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The Book of Life (2014)
The Book of Life (2014)
2014 | Animation, Romance
7
7.5 (13 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The Book of Life is an animated film with some big names lending their voices to the characters.

Channing Tatum, Zoe Saldana, Diego Luna, Christina Applegate, Ice Cube, Cheech Marin, Kate del Castillo, and Ron Perlman are all part of the voice cast.

The movie had lots of movement, tons of bright colours, and great music.

The story was good, but I think maybe a bit ‘too much’ for children my sons age (6). He seemed to like it, despite some of the moments that made him uncomfortable or scared.

The tale is of good vs bad and bravado vs true courage and life long friendships.

This movie takes place in long-ago Mexico and revolves around The Day of the Dead. Two boys, one an aspiring bull fighter and guitar player named Manolo (Diego Luna) and one a would-be champion and defender of the town named Joaquin (Channing Tatum), are in love with the same girl, a feisty girl named Maria (Zoe Saldana).

We follow their life paths as the gods above, La Muerta and Xibalba, place wagers on the outcome of the love triangle.

Xibalba cheats in order to win the bet, and the remainder if the film is spent watching Manolo trying to reunite with his true love, Maria.

The movie is fast paced and the music really helps bring it together and help tell the tale.

I would give this movie 3.5 out of 5 stars.
  
21 Jump Street (2012)
21 Jump Street (2012)
2012 | Action, Comedy, Crime
8
7.6 (36 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Much better than expected
Mainstream comedies really aren't my thing, but I have to admit I'm pretty impressed with this film. I wasn't expecting much, but its actually pretty funny.

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum work really well together, although you do have to suspend all disbelief that they could ever be mistook for high school students. Which in all fairness is referred back to in the film for a few laughs. The other cast work well too, and there's a fun surprise cameo from original Jump Street star Johnny Depp.


The plot itself is silly but a bit of fun. Having the two leads switch characters by mistake leaving Tatum as the science geek and Hill as the all star sports player makes it so much funnier. I also think the school environment with the environmentally friendly students as the cool kids is a great idea. The comedy too also doesn't rely solely on crude jokes which is a refreshing change, and I do think Ice Cube is one of the funniest things about this film.
  
White House Down (2013)
White House Down (2013)
2013 | Action, Drama
4
6.9 (19 Ratings)
Movie Rating
They don’t make them like this anymore. White House Down is like watching an action movie from 1988-1994. It is over the top with a weak unbelievable and absurd plot. Not to mention a Scooby-doo like plot twist ending that is trying too hard.

There really is not much to say about this film. Channing Tatum is a police officer who is interviewing for a secret service job to impress his somewhat estranged daughter. While taking her on the tour of the white house, some ho hum bad guys take over the place on some convoluted quest for money, vengeance, power…whatever.

Tatum finds himself protecting the president played by Jamie Fox in which the movie tries to create a buddy dynamic that does not quite work. In fact, in 1990s action film style, Tatum and Fox are such caricatures of the resourceful cop and the idealist president that they possess no depth at all. That would be fine if the action was filled with eye candy explosions, only the action was actually subdued, predictable and unremarkable at best.

As if that was not enough, the one-liners in this film are so bad that they actually become laughably good. Not because of what was said, but rather because they are so ridiculous you cannot help but laugh at them. This may in fact be the film’s saving grace though. If you approach this film with zero expectations and are just looking for mindless fun, you may actually enjoy yourself.

http://sknr.net/2013/06/28/white-house-down/
  
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
2017 | Action, Comedy
Soundtrack (2 more)
The plot
The cast
Some of the cuts (0 more)
The plot is interesting and modern, the action scenes are amazing and the cast is actually perfect. Adding the new agency was a really good way to add a fun twist and bring in new characters. I am so glad I saw it in cinemas and would happily see it again.

What made it lose points for me, was that I genuinely feel that certain parts that ended up cut, should have stayed in the film. The film was apparently originally 3 and a half hours long, so while I understand why it was cut down, I really hope a directors cut is released.

I also feel the trailers were misleading, making out Channing Tatum to have a much bigger part than he actually did.
  
Logan Lucky (2017)
Logan Lucky (2017)
2017 | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Sleeper
If you are looking for a movie that checks all the boxes, Logan Lucky is the one. I LOVE finding gems like these. Sleepers. Sure you can see movies like Logan and War For the Planet of the Apes coming from a mile away. You expect them to be great It's films like Logan Lucky, however, that keep the movie calendar refreshing.

Just fired from his job and trying to make enough money to take care of his daughter, Jimmy Logan (Channing Tatum) devises a plan to rob the Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tatum is awesome in his role, but has a great deal of help from a star-studded the cast the likes of Daniel Craig, Adam Driver, and Katie Holmes. With too many hilarious moments to count and an overly lovable protagonist who you can't help but root for, Logan Lucky is one of the year's best.

In 2007, I saw a movie called Stardust that surprised the heck out of me by how good it was. I mean, the film just came out of nowhere but I couldn't have been happier that I saw it. Logan Lucky gives me the exact same vibe. I give it a very solid 97.
  
Logan Lucky (2017)
Logan Lucky (2017)
2017 | Comedy, Crime, Drama
If Hell Or Highwater & Tagadella Nights were mashed together, this would be the result. (0 more)
A Hugely Humerous, High Quality, Hillbilly Heist
Steven Soderbergh has made some good movies and some bad movies over the years, but I'm glad to say his comeback movie falls on the right side of his filmmaking. Teaming up again with Channing Tatum in the lead role, the movie follows two brothers who are known in their town for being unlucky. They recruit their younger sister and an off-kilter Daniel Craig and decide to attempt to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
What ensues is fun, witty and moves at a brilliant pace. The ending of the movie isn't quite what you expect and although some of the big twists can be seen coming, the way that it is executed plays well.
Overall, the movie is a lot of fun and pretty stylish in places too.
  
Logan Lucky (2017)
Logan Lucky (2017)
2017 | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Dramastically!
I did not know much about this going in, but what a pleasant surprise! I thought it was going to be more of an action film, but ended up being very funny indeed. I don't think they make good comedies any more, so I really don't seek them out. I fell into this one by accident because I'm a big Steven Soderbergh fan.

The screenplay is very funny especially with a lot of the "redneck" dialogue between Channing Tatum and Adam Drive or Daniel Craig and his two crazy brothers.

When the group decides to rob a major NASCAR raceway, they need all the hep they can get including a demolishonist who is currently in jail.

The plot has some holes, and everything is too convenient at times, but overall a very entertaining film which is never boring and usually very amusing.

Highly recommended.