Stonehearst Asylum (2014)

Rating: 3/5 stars

Based on a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, we are taken to "Stonehearst Asylum" in Scotland where no one is as they seem.

Dr. Newgate (Jim Sturgess) arrives at Stonehearst Asylum to complete his medical training. The residents of the asylum are happy and aren't treated as one would expect. Dr. Lamb (Ben Kingsley) cares for his patients. Dr. Newgate is immediately taken by Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale) and when she warns him to leave, he realizes life at the asylum may not be as perfect as it seems. He begins to question the work of Dr. Lamb and caretaker Mickey Finn (David Thewlis) especially when he discovers a man by the name of Salt (Michael Cane) who claims to be the actual doctor for the asylum.

Director Brad Anderson does a wonderful job in keeping the audience questioning the characters and their intentions. The cast is awesome and all the performances are note worthy. The film itself is great as it makes one think as to what really is the best way to treat someone who is deemed a mad man.

The film is aware of the plight of those that are mad and the ways in which they were treated in the past. When the twist is revealed it did catch me off guard, but the overall reveal of who was sane and who was not could have been better. Intriguing and clever, the film is able to keep you guessing.

Compadres

"Compadres" is Pantelion's latest comedic endeavor and it is a fun romp. However, the story is hard to follow at times.

Omar Chaparro plays Garza, a cop who plays by his own rules. Garza's compadre is killed on duty and because of that, Garza vows to avenge him.  He meets an American hacker (Joey Morgan) and they team up in order to bring justice to the man who has done them both wrong.

Chaparro and Morgan work well together and it's fun to see them interact with each other. The villains, Guasa and Porky, provide comedic relief as well and steal the scene whenever they are on screen. Aislinn Derbez and Eric Roberts are also in the film and while both talented, their roles are small and they aren't allowed to fully showcase their range.

The story can get convoluted and repetitive, but the film does provide laughs. It's worth a watch.

The 5th Wave (2016)

Humans try to survive as aliens attack in The 5th Wave

As young adult novel adaptations dominated the box office for a while it seems the hype is dying down. If filmmakers continue to give audiences bland, lackluster adaptations the trend will continue to fall until the genre becomes obsolete.

The story follows Cassie Sullivan as she goes from normal girl going to parties to a girl fighting for survival as she tries to reunite with her brother after aliens invade planet earth. The writing is awful and the direction is not much better while most of the effects look lame considering today's technology.

The main focus of the story are those who are sixteen or younger as most of the adults are one of the "Others". Chloe Grace Moretz plays Cassie and this film is a waste of her talents. Cassie lost her mother during the third wave and her father during the fourth. As the fifth wave is about to begin Cassie fights to reunite with her little brother.

The rest of the talented ensemble include Liev Schreiber, Maria Bello and Ron Livingston and while they give good performances their talents are wasted as well. Nick Robinson and Alex Roe play Ben and Evan respectively and while those characters are important to the book's storyline, in the film they are reduced to love interests. Evan especially is incredibly boring. There is no way to fight off the alien invaders. They are set to destroy mankind. Evan is the only alien host with a conscience and it's all because of Cassie. The novel had two sequels and here's the film doesn't continue this story. If it does, the story needs to improve and fast.

In this case, the film adaptation is a definite skip. Stick to reading the novel.

The 5th Wave
(2.5/5 stars)
Written by: Susannah Grant, Akiva Goldsmith, and Jeff Pinker
Directed by: J. Blakeson
Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Alex Roe
Running time: 112 minutes

The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave, #1) by Rick Yancey

I saw the trailer for the film and that motivated me to read the book. I was excited to begin reading it and while I enjoyed the novel, I can wait to read the sequels. I am in no rush to read finish the series.

The Plot
The 5th Wave is a science-fiction novel that takes place in current times. It begins at the end of the 4th wave. Cassie Sullivan feels as though she is the last person on earth.

Aliens have invaded earth and they are slowly destroying human kind through different waves. The 1st wave gets rid of all power, the 2nd creates an earthquake causing huge tsunamis to destroy the coastlines, the 3rd wave brings a disease that kills most of the remaining survivors and in the 4th wave, aliens who have been sleeping in host bodies awaken and begin to kill those that are still human.

Alien invasions are nothing new. There are many stories and films that involve visitors from outer space out to destroy us. What I like about this one, is how the 'Others' are taking their time to destroy us. They need Earth, but not it's human inhabitants. They can get rid of everyone in one go, but instead they take their time. Whether there is a reason for this, I do not yet know as it is not revealed in this novel. 

It is an interesting idea and one that is explored by different points of view. Author Rick Yancey is inspired by Stephen Hawking's quote about the fact that humans would be like the Native Americans if we were ever invaded from visitors from outer space. Things didn't turn out well for the Native Americans and things aren't turning out so well for us.

Cassie Sullivan is the main focus of the story. She is on a mission to save her brother. She made a promise she would return to him and that is they only reason she is still alive. Although Cassie is the main focus, the reader also gets a glimpse into Ben Parish/Zombie's life. He is one of the many child soldiers being trained to fight the alien invaders. The reader also briefly gets a glimpse into the mind of one of the silencers.

Cassie is an interesting enough character, but the chapters focused on Ben and his fellow squad members were more interesting. 

Romance

“But if I'm it, the last of my kind, the last page of human history, like hell I'm going to let the story end this way. I may be the last one, but I am the one still standing. I am the one turning to face the faceless hunter in the woods on an abandoned highway. I am the one not running but facing. Because if I am the last one, then I am humanity. And if this is humanity's last war, then I am the battlefield.” 

Cassie is alone. It feels like she is the last person on earth. She's out to save her brother, but finds something else to fight for along the way.

Cassie was a normal high school girl who was in love with a boy who never noticed her. He's dead, but she meets someone else.

“Some things you can never leave behind. They don't belong to the past. They belong to you.”

Ben Parish, Cassie's high school interest, is still in the novel, but not as Cassie's main love interest. Her main love interest is Evan Walker, a boy who turns out to be one of the 'Others'. During the 4th wave he sets out to kill Cassie, but something prevents him from doing so. Instead, Evan rescues Cassie and the more they get to know each other, the more they fall. 

Cassie has never been in love and she's torn between her feelings for Evan and what his kind has done to hers. For a moment they are apart, but Evan can't keep away.

“We’re here, and then we’re gone, and it’s not about the time we’re here, but what we do with the time.” 

It is cheesy, but it doesn't seem to be leading to any young adult love triangles. Hopefully it stays that way.

Overall

As mentioned, this is an alien invasion novel. What is different about this is the fact that the aliens are taking their time to destroy the earth which increases the tension. Evan Walker is a human, but he hosts an alien inside his head and when the alien awakens it still feels the human aspect that he grew up in. An interesting take on the invaders. It seems as though the alien invaders are on their way to being wiped out then you discover they have actually infiltrated a major government organization. Ben Parish is one of the first to realize he is fighting for the wrong side. While it was cool to see him and the rest of his friends fighting, it seemed like they figured everything out to easily. When one of them dies, it doesn't bother you to much as you never have a chance to get to know them to much. Cassie is a well developed character. She grows stronger as the waves hit. However, when she meets Evan she begins to rely on him a little too much. Overall though, the story is intriguing and you are invested in the characters and their respective journeys.

The 5th Wave provides a different take on a plot point many of us are familiar with. I recommend it. It is interesting and you want to know what comes next.

Rick Yancey does a good job of introducing us to different characters although it can get confusing when you start reading their different perspectives suddenly. I enjoyed reading it. The 5th Wave is a wonderful young adult book that others outside of the target audience can enjoy.

CBGB

Having premiered in 2013, this film has been on my to watch list mainly because of Alan Rickman and Rupert Grint. Having heard of CBGB, I was also interested in seeing the story of Hilly Kristal (Alan Rickman) and his iconic club.

CBGB follows Kristal a man with two bankruptcies as all the clubs he tries to open end up in failure.

Alan Rickman is incredibly talented and he handles this role with ease. Although, the script does make it seem like Kristal is a completely incompetent business man. Kristal had an eye for talent and those who got started at his club have nothing but good things to say about him.

The movie opens with Kristal having to borrow money from his mother to open another club even though he has just had to file for bankruptcy for the second time. It's 1973 and Kristal finds the perfect location in the Bowery. CBGB (Country Bluegrass and Blues) opens and is originally intended to promote the music it was named after. Things change when a band called Television auditions for Kristal and get a gig. Punk is on its way to being born.

From there we are introduced to a wide variety of people who made the club what it is including: Punk magazine co-founders Legs McNeil (Peter Vack) and John Holmstrom (Josh Zuckerman), filmmaker Mary Harron (Ahna O'Reilly) and record producer Genya Raven (Stana Katic). While it's cool to see all the bands that got their start at CBGB they are there for no other reason. None of these characters develop fully. The band that gets the most screen time are The Dead Boys and that's because Kristal decides to manage them. Justin Bartha plays frontman Stiv Bators and Rupert Grint plays guitarist Cheetah Chrome. They both give standout performances.

Running the club is not without its problems. The stage collapses, Jonathan (Kristal's dog) is always defecating everywhere and Kristal is at odds with his business partner as well as his daughter. Kristal,  his business partner Merv Ferguson (Donal Logue) and his daughter Lisa Kristal (Ashley Greene) are the main focus of the film. Kristal is horrible at managing his money much to the dismay of Ferguson and Lisa.

The film tries to stuff a lot into an hour and forty minutes, but the aesthetic is cool. It's awesome to see CBGB in its glory even if it's only on screen.

MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 102 Minutes

Directed by: Randall Miller
Screenplay: Jody Saving, Randall Miller

Starring: Alan Rickman, Malin Akerman, Justin Bartha, Richard de Kierk, Johnny Galecki, Ashley Greene, Rupert Grint, Taylor Hawkins, Stana Katic, Donal Logue, Joel David Moore, Freddy Rodriguez, Mickey Sumner, Bradley Whitford, Peter Vack, Josh Zuckerman, Ahna O'Reilly, Jared Carter

X-Men: Days of Future Past

4 Stars

With "X-Men: Apocalypse" nearing a premiere date, and plan to go see it with enthusiastic friends, I figured it was time I caught up with 2014's "X-Men: Days of Future Past". Of course, at this point I should probably catch up to all of them as I vaguely remember any of the films that came before "X-Men: First Class". Well except for "Wolverine Origins" which I do remember being awful.

Directed by Bryan Singer, the X-Men are at war with the Sentinels. The entire war can be prevented by stopping an event that occurred in 1973. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is tasked with traveling back in time as he is the only one who can withstand the force that it will take to do so.

It's great seeing the original X-Men interact with the new ones. One of the best moments is when Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Professor X (Patrick Stewart) interact with each other through Wolverine's mind. One major frustrating point comes in the form of Erik (Michael Fassbender). Magneto (Ian McKellan) insists they will need his past self in order to succeed, but really he becomes a major hindrance. It seems as though, they made Erik a major character simply because he becomes Magneto in the future. He made things harder on Wolverine and Charles Xavier rather than easier. Seriously, they could have had an Erik cameo and the outcome would have been the same, without all the unnecessary set backs.

There are X-Men brought into this film that the audience has never seen before, but are in the film for such a small amount of time that, it seems almost pointless for them to even be there while X-Men we met and got to know in First Class are dead. Again, it seems pointless to even have had them in the first place. One notable new X-Men is Quicksilver (Evan Peters). He is a cool character, but then his part is done and you are left with wanting more. I would have sacrificed pointless cameos in favor of getting other characters like Quicksilver, more screen time.

Don't get me wrong. It is cool to have the original actors and the new actors come together in one film, but if the focus is going to be on Jennifer Lawrence (Raven/Mystique) then why bother bringing in characters that are just going to be used as Easter eggs such as Rogue (Anna Paquin). Yes, "X:Men Days of Future Past (Rogue Cut)" exists, but when the majority of people aren't going to see it, why even bother? Include her from the get go.

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is still cool, but it seems like they're keeping him around because fans like the character. With each passing film, the focus becomes less on him and what he can do and more on the other X-Men. Which is fine, if they kept him as witty and violent as he's supposed to be. Instead, at least in this film, he does very little other than convince Charles Xavier and Erik that he's from the future. Hugh Jackman is great actor and he's still committed to his character, but it seems like the director and producers aren't.

Overall, the film was good. Yes the cameos were just meant to draw in fans, but it was still awesome seeing the past and future come together.

-L. Almanza

Rating: 4/5 stars
Release Date:  May 23, 2014
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Director: Bryan Singer
Screenwriter: Simon Kinberg
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Nichoulas Holt, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore, Peter Dinklage
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, some suggestive material, nudity and language)

Race (2016)

Jason Sudeikis as Larry Snyder in "Race"

Never having heard of "Race" before it made it to the dollar films, I was surprised at how into the biopic I was.

"Race" tells the story of Jesse Owens, (Stephan James) the fastest man on earth. The movie kicks off as Jesse heads to college to train with the best track coach there is, Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis), and ends with him still facing discrimination in 1930s USA even after winning four gold medals in the Olympics.

While the film was enjoyable, some parts felt rushed and it seems as though some things may have been glossed over.

When not focused on Owens, the story follows Avery Brundage (Jeremy Irons) as he negotiates with the Nazis. Having the Olympics in Berlin contained the possibility of Jews and Negroes not being able to participate and this is exactly what Brundage is trying to prevent. The Nazis allow both to participate as long as the the Olympic association agrees to support the Nazis in their endeavors.

It's fascinating to see Owens break multiple world records, both at home and abroad, and we also see him struggle to balance being an Olympic hopeful and being in the public eye. The NAACP does not want him to participate in the games. They say this would provide a public stance and show that the black community does not stand with the actions of the Nazis.

Overall, the film is formulaic. Jesse Owens is a fast kid and that attracts the attention of Larry Snyder. He becomes Owens' coach and from there they become friends. Snyder was close to becoming an Olympian contender in the 1928 Olympics, but wasn't able to. This makes him wise and is able to offer advice as Owens as he becomes more and more well known.

Jesse Owens is determined to marry the woman he has a child with, but other women offer distractions. Their relationship is threatened and he decides he doesn't want to lose her and they get married. There are moments where he has to discover who he is and other moments where he must make difficult decisions that are not ideal no matter what the outcome.

It is a feel good sports movie, but I did learn new things about Jesse Owens. The actors also have great chemistry together and they all provide great performances. James and Sudeikis bring the film to life with their relationship.

Of course we also get great performances from Carice Van Houten and David Kross who play Leni Riefenstahl and Carl Luz respectively. They also are there to prove that not all members of the Nazi party were bad.

Jeremy Irons also provides a strong performance as he negotiates with the Olympic committee as well as the Nazi party. He is a man who ultimately wants the best for the athletes he's fighting for even if his decisions are not the wisest.

Of course, being a white man he survives the scandal while Jesse Owens went on to be unacknowledged, despite winning four gold medals, until ten years after his death.

Twitter: @lluvia_almanza

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