Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America is back, struggling to find his role in today's world while defending it from a threat from the past.

This one is right up there with Marvels best; the first Iron Man and The Avengers.  It's quite possibly the best, and changes everything going forward in the Marvel cinematic universe.  This movie has it all; really solid action, suspense, intrigue, comedy, conspiracy and even a little heart.  The main actors do a great job in their roles and have plenty of chemistry between them.  It's fast paced, keeps you on your toes, wanting to know what happens next.  For the Marvel fan, it's also loaded with fun Easter eggs, with appearances and mentions of some past Marvel characters and ones to come in future films.  It's particularly fun to see Cap' with his superhuman powers that he gained in the 1940's during WWII, mixed with the lethal skills of today's most highly trained soldiers.  Almost a Jason Bourne with super powers.  It is just a bit too long, you feel at some point during or just before the climax of the film, but the entire ride is loads of fun, and as with all Marvel movies, stay in your seat for a mid-credit and end-credit scene.  Oh, and it is a little on the violent side; lot's of shooting, injuring and killing.

**** Must See

Winter's Tale

A thief in early twentieth century New York, trying to outwit his unique employer opts to pull off one last heist before he heads west. While in the middle of his robbery he meets the woman he is trying to steal from and falls head over heels for her. She is dying of consumption and must remain in the cold at all times to keep her fever down and regulate her body temperature. When romance heats up between the two, her orgasm kills her, and he finds himself suddenly struck with a case of amnesia, immortality and a broken heart.


If you are still reading this after that synopsis I am issuing you a demerit. This is the stupidest movie I have seen in years. Deadly orgasms, flying horses, Will Smith is the Devil, oh the humanity!!!

I understand this was a book – has anyone read it? How did it get made into a movie?

*-DON’T DO IT!!

Rated PG-13 (for sexual content, language, and violence)

Bad Words

An adult finds a loophole and enters himself in the local Spelling Bee, despite the desperate attempts of others that conspire to keep him out he makes it to the National Bee causing quite an uproar with the other finalists as well as their parents. In spite of himself the odious man finds an unlikely friend in a nine year old competitor.

This movie is very funny but horrifically crude and crass. I don’t know that I can in good conscious recommend this to anyone as it is so vulgar, but I will admit that despite its totally predictable plot and ridiculous storyline I laughed… a lot.

If you liked The Hangover and you’re a Jason Bateman fan, this one’s for you.

** ½ Rentable

Rated R (for language, sexual content and brief nudity)

Mr. Peabody & Sherman

Mr. Peabody, genius, has adopted a boy, Sherman. Together they travel time in his “way-back” machine learning about history first hand and making friends with famous historical figures. When Sherman is faced with a bully at school he tries to impress her by showing her the “way-back” machine, in doing so, they alter history and need Mr. Peabody to help them set things right.


I grew up watching the Mr. Peabody and Sherman shorts on the Rocky and Bullwinkle show on PBS. It was one of my favorites. The dry humor and puns somehow made me laugh and I was really looking forward to this movie…

It was cute. Not great, but not bad. To be honest it was like watching an animated version of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure which isn’t too horrible. Most of the humor and the historical events might be outside the frame of reference for a small child – but there is enough noise to keep them entertained.

**1/2 Rentable

Rated PG (mild violence and rude humor)

The Monuments Men

In the middle of World War II a small platoon sets out to rescue stolen Art from the Nazi’s and return them to their proper owners.


Again I didn’t read this book and though I am sure it was very good the movie fell a tad short. It is set up to be kind of an Ocean’s 11 meets Inglorious Bastards but it never really pulled it off. The characters are funny, the story is true and I suppose inspiring, but the movie itself was totally Disneyfied. There is never a real sense of threat or urgency even in the most dramatic of scenes. For some reason I felt as though I was watching Mary Poppins and kept waiting for someone to break into song or fly away with an umbrella. The story seems rushed and the characters somewhat cookie cutteresque, which all contributes to the severe absence of drama. Kids will like it I am sure as, despite its violent setting and the subsequent deaths it is a little too sweet.

** Rentable

Rated PG-13 (for wartime violence)

Sundance Film Festival 2014

Hooray for Sundance!!!!

So here is a list of the movies that I saw this year – as some of them are unlikely to ever see the light of day – and I am under a bit of a time crunch… I have opted to post reviews of them if they are ever released, so fear not, if they come out I will post something:

• Camp X-Ray

• Cold in July

• Dear White People

• God’s Pocket

• Infinitely Polar Bear

• Fed Up

• The Notorious Mr. Bout

• Calvary

• Frank

• Hits

• Laggies

• Little Accidents

• A Most Wanted Man

• Nick Offerman: American Ham

• They Came together

• The Trip to Italy

• Wish I Was Here

• The Battered Bastards of Baseball

• Life Itself

• The Double

• The Lunchbox

• Drunktown’s Finest

• Ping Pong Summer

• Cooties

• The Guest

• What We Do In The Shadows

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

A chronic daydreamer is faced with the horrid reality that he is about to lose his job. In an effort to save his department he sets out on a global journey that changes his life in simple yet extraordinary ways.


This is totally forgettable. In fact I can barely remember watching it –now having said that, I also think that Forest Gump was forgettable and it won best picture. This was cute. It is predictable and quirky but it works and despite its lack of staying power was a delightful afternoon at the cinema.

**1/2 Rentable

Rated PG (for violence)

The Book Thief

A young girl growing up in Nazi Germany is left in the care of her new foster family. Trying to cope with the political climate and her own distain for Hitler she finds solace in stealing books and sharing the stories with others.


I didn’t read this book, and cannot give an accurate opinion on the adaptation; however as a movie in and of itself, I thought it was absolutely fabulous. I knew nothing of the storyline going in and thought that they did a wonderful job of creating a world that was both frightening and yet still family friendly without being hokey.

**** Oscar Worthy (it didn’t win anything)

Rated PG-13 (for wartime violence)

American Hustle

A con man and his seductive mistress get caught by the FBI in one of their latest scams. In order to keep from going to prison they are forced to help the investigators in an attempt to bring down the Jersey powers-that-be along with the mafia.


I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. The characters are so much fun you are instantly drawn into their world. The art direction and costume design completely immerse you into the time period and despite the predictable plot it is a fun and charmingly quaint true story.

*** Must See

Rated R (for language)

The Wolf of Wall Street

Scorsese. Need I say more?


This flick is about a young man who becomes caught up in the lure of Wall Street in the 80’s. We all remember this, right? “Greed is good.” How about gluttony is great!

The plot is really self-explanatory so I won’t waste your time on a synopsis. Having said that – this movie, as stated before is a Scorsese film, it’s three (3) hours long, mind you most of his films are an hour too long – this one is three hours too long. Yes, one hundred and eighty minutes of sex, drugs, money, and no consequences what so ever. Lots of nudity, lots of sex, lots of drug use, and a record breaking use of the “F” bomb at 506 times. It is well acted and the overall feel is totally reminiscent of GoodFellas, the problem is that it isn’t as engaging. The mob and mafia movies in general have some sort of allure and mystic. Wall Street doesn’t – and with the current state of the economy and the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act it is a tad difficult to care about the “under belly” of Wall Street.

If you like Scorsese this is for you.

*1/2 Barely Rentable

Rated R (let your imagination run wild -- should have been NC-17)

Ticking Time Bomb



So I admit it, I am way behind....yesterday I received a scathing phone call chastising me for not having stayed current on my reviews thereby causing the person to see Noah... now I could retort and say that one didn't need a bad review to stay away from said film, nevertheless, I do feel bad as I have completely neglected my duty to keep you informed of the latest junk. So my apologies
Here we go....