When We Were Soldiers (2002)

In many ways its a remake of the John Wayne Movie The Green Beret.  The anti war sentiment is there but far on the back burner. Its based upon a book written by Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore. Mel Gibson is terrific as this poet warrior leading a small experimental force in one of the seminal battles of the Vietnam war. I love a  good war movie and this one is a realistic  bookend for the Vietnam war. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a B and it did $80 million box office. Lots of liberties taken with the actual battle of La Drang. However general consensus is that it is a genuine portrayal of Vietnam.

Four Stars

Manborg (2013)

A masterpiece of constraints.  Urban legend is the movie was made for $2000. I can’t believe it.  It’s a comic book movie sometimes literally. Lots of fun here and the dialogue at times killed me. Great carboard characters.  Its only an hour long and that’s another of the great decisions made by Steven Kostanski the director and chief bottle washer who created this charmer.

Four Stars

Dark Skies (2013)

A movie that fails to generate the required energy to make it a big success. It was directed by Scott Stewart who proved he has some chops in the movie Priest.  It plays like a low key documentary about a family who is targeted by alien physiologists.
I liked it better a couple of days later. If you like your slice of life sci fi its worth a look.

Two point eight stars.

The Last Stand (2013)

Vintage Arnold! If you like the brand you will love the movie. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a mere 60% and it was a bomb at the box office. Wrong on both counts. He's back.

Four Stars

The Numbers Stations

One of my favourite books is Cyptonomicon. It should be a movie and I based upon his suburb work on Numbers Station, I nominate Danish newcomer Kasper Barfoed to direct. F Scott Fraizer another rookie did the screenplay and would be a great choice for any movie based upon this effort. The movie stars John Cusack as the prototypical wet worker who loses his edge. The movie is full of moral dilemmas, and Cusack painfully works them out for us. Malin Akerman plays a sweet civilian contractor who broadcasts secret code  for the CIA. After a fall from grace Cusack is assigned to protect her, but more importantly the code. It should be a routine and boring assignment, but of course its not. A terrific movie due to be released in the USA on April 26.

Four Stars