Best of the Rest: The Top 10 Best Movies of 2014

Overall the 2014 cinematic year was awesome.  I may have given off the impression in my “worst of 2014” list that there were a bunch of awful movies, but compared to other years the awful was held at bay.  For the most part 2014 movies were an enjoyable fun experience, and now it’s finally time to count down the best or the best.

More accurately, this is my personal favorite movies of 2014, so if your favorite movies aren’t on here, it simply means that out opinions differ (or that I didn’t get around to seeing said hypothetical film.)  It also means that some of my choices for the list may be considered unconventional, I do not always agree with popular opinion;  so while some universally loved movies are on the list (like Boyhood and Birdman,) others didn’t (sorry Guardians of the Galaxy fans.)

. . . And with all of those disclaimers out of the way, let’s get to the list.  Here are the top 10 movies of 2014!

#10.  22 Jump Street

I absolutely adored 21 Jump Street, and this new sequel has delivered in more ways then one can imagine.  It inventively and creatively spoofs its own identity while still creating a new central arc for it's characters.

For a movie that is constantly making fun of its self for being "the same thing,"  22 Jump Street is refreshingly different from its predecessor while still containing all of the high energy hilarity one might expect.

#9.  The Lego Movie

The Lego Movie is much more entertaining in practice then in theory.  If I had heard the premise for this flick before I saw the trailers I would have grimaced,  yet the filmmakers (some of whom also worked on 21 and 22 Jump Street) were able to inject enough humor, heart and unexpected twists to make it one heck of a ride.

But do you know what really puts this one into "Top Ten" territory?  The visuals!  Attached to all of the fun, action oriented, hilarity is some of the most stunning visual effects around.  If you haven't seen this one yet, then you're sorely missing out.

#8.  The Guest

This madhouse action/horror flick didn't really get the wide attention it deserved, and that's a shame because it is a supremely entertaining movie to watch.  The Guest walks the line between almost every movie genre in such a glorious way that it feels wholly original without ever being all-out weird.

The Guest's director, Adam Wingaurd underwhelmed the first time around with You're Next, but The Guest is a far superior picture.  It also happens to be one of the most flat-out entertaining films of the year.

#7.  Edge of Tomorrow

Groundhog Day with aliens may seem like a terrible idea, and that's exactly what it is.  The greatness of Edge of Tomorrow lies in its ability to take a silly premise and use fantastic direction, charismatic actors and an A-list script to pull the dead weight. 

Director Doug Liman is a maser of high energy adventure like this, and Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt flex their blockbuster potential in this highly entertaining smash actioner.

#6.  Muppets Most Wanted

You know what I love? Muppets.  I love the Muppets so much that even if they made a terrible movie about aliens or something I would still buy it on DVD (yes I own Muppets from Space on DVD and quote it regularly.)

Fortunately for me, Muppets Most Wanted is not the kind of Muppet flick that I have to love guiltily;  no, Muppets Most Wanted is the kind of musical Muppet adventure that makes you smile all the way through.  So far Disney's ownership of the Muppets has heralded mostly good things, and Muppets Most Wanted is a primo example!

#5.  Gone Girl

David Finchers most cmmercial movie, Gone Girl, may not be his greatest;  but it's certainly the best thing he's done in a while.  It's a fantastic twisty thriller in the vein of Hitchcock's Psycho.  It's the kind of movie that you can't hardly talk about, because you can't bare the thought of spoiling it for somebody else.

On top of the great plot are a great cast, and some fantastic visuals and atmosphere.  Every year I want one decent thriller to come out in wide release, and this year Gone Girl gave me more then I could have hoped for.

#4.  The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson, despite some claims to the contrary, is not making the same movie over and over again.  Want proof?  go see The Grand Budapest Hotel.

It may be the most bizarre Anderson flick yet, complete with Ralph Fiennes' best performance ever.  The movie is both sadistically dark and uproariously hilarious in the best way possible.  Wes Anderson is surprising us all with each new film, and "Grand Budapest" is no exception.

#3.  Birdman

Everybody loves Birdman, and I'm no different.  The movie truly needs to be seen to be believed, as its style a visual grandeur is incredibly unique and somewhat hypnotizing in its own rite.

The film is partially about a man who is trying to hold on to his artistic integrity, but mostly its a direct criticism of big-budget blockbusters in general.  It's the sort of film that people are going to be looking at for years, and talking about the technical style as well as the underlying meaning.  I might not think it's as great as others, but I definitely think it's one of the few movies that came out this year that everyone should see.

#2.  Nightcrawler

Nightcrawler has been defined, commercially, by Jake Gyllenhaal's career best performance;  and he certainly blew it out of the park.  Yet it seems a shame to me that the film itself has been ignored, because it really is a fantastic piece of film-making.

I'm a sucker for character studies about the deranged, and Nightcrawler is one of the best I've seen in the while.  The style and script work well with the fantastic directing to make one of the most underrated movies of the year.

#1.  Boyhood

Boyhood is a masterpiece, and not just from a technical standpoint.  The movie's production history is incredibly impressive, but what is truly impressive is the film itself.

Boyhood resonates on an incredible human way.  Movies like Nightcrawler and Birdman both carve their stories around human oddities, but Boyhood is about a remarkably average group of people, and still tells a beautiful and compelling story.  It truly has to be seen to be understood.

Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but I think that Boyhood should not only be set among the best movies of 2015, but also among the best movies ever made.

Best of the Rest: The Top 5 Worst Movies of 2014

Hello everyone and a happy (late) new year! 

2014 was an overall solid year for movies in general, I would even argue that it was the best cinematic year we’ve had so far this decade.  Multiple great directors released great new films this year, and a few new talents revealed themselves (or rather, re-established themselves.) even the coming Oscars is less predictable then the Oscars usually are simply because there are so many great movies that are totally worthy of best picture that it’s insane.

But alas.  Here at Atchley-O-Saurus movies the time has not yet come to celebrate all of the great things that came about this cinematic year.  No, today the wanton bile cravings of the internet have dictated that I must re-live all of the most unpleasant cinematic experiences I’ve had over the past year.  That’s right folks, it’s time to look at the Top 5 Worst Movies of 2014; a few disclaimers, and then we’ll begin.

Disclaimer One:  This is all my opinion.

Disclaimer Two:  If I didn’t see a movie, then it doesn’t make it on here.  I’ve seen almost one-hundred theatrical releases, and that’s not even close to everything.  If you saw something particularly awful feel free to comment or email me about it.

Disclaimer Three:  There are no more disclaimers.  Now on to the list!

#5.  The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The Amazing Spider-Man 1 was by no means a masterpiece, but it looks like Citizen Kane compared to its sequel.  Clearly directors and writers collectively stopped caring about half way through their respective jobs, because this one of the laziest super-hero flicks I have seen in a long time.

The characters don’t make any sense, the plot doesn’t make any sense, and worst of all: the movie never gets you to care enough about these characters to give a flying flip. When the movie ended I just sat there in the theater baffled about how many things they just didn’t bother to do story-wise.  The Amazing Spider-Man 2 isn’t the interesting kind of bad; the only interesting thing about it is how a studio could spend over a hundred-million dollars on a flick and care so little about the end product.

#4.  Sabotage

Arnold Schwarzenegger has been trying to rejuvenate his career as of late.  He started with The Last Stand which I thought was . . . one of the best straight-up action movies in recent memory.

Then he starred in Escape Plan which was totally . . . a pretty fun piece of 80’s-style entertainment.

The point I’m trying to make here is that I had high hopes for Sabotage, Schwarzenegger had been sufficiently entertaining me to this point.  Yet my high hopes were dashed by bizarre direction from the usually talented David Ayer, who has created his career worst with this Schwarzenegger vehicle.

The films plot is wandering, monotonous and pointless, the violence is unnecessarily harsh and there is no real protagonist or antagonist to be seen.  The ending is supposed to be a gasp-inducing twist, but the filmmakers are lucky if they get even a fart out of their audience.  You’ll notice that almost all of the movies on this list are action-oriented, but out of all of them Sabotage understands least what being an action movie means.

#3.  The Other Woman

The Other Woman takes an admittedly interesting premise and somehow transforms it into one of the most unbearably painful chick-flicks I’ve ever seen.  I actually don’t usually mind romance movies to much, but this was just terrible.

I’m not even sure I can properly describe to you the way this movie fails as a story, as a film and even as a cruddy piece of wish-fulfillment.  I know that I’m not the demographic for this flick, but frankly I don’t care, women out on a girls-night should get the same level of quality as the people in the next theater watching Captain America 2.

These characters are not likable.  This plot is nonsensical.  If you learn anything from this list let it be that a movie without a flowing plot and follow able characters is barely a film at all:  It’s a ninety minute torture device.  The Other Woman may not quite be the worst movie I saw this year, but it is by far the one that ticked me of the most.

#2.  The Legend of Hercules

 

 In the risk of sounding like a broken record; this movie is nonsensical and boring.  This was the first movie I saw in 2014, and it disappointed in a big way.  The Legend of Hercules was probably a quick production made with the attempt to profit off of an upcoming big studio piece (namely the Dwayne Johnson vehicle that came out a few months later,) and it feels just as dull and lazy as that implies.

The way the movie is written, it is supposed to be the “true story” of the legend behind the character Hercules, and the unfortunate result is that it doesn’t actually feel like a Hercules movie.  Not only is it not at all entertaining, but it also fails to live up to its basic premise.  Out of all the Hercules movies I’ve seen, this is definitely the worst.

#1.  Transformers:  Age of Extinction

You are reading the words of a card carrying Bay-Transformers hater, and even I had some hope for the fourth entry in the series.  New protagonist?  Dinobots?  Stanley Tucci?  Enough of the evidence told audiences that Bays fourth Transformers flick might be worth checking out; but those same audiences were lead astray.

Even through all of that cautious optimism I think in the back of my head I knew that this movie would be somewhat terrible, but I had no Idea what I had gotten into.

Transformers 4 is by far the worst movie I saw all year.  The movie not only submits its audience to a barrage of pointless annoying garbage, it does so for over three hours!  I have not seen a movie that so accurately duplicate emotional trauma sense . . . well, sense the other Transformers movies!

This movie was not only difficult to watch, it was kind of painful to watch in its entirety.  There is no part of me that thinks its okay that an action movie about giant robots is harder to watch then Salo or Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.  I sincerely hope that they do not make another one.

Thanks for reading!  If you have your own list you want to share, feel free to comment or email me at atchleyosaurus@gmail.com.  Check back in the coming weeks for more fun movie stuff, and my Top 5 Best Movies of 2014!

Best of the Rest: The 3 Biggest Hit Films of November 2014

It's November and that means that the box office is finally getting the pick-me-up that we (or at least I) have been waiting for!  In some ways I like the holiday movie season more than the summer movie season, and though there wasn't much to gawk over this November, there were still a handful of hits worth mentioning and that's exactly what I intend to do with today's Best of the Rest!

Just like before, I picked these movies based on their opening weekends grosses alone. So, if "Penguins of Madagascar" ends up out-grossing "Big Hero 6" in the long run then this list will not be made defunct.  No matter how well a movie "holds" financially it can't go back in time and change it's opening weekend.

Now let's get started. . .

#3.  Interstellar

 

 

 

What is It?

Interstellar is the ninth feature film from director Christopher Nolan and the third he's released sense he became a house hold name through the power of The Dark Knight in 2008.  It's a space adventure of sorts that messes around with time travel, black holes and the multi-dimentional powers of love.

How Much $$$ Has It Made?

Domestically the movie opened to around 47 million, which probably isn't quite as much as the bean counters were looking for, but it's still a strong opening.  The movies budget is too high to call the movies opening great, but the good news is that Interstellar has held okay through subsequent weekends so it may be able to make it's production budget back on domestic figures alone.

And what's even better than a domestic box office figure?  An international one!  And a CGI-fest like Interstellar was destined to rake in the big bucks from people over seas.  It's foreign gross is currently just shy of 4 million dollars, so don't be surprised if "Interstellar 2: Interstellar Harder" is set entirely in China and Japan.

But is it Any Good?

In some ways it's Nolan's weakest work yet, but it certainly isn't terrible.  As I said in my review: I think it'll probably come down to weather you like the ending, and I really hated it.  I won't spoil it for you, but needless to say, it's something that people will be talking about around the water cooler for years to come.

You should probably check this one out, if only to be relevant in modern pop-culture discussions.  Christopher Orr over at the Atlantic called the film a "proposterous epic," and I think that sums it up quite nicely.

#2.  Big Hero 6

 

 

What is it?

Disney Feature Animation's next film after the smash hit Frozen is Big Hero 6.  It is the story of a boy who loses a relative, and vows vengeance on a super-villain that may be closer to him than he thinks.  Basically it's a standard super-hero movie with Frozen style animation and cute sidekicks.  It's the baby plush version of the Avegers.

How Much $$$ Has it Made?

Obviously this wasn't going to top Frozen's stupifying, record breaking, box office, but it has still made more then some predicted.  The movie opened to a solid 56 mill' and has already made back it's 165 million production cost in domestic numbers alone.  The foreign numbers are a lot lower than you might suspect considering it's obvious ties to Japanese culture, but the movie is more then making up for it here in the U.S.A.  It has become the biggest family hit in a while.

But is it Any Good?

I didn't like it all that much, but I'm clearly in the minority.  Critics and audiences both seem to love the heck out of this movie. It has an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it seems like a great super-hero alternative for parents who are nervous about letting their little kids watch The Avengers or The Dark Knight.  "Hero 6" is roughly of the same quality as The Avengers, minus the hype, so if you have kids or just really love super-heroes then you should definitely check this out

#1.  The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

 

What is it?

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is the latest in the blockbuster "Hunger Games" series and the first of two movies representing the third book in the young adult book series.  It's basically about Katniss, the series hero, becoming part of the resistance against an evil government so she can save her on-again, off-again boyfriend.

How much $$$ Has it Made?

In a surprise turn, this latest game of hunger opened to less, and will likely finish with less, then any other Hunger Games movie so far.  It's grosses are still really high both domestically and on the foreign front, but on it's current pace it probably won't beat out Guardians of the Galaxy for the top grossing spot of 2014.

That said; The movies production budget was lower than any of the other movies on this list, and it's made over 230 million in the states and around as much over seas.  Mockingjay may not be quite the juggernaut that people were expecting it to be, but it's still a juggernaut regardless.  This series is all profit for it's distributor, Lionsgate, and I wouldn't expect next years installment to be any different.

But is it Any Good?

I actually really liked this one (what a twist!) but I definitely understand if you don't.  This new Hunger Games feels like it's only half of a really long movie and is skimpy on action.  As a film critic I would definitely recommend seeing it, but as a friendly dude who write things, I'd say it depends on how much you like the Hunger Games story itself and how much you just like teenagers killing each other.  If you just like the murderous teenagers part, then you might want to save your money for Part 2 next year.

Thanks for reading! If you're one of the few that actually care about November box office grosses then you should follow me on social media or email me at atchleyosaurus@gmail.com.  It's been a pleasure writing for you!

Best of the Rest: The Top 4 "YA" Film Adaptations

The "YA" label didn't really exist just a few years ago, but now it seems like there's a movie that fits into the genre almost every month.  There have been plenty of films that have been based on older children novels in the past, but it's only in the last few years, with the popularity of Harry Potter and Twilight, that it's become a genre in it's own right.

Unfortunately for many of the authors that said films are based on, as well as the studios who are trying to make a profit, these movies are usually either not very good, not very profitable or both.  For every Harry Potter there's usually a Mortal Instruments or a Vampire Academy.

People like complaining about all of the hype and bad green lights that have resulted from the genre, but that's not what I want to focus on.  After all there have been some really good movies to be under the "YA" umbrella, and In honor of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (which will probably make like 150 million dollars in the next couple of days alone) being released, I say we count down the top 4 best "YA" adaptations!  Let's get started.

Final Note Before We Begin:  This list only takes into consideration movies that are the products of the modern "YA" trends.  No matter how good The Princess Bride or Lord of the Flies are, they don't really have anything in common with Twilight, other than the fact that they were based on books.

#4.  The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

What Is It About?

The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy film based on the children's book of the same name, and follows the adventures of four young school children who escape the horrors of world war 2 by leaving our world and entering the world of Narnia.  Narnia, in case you were wondering, is indeed inside a wardrobe and heavily features both a lion and a witch.  In the end the children are forced to do battle on the Lion and Witch's behalf for dominance over the wardrobe-world, and save the place from being consumed by eternal winter.

Why is it Better than Most "YA" Movies?

The Chronicles of Narnia has surprising doses of heart and darkness in it that keep the stakes high and keep at bay the deep silliness in the plot.  Overall the world and characters are endearing enough to keep one smiling throughout the film, and the giant action sequence in the third act is better than anything we've seen in the more modern Hobbit films.  Definitely check this one out, especially if you like the books.

#3.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2

 What is it about

The eight movie series culminates in what is, for the most part, a giant quick paced action movie.  Harry Potter and friends are in the final stages of a race to defeat the dark lord Voldemort before he can destroy the forces of good completely.

Why is it Better than Most "YA" Movies?

I'm not a huge fan of the Harry Potter films as a whole (That's right I said it,) but this final chapter was a must-see event.  Hosting a big budget, and a plot that's basically just the third act that was missing from it's predecessor, Harry Potter 8 is one heck of a thrill ride.  Harry Potter fans wanted a good send of to their favorite franchise Warner Brothers delivered in a big way.  I'd say to check this out if you like the books, but I sincerely doubt any of you haven't seen this movie.

#2.  Warm Bodies

 What is it About?

A zombie during the zombie apocalypse falls in love with a female survivor named Juliet (because subtlety isn't meant for YA adaptations.)  They are able to transcend their differences and even use the power of love to cure the worlds zombie problem.

Why is it Better than Most "YA" Movies?

My slightly sarcastic synopsis aside, Warm Bodies is actually a really fun movie.  It does right all of the things that a supernatural romance like Twilight gets incredibly wrong.  In Warm Bodies the romance is played for laughs, as are most of the major plot points;  but at the same time Juliet and her zombie are both incredibly likable characters who we can root for and laugh with along the way.  The premise is crazy, but the filmmakers somehow pull a touchdown out of nowhere with this fantastic script, direction and what should have been a star-making turn performance Nicholas Hoult.

#1.  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

What is it about?

The second entry into the humongusly lucrative  Hunger Games series is by far the best.  The movie brings the characters back into the arena, but this time there is something different.  This time our heroes bring with them the emotional baggage of the first films events as well as a the distinct feeling that something is a little bit off about he other "tributes" in the competition.  Using the help of her friends, Katniss, the films protagonist, will have to find a way to escape the Hunger Games a second time.

Why is it Better than Most "YA" Movies?

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was an awful book, but the filmmakers involved were somehow able to take the exact same elements and transform them into one of the better movies to come out that year.  It works as an action movie, and a suspense thriller, but mostly it works as a set of character pieces.  It explores a kind of PTSD in the minds of our heroes, and the resulting inner and outer conflicts of the characters are fascinating.  This is a movie not just for Hunger Games, but for film fans as well.

Thanks as always for reading!  If you want to get updates on Atchley-O-Saurus please consider using our email alert system.  Also if you have any question, comments or want to contribute to Atchley-O-Saurus email me at atchleyosaurus@gmail.com.  Check back in a few days for my Mockingjay part 1 review!

Best of the Rest: The 3 Biggest Hit Films of October 2014

October has come to an end, and has set some box-office records to make up for the abysmal September that came before it.  Even most of the weaker movies this month did decently financially, so in celebration of October 2014's success (and to help start off the beginning of the holiday movie season,) her are "The 3 Biggest Hit Films of October 2014."

Remember, just like before, I selected these three films based on their opening weekends only.  That's the only way to be fair since many movies make big chunks of their "winnings" during months other than the ones they premiered during.  That way, if "The Best of Me" ends up grossing more than "Gone Girl" in the long term (unlikely) then this list will not be made defunct.

Now let's get started. . .

#3.  Fury

 

What is It?

Fury is a World War 2 action-drama directed by David Ayer, the mind behind the wonderful End of Watch and the horrible Sabotage.  The film stars Brad Pitt as "War Daddy,"  a belligerent, violent and angry father figure as well as Percy Jackson; AKA: Logan Lerman.

How Much $$$ Has It Made?

The movie cost a pretty penny (about 68 mil,) so it's hard to call it an absolute success yet with only 60 million in domestic grosses.  More then half of it's current domestic take was snagged on it's 38 million dollar opening weekend, so it doesn't look like the movie is going to keep bringing in the big bucks as other, more impressive, award season hopefuls come along.

Of course Foreign take makes up for a lot, so while Fury isn't knocking it out of the park financially or anything,  It definitely making a solid profit.

But is it Any Good?

World War 2 movies are kind of a dollar a dozen, but Fury does enough to be original to make it stand out a bit from the rest.  All of the actors put in decent performances, and Brad Pitt is sufficiently Brad-Pitt-y.  The critics themselves enjoyed it for the most part, giving it a 79% on rotten Tomatoes.  It's a good watch for fans of Ayer, World War 2 or violence.  But for the young or squeamish it might be a bit problematic.

#2.  Annabelle

 

What is it?

Annabelle is the prequel/spin-off to last years The Conjuring, one of the best received horror films in recent memory.  It stars a bunch of actors that you probably don't character and is directed by some director who is defiantly not he same guy who was directed The Conjuring.

It's story features an evil doll possessed by a satanic spirit.  The doll was a brief plot point in the horror movie that this is a spin-off of, and now we get to find out the back story behind it.

How Much $$$ Has it Made?

Even the least marketable wide-release horror movies make their money back.  Why?  They're incredibly cheap to produce, and always at least somewhat popular among young-adult and college movie goers.  Annabelle cot a little over 6 million dollars to make, which is practically nothing in movie money.

What also helped Annabelle was that it tied in to one of the best received, not to mention highest grossing, horror flicks to come out in a long time.  The Conjuring 2 isn't coming around until next year, so horror fans flocked to Anabelle in droves.  The movie made 37 Million in it's first domestic weekend alone, and will probably make it to 90 million before November is up.  Add in the fact that the film has "Conjured" up 140 million in overseas market, and it becomes clear that the studio basically got 250 million dollars out of Annabelle for nothing.  The movie is a huge box-office success.  No holds barred.

But is it Any Good?

No, it doesn't appear to be any good.  I haven't gotten to see this one yet (honestly I usually avoid horror flicks unless they look like something special,) but the critics, as well as people I've talked to, don't seem to like it.  It's got a stinky 30% review rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Wesley Morris called it "a new low for fright."  So unless your a hardcore horror fanatic it's probably worth skipping.

#1.  Gone Girl

 

What is it?

Gone Girl is an adaptation of a mystery novel, and is directed by acclaimed film maker David Fincher.  As I've already said in my review of the film, it's plot is too labyrinthine and entertaining to talk to much about.  Basically it's about the mystery behind a woman's disappearance and the resulting police investigation, but that description only scratches the surface. The movie is truly mind bending.

How much $$$ Has it Made?

Gone Girl opened just a bit bigger than Annabelle with (37 Million) and on the same weekend as well.  To further the gap, the movie kept raking in the money weekend after weekend while Annabelle faded away.  It's domestic take and foreign take add up to around 275 million dollars which is insane, especially for a movie that only cost 60 million to make.

The strong holds, and decent opening are all thanks to fantastic marketing and even better word of mouth.  It's clear that when people left their local cinema, they told their friends about this movie.  People transformed this into a miniature event film among the October Oscar wanna-bee's and the crummy studio dumps.  The result?  Gone Girl was the dominant force in theaters this October, and may continue being a factor as we enter November.

But is it Any Good?

Did you read the other answers?  It's totally worth seeing!

This may not appear to be David Fincher's most commercially viable film, but numbers don't lie.  People love the heck out of this movie, and I'm right there with them.  Critics and audiences alike are talking about it;  granting it an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.5 on IMDB respectively.  I seriously doubt you'll regret buying a ticket to this one.

Thanks for reading! If you're one of the few that actually care about October box office grosses then you should follow me on social media or email me at atchleyosaurus@gmail.com.  It's been a pleasure writing for you!

Best of the Rest: The Top 3 Movie Draculas

A naive person might speculate that all the world needs is a single Count Dracula movie, but this is clearly not the case. People flock to almost every new vampire movie that is released, and who can blame them?  The concept brings to mind many different ways that the story could be portrayed, and curiosity as what the next Dracula will look like.

Unfortunately though, some Dracula’s are the kind of bad you don’t want to watch; but others fotunately are the viciously evil kind of bad that audiences want to watch over and over again.  Today we’re honoring three of the most deliciously vile cinematic Dracula’s to hit the big screen. 

Beware those who read further, for all the powers of good cannot protect you from the might fangs of. . .  “The Top 3 Movie Draculas!”

#1.  Christopher Lee – Horror of Dracula (1958)

 What's the Movie?

Horror of Dracula is a horror remake from the 50’s starring Peter Cushing, Michael Gough and, of course, Christopher Lee.  The movie is not as well remembered as it probably should be.  It’s not the best Vampire movie ever, but it’s especially notable for Christopher Lee’s performance, as well as its landmark status in the history of violence in film.

Why is Christopher Lee a Great Dracula?

Christopher Lee was born to play Dracula, and if that wasn’t obvious to you before watching “Horror” then it definitely will be afterwards.  He plays the role British (unlike the other two on this list, who both go for the Transylvanian accent,) and it adds some credibility to the performance.  More than anything though Lee is just a huge presence on screen with a deep smooth voice that could kill a charging bear; He’s pretty much awesome all around in Horror of Dracula.

#2.  Gary Oldman – Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

What's the Movie?

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is another movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola that isn’t as good as you would think it would be.  It was released in the early 90’s and stars Keanu Reeves, Winona Rider and Gary Oldman, among others (the film has a fantastic cast.)  It is by far the most graphic mainstream vampire movie to date (and possibly the best to boot,) as it captures the scary sensual side of Bram Stokers novel along with the violent aspects.

Why is Gary Oldman a Great Dracula?

One of the more original portrayals of the character in the last few years, Gary Oldman's Dracula is at the same time pulled directly from the pages of the book and made its own entity.  His performance in all of the forms that Coppula invents for him is an impressive feat on its own, but the emotion that he brings to the table gives it an extra punch!

#3.  Bella Lugosi – Dracula (1931)

 What's the Movie?

The echoes of this pop phenomenon still resound in the public conscious, and it’s little wonder why.  This Dracula film may not be quite as good as its predecessor, Nosferatu, but it’s arguably much more iconic.  Nowadays the old Universal monsters come off a little bit silly, but actually watching the 1930’s Dracula gives one an idea of what it was like when people took these monsters seriously.

 Why is Bella Lugosi a Great Dracula?

Bella Lugosi may not have been the original cinematic Dracula, but his performance in the 1931 motion picture, Dracula, shaped the character as we know him today; he is what people think about when they think about Dracula.  All of the best, most memorable, Dracula’s that have risen to the screen have been influenced to some extent by his performance.  Why?  Because Dracula just wouldn’t be the same if he wasn’t a little bit like Bella Lugosi.

Thanks for reading! If you think you might be living next to a vampire or nosferatu you can follow us on social media or email me at atchleyosaurus@gmail.com.  Check back this weekend for more fun movie blogs!

Best of the Rest: 3 Halloween Movies for Kids and Parents Alike

Halloween can be tuff for kids and parents alike.  For many the Halloween season is heavily connected to the creepier side of Hollywood, but it might be difficult for parents to find movies that fit with the spirit of the season, but that don’t have the gore and blood that comes with it.

So what is one to do when your six year old wants to sit down and watch Saw 3 on Halloween night?  The following three movies might make better, more family friendly alternatives.

#3.  The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

 The Movie

Disney’s estranged yet beloved animated double feature may not be the best thing to ever come out of the company, but it’s surprisingly unique.

It features two short-ish animated Disney-fied renditions of classic literature stories, The Wind in the Willows and The Legend of Sleepy hollow one after the other with little connection between the two.  The Wind in the Willows is more of a comic, surprisingly British, romp.  Its twin, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a less silly, but still quite funny ghost story.  The two make an interesting couple to say the least; they’re both quite entertaining for children and parents alike.

How is it Great for a Family Halloween?

The first segment, The Wind in the Willows, isn’t very Halloween-ish at all; but the “Sleepy Hollow” is another story all together.  The film concludes in a fun fall dance, ghost stories and a final, inconclusive, attack by the headless horseman.  “Sleepy Hollow,” is just creepy enough to get kids in the ghoulish Halloween spirit, but it’s still loony and toony enough so that only the most skittish kids will have anything but a good time. 

The adults in the meantime can enjoy the brilliant Disney animation, clever humor and the singing and narrating talents of Bing Crosby.  It’s really a scary fun time for the whole family.

#2.  It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

The Movie

It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is a classic Halloween special from way back in the day that features the characters from the Charles Schultz comic, Peanuts, and their adventures on a particularly eventful Halloween night.  The characters go trick or treating, bobbing for apples and have low risk internal conflicts and philosophical musings to go along with them.

How is it Great for a Family Halloween?

There is a good reason that these Peanuts specials have survived all these years in the popular consciousness; They’re incredibly clever, smart and entertaining.  Charles Schultz sense of humor shines through in the medium.  My entire family growing up would watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown every Halloween growing up, and we still quote it sometimes at family gatherings.  The funny antics of Snoopy and Lucy will get the kids smiling, and the clever writing and humor will get parents hooked as well.  The animation and voice acting might be pretty lame, but the story itself is a feel-good Halloween romp.

#1.  The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Movie

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a detailed gothic stop-motion animated film infested by the fiendish inhabitants of Halloween Town.  These characters are meant to prepare Halloween for the children of the world each year, but that changes when one Halloween Town resident decides that he would rather prepare Christmas instead.

How is it Great for a Family Halloween?

The Nightmare Before Christmas has plenty of dark humor and creepy characters, but it’s all instilled with a sense of child like innocence that I think kids really connect to.  Much like our first entry it’s spooky enough to scare, but not frightening enough to disturb.  The music and silliness all aid the films fun Halloween tone so that it can be palatable to kids, teens and adults alike.  Don’t let the Hot Topic shirts fool you; This movie isn’t just for moody teenagers.  At heart it’s a family film.

Thanks for reading! If you want to watch Saw with your six year old, or if you just want to know more about movies follow us on social media.  Check back this weekend for more movie fun!

Best of the Rest: The 3 Biggest Hit Films of September 2014

September is a terrible month for movie fans and non-movie fans alike.  People just don't see that many movies in September, so the movie studios more often then not use the month as a testing ground (read: dumping ground) for movies that they aren't very confident about.  These movies often stink, or are so bland that they might as well have stunk.

This September was no different.  It says something about a cinematic month when a movie that came out the month before (namely Guardians of the Galaxy) is one of the top five most watched movies of the four-week period.  While there weren't any epic movie bombs this month, there wasn't anything that really captured the imagine much either, at least not in main-stream cinemas.

To make it all worse, this past September was not only a low grossing month for movies, as is expected, It was the worst month at the box office we've seen in over half a decade (the last month to gross this low was also a September by the way, another testament to how awful September is.)

Yet in almost every month there are a few winners (financially,) and while they aren't much to look at, this months winners have racked up some decent numbers.  Two of them are even getting sequels, so it's about time we shot ourselves up with some movie knowledge and checked out what movies didn't do too terrible at the domestic box office in September of 2014 (ranking by highest weekend opening, because these movies are still fairly early in their theatrical runs.)

#3.  No Good Deed

 

What is It?

A horror / thriller home invasion flick directed by Sam Miller and starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Wilson.

How Much $$$ Has It Made?

The film opened to about 24 million, which may not seem huge.  But No Good Deed was a September release with no huge star (Idris Elba well liked, but he's not a big name star,) an unown director and a modest 13 million dollar budget.  It got double it's money back in only three days, and it has gotten four times back in the mean time.  If that isn't a success, I don't know what is.

But is it Any Good?

I, unfortunately, have yet to check No Good Deed out; but the reviews are not positive.  The film has a current Rotten Tomato rating of 11% and a 5.9 rating on IMDB.  Critics have called it "Violent, Crass and Insulting," (Joe Neumaier) "a gruelingly unpleasant slog" (Drew Taylor,) and apparently they think it "has been done a thousand times better in scores of Lifetime productions" (Josh Kupecki.)  So ya. . . I think it might be a good choice to avoid this one.

#2.  The Maze Runner

 

What is it?

A YA (young adult) novel adaptation about a group of boys who wake up inside a mysterious maze and without any reccolection of how thy got into it.  The film was directed by Wes Ball and stars Dylan O'Brien and that dumb kid from "We Are the Millers."

How Much $$$ Has it Made?

YA book adaptations seem to go either mega cash cow (like Twilight or Divergent) or megabomb (like The Host or Vampire Academy,) but The Maze Runner is kind of in the middle.  It made 30 million on it's opening weekend, so it covered it's production costs, and it's also made an additional 30 million domestic in the mean time, so definitely not a failure here. 

And if that's not enough, The Maze Runner has made over one-hundred million dollars in foreign markets.  I'm not sure why people over seas want to see an adaptation of an American book for school children, but for whatever reason the film is blowing up in Asia.  20th Century Fox already has a sequel in the works as a result; The film has succeeded financially on multiple levels.

But is it Any Good?

It was "meh."  I didn't like it that much, but other critics liked it, so I guess it varies.  The film has a moderate 62% on Rotten Tomatoes and a strong 7.5 on IMDB.  Critics have called it "OK," (Bill Goodykoontz) "Insulting," (Roger Moore) and "Compelling" (Bill Zwecker.)  So I guess that you should watch the trailer and decide for yourself if it's worth seeing.

#1.  The Equalizer

 

What is it?

A television adaptation of a television show that you're probably too young to know about.  But it doesn't matter because it stars Denzel Washington shooting people and is directed by that guy who directed "Training Day."  Also I think Hit-Girl from "Kick-Ass" is a prostitute or something.

How much $$$ Has it Made?

It opened to 45 million on it's first weekend (less than a week ago,) and has made it's production budget of 55 million back in the mean time.  A movie like this isn't going to make it's production budget back in the first weekend, but will it do a couple of times in the coming weeks? Probably, and even if it doesn't, 45 million is a huge figure for a pre-thanksgiving release; enough so that Columbia is already throwing a sequel together.

But is it Any Good?

This is another one I haven't gotten a chance to see yet.  And the reviews are mixed.  Rotten tomatoes has it firmly at 60% and IMDB has it at 7.6. Some Critics really like it, and others think it's "Stone Dumb" (Joshua Rothkopf.)  I'd check it out if the trailer looks good to you (it looks awesome to me,) but I wouldn't go in expecting a masterpiece.

Thanks for reading! If you're one of the few that actually care about September box office grosses then you should follow me on social media or email me at atchleyosaurus@gmail.com.  It's been a pleasure writing for you!

Best of the Rest: The 5 Worst Summer Blockbusters of 2014

Welcome back to The Best of the Rest.  Today I’m following up my “Best” list for 2014 summer blockbusters with one that highlights the worst of the summer in the same light.  Hope you enjoyed hating these movies as much as I did!

Before we get started I must remind you that I’m using the same criteria for this list as I did for the previous one (which can be read here.)  Basically I will only include high grossing movies that have come out in the summer movie season on this list.

So here we go, what movies made me want to cry (for all the wrong reasons,) or tear out my hair?  What summer 2014 blockbusters failed to cause much but pain?  You’re about to find out! let’s get this list a-rockin!

#5  Lucy

Lucy is probably not the movie audiences were expecting to see when they went to the theater this weekend (The movies going to finish the weekend with an estimated 44 million.) It’s weird, stylish, dark and thoughtful. But unfortunately it’s also really stupid.

I’m no scientist, but the leaps in logic here are distracting and unnecessary. This is strictly science fantasy, and the movie’s unfortunate decision to display the (flawed) logic behind the movies terrible hypothesis make this incredibly apparent to anyone who is willing to put even a modicum of thought into it.

I call the movies base concept (That someone could be able to control minds technology and even shape-shift if their cerebral capacity was reached,) the movies hypothesis, because it’s the only part of the movie that really gets through to its audience. Lucy acts like its big and cerebral, but when you tear away the pieces all you see is an attempt to make a silly core concept deeper then it actually is.

#4  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

I’m not a movie insider. I don’t know how the studio process works, but it seems to me that things like this shouldn’t happen. Movies have been around for a long time, we know how to make action movies enjoyable. In a sane logical world there would be no reason that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles couldn’t be an entertaining diversion, but we do not live in a sane logical world.

Everything here is so weak, half the time it’s not even that bad, just remarkably unexceptional. From the characters to the animation, it almost feels half finished. William Fichter and Will Arnett turn mind blowingly awkward dialogue into nothing, just like you’d expect them to do. And the turtles themselves are often more annoying then fun. To be fair a couple of the action sequences were really fun (especially in contrast to the Michael Bay Transformer movies,) but that’s not enough to make up for all the stupid.

Also did I mention that Will Arnett’s character is useless? Because he is. And he isn’t the only useless character either, there are loads of them in this flick. William Fichter doesn’t play Shredder (as I assumed he would,) but shredders partner in crime. why did they need two villains? Both of these two characters have the exact same motivations and traits, why did they both need to be in the movie? Why was Whoopi Goldberg in the movie? Why are there four turtles? Is one giant mutant turtle ninja not sufficient? The “Turtles” media I’ve seen always centers the story on the relationship between the four of them, but here it’s only glossed over making the extra three turtles naught but plot clutter. This script should have been tossed in the garbage can.

#3.  Maleficent

Angelina Jolie makes the perfect Maleficent, It’s really too bad that she is mostly forced to play someone else instead. The Maleficent of this movie has very little in common with the movie villain that was one of the saving graces of the Disney animated original. Instead of getting the “Mistress of all evil,” we get a wishy washy hero character.

“I really wish that they’d make a Sleeping Beauty movie where Maleficent is the good guy,” said no person ever. It’s like the filmmakers didn’t understand the reason people remember and love Maleficent from the animated picture; she’s scary as hell, and her voice actress and dialogue in that movie make it clear that she’s evil, pist off and loving it. I understand that this new flick is a re-imagining, but the choice to change this is just as confusing from a story telling perspective as it is from a marketing one.

Making Maleficent a good-guy would have been okay if they had had a strong compelling story to back up the concept, but the offering here is really week. The idea sounds workable on paper, but there are some baffling decisions made that numb the whole thing to a crisp. Maleficent motivations in the end are revealed to be a big pile of nothing, and her power seems to switch off whenever the plot dictates it. The movie fails to do one of the fundamental things a movie must do: convince the audience that the characters would be motivated to do the things we’re seeing them do on screen.

#2  The Amazing Spider-Man 2

There are surprisingly few good things that one can truthfully say about The Amazing Spider-Man 2.  It sucks in a very profound way that kind of goes beyond just bad character development and story telling.  What we have here is a movie without a soul.

Marc Webb clearly did not want to make this movie, he wanted to make a romantic comedy.  The producers and studio heads clearly did not want to make this move either, they just wanted to sell the next seven or eight spider-man spin-offs that that are on Sony’s production schedule.  There was not a single major participant in the filmmaking process for “Spidey 2” that actually cared about this story or these characters, and you can tell.  This isn’t so much a movie as it is an exceptionally bad commercial for spider-Man toys that you have to pay to see.

I don’t think the unofficial title, “worst Spiderman ever,” would be inappropriate.  Nor do I even think it would even be contestable.

#1  Transformers:  Age of Extinction

Even before the summer started, I never doubted this would be the worst movie to come out of it.  People say that the second Transformers is terrible and the rest okay, but I think they’re all of roughly the same quality;  aka zero.

These movies are almost like deviously conceived torture devices. They start out okay, but they all end up overstaying their welcome by about an hour and a half. At the end of “Extinction” you’ve been sitting and watching stuff you couldn’t care less about for so long that the events on the screen have no effect on you other then psychological pain. There’s an alternate universe were Bay was able to keep all of his Transformers flicks down to an hour an a half; Causing the critics (and myself) to shrug in apathy instead of groan in pain. The movies many other sins might actually be somewhat forgivable, if only Bay could cut a few action sequences and a few secondary plot lines.

When you’re watching a movie for this long you need to se a likable character, and interesting theme.  Just something to distract you from the barrage of terrible, but there is no reprieve.  I don’t think that calling this a three hour torture device is as extreme an exaggeration as you probably think it is.

Thank you all for reading!  If you have your own opinions feel free to tell me via google+ Twitter, Facebook or email (www.atchleyosaurus@gmail.com.)  Check back this weekend for new reviews, and possibly even some more Behind the Effects!