Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Heroes, Real and Imagined



STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE
ACTION/FANTASY

PLOT:  The prequel to the most popular franchise in the world Star Wars: A New Hope.

                “We can be heroes” sings the late David Bowie and this is the film that proves it.  It tells how Princess Leia got the plans for the Death Star.  The movie has different nationalities and robots trying to save people from the evil Darth Vader and Grand Tarkin.  There are many Star Wars references.  The film is made for Star Wars fans.  It has action, humor and heart.  It is directed by Gareth Edwards, the same director who did Godzilla 2014.  He did an excellent job on this film.  Godzilla was good but it wasn’t this!  It is an amazing addition to the Star Wars movies.

HACKSAW RIDGE
HISTORICAL DRAMA

PLOT:  The incredible true story of WWII Army Medic Desmond T. Doss who refused to kill people won The Medal of Honor.

                Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield, Amazing Spiderman) who believes in God and loved his country he went to war in WWII but never killed the enemy but saved his fellow soldiers.  I have never seen a movie about war and faith in God in the same film in a long time.  The acting which including Garfiled, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Teresa Palmer and Vince Vaughn are nothing short of brilliant.  The battle scenes are violent to show how bad war truly is.  It is an Oscar contender for sure.  Mel Gibson directed it and Hollywood doesn’t like Gibson right now but the actor is many things but he can sure direct!

BASTILLE DAY aka THE TAKE
ACTION/THRILLER

PLOT:  An unpredictable CIA agent and a pick pocket to stop a terrorist group.

                Sean (Idris Elba), a CIA agent and Michael (Richard Madden), a thief unwillingly join forces to stop terrorists on Bastille Day which is like our Independence Day in Paris.  The movie has plenty of action and a buddy flick. Idris Elba is great as a loose cannon operative who is usually right. The film was cancelled in France because of the real attacks.  It is a pity for it is very good if you like action-packed movies.



KC Web Developer

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Miscellaneous Creature Features



MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
MYSTERY/FANTASY

PLOT:  Young man by his grandfather finds an amazing world of kids with superpowers.

                Jake (Asa Butterfield, Ender’s Game) is a teen who doesn’t fit in the modern world but through events starting with his grandfather Abe(Terence Stamp) goes into a loop where he finds Miss Peregrine(Eva Green, 300: Rise of an Empire) and her small group of  children with amazing powers.  It is a wild ride!  The movie was based on a popular book and directed by Fantasy King himself Tim Burton.  It is worth watching if you read the book or want to see supernatural kids that are not related to a comic book.

STORKS
ANIMATED/FANTASY

PLOT:  Storks don’t deliver babies any more but packages like Amazon.

                Junior (Adam Samberg) wants to be the boss but his boss tells him he must fire a human, cute but clumsy girl Tulip (Kate Crown).  Junior places in the area where they use to deliver babies and you can image what happens.  The voice actors are great –even Samberg!  It has humor, heart like many animated movies of late. The animated films at time are better than live action!  It is definitely worth watching.

GODZILLA RESURGENCE
SCI-FI

PLOT:  The famous giant monster is rebooted yet again.

                Toho, the company that makes Godzilla movies constantly gives their “cash monster” out to Hollywood and when they do a poor job or make money they make one of their own.  This version of Godzilla is very well made and it has endless, endless and endless meetings how to stop the giant beast.  When Godzilla is on screen he is AMAZING!  He has new powers and he is the most realistic Godzilla EVER!  No man in a suit-CGI.  See this film if you are a Godzilla fan but you can wait, please wait for video.



KC Web Developer

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Fantastic Fall Fantasy Arrivals




FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
FANTASY

PLOT:  In 1926 a young man captures magical creatures from all over the world.

                Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything, Jupiter Rising) is a collector of mythical animals and stops in New York and things go astray beginning an adventure.  This film is FANTASTIC!  It is funny, sad, and romantic and the beasts are amazing.  It is written by JK Rowlings who wrote the Harry Potter books.  If you like Harry Potter you will enjoy this character Newt.  It is wonderful for ALL ages.

TROLLS
ANIMATED/FANTASY/MUSICAL

PLOT:  A Troll princess must save her friends.

                Poppy (Anna Kendrick, Pitch Perfect) is a princess and the happiest of Trolls but the scary Bergens must eat trolls to be happy so the evil Chef ( Christine Baranski) captures some so Poppy and the unhappiest of Trolls Branch (Justin Timberlake) go on a journey. It is a very cheerful movie kids and adults will enjoy it.

ARRIVAL 2016
SCI-FI/DRAMA

PLOT: Twelve spaceships land on earth and a special squad must find out what it wants.

                Louise Banks (Amy Adams), linguistics (languages) and an elite force must try to understand the aliens and figure out what they want.  It is not an invasion movie and there is not much action.  It is not Independence Day: Resurgence so don’t expect that!  Amy Adams is a very good actress and she is very good in this film.  The film is based on short story but not by an American sci-fi writer but Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life.” The movie is cerebral and very serious but if you want to see a different sci-fi film this is it!


KC Web Developer

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Birth of a Strange Holiday Movie Season



BOO! A MADEA HALLOWEEN
COMEDY/HORROR

PLOT:  What is scarier than Halloween?  When Madea shows the ghouls who’s the boss!

                Madea and friends have to keep her granddaughter from going to a frat Halloween party for she is only seventeen. She sneaks out anyway and Madea calls the cops.  The college students are angry for stopping the party and try to scare Madea.  That doesn’t work out well.  If you seen Tyler Perry’s Madea movies you know what to expect; lots of stereotypes, jokes and a moral story.

BIRTH OF A NATION
HISTORICAL DRAMA

PLOT:  The story of Nat Turner, a slave, a preacher and a rebel in the antebellum South.

                Nat Turner (Nate Parker) is a slave and he can read the bible so his master for money lets Nat preach to other slaves to keep them in line.  His wife is brutally raped and beaten but when he baptizes a white man in the plantation he is whipped to unconscious.  He sees visions he should kill his slave owner and many others. The movie is powerful and the acting and directing is great. The background story of the movie is more interesting than the film itself.  It took producer and director Nate Parker ten years for the movie to be made.  

Fox Searchlight spent seventeen million to have it then Nate Parker was acquitted of rape in his college years and the victim committed suicide.  Many people think that was the reason why the movie is not making money because of the controversy.  No one ever ask maybe African Americans don’t want to see another slave movie!!  Black people want to see themselves in a successful, productive light between a slave film, gangster film or a Tyler Perry movie.

JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK
ACTION/THRILLER

PLOT:  Jack Reacher finds out a friend is in trouble in government.

                Jack (Tom Cruise) uses his skills to save a friend and he uses his strength and skill to do it.  The movie is action packed.  Cobie Smulders (Avengers, How I Met Your Mother) is a great female action babe.  Patrick Heusinger as The Hunter the evil assassin and typecast bad guy Robert Knepper as General Harkness.  If you like Tom Cruise and action this is a good movie.

DOCTOR STRANGE
ACTION/FANTASY
  
PLOT: Origin of Marvels’ latest comic book character

                Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch, Star Trek Into Darkness) is a talented yet arrogant neurosurgeon who is in an tragic accident and his hands are crushed.  He goes through his savings to meet the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) to restore his hands but he turns into a magical superhero. This film is great!  Cumberbatch is perfect as Strange and Swinton is good as the Ancient One but in the comic the character was Asian.  Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave) is good as Mordo Strange trainer and Mads Mikkelsen as the evil Kacecilus who is not in the film enough!  The special effects are very psychedelic –if you can watch it in 3D please do to make it more strange!
KC Web Developer

Friday, October 14, 2016

Magnificent Remakes, Chocolate Lifetime




MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
WESTERN

PLOT: A remake of the classic film.

In the 1960 movie a Spanish village is oppressed by an outlaw gang and seven gunslingers help. This version it is a baron who wants the town’s gold and Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, Byung-hun Lee, Manuel Garcia-Ruffo and Martin Sensmeier are the diverse cast to bring him down. Yes, there is a lot of action, lots of inaccuracies and the signature music is there near the end but it is so entertaining.

WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS
THRILLER

PLOT: Loving, rich couple lets pretty young woman has their child.

John and Laura Taylor (Morris Chestnut, Rosewood, The Best Man and Regina Hall, Best Man Holiday) cannot have children so they find a surrogate woman Ann Walsh (Jaz Sinclair)to have their baby but they don’t know the woman is in love with John and she is crazy. The good: The movie shows African-American couple are affectionate and successful. The bad: It is a Lifetime movie dipped in chocolate! You know what is going to happen you just don’t know when. If you enjoying paying to see love, babies and killings you should see this otherwise wait for it to come on well-Lifetime!

PHANTASM RAVAGER
FANTASY/HORROR

PLOT: The final movie of the popular franchise.

Reggie (Reggie Bannister), Mike (Michael Baldwin) and Jody (Bill Thornbury) the original heroes in the first movie join forces to stop Jebediah Morningside aka The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), a dimensional hopping demon! The movie like the first makes no sense at all but it is like a nightmare. A nightmare makes no sense yet it scares you and you remember it and this film does that. It is low budget but at least it was made to satisfy the fans. I do believe this is the final film for Angus Scrimm did pass away. If you are a fan go watch this movie!
KC Web Developer

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Fantasy, Fear and Fighting



DON’T BREATHE
HORROR

PLOT: Three burglars target a blind military man.

Trios of young robbers decide to steal big money from a blind vet only to find out he is not helpless and he is not noble. Oh man, I was skeptical about the movie but when I learned Stephen Lang was starring in it I wanted to see it. Lang was the tough commander in the successful film Avatar and he doesn’t disappoint! The blind man can handle himself. The thieves and the audience go through hell before it’s over. It is very good to be shown at the end of summer.

PETE’S DRAGON
FANTASY

PLOT: Remake of the 1977 of the same name.

This is a “realistic” movie of a dragon living in the woods. It is slow moving but if you stick with it the film is wonderful and magical. The dragon’s design looked like a dog. It didn’t make money maybe because it was too cute and sweet but it was still good. Worth watching with the family.

KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
ANIMATED

PLOT: A young boy goes on a quest to protect him from evil. Based on the novel of the same name.

Kubo tells stories but never finish them for he must be home before dark for sinister forces will find him so he has to go on an adventure to find magical sword, shield and helmet to save himself from his wicked aunts. It is very creative and visually stunning. It is a bit scary at times but still very good.
KC Web Developer

Sunday, August 21, 2016

The Secret Resurrection of Suicide Sequels



JASON BOURNE
ACTION/THRILLER

PLOT:  After 10 years of leaving the agency that turned him into a killer, he is drawn back in for someone tells him he wasn’t randomly chosen.

                Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is back to find out about his father, the spy agency he used to work for and revenge too.  The movie is a thinking man James Bond.  It has excitement, drama and intelligent females.  The best thing about the film is Damon the original Bourne.  He is intense, macho and sympathetic.  It is worth seeming.

SUICIDE SQUAD
ACTION/SCI-FI

PLOT:  A secret government agency recruits super villains.

                Based on the comic book of the same name super villains such as Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quin (Margot Robbie), Boomerang (Jai Courtney), Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), and Diablo (Jay Hernandez). Their boss is Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) and with a group like this you have to be badass and she is.  The cast is very good and the stand-outs are Smith and Robbie in their roles.  The villain is the Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) she possesses a woman and she has massive power but she is not well-known and she wasn’t interesting.  The Joker (Jared Leto) is in their too but not much and he is fun to watch. Hopefully, the next movie their will have a better villain.  It is a mix bag of a movie but the good parts outweigh the bad ones.

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS
ANIMATED

PLOT:  Pampered dog has to share with another dog.

                Max is a cute, spoiled dog and his owner takes in a big, furry dog named Duke.   They don’t like each other at first and then they get into an adventure where the two have to help each other.  It is very funny, a little sad and action packed!  It is a fun to watch.  It has made a lot of money so a sequel is in the works.  GO, GO NOW!

MECHANIC RESURRECTION
ACTION/THRILLER

PLOT:  The sequel to 2011 The Mechanic.

                Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) wants to give up the life of a hitman but is forced to kill three people or his girlfriend will be killed.  Is Bishop a hitman or a superspy with all the gadgets, kills and the beautiful Jessica Alba.  Michelle Yeoh is a supporting character but she doesn’t do any martial arts.  It is as good as it gets with a Jason Statham movie.


KC Web Developer

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Re-Boots, Realizations and Re-Hashes



THE KILLING JOKE
ANIMATED

PLOT:  The popular graphic novel now a movie.

                The graphic novel by Alan Moore and Brian Bollard is about The Joker who tries his best to make Commissioner Gordon insane by very demented events.  I never read the graphic novel but the movie is VERY GRIM.   It is also explains the origin of The Joker ( no back story for the longest) and you feel sympathy for him.  The ending is very strange, the viewer has to decide what it all means.  The movie is playing one day in select theaters and on video very soon.


GHOSTBUSTERS 2016
COMEDY/HORROR

PLOT:  An updated version of the classic movie starring all women as the Ghostbusters!

                Abby (Melissa McCarthy), Erin (Kristin Wiig) Jillian (Kate McKinnon) and Patty (Leslie Jones) are the new team who find, capture and take out apparitions (ghosts). They have a handsome but dumb receptionist Chris Hemsworth (Thor). The film is MUCH better than the trailer and the special effects are amazing.  Comparing the classic with the contemporary movie is up to the individual.  The film is not bad but it wasn’t necessary to be rebooted.


STAR TREK BEYOND
SCI-FI/ACTION

PLOT:  The crew must stop a villain who has a weapon to destroy the world.

                Kirk(Chris Pine) has doubts he wasn’t the perfect captain he should have been, Spock(Zachary Quinto) is having problems with girlfriend Uhura (Zoe Saldana) but all that is nothing when the Enterprise is attacked by bad-guy Krall (Idris Elba) and they have to evacuate the ship, survive on a strange, new  planet and stop Krall to unleash his bio-weapon.  Just another day in the Star Trek universe and it is good.  Star Trek: Into Darkness was okay to me but this was much better.  The evil Krall does have a back-story to humanize him a little and Jaylah ((Sofia Boutella, Kingsmen Secret Service) an alien who can defend herself.  If you are a fan of this franchise you will enjoy it and even if you’re not a fan you will enjoy it.           


KC Web Developer

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Big Humor in Big Blockbusters



INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE
ACTION/SCI-FI

PLOT:  The aliens are back and they are bigger, meaner and smarter.

    First of all if you enjoyed the first movie you will like the second movie and if you didn’t don’t bother. Independence Day Resurgence is like the first film doing the same thing only different characters are doing it.  The movie tries to explain what happened to the major characters of ID4.  There are new people in the fight against the aliens but you will enjoy David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) and Dr. Brakish Okiun (Brent Spiner).  These two are great and were in the last film.  It is a silly spectacular popcorn flick that made Independence Day fun but it is just more enhanced.

TEENAGED MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS
ACTION/ADVENTURE/FANTASY

PLOT: The further adventures of four turtles.

                  You shouldn’t watch this movie if you don’t like the concepts of six feet turtles as superheroes.  I liked it as a cartoon and the movies.  This film is a live –action cartoon with villains and monsters and heroes, human and mutants.  The story is about Shredder, the turtle’s nemesis with help from a scientist to open a portal to bring another evil being Krang to destroy the world.  Story is not that important but the stunts and CGI are.  It didn’t do well in the theaters but on video it will do very well.

FINDING DORY
ANIMATION

PLOT:  Dory, the forgetful fish wants to find her parents.

                  Dory, a blue tang fish is a sweet lovable and forgetful.  Despite memory loss she is determined to find her family by being creative and daring.  Her adventure she meets animals who have difficulty too but willing to help her.  The sequel is just enjoyable as Finding Nemo in 2003.  Kids will love it and so will adults and anyone who understands the meaning of family.

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
ACTION COMEDY

PLOT:  Two estrange friends join forces to save the world.

                  Ben Stone (Dwayne Johnson) was a fat kid and was humiliated in school and one guy stood up for him, Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart) in 1996.  Now Calvin is married to a beautiful wife, a good job, as an accountant but doesn’t feel he is living up to his potential.  Ben is a spy and remembers his friend Calvin to help him find information to save the world.  It is funny but the action is much better.  Johnson you don’t know is he the good guy, the bad guy or the crazy guy.  Hart is funny playing the average guy who gets way over his head.  Worth to watch if you like these two actors.


KC Web Developer

Friday, June 24, 2016

Wizards, Conjurings and Keanus




WARCRAFT
ACTION/FANTASY

PLOT:  Based on the popular video game where orcs and humans must join together to stop an even bigger threat.

                I have a confession before I review:  I never played the very popular game but as a movie it is EPIC.  You can enjoy the movie if you never played the game for it is a sad popcorn movie.  Orcs and humans must fight together against a wizard and the result is death and tragedy.  It is played very seriously, not much humor at all and you actually care about the orcs than the people.

KEANU
ACTION COMEDY

PLOT:  Two middle class black men pretend to be gangstas to get back their cute little kitten.

                Key and Peele had a very funny show on Comedy Central and they debut in this.  If you like their type of comedy you will enjoy this.  Believe it or not the action sequences are very good.  They comedy is good too but it is like a 90 minute movie of their skits.  The best thing really is the cute little kitten and (minor spoiler) the actor Keanu Reeves does the voice of the kitten in a dream sequence.

NEIGHBORS 2:  SORORITY RISING
COMEDY

PLOT:  The sequel to the successful Neighbors.

                Mac and Kelly (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) are having their second kid and they want a bigger home.  Shelby (Chole Grace Moretz, Hit Girl, Carrie) is a lonely student who realizes there are too many rules at the sororities in her college so she makes her own sororities and the house she picks is next door to Mac and Kelly.  It is crude, vulgar but it is also funny too.  I really saw the movie because of Moretz.  She seemed out of place for comedy because she is an action star.

THE CONJURING 2
HORROR 

PLOT:  Paranormal married couple Ed and Lorraine Warren investigates a possessed child in England.

                Based on a true story of a single mother and one of her daughters is possessed and the Warren couple will   help them.  There are a few jolts in the film but what is truly interesting is that there is faith and the paranormal pair belief in God.  It is very rare in modern horror today.  In a strange way this is why many religious movie fans made the movie a hit because of faith and family. Minor spoiler:  The Creepy Nun is very scary and she (it?) may have a solo movie.


KC Web Developer

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

The Mega Movies Explode



X-MEN: APOCALYPSE
ACTION/FANTASY

PLOT:  The team comes together to stop the first mutant that ever existed:  Apocalypse.

I usually don’t mention directors but Bryan Singer has made more X-Men movies than anyone else.  He may enjoy what he does or they are paying him much money. In the latest movie En Sabah Nu (The First One) played by Oscar Issac who was Poe in Star Wars: The Fourth Awakens rises again and recruits four mutants to join him in controlling the world.  One is Erick Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) who tries to be an ordinary man but circumstances force him to be Magneto and the hell with humans and crush them.  Fassbender no doubt can act and so can James McAvoy as Professor X. 

Oscar Issac as Apocalypse is the most powerful evil being in the X-men universe and the actor is of Latino descent!  Thank you Singer for choosing him and under all that make-up is a good performance. He is not a household name but I hope he will be.  Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique is good but her character was NEVER the leader of the X-men but the actress can bring in fans so deal with that.  The sexiest female is Olivia Munn as Psylocke.  She looks great but she is hardly in the movie and she doesn’t speak much.  The action sequences are great.  If you are a comic book fan it is good but you may complain about the mistakes.

THE ANGRY BIRDS
ANIMATED

PLOT: Based on the popular video game.

                Flightless birds live a quiet existence then the pigs arrive that seem friendly but have an evil agenda. One angry bird realizes something is wrong with the pigs. The movie is fun but raunchy that is why the kids want to watch it.  Please see it with your kids for you will enjoy it just as much.

ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
ACTION/FANTASY

PLOT:  Alice has problems in her world as well as the magical world.

                Alice is grown up now and she is having grown up problems such as losing her home, upset with her mom.  She goes to the magical realm where Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) is ill.  He believes his family is alive and only Alice can save them.  The movie is epic and special effects amazing.  It is loosely based on the novel but the best thing about the film is what you do for family and Alice tries to help in both of her families in both worlds.

KC Web Developer

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Superior Sequels, Bombing Bios



BARBER SHOP: THE NEXT CUT
COMEDY/DRAMA

PLOT:  The continuing story of Calvin and the interesting characters in his barber shop.

                Calvin (Ice Cube) is keeping up with the times, the male dominated shop is now a co-ed so women get the head done too.  His partner is a woman named Angie (Regina Hall) and he is trying to raise his family in Southside Chicago.  Eddie (Cedric The Entertainment) is still talking trash.  The film is not as funny as the trailer.  It has humor but it is serious about gangs and gun violence.  It shows Calvin trying to be a good father to his rebellious teenage son.  It is funny and has a lot of heart.  Watch it.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
ACTION/FANTASY

PLOT:  The government wants to put in affect the Anti-Hero Registration Act.  Iron Man agrees but Captain America does not.  Many heroes choose sides with violent consequences.

                OMG this film was excellent!  It is like the superhero cartoons you see on TV only it’s live action but much darker but there is humor too.  Fans who love superheroes will LOVE this movie.  It has action sequences that are AMAZING!  The main villain Zemo is not really that good but he is vital and serves a purpose.  The heroic cast was great but mini spoiler the Hulk and Thor are not in it.  SEE this movie if you can and remember don’t jump out of the seat after the movie is over!

NINA
BIOGRAPHY/DRAMA

PLOT:  The story about the legendary singer Nina Simone near the end of her life.

                The trouble with biopics they never get it right and with Nina is worse because Latina Zoe Saldana plays the troubled but talented singer.  Blacks are mad as hell because it should have gone to a black actress.   It is important because being a dark-skinned full lipped woman is frowned upon in America so she wanted to sing about and be an activist about it. I would have picked Viola Davis. 

Another thing people are upset with is that it’s inaccurate---alot.  Her assistant, manager and nurse named Clifton Henderson played by David Oyelowo (Selma) assumed they had a romantic relationship but he was openly gay.  Some people overlook the way the actors look if they get their “essence” of the person.  The Saldana is very good but it is not Nina Simone.  Read articles, books and her music than see this movie.  If you are that curious watch it but if not--wait for it to come on TV.



KC Web Developer

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Fantasy, Exploitation and Reality



PRIDE AND PREJUDICE & ZOMBIES
ACTION/HORROR

PLOT:  Five young women are pressured to marry and protect themselves from zombies!

                Novelist Jane Austen never thought her book would have zombies in it!  Five trained beauties in 19th century England are pressured to marry while a mysterious disease is spreading. It is outrageous but the ladies are no damsels in distress and they can handle themselves in battle.  If you like the premise watches it but if not wait until video.

HUNTSMAN’S THE WINTER WAR
ADVENTURE/FANTASY

PLOT:  Sisters and rival queens search for the magical mirror.

                This is a prequel about two sisters Ravenna and Freya (Charlize Theron and Emily Blunt) and Ravenna brings the evil side of her sister out.  Freya becomes queen in her own kingdom and rises children to be warriors but NO ONE must fall in love.  Two of the children are Eric, the huntsman by Chris Hemsworth and Sara Jessica Chastain.  They committee the worst sin:  they fall in love and that love is put to the test.  Freya seeking more power orders Eric to find the mirror and the journey begins.  Snow White is in the film in for a hot minute, Theron isn’t in there much either but when she is she is wickedness to behold!!  Instead of accent every word in the first film she speaks in whispers this time but she cold and calculating.  Blunt is good too as the good sister before events turn her. Hemsworth is handsome but what accent did he have? The special effects are excellent.  It is great if you like fairytales.

RISEN
BIBLICAL DRAMA
  
PLOT:  A warrior searches for Jesus’ body after the Resurrection.

                Clavius (Joseph Fiennes) a Roman warrior sent by the king to seek the body of Christ.  When he can’t find him he searches for Jesus’ disciplines.  He does find them and when he witnesses the miracles that Christ performs that changes him.  The film is very good for it shows Jesus as an ordinary man with incredible powers-not dressed in white with a far-away stare.  It is great for the faith-base audience.



KC Web Developer

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Several Kinds of Jungle




ALLEGIANT
ACTION/SCI-FI/ YOUNG ADULT

PLOT:   Divergent series part three.

                Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) escape outside Chicago seeking a better world but it is just as corrupt and horrible as their home and soon they have to save it.  It wasn’t as good as Insurgent but it did have its moments.  I believe there will be a part two as with all books Hollywood breaks the last book into two parts.  If you can wait until video please wait.

13 HOURS:  THE SPECIAL SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI
DRAMA/ACTION

PLOT: The true story of six military men who defend the U.S. embassy.

                The film is an inside account of the brave operatives who needed help and protected the best they could the compound they were in.  The fight scenes are intense and Michael Bay, who is known for popcorn movies shows he can make a serious action movie.  The question is why these men never received any military assistance when they asked for it?  Who is responsible?  Michael Bay did not want to make it political but unfortunately it is for it sadly shows once again can we trust our elected officials.  The film was in theaters in a hot minute then suspiciously gone.  The video release arrives June 7.

THE JUNGLE BOOK
FANTASY

PLOT:  An updated version of The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling.

                Disney in 1967 made the animated version of the same name and now they used CGI.  The story is about a boy named Mowgli (Neal Sethi) raised by wolves and the evil Shere Khan voiced by Idris Elba wants him dead because he is human and what his father did to him. The film is visually amazing and the voice actors are outstanding which include Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Lupital Nyongo and Christopher Walken but Elba’s Khan is menacingly good!!  Highly recommended.
KC Web Developer

Monday, April 11, 2016

On Justice and Aliens



TRIPLE 9
CRIME DRAMA

PLOT:  Dirty cops and Russian mafia try to make a big heist but are stopped by a good cop.

                This movie should have been fantastic with the A-list cast that includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrleson and Kate Winslet. It has action but most of the characters are crazy, corrupt or killers.  Not too many people to root for.

BATMAN VS SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE
ACTION/ADVENTURE/FANTASY

PLOT:  Two iconic superheroes fight each other.

                Superman (Henry Cavill) destroyed much of Metropolis but saved a lot of people as well.  Congress wants him to give himself up for he is too dangerous but he has been set –up by Lex Luther (Jesse Eisenberg).  Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck) is upset he destroyed his building but more importantly the people.  They packed a lot of action and story in this one movie but the best part is when the two superheroes attack each other!  Affleck’s Batman is badass!  He is more like the Punisher but he does have his reasons. 

Many fans (including myself) didn’t think he could be good as Batman but he is.  Cavill’s Superman is okay.  Eisenberg as Lex is annoyingly arrogant and evil.  I wish they chose Mark Strong.  I believe he will be better in the next movie.  Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) isn’t in the film much but when she is she ready to battle!  To comic book fans they crammed many things together and the origin of Doomsday is good but not correct. The fight sequences are just great!  In short, it is an adult, long, epic Saturday morning cartoon.  When the movie arrives on video there will be an R-rated version.  That sounds interesting.

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE
HORROR/SUSPENSE

PLOT:  Young woman after an accident is in a cellar with two men.

                First of all this film is not a sequel or prequel to the 2008  Cloverfield.  I heard the name was used just to make money off the popular movie.  Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter) is leaving her boyfriend Ben.  She is on the road and she crashes with another car and when she wakes she is in a room with no windows and chained up.  Howard (John Goodman) tells her he saved her but did he?  Is he nice, nuts or just lonely? There is also another guest/prisoner named Emmett (John Gallagher Jr). 

They are a happy family for a while but Michelle is planning her escape.  Let me just say it is slow moving but it becomes more interesting near the end.  Once again John Goodman is amazing!  An award of any kind is long overdue.  Winstead is great too.  She is the most resourceful woman I have seen on screen for a long time.   Will they make a sequel?  Only box office will tell.



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Thursday, March 24, 2016

Easter Candy Movies 2016




GODS OF EGPYT
ACTION/FANTASY

PLOT:    Two gods fight for Egypt while the humans are in the middle.

                Horus (Nikotaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones) god of air and Set (Gerald Butler, 300) god of darkness determinted to rule and Set have a violent, hostile takeover and it is up to a human young man Bek (Brenton Thwaites) to help Horus.  You have seen this story a dozen times.  The film is very vivid and very LOUD.  The bad part of the film is the casting.  People were complained with that title there should have been actors of Egyptian descent.  Most of the stars are English, Australian or Scottish!  Maybe the entire lead cast should have gotten a tan.  The cast was good even though Butler Scottish accent slips a few times.  It is not doing well in theaters but it will do well on video.

ZOOTOPIA
ANIMATED

PLOT:  Career driven bunny wants to be a cop.

                Judy Hopps, a cute young rabbit always doing what you can’t do goes to Zootopia (against her parents) to become a cop.  They police force do not take her seriously and she gets involved with a case with the help of a fox, Nick Wilde that reaches all the way to the top of authority.  Pretty intense for an animated movie but it is as good as a live action cop thriller.  It is funny and clever too.  Adults will love it as well as children.

LONDON HAS FALLEN
ACTION

PLOT: The sequel to Olympus Has Fallen.

                Mike Banning (Gerald Butler) is still President Archer’s top security body guard so when the Prime Minister dies off they go to London and all hell breaks loose! A terrorist named Aamir Barkwi (Alon Aboutboul) knows powerful leaders all over the world will pay their respects and he and his men killed them all except the US President, they want him killed  live for the world to see .  You have seen it all before just the body count is bigger.  If you enjoy action you will love it despite all the madness that could never happen.


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