The Birthday Cake (2021) Rated R

Posted on January 25, 2024 by laurarachel4

 On the 10th Anniversary of his father’s death, his mother sent him on a mission to deliver a birthday cake to his Uncle, a mob boss. Starring Shiloh Fernandez, Val Kilmer, and Ewan McGregor. 

This film has an interesting premise. What it lacks the most is the story behind the story. We have no background; it unfolds as the story unfolds, but we have no understanding of why things are happening or not happening. The story is basic, and the acting, even with the talent on screen, is not worthy. Due to not having a background story, each interaction is lost on the viewer. We have no idea what is really going on. This film is not worth the watch. 

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The Pledge (2011) Rated NR

Posted on January 24, 2024 by laurarachel4

A sixteen-year-old boy who doesn’t care about anything moves from New York to a small town in West Virginia. Starring Barrett Carnahan, Terry Kiser, and Emily Capehart.

You can tell this film is low-budget. The acting isn’t the best – it’s wooden and weak, and the story is just as weak. What it does have is a wonderful message about being patriotic. It’s also great for the younger generation to understand what makes our country great. While the premise is poor and the acting is poor, the message is there. It made me emotional that people really don’t respect our country or what it stands for. There are people that don’t understand us. Even though it is ok to not understand, it’s not ok to disrespect what you don’t care to understand. This film is worth the watch.

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The Beach (2000) Rated R

Posted on January 23, 2024 by laurarachel4

 On vacation in Thailand, Richard finds a solitary beach paradise. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tilda Swinton, and Daniel York. 

This film revolves around the expectations of a vacation in Thailand. It also highlights the reality that paradise isn’t always what we expect it to be. While the film revolves around drugs and sex as utopia, it lacks the substance behind the stance. The film bounces back and forth between reality and the hallucinations that are both drug-induced and lacking of healthy lifestyle. The film has it’s campy moments mixed in with the horrors of life on the island. Leo’s character is mix of spineless and strength when he should have been spineless.  This film is not worth the watch. 

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New This Week on DVD, January 23, 2024

Posted on January 23, 2024 by laurarachel4

 

 Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One (PG-13)

Death is coming. Worse than death: oblivion. Not just for our Earth, but for everyone, everywhere, in every universe! Against this ultimate destruction, the mysterious Monitor has gathered the greatest team of Super Heroes ever assembled. But what can the combined might of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern and hundreds of Super Heroes from multiple Earths even do to save all of reality from an unstoppable antimatter armageddon?! Starring Matt Bomer, Jensen Ackles, Darren Criss

 Project Dorothy (NR)

After a botched robbery, two men take refuge in a remote and lifeless scientific facility, inadvertently awakening a monster within. Starring Danielle Harris, Tim DeZarn, Adam Budron

 Special Ops: Lioness – Season One (TV-MA)

Cruz Manuelos, a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine, is recruited to join the CIA’s Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within. Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program, is tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives. Starring Zoe Saldana, Laysla De Oliveira, Dave Annable

 Your Lucky Day (R)

After a dispute over a winning lottery ticket turns into a deadly hostage situation, the witnesses must decide exactly how far they’ll go—and how much blood they’re willing to spill—for a cut of the $156 million. Starring Angus Cloud, Elliot Knight, Jessica Garza

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The Perfect Summer (2013) Rated NR

Posted on January 22, 2024 by laurarachel4

A teenage boy is uprooted from the city he loves and moves to a beach town where everyone surfs. Can he make the change work for him? Starring Eric Roberts, Sydney Penny, and Adam Horner.

This is a surprisingly good film for families to watch together. Roberts was perfect as the grandfather that’s been around the world, and Horner is the grandson that wishes life were easier than it is. The characters are strong while the story is clean. The story, of course, is one that has been told before, but the actors do a fantastic job at giving their characters heart without being cheesy. The film, overall, is not bad for a family film; thus, it’s worth the watch.

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Memento (2000) Rated R

Posted on January 21, 2024 by laurarachel4

 A man with short-term memory loss is looking for the killer of his wife. Starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano. 

This film is brilliantly made. It’s the type that’ll be one of the best films ever. The film runs backwards as the husband, who has short term memory loss, tries to discover who murdered his wife while the black and white story runs in chronologica order. You have to pay attention throughout the film to figure out who committed the murder. While the structure of the film has been used before, it isn’t always done well, but in this film it’s done well. We are confused with questions like “why did Teddy do it” and “why do these people treat the main character  in a certain way?” The film is brilliant in every way and is worth the watch. 

Posted in 2000, films, Movie reviews, movies, Mysteries, Rated R, reviews, Thrillers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sweet Surrender (2014) Rated TV-14

Posted on January 20, 2024 by laurarachel4

 Tom Campbell comes back home after serving in the Army. His ex-girlfriend is now the mayor, and his grandmother leaves him her B&B. Starring Adam Mayfield, Arielle Kebbel, and Haylie Duff. 

This is one of those Hallmark films that gets shuttled to the PixL channel as an older Hallmark  movie. It is one of the better films witg the typical Hallmark formula, even when it seems far fetched. Arielle Kebbel is the cute girl next door, and Adam Mayfield grows on you. The chemistry is there but isn’t as fireworky as it could be. The story is as typical as it can be with the ex and the conflict that keeps the couple from getting together. It’s just one of those films that you can enjoy at the end of the day. It’s worth the watch. 

Posted in 2014, Comedy, Drama, films, Movie reviews, movies, Pixl Films, Rated TV-14, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Perfect Catch (2017) Rated TV-G

Posted on January 19, 2024 by laurarachel4

A single mother, who owns a diner, is inspired by her high-school boyfriend coming back into town. Starring Nikki Deloach, Andrew W. Walker, and Chance Hurstfield.

This film is a typical Hallmark movie. We have a single mom struggling with work and family, and in comes the white knight of an former boyfriend. I’ve enjoyed Deloach in other Hallmark films, and Andrew Walker is still one of my favorite Hallmark men to watch. Their chemistry is better than other Hallmark couples. The film, overall, is fun and cute to watch but doesn’t have anything that makes it stick out among other films. Thus, it’s not worth the watch.

Posted in 2017, Drama, Family, films, Hallmark Movies, Movie reviews, movies, Rated TV-G, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New This Week in Theaters, January 18, 2024

Posted on January 18, 2024 by laurarachel4

 

I.S.S. (2023) - IMDb I.S.S. (R)
Opens on Friday, January 19
Starring: Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, Pilou Asbæk

When a world war event occurs on Earth, America and Russia, both nations secretly contact their astronauts aboard the I.S.S. and give them instructions to take control of the station by any means necessary.

Which Brings Me to You (2023) - IMDb Which Brings Me to You (NR)
Opens on Friday, January 19
Starring: Lucy Hale, Nat Wolff, John Gallagher Jr.

Two romantic burnouts, Jane and Will, are immediately drawn to each other at a mutual friend’s wedding. After a disastrous hookup in the coatroom, the two spend the next 24 hours together, trading candid confessions of messy histories and heartbreak, on the off chance that this fling might be the real thing.

Synopsis by IMDB. 

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Survive the Raft (Discovery) Rated NR

Posted on January 18, 2024 by laurarachel4

 Nine candidates sail on a boat for 21 days to win a fortune. Starring Nate Boyer, Tara Colucci, and Merissa Underwood.

The premise is interesting: take a bunch of people on a social experiment to see them interact with those of different cultures or lifestyles. They take them out of a common house and into a boat to see if greed gets the better of them. They do have a range of people on the boat and they become friendly. We watch to find out if the twist and turns of mental and physical challenges help them get the money. It’s interesting, but it still brings out the pettiness of life. The show tends to highlight the experiment of 1973 when a group of international young people where put on a raft to survive crossing the Atlantic. However, this show isn’t at all like the 1973 sail. This show doesn’t have that much diversity. It’s not worth the watch. 

Posted in 2023, Discovery, Rated NR, Reality TV, reviews, Tv Shows | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment