Predictable Pirates

Directed by ROB MARSHALL

Starring JOHNNY DEPP, PENELOPE CRUZ, GEOFFREY RUSH, 

SAM CAFLIN, and IAN MCSHANE

It's no secret that hollywood ran out of ideas a long time ago.  For those of you who aren't aware of this, there are 27 sequels set to be released this year alone.  The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise is just another victim of the sequel machine--a popcorn movie, with ridiculous story lines, little substance, and great visuals.

Thoring...

Directed by KENNETH BRANAGH

Starring CHRIS HEMSWORTH, TOM HIDDLESTON, IDRIS ELBA, 

JAIMIE ALEXANDER, RAY STEVENSON, and ANTHONY HOPKINS

Like most folks I have a love-hate relationship with comic book movies.  When they're good they're really good (Christopher Nolan's Batman films, the original Superman films, and Iron Man).  And when they're bad they're really bad (Elektra, Catwoman, Fantastic Four films, Ghost Rider, Blade sequels, Jonah Hex, Punisher: War Zone, etc). Most range somewhere in the middle (Superman Returns, 300, the Hulk, the Spiderman, The Watchmen, Tim Burton's Batman films, and the X-Men films).  This middle range is where Thor is.  Thor is good, not great and that's ok.

Fast and Furious, I'd Like You to Meet My Friend Ocean's 11

Directed by JUSTIN LIN

Starring VIN DIESEL, PAUL WALKER, JORDANA BREWSTER, SUNG KANG, TYRESE GIBSON, LUDACRIS, GAL GADOT, ELSA PATAKY, and DWAYNE JOHNSON

Trailer.  The fifth and not so final installment of this franchise can best be described as a car chase movie, sans car chases--save the final scene; lots of cliches (stolen from better movies); and an extra topping of melodramatic butter.  I usually give movies wide berth and on occasion I give good reviews to semi-decent films that were not well-reviewed, but I beg to differ with this one.  Essentially, the video below describes the screenwriting that went into creating this film.  I'm really surprised that Fast Five has gotten such good reviews.