Movies Watched in 2016

2016/01/01
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

Wow, what a stinker this was. The description made it seem like it might be a poor girl becomes rich girl movie, but it was just a collection of bleh. The heroine is gullible, stupid, and needy and relies entirely upon her dashing prince to continuously save her. The story was weak and didn't make much sense, and even then the elements introduced weren't really explored. What a way to start the year. Though, now my family will always be able to have a baseline movie to compare other bad movies to: "Well, it was bad, but it wasn't Jupiter Ascending bad."

2016/01/01
@home on Google Play via Roku
With Kendra

Dr. Stone is a stark contrast to Jupiter Jones from our earlier movie. While Jupiter is a worthless heroine who couldn't save herself out of a paper bag, Stone is a strong woman who can save herself, or at least tries to do so.

The special effects are amazing. You know they must be using CGI but it never shows. Very entertaining and worthwhile watch.

2016/01/02
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

In the future, after some unknown Armageddon, society is split into five factions. When you come of age, you are given a test that sorts you into one of the categories. If you don't fit in any, you are a divergent and are considered dangerous.

This was an entertaining, personal story of one girl who learns she is divergent. All three of us enjoyed this one and are planning on watching the sequel, "Insurgent," which we also have on DVD from the library.

2016/01/03
@home on Blueray
with Kendra

This was another of those movies that slipped through the cracks for me for one reason or another. Maybe it didn't interest me when it first came out and by the time I would have cared to watch, it was out of sight and mind.

This was an enjoyable tale of how the lives of some boys at a boarding school in the 50s were changed by their new English / poetry teacher. The only part that was questionable was how boring life in the school must have been for them to think that sneaking out to do poetry in a cave would be fun. Regardless, the characters were realistic and the meaning behind the story of carpe diem emphasized in a non-proselytizing way.

2016/01/09
@Alamo Drafthouse
with Kevin Brown
Fun watching a second time, getting a chance to notice new things and to look more closely at some of the scenes.

2016/04/23 (about)
@home on Blueray
with Kendra

Still love this one.

2016/01/11
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

All three of us enjoyed this one. In another mysterious future. This time, kids are locked in a large maze with the memories erased. A newcomer isn't content to simply abide by the group's rules and instead we get to see what happens when he pushes the others to try to escape.

2016/01/13
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

Sci-fi action with good character development. I liked that the protagonist starts pretty unlikable. Good special effects and an interesting premise and story.

2016/01/15
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

It was a fun, action packed movie with dinosaurs. After watching, though, I was surprised that it had broken records, as it was really just an OK movie. Didn't dislike it, but it really wasn't anything special. And, of course, there were some areas that didn't quite make sense, but by that point, it was time to end the movie, so it resolved itself, somehow.

2016/01/16
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

A fun, entertaining sequel to Divergent. We all enjoyed it well enough.

2016/01/16
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

Complicated and unique time-traveler story. Very enjoyable and thought provoking.

2016/01/17
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

Staying with our theme of distorted-futuristic society tales, the typical evil government manipulates and subjugates its citizens with a yearly last-person-standing television program where the contestants are "tributes" and are forced into the combat. Again, as long as you don't question the hows and whys of how society would arrive at this state and just accept that it did somehow, the story is entertaining.

2016/01/17
@home on DVD
with Kendra

I had seen this one a couple of years ago, before Casino Royale, and recalled liking it. This time, however, it was less enjoyable. I found some of the plot points difficult to follow and the scheme unlikely. We are introduced to a secret organization that has ties everywhere, but how they came to be, and why they'd need something so elaborate for their current plans didn't make much sense. Additionally, there are little points that are lost, too. Bond is using his phone to follow the villain at one point, but we never see him place a tracker or explain how he is tracking him.

This movie came out during Hollywood's "shakey-camera" phase, and it was annoying as it is in every movie, and I think it also actually contributed to some of the confusion we had following the plot at times.

Eh, it was worth the watch, but we mostly did it so that we can watch Skyfall finally and not have any story holes. It didn't hurt that we found it at Meijer for $5.

2016/01/18
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

Entertaining follow up to Maze Runner. The motivations of their enemy is questionable, making me wonder if they are really bad or just believe the ends justify the means. Neat to get to see the zombies described in the first one. Interested in the next one, whenever it comes out.

2016/01/22
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

A clever tale about AI and its interactions with people. Kendra and I really enjoyed this one.

2016/01/25
@home on DVD from library

Mildly entertaining with a comic book visual style that was done well. The plot, however, was disjointed and boring. The stories were unrelated and pointless. The characters were uninteresting and shallow. Disappointing since I thought the first one was decent.

2016/01/26
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

The story a female boxer and the relationship she develops with her trainer. Touching, funny at times, and a good story.

2016/01/31
@home on DVD from library

A very odd movie. Elements were funny, and the story was a bit tricky to follow. Visually interesting. Not what I was expecting, but I wasn't sure what I was expecting, either, other than it was a popular movie.

2016/02/06
@home recorded from Disney Channel
with Kendra and Katy

We had recorded this when it first was broadcast ages ago and just now finally got around to watching it. It was a silly movie that was enjoyable for what it was.

2016/02/08
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

This was a movie that I had heard about my whole life, which isn't surprising since it is definitely worth the watch and was made the same year I was born. Wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised. It was fun to see several actors that I recognized from other, later films.

I was also really impressed by the quality of the picture and sound of the DVD. I was expecting to be able to tell it was an old movie, but the quality was impressive enough that it looked like it could have been made today.

2016/02/09
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra (at least for the start)

Extremely violent and graphic, but necessary to demonstrate the brutality of what was going on. A captivating story with villains you love to hate and heroes who are ruthless. Things get messy, but I was satisfied.

As an aside, Mike Myers' played an interesting role. He did it well and it might be easy to miss him if you weren't paying attention.

2016/02/13
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

The story of a woman who appears to have been kidnapped. But, what really happened? I liked this one quite a bit.

*SPOILERS*
I was disappointed with the last half of the movie, once she gets home. It really should have been pretty easy for the police to catch her at that point, but for some reason they can't. If that sequence hadn't been so weak, I would have give this an 8.

2016/02/15
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

Still a decent sequel to the Avengers and a good installment of the MCU. Kendra enjoyed it as well.

2016/02/18
@Celebration Cinema
with Tom, Matt, and Rob

Hilarious, violent, vigilantism. A character that breaks the fourth wall in hilarious ways that never seem lame. Enjoyable "super hero" movie.

2016/02/20
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

Depressing insight into alzheimers from the viewpoint of the one suffering from it, and the interacting with her family. Interesting, but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to take away from it other than Alzheimers sucks, which I knew before watching.

2016/02/21
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

Decent enough sequel of the hunger games story. Nothing special, but good enough. Katy thinks the quality of the movies is declining. Interested in seeing the finale, anyhow.

2016/02/21
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

Crazy true story of a man during World War 2 and the ordeals he survived. Worth the watch.

2016/02/22
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

The biography of Steven and Jane Hawking, including how they met and how they dealt with his disease. Nice to see the history of this great man.

2016/02/26
@home on DVD from library

Starts off with strong suspense and terror of the unknown. But, as the movie went on, it seemed that they came to a point where they weren't sure where they should go with the story. By the end, it was confusing and unclear what was happening, but not in a terrifying way, just in a confusing way.

2016/02/26
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

I had seen this one before and still appreciated it this time. Great effects and a fun concept was done well. Still leaves you thinking about it after it is done.

2016/02/26
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

This was one that I had missed originally and had just never gotten around to watching. It was fun to finally see it.

2016/02/27
@home on Blueray from library via Mel.org
with Kendra

This is one that I had heard about ages ago and kept meaning to see, but only now got around to it. The movie did a great job of envisioning what a world without children would be like. Dark, but hopeful, and a good story.

2016/02/28
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

The story of a woman who, after some tragedy and a life that is just barely existing, decides to hike the PCT. Way more interesting than that description makes it sound.

@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

Feel good movie about four highschoolers who enter a submersible robot contest. It was too long for what it was. It was also incredibly predictable, and I don't mean just the main story, but the subplots and even details along the way, like they were following the "rag tag team" template. Still, worth a watch.

2016/03/05
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra (kinda)

Awesome, action-packed, non-stop adventure. Characters grow and change, and the female characters are not simply boy crazy.

2016/03/06
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

This was the first of the MCU movies and the one that made me realize that there was something special going on here. I had never really cared one way or the other about Iron Man, but after the movie, he became a favorite. Rewatching with the family, I was happy that both Katy and Kendra enjoyed it. Kendra was excited to see Agent Coulson and kept wanting him to just call it "Shield" and was thrilled when he did at the end.

2016/03/10
@home on Blueray from MEL via library (from MSU)

Specifically, I watched the director's cut. I've never seen this one and heard that the "big secret" is revealed in the opening of the theatrical version, so I was careful to get this one. This movie was very odd, but the special effects were crazy impressive, especially for a movie from 1998. It must have had a decent combination of CGI with practical effects. Anyhow, story was weird and I'm not sure what we are supposed to think about the ending, but it was definitely worth the watch.

2016/03/27
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

Still a fun one. Kendra and Katy enjoyed it as well.

2016/03/31
@home on DVD from library

Wow, that was an hour and a half I'll never get back. Dumb from the beginning, I knew it wasn't going to get better when I laughed out loud at the ridiculous and predictable first death. Disjointed, boring, confusing. I found myself wondering if I should make myself finish watching, or just give up. I chose wrong.

Additionally, at the very end, it mentioned Hasbro studios and that it was based on the game, "Ouija" by Hasbro. That might have been the best part of the movie.

2016/04/03
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

Fun, inspirational, "based on a true story", and entertaining. Sure, the story was fairly formulaic, but had the right pacing and other factors to make it worthwhile.

2016/04/04
@home on DVD from library

Started great, with an interesting mystery and a strange, fun power. Then, the flashbacks started and lasted a bit too long about a backstory that would have been fine if left as a supporting story. And, then he conveniently forgets how to use his powers when they are needed. The story falls apart at the conclusion where nothing is making sense and nothing is explained.

Still, it was worth a watch for the earlier parts where his powers are most effective, providing a good deal of entertainment. Just don't expect much after.

2016/05/12
@Alamo with Rob and Matt

Involved story with lots of action where the Avengers fight each other after the disagreement on a new law. Enjoyable and brings in Spider-man and Ant man.

2016/06/05
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra

Entertaining and captivating story. While the conclusion might be obvious, the real interest is the journey there.

2016/06/06
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

Long, predictable, and boring. Everything interesting about this world has already been seen, so we felt like we were just waiting for the end. Glad to see the conclusion, but it would have been much better if they had not split up Mockingjay into two parts.

2016/06/15
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

Fun little story. Nothing great, but an enjoyable hour and a half.

2016/06/16
@Celebration Cinema
with Antonio and Courtney Lopez

Great special effects; questionable story. I would watch a whole movie of just Quicksilver.

2016/06/19
@home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

A lighthearted, good natured, funny, and lovable representation of the Peanuts gang in a 3d that doesn't look weird. True to the original, with the elements you'd expect, but without being overdone or boring and not just a retelling of an old story. The wholesome attitude of Charlie Brown is great, Snoopy and Woodstock are ridiculous, and it is heartwarming. I loved it.

2016/07/08
@Alamo with Kendra and Katy (at Dr. Park's party)
Lighthearted, funny, and enjoyable.

2016/07/16
@Alamo with Kendra and Katy

Funny kids movie. Enjoyable for a watch, but wouldn't need to see it again.

2016/07/28
@Alamo with Jerrick

Enjoyable, like the previous two. Some elements didn't make too much sense, but it was an enjoyable story regardless, with fun special effects.

2016/09/30
@Home on DVD from library
with Kendra and Katy

Fun kids movie with a moral and all that. Funny and entertaining.