Thursday 19 November 2015

Spectre (2015)


I saw this movie close to a week ago in a Cinema. I wanted to say something but then the Paris attacks happened. Bottom line the writers of this movie agree with me that ISIS is a security distraction, the threat comes from within.

This is the best Bond movie ever. I can say this because I saw all the Bond movies in a theatre upon their release.  I know Bond like Moneypenny.

I thought Skyfall was a hot mess. I never cottoned to Daniel Craig as I am still shaken not stirred with Connery. 

In this movie IMHO Daniel Craig has become James  Bond.  No other actor  has managed to do this.

This movie connects all the dots. This movie has the best Bond Girl ever. This movie has the best Bond car ever.  I do not want to spoil anything, but in this movie every Bond touchstone gets touched.

Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 63% score. Proof they are insane.

A thousand years from now people will love this movie, like the fans of Greek plays play today.

Five Five high Five stars

Thursday 15 October 2015

The Martian


If only Ridley Scott had directed Interstellar. This movie has best picture written all over it. If you took Gravity and Castaway and made them both way better you have The Martian. It was the most emotional charged feel good movie I can remember. There was not just one peak but at least 5 high 5 moments, incredible moviemaking.

Five out of Five Stars


Sunday 31 May 2015

Mad Max Fury Road (2014)


Mad Max is all about the spectacle of modified vehicles in combat. Mad Max Fury Road spends most of the movie in that frenzied state. The action sequences were outstanding. I would have used Guitar Man to feed the sound track more. 

Tom Hardy was alright, I liked Mel Gibson way more. I found the movie very sastifying, but the old Max was more endearing. I do look forward to the sequel, and and a helper at least. Rotten Tomatos gave it 98%. I am not that taken.

3.5 stars


Sunday 17 May 2015

Chappie (2015)


Neil Blookop makes interseting well directed movies that flow. This is his third and worst. He makes a story that is not complelling. I do not buy into much of the premise. Hugh Jackman as the villian is comical, not funny ha ha, funy as a clown. Its a movie worth watching but for me a big dissappointment from the director of District 9 and Elysim. I love the t shirts the characters wear. I appreciate he is trying to tell us the criminals are mom and dad. But he did not pull this off.

Very nice put together movie that was not satisfying due to poor plot. Defienty worth watching and by the gap you can see the first thing worth watching in months IMHO.

2.7 stars

Sunday 26 April 2015

Jupiter Ascending


This movie had everything going for it. I got no problems with the lead actors or the support. The story is brilliant right out of my vision of a Robert Heinlien novel. The special effects are leading edge. Yet this movie fails. So where to place the blame? First the script, second the director and third the editing.

Rotten Tomatos gave it 25%. I think if you like Sci Fi you should watch this. If you thought Cloud Atlas was bad, this is better.

2.5 stars

Monday 30 March 2015

Born of War (2013)


A movie that asks the question what and who is a terrorist? The question is better than the movie. Nevertheless its about the best flick I have seen in months.
Sofia Black-D'Elia I had never heard or seen before and based upon this movie I expect her to become a star. Whatever it is she has it. The plot does not stray far from the headlines. In the end the plot is a predictable cliche but pulled off with great B movie Panache. My main criticism is why can all these hard people never manage to take out the bad guy the first, second, third or even fourth time. James Frain playing a mercenary wet worker made me take notice.  I would be in favour of seeing his name in more credits.

Vickey Jewson another unknown made a good movie, in future give her more money. Rotten Tomatoes has not reviewed but audiences gave it 89%. I am not near there.

Two point eight stars
Do not watch trailer if you want maximum enjoyment from movie, way to many tells revealed. Why do they do that?

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Supernova (2000)


A film with a lot of promise. James Spader stared as a bad ass recovering drug addict. I like Spader who is best known now for the Blacklist TV show. Angela Basset is the heroine, and Peter Facinelli makes a terrific villian. After watching this movie I have to wonder why Peter or fellow costar Robin Tunney's carreers failed to soar. Even Lou Diamond Philps who I normaly have little time for did not annoy.

Its a classic Sci Fiction story with a great twist on faster than light travel. The legendary Walter Hill directed the first version but left the film, Francis Ford Coppala was brought in to make the best of the dailies. Rotten Tomatos gave it 10% and it make back less than 10 of its 90 million dollar budget. This was a very good movie that totally drew me into its world. Can't figure out why it was such a bomb.

Three Stars


The Town (2010)


I watched the Blu Ray extended version. It runs 2 hours and thirty minutes. I liked the original version which was just over two hours.  Even with the extra half hour the movie really moves.

Ben Afleck as a director and a star has become very bankable and his name in the credits almost guarantees satisfaction. The Town is a great gritty heist movie. It has many similarities to Heat, but if I had to pick the better movie it would be The Town. My only quibble was the sachrine ending. 
It was a box office and critical hit. Both as a star and director Its Aflecks best movie to date.

Four Stars



Saturday 24 January 2015

Movie Fans Taken 3 (2014)


Taken 3 has accomplished its primary goal of sucking the last dollar out of Liam Neeson fans. We should feel good because he got $20 million of the $45 million dollar budget. We should feel bad because its a ridiculous movie. Saying that about a movie in the Taken tradition means its way out there in disbelief la la land. Mills never tells the bad guys about his skill set, he does not even kill that many people. This movie relied on explosions and car chases over use of special skills. 

There is a baby in this movie, the plot should have been the baby has been eaten by dingos. Rotten Tomatos gave it 10%.  If you liked Taken 2 which I did, this movie is about as big a drop off as it was from Taken One.

Two point one stars

Tuesday 13 January 2015

American Sniper (2014)


This movie directed by the legendary Clint Eastwood  starring Bradly Cooper should have hit a bulls eye. It missed the target. Eastwood's direction lacks energy and Cooper is a cardboard action hero. Its not Eastwood's fault that the mess that was Iraq and the new chaos of ISIS are a strong counterpoint to the unquestioning patriotism profiled in the movie. Portraying the Iraqi people as savages was also over the top.

If it had not been a true story I might have flunked it. The Hurt Locker, Lone Survivor and Zero Dark Thirty all cover the same ground with more authenticity and emotional connection.

Rotten Tomatoes saw a completely differant film and gave it 75%. Out of respect more than merit I will give it 60%. It may be this movie resonates better with Americans than Canadians.
Three Stars

Clint Eastwood is firing back at critics like me. He makes a valid point. This movie is the Snipers story. It was written that way and thats how he filmed it. No grey zones in the American fighting mans mind.

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