Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016) Rated PG-13

Posted on January 9, 2022 by laurarachel4

The turtles get into another battle with their enemies. Starring Megan Fox, Will Arnett, and Laura Linney.

If you are a fan of TMNT, then I would say this is a film to watch, but other than that, there isn’t much going for it. It has the basic storyline of the TMNTs; they have the usual issues with themselves, the humans, and, of course, their enemies. The film uses CGI for a lot of its special effects, and the turtles don’t look like they did in the 80s. The story is very basic, so there isn’t much to work with. In other words, it’s boring. While this film brings back more of what made the turtles a hit, it still misses on the nostalgia. This film, while better than its predecessor, is still not worth a watch.

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Silent Night (2021) Rated NR

Posted on January 8, 2022 by laurarachel4

A family tries to celebrate the best Christmas while the end of the world is coming tomorrow. Starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, and Roman Griffin Davis.

This story is interesting as it takes the joy of the season and mixes it with the coming doom that surrounds us. Yet, in the end there is hope. I love the soundtrack; it’s very festive. The cinematography is beautiful as we watch the storm coming to destroy. The casting is as well as it could be since the script called for dark humor. While the cast did fine on the script, the one downfall I felt was the overload of foul language – especially with the children; really, it could not have a single line without a bad word. The script also has a couple of plot holes; one of which is the death of Alex – I really didn’t think she would’ve died the way she did. The film brings up the question of how much you keep from your children or how much you should tell them. It also brings up the question of the killing of children. It’s a thought process that, for the film, makes sense, but if this happened in real life, I don’t think the concept would fly as well. This film is interesting but not worth a watch.

 

Posted in 2021, Christmas Films, Drama, films, Horror, Movie reviews, movies, Rated NR, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Last Vermont Christmas (2018) Rated TV-G

Posted on January 7, 2022 by laurarachel4

 The Marvin sisters gather one last time in their family home before they all go their separate ways. Starring Erin Cahill, Justin Bruening, and Catherine Corcoran.

This film is not the typical romance you get from Hallmark. Here, we have a family that is having their last Christmas in the home they grew up in with an added romance thrown in for good measure. My frustration with Bruening wasn’t his hair, but his metrosexual style. I was thinking, are we sure he’s into her? Although, I didn’t question that they would end up together. The film just had too many storylines to focus on the one with romance. We have one sister changing life courses, and the other keeping a family secret. The film needs to focus on one storyline rather than trying to bring out three different stories and find the ending that works on all fronts. It’s a film that has its issues, but since the two leads seemed to be somewhat into each other, it’s worth the watch. 

Posted in 2018, Christmas Films, Drama, Family, films, Hallmark Movies, Movie reviews, movies, Rated TV-G, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New This Week in Theaters, January 6, 2022

Posted on January 6, 2022 by laurarachel4

The 355(2022) The 355 (PG-13)
Opens on January 7
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, Diane Kruger, Penélope Cruz

When a top-secret weapon falls into mercenary hands, a wild card CIA agent joins forces with three international agents on a lethal mission to retrieve it, while staying a step ahead of a mysterious woman who’s tracking their every move.

Synopsis by IMDB. 

 

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Summer of Dreams (2016) Rated TV-G

Posted on January 6, 2022 by laurarachel4

A pop star moves back home and gets a job as a high school music teacher. Starring Debbie Gibson, Robert Gant, and Pascale Hutton.

This is a typical Hallmark movie. It has everything that a Hallmark has, but what makes this film different is that it uses the celebrity status of an actor. They’ve done this before, and it never pans out well. Here, it’s Debbie Gibson. Now, I’ve seen Gibson in a couple of different roles already, and I have to say, she really needs to work on her acting skills. She really isn’t relaxed in her roles. She’s rather stiff. This film really uses her history to their advantage, but it doesn’t make us enjoy the story any more. However, it doesn’t distract us from Gibson’s performance. While the story is intriguing and Hutton is a great sister, it might have worked better if the roles were reversed. While I struggle with Gibson’s role, it is a great story of someone finally finding their calling. It’s worth a watch just for that.

Posted in 2016, Drama, films, Hallmark Movies, Movie reviews, movies, Rated TV-G, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Landscapers (2021) Rated TV-MA

Posted on January 5, 2022 by laurarachel4

 A British couple becomes the focus of an investigation of two bodies buried in the back yard of a house in England. Starring Olivia Colman, David Thewlis, and Kate O’Flynn. 

This miniseries is based on a true story. There is nothing of a surprise in the story; we start the miniseries with the knowledge of the story’s final outcome. The story is dark and very British. It’s brilliantly written, and the actors are perfect for their roles. The ending credits also include the real news casts of the murders. The way they have cut this series together is brilliant as they weave together the drama with news reports of the crime. It’s a different take on true crime stories. It’s worth a watch. 

Posted in 2021, Based on a True Story, Comedy, Crime, films, Miniseries, Movie reviews, movies, Rated TV-MA, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Speechless (ABC) Rated TV-PG

Posted on January 4, 2022 by laurarachel4

A family with a special needs child works at the challenges they face while creating new ones. Starring Minnie Driver, John Ross Bowie, and Cedric Yarbrough.

I thought this show was brilliantly written. It showcased the reality that families with special needs deal with on a daily base. It brought the comedy of the situations to life but also reminds us how life has its ups and downs. The show brings out the normalcy of having a disabled family member and that others see it as abnormal. The characters are interesting, but the jokes are hit and miss. Although, some of the situations seem forced, but that might become less as the actors get used to their characters. It’s a show that is worth the watch.

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New This Week on DVD, January 4, 2022

Posted on January 4, 2022 by laurarachel4

 Antlers (R)

In an isolated Oregon town, a middle-school teacher and her sheriff brother become embroiled with her enigmatic student, whose dark secrets lead to terrifying encounters with an ancestral creature. Starring Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Jeremy T. Thomas 

 Nova: Arctic Drift (TV-PG)

Scientists on a daring polar voyage to uncover the Arctic’s climate secrets. Starring Jeannette Robinson

 American Veteran (NR)

The experiences of America’s veterans, from World War II to Afghanistan and Iraq. Starring Greg Cope White

 Sand Dollar Cove (TV-G)

Real estate development project manager Elli is sent by her company to acquire the beachfront property they’ve chosen as the site of their new resort. Brody, the charming local wants to make sure the town’s beloved pier remains intact. Starring Chad Michael Murray, Aly Michalka, Glynnis O’Connor 

 The L Word Generation Q: Season Two (TV-MA)

Bette Porter, Shane McCutcheon, and Alice Pieszecki intermingle with a younger generation of Los Angelenos experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks, and success. Starring Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig, Leisha Hailey 

 Work in Progress: Season Two (TV-MA)

Abby, a 45-year-old self-identified fat, queer dyke whose misfortune and despair unexpectedly lead her to a vibrantly transformative relationship. Chicago improv mainstay Abby McEnany co-created/stars in this uniquely human comedy series. Starring Abby McEnany, Celeste Pechous, Karin Anglin

Synopsis by IMDB. 

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Inglourious Basterds (2009) Rated R

Posted on January 3, 2022 by laurarachel4

 During World War II, a group of U.S. soldiers plan to assassinate Nazi leaders while a theater owner plans her own revenge against the Nazis. Starring Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, and Christoph Waltz. 

The film likes to say it is based on a true story, but it just borrows from many different stories of the war. So, in other words, it’s not at all based on a true story. Saying that, I do find the story intriguing and wonder if they actually had a group of men with this directive, how the war could’ve changed. What the film does give us is a great look at how the war was: its agenda, patriotism, and revenge. While the story is entertaining, the acting leaves much to be desired. Pitt’s accent is the worst and the most distracting of the whole story. Also, the opening didn’t seem as realistic as it could have been. I would’ve liked to see the death of LaPadite or his non-complacency. If you want a realistic story, I would pass. However, it does bring the entertainment, making the film worth a watch. 

Posted in 2009, Adventure, Drama, films, Movie reviews, movies, Rated R, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

S.F.W. (1994) Rated R

Posted on January 2, 2022 by laurarachel4

A teenager becomes a celebrity after he is taken hostage by terrorists and his indifference to their threats makes the headlines. Starring Stephen Dorff, Reese Witherspoon, and Jake Busey.

This film is an interesting take on hostage situations and the media following them. While the story is actually interesting, it does struggle with what genre it is. It’s a combination of comedy and drama; what it lacks is the thriller aspect of the story. It’s slow-paced, mainly trying to make the film a character-driven story. The theme of the story is what carries the film: from the outside looking in, we see the way media makes celebrities and how Cliff Spab responds to both the hostage situation and the media frenzy afterwards. The performances of Dorff and Witherspoon encourages the theme, making the story more interesting. Although, I am disappointed in the ending; it left an anticlimax that’s not worth watching. It’s a film not worth a watch.

 

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