My Top 10 Favorite Buddy Cop Movies of All-Time

        A buddy cop film is a film with plots involving two people of very different and conflicting personalities who are forced to work together to solve a crime and/or defeat criminals, sometimes learning from each other in the process. With that being said I'm going to bring you my top 10 favorite buddy cop movies of all-time. So without further ado...

10. Wild, Wild, West

        Look this film is pretty bad I'm the first one to admit it, but it has some great humor and it is one of my guilty pleasures. Special government agent James West (played by Will Smith), long on charm and wit, and special government agent Artemus Gordon (played by Kevin Kline), a master of disguises and a brilliant inventor of gadgets large and small, are each sent to track down the diabolical genius Dr. Arliss Loveless (played by Kenneth Branagh). Loveless is plotting to assassinate the President of the United States Ulysses Grant (also played by Kevin Kline) with the aid of his monstrously huge walking weapon-transport vehicle called The Tarantula. West and Gordon begin as competitors but soon pool their talents to become a wily team of operatives who trust each other... most of the time. Wild, Wild, West has a rating of 17% on rottentomatoes.com.

9. Training Day

        This is an amazing film with some amazing performances. Jake Hoyt (played by Ethan Hawke), a fresh-faced Los Angeles Police Department rookie anxious to join the elite narcotics squad headed up by 13-year veteran Detective Sergeant Alonzo Harris (played by Denzel Washington). Harris has agreed to give Hoyt a shot at joining his team with a one-day ride-along during which Hoyt must prove his mettle. As the day wears on, however, it becomes increasingly clear to the greenhorn that his experienced mentor has blurred the line between right and wrong to an alarming degree, enforcing his own morally compromised code of ethics and street justice. As he struggles with his conscience, an increasingly alarmed Hoyt begins to suspect that he's not really being given an audition at all; he's being set up as the fall guy in an elaborate scheme. Training Day was nominated for two Academy Awards including Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor and winning the award for Best Actor and it has a rating of 72% on rottentomatoes.com.

8. The Other Guys

        This film has the most unlikely paring you have ever seen on film and it works to perfection. New York City detective Allen Gamble (played by Will Ferrell) is more comfortable pushing pencils than busting bad guys. A meticulous forensic accountant, his numbers are never off. Detective Terry Hoitz (played by Mark Wahlberg) is Gamble's reluctant partner. Try as Detective Hoitz might to get back on the streets, an embarrassing encounter with Derek Jeter has left a sizable black mark on his permanent record. Detectives Danson (played by Dwayne Johnson) and Highsmith (played by Samuel L. Jackson) are the complete opposites of Gamble and Hoitz: unwaveringly confident, they always get their man, and they do it with style to spare. When the time comes for Gamble and Hoitz to prove their mettle and save the day, their incompetence becomes the stuff of legend. The Other Guys has a rating of 79% on rottentomatoes.com.

7. Men in Black

        This film is hilarious and it actually got me into some very minor trouble when I was about 3 years old. James Darrel Edwards (Will Smith), a New York City cop with an athletic physique and a flippant, anti-authoritarian attitude toward law enforcement. After chasing down a mysterious perpetrator one night who turns out to be an alien, James is recruited by "K" (played by Tommy Lee Jones), a veteran of a clandestine government agency secretly policing the comings and goings of aliens on planet Earth. Nicknamed the "men in black" for their nondescript uniform of black suit, shoes, tie, and sunglasses, the agents are assigned to recover a bauble that's been stolen by an intergalactic terrorist (played by Vincent D'Onofrio). It seems the item is none other than the galaxy itself, and its theft has plunged humanity into the center of what's shaping up to become an interstellar war, unless K and his new wisecracking partner, now renamed "J," can stop the bad guy. On their side but somewhat in the dark is a pretty, unflappable city medical examiner (played by Linda Fiorentino) who has been zapped one too many times by K's ingenious memory-sapping device. Men in Black was nominated for 3 Academy Awards including Best Art Direction, Best Original Score and Best Makeup while winning the award for Best Makeup and it has a rating of 92% on rottentomatoes.com.

6. Osmosis Jones

        This film is really funny and it honeslty makes me think there is a City of Jonah inside of me. Frank (played by Bill Murray), a zoo worker suffering from the effects of an unknown malady he contracted after eating an egg contaminated with simian saliva. Unknown to Frank, the inside of his body is actually a city (the City of Frank) teeming with cellular life, where the mysterious illness he's fighting is an invading enemy that must be defeated at all costs. It's up to Osmosis Jones (voiced by Chris Rock), a white blood cell cop, and Drix (voiced by David Hyde Pierce), a rookie over-the-counter medication, to hunt down and stop a lethal virus (voiced by Laurence Fishburne) who's got an inferiority complex. Along the way, the partners visit Frank's runny nostrils (Booger Dam) and a bar called, appropriately enough, the Zit. Osmosis Jones has a rating of 55% on rottentomatoes.com.

5. Seven

        This film is intense and it keeps me on the edge of my seat every time I watch it. Set in a hellish vision of a New York-like city, where it is always raining and the air crackles with impending death, the film concerns Det. William Somerset (played by Morgan Freeman), a homicide specialist just one week from a well-deserved retirement. Every minute of his 32 years on the job is evident in Somerset's worn, exhausted face, and his soul aches with the pain that can only come from having seen and felt far too much. But Somerset's retirement must wait for one last case, for which he is teamed with young hotshot David Mills (played by Brad Pitt), the fiery detective set to replace him at the end of the week. Mills has talked his reluctant wife, Tracy (played by Gwyneth Paltrow), into moving to the big city so that he can tackle important cases, but his first and Somerset's last are more than either man has bargained for. A diabolical serial killer is staging grisly murders, choosing victims representing the seven deadly sins. First, an obese man is forced to eat until his stomach ruptures to represent gluttony, then a wealthy defense lawyer is made to cut off a pound of his own flesh as penance for greed. Somerset initially refuses to take the case, realizing that there will be five more murders, ghastly sermons about lust, sloth, pride, wrath, and envy presented by a madman to a sinful world. Somerset is correct, and something within him cannot let the case go, forcing the weary detective to team with Mills and see the case to its almost unspeakably horrible conclusion. Seven was nominated for the Academy Award for Film Editing and it has a rating of 79% on rottentomatoes.com.

4. Spies Like Us 

        This film is absolutely hilarious and the chemaistry between Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd is amazing. Two loser misfits (played by Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd) who dwell in the lower ranks of the Central Intelligence Agency are convinced (despite much evidence to the contrary) that they're prime secret agent material, both men keep taking service exams in an effort to win promotion. Caught cheating on their latest round of tests, Austin and Emmett expect to be fired but are instead made full field agents and ushered into intense training. Little do they know that it's all a ruse and that they're about to be dumped in Pakistan to throw Russian spies off the scent of two real agents with an important clandestine assignment. Spies Like Us has a rating of 35% on rottentomatoes.com.

3. Bad Boys

        Look I'll the first one to tell you Michael Bay is a disgrace to filmmaking, but this is one of his best films and it is full of humor and action. Mike Lowrey (played by Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (played by Martin Lawrence) are two Miami cops who watch as 100 million dollars in heroin, from the biggest drug bust of their careers, is stolen out of the basement of police headquarters. This puts them hot on the trail of French drug lord Fouchet (played by Tchéky Karyo), who leaves a trail of bodies in his wake and only one witness, Julie Mott (played by Téa Leoni), who quickly teams up with our heroes. Comic hijinks ensue when plot complications force Mike to impersonate the married Marcus, to the point of moving in with his wife and children, while Marcus takes over Mike's bachelor pad and lifestyle. Bad Boys has a rating of 43% on rottentomatoes.com.

2. Lethal Weapon 

        This movie is absolutely hilarious and it started the buddy cop genre. L.A. cop Martin Riggs (played by Mel Gibson), whose wife has recently died, is a loose cannon with a seeming death wish. This makes him indispensable in collaring dangerous criminals, but a liability to any potential partners. Roger Murtaugh (played by Danny Glover), a conservative family man who wants to stay alive for his upcoming 50th birthday, is partnered with Riggs. As Riggs gets to know Murtaugh and his family, he begins to mellow, though his insistence on using guerilla tactics to catch criminals is still (put mildly) above and beyond the call of duty. The main villain is The General (played by Mitchell Ryan), a drug dealer responsible for the death of the daughter of one of Murtaugh's oldest friends. The General is also in charge of a deadly, militia-like gang of smugglers. Lethal Weapon has a rating of 84% on rottentomatoes.com.

1. Point Break

        I absolutely love this film and and I think it is vastly underrated. FBI agent Johnny Utah (played by Keanu Reeves) as he goes undercover to infiltrate a cache of Southern California surfers suspected of robbing banks. Utah, a former football player, is assigned to Los Angeles. There, four bank robbers, who wear rubber masks and call themselves "Ex-Presidents," have executed a series of successful robberies which embarrassingly have the FBI stumped. Utah, and his partner Pappas (played by Gary Busey) suspect that the robbers are surfers and hatch a plan for catching them. Point Break has a rating of 68% on rottentomatoes.com.



        So ladies and gentlemen what are some of your favorite buddy cop films and what do you think of my list? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                           Jonah Sparks

2-26-15 Movie News

        Hello ladies and gentlemen, here is some movie news with some of my thoughts and opinions (which will be in BOLD print). So without further ado...


(NOTE: All of these stories come from comingsoon.net)


        Harrison Ford is officially set to reprise his celebrated role of Rick Deckard in the sequel to Alcon Entertainment’s Blade Runner and Academy Award nominee Denis Villeneuve to (Prisoners, Incendies) is in negotiations to direct, it was announced by Alcon co-founders and co-CEO’s Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson! The film is scheduled to start principle photography in summer of 2016. Hampton Fancher (co-writer of the original) and Michael Green have written the original screenplay, based on an idea by Fancher and Ridely Scott. The story takes place several decades after the conclusion of the 1982 original. “We are honored that Harrison is joining us on this journey with Denis Villeneuve who is a singular talent, as we experienced personally on Prisoners,” said Johnson and Kosove, “Hampton and Michael, with Ridley Scott, have crafted a uniquely potent and faithful sequel to one of the most universally celebrated films of all time, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with this amazing, creative team.” Ford will next be seen in The Age of Adaline for Lionsgate before he reprises another iconic sci-fi role, returning as Han Solo in J.J. Abrams’ much anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Villeneuve’s next, meanwhile, is the crime thriller Sicario, starring Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, and Benecio Del Toro, for Black Label Media and Lionsgate. Alcon Entertainment acquired the film, television and ancillary franchise rights to Blade Runner in 2011 from producer Bud Yorkin to produce prequels and sequels to the iconic science-fiction thriller. Yorkin will serve as a producer on the sequel along with Kosove and Johnson. Cynthia Sikes Yorkin will co-produce. Frank Giustra and Tim Gamble, CEO’s of Thunderbird Films, will serve as executive producers.

        This is amazing news to hear. I'm a huge fan of Blade Runner and I have been dying for a sequel for a really long time and I'm glad it is finally happening. I'm also excited to hear that Harrison Ford is returning because he is the heart and and soul of the original film. I also really love the choice of Dennis Villeneuve who directed films like Prisoners and Enemy and I love those films and I think he is the perfect choice for this film. One thing that I have heard is that he could bring Jake Gyllenhaal along for the film (he worked with him on Prisoners and Enemy) and my theory is that it could be possible that Gyllenhaal has become a Blade Runner himself and he's forced with the task of finding Richard Deckard (SPOILER ALERT......... He was recently announced as an android) so that makes a lot of sense to me. Honestly I'm just excited to see a sequel and I cannot wait for it to come out. 



        Continuity fans can breathe a sigh of relief today as Chappie helmer Neill Blomkamp today clarifies to French film site AlloCine that his plans for the next Alien film do not mean that he’ll be dismissing the events of the second half of the sci-fi horror franchise. “I’m not trying to undo ‘Alien 3′ or ‘Alien Resurrection,'” he tells the outlet. “…My favorites are the first two movies. I want to make a film that’s connected to ‘Alien’ and ‘Aliens’. That’s my goal.” Blomkamp’s comments come on the heels of a report yesterday that led many to speculate that the new film would rewrite the events of the latter sequels. We’re still not entirely sure how Blomkamp’s planned take fits into the chronology as his concept art (check it out in the gallery viewer below) seems to suggest that the film will feature Michael Biehn’s Aliens character of Corporal Dwayne Hicks. Could the new film take place between Aliens and Alien 3, or does the District 9 director (and Alien franchise superfan) have some other tricks up his sleeve? Only time will tell, but check back for updates as they become available. Blomkamp’s next, Chappie, stars Sigourney Weaver opposite Hugh Jackman and Sharlto Copley and arrives in theaters March 6.

        This is pretty great news to hear. Look I absolutely hate Aliens 3 and Alien: Resurrection and they are terrible films that are a disgrace to the Alien franchise. With that being said they are continuity and it while it won't be hard to change it up a little, but those two films still mean something to certain people. I think that it is a great idea to sort of make a direct sequel to Aliens with a new film just so you can somewhat forget the other two films. I've said it before that Neil Blomkamp is the perfect choice to direct this film and I'm excited to see what he brings to the table. 



        It’s the age of the character one sheet as Marvel Studios has released another poster for Avengers: Age of Ultron, this time focusing on Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk. Check it out in the gallery, where you’ll also find the Iron Man poster that was revealed yesterday. In the May 1, 2015 release, when Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure. Avengers: Age of Ultron stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, James Spader, Cobie Smulders, Thomas Kretschmann, Paul Bettany and Stellan Skarsgard.



        This is a pretty great character poster. Like I said yesterday be prepared for an onslaught of these character posters leading up to The Avengers: Age of Ultron. I enjoy them, but I think it is too early to start coming out with these. The film won't be released until April 22nd internationally and I think they should wait another couple of weeks before releasing these. Anyway Marvel has a lot of people working that are way smarter than me and they know what they are doing. 



        On the heels of last month‘s first trailer, 20th Century Fox has today released, via Empire, four new stills from director Josh Trank’s Fantastic Four and you can check them all out below.  An origin story said to be inspired largely by the “Ultimate Fantastic Four” comics (the first arc of which was written by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Millar with Joe Kubert illustrating), Fantastic Four offers a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team. The story centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy. “Marvel’s First Family” will include Whiplash‘s Miles Teller as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), “House of Cards” star Kate Mara as Sue Storm (The Invisible Woman), Fruitvale Station and Chronicle‘s Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) and The Adventures of Tintin‘s Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm (The Thing). Dawn of the Planet of the Apes‘ Toby Kebbell will also star as Doctor Doom alongside Reg E. Cathey (“The Wire”) as as Dr. Franklin Storm and Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) as Harvey Elder, aka The Mole Man. Fantastic Four features a screenplay by Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Days of Future Past) and is set to hit the big screen August 7.



(Courtesy of Empire Magazine and 20th Century Fox)

        I really love all of these photos. They all give us a better look at the main four characters and how they'll sort of look like in the film. My only problem with it is that they are all just blankly staring at something and it kind of annoys me. Look this film has gotten a lot of criticism and it hasn't even come out yet and I have been behind it from the very get-go and it could be bad or it could be terrific, but we'll have to wait and see.



         Universal Pictures has released the official synopsis for director Jon M. Chu’s Jem and the Holograms movie. Read on to find out the plot of the 80s cartoon adaptation. As a small-town girl catapults from underground video sensation to global superstar, she and her three sisters begin a one-in-a-million journey of discovering that some talents are too special to keep hidden. In Universal Pictures’Jem and the Holograms, four aspiring musicians will take the world by storm when they see that the key to creating your own destiny lies in finding your own voice. The musical adventure stars Aubrey Peeples as Jem, Stefanie Scott as Kimber, Aurora Perrineau as Shana, Hayley Kiyoko as Aja and Ryan Guzman as Rio. Molly Ringwald and Juliette Lewis also star in unrevealed roles. Created by Christy Marx, the original “Jem and the Holograms” series was a joint collaboration from Hasbro, Marvel and Sunbow Productions. It began airing in 1985 and ran for three seasons, following the adventures of the titular Jem, the musical superstar alter ego of a young woman named Jerrica Benton who, with the help of a holographic computer called Synergy, is able to clandestinely perform rock concerts with her friends. Jem and the Holograms is written by Ryan Landels and produced by Chu, Jason Blum for Blumhouse Productions, Scooter Braun for SB Projects, Bennett Schneir, and Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis of Hasbro Studios. Look for it on the big screen October 23, 2015.

        I honestly could care less about this plot. There are plenty of films that could've come out before this and plus Jon Chu dropped out of directing the He-Man movie for this which is going to be a career mistake. I know I shouldn't hate on a film before it comes out, but I just can't help it. I will go into the film open-minded, but it'll be hard to convince me that this film will be good.

        So there you have it ladies and gentlemen, which of these stories peaked your interest or was there another story that interested you? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                                       Jonah Sparks

My Review of McFarland, USA

        So I recently watched McFarland, USA and I'm here to bring you my review. So without further ado...

        Inspired by the 1987 true story, McFarland, USA follows coach Jim White (played by Kevin Costner) whose job-hopping leads him to a predominantly Latino high school where he struggles to find common ground until he notices his students' exceptional running ability and forms a fledgling team of unlikely runners who bond to build a championship cross-country team and an enduring legacy.

        This was a great and inspirational movie to watch. Disney over the years has provided us with some pretty great sports movies and most of them being based off of true stories. I didn't know the full story of this small California high school, but the film made more interested to check out more about it and more of the backstory of this unique group of individuals. I thought the casting was spot on as this the type of roles I like seeing Kevin Costner in. If he would do more dramatic roles instead of trying to a film like 3 Days to Kill, then he could come back into the mainstream spotlight. This film packs an emotional punch as you follow along on their journey from working in crops to achieving greatness. Eventhough I didn't know much about the backstory I thought the film was really predictable and that's been a big problem with Disney sports films. Overall I thought the film was emotional and everyone should go see it, but prepared to pretty much know everything before you go to see the film. I give McFarland, USA a 7 out of 10.

        So ladies and gentlemen what did you think of McFarland, USA, what would you rate it and what did you think of my review? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                          Jonah Sparks 

2-25-15 Movie News

        Hello ladies and gentlemen, here is some movie news with some of my thoughts and opinions (which will be in BOLD print). So without further ado...


(NOTE: All of these stories come from comingsoon.net)


        Warner Bros. Pictures and MGM have just released the official synopsis for their upcoming Rocky spinoff, Creed, and it teases a few surprising details about what fans will see when the film hits the big screen this Thanksgiving: Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring. With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring? Creed also stars Tessa Thompson (Selma, Dear White People) as Bianca, a local singersongwriter who becomes involved with Adonis; Phylicia Rashad (Lifetime’s “Steel Magnolias”) as Mary Anne Creed, Apollo’s widow; and English pro boxer and former three-time ABA Heavyweight Champion Anthony Bellew as boxing champ “Pretty” Ricky Conlan. Fruitvale Station‘s Ryan Coogler directs from a screenplay he wrote with Aaron Covington, based on characters from the Rocky series written by Stallone. Hitting the big screen November 25, Creed is being produced by Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Sylvester Stallone and Kevin King Templeton.

        I really love this plot. It makes a lot of sense for the film to play out like the plot states. The one thing that sticks out about the plot is the part that states that Rocky is going to be fighting a battle outside the ring and I've heard a lot of people say that it could be cancer or something of that nature and I think that is a decent theory, but it may be the wrong one. My theory is that the brain problems that Rocky began suffering at the beginning of Rocky 5 start to re-surface. it makes sense especially after seeing Rocky in the ring in Rocky Balboa and he may have suffered some more brain damage in that fight. Right now I'm not to worried about that part though, but I am looking forward to the film and I cannot wait to see it. 



        Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions have just brought online the trailer for Academy Award-nominated producer-turned-director Bill Pohlad’s Love & Mercy, starring Paul Dano as The Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson and you can c heck it out below Scripted by Oren Moverman and Michael Alan Lerner and also starring John Cusack, Paul Giamatti and Elizabeth Banks, Love & Mercy aims to present an unconventional portrait of Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys. Set against the era defining catalog of Wilson’s music, the film intimately examines the personal voyage and ultimate salvation of the icon whose success came at extraordinary personal cost.  “I am thrilled that Paul Dano has signed on to play me during one of my most creative explosions and most fulfilling musical times in my career,”” Wilson said in a statement when the film was first announced back in 2013. ““I still can’t believe how cool it is that my life will be portrayed on the big screen and to have Bill Pohlad as the captain of the Sloop John B is amazing! It just makes me feel so humble. I can’t wait to see it with a full tub of buttered popcorn.” John Wells and Claire Rudnick Polstein (John Wells Productions) are producing alongside Pohlad through his River Road Entertainment.


        This was a nice little trailer. It didn't give to much insight into the film, but it gave enough to get me interested in the film. Paul Dano is such a talented and underrated actor and he never gets any credit. I think that if this film is successful and gets some good buzz he could finally get an Oscar nomination that has eluded him in his career. I love The Beach Boys and this will be an interesting film and I can't wait to see it. 



        Following the two posters that were released yesterday, Robert Downey Jr. revealed the Iron Man character poster for Avengers: Age of Ultron which you can check out in the gallery viewer below. The actor also said: “And don’t tell ‘em I told you, but there’s a big announcement coming in 8 days… Shhhhhhh… #getexcited” What do you think the announcement is? In the May 1, 2015 release, when Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure. Avengers: Age of Ultron stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, James Spader, Cobie Smulders, Thomas Kretschmann, Paul Bettany and Stellan Skarsgard.



        I really like this poster. I'm just going to go ahead and tell you get ready to see more character posters as we continue to inch closer and closer to the films release date. The real curious thing to me is what Downey could possibly be teasing. I honestly have no clue, but I would guess they could reveal Vision, release a new trailer (not likely), possibly announce Iron Man 4 for Phase 4 or they could possibly announce who Spider-Man is. Right now no one knows, but I am anxious to see what gets revealed next Thursday.



        Deadline reports that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Divergent, and G.I. Joe 3 screenwriter Evan Daugherty has been tapped to pen the script for the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot. In addition, Warner Bros. Pictures has partnered up with MGM and producer Graham King to distribute the film. The original game was published in 1996 by the London-based video game company Eidos and became one of the most successful video games of the time. The most recent entry in the series was a reboot, telling the origin of Lara Croft. It was released in 2013 and sold over 5 million copies. A follow-up game, titled Rise of the Tomb Raider, is due out later this year as a timed-exclusive for the Xbox One and Xbox 360. Paramount Pictures previously made two movies about the daredevil archaeologist on a series of global missions. The films, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life,  starred Angelina Jolie and grossed a combined $432 million at the worldwide box office.

        I'm a little indifferent about the news. I really like that we're getting another Tomb Rader film because that franchise has an amazing and  rich universe that could be explored. The one thing that I don't like is the screenwriter simply because of his past filmography. I thought the two weak points of both Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Divergent were the script and I don't know if he's the right guy for the job. Right now we'll just have to wait and see. 



        Will Ferrell has lined up a new comedy project with plans to shoot it later this year. The Hollywood Reporter brings word that the Anchorman star will both produce and headline a New Line Cinema original comedy titled The House, scripted by the Neighbors pair of Andrew J. Cohen and Brendan O’Brien. Cohen is also attached to helm, marking his feature film directing debut. The House is said to follow Ferrell’s character and his wife who, after losing their daughter’s college fund, decided that they can earn some money back by opening an illegal casino in their basement. In addition to Ferrell, Adam McKay will produce The House through their Gary Sanchez Productions. Good Universe is also producing with Jessica Elbaum and Chris Henchy set to serve as executive producers. Richard Brener, Sam Brown and Michael Disco, meanwhile, will oversee for New Line. Set to appear opposite Kevin Hart in the upcoming Get Hard (hitting theaters March 27), Ferrell will appear later this year opposite Mark Wahlberg in John Morris and Sean Anders’ Daddy’s Home and as part of the ensemble cast of James Franco’s Zeroville. It’s also all but confirmed that Ferrell will be reprising his role as Mugatu in Paramount Pictures’ forthcoming Zoolander 2. The House will shoot this August, aiming for a likely 2016 release.

        This sounds like a really fun movie. Will Ferrell is hands down the best comedic actor working in the business hands down. This film is right up his alley and it has the potential to be hilarious. I really like the team assembled around him especially the writers of Neighbors which I thought was absolutely hilarious and I think them working with Ferrell could be amazing. 

        So there you have it ladies and gentlemen, which of these stories peaked your interest or was there another story that interested you? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                                       Jonah Sparks

My Review of The Duff

        So I recently watched The Duff and I'm here to bring you my review. So without further ado........







        Bianca (played by Mae Whitman) is a content high school senior whose world is shattered when she learns the student body knows her as 'The DUFF' (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her prettier, more popular friends (played by Skyler Samuels & Bianca Santos). Now, despite the words of caution from her favorite teacher (played by Ken Jeong), she puts aside the potential distraction of her crush, Toby (played by Nick Eversman), and enlists Wesley (played by Robbie Amell), a slick but charming jock, to help reinvent herself. To save her senior year from turning into a total disaster, Bianca must find the confidence to overthrow the school's ruthless label maker Madison (played by Bella Thorne) and remind everyone that no matter what people look or act like, we are all someone's DUFF.

       

        This was an ok film. Eventhough the film does have a really good plot, it's one we've seen before, but this film does a nice job of trying to make it not so predictable. I really like the performance of Maw Whitman and she has great comedic timing and I could easily see her in a lot of films in the near future. I also like the supporting cast as they do a good enough job to keep the film flowing at a nice smooth pace. The film has a really good heartfelt message and it is one of the best teen comedies I've seen in awhile. Overall the film is predictable through most parts, but it's interesting enough to keep your attention and it spreads a good message. I give The Duff a 6.5 out of 10.

        So ladies and gentlemen what did you think of The Duff, what would you rate it and what did you think of my review? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                           Jonah Sparks

Weekend Box Office Review 2-20-15 to 2-22-15

        Here are the weekend domestic box office results for the weekend of 2-20-15 to 2-22-15 as well as my 5 key takeaways. So without further ado...

Box Office Totals courtesy of boxofficemojo.com

TW	LW	Film	Studio	Weekend	# of Theaters	Total Domestic Gross	Weeks in Theaters
1	1	Fifty Shades of Grey	Universal Pictures	$22,259,030	3,655	$129,161,540	2
2	2	Kingsman: The Secret Service	20th Century Fox	$18,346,023	3,266	$67,926,972	2
3	3	The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water	Paramount Pictures	$16,573,682	3,680	$126,245,516	3
4	-	McFarland, USA	Walt Disney Pictures	$11,020.798	2,755	$11,020.798	1
5	-	The DUFF	Lionsgate	$10,809,149	2,575	$10,809,149	1
6	4	American Sniper	Warner Bros.	$10,052,447	3,235	$320,009,625	9
7	-	Hot Tub Time Machine 2	Paramount Pictures	$5,963,324	2,880	$5,963,324	1
8	5	Jupiter Ascending	Warner Bros.	$3,805,317	2,503	$39,662,296	3
9	8	The Imitation Game	The Weinstein Company	$2,527,637	1,408	$83,883,539	13
10	7	Paddington	The Weinstein Company	$2,444,684	1,837	$67,816,450	6

1. Fifty Shades of Grey continues to dominate the box office as holds onto the number 1 spot for the 3rd straight week.

2. It's great to see that Kingsman is doing great as word of mouth continues to help build the films momentum .

3. Hot Tub Time Machine 2 got horrible reviews and it was proven at the box office as it came in 7th place.

4. The biggest lose of the week is Fifty Shades of Grey as it made 73.9% less than it did last week and there was no big winner for the week.

5. Overall this was a solid weekend at the box office.

        So ladies and gentlemen what do you think of this weekend's box office totals and what are some of your takeaways? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                                         Jonah Sparks