Caro the Movie Critic

Yeah, those are the similar feelings I felt in the picture above in regards to the best 5 and worst 5 movies this year...so far. 2016 has been an underwhelming year at the movies and the second half has to pull some redemption to make it a good year at the very least. There have been as many bad movies as there are good movies and already to be fair, I have the 10 worst movies already compiled which is sad. There are so many unnecessary sequels this year and it was painful to watch many of these and even a third movie in a franchise is better than both of those sequels. But, I'll be nice first and list my favorite movies of the year...so far... THE BEST 5 or MAYBE 6 MOVIES OF THE YEAR...SO FAR (tie) 5. Finding Dory and Zootopia I wanted to acknowledge both of these Disney animated films, well, one is Pixar, but it does not matter. They both deliver on the same level in terms of storytelling, vibrant and charming characters and humor. Finding Dory is the one sequel t...

We're back after 20 years...and this is what they come up with? 20 years ago...many audiences were entertained by the first Independence Day  movie. Despite the campy premise and some fairly stalk characters, the movie was popcorn fun. The difference between that fun movie and this abysmal sequel is charisma and many actors look like they were having fun with the set-up, action and the disaster genre. So, coming into this movie, my expectation was on a good par because it had the potential to deliver on a campy popcorn level again just like its predecessor. After this experience, this movie is on the level of unnecessary sequels that deserves a person who deserves to be punished to watch this movie Clockwork Orange -style. It was one of the most painful moviegoing experiences I've ever encountered in the past few years. It's 20 years later, and people have moved on with advanced technology thanks to the "War of 1996" in which different characters reference r...

Elle Fanning as the next supermodel. Ok...I will save my emotions later in the review because I'm at a loss for words sitting on a chair typing how I feel towards this material. It took me a while to have at least a speck of composure and eloquence to honestly sell on the fact as to why I like this movie. I am not an expert on fashion but researching the fashion industry, it is an aggressive field because beauty, experience and decorum blends into maybe what a definition of what a supermodel is. Plus, I suppose, behind-the-scenes, there is hostility towards one another to see who will rise up to the top of the industry with magazine contracts, fashion runaway shows and maybe be a part of a campaign. But, The Neon Demon  generates that competitive drive into a whole other dimension that is both visually fascinating and twisted. Jesse (Elle Fanning) is a beautiful, young, blonde teenage model that is an amateur as she is being accompanied by her photographer, Dean (Karl Glusman...

Blake Lively in a bikini with a flare gun? I'm in.  How many good shark movies are out there? Only one, maybe two. Jaws is a masterpiece with three interesting characters and pacing that suits the thriller aspects with the shark pursuing both the innocent bystanders on the ocean and the three fishermen. A case can be made with Deep Blue Sea  as it is a ridiculous movie but a guilty pleasure. But, I have to re-watch that movie because it has been a while since that time. People keep asking: when is the next Jaws movie? Is this the next movie for our generation? I can answer both of them and say "No. However, you're probably will have a good time when it comes out on cable or just streaming it." Medical student dropout Nancy Adams (Blake Lively) is headed towards the beach, which was her mother's favorite spot before she passed away from cancer, for a personal vacation. She is driven there by a man named Carlos (Oscar Jaenada). She was going to go on the trip ...

It is a shocking and saddening to lose another young and talented actor but Anton Yelchin, at the age of 27, has passed away. Looking at his filmography, he has a very versatile resume from some indies to blockbusters. Based on a few interviews I have watched on YouTube, he looked like a normal laid-back guy. Remembering his roles, he is actually such a good and underrated actor and looking at the movies, I did have enough roles to mention that will certainly have a place in my 5 favorite performances from him. Again, it is very unfortunate to lose another young talent.  Alpha Dog From one of his earlier movies, we mostly follow the gang who kidnapped him with their salacious activities and ruthless plans on how to handle Yelchin's character since he was the victim throughout the movie. But, focusing on him, he is naive and knows he may be all right after all of the threat towards him. The core and heart of the movie is the friendship between his character and Just...

I decided to make a tribute to all the dads in the world but mostly, the best movie dads, that get their children envy that these dads have some sweet soul or they just kick some butt. But, I try to come up with a variety of dads that make or attempt to set an example of what is best for their children and for life itself. I have to admit it was difficult to compile a list of the best movie dads because there were about 20-25 that I could think of there were well-rounded and well-developed fathers (one is a bit cheating since he is an adoptive father, but he is still a dad nevertheless.) By the way, there is not going to be a favorite movie dad. Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather John McClane in Die Hard Andrew Hilliard in Mrs. Doubtfire Guido Orifice in Life is Beautiful Gru in Despicable Me Henry Jones Sr. in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird Noah L...

Hank and Dory. Let's go back in time about 13 years ago in which Finding Nemo  was a critical and commercial phenomenon as it was remembered as "one of the best animated films ever made". Notice, that the biggest compliment does not include "animated Pixar films" because it was that good. It is a technical and storytelling achievement that made us remember the aquatic experience and its lovable characters from Marlin and Dory to Crush, the turtle. In my opinion, it is definitely in my top 5 Pixar movies of all-time. It is a great masterpiece. With a sequel that many writers took the time to craft, they have a made well-made and briskly paced movie that is both touching and steadily humorous. The movie opens with a flashback with a young Dory (voiced by Sloane Morrow) that is with her parents, Jenny and Charlie (both voiced by Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy). They help her coping with her short-term memory loss making up a rhyme. Dory worries that she'll ...

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kevin Hart. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kevin Hart are two box-office regimen that can entertain audiences pleasantly no matter how ridiculously a concept from Hollywood is. But, the main reason is that they are both charismatic and delightful actors that boast their talent at their prime standard. San Andreas was a guilty pleasure in my opinion because of the riddling disaster cliches but also The Rock was good in it. Kevin Hart has been in many bad movies but everything except, Think Like a Man Too , I think, he has been really good. I don't think that he is cringe-worthy. Even though the action becomes too simplistic and by-the-numbers, the main chemistry between Johnson and Hart is the ticket to go see this buddy comedy. Back in 1996, Robbie Whierdicht (Dwayne Johnson) has been bullied for all of high school because of his looks and his weight. Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart) has been voted "the person who can mostly suc...

Brian De Palma. This is a short documentary review. Brian De Palma was a controversial director that takes important and/or fun topics and heighten to a whole other level with combinations of violence, sex, drugs and music. This documentary only has De Palma himself talking about his movies and topics surrounding the behind-the-scenes of his beloved films and his not-so-beloved films. It is a movie for cinephiles to watch and behold and make you want to revisit some of his classics and maybe look at a few scenes from his bad movies because some of the filmmaking is spectacular. If you are a fan of the director, you'll love this. If not, you'll still be interested and will be grown to appreciate him and his work. From the time he saw Alfred Hitchock's masterpiece, Vertigo , when he was 18, it set the stage for his entire life. Directors Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow interview him without any of his actors, directors and filmmakers backing him up to tell other storie...

Sam Claflin and Emilia Clarke. Romantic dramas or Nicholas Sparks films or Nicholas Sparks rip-offs are my least favorite genres...ever. But, based on the trailer, it looked a little interesting based on the chemistry and the relationship between a disable character and a lovely woman. But, also, what is frustrating to me is the dialogue and the story in these movie when some random artificial or supernatural occurrence comes up and makes no lick of sense. The chemistry is there but there are some contradicting set-ups and scenes that do not make up their mind as to how each characters' fates are going to unfold and how they are going to feel and they try to cheer us up for a manipulative epilogue. Louisa "Lou" Clark (Emilia Clarke) is a free spirit that has been recently laid off from a cafe and is trying to look for a job. Will Trainer (Sam Claflin) is an arrogant and sarcastic banker that cares for his wealth but he gets into a motorcycle accident. He is left par...

The power of Christ compels you. Oh, wait, wrong movie. Right off the bat, James Wan is the best horror director working today. His transition from a Fast and Furious movie to another horror sequel was impressive. He is versatile. He invests so much in the craftsmanship regarding how to set up a scary scene within a dark location or a very unusual area and he puts a spin on how he will get you with a scare and there are a few jumpy moments. Again, Wan's camera movement and direction symbolizes the hard work that modern and future horror directors have to take note if they want to make a movie to scare people. It is another "based on a true story" investigation in which paranormal aficionados, Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), documenting the Amityville murders in which a demon or a presence of some sort taking over a person killing a mass family in 1974. During a seance, Lorraine has a vision of Ed being impaled and discovering a demonic nun ...

The Four Horsemen with Daniel Radcliffe. Um...ok...another sequel...another needless sequel. The first movie had some cool things going for it with some fun and chemistry amongst the four main characters. The third act was the portion that let me down because it did not make sense, unsatisfying and was a bit pretentious. At the time, I thought it was a decent cable movie and I still stand by that. However, surprisingly there were fans of the original film that had a good time but I think it's not as huge of a fanbase as I thought because it was a real sleeper hit. For example, earlier in the year, we had My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 , another needless sequel that was cartoonish and in another universe. The first movie was a huge success because it was relatable to many people in the audience as viewers have very big families. With this one, people likes to look at style. However, I felt there's so much convenience and coincidence in both the storyline and the style that the m...

What is in his hand? I am not a hardcore video-gamer. Actually, let me correct myself, I am retired from the world of video games now for quite a while because I have so much stuff on my plate. But, I have heard of the video game, World of Warcraft, the multiplayer video game that is set in the world of Azeroth. How do I know this? It is because I know a few people who are obsessed with the game and I've played it a few times and never got into my radar again. But, video game adaptations are sort of in the pit right now because there's not one movie, as far as I know, that commences the genre with a bang. We had Angry Birds  which looks like a vibrant and colorful palate with a forgettable story or level. This movie, even though I will admit I had gleeful fun in a few scents, is a juggernaut of sluggish direction and ugly CGI that leaves me with a sour experience. The land, Draenor, is on the brink of collapse as their land is rotting. Gul'dan (Daniel Wu) plans to ass...