And The Award For Most Overrated Superhero Film Of 2017...."Logan"

Logan (2017)

Rated R

Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Stephen Merchant, Boyd Holbrook

Written and Directed by James Mangold

The Story:

In the future, all of the X-Men are dead, except Logan (Jackman) who now cares for an ailing Professor X (Stewart). With no new mutants to train, and Xavier's mind slowly slipping away making him a danger to himself and the world, Logan is trying to get them away from humanity once and for all. Complicating matters, a little girl named Laura (Keen) who was mutated in a lab to be just like Logan, only smaller and much cuter.

Oh, and pretty much everyone dies by the end.

How's that for a big #@$#$ing spoiler?

Well there's your second hint, the first was the title of this @#$@#!$@ing review in the first place.

Thanks to the success of Deadpool, everyone decided that the finale to Hugh Jackman's take as Wolverine would also be rated R.

Why?

So they could show him sticking his claws in people's faces, cutting them to ribbons.

And saying %$&^

A lot.

Apparently $#@#$ you Mother#$#@#@$ is script shorthand for lazy R rated movies.

I get it.

I've climbed up on this soapbox so many times, usually for the R rated comedy raunchfests.

I chastise those for lazy writing, because anyone can F*&$#@#ing cuss, ooooh, how edgy, but if you're going to do it with jokes, the jokes themselves need to be funny, sans language.

So too, in this edgy mutant action-thriller-drama, so too must everything be interesting and not just a way to keep a generation of fans away from the final installment because, well, @#$# you!

Unlike Deadpool, who had only once been seen in a movie form before, and frankly, it sucked, Wolverine has been with us for what, 27 or so movies at this point. Every X-Men movie, and several of his own films. All rated PG-13.

17 years Jackman has been doing this, and he is still the best there is at what he does.

No, I'm putting the blame squarely on the feet of the #@$@#ing lazy screenwriters who frankly bored me with their overuse of language in an otherwise pedestrian script.

You want a good X-Men/Wolverine movie, go see First Class or Days of Future Past. Some might even say X2, but I haven't seen that in so long, I couldn't tell you for certain anymore.

Nope, at the end of the day, I have to grade this final version of Logan against the likes of Batman vs. Superman, and say that when I go to watch a superhero movie, I go to be excited and entertained.

This didn't do it for me, and frankly, if I were to want to watch a Logan solo adventure, I'd rather rewatch X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Yeah, it's got it's issues (oh boy, does it have issues) but it was depressing because of how it was executed.

This version of Logan set out to be depressing from the word go, and succeeded all around.

Therefore, I can't give a seal of approval to a movie that knowingly turns its back on the millions of kids who grew up on Jackman as Wolverine just to make an edgy, adult thriller that kills him off at the end.

#@$@# that.

Final Grade: C..maybe C-...no, I'll have to go D+

To Be Man's Best Friend Is "A Dog's Purpose"

A Dog's Purpose (2017)

Rated PG

Starring Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, K.J. Apa, Britt Robertson,

Directed by Lasse Hallstrom

The Story:

The story about an inquisitive dog (Gad) who wants nothing more than to discover why he exists.

So if you can accept that Josh Gad is a dog who is reincarted multiple times as a new dog with his same memories and search for the purpose of his life, then you'll likely enjoy this one.

It's not a talking dog picture, with CGI lip movements, thankfully.

No, it's basically the dog narrating his lives as he goes from breed to breed, owner to owner wondering if there shouldn't be more to his life than just eating and sleeping.

Some stories are shorter, some happier, but all build to a culmination when the dog is reunited with the boy (Apa) that he loved more than all the others. Now a man (Quaid) whose life didn't turn out quite like he planned, perhaps what he needs most in life is the company of a good dog.

I would imagine at the end of the day, the only people that wouldn't like this film are cat people.

:)

It's beautifully filmed and quietly engaging, but that is to be expected from any Lasse Hallstrom film.

And as a final word of caution, you might want to keep a box of Kleenex nearby.

Final Grade: B-

Some Women Always Need"The Last Word"

The Last Word (2017)

Rated R

Starring Shirley MacLaine, Amanda Seyfried, AnnJewel Lee Dixon, Tom Everett Scott,

Directed by Mark Pellington

The Story:

Harriet (MacLaine) is a retired businesswoman who is used to controlling everything in her life. Everything. As a result, she decides to let the local obituary writer, Anne (Seyfried) write her obituary now, while she's still alive, so she can approve it. However when Anne interviews everyone on Harriet's list, let's just say it's not the most flattering final thoughts on someone's life. Not content with that, Harriet tries to make some changes before it's too late, with Anne along for much of the ride. It won't just be Harriet's life that will change along the way.

If there's any doubt that MacLaine's still got it as an actress, those should be put to rest by now. She's still able to give a dramatic or comedic performance at the drop of a hat, and she seems to relish the role as Harriet.

Seyfried returns to the screen in what seems like the first time in ages. Still able to play the wide eyed girl, but now with a touch of maturity on her side so that she can seem both naive and tough as the case requires.

The two make a great duo, and then they are given the responsibility of Brenda (Dixon) a precocious troubled youth who makes Harriet feel like the grandma she always wanted to be.

There's laughs, there's tears, there's a good solid movie to be had.

Insert my usual rant about the language keeping this one from being a) a better film and b) finding a wider audience, and there you go.

Still, I'd say definitely worth a look.

Final Grade: B-

Let's Do The Time Warp Again..."GLOW"

GLOW (2017)

TV-MA

Starring Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Marc Maron, Sydelle Noel, Chris Lowell, Britney Young, Britt Baron, Kimmy Gatewood, Sunita Mani,

Created by Liz Flahive & Carly Mensch

The Story:

It's 1986 and Hollywood has-been Sam Sylvia (Maron) has been tasked to direct something that's never been done before: an all-women's wrestling show. So the open audition goes out, and hundreds of actresses come to the audition, but when they find out there will be wrestling involved, most get up and walk away. Those that survived the initial cut might go on to make the first wave of women's wrestlers the world would come to know as GLOW: The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.

This is their story.

Ish.

:)

At the center of the story is Ruth (Brie) an actress who never quite lands the role of a lifetime, and realizes that all of the best parts go to men. She may not be a wrestler, but she wants it more than any of the other ladies that are there.

The biggest problem, she just slept with the husband of her best friend, Debbie (Gilpin) and when Sam decides to build the show around Debbie as Liberty Belle, it appears that Ruth is going to be expendable as a wrestler.

Ah, but as any wrestling fan will tell you, to have a good hero, you must have a great villain, and as the show evolves, Ruth will become the best possible villain any mid-80s wrestling hero could ask for.

My hat is off to the creators and stars of the show for taking me back to the 80s to relive the fun that was GLOW.

In 10 episodes that run just a shade over half an hour, the show builds quickly, not wasting a lot of time, yet each episode further fleshes out the overall storyline and the dozen actresses who are going to put their body on the line in the name of entertainment.

Dividing the first season into thirds, it's the middle act that cements everything.

What is going along pretty well in the first act, gets turned up to 11 once Ruth finally finds her true calling and gets her character. Also, Debbie's realization that wrestling isn't stupid...it's a soap opera, and that is something she is good at, and it all begins to click for her as well.

Then as the season winds down, it reveals it's heart and at this point you're so invested in the characters that you'll feel their pain even as they try and keep their smiles on for the cameras and their co-workers.

It's a whole lot of fun, and I think even if you've never cared for wrestling before, you might just find yourself digging what these ladies have to offer.

I would also be remiss to not mention how good Maron is in his role as director. I swear he gets the best lines in the show, and his delivery is impeccable. If this was being filmed 30 years ago, I'd swear he was the second coming of Terry Kiser.  Don't worry, I'll give you a minute to Google him if you don't remember. :)

Once you've finished Season One and await what will hopefully come next, there is also a documentary: GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012) streaming on Netflix as well. Clocking in just a little over an hour, you can relive the lightning in a bottle that was GLOW and how much fun the original show was for them, and their millions of fans.

Myself included.

And 30 years later, count me as a fan of the New GLOW as well.

Final Grade for Both:  B+ / A- range

The War To End Absolutely Nothing..."War Machine"

War Machine (2017)

TV-MA

Starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hayes, John Magaro, Anthony Michael Hall, Emory Cohen, Topher Grace, Aymen Hamdouchi, Alan Ruck, Nicholas Jones,

Written and Directed by David Michod

The Story:

General McMahon (Pitt) is brought in by politicians to help clean up the mess that is the war in Afghanistan. Except McMahon isn't used to tidying up anything, if there's a war, he's there to win it. Which is exactly what nobody apparently wants, except McMahon.

Welcome to one of the latest Netflix originals to roll out this year.

It's based on a true story.

It's also a satirical look at the war effort in Afghanistan.

Your mileage will vary on how well either of those work as an overlong film written and directed by Michod.

In a nutshell, McMahon and his staff are seemingly doing very well, but through an article written by Rolling Stone, it undermines McMahon's credibility and leads to his ouster.

Pitt plays McMahon as a caricature of an actual person.

Normally, this works to some extent, but Pitt dials the caricature of McMahon to 11; some of the mannerisms given to McMahon such as the facial expressions, the voice, you can't quite tell if they were going for outright parody or not in the film.

They become almost a distraction throughout the film.

So with an uneven tone, a leading man who is all over the map on whether or not you need to take what he's doing at face value, or to laugh at what he's saying or doing, it makes this a mess.

Just like the war in Afghanistan.

In that regard, mission accomplished.

Final Grade:  C

Great Bowie Song...Average Movie..."Golden Years"

Golden Years (2016) C

Not Rated

Starring Bernard Hill, Virginia McKenna, Simon Callow, Phil Davis, Alun Armstrong, Una Stubbs,

Directed by John Miller

The Story:

Arthur and Martha Goode (Hill & McKenna) are retired and living a modest life when their pensions are wiped away during the financial crisis. Faced with no money and Martha's medical care, the duo decide that life is too short at their age to take this kind of nonsense sitting down, so they begin robbing banks to get their money back. As their notoriety grows, so too their gang, but drawing ever closer are the footsteps of the law who would really like to stop the robberies if that's okay.

Interesting concept that fails in execution.

At just a shade over 90 minutes, the pacing of the film made it feel oh so much longer. I thought I watched a 2 - 2 1/2 hour movie when this was over.

Amusing at times, but not filmed as a comedy, and neither is it serious enough to be taken as a drama, it simply exists.

A showcase for Britain's aging actors, and that's fine, but this is no Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Not a bad film by any stretch of the imagination, but absolutely nothing to rush out and need to see.

Which is a shame, as the heart was in the right place, it just didn't come out great in the finished product.

Final Grade: C

The Art Of War... "American Gods"

American Gods (2017)

TV-MA

Starring Ricky Whittle, Emily Browning, Ian McShane, Crispin Glover, Pablo Schreiber, Bruce Langley, Orlando Jones,

Created by Bryan Fuller & Michael Green

The Story:

Shadow Moon (Whittle) is released from prison early after his wife, Laura (Browning) dies in an accident. Traveling to the funeral, he encounters a mysterious drifter, Mr. Wednesday (McShane) who employs Shadow as his right hand man. However, there is much that Shadow doesn't know about Wednesday, but all will slowly be revealed as the two travel across America together.

Man oh man, that was something else.

With Season One being only 8 episodes long, I decided to wait until the season was over to review it.

That is some crazy stuff right there!

From the opening of the first episode that literally made me jump with fright when the Vikings came ashore, I'd have to say I was hooked from the start.

Based on a novel by Neil Gaiman, it's the story of the gods of old that were brought to America by immigrants confronting the gods of 21st century America.

There's a war brewing and Wednesday needs recruits if the old gods stand a chance of surviving.

The cast is superb, and though Ricky Whittle is the lead, I tuned in for McShane, and he doesn't disappoint, as per the usual with him in any role. The supporting players are great, and by the end of the season, the duo of Mad Sweeney (Schreiber) and Dead Wife (Browning) would steal the show. Another great addition was Mr. Nancy (Jones) who electrifies the 2nd episode with his coming to America tale, and comes back strong narrating the season finale story about the purpose of needing a queen in the war.

You'll need Starz to see this one, or you'll have to wait until the discs become available for rent/purchase later.

Not sure where it goes from here, but as one who has always enjoyed mythology, I can't wait to see where these gods take us.

Final Grade: B+

Shawshank Lite... "Vendetta"

Vendetta (2015)

Rated R

Starring Dean Cain, Paul "The Big Show" Wight, Michael Eklund,

Directed by  Jen & Sylvia Soska

The Story:

When Detective Mason Danvers (Cain) life is shattered, he lets go of his badge to get himself tossed into the same prison as Victor Abbott (Wight). However, life for a former cop isn't so easy on the inside.

Well, if you were ever wondering whatever happened to Dean Cain, now you know.

:)

From a few years back, this WWE Studios effort is actually a fairly decent action thriller.

The depths that Mason sinks not only to get into prison, but what he does after he's inside are truly horrifying for a former cop.

Of course, when you're in a prison as crooked as Shawshank, everything that is going to unfold behind the prison walls is not only possible, it's encouraged.

Eklund is particularly slimy as the warden, but Wight, otherwise known to a generation of wrestling fans as the Big Show, is particularly well suited as the gangster who is willing to go back to prison as long as he destroys Mason's life.

Nothing new and earth-shattering in cinematic history, but WWE Studios continues to put out well made films that will keep your attention from start to finish.

I'm okay with that.

Final Grade: C+

Creepy Much? "Split"

Split (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson, Jessica Sula, Betty Buckley

Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

The Story:

3 teenagers are abducted after a birthday party. Dennis (McAvoy) is an unusual predator though, as he has been diagnosed with 23 distinct personalities by Dr. Fletcher (Buckley). Unfortunately, there appears to be a 24th personality about to emerge from Dennis, and it may be the most dangerous one of them all.

It's easy to pick on M. Night Shyamalan's career as he's seemingly been swinging for the fences since the Sixth Sense, but cannot seem to recapture that lightning in a bottle.

Maybe that's the problem?

Quit trying.

Just keep making movies, and you don't need to throw in a "I see dead people" hook, or a 'clever twist' in the final act that makes the movie seem even better than it was.

Going down the list of movies that he's written and directed, I see only one real dud...that I've watched... and that's After Earth.

That was just a bad movie, beginning to end, top to bottom.

The rest of his catalog, the ones I've seen, I've enjoyed to some extent.

I don't think I'll ever add him to my list of favorite writers or directors of film, but his movies are always watchable and fairly entertaining.

Which leads us to his latest, which I'm purposefully not talking that much about because it is a movie that will draw you in, mostly based on McAvoy's performance.

This is his film, and it rests squarely on his shoulders, and he does an admirable job carrying it.

Just like the picture above, McAvoy slips into each character and they are wholly distinct from one another. Most are just behavioral changes or the manner in which they speak, but some even suggest actual physical changes, and it's a role that commands attention whenever he's on screen.

Equally compelling is the flashbacks of Casey (Taylor-Joy) as he tragic past is unearthed during her capture.

Not a perfect movie, but easily Shyamalan's best effort, at least for me, in ages.

Final Grade:  B-

The Pretty Good Wall At Least..."The Great Wall"

The Great Wall (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal, Tian Jing, Willem Dafoe, Hanyu Zhang,

Directed by Yimou Zhang

The Story:

Of all the legends of why China built the Great Wall, this legend is by far the Matt Damoniest!

:)

Did anyone else roll their eyes when they saw the trailer for this one?

I know I did.

I think I even groaned and said "oh boy" or "oh brother".

Sure, it's not like that's going to stop me from watching it though, right?

So it arrived, and I figured it might be so excruciatingly painful, it will be a fun movie to review, if I even make it through 20 minutes of the film.

And yet, lo and behold, it was the cheesiest little B-movie action monster film I've seen in ages, and I actually enjoyed it.

Two Westerners (Damon & Pascal) arrive at the Wall looking for black powder to take back home in trade. However, as they've seen the secrets that the wall has tried to keep protected, they will never be allowed to leave.

When the monsters do approach, the two prove invaluable in helping fight off the creatures and are allowed to stay and earn their keep.

Overall, a very beautifully shot movie. It kept my attention throughout and I enjoyed it.

Hey, if given the choice of Matt Damon action films, I'll watch this again before any of the Bourne films.

:)

Final Grade: B- 

Not Satisfying At All..."Good Burger"

Good Burger (1997)

Rated PG

Starring Kel Mitchell, Kenan Thompson, Sinbad, Abe Vigoda, Shar Jackson,

Directed by Brian Robbins

The Story:

Two...

You know what, no.

Never mind.

Not worth my time.

Welcome to 8 of the unfunniest minutes I've ever endured in cinematic history.

Nickelodeon Studios 2nd effort at a movie apparently originated as a sketch on one of their shows in the late 90s.

This reminds me of why I never really bothered letting the kids watch Nickelodeon back in the day.

Or any day for that matter.

:)

This one was offered up to me on one of the many subsections of Netflix thinking I might like to try it.

It was aimed at kids 4-7, which I've still got running around the house. So I thought, hey, I'll give it a try and see if I can find another fun one to share with the kids.

And, just so we're clear, I've tried several Nickelodeon films over the years, and there are some, like Snow Day, that we absolutely love.

But this, just unfunny from the word go.

Final Grade: F-

I Promise It Will Not Leave You "Sleepless"

Sleepless (2017)

Rated R

Starring Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, Scoot McNairy, Dermot Mulroney, T.I., David Harbour, Gabrielle Union, Octavius J. Johnson,

Directed by Baran bo Odar

The Story:

Vincent (Foxx) is an undercover cop who appears to be on the take with his partner Sean (T.I.). However when the drugs they stole turn out to belong to the mob, well let's just say they want their product back. If that isn't enough heat on his back, Internal Affairs is also coming after him because they think that he's a dirty cop.

Release this spring, if you blinked, you probably missed it.

However, in the grand scheme of things, that's probably okay.

Foxx is far removed from his glory days of Ray (2004) and Django Unchained (2012), but I'll never begrudge an actor from making a living.

I mean if Seagal, Van Damme and the like can still put out direct to DVD fare, who am I to judge?

That said, this feels like a direct to DVD release with a great cast bogged down with a pointless script that elicits too many unintentional laughs for the thriller it was trying to be.

Piling on to that was the "oh wait, let's throw a twist that they won't see coming" moments that are scattered throughout the film, it just becomes an exercise in willpower to stay to the end.

It's watchable, sure, but you can, will, and have seen better.

Much better.

Final Grade: C-

Against All Odds..."Into The White"

Into The White (2012)

Rated R

Starring Florian Lukas, David Kross, Stig Henrik Hoff, Lachlan Nieboer, Rupert Grint

Directed by Petter Naess

The Story:

In the early days of World War II, the Allies and Nazis were hoping to gain access to the mineral deposits in Norway. As both sides waged aerial battles for dominance, on one mission, a German bomber is shot down as well as a British aircraft. The 3 Nazis (Lukas, Kross, Hoff) find an abandoned cabin to wait for the weather to die down and allow them to march back to the sea. The next day two British (Niebor, Grint) arrive and are taken prisoner. To survive the elements, and each other, both sides will need to work together to outlast a severe Norwegian storm.

Yes, it's based on a true story.

Not nearly an action or war film, it's a drama about 5 men who are thrust together in a desperate situation and forced to survive.

As the time in the cabin stretches, so do the nerves of the men as they must put aside their differences if they have any hope of survival.

This keeps the movie running at a slow pace, though it does attempt to keep you riveted as the situation becomes more and more desperate and the men become less hostile to one another.

Naturally, there will be a few curveballs thrown at everyone along the way.

Humanizing the faces of war, you'll find these are likely the 3 "best" Nazis to appear on screen in likely forever.

Nice to see this true story of men overcoming the element and each other brought to the screen.

Final Grade: B-

Can't Wait For the Sequel..."Rogue One"

Rogue One (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Wen Jiang, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen,

Directed by Gareth Edwards

The Story:

Galen Erso (Mikkelsen) is an engineer brought back by force to the Empire to continue building an elaborate weapon known as the "Death Star". His daughter, Jyn (Jones) is sent into hiding. As the years pass, she ends up tangling with members of the Rebellion. Their hope is that sending a group of mercenaries to steal plans for the weapon, they have a chance of destroying it, and defeating the Empire.

May the Force be with them.

Well, if you're going to tell a prequel to Star Wars about how the Rebel Alliance stole the plans for the Death Star, this is about the best movie you could hope for.

A great assemblage of new characters that by the time...

Spoiler Alert...

They all die...

You'll be sad and wish most of them would have been spared somehow and could come back in future, past installments.

But alas...

You know it's not possible because you've already seen Star Wars.

Standout favorites from Jyn's supporting team include Cassian Andor (Luna) as this film's scoundrel; K-2SO (Tudyk) as the reprogrammed Empirical droid with a sarcastic bent; and Chirrut Imwe (Yen) the coolest addition to the Star Wars mythos since the original series premiered.

And speaking of the original series...

Yes, I'm going to nitpick and say that I did indeed miss the opening crawl of the Star Wars saga.

It's part of what gives the whole saga an interlocked feel, and by keeping that opening, just drop the "Episode #" if nothing else, I think it would have added to the film, especially since they throw the bone of "A Long Time Ago..." at the beginning.

Also missing, John Williams score.

It's amazing how much that music influences the series, and little bits of it pop up here and there as appropriate, but it's quite unfair to hold any other composers to the John Williams standard...

But this is Star Wars we're talking about, prequel or not.

Final Grade: B

The Thin Blue Line..."End Of Watch"

End of Watch (2012)

Rated R

Starring Jake Gylenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick, Natalie Martinez, David Harbour, Frank Grillo, America Ferrera,

Written and Directed by David Ayer

The Story:

Brian (Gylenhaal) and Mike (Pena) are officers in the LAPD. They're partners. They're brothers. When they uncover crimes being committed that are well above the street thug level that they are used to, they draw the unwanted attention of a Mexican cartel that orders them killed.

Your feeling about the police will likely color your desire to even see this film.

It's brutal and unflinching in portraying life on the streets of California and the dangers that are out there for citizens, criminals, and the police.

Shot in a documentary style for Brian's college class, you'll be up close and  personal as the personal and professional lives of Brian and Mike play out before you.

The rest of the supporting cast is great, and used sparingly.

Again, this is about the partners and the bond they share.

It's also what gives the film the extra heart and soul and may likely lead you to tears by the film's conclusion.

It's a film that had been sitting in my queue for years, and I'm finally glad I got around to seeing it.

Final Grade:  B

Peter Parkour... "Tracers"

Tracers (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Taylor Lautner, Marie Avgeropoulos, Adam Rayner, Rafi Gavron, Luciano Acuna Jr., Josh Yadon,

Directed by Daniel Benmayor

The Story:

Cam (Lautner) is a New York bike messenger who owes his shirt to the Chinese Mafia. When he runs into Nikki (Avgeroupoulos), he winds up joining her and her friends as they parkour around the city. Ah, but it turns out they use their parkour skills to supplement their incomes by doing nefarious deeds. Perhaps this will be Cam's ticket out of a jam.

Well it appears the attempt by Hollywood to turn Taylor Lautner into the next big thing leading man have dried up and blown away.

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

This movie is a definite step up over the laughable film, Abduction.

It is completely watchable, and the stunt work and storyline keeps the movie heading forward.

That said, if you missed it, there's no real reason to go hunting this one down to catch up on your Taylor Lautner fix.

You can always go watch Twilight.

Nah, I take that back, this was still a better love story than Twilight.

:)

Final Grade: C+

Van Damme Likes To Keep His "Enemies Closer"

Enemies Closer (2013)

Rated R

Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Tom Everett Scott, Orlando Jones, Linzey Cocker

Directed by Peter Hyams

The Story:

Henry (Scott) is a park ranger near the US/Canadian border. Clay (Jones) has an issue with something Henry did in the past, and has come to the park to kill Henry. Xander (Van Damme) is a ruthless criminal who has come to the area looking for a plane that crashed carrying a lot of drugs on it. Their paths are about to cross.

It's weird seeing Van Damme as the bad guy.

Nearly his whole career has been spent playing the action hero we're all rooting for.

Come on, don't lie, you know you've watched his movies before.

:)

So while his movies may not hit the big screen, these direct to video B movie gems are floating around out there, and when the Hollywood machine doesn't churn out anything I really want to see during a week, I let the old Netflix queue send me some blast from the past.

It rarely disappoints.

Don't get me wrong, it's got flaws, and plenty of them. From some clunky dialogue to some just flat out head scratching moments, but the three leads: Scott, Jones and Van Damme  never give anything less than 100% out there, and they keep it interesting.

It's Van Damme as the villain with a thousand quirks, he keeps things interesting whenever he's on screen.

He's clearly relishing the chance to be the bad guy after all these years, and he's having a blast doing so.

Final Grade: C+

The Hero We Deserve...Finally..."The LEGO Batman Movie"

The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

Rated PG

Starring  Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes, Zach Galifinanakis,

Directed by Chris McKay

The Story:

Its seems as though decades of fighting Batman (Arnett) are taking their toll on the Joker (Galifinanakis) because Batman refuses to acknowledge that the Joker is his # 1 enemy. So a change in the Joker's motives might prove to be Batman, and Gotham's undoing. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne (Arnett) adopted an orphan named Dick Grayson (Cera) quite by mistake. Now he's bonding with him the best way he knows how, as Batman!

Oops. Sorry about that spoiler right there.

:)

Finally.

After at least 7 big screen incarnations, Warner Brothers has finally given us a Batman movie worth watching.

It's fun, it's exciting, it's irreverent.

It never takes itself too seriously, yet takes itself seriously enough.

The voice talent does an incredible job inhabiting their roles. The nice part, nobody has a distinctive voice that overshadows the actual character they are playing.

Hopefully they can find a way to do another sequel or two to this one, because this is one DC cinematic universe worth visiting.

Final Grade: B+

Space Race Relations..."Hidden Figures"

Hidden Figures (2016) B+

Rated PG

Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell

Directed by Theodore Melfi

The Story:

In the race to beat the Russians into space, NASA was coming up short. Test after test was proving fruitless. Al Harrison (Costner) has ordered the first IBM computer, but it's taking forever to arrive and get installed. So he turns to the human computer section, and is sent Katherine Johnson (Henson) who can do computations better and faster than anyone else. Meanwhile Dorothy Vaughan (Spencer) can see the writing on the wall: with IBM on the way in, she and all the rest of the human computers are on their way out. Finally, Mary Jackson (Monae) is asked a simple question - why aren't you an engineer?

You guessed it, based on a true story.

Elevator pitch was probably The Right Stuff meets The Help.

Boiled down to the basic framework of the story, that's an apt description. The best part, those were both pretty good movies in their own right.

Hidden Figures doesn't let them down.

Johnson's story gets the most screen time, but the three stories interlock nicely together.

There is enough glimpse of life outside of NASA (as well as inside) that paint the Civil Rights portrayal as a whole without overshadowing what these ladies were all bringing collectively to the table in their own lives and to the history of NASA.

The cast is an amazing ensemble of talent...

however...

The casting of Jim Parsons struck me as odd.

I don't watch the show he is on, but I know enough about it and his character to know they annoy me.

So when he shows up here, it just felt more like stunt casting, let's give the comedy guy a serious role to show his range.

Meh.

However, you wanted to give me a character I didn't like, well, bravo, his casting sure helped.

:)

Aside from that though, inspiring stories, very well done by all involved.

Absolutely worth your time.

Final Grade: B+ / A- range.