The Big Sick - Movie Review

The Big Sick

Review by Ryan Davidson

Score: 9.5/10

I haven't laughed this much in a theater in a long time. This movie is genuinely hilarious, and I am very impressed with its' comedic chops. Rom-Com's, to me, usually lack in the comedic area, and are heavy handed in the romantic area, so it's refreshing to see one that takes the comedy very seriously. There were parts that made me laugh so hard my belly hurt, and that's a great thing. The romance is no slouch either, as it's a great story that is (supposedly) true. Another interesting aspect is that the film is based off the real-life relationship of the lead actor, Kumail Nanjiani, who plays himself in the film. There's one other thing that shocked me... Ray Romano is actually really funny in this movie. He was the perfect casting choice for Emily's dad, and I just had a great time watching the scenes that he was in. I won't spoil anything, but there's a lot of emotion here as well. The movie travels into some dark and emotional situations that were very unexpected for me. This was a very refreshing take on the Romantic Comedy genre, and I was in love with it from beginning to end. Please go see this in theaters, to show that Independent films are important too!

War for the Planet of the Apes - Movie Review

War for the Planet of the Apes

Review by Ryan Davidson

Score: 9.25/10

Who would've thought that a modern trilogy based off of the Charlton Heston flick "Planet of the Apes" from 1968 would ever be this good? War for the Planet of the Apes is the concluding chapter in what has been a phenomenal story to this point. We follow Caesar (Played by Andy Serkis) on a path of vengeance, after the Apes suffer horrific losses during the war, with one person in mind; The ruthless colonel (Played by Woody Harrelson). This is a deep movie, so don't go into it expecting an action-packed blockbuster, because it's not that. We see Caesar wrestle with dark and complex emotions throughout this film, and Matt Reeves does a great job making us feel for Caesar in his current situation. The supporting cast is back, including Maurice and Rocket, who are my personal favorites. The motion capture & visual effects work is some of the best I have ever seen, and if this doesn't get nominated for visual effects I will never watch the Oscars again (It will, I'm just making a worthless threat). This film goes where most audiences will not expect, and that makes for a very interesting film. Caesar is one of the most interesting characters ever put to film, and this trilogy is one of, if not the, best trilogy of all time. I recommend this entire trilogy to everyone with eyes and ears. (but please don't see this without seeing the first two. Context is important in getting the full experience and scope). 

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Movie Review

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Review by Ryan Davidson

Score: 9.5/10

I really love this movie. There's not much more I need to say. Caesar's story is one of the most interesting stories I've ever seen, and his character development is a prime example of how characters should be done. In a world with a lot of sequels, this one seems necessary. Without context to the first film, we lack the personal connection to Caesar as a character, and I assume that will continue on to the third and final chapter. This story needs three movies to be told, and that doesn't bother me in the slightest. Andy Serkis turns in an Oscar-worthy performance (although he will never get nominated), and Caesar continues to be one of my all time favorite characters. Dawn is yet another example of the second installment being better than the first, as it's the Empire Strikes Back to Rise's A New Hope. The action is minimal, as it's a deep story about humanity and explores what it means to be human. This is a must see movie, if not for the amazing story, for the superb visual effects. There are moments when it is unclear whether you are looking at a real ape or a CGI ape (I am convinced they used real apes for certain shots, but who knows, it could all be CGI). It's very seamless between the live action and the special effects, creating characters that feel real even though they aren't. I recommend this whole heartedly, but only after you've seen Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Spider-Man: Homecoming - Movie Review

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Review by Ryan Davidson

Score: 8.75/10

Five "Spider-Man" movies later and Disney finally gets their first crack at the character. We first welcomed Spidey to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: Civil War, which was awesome, and now he gets his own feature. Spider-Man: Homecoming follows a 15 year old high-schooler named Peter Parker (Played by Tom Holland), who doubles as the web slinging super hero, as he is tasked with taking down The Vulture. (Played by Michael Keaton) This is the best adaptation of Peter Parker in Cinematic history, and it starts with him actually being a high school kid. Tom Holland is phenomenal in this film, he basically is Peter Parker. His friend, Ned, is hilarious, and I really enjoyed his character. Tony Stark (Ironman, Played by Robert Downey Jr.) played a small role in the film, but didn't overshadow Peter Parker, which was something people were scared of due to the trailers. This movie felt small, but in a good way, as it was a movie solely about Peter Parker's struggle with being a kid and a super hero at the same time. I enjoyed all the Spider-Man scenes as well, they nailed his humor and his character. Michael Keaton was sensational in this movie, and I can honestly say that he is (for now, I'm looking at you Thanos.) my favorite villain in the entire MCU. One of my gripes about the film was that it has pacing issues. Toward the beginning of the film, it's extremely fast pace (too fast for my taste, might I add.), but by the end it has slowed down to an even pace, which just makes the film feel uneven. Overall It's a fantastic comic book film, and a must watch to any and all who are invested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Movie Review

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Review by Ryan Davidson

Score: 8.25/10

As far as origin stories go, this one is pretty spectacular. Rise of the Planet of the Apes follows an Ape named Caesar who goes from being raised by humans to leading an ape revolution. There aren't very many surprises in the film, as I kind of figured out what was going to happen as soon as the plot started rolling. However, this film reiterates the importance of the journey to the conclusion rather than just the conclusion itself. Caesar's character development is outstanding, as well as his character arc. Andy Serkis' performance as the leading ape is both captivating and engaging. You could say I'm very excited to follow this journey in later installments.