Forget Friday Night Lights But Always "Remember The Titans"

Remember the Titans (2000)

Rated PG

Starring Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Hayden Panettiere, Ryan Gosling, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, Kate Bosworth

Directed by Boaz Yakin

The Story:

The year is 1971 and a federal mandate declares that an all-white school and an all-black school be integrated. Coach Herman Boone (Washington) is brought in as the head coach ahead of Coach Bill Yoast (Patton) who must swallow his pride and coach the defense instead. They assemble a talented mixture of athletes of both color and prepare for their season.  Before the year is over, this Virginia community is going to learn to overcome the obstacle of race as the Titans respond to the controversy in the only way that truly matters: they win.

Of course, this is based on a true story.

Add to that, this is produced by Walt Disney studios.

I would have to say that pound for pound, nobody does true stories better than Disney.

Naturally, Washington gives a great performance.  When doesn't he?

Patton does as well. He's a seriously underrated character actor who never gives a bad performance, and usually elevates any film he's in just by being there.

That said, the movie is about the football players, and how they gel to become a team.

I won't single out any one as better than the other in their performance because like the men they portrayed, they do this as a team, and they shine.

I will give mention to young Hayden Panettiere though. Already an accomplished actress by the time she got this role, I would say this is the film that catapulted her on her way to stardom.

She is absolutely precious as Coach Yoast's daughter who lives and breathes the game, almost more so than her father does.

This is one of those great sports movies that is great, even for people who don't like sports.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: This is one of those movies I've always meant to pick up and add to the library, but have yet to get around to doing so.  Perhaps next year with the inevitable 15th anniversary re-release?

With "Neighbors" Like These, It Might Be Time To Move!

Neighbors (2014)

Rated R

Starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Dave Franco

Directed by Nicholas Stoller

The Story:

Mac (Rogen) and Kelly (Byrne) have just bought their first house and are raising their (really adorable) baby. The house next door is for sale, and they wonder who will move in. Cue the bad boy fraternity of the local college that just happened to have burned their last home down! The President (Efron) and Vice President (Franco) seem nice enough at first, but their partying and the neighbors trying to raise their kids soon begin to clash. Things are about to get ugly.

Funny, but ugly.

I set the bar low for this one.  I had seen the previews, and watching Rogen get blown through the roof with the airbag gag was funny.

It was still funny in the film itself.

This was an escalating revenge comedy as the neighbors and frat members attempted to outdo the other in their game of making life as horrible as possible for one another.

Efron continues to distance himself from his Disney past, and so far he's doing a fine job on both the comedic and dramatic sides of the coin.

Rogen continues playing his usual goofy everyman self, and he does a fine job at it.

The movie works nicely by not giving you either side to really root for or against.

After all, you would think the audience would side with the couple, yet they aren't exactly blameless in this whole thing.  Makes a nice counter-balance for the audience to decide who they want to root for.

Oh, and as I mentioned previously, the daughter? Absolutely adorable.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Better than I was expecting, but not good enough to earn a spot in the library. Could be viewed again in a few years for a few laughs.

In A "GalaxyQuest" Not Far Away

GalaxyQuest (1999)

Rated PG-13

Starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, Justin Long, Daryl Mitchell

Directed by Dean Parisot

The Story:

The old stars of a sci-fi television show called "Galaxy Quest" are now hitting the convention circuit. When actual aliens come to Earth, they ask Commander Taggart (Allen) to help them. He thinks they are the usual convention nerds, agrees, and then has his mind blown when he is actually sent into space. He returns to Earth to get the rest of the crew (Weaver, Rickman, Shalhoub, Mitchell) and a new recruit (Rockwell) to put on the performance of a lifetime.

Want a perfect sci-fi movie that is part homage, part parody and part aweseome?

Look no further than GalaxyQuest!

The most obvious inspiration is Star Trek and their rabid fanbase, but the movie plays perfectly as a love letter to the genre, those types of shows, and the fans.

Allen channels his inner Captain Kirk while Rickman gets to play the Spock counterpart.  The two bicker throughout the film, and it is hysterical.

Shalhoub plays the quirky straight man who steals many a scene just by reacting.

However, it's Rockwell who endears himself to the audience as the "token red shirt" who is simply waiting for the moment when he is going to get offed!

Great film, even if you're not a fan of science fiction films.

Even better if you are.

If it's been 15 years or more since you last saw the film, well there's no time like the present to rectify that!

Available to stream instantly on Netflix and Amazon Prime as of this writing.

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it. I love it. Great movie.

She Might Kill Them First... "Madea's Witness Protection"

Madea's Witness Protection (2012)

Rated PG-13

Starring Tyler Perry, Eugene Levy, Denise Richards, Doris Roberts, Tom Arnold

Written and Directed by Tyler Perry

The Story:

An investment banker (Levy) is framed in a Ponzi scheme by his boss (Arnold). His entire family gets relocated to live with Madea (Perry) who's going to teach them some good ol' fashioned family values, and save their lives in the process.

I usually come across pretty hard on Tyler Perry's non-Madea films.

Either too boring, or with just characters that make me want to punch the tv.

:)

I normally say, "not as good as his Madea films".

Then along comes Witness Protection, which most will say is the bottom of the barrel with this franchise.

Meh.

It's not so bad.

Your typical fish out of water as the uptight, dysfunctional New York family is forced to live with Madea and learn to live life on her terms.

This falls in the realm of mostly harmless fun, and as always, Levy is a delight, making movies more enjoyable just by being himself.


Available to stream instantly on Netflix or Amazon Prime

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It's been about 2 years since I last saw it. Harmless mostly. Another few years, might watch the Madea movies again.

"Godzilla" Returns! (And Doesn't Suck)

Godzilla (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, and of course, Godzilla

Directed by Gareth Edwards

The Story:

Joe Brody (Cranston) discovers some dangerous seismic activity at a nuclear facility. However, before it can be shut down, an accident kills his wife (Binoche). 15 years later, the activity is starting up again, and Brody is determined to find out what killed his wife. Meanwhile his son, Ford, (Taylor-Johnson) is trying to get his dad out of trouble one more time. However when the two stumble upon giant creatures that feed off radiation, while man may be powerless to stop them, perhaps there is hope in trusting...

Godzilla!

I found two things amusing in this movie, and there may have been more (un)intentional homages as well.

Brody's vs. monster creatures. Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the movies!

A quick shout-out to Lone Pine, California. This is heavy, Doc!

That said, for a movie that featured the title character for maybe, maybe... 15 minutes of the 2 hour running time, it really wasn't boring.

The story kept moving forward at a frenetic pace, and similar to the aforementioned Jaws, much of the monsters are kept under wraps, under water, while the destruction that they leave behind is what is on display.

Sometimes less is more, and I think that may have worked in Godzilla's best interest.

The redesign of the big guy works, for the most part.

Definitely better than the Broderick film, but call me sentimental, I miss the old Toho suit.

I actually want one just so I can wear it and step on toys and chase my kids around.

:)

So now that we've established that Godzilla is a force for good, so what happens in the sequel?

Final Grade: B... B- range.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could watch it again down the road. It wasn't nearly as bad as I feared it could have been. That said, it could have been improved here and there also.

It Took Nearly 30 Years For This "Cocoon" To Be Watched Again

Cocoon (1985)

Rated PG-13

Starring Don Ameche, Wilfred Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Maureen Stapleton, Brian Dennehy, Steve Guttenberg, Tawhnee Welch

Directed by Ron Howard

The Story:

An alien race (Dennehy, Welch) return to Earth to bring home 20 of their own they had to leave behind centuries earlier.  They charter a boat from a local Florida captain (Guttenberg) and put them in a swimming pool to revive them.  However, a group of local senior citizens (Ameche, Brimley, Cronyn) have been breaking in to use that pool.  When the regenerative powers of the pool have an unexpected fountain of youth quality, the group comes back with the aliens blessing, but things are going to get bad in a hurry.

It's been a long time since I've seen this one.

First things first, it holds up pretty well from start to finish.

The acting is great, and the assembled cast is wonderful.

Ron Howard pulls together a great cast of actors and gave them plum roles in their careers.

Just because they are getting older, that doesn't mean they still can't act, and the cast pulls it off wonderfully.

Don Ameche won a Best Supporting Actor award for his role.  It's a great performance, but after all these years, he really has probably the least screen time of all the actors.

The special effects are a bit on the cheesy side, but there really aren't a whole lot of them.

It was nice to revisit the film, and it was fun to watch again.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It's probably been over 20 years since I last saw it.  Still pretty good, but not quite as good as I remembered. 

Get Away From Your Troubles At A "Summer Rental"

Summer Rental (1985)

Rated PG-13

Starring John Candy, Karen Austin, Kerri Green, Joey Lawrence, Richard Crenna, Rip Torn

Directed by Carl Reiner

The Story:

Jack Chester (Candy) is an air-traffic controller who is burned out at his job. He takes his wife (Austin) and kids (Green and Lawrence) on a mandated vacation to rest and relax. Naturally, if it could go wrong for Jack, it will. He runs into (literally) the wealthiest man (Crenna) in the area, which sets up the finale of a regatta race for pride and money.  May the best man win.

Well, it definitely wasn't worth the wait.

:)

I had seen this poster in video store walls and windows in 1985, and I've never bothered to watch the film... until now!

Nothing ever really grabbed me that this would be a great film with John Candy.

The verdict?

It wasn't.

It also wasn't horrible.

It was average.

The jokes. The situations.  We've seen it all before. We've seen it all since.

It's an attempted cross between Vacation and the Great Outdoors, both of which were better than this one.

Glad I finally can scratch it off the list of films I've never seen, but when going for a great John Candy film, may I recommend Uncle Buck instead?

Available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C / C+ range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I waited this long to see it, I'm pretty sure at least 30 more years will slip by before I ever really think about watching it again.

Watching Paint Dry Is More Exciting Than Watching This "Sex Tape"

Sex Tape (2014)

Rated R

Starring Cameron Diaz, Jason Segal

Directed by Jake Kasdan

The Story:

Annie (Diaz) and Jay (Segal) are now married. Once upon a time they had sex.

A lot.

I'm assuming that years later, now that they are married with children, they don't have it as much and want to recapture some of the  magic.

Naturally, things go awry.

I assume this, because after a prolonged montage of revisiting the two having sex all the time, anywhere, I was already bored, disinterested and really could care less where this film went.

So perhaps it got better.

I'll never know.

Final Grade: F

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I see no reason to even keep watching to see if it gets any better or funnier.

I'm Putting A Guarantee On This Box! "Tommy Boy"

Tommy Boy (1995)

Rated PG-13

Starring Chris Farley, David Spade, Rob Lowe, Brian Dennehy, Bo Derek, Julie Warner, Dan Aykroyd

Directed by Peter Segal

The Story:

Tommy Callahan (Farley) comes home after graduating to find that his dad (Dennehy) is set to remarry (Derek). However, when tragedy strikes, Tommy has to hit the road with Richard (Spade) in an attempt to save the family business, and a small Ohio town's way of life.

Will he succeed?

Naturally!

I could argue that, pound for pound, this is the funniest Saturday Night Live movie to ever hit the screen.

Not rooted in a pre-existing skit from the show, this simply paired the dynamic rapport between Farley and Spade that carries nearly the entire movie.

The two are hilarious, and this movie is an oft-quoted favorite in our house.

I defy anyone to not sing "fat guy in a little coat" and not cause everyone within earshot to smile and think of this movie.

This is also one of those movies that I still distinctly remember the first time I saw it.  The first gag with little Tommy Callahan running into the house (literally) caused me to burst out into laughter.

The trend continues throughout the movie, and now, going on almost 20 years...

Let that sink in for a minute.

It's still funny.

If you've never seen it, you're in for a treat.

If you haven't visited Tommy in some time, no time like the present.

I guarantee you will laugh.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix and Amazon Prime as of this writing.

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I've lost count how many times we've watched this. At least once a  year, maybe more. :)

Love Conquers All... "Life After Beth"

Life After Beth (2014)

Rated R

Starring Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Anna Kendrick, Paul Reiser

Written and Directed by Jeff Baena

The Story:

Beth Slocum (Plaza) is alone hiking in the woods. The next thing we see is a wake with her family (Reilly & Shannon) grieving alongside her boyfriend, Zach (DeHaan). However, a few days later, Beth returns and her parents are overjoyed at the miracle of her return. When Zach finds out, he thinks that telling Beth the truth is in her best interest, but her parents and Beth's erratic memory make that a less than viable solution.

Zach's got his work cut out for him if he wants to keep his relationship with Beth from dying... again!

However, wishing your girlfriend was not dead becomes problematic when she returns as a walking, talking... zombie.

If that wasn't problematic enough, she may not be the only one.

This one is a slow-starter, and continues a slow burn towards the conclusion.

Baena does offer an interesting twist to the zombie mythos in his presentation of the undead.

Not nearly as family-friendly as Warm Bodies, but it could have been, easily.

A few lines of dialogue and this could have been a fun-entry to watch annually this time of year.


Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Maybe in a few years I'll catch it on cable, but not quite good enough to add to the collection.

Neanderthal Love... "Cavemen"

Cavemen (2013)

Rated R

Starring Skylar Astin, Camilla Belle, Chad Michael Murray

Written and Directed by Herschel Faber

The Story:

Dean (Astin) and his buddies all like to party in their loft. Facing eviction, they are going to go out in style. Dean's romantic life is not coming together like all of his pals, and his best friend Tess (Belle) is that perfect girl right under his nose.

I bet you can't guess where this is heading, can you?

So, for those of you who read yesterday's review, this is falls into the same category.

Thankfully there are a few differences:

1) The running time: under 90 minutes.
2) The humor is a bit more romantic comedy friendly even though the movie is trying for an R rated comedy.

Not to say that it's perfect, far from it.

There's some scenes that don't really work. Not funny enough. Kind of dragging the storyline at other times.

Most of it is saved by the chemistry between Astin and Belle. He helped make the chemistry in Pitch Perfect, and he brings the charming everyman appeal to this one as well.


Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nothing in here worth coming back for seconds.  It was barely tolerable enough for one full viewing.

When Movies Like "Are You Here" Forget The ?... It's Never A Good Sign

Are You Here (2013)

Rated R

Starring Owen Wilson, Zack Galifianakis, Amy Poehler, Laura Ramsey

Written and Directed by Matthew Weiner

The Story:

Ben (Galifianakis) finds out his father has died and he takes his best friend, Steve (Wilson), to the funeral and reading of the will.  Ben winds up with the lion's share of the inheritance much to the displeasure of his sister (Poehler) and step-mother (Ramsey). Ben decides he wants to give his buddy the house and property, and Steve decides he wants to be with the stepmom.

And this goes on, and on, and on...

For nearly 2 hours!

What's the almost-universal first rule of comedy movies?

90 minute running time.

Or be funny.

Preferably both.

This one fails on both accounts.

Waaaaay too long.

I think this happens when you have a writer who is the director and director who is the writer.

Don't be afraid to cut some of the less important scenes that drag things down.

You can always come back with a director's cut later.

The other bad part... it's just not that funny.

There's a few things that bring a chuckle or a smile, but otherwise... no.

Which is weird.  You've got a funny cast assembled.

It seems like Galifianakis is simply playing to his Hangover character a bit.

Owen Wilson seems to have signed on simply because he gets to hang out with naked actresses every five minutes. Reclaiming his Wedding Crashers glory days apparently.

Save your time, and if someone offers "Are You Here," say no thanks.


Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nothing in here screams "watch me again." Ever.

Sabotage Has Never Tasted So Good..."Cutthroat Kitchen"

Cutthroat Kitchen (2013)

Starring Alton Brown

The Story:

Alton Brown hosts possibly the most diabolical game show/reality show on The Food Network.  4 chefs compete in 3 rounds of cooking competitions. They have between 20-30 minutes to create a dish. After the judge comes out and tries each of the 4 dishes, that judge sends one cook home each round until only one survives.

Sounds simple?

So arm each of the chefs with $25,000 and offer them a series of auctions where they bid to make life miserable for anyone else.

The last chef standing gets to keep whatever money they didn't spend to get there.

Brilliant!

The dishes themselves range from simple to fairly complex.

They have 60 seconds to grab whatever they need to make the dish.

Invariably, someone realizes that they left a crucial component such as eggs, or flour, or milk, or bread behind in the pantry.  How will they make do?

They get creative, or if they are lucky, an auction item comes along that allows them to steal or replace ingredients with someone else.

The show is a lot of fun to watch and see the creativity of the chefs.

The main thing I'm noticing in the first few episodes, it seems like whoever spends the most money in the first round invariably loses.

The other chefs either gang up on them with later challenges, and they just no longer have the money to try and compete.

Some challenges push their imagination...some challenges are just too hard to overcome.

There is a season now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

I'm hoping they will add the other episodes soon!

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Not sure yet, but I definitely want to see them all.

Here's To A Delicious Weekend... "Good Eats"

Good Eats (1999)

Starring Alton Brown

Originally aired on the Food Network

The Story:

Alton Brown hosts a delightfully entertaining cooking show that is equal parts cooking, history, science and fun.

You'll learn a few things along the way, whether you intend to or not!

So apparently Netflix snapped up some episodes of shows from the Food Network.

I figured, why not?

It's just a bit over 21 minutes long, and sometimes a little short something is just what you need to unwind before bed, or just relaxing on the couch but you don't want to devote the full time that a movie demands.

After all, we enjoyed our episodes of Cake Boss, so let's see what this offers.

It's awesome!

Brown is a genial host.  Filled with facts and enthusiasm for what he does, Brown is filled with energy from start to finish on his show.

He offers up recipes both straightforward and easy to the challenging, but you see with just following a few simple steps, you too can cook like a chef!

That he infuses historical facts and science components in his explanations expands your overall cooking knowledge and appreciation for the magic that happens in the kitchen.

So far only 25 episodes are available for streaming on Netflix as of this writing.  It's not the first season, as Brown refers to other episodes in some of his discussions.

So far, I've seen no reason why these need to be in order, so feel free to jump right in.

I'm trying to take it one episode a day so I don't run out, but it would be so easy to just let them play.

As the show ran for over a decade, there's another 200+ episodes just waiting to be watched.

Dear Netflix,
Please, bring them!
:)

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I would have no problem watching some of these again, but again, I'm hoping I get to see the other 225 or so episodes first!

May The Documentary Be With You..."Jedi Junkies"

Jedi Junkies (2010)

Documentary

Starring Ray Park, Peter Mayhew, and about a million others

Written and Directed by Mark Editz

The Story:

 This documentary shows a little bit of the rabid fanbase of Star Wars and what they do to celebrate their obsession with the film and the Star Wars universe.

I mean who would dress in costume and go to conventions?

What a bunch of weirdos.

:)

This documentary attempts to hit as much of the fandom as possible.

You've got a guy who makes lightsabers.

You've got a Jedi Academy that teaches you how to properly wield and fight with lightsabers.

No, seriously.

Then you've got the fans who make fan films, including the crew that built a close to full-size Falcon in their back yard for a film.

Still, seriously. ;)

Then there are the women that dress as slave Leia, and there are a ton of them.

The more you like the franchise, the more you'll enjoy this documentary.



Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Once was plenty. I'm not that big of a fan! :)

You'll Take The Turn With Them..."Driving Miss Daisy"

Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Rated PG

Starring Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman, Dan Aykroyd

Directed by Bruce Beresford

The Story:

Daisy (Tandy) is an old Jewish widow who has wrecked one car too many, so her son (Aykroyd) hires a driver named Hoke (Freeman) to drive her wherever she needs to go.  First, Daisy refuses to let him drive her anywhere.  Eventually though, she warms to Hoke, and the two spend the next two decades getting to know each other and enjoy some adventures together.

Sounds like a sweet little character study, and it is!

Welcome to the Best Picture winner of 1989, in a year that turned out many memorable films, this one rose head and shoulders above the rest.

Amusingly, the biggest slight of this movie was that Beresford was not nominated for Best Director. How do you have a Best Picture without a Best Director? Makes no sense, but so be it.

It really is a quiet film that builds slowly as the years slip by and the bond between Hoke and Daisy grows and intertwines.

All of the accolades and awards, this film deserves them.

I don't usually say that about award-winners.

Tandy is great, Freeman is phenomenal.

When isn't he? :)

Watching it again for the first time in a few years, the movie still holds up very well today.

I also recommend a Kleenex handy for the end.

Gets me every time!

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it and it gets watched every 3-4 years, which is pretty good for a drama! Well worth it if you haven't seen it in awhile.

The History Of Rock Via "Sound City"

Sound City (2013)

Documentary

Starring Dave Grohl, Rick Springfield, Lindsey Buckingham, Neil Young, Tom Petty

Directed by Dave Grohl

The Story:

If you enjoyed rock music from 1975 until the early 2000s, odds are one of your favorite musicians recorded an album at Sound City.  Using one of 4 Neve custom boards to record the music, Sound City studios had a lasting impact on the journey of rock music.  The documentary follows the humble beginnings to the creation of Fleetwood Mac (as fans know them) in their studios.  They really take off when Rick Springfield signs with their company, and they come back into prominence when a group called Nirvana records their album there.

With the studio closing, Grohl goes on a holy crusade to rescue the board and transport it to his personal studio.

He does.
It works.

And he invites a who's who of famous musicians to come record something new on the old Neve for old time's sake.

Along the way there's a lot of archival footage, some revealing interviews, and generally a lot of good fun and love directed towards rock and roll.

If you love good music, you owe this one at least a look-see.

Final Grade: Solid B... you could persuade me to go B+ if you ask nicely. ;)

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nothing I'd need to own and watch again, but I wouldn't mind watching it. Well made and entertaining.

'Cause You've Had A Bad Day... "The Angriest Man In Brooklyn"

The Angriest Man In Brooklyn (2014)

Rated R

Starring Robin Williams, Mila Kunis, Peter Dinklage, Melissa Leo, Hamish Linklater

Directed by Phil Alden Robinson

The Story:

Henry (Williams) is having a bad day. When he is finally seen by Dr. Gill (Kunis), it's not even his doctor, but someone covering for the doctor so he could start his weekend early. Naturally, Henry lets the doctor have it verbally chastising her up one side and down the other. She doesn't want to release the news to Henry that he's got a brain aneurism, but when push comes to shove she blurts out that he's only got 90 minutes to live.

So begins Henry's last day in New York.

Facing that news, Henry decides that all that truly matters is making amends with his family.

Naturally, with each reconciliation, he is thwarted at every turn as the countdown to the end of his life draws ever closer.

Can he reconnect with his wife (Leo) and son (Linklater) before it's too late?

Meanwhile, Dr. Gill is chasing all over New York to find him, even enlisting Henry's brother (Dinklage) on the chase.

This is another one of those films that is both endearing and heartbreaking to watch, so soon after the passing of Robin Williams.

It's one that has a few too many parallels, and I'm not sure if the viewing so close to his death provides extra emotional impact or not.

Either way, it's a film you may not have heard about, but one that is well worth your time.

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Too dramatic to be a crowd pleasing multiple viewings. However, it's one that a few years down the road could be watched again for some laughs and tears.

Celebrate Columbus Day By Rediscovering "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Rated PG-13 for action, violence and pure awesomeness

Starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson

Directed by Joe & Anthony Russo

The Story:

A year after the events from The Avengers, Steve Rogers (Evans) is working for SHIELD, but he's not exactly happy about it.  He doesn't want to compromise his principles, yet it seems like all of the missions from Nick Fury (Jackson) are making Cap uneasy.  However, a far greater threat is lurking to undo everything that SHIELD stands for, and Captain America and the Black Widow (Johannson) may not be able to stop it.

So back during my Birthday weekend, Marvel Studios was nice enough to release this film.
That review, many of you have already read right here:

Cap 2

So, what has changed since April with finally seeing it again in the fall?


Not much.

I still maintain that The Winter Soldier is Marvel's answer to a spy thriller with a 70s feel, and they nailed it.  The spies have super-powers, but hey, didn't it always seem like Bond was a little more than human back in the day?

This is a smart action thriller that just so happens to also have some costumed heroes running around in it.

Take out the costumes, the movie still would work.


It just works better as a vehicle for Captain America.

This is still the movie to beat for Best of the Year honors.

We will see if the awesomeness of Guardians of the Galaxy is able to dethrone it.

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: There are 2 movies on my Christmas list. Both are mentioned in this review.  I'm counting on you Santa.  :)

Music And Faith Choices... "Grace Unplugged"

Grace Unplugged (2013)

PG

Starring AJ Michalka, James Denton, Kevin Pollack, Shawnee Smith,

Written and Directed by Brad J. Silverman

The Story:

Grace Trey (Michalka) is the daughter of former rock star Johnny Trey (Denton). He quit the business and is now a music minister with Grace by his side, but she's growing up and starting to rebel just a bit.  When Johnny's old one-hit wonder becomes popular again, his former agent Mossy (Pollack) shows up, and offers him a chance to go on the road again and make some new music. Johnny turns him down, but Grace decides that she will take the break being offered and leaves home and heads to become a rock star.  However, the deeper Grace gets into the business, the more her faith becomes compromised, and she has to make a big decision.

When genres collide... welcome to the Christian Coming-of-Age film!

Now this is a special circumstance film. 

First, Grace comes from a famous family, so most kids would not be able to relate to that aspect.

I mean, running away from home would normally entail actually running, not heading down to buy a plane ticket and flying to LA,

So, you've got to suspend the disbelief a little with this one.

Grace is faced with having to compromise her principles as the music industry sinks their claws deeper into her with each passing day.

Will she turn her back on God and her family to become the latest pop sensation?

Or will she realize that there's more to singing than churning out music, regardless of what it might cost?

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.


Final Grade: Solid C, maybe even C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Pretty good, but nothing spectacular that requires repeated viewing.

There Is Corruption And Deceit In Detroit (Shocking!) " Brick Mansion"

Brick Mansions (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Paul Walker, David Belle, RZA, Catalina Denis

Directed by Camille Delamarre

The Story:

Undercover detective Collier (Walker) is sent into the segregated slums of Detroit (surprise!) to work with a convicted criminal (Belle) to retrieve a weapon stolen by drug lord Tremaine (RZA) in a threat to blow up Detroit.  Can they disarm the bomb, save the damsel in distress without getting killed, or killing each other?

How's that set-up for a nice B-movie thriller from the mind, and pen, of the great Luc Besson?

The opening is a thrill ride of parkour as Belle races for his life from the bad guys. This Belle guy is pretty good and seems to do most of his own stunts.

A quick search reveals that he's like the founder of parkour.

So I guess if you're going to do that kind of stunt work, there you go, get the best!

I'm reminded of Besson's work with Statham in The Transporter, and wonder if these two will reteam in future projects?  I'd be willing to watch!

Sadly, this is one of Walker's last roles, and he brings all the Paul Walker-isms as usual.

You either love or hate him, and I've always been a fan.

Wasn't expecting much from the film, so it far surpassed those expectations.

Nothing ground-breaking that you haven't seen a time or three before, but still an enjoyable overall experience.


Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:

Romantic Comedies Aren't Dead Yet, However "They Came Together" Sure Tries To Kill It With One Movie

They Came Together (2014)

Rated R

Starring Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd

Directed by David Wain

The Story:

Joel (Rudd) and Molly (Poehler) recount their relationship over dinner.  They claim it's very much like a bad romantic comedy.

They aren't exaggerating.

They Came Together is supposed to be a send-up/homage of romantic comedy tropes and stereotypes.

You know when people set out to make a bad movie intentionally...

You wind up with a film like this one.

It's a literal train wreck, and you keep watching to see if it will get better...or worse.

Or if it is getting worse by getting better, or vice versa.

When the "tell me about it gag" goes on for at least a minute (feels like 5) you realize that they really don't care if it works or not, they're simply going to throw everything at the wall and see what sticks.

More doesn't stick. Heck, much of it doesn't even hit the wall.

It sort of flies out the window instead.

You find yourself laughing at how dumb the dialogue or situation is.

Or how dumb you are for watching the movie in the first place.

:)

The only reason you really stick around is the charm of both Poehler and Rudd.

However, this film uses up much of any leeway either had with their next project, so they better come back strong.

Luckily, Rudd has Ant-Man on the horizon.

Final Grade: C- and I'm being very generous.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I made it through this once. That was enough.

Summer Camp Was Never Like This...Or Was It? "Meatballs"

Meatballs (1979)

Rated PG

Starring Bill Murray, Chris Makepeace, Harvey Atkin,

Directed by Ivan Reitman

The Story:

Welcome to Camp North Star! Under the guidance of Morty (Atkin), the Camp Director, Tripper (Murray) is the head counselor who takes a ragtag group of Counselors-In-Training and guides them through the summer of romancing the other counselors, taking care of the kids, and trying to finally beat the rival campers from Camp Mohawk.

A classic comedy?
A cult comedy?

I'll let you be the judge, I guess it depends on when/if you ever got around to seeing it.

The film is notable for many reasons:

1) Bill Murray's first starring role in a movie.
2) Ivan Reitman's first big hit.
3) Harold Ramis co-wrote the film.
4) Reitman, Ramis & Murray teaming up for the first time for the first of 3 classic comedies.
5) David Naughton's "Making It" on the soundtrack.

:)

On top of all of those reasons, the biggest one is that the film was well-made, and aside from some fashion sense and a few jokes, the movie remains timeless in its telling.

Rudy (Makepeace) is a bit glum and over-the-top in how his self esteem plays such a crucial role in the movie.  Quit your whining, get back to the antics, but he provides a bit of grounding and heart to the otherwise fast-paced, comedic bits that litter the landscape.

Also, this movie could have easily gone for an R rating, but wisely stuck to the PG rating making the film much friendlier to the family and thus broadening the appeal.

Other movies should remember that lesson.

That's why Meatballs continues to amuse 35 years later.

That, and the constant movement of Morty's cot while he's sleeping. :)

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It's been probably close to a decade since I last watched it. I'll have to break it out much sooner next time.

Nuke On The Loose! "Phantom"

Phantom (2013)

Rated R

Starring Ed Harris, William Fichtner, David Duchovny

Written and Directed by Todd Robinson

The Story:

Demi (Harris) is a Soviet Submarine Captain set to retire. He is given one last mission with most of his crew including his first mate, Alex (Fichtner). Other crew are brought in to take this submarine to be decommissioned including the mysterious Bruni (Duchovny).  However, when rogue KGB agents take over the submarine to steal the nuclear payload, the Soviet and American Navy close in to find this boat before World War III is started.

Naturally, this is based on a true story!

First, this is no Red October.

However, it's not too bad.

Harris plays a tortured soul who is suffering through seizures, but still expertly commands the ship even under the most dire circumstances.

Fitchtner is a wonderful supporting actor who plays the 2nd in command perfectly. Naturally, his loyalty will be called into question when the ship is seized.

The true story that it is based on apparently has been classified for the better part of 50 years.

However, knowing how close the Cuban Missile Crisis was to starting World War III, imagine the stress that a rogue nuclear submarine would have been if it had become common knowledge?
 
Now available for streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Once was sufficient for this one.

Sentient Computers...What Could Go Wrong? "Transcendence"

Transcendence (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Cillian Murphy, Kate Mara, Cole Hauser, Morgan Freeman

Directed by Wally Pfister

The Story:

Will Caster (Depp) is a brilliant scientist who thinks that an Artificial Intelligence could become a sentient being if allowed to be uploaded onto the internet.  His best friend (Bettany) warns that it is a dangerous proposition.  When cyber-terrorists cause Caster's death, his essence is uploaded onto his program.

What could possibly go wrong?

Haven't people seen War Games? The Terminator?

Computers = Bad

This movie = Not that great.

The problem, well, I 'll start at the beginning.

When you have a voice-over that says, in essence, a few years ago, before we lost everything...

So, you get the idea of where the movie is going to go, and how it's going to get there.

No surprises. No intrigue.

It simply happens.

Zzzzz.


Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: None at all.

Third Times Isn't Quite As Charming..."Blended"

Blended (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Nealon, Terry Crews, Joel McHale

Directed by Frank Coraci

The Story:

Jim (Sandler) and Lauren (Barrymore) go out on a blind date, and it ends horribly. However, fate keeps intervening and thrusting these two into each other. They wind up on an African safari together. Jim helps out Lauren's boys with some fatherly advice. Lauren tackles Jim's girls with some womanly know-how. It's inevitable, no matter how much either side fights at this point.

In 1994, it was movie magic when Sandler and Barrymore teamed up for The Wedding Singer.
In 2004, it was silly, but sweet, when they reunited for 50 First Dates.
In 2014, it's simply nostalgia to remind me to go watch The Wedding Singer again.

:)

That's not to say that Blended is bad. No, far from it.
It's safe.
It's comfortable.
It's... well, you know how to use a thesaurus. Pick something.

Barrymore and Sandler still share a warm chemistry with one another.

At this point however, you almost have to inject kids into the storyline to allow something new for these decades-spanning lovebirds to do.

So, nothing as great as their first pairing, but still enough warm smiles, fond memories and a chuckle or three, many thanks to the always manic Terry Crews.

Hopefully they have something magical in 2024 when they reunite again.
 
Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Maybe I'll pick it up someday, but no hurry. Maybe when they team up again in a decade?

"The Book Of Daniel" Is Great To Read (Or Watch)

The Book of Daniel (2013)

Starring Robert Miano, Andrew Bongiorno, Lance Henriksen

Directed by Anna Zielinski

The Story:

 Daniel (Miano) recounts his service to 4 Kings to Cyrus (Henriksen) through a series of flashbacks that takes place over the 70 years of captivity that the Israelites endured under the Babylonian empire. With each King, and each story, Daniel's faithfulness to God never falters.

Even when thrown into a lion's den.

The Bible.

Perhaps you've heard of it, and now brought to life some of the tales from the Book of Daniel.

It's a period piece, nothing that spectacular in the costume, acting of writing department.

But the stories themselves carry a lot of weight, all these centuries later.

A great book, a not terrible adaptation.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C...maybe even C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It was a nice reminder about how nice the book is. I'll read that again first. :)

Everybody Loves "The Investigator" 's Brother. You'll See...

The Investigator (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Wade Williams, David Sanborn, Mollyana Ward,

Directed by Curtis Graham

The Story:

James (Williams) is a detective. His world is shattered when his team kills an unarmed suspect and his wife (Ward) suffers a miscarriage. James is forced into retirement, and he grows bitter and disillusioned with his life and his faith.  His brother Paul (Sanborn) pulls some strings and gets James hired to coach baseball and teach Criminal Justice at a local private high school.

There you have the basic precepts of this movie inspired by a true story.

Religion does indeed play a significant role in this film.

James turns his back on God, but when he winds up teaching in a Christian school, naturally the students keep questioning him about his faith and beliefs.

When James uncovers some nefarious dealings in the school, he further ostracizes himself from his students and the faculty.

It's when he puts the very existence of Jesus on trial that the film finds its center and helps James heal.

Along the way, you'll also be treated to some of the worst baseball scenes ever filmed.

:)

Seriously, who swings at a pitch at face level?

As for who the famous brother is, well if you didn't get the hint from the title of this review, shame on my hint for not being more obvious.

It's Ray Romano from Everybody Loves Raymond.

Final Grade: B- / C+ range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Not quite great enough to rush out and buy it, but if it becomes streaming down the road, I'd certainly watch it again.

I Really Doubt "Transformers: Age of Extinction" Is The Last Film In The Franchise

Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci, Jack Reynor,

Directed by Michael Bay

The Story:

It's been 5 years since the Autobots and Decepticons waged war and destroyed Chicago. Now the American government has declared war and is hunting down the remaining Autobots and Decepticon survivors. When robotics tinkerer Cade Yeager (Wahlberg) discovers Optimus Prime, he revives the leader of the Autobots, and the few remaining Autobots gather to help Cade and and his family to take down the government contractors that are using Transformer technology to create their own version of Autobots for sale.  However, as is standard with all Transformers plots...

There is more to it than meets the eye.

:)

Oh come on, you know I had to do it!!

So, I've watched the 3 previous Transformer movies.  Couldn't tell you what happened in any of them except:

Shia LaBeouf whined a lot.
Megan Fox attempted to act a little.
Transformers fought, a lot, in poorly lit action sequences.

So I come back, a glutton for punishment apparently.

However, this one improved in at least 3 obvious ways:

No Shia.
No Megan.
No poorly lit action sequences.

Congratulations and welcome to the best installment of the Transformers franchise.

Granted, that's not saying a whole lot. ;)

With a bloated, nearly 3 hour running time, the movie rarely dragged, which is a good thing.

But still, at nearly 3 hours, I can watch 2 really good 90 minute films instead.

Still, had a good enough time and if there is another film, I'll check it out on DVD.

I'm a glutton for punishment, remember?

Final Grade: C+ maybe even a B- if you push me hard enough.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nope, once was good enough, but at least it was better than all of the previous versions before it.

These Vampires Don't Sparkle. They Don't Entertain, Either. "Only Lovers Left Alive"

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

Rated R

Starring Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, John Hurt

Written and Directed by Jim Jarmusch

The Story:

Adam (Hiddleston) and Eve (Swinton) are vampires. They apparently love one another, but as the movie begins, they are not together. Hiddleston is a musician with an eye and ear for electric guitars. Eve heads to Marlowe (Hurt) to get the last of his "good stuff". Adam goes to the hospital to buy some blood discreetly.  They all drink up...

And then I turned the movie off.

It had been over 20 minutes of artistic melodrama that was getting me nowhere but bored.

Whatever else happened in this movie, happened without my knowledge or care.

The amusing part, I was actually ready to turn it off when the movie started with the parallel scenes overhead of the main characters using a downward spiral effect from the camera.

I should have taken the downward spiral as a sign!

I came to be entertained, not nauseated.

This was the first Jim Jarmusch film I have seen.  Looking at his credits, I know I have one more in my queue that I had requested.

Now however, I'm in no hurry at this point.

Final Grade: D

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: No chance..

I See What You Did There..."Scents And Sensibility"

Scents and Sensibility (2011)

PG

Starring Ashley Williams, Marla Sokoloff, Nick Zano, Brad Johnson,

Directed by Brian Brough

The Story:

Elinor (Williams) and Marianne (Sokoloff) Dashwood's world upends when their father goes to jail and they must get real jobs to make ends meet and take care of their family.  Elinor ends up as a janitor and Marianne changes her last name to land a job as a copy editor.  While they try and make enough, naturally they run across a couple of men (Zano and Johnson) who are both irritating and attractive, at the same time. However, when Marianne's scented lotions that she makes on the side look to be profitable and get the girls out of debt, evil forces conspire to rob them of their chance to regain their status as upstanding citizens. Whatever will the girls do?

This is what you get when you take 2 parts Jane Austen and one part Lifetime channel and shake vigorously.

That said, it's not bad.  There are numerous Sense and Sensibility adaptations out there for your perusal.

This one is a fun re-imagining of the story, set in the modern day

It looks like a TV movie and feels like one, but that's fine.

Sometimes a good TV movie is exactly what you can be in the mood for.

Enough romance, drama and comedy to make it a light, fun affair without holding strict to the coattails of Jane Austen.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: No need to buy it, but cute and harmless enough, could watch it again for background noise when you don't need to totally concentrate on a film.