Thursday, December 15, 2016

Rogue One

And that, boys and girls, is how a prequel is done...

**** Oscar Worthy

Rated PG-13 (for violence)

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

"Ketchup"


Ketchup….it goes with everything and enhances the eating experience, and can make leftovers taste anew. So here’s my attempt at playing “ketchup”

 
Maggie’ Plan

Maggie falls for John, a married man. Their elicit relationship becomes even more complicated when they have a baby and move in together.  After a while, however, Maggie realizes that perhaps this isn’t the perfect happily ever after she had imagined and plots to get John back together with his wife, Georgette. 

** ½  Rentable
Rated R (for language and sexuality)

 

 
Love & Friendship

In 18th century England, a widowed Lady attempts to solve her financial dilemmas by marrying off her young daughter to a wealthy husband.  Her schemes are complicated by her daughters’ lack of interest and a possible blossoming romance with a financially unworthy suitor.

** ½ Rentable
Rated PG (for thematic elements)

 

 
Life Animated

A documentary about how a young autistic boy learns to speak and communicate with the world around him by repeatedly watching and then regurgitating dialogue from Disney animated movies.

**** Oscar Worthy
Rated PG (for thematic elements)

 

 
The Shallows

A young surfer travels to a secret beach to spend the day on the waves.  While paddling out she is attacked by a great white shark.  She manages to make it to a small embankment away from the shoreline. Alone and wounded, she attempts to survive and get ashore.

*** Must See
Rated PG-13 (for violence and language)

 
 
 
Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates

Hard-partying brothers Mike and Dave place an online ad to find the perfect dates for their sister’s Hawaiian wedding.

* ½ Not-a-chance
Rated R (for crude sexual content, language, drug use and graphic nudity)

 

 
 
Central Intelligence

Calvin, an underwhelmed accountant is surprised to run into an old high-school classmate named Bob. The once overweight and bullied Bob is now a CIA agent and looking for help on a case from his long lost friend.

** ½ Rentable
Rated PG-13 (for violence, language, crude humor and brief nudity)

 

 
Ghostbusters (2016)

This 30 year old familiar story gets a facelift and a sex change as we once again follow 3 scientists and one subway attendant as they battle a slew of ghosts haunting New York City.

** ½ Rentable
Rated PG-13 (for violence and crude humor)

 

 
 
 
Bad Moms

When life has finally pushed them to their limits, three overstressed, overworked, and severely underappreciated moms decide to ditch their conventional ways for a jolt of fun and self-indulgence. However their new found freedom causes a clash with the local PTA powers that are dedicated to being “perfect”.

** ½ Rentable
Rated R (for graphic nudity, sexual material, language and drug and alcohol content)

  

Pete’s Dragon

After a tragic accident, a young boy finds himself lost and alone in the forest in the Pacific Northwest.  He is found and taken care of by the unlikeliest of caregivers, a dragon, named Elliot.  Years later, he is found by a forest ranger that takes him in but her attempts are complicated by a man that wants to hunt down the legendary dragon.

** Rentable
Rated PG (for peril and danger)

 

 
 
Suicide Squad

A team of incarcerated criminals are recruited by the government for their “anti-hero” skills to complete a dangerous mission in exchange for reduced sentences.

*** Must See
Rated PG-13 (for disturbing behavior, violence, suggestive content, and language)

 

 
Sausage Party

The inventory at a supermarket dreams of their post-checkout afterlife.  When a few items learn of the horror that awaits them when humans bring them home they try desperately to escape their edible fate.

** Rentable
Rated R (for language, drug use and STRONG crude sexual content)

 


Florence Foster Jenkins

Heiress Florence Foster Jenkins loves music, it is her life and while she does everything she can to support the performing arts in 1940’s New York, she wants to do more.  With the help and encouragement of her husband and a talented musician she arranges to perform in the one and only Carnegie Hall. There is only one problem…she can’t sing.

*** ½ MUST SEE!
Rated PG-13 (for suggestive situations)

 

Monday, March 28, 2016

Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice


Where do I begin....

This was such a let down. Let me first start by framing my thoughts with the fact that I LOVE Superman. I do. I am a devout fan and the fact that Henry Cavill has been so perfectly cast only makes this all the more difficult.

1. This is such a jumbled forced script. I understand that Warner Brothers is trying to play catch up with Disney and the new Marvel storm that they have brought the cinematic world, but that's no reason to rush your script. There was so much forced into this that I had no clue what was going on the first 45 minutes of the movie and to be honest by the time I figured it out, I didn't care.

2. I also understand that Warner Brothers wanted to be first out of the gate and not be the remake. If you don't understand what I mean by that, just wait a few weeks and go see Captain America: Civil War. Same theory, similar characters, no doubt Disney didn't forget the plot.

3. Was there a need to recap all of Batman's story? We all saw the recent remakes Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises (not to mention the four before these). We know Batman's origin story and the recap was a total waste of time. On the flip side, was the name Diana Prince ever even mentioned....?

4. Wonder Woman?!?! Don't get me wrong, in the mess that was this movie, she was by far the best part. Having said that, there was no need to introduce her at this junction in the DC tale. She did nothing to further the plot and as mentioned above would have been a much more effective character had she been a CIA sleuth that is eventually identified as, yes you guessed it, Diana Prince. That's it. That is all we needed. No need to bring her into full Wonder Woman costume. Just introduce her as the alter ego that is in the present day... that makes more sense as we haven't been given her origin story yet.

5. Lex Luthor. Although perfectly cast as the despicable villain, Jesse Eisenburg played the role more like the Joker and less like the narcissistic genius that is Lex Luthor. He was creepy and clearly psychotic, on the edge and irrational almost, which isn't what Superman's nemesis is. The arch enemy of Superman is calm and cool and so smart that he is an actual threat to the Man of Steel. I get that Batman was in the mix but no need to resurrect the Joker.

6. Dark. We get it. DC is going dark. Dark Knight, Dark Knight Rises, Dawn of Justice. It's all very dark. Nevertheless, they have gone so dark that they have left out the fun that is a comic book movie. Where is the satire and the willingness to not take yourself so seriously but to accept that this is all based on comic books. Men in shiny tights with cool toys. It's suppose to be fun. This was just a black hole.

7. I will stop here. My hands are getting tired and my dismay is shadowing my ability to type. But let me make this last point. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are by far the three most popular and well known comic book superheroes... on the planet. There is no reason that these movies shouldn't be the very best and yet they (I am including Man of Steel in this) are being poorly represented and coming in a distant fifth or sixth to Marvel characters that I had never even heard of until recent years.

Pitiful.

The fight scenes go on way to long and the storyline is like a firework that was set off by accident.

* 1/2 - For devout fans it's rentable

Rated PG-13 (for excess violence)

Official Site: http://batmanvsuperman.dccomics.com/


Zootopia

A spunky rabbit is determined to make it as a police officer in the big city.

This was unexpectedly fun and cute. While the story is simple enough most of the comedy is satirical and will be more for the grown ups in the audience than the children.

Extremely well done and fun for all, however those under 4 might get restless with the length.

*** 1/2 - Must See

Rated PG (for dramatic elements and violence)

Official Site: http://movies.disney.com/zootopia