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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: The most sobering thought to come from viewing Star Wars: The Force Awakens is how much better the series maybe could have been if George Lucas would have handed over the reigns of Episodes I-III to someone else. Breathe easy, folks. Star Wars: The Force Awakens reboots the franchise very much in the way the original Star Wars: A New Hope launched the franchise.

Admittedly, heading into Episode VII of the greatest movie franchise in the history of cinema, nervousness set in. The first three films released were a big factor in why I loved the movie theater. My brother tells a story about my viewing a Star Wars film when I was in my single-digit years eating popcorn kernel by kernel with my eyes so fixated on the screen, it looked as if I was trying to look through to the other side. About two-thirds of the way through The Force Awakens, I noticed I was no longer utilizing the recline feature of my premium seating and was actually sitting on the edge of my seat once again glued to the screen.Read More →

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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: Apparently, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler really wanted to punish you for not buying Star Wars tickets in advance and making the decision to see something else since you’re at the theater. Predictable and not funny enough isn’t a good combination especially when saddled with a 2 hour run time.

Often, the best part of seeing a comedy at the cinema rather than in the privacy of your own home is the crowd. So, maybe seeing Sisters on opening night of Star Wars: The Force Awakens wasn’t the best idea? Looking around prior to the movie’s start, the crowd didn’t look all that excited to be there. Maybe they couldn’t get a last minute ticket to the biggest movie release in years. Maybe it was the ridiculously long concession lines. Maybe it was the cheers coming from the 10 other theaters playing Star Wars. Who knows! But the vibe wasn’t there.Read More →

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In: 2016, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 50/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 55/100

To be fair, if I stopped watching before reminding me of the awful Bill Pullman speech from the first Independence Day, I would have been much more excited for this sequel as the first half of the preview delivered a much darker feel than the original. The second half just looked like it was capitalizing on the nostalgia factor.

Independence Day: Resurgence hits theaters on June 24, 2016 as the summer of 2016 fills with reboots and sequels.

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In: 2016, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 20/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 85/100

Even the August 19, 2016 release date can’t scare me off of this one. There’s something about the visuals of Kubo and the Two Strings that has won me over. The voice cast looks great but far secondary to the taste the trailer gives. Can’t wait for more!

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In: 2016, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 50/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 80/100

This could be big.

Seriously, Disney, Roald Dahl and Steven Spielberg? This WILL be big.

The BFG hits theaters July 1, 2016. Will it be bigger than The Legend of Tarzan which releases the same day?

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In: 2016, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 50/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 52/100

Admittedly, I’m on the fence when it comes to X-Men movies. I’m never sold on them but I go anyway. Some have delivered huge, some have delivered a little bit less but at some point, I expect one to completely disappoint. Maybe X-Men: Apocalypse might be the one. We’ll see May 27, 2016… but damn, that end shot of Professor X was badass, wasn’t it?

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In: 2016, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 75/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 90/100

There’s something about seeing Eric Northman (Look, I don’t care what his real name is but that guy will always be Eric Northman) back on the screen that makes me want to see Tarzan. Plus, they apparently made this film about 20 years ago because they found a very young Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz to be in it, too.

I’m ready to be disappointed by The Legend of Tarzan on July 1, 2016.

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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: The origin story of a story. Really. Really? Really. Turns out the origin of Moby-Dick was Jaws: The Revenge, if it were saturated with machismo and testosterone.

I never read Moby-Dick. Let’s be real, if you weren’t required to in school growing up, you probably didn’t, either. I also didn’t read In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, the book based on the origin of the book Moby-Dick which was the inspiration of In the Heart of the Sea. Watching In the Heart of the Sea, though, one gets the feeling the real inspiration was Jaws: The Revenge and a longing for when “men were men” as Chris Hemsworth (as First Mate Owen Chase), puffed chest and all, mans his way around the screen for about 2 hours while a vengeful whale hunts down the Whaleship Essex.
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