Rick Royster's Blog
August 8, 2016
suicide squad
The battle of Marvel vs DC continues... if this was a heavyweight fight, it would have been stopped after the 3rd round. Public perception is everything. Disney has hired (Bribed) the right film critics so any DC movie, before it gets off the ground is in deep trouble. Batman Vs Superman wasn't great, but it was definitely on par with some of the marvel movies yet, the critics are still destroying it. They've convinced us that a movie that has made $862M is a huge failure.
Now on to suicide squad, it's an ok film. Not great by any means but not terrible by any stretch of the imagination. I think the problem is the characters themselves... DC needs to create new ones. The villains suck, most of the heroes are average. The flash should have just as many movies as superman... Suicide squad has its moments...but a villain who has no connections to our "heroes" overshadows a spectacular cast and some great performances. All in all...a B-
Now on to suicide squad, it's an ok film. Not great by any means but not terrible by any stretch of the imagination. I think the problem is the characters themselves... DC needs to create new ones. The villains suck, most of the heroes are average. The flash should have just as many movies as superman... Suicide squad has its moments...but a villain who has no connections to our "heroes" overshadows a spectacular cast and some great performances. All in all...a B-
August 3, 2016
Star Trek
I've always preferred that other Sci-fi space opera, but if I was to be honest, the star trek movies are simply better. Simon Pegg is quietly brilliant. This is your typical action adventure space yawn with incredible worlds and good chemistry between characters. The visuals are first rate and the music is on point. I'd definitely recommend.
May 8, 2016
Civil War: Captain America
This is a review for the movie and will have minor spoilers.
This should be called Iron man vs Captain America- These marvel movies require a massive leap of faith at times. Was the movie enjoyable? Yeah, I guess so... was it memorable? No. Super beings fighting each at an airport just doesn't make great fiction at times. Spiderman's spider sense didn't work and I was a huge fan of the Macfarlane series, where you had a mature, married spiderman. Not sure what their infatuation is with the 17 year old scrawny kid? Robert Downy Jr. is terrific as usual... So was Chris Pine.
I know Disney is out to crush DCs universe by having their writers give Batman vs Superman horrid reviews but anyone who is taking an independent and honest look will know there is not much difference in the quality of film between BvS and Civil War. I give them both 3 1/2 stars out of 5 with maybe BvS being a slightly superior film.
This should be called Iron man vs Captain America- These marvel movies require a massive leap of faith at times. Was the movie enjoyable? Yeah, I guess so... was it memorable? No. Super beings fighting each at an airport just doesn't make great fiction at times. Spiderman's spider sense didn't work and I was a huge fan of the Macfarlane series, where you had a mature, married spiderman. Not sure what their infatuation is with the 17 year old scrawny kid? Robert Downy Jr. is terrific as usual... So was Chris Pine.
I know Disney is out to crush DCs universe by having their writers give Batman vs Superman horrid reviews but anyone who is taking an independent and honest look will know there is not much difference in the quality of film between BvS and Civil War. I give them both 3 1/2 stars out of 5 with maybe BvS being a slightly superior film.
April 25, 2016
Editing
I'm in the homestretch... finally. Just some self-editing...then off to the real editors. I want to send it as is and make them figure the rest of it out.
March 13, 2016
Roar
Me and my buddy are starting a podcast in a week or so...would be nice to include a few indie authors. Will discuss movies, politics, religion and books. Should be a lot of fun.
February 22, 2016
Dead Pool
Let's get back to movie reviews... this week we have Ryan Reynolds in DeadPool. The passion of the actor is clearly evident. Some of the best action you'll find in any movie, overall a really great action pic. The ending does drag a bit and the villain is typical...
But it's definitely fun. Full of laughs and great action while also possessing a semblance of a heart, it's a solid 4-star movie.
But it's definitely fun. Full of laughs and great action while also possessing a semblance of a heart, it's a solid 4-star movie.
May 5, 2013
Iron man3
Iron Man 3...
Ok...lets see...where to begin? It was cool to look at, a lot of things blew up, my 5 and 10 year old nephews tried to explain it to me after? Was never sure what the bad guys wanted or what they where fighting for or even why?
Something about Tony Stark standing him up on the roof? I saw it yesterday and don't remember much. It did have its funny moments I guess? But Robert Downey Jr. and Gwenth Paltrow were very good as usual. All in all... eh.
2 1/2 stars out of 5. ***
Ok...lets see...where to begin? It was cool to look at, a lot of things blew up, my 5 and 10 year old nephews tried to explain it to me after? Was never sure what the bad guys wanted or what they where fighting for or even why?
Something about Tony Stark standing him up on the roof? I saw it yesterday and don't remember much. It did have its funny moments I guess? But Robert Downey Jr. and Gwenth Paltrow were very good as usual. All in all... eh.
2 1/2 stars out of 5. ***
May 3, 2013
Movie reviews
Another blast from the past: This week we will revisit Milos Forman's Amadeus.
This movie is of course about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, arguably the best musician to every live. 16th century Europe, very cold and lots of rain... makes me glad I live in Miami. The movie is told through the eyes of Antonio Salieri, the composers envious rival.
The film follows Mozart's rise from child prodigy to undeniable genius, which drives Salieri mad with envy. A deeply spiritual man, Salieri is soon cursing God for choosing a immature, vulgar man to be his instrument to wield such heavenly music, and he is set on revenge for such injustice.
There is a reason this movie won so many Oscars, Tom Hulce is good and F. Murray Abraham is stellar in his role as Salieri. If you haven't seen this one yet, its time to get on it.
5 stars... *****
This movie is of course about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, arguably the best musician to every live. 16th century Europe, very cold and lots of rain... makes me glad I live in Miami. The movie is told through the eyes of Antonio Salieri, the composers envious rival.
The film follows Mozart's rise from child prodigy to undeniable genius, which drives Salieri mad with envy. A deeply spiritual man, Salieri is soon cursing God for choosing a immature, vulgar man to be his instrument to wield such heavenly music, and he is set on revenge for such injustice.
There is a reason this movie won so many Oscars, Tom Hulce is good and F. Murray Abraham is stellar in his role as Salieri. If you haven't seen this one yet, its time to get on it.
5 stars... *****
April 27, 2013
IP man
This week is actually one of my favorites I discover a couple of years ago. IP man stars Donnie Yen as the legendary Wing Chun grandmaster and former Sensei of Bruce Lee.
It starts in China prior to the second Sino-Japanese war, there Yip Kai-man has already garnered legendary fighting status as warriors from all over china come to challenge him. The martial arts and cinema photography are exceptional.
What really makes this film work is the love Yip has for his young wife and son, and how the family sticks together after the war through hardships and turmoil.
Written from the Chinese perspective of course, the Japanese are brutal and inhumane, and in the end, one of their Generals challenge Yip to a duel to show that the Chinese are really inferior in all aspects of life.
I thought this was a well written film with a lot of heart- and the action is first rate. A really strong effort by the director Wilson Yip, if you are a fan of martial arts, this is a must see.
I give five stars sparingly, but this movie has no flaws.
5 out of 5 stars.
It starts in China prior to the second Sino-Japanese war, there Yip Kai-man has already garnered legendary fighting status as warriors from all over china come to challenge him. The martial arts and cinema photography are exceptional.
What really makes this film work is the love Yip has for his young wife and son, and how the family sticks together after the war through hardships and turmoil.
Written from the Chinese perspective of course, the Japanese are brutal and inhumane, and in the end, one of their Generals challenge Yip to a duel to show that the Chinese are really inferior in all aspects of life.
I thought this was a well written film with a lot of heart- and the action is first rate. A really strong effort by the director Wilson Yip, if you are a fan of martial arts, this is a must see.
I give five stars sparingly, but this movie has no flaws.
5 out of 5 stars.
April 23, 2013
movie reviews
Time i started a little movie blog...sometimes I will go old school and review a recent or modern classic, other times it will be something current.
This week I just watched Oblivion, actually saw it twice, two different friends on two different days. Tom Cruise was well...Tom Cruise but I thought Olga Kurylenko gave a great performance and Morgan Freeman was his usual cool self. Most Sci-fi movies nowadays seem to be preaching of the modern man, that we humans don't really have any souls or are moving to a transhuman state. If you haven't seen the movie, stop reading now *** slight spoilers. Midway through the movie Jack Harper figures out he's a clone but it's suggested that this particular clone has a bit of humanity to him because he reads books and shows compassion. Eventually he sacrifices himself for humanity, but another clone reunites with his wife and young child, and the wife readily accepts him as the original. Hmmm... very strange indeed.
That scenario obviously opens up a whirlwind of questions which i'll allow everyone to come to on their own. My problems were nothing was given of the Scavs living environment or how many they were...and it's a bit lukewarm on how humanity got into its present state. The special effects are first rate and the concept was pretty cool...overall...i'd give it 3 1/2 stars. Definitely worth seeing.
This week I just watched Oblivion, actually saw it twice, two different friends on two different days. Tom Cruise was well...Tom Cruise but I thought Olga Kurylenko gave a great performance and Morgan Freeman was his usual cool self. Most Sci-fi movies nowadays seem to be preaching of the modern man, that we humans don't really have any souls or are moving to a transhuman state. If you haven't seen the movie, stop reading now *** slight spoilers. Midway through the movie Jack Harper figures out he's a clone but it's suggested that this particular clone has a bit of humanity to him because he reads books and shows compassion. Eventually he sacrifices himself for humanity, but another clone reunites with his wife and young child, and the wife readily accepts him as the original. Hmmm... very strange indeed.
That scenario obviously opens up a whirlwind of questions which i'll allow everyone to come to on their own. My problems were nothing was given of the Scavs living environment or how many they were...and it's a bit lukewarm on how humanity got into its present state. The special effects are first rate and the concept was pretty cool...overall...i'd give it 3 1/2 stars. Definitely worth seeing.
