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Archive for December, 2014

An alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world. Major William Cage (Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop-forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt). And, as Cage and Vrataski take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy!

To say the least a bit repetitive and a bit boring. Not sure why it received such great reviews by some of the critics. Like so many other movies based on “Groundhog Day” formula, each new iteration provides additional insight into what is going on. For me, it was watchable, but nothing spectacular. A typical Tom Cruse action movie.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

For a complete synopsis with spoilers, read “more.”

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In 1988, on Earth, the boy Peter Quill is abducted by a spacecraft after losing his mother. In 2014, Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star Lord, is a ravager searching a valuable orb on the surface of the dead planet Morag. When Peter finds the orb, he is hunted down by the Kree warship The Dark Aster of the powerful Ronan the Accuser but he flees. Peter also double crosses his partner Yondu Udonta that puts a reward on him. Peter Quill arrives on the Xandar city Nova Empire and is chased by Ronan’s warrior Gamora and by the bounty hunters Rocket and The Groot. They are arrested by the police officer Corpsman Dey and his men and sent to the prison The Kyln, where they befriend the strong Drax. Soon they learn that Gamora wants to betray Ronan and sell the orb to a dealer for a huge amount while Drax wants to kill Ronan, who killed his wife and daughter. They plot a plan to escape from The Kyln to sell the orb and split the money. But soon they also learn that the orb keeps the infinity stone that gives immensurable destructive power to the owner. They self-proclaim Guardians of the Galaxy and decide to deliver the orb to the leader Nova Prime to keep it safe from Ronan. But they are hunted down by Ronan and his right-arm Nebula that want to destroy Xandar and also by Yondu Udonta and the Ravagers that want to sell the infinity stone to make lots of money. Who will keep the powerful orb?

Chris Pratt has now come into his own as an actor.

Rating: 3.7 out of 5

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Thomas wakes up in an elevator, remembering nothing but his own name. He emerges into a world of about 60 teen boys who have learned to survive in a completely enclosed environment, subsisting on their own agriculture and supplies. A new boy arrives every 30 days. The original group has been in “The Glade” for two years, trying to find a way to escape through the Maze that surrounds their living space. They have begun to give up hope. Then a comatose girl arrives with a strange note, and their world begins to change. There are some great, fast-paced action scenes, particularly those involving the nightmarish Grievers who plague the boys. Otherwise, dull and formulaic. A bit too “lord of the flies -esque” for my tastes.

Rating: 1 out of 5

If you want more with spoilers, read more.

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The life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who joined the armed forces during the second world war. Only to be captured by the Japanese navy after a plane crash in the Pacific.

After a near-fatal plane crash in WWII, Olympian Louis Zamperini spends a harrowing 47 days in a raft with two fellow crewmen before he’s caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.

This is an adaptation of the book. Angelina Jolie has done a great job with this movie. Not one dull moment in the 2 hr plus production. Cinematography was also excellent.

Although the movie ends with his coming home and being greeted by family, the final clips are actual pictures of Mr. Zamperini with text chronology of events following the his return home. Mr. Zamperini died in 2014.

While it would have extended the movie, probably the real end story was the after effects of war and how it can bring an individual to rock bottom. A perchance attendance at a Billy Graham crusade and the transformation that made in his life and the way he finished would have been an equally compelling story.

This movie is definitely worth your time and money.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Into the Woods is a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales in a musical format that follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel-all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them.

This is a movie adaptation of the Broadway production by Stephen Sondheim. Most of the adaptations have been exceptional, such as Evita, Rent, Mama Mia, and Les Miserables. Mama Mia sucked, but perhaps Into the Woods is Meryl Streep’s redemption. Les Miserables was quite epic except for the apparent strain to sing as the producer recorded it in production rather than dubbing it in from studio vocals.

None the less, Into the Woods made this production more vibrant and enjoyable.

A fantastic production and certainly worth the time if you are into Sondheim and musicals.

Rating: 5 out of 5

This is the last episode in the trilogy of movies Peter Jackson has made from Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Like the Lord of the Rings, the best was saved for last. This is a major action piece. At 2.5 hours, there was not a slow minute in the entire movie. For Hobbit and Ring fans, this is a must see.

Unfortunately we lose some characters we have become attached to, but war is brutal.

Rating: 4.7 out of 5

For a synopsis with spoilers thanks to IMDB, click ‘read more.’

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If you are intending to see a CGI updated version of the 1957 Charleston Heston, The Ten Commandments, you are in for a big let down. Another Ridley Scott flob. In trying to exploit CGI imagery Scott forgot the story line. Like the recent Noah, this is not the Sunday School version but a secularized, atheistic interpretation. While there is not a great narrative for the Noah story, that of Moses is considerably more detailed in the literature. It was followed true to form in The Ten Commandments, but in this debacle things are out of sequence or there are gaps that one can only assume the viewer can fill in because they are either familiar with the historical text or have at least seen the Ten Commandments. The clear theme that was brought forward was the arrogance of man and his reluctance to believe in or depend on the presence and power of a supreme being. Whereas the Heston Moses did not feel worthy to be the messenger of God, in this plot line, Bale’s Moses felt himself more powerful and more capable than God. Another strange depiction was that of God as a small boy. The cast was cold and apparently had no chemistry or desire to play their character except for the money. It would have been interesting to see if there were a difference had Scott followed the narrative at least sequentially, not omitted sequential events,  and used a more literal interpretation of the narrative rather than trying to imprint his own apparent secularized atheistic interpretation. This is too well know Biblical event.

I was truly amazed at the scathing reviews this movie received from viewers and critics alike. Apparently Scott has hit an all time low in his directing career and perhaps should go on a hiatus or simply retire.

Rating; 0 out of 5

Any time there is a sequel, I cringe. Normally they are the same movie characters and plot, maybe just different location(e.g., The Hangover 1, 2, and 3). They normally have a less effective script line and always leave you in a deja vu situation. Occasionally you have a surprise, but most times, not likely. Sort of makes you wonder why the Jason, Michael Myers, and Freddie Kruger movies were able to be a franchise with sequels in the double digits. One that remained entertaining was the Fast and Furious franchise which was headed toward double digit sequels until the tragic death of Paul Walker.

So it is with Horrible Bosses 2. There is good chemistry between the principles, but the plot is essentially the same. The dialogue is cluttered and headed toward three stooges slapstick. I found this sequel totally inane and boring. So much, in fact, that I dozed off somewhere in the second half of the movie and apparently didn’t miss a thing. You will be better off to see a different movie, take a nap, or anything rather than endure this drivel. Save your viewing of this flick until it comes to network TV or on your movie channel when there is absolutely nothing else to watch.

Basic Plot Line:

Fed up with answering to higher-ups, Nick, Dale and Kurt decide to become their own bosses by launching their own business. But a slick investor soon pulls the rug out from under them. Outplayed and desperate, and with no legal recourse, the three would-be entrepreneurs hatch a misguided plan to kidnap the investor’s adult son and ransom him to regain control of their company.

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars.