Maleficent

PG
Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Sam Riley, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Kenneth Cranham and Brenton Thwaites
Running Time: 1 Hour and 37 Minutes

The Mistress of evil is back in a big way, complete with a detailed and painstaking history of her life and how she became the one and only "Maleficent"!
The insight into her journey is both touching and unique as you find yourself lost in a world of complete mystery and mayhem. Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) is the queen of the fairy world where all who rule under her have absolute love and respect for this beautiful and powerful enchantress. The fairy world is one of magic and mystique with every kind of creature you could possibly imagine and beauty so extraordinary it encompasses all of your senses.
Maleficent was left alone and bewildered as an orphan at a young age where she had to fend for herself. She encountered a young human male named Stefan (Sharlto Copley) who was out of his element and befriended him. As time went on they became closer and closer. Maleficent began to love and trust Stefan and developed emotions for him which she had never experienced before. She was comfortable and happy with him.
One day King Henry (Kenneth Cranham) the human King of the Land, became very ill and was looking for an heir to his throne. He made a very tempting offer to any man in his kingdom who could potentially inherit the throne if only he would do one particular and specific deed.
The young Princess Aurora AKA Sleeping Beauty is played wonderfully by Elle Fanning. She is beautiful, sweet, charming and innocent always wanting to love and believe the best in everyone. The three fairies are also represented in this movie,they are known as Flittle (Lesley Manville),  Knotgrass (Imelda Staunton) and Thisltewit (Juno Temple). They are lively, witty and full of chaos.
Angelina Jolie was supreme in the role of Maleficent, I felt her emotions strong and clear in this most powerful and commanding role. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found it completely mesmerizing. I was spellbound by it and was sad when it was over wishing it would have lasted a little longer. I felt like they did justice to this adaptation of the classic fairy-tale "Sleeping Beauty".
Parents be advised: I would recommend this movie for children eight and older. This movie is not for younger children. It has a Parental Guidance rating. There are many different creatures, some cute and some not so cute. The scene with the dragon is very intense and intimidating! It even made me  uncomfortable. There is some violence and multiple scenes of war and fighting, I thought "Maleficent" was magnificent!
I am giving "Maleficent" four bags of popcorn.

X-Men: Days of Future Past

X-Men: Days of Future Past

PG-13
Staring:
Hugh Jackman,
Jennifer Lawrence,
Michael Fassbender,
James McAvoy,
Patrick Stewart,
Ellen Page,
Halle Berry,
Ian McKellen and
Peter Dinklage
Running Time: 2 Hours and 11 Minutes

Having not been a big "X-Men" movie aficionado, I was a little naive going into the movie, but I must admit, The X-Men are back. All of them. Days of Future Past is an ambitious undertaking to say the least. This film a sequel to three other movies: 2006's "X-Men 3 The Last Stand", 2011's "X-Men First Class", and 2013's "The Wolverine".
Days of Future Past reunites the old X-Men cast in a not too distant dsytopian future, where all powerful mutant-killing robots called "The Sentinels" search the entire world for the last of the mutants. In an effort to save their future, they send one of their own back to the past to prevent this Apocalypse from ever happening. The almost immortal Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is the one to do it.
Wolverine is sent back to the year 1973 to Paris, France to the Paris Peace Accords. Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) is on a very personal mission to  assassinate The Sentinels creator, Bolliver Trask (Peter Dinklage). In order to do this Wolverine has to recruit and reunite Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and Professor X (James McAvoy), and other mutants to help him.
This was a great movie with tons of action and history as well. As always, the special effects were incredible.
Parents be advised: I would recommend this movie for children 12 and over. There is some nudity, Hugh Jackman's backside and Jennifer Lawrence's blue body is suggestive.The mutants and their transformations are sometimes scary and there is a lot of action and violence.
I am giving "X-Men Days of Future Past" a solid three bags of popcorn.

Godzilla

PG-13
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Olsen, CJ Adams, Carson Bolde, Sally Hawkins and Ken Watanabe
Running Time: 2 Hours and 3 Minutes

Godzilla-"The King of Monsters", is back on the job in this new 2014 version. Patterned after the classic Godzilla movies, this was an intense, edge of your seat popcorn movie. Simply an entertaining, take you back to your youth fun movie!
Chaos and mayhem ensue as a giant explosion occurs, dramatically changing the lives of Nuclear Engineer, Joe Brody (Bryan Cranston) and his son Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Losing his wife and young Ford's mother, Joe Brody is determined to find the cause of this catastrophic event.
This story takes place in the Philippines, Japan, Honolulu, Las Vegas and ultimately, San Francisco.
The scenes were a lot like the old Godzilla movies but vamped up with our modern day super special-effects and computer generated technology.
The special effects were really good and you really felt like you were right there in the middle of the action.
The enemies to be thwarted off by Godzilla in this movie were the "MUTOS" aka: massive unidentified terrestrial organisms. They were ruthless and extremely destructive. There were two of them, both a male and a female, and they were on a mission. They were determined to feast on radiation for their survival and to mate with each other. Ford Brody is the hero and star of this story and he does it well.
I really enjoyed this movie, it took me back to the former Godzilla movies I remember in my past.
It was very intense and realistic. The scene on the Golden Gate Bridge was spine-tingling and will make you think twice when you cross the bridge again!
Parents be advised: I would recommend this movie for children ages 10 and up. I am being a little more lenient because it is monster fighting action and I think children really love that stuff.
I am giving "Godzilla" three bags of popcorn.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

PG-13
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Sally Field, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan and Paul Giamatti
Running Time: 2 Hours and 22 Minutes

Wow, Spider-Man AKA Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is back! This movie starts out with a bang! You are immediately drawn in for the plane ride of your life.
Also, when chaos ensues, Spider Man jumps into action and helps save New York City from impending doom.
This was a non-stop action thrill ride that will excite and entertain you.
As a high school senior on the verge of graduation, Peter Parker has many unanswered questions and unresolved issues concerning the death of his parents and the workings of his father and his fathers relationship with the powerful yet mysterious company Oscorp. He is driven to find out everything he can to try and put the pieces together about his parents and their untimely demise!
He is still smitten with the beautiful, sweet and intelligent class valedictorian Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) and she feels the same way about him.
A former acquaintance of Peter's is Harry Osborn AKA The Green Goblin  (Dane DeHaan), son of the owner of Oscorp. He is called home to bid his estranged father farewell on his deathbed. His father informs him that he has inherited the very same rapid spreading disease as he has and because it is genetic, he won't live long either. He is desperate for a cure. He was already an angry young man because his father sent him away at sixteen to boarding school. He inherits his father's $200 Billion company and has  absolutely no knowledge of how the company functions! Others on the board of directors try to intimidate and overthrow young Harry and he doesn't know where to turn. He remembers Peter and sends for him. They reunite, touch base and enjoy reminiscing.
Shortly thereafter, a new villain makes an unwelcome appearance with superpowers the likes of which no one has ever seen, Spider Man is once again on the scene fighting with all his might to confront this new menace named Electro AKA Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx) who actually has a kind disposition but is angry because he feels that Spider-Man has betrayed him! Electro was unexpectedly transformed and has no idea how to control his mega power!
Spider-Man is saying goodbye to Gwen when Electro strikes again. She stays with him and tries to fight too! She is sincere and compassionate and helps Spidey with everything she's got!
This is a fun and spellbinding story with some very touching sentimentality with both Gwen and Aunt May (Sally Field).
Peter Parker is a young man with a big heart who is torn and he tries desperately to make the right choices and to be there for everyone. I did feel that there were too many things going on in this story. There were so many adversaries that Spider-Man had more than his share of challenges. That being said, I still really enjoyed the story a lot.
Parents be advised: This is a PG-13 rated movie with a lot of violent action and some scary scenes that are very realistic and intense. I would not recommend this movie for young children. I think 12/13 year olds and older will enjoy it.
I am giving "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" three bags of popcorn.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

PG-13
Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp and Garry Shandling
Running Time: 2 Hours and 16 Minutes

This is the second installment of the Captain America series, following the 2011 film, "Captain America: The First Avenger". In my opinion, the Marvel Studios has done it again, and they have a colossal success on their hands with the always amazing Captain America!
Chris Evans is stellar as the shield-wielding Captain America/Steve Rogers as he returns to Washington DC after the World War II Nazi drama.
 It has been seventy something years and he is now in his nineties looking no worse for the wear!
He is now with the spy agency known as SHIELD as he finds himself somewhat of a super-legend as he searches to fit in and continue on with his life.
He finds himself right back in the action when he is thrust into a terrorist takeover on a giant ship in the Indian ocean. He encounters a barrage of opponents whom he battles alongside his fellow super-hero the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) who has all the moves as well. They battle the enemy in every conceivable way till they are victorious and get their hands on a memory instrument containing some very important classified data.
Returning to the USA again, Captain finds out that SHIELD has been building three ginormous heli-carrier ships with the likes of which no one has ever encountered before. Massive flying machines that have the most up to date and sophisticated technology ever know to man with the capability to analyze and destroy just about everything! Under the direction of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and new to the series, Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford), Fury finds out the project has been compromised and he knows the only person he can trust is Captain.
Alexander Pierce proves to be a heartless and evil soul who says "in order to improve things you often need to tear down what's come before-no matter what the cost".  And he does, or did! The Winter Soldier is played by Sebastian Stan a mindless sort of robotic soul with no real heart of his own. Still in the back of his mind he has retained a miniscule amount of memory.
 Also, the character Sam Wilson/The Falcon  (Anthony Mackie) was a great addition to the cast. He was refreshing, fun and exciting.
I found this movie to be highly entertaining with the basic good-guys vs the bad-guys. Chris Evans is so good as Captain that you just want to stand-up cheer for him. He is a classic all around American hero! You'll have to be prepared for the non-stop super-hero action, violence and destruction! I suggest that you remain for the entire duration of the credits because there are two surprise scenes that are well worth the wait!
Parents be advised: this is definitely a PG-13 rated movie. I would not recommend it for anyone younger than 13. I think the violence is too intense for the younger ones. The character, The Winter Soldier is also somewhat scary and intimidating,
I am giving "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" four bags of popcorn.

Divergent

PG-13
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Tony Gold and Ashley Judd
2 Hours and 23 Minutes

This movie is based on the young adult novel "Divergent", by Veronica Roth. It is set in a dystopian society (which just means a community that is undesirable, generally with a totalitarian government and some kind of environmental disaster). So therefore you can tell that the movie is not going to be very uplifting or enlightening.
It is set in a devastated Chicago where everything is very run down and dismal, Lake Michigan is dry and the Chicago river has dried up as well. The city is totally dilapidated and buildings are worn and crumbling. A huge fence has been placed around the city after some kind of war so no one can enter in.
Tris (Shailene Woodley) is the beautiful, strong and determined young lady who has come of age and has to take her "faction test" to determine which faction she will be best suited for. She has been raised in a home with her family all being in the Abnegation faction. When the test is complete she is told she is different from all the rest, hurried out of the room and warned to not tell anyone at all, even her parents that she is a "Divergent", which means she will not fit into any of the factions!
There are five factions: Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless and  Erudite. There were also a group of wanderers  known as the Factionless. Each citizen has to decide which faction they choose to join after they take their test. The young adult is allowed to make that choice but then they must leave their home and family and reside with their faction for the remainder of their life.
When Tris decides to join the Dauntless faction, she must prove herself in every respect. She undergoes a series of more tests and extreme physical fights with other candidates in a variety of scenarios. They push them to the absolute limits of their abilities. She must endure her greatest fears and triumphantly overcome them. She encounters her superior Four (Theo James) a strong and handsome young man who continues to push her and questions her reasoning for her choice to join the Danutless. They eventually overcome their differences and are attracted to one another.
Tris discovers that all the people are being controlled by a higher power with a leader who is a very normal looking but depraved female leader, Jeanine (Kate Winslet) whose motto is: "There is a certain beauty in the resistance, but it's a beauty we can't afford"!
I have not read the book so I found this movie to be somewhat confusing. I did appreciate young Tris' strength and her ability to be in control of herself and her body at all times. During one of her testing sequences they put her through a simulated very brief rape scene where she conquers her fear and she is victorious in getting her message across!
Parents be advised: This is a PG-13 with some violence (dangerous stunts, fighting, knife throwing, guns and shooting, bird attacks, quicksand, fire, and an attempted rape scene.
I am giving "Divergent" two and a half bags of popcorn.

Muppets Most Wanted

PG
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey and a throng of cameos of many famous people: Tony Bennett, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Salma Hayek, Josh Groban, Ray Liotta, and a whole lot more. Plus your favorite Muppet characters.
1 Hour and 52 Minutes

This was a really fun and entertaining movie. When the Muppets are approached by Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais) to go abroad to Europe to perform their infamous Muppets Show, Kermit is reluctant but finally gives in. The whole Muppets clan are on board for a train ride to Europe to perform their famous Muppets Show at some of Europe's grandest theaters.
Mayhem ensues when a very sinister and nefarious character named Constantine (who just happens to be Kermit's identical look-alike) escapes from a Russian Gulag. The whole world is in fear of this horrible, diabolical creature being on the loose!
Kermit has no idea that his look-alike even exists let alone is the most-wanted prisoner in the entire world! He is just busy trying to get the Muppets show up and going and dealing with Miss Piggy's constant pleas and reminder's that they need to get married.
When Kermit is spotted out in public, he is apprehended and taken prisoner and thrown into the Siberian Gulag and locked up! While there he helps the prisoners perform their own musical under the eyes of Nadaya (Tina Fey) who likes Kermit and allows him to direct the show.
Meanwhile, Dominic, who had other motives and who is a buddy of the international bad-guy Constantine get together and they  plan an entire caper out together to switch Kermit for Constantine to be able to heist the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom!
This was just a really fun little movie that was entertaining and interesting for the fact that it showed some of the great European scenery and ended up in London at The Tower Bridge, Tower Hill Castle, and the Jewel House home of the "Crown Jewels".
Both adults and children will enjoy this movie and get a kick out of it too.
Parents be advised: I am recommending this movie for all ages. I didn't find anything objectionable in the movie.
I am giving "Muppets Most Wanted" three and a half bags of popcorn.