Independance Day: Resurgence (2016)

One of the few sequels equal or better than the original. Liam Hemsworth was terrific as the star of the movie. The plot was better, and the plan for victory more plausible. All the characters from the first movie except Will Smith are back. The film takes place 25 years after the first invasion. Humankind remains united and has adopted Alien tech. Very soon its clear that plan of defense was not going to work.

A truly fantastic disaster porn, alien invasion, sci fi spectcale epic blockbuster.
Rotten Tomatoes savaged t with 38%. I would be close to 80. I am not giving it five stars like the orginal, because the orginal was orginal.

4 stars

Independence Day (1996)

Independence Day was a big movie. Biggest Grossing movie of its year, and 51st in history.  For the Sci Fi Genre it was the 25th highest. It was a great groundbreaking epic movie. Lots of great messages and themes. Generally a huge dart at the military industrial complex.

I generally cant stand Will Smith but loved him in this movie. (MIB, Enemy of the State, I am Legend as well). Jeff Goldblum is another actor I am lukewarm on but he nails it here. The rest of the cast mostly character actors, with the exception of Bill Pullman. Brent Spinner has a great part as a capitve scientest in charge of  alien studies  Area 51.

Due to the upcomming release of the sequel I rewatched it last night. It remained fresh and compelling. The only thing really dating it was the period automobiles.

Rotten Tomatoes was really rotten in giving this movie only 61%. I have to go with over 90%.

Five Stars

Deadpool (2016)

My review of Deadpool was tempered by great expectations. It could never deliver on the promise. As usual the comedy would be much more effective in a Cinema. Still I laughed out loud a couple of times. I found the script overly busy and drivel like at times. Nevertheless this was perhaps the best of the Marvel comic book movies, but nowhere close to Batman levels. Morena Silva de Vaz Setta Baccarin is the Audrey Hepburn of science fiction. Her presence alone adds one star to any production. Ryan Reynolds deserves five stars for difficulty, and he nailed this difficult role.

Rotten Tomatoes gave it 83%, I am still in the seventies. Certainly this is the best of the latest bunch and as you may have noticed the latest movie I found worthy.

Three point 89 stars

Waterworld (Ulysses Edition) 1995 (2010)

The Ulysses Edition adds 40 min to the orginal.  I liiked the orginal I thought is was a nice parabole and the use of the Exxon Valdez particularly poingant. 

I like Kevin Costner and he is totaly on here. Jeanne Tripplehorn shines as the female lead. Dennis Hopper delivers as the villan.

Considering this movie was released in 1995 it shows just how farsighted the ad have been released today it would not be the bomb it was in 1995. The additional minutes fill in many blanks and make the ending much more satisfying, there is a bit of a Planet of the Apes moment at the conculsion that was powerful.

The original got a 42% Rotten Tomatos which I would have had at 60. This one moves up at least 10 points.

Three point two stars

Spectre (2015)

I saw this movie close to a week ago in a Cinema. I wanted to say something but then the Paris attacks happened. Bottom line the writers of this movie agree with me that ISIS is a security distraction, the threat comes from within.

This is the best Bond movie ever. I can say this because I saw all the Bond movies in a theatre upon their release.  I know Bond like Moneypenny.

I thought Skyfall was a hot mess. I never cottoned to Daniel Craig as I am still shaken not stirred with Connery. 

In this movie IMHO Daniel Craig has become James  Bond.  No other actor  has managed to do this.

This movie connects all the dots. This movie has the best Bond Girl ever. This movie has the best Bond car ever.  I do not want to spoil anything, but in this movie every Bond touchstone gets touched.

Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 63% score. Proof they are insane.

A thousand years from now people will love this movie, like the fans of Greek plays play today.

Five Five high Five stars

The Martian

If only Ridley Scott had directed Interstellar. This movie has best picture written all over it. If you took Gravity and Castaway and made them both way better you have The Martian. It was the most emotional charged feel good movie I can remember. There was not just one peak but at least 5 high 5 moments, incredible moviemaking.

Five out of Five Stars

Unfinished Business (2015)

Rotten Tomates gave it 11%  I was close to 80.  Judge for yourself.