Movie Reviews: Inside Out & Max

INSIDE OUT

Directed By: Pete Docter
Starring: Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Richard Kind, Katlin Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle Maclachlan

Inside Out is the kind of movie that you only dream about creating. It’s the stuff that you think about and dream about and imagine even if you can’t figure out how to put it into words or describe it to anyone else. It is the inside story about the emotions inside a person and how they effect and control their day to day life…inside.

Inside Out is the epitome of creativity. That being said, I wanted MORE.  The movie was beautiful, funny, and emotional, yes, but I just wished the emotional parts of the movie hit with even more of a punch. The movie was missing something. I wanted that feeling I felt when Carl lost his wife in Up, or when Andy played with his toys for one last time in Toy Story. I wanted to care about everyone just as much as I cared about Nemo finding his father, Mr. Incredible saving his family, or Wall-e saving Eva.

Inside Out was a great movie and I was blown away by its creativity. But it’s not a movie I would choose to see again and again and again.

Rating: 7/10 Stars

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MAX

Directed By: Boaz Yakin
Starring: Josh Wiggins, Thomas Haden Church, Jay Hernandez, Lauren Graham, Luke Kleintank, Robbie Amell

As tear-jerky as Max was, it is depressing to say I wish it contained more tear inducing moments. For a movie about a war dog who’s suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome after his owner is killed in war there were less heart felt moments and more unbelievable moments to amp up the drama. I love the part of the story dealing with the psychological ramnifications war can have on a dog. And I enjoyed watching Max and Justin bond especially over the loss of his brother. However, the B-story felt forced and way over the top. I just couldn’t get invested in the whole wasn’t completely terrible I was much gun smuggling/trading storyline that ending in a kidnapping/gun/dog fight. It was just all too much. Talk about drama, I want tears!

Rating: 4/10 stars

My 15 Most Anticipated Summer Movies

Top 10 15 Summer Movies I’m looking forward to

15. Prometheus
Release Date: June 8
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UEv03g51kU&feature=relmfu
Okay, I’ve only seen the first Alien. Does it matter that I haven’t seen the rest? I don’t think so. The trailer for Prometheus looks FANTASTIC.

14. Rock of Ages
Release Date:June 15
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT_Ytd21mKg
I’m a huge sucker for musical movies. And Tom Cruise playing a rock star? This hopefully will be a great rock movie for all ages. See what I did there? Yeah you did.

13. GI Joe Retaliation
Release Date: June 29
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2YMu52MfqA&feature=fvst
I was skeptical of the first G.I. Joe and it turned out I liked it. The second one can only get better right?

12. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

Release Date: June 22
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34x6m-ahGIo
I know a lot of you are thinking, how is this movie not up higher? It’s because I don’t know how to feel about it. I LOVE the blend of genres and I’m interested to see Abraham Lincoln kick some ass, I just hope it’s not another typical vampire movie. I’m over that.

11 Ted
Release Date: July 13
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt_OSznnGkY&feature=relmfu

A boy wishes for his teddy bear to come to life. And it does. Then 20 years later, that bear is still around. GENIUS. Seth McFarlane has a way of taking cute adorable things, and making them foul-mouthed and dirty and it’s just HILARIOUS. Throw in Mark Walhberg and Mila Kunis and seriously, this movie will be one of the classics.

10. Total Recall

Release Date: August 3
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWMhADqlPYg
I loved the original with Arnold and I’m a little skeptical of Colin Farrell playing Hauser and that fact that Jessica Biel is in it at all, but I am interested to see what a movie about the future is actually like, well, in the future. I also hear it’s going in a slightly different direction from the original…

9. Magic Mike
Release Date: June 29
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMU7s6cwxEM
Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Matthew McConaughey, Joe Manganiello…as strippers. Any self-respecting woman will be there to see this movie. Oh yeah, AND the movie has a storyline!

8. Brave 
Release Date: June 22
Trailer: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/brave-2012/trailers/
I’m excited for this Pixar movie. The trailer looks so beautiful and every time these movies contain a lot of heart.

Can’t. Wait.

7. Men In Black 3
Release Date: May 25
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoyV49FfjOU
10 years after Men In Black 2, they finally make Men In Black 3…with…Josh Brolin playing a younger version of Tommy Lee Jones. Brilliant. BRILLIANT. And I don’t even need to say more here.

6. Dark Shadows 
Release Date: May 11
Trailer: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/dark-shadows/trailers/
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton doing a movie that takes place in the 70’s? Oh and Johnny Depp is a vampire?

Yes please.

5. Snow White and The Huntsman
Release Date: June 1
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Dq2psogSw
The visuals look fantastic – very Tim Burtonesque, the Queen (Charlize Theron) looks deliciously evil, the twist on the fairy tale story is intritguing…and then the cherry on the cake…Chris Hemsworth. Definitely the Golden Boy of the last few years. I’m definitely excited for this one…

I have high hopes.

4. The Amazing Spiderman 
Release Date: July 3
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tnxzJ0SSOw
I am a sucker for Andrew Garfield and though the timing of the “Reboot” was a little strange, he is the perfect choice for the nerdy Peter Parker. Also, who doesn’t love Emma Stone? I’m looking forward to watching a Spiderman that is actually a bit tough, and a likeable female lead (looking at you Kristen Dunst.)

3. Battleship

Release Date: May 18
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDMXkPfxjOc
How do you turn a board game into a movie? I don’t know I guess we’ll find out. Though I think the movie would have been more exciting if it were a combo of Candyland/Battleship, adding the alien element is pretty interesting. Plus those water/battleship/alien sequences look pretty amazing.

2. Batman: The Dark Night Rises 
Release Date: July 20
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GokKUqLcvD8
Tell me anyone who’s NOT excited for the movie. Christopher Nolan breathed new life into this franchise. It’s dark, creepy, and exciting. And I’m also to see Anne Hathaway as Catwoman as well as the other new faces: Joseph Gordon Levitt and Tom Hardy.

And my #1 most anticipated movie of the summer is…

The Avengers 

Release Date: May 4

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOrNdBpGMv8

Basically, if you don’t want to see this movie, then you’re either not a nerd (and face it, we are all nerdy about something), you hate movies, and you’re probably going to die alone and get your face eaten by cats. Avengers IS the movie of the summer. Joss Whedon described Avengers misfits/outcasts who must find a way to work together to save the world. That shows a lot of heart, more than just superhero’s kicking ass. Marvel has a good track record for making action movies and adding Joss Whedon to the mix just takes the cake.