Month in the Movies: August

Summer movie season is now finished and it has been very... meh. The blockbusters really didn't deliver in what was a disappointing summer season overall. However, August saw a better return at the movies for me as I enjoyed a lot more than I dislike and thought were average for the first time in months. The end month showed promise that will hopefully carry on into the fall. I was lucky enough to see 14 movies this month in what was a very mixed month.

If you aren't aware of this series, I pretty much go through the month and rank the movies that I saw that month based on a combination of quality and how much I enjoyed the film. So lets get into the list!

14. Nine Lives

Ugh. It really hurts me that I have to think about this movie again. One of the worst of the entire year. Not funny in the slightest with a terrible story. To Kevin Spacey, please make better decisions in the future. To everyone involved. You're much better than this.

Check out my review for 'Nine Lives' here

Final Verdict = F

13. Bad Moms

Some people like this comedy. Unfortunately, I did not get the same experience in what added to the list of disappointing comedies this year. Mila Kunis does fairly well but I feel that she was let down by the rest of the cast. Every character seemed to be absolutely terrible people and with no laughs, that makes an unenjoyable viewing. I won't be rushing to see this again anytime soon or ever.

Check out my review for 'Bad Moms' here

Final Verdict = D

12. Suicide Squad

Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the year for me. I really rooted for this movie but it just flopped. Not as fun as I hoped as the film disappointed on many fronts, especially with how they used the Joker. Margot Robbie, Viola Davis and Will Smith were highlights of the film but not enough to save this one. It also brought us one of the most comic book villains on the big screen with the Enchantress who was terrible in this movie. DC went two for two this year, unfortunately both failing in quality.

Check out my review for 'Suicide Squad' here

Final Verdict = C-

11. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

This film is perfect for you if you love raunchy comedies. However it didn't quite hit for me but that doesn't mean that it isn't funny. It has its moments and the four main characters do fairy well in their roles, especially Anna Kendrick and Zac Efron. Not the best comedy of the year but definitely not the worst either.

Check out my review for 'Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates'

Final Verdict = C

10. The Purge: Election Year

If you had told me at the start of the year that I would prefer 'The Purge: Election Year' to 'Suicide Squad', I would have laughed and also feel a little sad. Yet that's what I found this month as 'The Purge' seemed to deliver more on the chaos side of things that it had promised in the first two. The best of the franchise but still not a masterpiece. I found this to be an enjoyable viewing as the film didn't take itself too serious.

Check out my review for 'The Purge: Election Year' here

Final Verdict = C

9. Pete's Dragon

Up next is the remake of 'Pete's Dragon'. The film featured great performances from all of the cast with Karl Urban really standing out for me. I wish that there was more of an adventure to this movie which would have made it much more fun but it didn't really deliver as well as I had hoped. However the film is still enjoyable as it was my first exposure to the story of 'Pete's Dragon'.

Check out my review for 'Pete's Dragon' here

Final Verdict = B

8. Finding Dory

Sadly, I was fairly disappointed with 'Finding Dory'. I don't know if it was due to the quality of 'Nemo' or just Pixar films in general but 'Finding Dory' just seemed to be lacking that special something. One of the biggest problems I felt was with the new supporting characters who weren't nearly as good as the ones in 'Nemo'. In saying that, this is far from a bad movie and is a fairly fun family movie that you will still enjoy to an extent. A beautiful looking film as well which we have come to expect from Pixar.

Check out my review for 'Finding Dory' here

Final Verdict = B

7. War Dogs

If the quality of 'War Dogs' was the same as the quality of performance from its two leads, it would probably be number 1 on this list. Jonah Hill in particular is magnificent and the film is worth seeing for his performance alone. A fairly interesting premise with some good humour does create an enjoyable viewing. Some minor problems do hinder the film such as the character of Iz but nothing that massively impacts the quality of the film.

Check out my review for 'War Dogs' here

Final Verdict = B

6. The Shallows

The second best shark movie after Jaws I like to call it, not that there is much going up against it. 'The Shallows' was a very enjoyable, tense film that kept your attention for its shorter run time of 97 minutes. Blake Lively was excellent in her role which had her on her lonesome for a lot of the movie. I was looking forward to this one and was impressed with this survival movie which I feel really delivered.

Check out my review for 'The Shallows' here

Final Verdict = B

5. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

The Lonely Island did a phenomenal job with 'Popstar' as they created one of the best comedies of the year. With Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer directing and Andy Samberg starring, you could see their comedy style throughout the movie. The mockumentary was incredibly funny but a bit inconsistent at times. The humour isn't at the same level the whole way through but there is plenty to enjoy with this one.

Check out my review for 'Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping' here

Final Verdict = B

4. Sausage Party

Perhaps the most anticipated comedy of the year is finally here and 'Sausage Party' delivered the goods. Wickedly funny despite some jokes and puns feeling lazy and repetitive. This has opened the door for more animated adult comedies and if they can follow in the footsteps of 'Sausage Party', I am all for it. The film also carries a deeper message that surprised me a lot as it handled a serious situation and commented on it incredibly well. The final act is completely bonkers as well so be ready for that if you choose to see it.

Check out my review for 'Sausage Party' here

Final Verdict = B

3. Nerve

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie and I did so much that I went to see it for a second time. 'Nerve' is a very fun movie as it starts with some harmless dares as Emma Roberts and Dave Franco compete together. The pair show great chemistry together and I really enjoyed their performances. Despite the fun of it, the movie is scarily realistic with how people on the internet act and it actually doesn't seem as far fetched as you'd think. It does then progress to become very tense and has you on the edge of your seat. One of my favourites of the summer.

Check out my review for 'Nerve' here

Final Verdict = B+

2. Lights Out

I've been really impressed with the horror movies in 2016 and 'Lights Out' is up there with the best. A great premise based on the short film created by David Sandberg who got to direct the feature length version. Scary and tense throughout as 'Lights Out' fully delivered for me as I really enjoyed this movie. The performances in this were great especially Maria Bello who played the unhinged mother. The effects were also incredible throughout the film as 'Lights Out' really impressed me.

Check out my review for 'Lights Out' here

Final Verdict = B+

'The Purge: Election Year'

Back in 2013, Hollywood was introduced to a unique premise for a horror/thriller. 'The Purge' was a chance for people to be able to break the law for 12 hours with no consequence. One year later, it gained a sequel after making a huge profit at the box office, showing interest in the franchise. Unfortunately, I feel it's safe to say that the movies haven't quite hit the mark just yet with the first two not fully delivering. 'Election Year' looks to get the franchise back on track as another spell of the annual purge begins.

18 years ago, now Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell) survived a purge attack but unfortunately, her family did not. Now running for president, she looks to end the purge if she gains power which angers a lot of people including her main presidential rivals. Despite Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo) doing his best to secure her home, Roan is betrayed forcing herself and Leo to flee her home and roam the streets of Washington DC. It's now going to be a long night as Barnes looks to protect Roan throughout the night of the purge.

I'm not a fan of the first two movies in this franchise. The premise is fantastic but the first two films have really failed to capitalise on it with terrible characters and making the premise obsolete. With the previous instalments not delivering, I went into this expecting it to be much of the same. Bizarrely, 'Election Year' for me is by far the best and most enjoyable of the franchise.

'Election Year' doesn't take itself too serious throughout most of the movie. The premise is supposed to induce chaos and that exactly is what happens in this film. As the purge begins, the nation transforms into a cauldron of madness as the lunatics roam the streets to capitalise on the freedom they have been granted. The movie finally capatalises on this and goes all out as we truly see how insane the people who participate in the purge are. With giant guillotine's in alleyways and huge swinging blades in the streets as well as the abundance of idiotic people dressing up in anything that will light up. It doesn't take itself too serious which allows you to really just have fun with the movie which is exactly what should happen with these movies as it has been missing so far in the series.

Senator Roan and her head of security Leo Barnes are forced to leave their home for good reason after being betrayed. There is actually a good reason to why they have had to go outside which I feel has been a problem throughout the purge movies. Characters do incredibly stupid things close to the deadline or throughout the night which lead to them making decisions that may harm them. It was refreshing to see something that made sense in one of these movies. It seems as if director and writer James DeMonaco listened to criticisms of the past films and has amended them in this film which is very pleasing to see.

In saying that, there are a lot of things that happen that are very convenient. Whenever the main protagonists seem to be in trouble, they just happen to be next to and are saved by purgers with 'good intentions'. Whoever is trying to cleanse themselves waste far too much time, giving new characters the opportunity to swoop and save the senator. This happens a lot in the movie and it leads the story to become quite predictable.

Frank Grillo was one of the highlights in 'Purge: Anarchy' and he continues that as being the best character in this movie. Grillo is great as Leo Barnes and is a believable badass as he looks to protect the senator. Barnes takes no nonsense from anyone and is right to not fully trust anyone in the situation that he is in. Elizabeth Mitchell plays Senator Roan and also does very well. She comes off as an ideal candidate showing compassion and is reasonable with the points that she is trying to get across. You root for her and as she isn't a terrible character or human being, you want her to stay alive. She constantly looks for the peaceful way to handle things but also is forced to help out which is understandable.

At the start, we see Roan's opposition plan to take her down and to do so, they bring in a special ops team. The design for how this team looks must have been decided by how threatening they could make the uniform look without having them actually do anything. The uniforms are covered in swastikas and confederate flags and it doesn't stop there. The leader is a skinhead covered in tattoos leading us to believe he is tough or just an idiot. Unfortunately, all the effort into them went into the look and we never really see anything from the special ops team that makes them feared or that you know that they are tough opposition. This leads to there not really being a strong villain in the film as you don't see the senators competition again until near the end of the film. The most deadly and threatening was actually the sadistic priest who was hardly in the film as well.

I really like the fact that the movie looked at the purge as something of an attraction. We got to see that people were coming from all over the world to participate in the purge which was interesting and actually seems realistic. However, the film doesn't use this to its full potential and it becomes a small part of the film which could have been cut. That would have been a good opportunity to create better threats to our protagonists but they failed to do so.

Overall, 'The Purge: Election Year' is the best in the franchise so far. Better but still not great unfortunately as there are still some problems within it. 'Election Year' is more fun than the others with some decent action. Frank Grillo shines with Elizabeth Mitchell also doing well. If you want an insane, easy to watch film then 'Election Year' is the film for you.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'The Purge: Election Year'? If so what did you think of it? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor