Into The Woods

I don't normally watch musicals, but the fact that so many A-list actors like Chris Pine and Meryl Streep are in this was enough to convince me to see it. It's such a great movie! The songs are a bit over-the-top at times but that's the point. And it's quite funny. I enjoyed the acting and unlike "Annie," everyone in this can actually sing. I was not aware Johnny Depp could sing. The film can get a bit cheesy but that's the point. Broadway is always cheesy. The film is also surprisingly dark. It's based on the original Grimm Brothers fairy tales and not the sugar-coated sweet Disney versions. (Yay!) The whole film is fun and has something for everyone to enjoy.

Grade: A-,  9/10, 4/5 stars

Annie (2014)

This isn't the pop-culture travesty many people fear it to be. I enjoyed it very much. The only complaint is that Cameron Diaz can not sing. I ask you, Mr. Director, why would you cast someone in a musical if they have no singing ability? Everyone else has incredible singing chops, though. The film is surprisingly watchable and is an example of a remake done (mostly) right. They could have cut a very slow, boring song about an hour in the film, but I guess all musicals need at least one so it gives the audience a chance to get concession refills. While it has been updated to be modern-day instead of Depression-era like the original, that's not a bad thing. No kid would want to see a movie about the Great Depression anyway. I did have one problem with this movie though. Apparently they name Annie's dog Sandy because he/she (I don't know the dog's gender; its never mentioned) has a lot of energy like a hurricane. Too soon, guys. Too soon.

Grade: B. 7/10 3/5 stars

Penguins of Madagascar

Although the film wasn't really needed, it is absolutely brilliant. Benedict Cumberbatch is the best part of this movie. His acting is brilliant as always. I wouldn't mind seeing a spin-off about the origins of the North Wind, the spy agency that his character runs. It would be awesome. I was a bit hesitant that this would kill the Madagascar franchise like Shrek Forever After killed the Shrek franchise but I gave it a chance and it was great. Sorry, Pixar but I think Dreamworks will eventually knock you off the top spot as the best animation studio. I loved everything about this movie. It's perfect. 

Grade: A+ 10/10 5/5 stars

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 1

    Bravo! This is the best film in the series so far! Everyone gives an amazing performance and there's not a single actor or actress in this film I felt should have been recast. The only problem I had in this film was the CGI. It didn't look realistic. It looked like the cutscene to a Playstation 1 game. The great thing about this film is it doesn't feel rushed. It takes it's sweet time in getting to the story, and that is cruical when the story is so big and needs a lot of character development. Why must I wait a year for part 2?! Why can't they just release it a month after the Blu-ray comes out? The Hunger Games movies just keep getting better and better. I'm excited to see how they handle part 2, and I'm highly confident it will be handled with care.
Grade: A-, 9/10, 4/5 stars

Interstellar

If this film isn't nominated for some awards at the Oscars, there's something wrong with the Academy. This is one of the best films of 2014, and it definitely deserves more than 73% fresh. That's too low of a score. I'd say it's more around the 90-95% range. It's an absolutely amazing film. Pardon the pun, but I'd even go so far as to say this movie is...wait for it...stellar. This is what "Gravity" should have been. It's a very thought provoking film and needs to be at least nominated for "Best Picture" at the Academy Awards. There are some issues with sound mixing where the sound muffles the dialogue sometimes, but according to Christopher Nolan, this was intentional. Don't wait for Blu-ray. See it while it's still in theaters! Your stomach will rumble when the ships take off, and you will be amazed at the visual effects. This film has plenty of heart, humor, and an intriguing plot that will make you forget it has a 3-hour runtime. It feels more like 2 hours.
Grade: A+  10/10, 5/5 stars.

Big Hero 6

   Finally! A movie I will agree with the Academy on, if it wins Best Animated Feature. This movie is definitely up there with "Bolt" and "Wreck-it Ralph." It's got an "Incredibles" feel to it, and is one of the best movies to come out in 2014. I absolutely loved it, and now I forgive Disney for making the atrocity that was "Frozen." This is seriously one of the best, if not THE best, Disney movie ever. This is one of the very few times I agree with Rotten Tomatoes. It holds a 90% "fresh" rating, and I think that that is an accurate rating. (It should have been 100%, though. Who are these critics who caused it to be less than 100%? They need to see it again.) I will definitely see this again when it hits our discount theater, and then buy it on Blu-ray the day it comes out. This was apparently based on a Marvel comic, and I wish this movie great success, and hope this will convince Disney and Marvel to open the floodgates for more lesser-known Marvel properties. Baymax: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this film? The answer is 10.
Grade: A+, 10/10, 5/5 stars

Maleficient

Disney really needs some new ideas. Making a prequel to a movie that's 50 years old is never a good idea. Didn't they learn that from their direct-to-video sequels? I thought the film was Disney trying to make their own version of "Wicked." However, they failed miserably. It felt clichè and Angelina Jolie's acting was too over-the-top. I didn't like that.the premise was "the villian isn't evil, just misunderstood." Like I said earlier, Disney copying "Wicked." Have you no sense of originality anymore? Every movie now from them is a sequel, prequel, or based on something. I'm sick of fairy tale films. Please stop, for the sake of Hollywood's sanity.

Grade: C+ 6/10 2/5 stars