Movie Review: Lucy

Rated R

90 minutes

Directed by Luc Besson

No personal connection with this one. Just looked cool and I wanted to see it. Nothing deep. Sorry.

Movie Review: Life Itself

Rated R

120 minutes

Directed by Steve James

I never really had much of a connection with Ebert, the reviewer or the man. I only entered Ebert & Roeper (a topic not covered in this film) after Ebert's surgery. I rarely read his reviews, as the written form of reviews, frankly, was boring to me at 10. And when I saw Ebert Presents At the Movies, I was mad that he got all the "big" movies to review (a comment that got my dad to complain about that on the show's page, which in turn, Ebert responded to him). 

But, I still had an immense amount of respect for him. I mean, dude was behind shows talking about movies, which was the coolest at 8. Also, when Ebert Presents showed clips of Siskel & Ebert, I enjoyed him and his personality. I was upset when he passed, but I didn't really know him. So this documentary was a chance for me to be enlightened about Ebert. And I have to say, it enlightened me quite a bit.

Movie Review: Chef

Rated PG-13
115 minutes
Directed by Jon Favreau

I used to be enamored with cooking. I watched a bunch of Food Network shows, I took a lot of cooking classes, and I really liked eating high-quality food. I still like eating great food, but the other stuff I just left behind as I got older. I still cook a lot for lunch, and I know what foods go together, but that's it. This didn't reignite any passion I had for cooking or anything like that, but it sure made me hungry, especially since I didn't eat beforehand.

Movie Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Rated PG-13

130 minutes

Directed by Matt Reeves

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a summer blockbuster. It's going to make buckets of money. It has action and a bit of humor. It's about 2 hours, as seems to be the case with all of these type of movies. It has the components of the average blockbuster, but it takes them and uses them smartly to elevate the material. It's because of this that DOTPOTA is a welcome addition to the better than average summer blockbuster club.

Brief Thoughts: Trans4mers

Brief Thoughts: Trans4mers

Rated PG-13

165 minutes

Directed by Michael Bay

"We don't need you anymore."