of security, and says that we, the people, should fight for our freedom no matter the cost.

Another thing the film does that unfortunately is very relevant nowadays is remembering us that there's is something bigger than us, there's something that is more important than life and death, and that thing is an idea. That's what the film is trying to teach. It's definitely not trying to show how to carry out a terrorist attack.

In addition to that, the film also has a great photography, a fantastic score by Dario Marianelli that accompanies the film beautifully and quite beautiful visual effects. The acting is nothing spectacular but this film is more of a political thriller/drama than it is an action flick.

At last, the acting. Limiting the talents of Hugo Weaving - whose only expression is vocal - should be a crime that is paid off with a mediocre performance as V, the freedom fighter wearing the mask. And neither Natalie Portman does a good job as she seems unnatural and looks like a piece of wood. Among the average supporting cast Stephen Rea stands out as the detective who begins to question his government.

But overall "V for Vendetta" isn't awful. Only if I had to choose, I'd pick to read Orwell's "1984" over watching this one every single time.

Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)

Genre

Horror

Director

Rachel Talalay

Country

USA

Cast

Robert Englund, Lisa Zane, Shon Greenblatt, Lezlie Deane, Breckin Meyer, Ricky Dean Logan, Yaphet Kotto, Tobe Sexton, Cassandra Rachel Frei, Lindsey Fields, Johnny Depp, Tom Arnold, Roseanne Barr, Alice Cooper

Storyline

Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) returns once again to haunt both the dreams of the last surviving teenager (Shon Greenblatt) and those of a woman (Lisa Zane) with a deep connection to him.

Opinion

If "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child" was awful, I don't know what "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare" is. Other than a ridiculous nightmare and an unwatchable film.

Unlike the previous entry, this film actually had some potential with Freddy's backstory. It could have been good. No, it should have been good. But the filmmakers decided to throw that potential away and write instead a story that is stupid, confused and so boring it makes you wish to be the one dying instead of Freddy.

As if that wasn't enough, that thing resembling a plot moves so fast you don't have time to process what just happened that something else happens. But don't worry, it's not important, after all nothing happens but stupid killings - trying to kill someone with a cotton bud? What's next? Brushing someone's teeth to death? - and Freddy still trying so hard to be a comedian.

And just like the other times, he doesn't succeed. He is just an idiotic joker who can't pull off a single joke, and that isn't scary at all. In other words, Krueger is the film's biggest (and only) joke.

Completing this pathetic film there are utterly annoying, irritating characters that are light years away from character development, atrocious acting and horrible effects.

Basically it's a great horror. In a different, bad way though.