The Code Is Zeek

It is the week of Thanksgiving and you can be thankful to see Creed, a fine continuation of the Rocky series in just the right way. Pixar also offers up their second film of the year with The Good Dinosaur , though the story is far simpler than many are used to when it comes to the esteemed animation house. Take some time to learn more about what Ridley Scott is up to as well, not to mention taking a look at the terrific trailer for Captain America: Civil War . We also have a couple great new podcast episodes. It's all right here, so enjoy! In Theaters This Week: Creed -  http://www.thecodeiszeek. com/2015/11/creed-is-no-bum- movie-review.html (A fantastic continuation of the Rocky series) The Good Dinosaur -  http://www.thecodeiszeek. com/2015/11/the-good-dinosaur- and-slight-pixar-film.html (Pretty forgettable for Pixar) Here's The Archive Of Every Review Throughout The Year(s) -  http://www.thecodeiszeek. com/p/review-archive.html

This week’s episode of Out Now with Aaron and Abe is the end of the games. Aaron and Abe are joined by Ethan Anderton to discuss The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 . Among topics covered, we have a fun round of Know Everybody ( 3:12 ), some Out Now Quickies™ ( 6:47 ), trailer talk for The Huntsman: Winter’s War and Gods of Egypt ( 14:24 ) , the main review ( 23:53 ), Out Now Feedback ( 49:33 ), and Games ( 1:02:14 ). We then wrap things up ( 1:07:15 ) and end it all with some bloopers ( 1:15:02 ), following this week’s close out song.  So now, if you’ve got an hour or so to kill… You can also find links to the episode at AudioBoom .  Subscribe via iTunes HERE

Creed : 4 ½ out of 5 Putting all your eggs in one basket can be a difficult proposition when it comes to overhyping a film in your mind, but isn’t going the distance the spirit of the Rocky films? As the spinoff entry of a six film series about one legendary (fictional) boxer from Philadelphia, Creed could have been a mess. What didn’t sway me was the presence of writer/director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan, who had previously worked together on the brilliant Fruitvale Station . The resulting film is one that handles everything by the books, but emerges as thoughtful, skillfully done, and wonderfully entertaining.

The Good Dinosaur: 3 out of 5 It looks like I’m going to have to start this Good Dinosaur review off by mentioning Cars 2 . Cars 2 is not a great film and many view it as the very worst Pixar has had to offer. I can see why (although I like it more than you), but it extends to a seeming lack of heart from everyone involved, except Cars super-fan John Lasseter. I have no idea what led up to the making of The Good Dinosaur , but even with the much talked about production issues to make a better film, this still feels like a fairly slight effort from Pixar. There is a fascinating concept and some terrific visuals, but it is one of the few times in a Pixar film where I really didn’t care about what would happen.

Get ready for a montage! Aaron, Scott Mendelson and Brandon Peters are here to talk about one of the greatest and most 80s film of all time, Rocky IV. In honor of the upcoming Creed , this is the commentary event of a lifetime, as the guys have plenty of fun analyzing the film, discussing the career of Stallone and imaging a young Scott Mendelson discovering his love for the film that pit the Italian Stallion against Ivan Drago. Listen in to a fact and fun-filled commentary track. Important Note:   This commentary may feature both juvenile uses of language and jokes that may be considered un-PC.  We of course are just trying to have a fun time… So now, if you’ve got an hour to kill…

The Hunger Games comes to a close this week, as Mockingjay - Part 2 arrives and provides a fitting end for the series. That's not all, as Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie intend to make you laugh this weekend in The Night Before . I have reviews for both, along with some fun in the podcast department with a packed episode. You can also enjoy some other links I've provide related to spiders and archers. Great things that go great together, right? Anyway, enjoy! In Theaters This Week: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 -  http://www.ranthollywood. com/2015/11/18/the-mockingjay- soars-in-this-fitting-finale- to-the-hunger-games-series/ (A fine finale) The Night Before -  http://www.thecodeiszeek. com/2015/11/the-night-before- is-wacky-dirty-holiday.html (Not a new holiday classic, but funny enough) Here's The Archive Of Every Review Throughout The Year(s) -  http://www.thecodeiszeek. com/p/review-archive.html

The Night Before: 3 ½ out of 5 In the midst of the dramas, blockbusters and family-friendly comedies, it is nice to get a film geared towards the holidays and is made for an adult audience. The Night Before tries really hard to be something fun and different, yet fit for the crowd that loved This Is The End and Neighbors. To its credit, there are some good laughs to be had, but it feels like there is a much better drama lurking under the surface. The exaggerated comedy moments and wild shenanigans can be fun, but I feel like it would have been nice to see more of the flipped side of things.

This week’s episode of Out Now with Aaron and Abe is a tangent-heavy triple-header. Aaron and Abe are joined by Peter Paras to discuss The 33 , Brooklyn and Spotlight . Among topics covered, we have a fun round of Know Everybody ( 5:15 ), some Out Now Quickies™ ( 12:42 ), trailer talk for Alice Through The Looking Glass ( 25:20 ) , the main reviews ( 33:46 ), ( 55:20 ) and ( 75:25 ), Out Now Feedback ( 95:56 ), and Games ( 119:46 ). We then wrap things up ( 128:17 ) and end it all with some bloopers ( 138:47 ), following this week’s close out song.  So now, if you’ve got an hour or so to kill… You can also find links to the episode at AudioBoom .  Subscribe via iTunes HERE

The 33 is maybe the biggest new film release of the week in terms of being on a lot of screens and being about something, but it is just one of three very lackluster new releases. That film joins By The Sea and Love The Coopers , which are both misses as far as vanity projects and holiday films go. That said, Brooklyn and Spotlight are now in wider release and you can enjoy some more James Bond-related fun I've put together. Enjoy! In Theaters This Week: The 33 -  http://www.ranthollywood. com/2015/11/12/the-33-is-a- surface-level-look-at-the- chilean-mining-accident/ (A decent look at the Chilean Mining Accident) By The Sea -  http://www.ranthollywood. com/2015/11/11/by-the-sea-is- too-shallow-for-a-vanity- project/ (Brad and Angelina made an unlikable movie together...) Love The Coopers -  http://www.ranthollywood. com/2015/11/12/to-love-the- coopers-is-nearly-impossible/ (A bad way to start a season of holiday films)

This week’s episode of Out Now with Aaron and Abe jumps back into the world of 007, with his latest outing, Spectre . Aaron and Abe are joined by Scott Mendelson and Brandon Peters to talk the big James Bond film and how they, as Bond fans, felt about it. Among topics covered, we have a fun round of Know Everybody ( 3:15 ), some Out Now Quickies™ ( 8:24 ), trailer talk for London Has Fallen and Warcraft ( 19:35 ) , the main review ( 35:49 ), Out Now Feedback ( 1:15:22 ), and Games ( 1:24:18 ). We then wrap things up ( 1:31:50 ) and end it all with some bloopers ( 1:44:37 ), following this week’s close out song.  So now, if you’ve got an hour or so to kill… You can also find links to the episode at AudioBoom .  Subscribe via iTunes HERE

Spectre is out this week, so obviously I was excited. I am a huge James Bond fan and was happy to catch the latest adventure. It's not a new Bond classic, but it is fun. Meanwhile, you have terrific films in the form of Brooklyn , Spotlight and The Peanuts Movie , which are sure to entertain many for different reasons. You can also enjoy some new films on Blu-ray and some Bond trivia, along with a couple of fun podcasts. Enjoy all you can, as you only live twice. In Theaters This Week: Spectre -   http://www.thecodeiszeek.com/2015/11/spectre-doesnt-shake-up-franchise-but.html (Bond is back and hitting the classic marks) The Peanuts Movie -  http://www.ranthollywood. com/2015/11/04/the-peanuts- movie-brilliantly-brings- charlie-brown-and-the-gangs- antics-to-the-big-screen/ (Wonderful and true to the spirit of Peanuts) Brooklyn -  http://www.ranthollywood. com/2015/11/04/brooklyn-is-an- enchanting-coming-of-age- drama/ (A fantastic coming-of-age ...

Spectre: 3 ½ out of 5 Mr. White: You are a kite dancing in a hurricane, Mr. Bond. Ask and you shall receive. After three films in the Daniel Craig era of James Bond that each ended with us believing the character had become the Bond of legend, ‘Spectre’ decides to put its foot down and throw us into a classic adventure with 007. Sure, the film is still playing with a somewhat grounded sense of reality that comes with the territory of modern action filmmaking, but this globe-trotting adventure is full of all the explosive action that is bound to come with a $250+ million price tag. The only question is whether or not its hefty cost and extended run time were worth it.

This week’s episode of Out Now with Aaron and Abe is a bit of a different step, as Abe and Aaron keep it pretty focused. No other guest this week, as it is just the guys discussing a number of new trailers ( 5:31 ), some recent film releases including Our Brand Is Crisis ( 53:03 ) and Beasts of No Nation ( 70:02 ), among others, and then dive into some movie-related news items ( 78:02 ). It’s a looser discussion, but a good one for those looking for a change in pace for a week. So now, if you’ve got an hour or so to kill… You can also find links to the episode at AudioBoom .  Subscribe via iTunes HERE

I really enjoy putting my reviews together.  I honestly wish I could delve deeper into certain movies, but alas, I get incredibly busy and can sometimes only deal with movies to a briefer extent than I would prefer.  This is why I write these occasional "Brief Thoughts" posts on movies I have seen, as I want to at least offer some of my own perspective on them.  They may not be as polished, but I can at least get my opinions out there. This brief thought is focused on the German film 'Victoria'. Victoria: 5 out of 5 It is one thing to have massive appreciation for a film, but it is completely different when I find myself trying to actually think of what issues there could be. Victoria  is an  exceptional  piece of work, as it takes a filmmaking approach that could be seen as a gimmick and makes it into so much more, thanks to the tremendous work from the actors and skill involved in the film's presentation.