A Movie That Will Put You In A "Rage"

Rage (2014)

Rated R

Starring Nicolas Cage, Rachel Nichols, Danny Glover

Directed by Paco Cabezas

The Story:

Paul Maguire (Cage) is a former criminal who has lived the straight and narrow life for some time. However, when his daughter is kidnapped, and then turns up murdered, he assumes that members of the Russian mob have decided to come after him.  So he rounds up his old buddies, and they search for his daughter's killer, using any means necessary.

Never heard of this one?  It was originally titled "Tokarev".

Never heard of that one either?

You're not missing anyting.

Cage's latest direct-to-DVD affair (or at least it seems like it) is the worst yet.

Stolen was pretty good. The Frozen Ground had its moments. Seeking Justice was okay.

I watched this one, but the eyes pretty much glassed over by the halfway point.

Thankfully, I had homework to keep me occupied and I kept looking back up to see if the movie was getting any better.

Nope, just louder and more violent.

Your typical twists and turns as the body count rises.

Then, there's the big reveal of who really killed his daughter.

I was only half-paying attention, and I figured out the killer an hour earlier, and could have easily saved the lives of 30 extras.

:)


Available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nah, the latest in a string of Cage's direct to DVD features is my least favorite of the bunch.

This Review Could Get Me In "Big Trouble In Little China" And Possibly Other Places As Well!

Big Trouble In Little China (1986)

Rated PG-13

Starring Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun,

Directed by John Carpenter

The Story:

Jack Burton (Russell) is a truck driver who is helping a friend (Dun) and a lawyer (Cattrall) who are fighting by supernatural forces to save a girl with green eyes.  Mayhem, chaos, and cheesy special effects abound.

No, until today, I had never seen Big Trouble in Little China.

I wonder if this is one of those films that if I watched it back when I was younger, would I have fond memories of this film?

Because without those rose-colored glasses, this movie is the very definition of a B movie.

Kurt Russell hams it up and has a great time as the hero, but other than that...

Nah, I can't find anything redeeming or worthwhile about this one.


Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

I'll be generous with my grade today.

Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: No... I'm amazed I watched it all the way through this time.

An Old-Fashioned Sunday Western..."The Sons of Katie Elder"

The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)

Not Rated

Starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, James Gregory, Dennis Hopper, George Kennedy

Directed by Henry Hathaway

The Story:

Katie Elder has passed away, and her three of her four sons return home to see her buried. However when the oldest (Wayne) comes back into town, there's a hitman (Kennedy) waiting to send him packing, and an overzealous lawman waiting to put him behind bars. It appears another rancher (Gregory) had swindled the Elder ranch away from Katie and their father. Since their dad was gunned down and no murderer was ever found, the boys decide to do a little investigating on their own.

Ah, this takes me back to my days of growing up.

Westerns, Our Gang comedies and Abbott and Costello movies were a staple for me growing up, watching them on the weekends with my dad.

For dad, Roy Rogers was the pinnacle of cowboy hero, but most everyone else probably gives Wayne the nod for cowboy hero of the cinema.

As for me, this movie was rather slow.

The most interesting character in the film was Katie Elder.

We knew more about her than anyone else in the film, and that's a credit to all the information given by all the characters in discussing the late Mrs. Elder.

Wayne plays John Wayne, and by this time in his career, it was pretty much auto-pilot.

Dean Martin signed on to co-star with Wayne again and gets the most screen time and plot of all the brothers not named John Wayne. :)

Naturally, a lot of conclusions are jumped to by the townspeople as the movie rolls along.

It's a bit tedious with all of the circumstances that stack up in this movie.

At least it's all tied together with a lovely Elmore Bernstein score.

:)


Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nope, once was plenty on this one.

These "Bears" Could Use Some Foraging Advice From Yogi

Bears (2014)

Rated G

Narrated by John C. Reilly

Directed by Alastaire Fothergill and Keith Scholey

The Story:

In the latest DisneyNature documentary, John C. Reilly narrates the adventures of an Alaskan brown bear over the course of a year as she protects and raises her two newborn cubs.

If you've seen any of the other DisneyNature documentaries, you know what to expect.

Reilly does his best narrating a story with gorgeous scenery, but many of the lines fall flat, or deliver eye-rolling groans of "who writes this stuff?"

However, they're making these for the kids, so I guess you have to take what you're given.

The film chronicles the life of Skye, the mother bear as she raises her two cubs Scout and Amber.  She must work hard to keep the cubs alive and safe from other bears who would like nothing better than eating her babies for a snack while they wait for the salmon to arrive.

The scenery is nothing short of amazing.

At a little over an hour, it's not too taxing on you either.


Final Grade: C, maybe a C+ on a good day.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I'd have to pass on watching this one again. Cute once, but that was plenty.

A True Story That Helped Change The World... "Belle"

Belle (2013)

Rated PG

Starring Matthew Goode, Emily Watson, Tom Wilkinson, Sarah Gadon, Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Directed by Amma Assante

The Story:

Dido Elizabeth Belle (Raw) comes to live with her uncle, Lord Mansfield (Wilkonson) when her father (Goode) drops her off. She is raised with her cousin Elizabeth (Gadon), but though she is raised to enjoy much of the benefits of her noble bloodline, her color keeps her at a distance with what she is able to do.

Naturally, this is based on a true story!

Of course, in a period drama like this, there are two things that will happen.

First, there's the forbidden romance (Sam Reid) that should not be allowed in the late 18th Century.

Finally, there is the historical event that centered around Lord Mansfield as the Supreme Justice who was faced with a monumental ruling that would forever change the slave trade in Britain.

A very competent cast, and a surprisingly shorter running time than movies typical to the period dramas, not a bad film, but nothing exceptionally noteworthy to make this a must see.


Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Probably not, long period dramas rarely get multiple replays.

Good Grief! "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

TV-G

Starring Charlie Brown, Linus, Sally, Lucy, Snoopy

Directed by Bill Melendez

The Story:

It's Halloween time again! Sally is torn between going out for tricks or treats with everyone else, or sitting in the most sincere pumpkin patch around with Linus, awaiting the arrival of The Great Pumpkin. Meanwhile, Snoopy relives the drama of World War I fighting The Red Baron.

Yeah, it has nothing to do with Halloween, but what can you do?

So, this classic is nearing 50 years airing every year at this time.

I'm pretty sure that nobody hasn't seen this at least once in their lifetime.

It's the first true sign that fall is upon us, and we begin that crazy calendar countdown to the even better Charlie Brown Christmas special.

:) 

Every year, I want to go as Charlie Brown and cut up a white sheet with about 80 eye holes in it.

Plus, I wonder about all the evil parents that actually have rocks in the candy bowl to hand to children.

Tough crowd!

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I actually need to buy a new copy as the one I have has several scratches that cause too much skipping/freezing.  Pesky kids. ;)

At Least More Wanted Than The Last Film..."Muppets Most Wanted"

Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

Rated PG

Starring Kermit the Frog, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell

Directed by James Bobin

The Story:

In the aftermath of the last movie, Kermit and the Gang are approached by an agent (Gervais) to go on a world tour. However, it is all a nefarious plot  to abduct Kermit and allow the most dangerous frog alive, Constantine, to take his place and steal priceless works of art. Kermit must attempt to free himself from a Russian gulag run by Nadya (Fey) and get back to his friends and Miss Piggy, none of whom even noticed Kermit had been replaced.

True story: I enjoyed this sequel much more than the 2011 film, The Muppets. It was okay, but I wanted to see the Muppets. Instead, much of the focus was on a brand new Muppet, Walter, and his brother (Jason Segal) and his love interest (Amy Adams).

Hello?

It's a movie about Muppets.

Nobody wants to see humans, except in supporting roles or bit cameos to enhance the story.

When the humans are a large chunk of the story, the charm is missing.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Instead, this film breaks right into the first of many musical numbers (so if you're scared of musicals...run away!) where they even explain why they're doing the sequel.

Comic genius.

The only problem? The sequel was better, so well done to James Bobin who also helped write the movie.

Overall, pretty fun stuff and the new voices of the Muppets are doing a fantastic job.

Of course, I'll give a special shoutout to Dave Goelz, the man behind Gonzo.  As the only original performer still working on his characters, he makes a great link to the storied past with Henson and the bright future that the Muppets are headed into.

If you've loved them before, this one is worth coming back to.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Probably not as I am the biggest Muppet fan in the house, but one I could watch again in the future and enjoy.

Guaranteed To Drive You Batty..."Gotham"

Gotham (2014)

TV-14

Starring Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, Sean Pertwee, David Mazouz, Jada Pinkett Smith

The Story:

Perhaps you've heard of a young man named Bruce Wayne (Mazouz) whose parents are gunned down one night. Now learn the dirty details about what happened in Gotham years before Batman showed up on the scene.

Being able to expand and expound on the rich history of Gotham is something that could never truly be shown in a movie.

A slow, dramatic series on Fox is just what DC needs to tell this story.

Wisely, they've picked the best bits and  pieces of comic book lore to fill up Gotham with dirty crooks, dirty cops and a brand new detective named James Gordon (McKenzie) who someday will rise to the position of Commissioner.

However, that's not coming for some time. Like, never, at least in this series.

Instead, enjoy the ride as Gordon teams up with crusty detective Harvey Bullock (Logue) as the two begin to track down the Wayne murderer, and enjoy seeing Batman's rogues gallery before they don their own costumes and embark on the criminal career the are known and loathed for.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled that they included the Falcone crime family from the excellent issues by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.

One big negative... Alfred's (Pertwee) accent.

Not. A. Fan.

It's minor thing, but a thing nonetheless. 

So far, so good. I'll be back next week!

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It's the first series from DC that I've watched, so that's a huge plus.

Never Fly "Non-Stop" With Liam Neeson

Non-Stop (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore,

Directed by Jaume Collett-Serra

The Story:

Bill Marks (Neeson) is an Air Marshal. Boarding a flight to London, he begins to receive texts on his secure phone. If he doesn't pay a huge ransom, passengers will start being murdered every 20 minutes. As if on cue, the body count starts piling up, but on a flight full of red herrings and authorities on the ground thinking Marks has gone rogue, the odds are stacked against him.

First bad guys stole his family.

Now they've stolen his plane!

Wait, wrong movie franchise.

:)

Neeson has reinvigorated his career as the quiet, angry man who gets things done.

I've enjoyed both Taken films and found The Grey, well, to be less than spectacular.

This one is much more in line with the Taken franchise, along with every other action hero against the odds film ever made.

As the movie rolls along at a fairly quick pace, passengers are revealed as suspects, get cleared or wind up as victims at a rapid pace.  Soon, much like Neeson, you're wondering who really is the hijacker?

Then you begin to wonder...

Is Neeson suffering from split personality disorder?

Now the trick will be to see if they bring this back with a sequel?


Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Pretty good flick, but not a whole lot of replay factor in it once the mystery is solved.

"The Firm" Encourages You To Ignore This Movie

The Firm (1993)

Rated R

Starring Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman, Hal Holbrook, Wilford Brimley, Ed Harris,

Directed by Sydney Pollack

The Story:

Mitch McDeere (Cruise) is a hotshot law school graduate who has his pick of law firms.  When a small firm in Memphis comes calling, they make him an offer that he literally can't refuse. As Mitch gets deeper and deeper into the law firm, he discovers some secrets that put his life in jeopardy. Mitch enters a desperate gambit to break free of their clutches and avoid going to prison himself.

I forgot how much I really enjoy this film.

Probably my favorite John Grisham adaptation, Cruise is at the top of his game as the smartest lawyer in school who moves on to be a great lawyer in his own right.

Littered with an all-star cast, every player in the film adds their own layer of intrigue to the film.

The intrigue and paranoia ratchet up a notch as each minute passes.

The movie is long, nearly 2 1/2 hours, but it never feels like it.

Ready for a great legal thriller, look no further.

It still holds up really well for being over 20 years old.


Available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I already own it, but it had been over a decade since I last watched it. Still holds up.

Nothing Ever Truly Stays In Vegas... "Think Like A Man Too"

Think Like A Man Too (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Megan Good, Regina Hall, Gabrielle Union, Terrence Jenkins, Romany Malco

Directed by Tim Story

The Story:

All of the couples from Think Like A Man return as they prepare for the marriage of Michael and Candace (Jenkins & Hall) in Vegas. Cedric (Hart) has the whole thing under control as Best Man and wants to make sure everyone has the night of their lives.

Naturally, everything is about to go off course in a most spectacular fashion!

A great cast attempts to lift the usual shenanigans for a bachelor party in Vegas to lofty heights.

It doesn't work, but at least they try. ;)

There's nothing bad about the film.

Each of the couples' issues will be mostly resolved by the end of the film.

And yes, they even manages to make it to the altar before it's all over.

So the bottom line, if you enjoyed the first film, you won't mind spending about 90 minutes with some old friends.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Amusing but no need to revisit anytime soon.

Schwing Time! "Wayne's World"

Wayne's World (1992)

Rated PG-13

Starring Mike Meyers, Dana Carvey, Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere

Directed by Penelope Spheeris

The Story:

Wayne (Meyers) and best friend Garth (Carvey) host a local cable access show from Wayne's basement in Illinois.  When a sleazy businessman (Lowe) gets designs to use their show to promote a local arcade, will success go to the boys' heads?  Or will they stay true to themselves and stick it to the man?

One of many brilliant late 80's / early 90s Saturday Night Live skits that spawned catch phrases into pop culture consciousness and followed with one of the most successful SNL movies of all time.

No way!
Way!!

The movie still is amusing and holds up reasonably well for closing in on 25 years.

25 years?!

Let that one sink in for a moment.

The movie has pure moments of brilliance surrounded by pockets of amusement.

Which, at the end of the day, that's not a bad thing for any comedy.


Meyers and Carvey make the most of their dimwitted duo, and Rob Lowe proves to be exceptionally slimy as the villain of the film.

If it's been a few decades since you last gave it a whirl, well, what are you waiting for?

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Still mostly holds up, but not a huge rush as it's not a definite crowd-pleaser at my place.

Strange Things Are Afoot At The Circle K! "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Rated PG

Starring Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin,

Directed by Stephen Herek

The Story:

Bill (Winter) and Ted (Reeves) are two San Dimas California slackers who are apparently destined to make the future a better place.  However, to make sure that the duo aren't separated forever because of failing history in high school, a time traveler (Carlin) comes back to allow the boys to get a better grasp on history by way of time machine.

Whoa!

The celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the films of 1989 continues with a pair of slackers named Bill & Ted.

Keanu Reeves had a most excellent 1989 starring in this and the ensemble comedy, Parenthood.

Essentially, he played the same character.

:)

Having not seen Bill & Ted upon initial release, I do not have the luxury of rose-colored glasses to sway my  review.

It's cheesy. It's goofy.

But at the end of the day, it's still cute enough.

Most of  the charm comes from the various people brought back through time to modern day California and to see how they react to society and each other.

Naturally, if you watched this one when it was released, you'll find my rating is probably lower than yours.

That's okay.

Time travel might be used to change my rating eventually anyway.  ;)

Available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B- / C+ range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Cute, but nothing awe-inspiring.  Perhaps if I had seen it at the time?

Get On Up, It's Bobsled Time! "Cool Runnings"

Cool Runnings (1993)

Rated PG

Starring John Candy, Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle Lewis, Malik Yoba,

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

The Story:

Based on the true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team.  When 3 promising sprinters (Leon, Lewis and Yoba) are involved in a botched Olympic trial, their dreams of competing in track are dashed.  When Derice learns that a former Olympian (Candy) and friend of his father lives on the island, he decides that they should try their hand at the Winter Olympics in the bobsled event.

The results will amuse and inspire you.

Over twenty years removed from this movie playing in theaters, and closing in on 30 years since the Jamaicans first captured the minds and hearts of the world, Cool Runnings is just as inspiring today as it was upon release.

This is truly an underdog story of a team that had no shot, and some would say they had no business even being there.

Yet, they nearly pulled off the 2nd greatest miracle on ice and captivated a world while they did it.

It should come as no surprise that Disney produced this film.  That is what they do best, family entertainment.

However, when real-life continues to give us these feel good stories, I'm glad that studios make them, and I'm happy to line up to keep seeing them.

Easily the greatest movie about bobsledding ever made.

:)

It is a bittersweet farewell to John Candy as the last good movie that he starred in. 

Recommended, especially if it's been 20 years since you've seen it, or never taken the plunge.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Own it. Love it. Watch it. Still makes me laugh and gives me goosebumps. :)

More Excitement Than The Real NFL "Draft Day"

Draft Day (2014)

Rated R (language)

Starring Kevin Costner, Chadwick Boseman, Jennifer Garner, Arian Foster, Frank Langella, Denis Leary, Josh Pence, Ellen Burstyn, Tom Welling

Directed by Ivan Reitman

The Story:

It's Draft Day for the NFL and the Cleveland Browns General Manager, Sonny Weaver (Costner) needs to make a splash in the draft.  To do that, he makes a fateful decision to move from # 7 to # 1 by giving up 3 First Round draft picks to Seattle for a new QB (Pence).  The Coach (Leary) is furious, and so is their current QB (Welling). The owner (Langella) is pleased to no end.  However, as the countdown to the draft continues, Sonny isn't sure whether he made the right decision or not. 

What a great movie.

Strangely, I didn't realize it was rated R at all.  I'm wondering if that's a typo? 

Aside from a bit of language sprinkled throughout, there was nothing in here worth slapping that rating on the film.

Cleveland. 

If you need to pick a franchise for a down on their luck sports story, Cleveland is the go-to city of choice.

My hope?

That this film will do for the Browns what Major League did for the Indians.

Shortly after the release of that film, the Indians finally started winning and making a run in the playoffs.

If any franchise ever needed a return to greatness, this is it.

Stolen from the city and moved to Baltimore, the Ohio fans could only watch in horror as their team won it all, under the banner of the Ravens.

For a nearly 2 hour movie, Draft Day moves along at a great clip, never dragging nor spending too much time on anything that could slow the pace.

You'll bounce from person to person, city to city, all the while Costner anchors the film as the  beleaguered misunderstood figure at the helm.

By the time the draft begins, you will be engrossed by what has happened, but know that the movie isn't done.

Not just yet anyway.

There's still a surprise or two up Sonny's sleeves.

If only the real NFL Draft was this much fun.

Final Grade: B+ maybe even an A-.  Either works.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I would happily own this one, and it is definitely a contender for Best of the Year status.

Only 100 Days Left Until "Pete's Christmas" !!

Pete's Christmas (2013)

Rated PG

Starring Zachary Gordon, Molly Parker, Rick Roberts, Bruce Dern

Directed by Peter Ganatra

The Story:

Poor Pete (Gordon). He awakens on Christmas Day and discovers that his parents (Parker and Roberts) forgot to get him anything for Christmas. Naturally, the day for this middle child just gets worse and worse.  At the end of the day, his grandpa (Dern) gives him an empty box and tells him that he's supposed to figure out why it's so special.  Then Pete wakes up to relive this terrible Christmas Day over, and over, and over...

Is it too soon for Christmas movies? I vote nonsense! It's never too soon! :)

However, Pete's Christmas started off a bit slow and I was leaning towards pulling it out and shipping it back unfinished.  I hadn't bothered reading the plot, just saw "hey, a new Christmas movie" and thought why not?

So naturally, all of the bad things keep piling onto Pete.

But that's where this movie actually kicked things up a notch.

Other films start off strong and get weaker as they limp to the end.

This one started off slow, but built and then finished strong.

Filled with some good actors, everything plays out nicely as Pete learns that the only way to make Christmas stop, is to learn that there is more to Christmas than just getting (or not getting) a gift.

Eventually he learns, and yes, he even figures out what the mysterious empty box is all about.

Very sweet after all.


Final Grade: C+/B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Probably not.  My honey is not a big fan of the Groundhog Day type of films, and I have to choose those wisely.  Maybe in a few years. :)

He Comes In Peace. Mostly. "Megamind"

Megamind (2010)

Rated PG

Starring Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill

Directed by Tom McGrath

The Story:

Megamind (Ferrell) is the world's greatest supervillain.  However, he is constantly kept in check by Metro Man (Pitt).  After years of putting Roxanne (Fey) in peril, the relationship is changed forever when Megamind kills Metro Man!  Missing his heroic arch-nemesis, Megamind creates a new hero to fight (Hill).  But when he goes rogue to use his powers for evil, Megamind must become the hero he never wanted to become.

A loving homage to superheroes, Dreamworks unleashed Megamind to help put a twist on the genre.

While not the perfection of The Incredibles, this film still has quite a bit to offer, not the least of which is the top-notch vocal talents of the 4 lead characters.

Dreamworks Animation continues to produce stealth classics that are overlooked and under-appreciated by the audience and critics.

I would be more than happy to see a sequel in the future, but I don't see that coming anytime soon.

So in the meantime, I'll just sit back and enjoy this one.

I think as time passes, this one will get more appreciated for all that it has to offer.

Final Grade: Solid B, maybe B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I already own it, and it's a fun one to pop in and rewatch every so often.

Here Kitty Kitty... "Cat Run"

Cat Run (2011)

Rated R for gratuitous violence, nudity and language

Starring Paz Vega, Janet McTeer, Alphonso McAuley, Scott Mechlowicz, Christopher McDonald

Directed by John Stockwell

The Story:

Cat (Vega) is a high priced call girl who is brought in for a night of debauchery for a U.S. Senator (McDonald).  However, when the night goes terribly wrong, security eliminates all of the ladies, except Cat who escapes with a disc filled with evidence that the Senator is a naughty boy.  Meanwhile, two Americans (Mechlowicz and McAuley) decide to start a private investigator business, and their first assignment is to catch Cat.  Little do they know that a ruthless assassin (McTeer) is hot on her trail.

:: whew ::

That's a lot of exposition for this little B movie!

This is an odd-duck of a film.

Is it trying to be a hip, ultraviolent thriller.  Or does it want to be a cheeky comedy.

Oddly, it tries to be quite a bit of both, sometimes alternating between tones, sometimes blending those two movies into one.

The movie is one that alternates between splattering blood across the camera lens and one that is trying to make you laugh.

Then, some of the bloodshed squirms dangerously close into the horror genre, so this film is really all over the place.

Yet, it remains interesting enough throughout to keep your attention.

Of special note is McTeer's steely assassin.  Imagine a younger, more violently ruthless Helen Mirren from Red, and you've got this down pat.  That they named her Helen, well I just chalk that up to a worthy homage.

Also nice to see Mechlowicz on screen again.  Haven't seen him much since EuroTrip. :)

Naturally, a sequel is in the works.  Scheduled to be released this year, I'm sure I'll give it a try when I find it on Netflix.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this moment.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: A good one and done, subject content is just too much for any replay factor around here.

Oh Yes It's Ladies Night... "Moms' Night Out"

Moms' Night Out (2014)

PG

Starring Sarah Drew, Sean Astin, Patricia Heaton, Trace Adkins, Andrea Logan White, Robert Amaya, Kevin Downes, Alex Kendrick, Abbie Cobb

Directed by Andrew & Jon Erwin

The Story:

Allyson (Drew) has hit the wall. She feels like a terrible mom and if only she could get out for night to recharge her batteries.  Planning a night out with her two best friends (White & Heaton) while the guys (Astin, Amaya & Downes) watch the kids.  What could possibly go wrong?  Just about everything...

From the folks who have been bringing us some fine Christian dramas, they have turned their eyes towards comedy.

How'd they do?

Not bad, not bad at all.

Bringing in their biggest "names" yet, all the characters are given just enough space and room to be individuals instead of cookie cutter background characters.

The action and mayhem snowballs from a reservation gone awry to a lost child, and just about everything in between.

Is it too much?  Maybe...

But as a parent, you should recognize one of those days when one thing goes wrong, how seemingly everything else that could go wrong on that same day is about to happen.

There's several scenes that are downright hilarious, traffic stop, I'm looking at you.

Is there a Christian message tucked in there somewhere?  Of course.  However it isn't one that is delivered over and over (and over) again like a sledgehammer, so this film could be watched by people of just about any faith (or lack thereof) and not bristle too much.

At the end of the day, everyone gets a little frazzled in the world, and there's nothing wrong with that.

It gives you an opportunity to bounce back and recharge, and someday, maybe far, far down the road, you'll look back on your bad days and have a really good laugh about how rough it was.

In the meantime, you can laugh at their bad day instead.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I'd watch it again!

Murder Most Fun! "See No Evil, Hear No Evil"

See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)

Rated R for language and nudity

Starring Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder, Joan Severance, Kevin Spacey

Directed by Arthur Hiller

The Story:

Wally (Pryor) is blind. Dave (Wilder) is deaf.  They are both witness to a murder committed by Eve (Severance).  The problem, nobody believes them, and when they escape from the police to find the killer themselves, the chase is on!

Hahahahaha... I forgot how funny this movie was.

I really only remembered the line "Fuzzy wuzzy was a woman".

If you've never seen the film before, you'll understand after you watch it.

If you have, it should bring back pleasant memories.

Reuniting Wilder and Pryor was a no-brainer that Hollywood simply failed to take full advantage of.

They teamed with Hiller, their director from the first collaboration, Silver Streak, and once again murder most foul played an important role in the storyline.

Amusingly, the object that everyone is chasing after is almost an afterthought by the end of the film.

Instead, the fun is having a blind and deaf guy chase bad guys across town while evading the police.

There are several hilarious gags that unfold during the film, and Pryor and Wilder sell it like the comedic champs they are.

Also, a very notable, largish role for Kevin Spacey before he became... Kevin Spacey!

Available for streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Very funny stuff.  It had been about 25 years since I last saw it.  Hopefully I don't wait as long next time.

Unclassified..."Hitler's G.I. Death Camp"

Hitler's G.I. Death Camp (2011)

Documentary

Narrated by Liev Schreiber

Written and Directed by Steven Hoggard

The Story:

From the National Geographic Explorers show comes the true story of American soldiers captured at the Battle of the Bulge and turned into POWs.  Over 300 were isolated because of suspected Jewish ancestry and sent to the Berga Concentration Camp.  They began working to build underground tunnels to work on Hitler's secret rocket fuel.

As the war drew to a close, the Nazis forced them to march away from the camp as quickly as possible.  The race was on to see if they would be liberated before they died from the death march.

Even Americans were dragged into Hitler's dream of a new world order, this documentary shines a light on an untold tale of drama and despair from the hundreds of soldiers who were forced into the Nazi slave labor camps.

It is a quick, insightful documentary that cannot possibly begin to do justice to the terrible tragedies endured by the hundreds of Americans and millions of German and Jewish people from neighboring countries.

However, it is a good place to start.


Available for streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Too depressing to watch repeatedly, but well worth at least one viewing.

Kinda Fast...Sorta Furious... "Need For Speed"

Need For Speed (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots, Scott Mescudi, Rami Malek, Ramon Rodriguez

Directed by Scott Waugh

The Story:

Tobey (Paul) and his buddies at the garage take on a job fixing a Shelby Mustang for former Indy driver Dino Brewster  (Cooper) because Toby needs the money.  Rivals on and off the streets, Tobey and Dino have a race for money which ends in tragedy.  When Tobey is paroled, he sets out to join a famous street race to get revenge on the man who killed his friend and left him to rot in jail.

Easily the best movie about street racing since the Fast and the Furious.  Probably the best one based on a video game racer as well.

:)

Not hard to be the best when there isn't any competition.

Hard to complain too much about anything in this film.  Of course there's plot holes the size of Ferraris, but that's okay, the stunts and driving scenes make up for most of those.

On top of that, most of the supporting cast is pretty fun and adds some layers that would otherwise leave the film really boring and really predictable.

Aaron Paul spends most of his time growling, scowling and grimacing his way through the movie.

If Ben Affleck hadn't been hired, I would assume he's auditioning to be the next Batman. ;)

However, every once in a while he lets out a joke or a smile or a whiff of personality, and he's not half bad in the lead role.

Overall, a silly little bit of fluff that doesn't harm the Need For Speed name at all..

Final Grade: B-/C+ range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Good harmless fun with almost enough charm to own.  Time will tell.

Raising Children Isn't Easy Since "Instructions Not Included"

Instructions Not Included (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Eugenio Derbez, Loreto Peralta, Jessica Lindsey

Directed by Eugenio Derbez

The Story:

Valentin (Derbez) is a playboy living the life in Acapulco when a woman from his past (Lindsey) shows up with a baby on his doorstep.  She hands the baby to Valentin goes to pay the cab... and disappears.  Valentin takes the baby to L.A. to find the mother when fate intervenes and launches Valentin onto a new career path.  As he raises Maggie (Peralta) he comes to love and cherish that little girl.  But when the mother returns and wants to take Maggie back with her, Valentin's world begins to crumble.

What a sweet movie.

Get your glasses on, because 90% of the movie is reading subtitles, but it's worth it.

The story is a really wonderful tale about the father and daughter bonding.  Your heart melts as Valentin grows fonder and fonder of his daughter throughout the film.

As the final act unfolded, however, I began to become irritated with the direction the movie was taking.  I was ready to drop this into the "C" range, my disappointment was building throughout the court case.

Thankfully, the story spun into another direction that I wasn't expecting and the movie was salvaged for me, and the rating improved from a solid B to consideration for best of the year status.

It's really good, pretty funny and really sweet...

But bring a tissue or two.  You're going to need them.

Available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B+ 

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: The gut-punch ending doesn't dampen the beautiful story.  Probably a one and done, but you never know...

"Unstoppable" Was More Like ' Unwatchable '

Unstoppable (2013)

Documentary

Directed by Darren Doane

Written and Starring Kirk Cameron

The Story:

Kirk Cameron, the lightning rod of religious controversy returns with his latest documentary where he attempts to explain why bad things happen to good people.

Good luck, Kirk!

Want proof that I don't praise every Christian film that comes along? Look no further than Unstoppable.

It means well, and I'm happy that Cameron has an outlet to preach the gospel.

This one however feels more than a bit off to me.

Taking the death of a young man and friend of Kirk as the basis of the story, some cheesy reenactments of stories from the Bible will show that bad things have happened to good people since the beginning of time.

Unless I blinked and missed the great revelation of why it happens, I left this one unimpressed.

On a positive note, at least it was barely an hour long.

Now available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I'd have to pass on bothering with this one again.

Does Whatever A Spider Can... "Amazing Spider-Man 2"

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Sally Field

Directed by Marc Webb

The Story:

Peter Parker (Garfield) returns to graduate from high school and move on to college.  After the events from the first movie, he feels that it is time to say farewell to Gwen Stacey (Stone) before something bad happens to her.  Ah, but fate is fickle, and with the changing of the guard at Oscorp, and a tragic incident involving Max Dillon (Foxx), Peter wishes he was only facing the Lizard this go round.

I don't get all the hate directed towards this installment, or this reboot.

I stand by my assessment that Marc Webb has created a much more coherent universe for Spidey to swing around in.

Garfield and Stone are head and shoulders more invested into their characters than Maguire and Dunst ever managed in their trilogy.

I've heard complaints that there were too many villains and the plot was too convoluted to follow, and again I must shake my head and wonder if I was watching a different movie.

Now, was it perfect?

No.  Marvel Studios had superhero perfection locked down this year with Cap 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Even the X-Men franchise got collectively better this summer.

A minor quibble, I've never cared for the Electro redesign or what they did with his powers.  I like the yellow and green costume, but that didn't totally derail the film.

So what went wrong with Spidey 2?

Here's my guess, and spoilers for those that haven't gotten around to seeing the movie yet, or have zero knowledge of what happened in the comics back in the 60s...

Gwen died.

It was haunting and poetic the way they worked it into the movie, and in the end it was indeed very well done.

However...

When you own the characters and are already able to diverge from the comic continuity to tell a great story...

Webb and the writers could have EASILY not killed Gwen, at least in this installment.  After all, it was nearly a decade in real time before Gwen died at the hands of Norman Osborne.

So as you see: 1) There was no rush to kill Gwen.  2) Norman's death immediately changed history so that Gwen did not have to get bumped off so soon, if ever.

This death would have been better served when it was time for Stone (and Garfield) to move on from the franchise.

This franchise had "date movie" potential for a superhero movie and by the 2nd of a planned trilogy, the rug is pulled out from under that idea.

That's just my opinion.  What's done is done.

Either way, I'll be back for the next installment.  I'm still digging this reboot way more than I ever did with Raimi's installments.

Final Grade: I'm still sticking with a B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I'll pick it up one of these days.

So That's What They Look Like... "I Know That Voice"

I Know That Voice (2013)

Documentary

Starring John DiMaggio, Kevin Conroy, Jim Cummings, Matt Groening

Directed by Lawrence Shapiro

The Story:

In the beginning there was Mel Blanc.  Now there are hundreds of voice actors giving life to cartoons, commercials, video games, etc.

These are their stories.

DiMaggio takes us behind the scenes in Hollywood where he reveals how he and a lot of others give their talents to bring our favorite shows to life.

The talent on display is too much to mention in this little space.  Needless to say what they do is absolutely amazing.  The voices they can switch in and out of at the drop of a hat is simply staggering.

While none is a jack-of-all-voices like Mel Blanc was, several of them have ensured that until they pass on or retire, they are so good at what they do, they have job security for life.

At the end of the day, these are actors who fall in between superstars and character actors.

But bring them out to a Comic/Sci-Fi convention, they are straight up superstars to the nerds who love them.


Now available to stream on Amazon Prime as of this writing.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: While I won't be rushing out to buy it, I would watch it again in the future, and I'm pretty sure my voice-actor obsessed kids would join me. ;)

They've Got Some Balls... "The Battered Bastards Of Baseball"

The Battered Bastards of Baseball (2014)

Documentary

Starring Kurt Russell, Todd Field

Directed by Chapman and Maclain Way

The Story:

In 1973, Bing Russell, Hollywood character actor and baseball aficionado paid $500 to own a minor league team in Portland Oregon.  It was not affiliated with any Major League team.  The baseball world laughed at Russell.  He had open try-outs that brought prospects from around America, many that were undrafted or cast out of other major league farm systems.  The Major League teams continued to laugh.  Then a funny thing happened over the next 5 years, and Major League Baseball was no longer laughing.

This is the true story of one of the greatest underdog stories in the history of sports.

Pile up all the sports David vs. Goliath movies that you've seen in your life...
Toss them into a blender...

And you have the amazing true story of the Portland Mavericks.

Bing Russell, who grew up idolizing the New York Yankees as a ball boy in their spring training games in Florida, moved to Hollywood and was a successful character actor.

You may have heard of his son, Kurt Russell.  Well Bing used Kurt to produce some films on the fundamentals of baseball.  They were so good, several Major League teams used the films to help their players.

Yes, Bing's love for the game never wavered, and when he got the chance to own the only independent franchise in baseball, he jumped at it.

The Mavericks were all about fun.  If there was a rule about baseball, Bing went out of his way to break it, and the Mavericks proved to be so successful, it was only a matter of time until the Major Leagues wanted a piece of the action.

I don't want to spoil it, because again, all of the cliches are on full display here.

Give it a whirl, especially if you love baseball, you won't be disappointed.

My only thought, is this really needs to be made into a feature film, and let Kurt play the part of his dad.

It's Hollywood, it could happen.


Available for streaming instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I'd happily watch it again, and if Netflix makes it available to purchase, I would add this to the baseball section of my DVD library.

Try Not To Offend "The Other Woman"

The Other Woman (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton, Nikola Coster-Waldau, Don Johnson, Niki Minaj

Directed by Nick Cassavetes

The Story:

Carly (Diaz) is a successful lawyer who has found the guy of her dreams (Waldau).  However, when she finds out that he is married to Kate (Mann), she immediately ends things.  When Kate discovers that her husband was cheating on her, she becomes depressed, then obsessed with hanging out with Carly.  When they both discover that he had been cheating on BOTH of them with Amber (Upton), then it's on.  The trio team up to take the scumbag down.

This was much funnier the first time I saw it.  It was called "The First Wives Club".

:)

This version falls squarely into the "it's okay" pile.

Good, not great.

Diaz does fine as the lead.  The story does a nice job of ensuring that none of the ladies are to blame for anything.  This is all squarely on the shoulders of the guy.  None of the girls know the others even exist, so you can sympathize with each of them.

However, while I normally enjoy Mann's work in film, this time she dials the screeching nutjob up just a hair too much and spends much of the movie being annoying.  You would think that someone that smart and supposedly independent would be a little stronger and less needy when the chips are down.

Upton isn't given a whole lot to do except parade around in a bikini.

However, she's given a funny ending that you'll see coming but is still a nice payoff for her character by the end of the film.

Why they decided to include Niki Minaj in this film, besides being able to say "this is her first role" is beyond me as that role could have (should have) been given to anyone that can actually act. :)

Finally, it was nice to see Don Johnson pop up, albeit way too briefly in the film.


Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Sorry, not enough going for this one to merit a purchase or to really bother to see again.

More Like A Sucker Punch... "The Love Punch"

The Love Punch (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Pierce Brosnan, Emma Thompson

Directed by Joel Hopkins

The Story:

Richard (Brosnan) and Kate (Thompson) are divorced, but still get along.  When Richard is set to retire from his company, he discovers that the company is under investigation and all assets are frozen.  Looks like the boss put all of that money into a priceless diamond. So Richard and Kate decide to get the money back to the company by stealing the diamond.

It's a romantic comedy heist film.

The problem, the heist is too easy, the romance is barely there, and it simply isn't that funny.

Both Brosnan and Thompson get to flex their comic muscles in roles that are departures from their typical roles.

That would work if the situations weren't overly cliche or just poorly conceived.  Plus, the film is sorely lacking a straight man in much of the film.

You can't have both Brosnan and Thompson being the comic alone and then thrusting them together and expecting one to become the straight man role immediately.

It, like most of this movie, just doesn't work.


Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I barely got through it once, I can't do it again.

A Review To "Sabotage" Your Labor Day Holiday

Sabotage (2014)
Rated R for language and bloodshed galore

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington, Joe Manganiello, Josh Holloway, Terrence Howard, Mireille Enos,

Written and Directed by David Ayer

The Story:

DEA Agent Breacher (Schwarzenneger) leads his team on a raid.  During the raid, they decide to steal $10 million off the top of a stack of cash.  However when they go to retrieve it, it's missing!  They are suspended and investigated, but nobody on the team admits to stealing (and losing) the money, and eventually they are put back together as a unit.  Then, one by one, they start getting murdered by the drug lords they stole from.
Will they be able to find the murderer before it's too late?

Indifference.

That's what this movie ultimately ended up being for me.

It was a great cast, given not a whole lot to do except shoot, bleed and curse a lot.

In fact, some of the bloodshed and ways they were killed, this movie seemed like it wanted to crossover into borderline horror movie territory.

Any intrigue on who took the money, who is going to die next on the team erodes as the film moves along.

When the ultimate villain is revealed, it comes as more of a "well duh" moment, than a twist of the knife reveal to the team.

It could've been something special.

Instead, it was just something.

I'll take The Last Stand any day over this one as proof that Ah-nuhld can still make a fun movie.

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: No fun...no reason to see it again... I'd have to pass on seeing this one again.