Rock of Ages (2012) Rated PG-13

 

ARock of Ages girl goes from a small town to Hollywood to pursue her dream of singing. Starring Julianne Hough, Dakota Sage Grant, Matthew Rush Sullivan, Russell Brand, Diego Boneta, Alec Baldwin, Bryan Cranston, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul Giamatti, Tom Cruise, Malin Akerman, Will Forte, Mary J. Blige, Eli Roth, T.J. Miller.

This was one of the worst films of the year. The only good thing about this film was the sound track. If you grow up in the 80’s, the sound track will definitely take you back. The story, on the other hand, was terrible. Too many plot lines with too many top actors, each vying for their time on camera. It was like waiting for each musical number between a bunch of actors fighting to be seen. The stories just had no point to them, and the music wasn’t good enough to be the glue. This film is not worth a watch.

 

Posted in 2012, Comedy, Drama, films, Movie reviews, movies, Musicals, Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gimme Shelter (2013) Rated PG-13

Gimme shelterA pregnant teenager runs away from her abusive mother to find her father. Starring Rosario Dawson, Brendan Fraser, Vanessa Hudgens, James Earl Jones.

This is one of the best films I have seen this year. Hudgens’ performance is compelling, as the teenager trying to escape from her mother’s abuse, without any way out. I have a new respect for her as an actress. In her scenes with Dawson, the mom, you can feel the burden of codependency between them and the anguish of their separation.  The only problem I had with this film is the ending. I understand that in real life Apple probably stayed at the shelter, but that didn’t make sense for the film. Other than that, this film is worth the watch.

 

Posted in 2013, Drama, films, Movie reviews, movies, Rated PG-13, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New This Week on DVD, April 5, 2016

 Anguish (UR)

A girl, Tess, is diagnosed with an identity disorder that may actually be channeling an evil, dead spirit inside of her. Starring Ryan Simpkins, Annika Marks, Karina Logue

 Mojave (R)

A suicidal artist goes into the desert, where he finds his doppelgänger, a homicidal drifter. Starring Garrett Hedlund, Louise Bourgoin, Cletus Young, Oscar Isaac, Mark Wahlberg

 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (PG-13)

Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance. Starring Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Max von Sydow, Peter Mayhew, Gwendoline Christie, Simon Pegg

 Stealing Cars (R)

A rebellious teenager navigates his way through the juvenile court system. Starring Emory Cohen, Heather Lind, William H. Macy, Paul Sparks, John Leguizamo, Felicity Huffman, Mike Epps

 Tumbledown (R)

A young woman struggles to move on with her life after the death of her husband, an acclaimed folk singer, when a brash New York writer forces her to confront her loss and the ambiguous circumstances of his death. Starring Joe Manganiello, Rebecca Hall, Dianna Agron, Jason Sudeikis, Blythe Danner

 #Horror (NR)

A group of 12 year old girls face a night of horror when the compulsive addiction of an online social media game turns a moment of cyber bullying into a night of insanity. Starring Chloë Sevigny, Timothy Hutton, Balthazar Getty, Taryn Manning

 Banshee: The Complete Third Season (TV-MA)

Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief assumes the identity of a murdered sheriff where he continues his criminal activities. His past seems to haunt him by those he betrayed years earlier. This ex-con imposes his own brand of justice where violence erupts at every turn in the not so quiet Amish town, Banshee, Pennsylvania. Starring Antony Starr, Ivana Milicevic, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison, Hoon Lee, Matt Servitto, Ryann Shane, Lili Simmons

 Casual: The Complete First Season (TV-MA)

A new comedy series about a bachelor brother and his newly divorced sister living under one roof again. Together, they coach each other through the crazy world of dating while raising her teenage daughter. Starring Michaela Watkins, Tommy Dewey, Tara Lynne Barr

 Doctor Who: The Complete Ninth Series (TV-PG)

The further adventures of the time traveling alien adventurer and his companions. Starring Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna Coleman

 Episodes: Season 4 (TV-MA)

British writer-producers Beverly and Sean Lincoln, have a wonderful marriage and a hit TV series to their credit. Things couldn’t be better. Until Merc Lapidus, a Hollywood network executive, gushes over their series at a gala. Merc is certain that a remake of the show will go over well with an American audience. After making the Lincolns a lucrative offer, they pack up and ship out to the States. It doesn’t take long for them to figure out that Hollywood is a place where deals are made and broken in the same breath. They soon find themselves holding on tight as creative control of their show starts to slip away from their hands. Merc ultimately dismisses the original star, an elder, distinguished, gentleman, for ‘Friends’ actor ‘Matt LeBlanc’, a charming, yet manipulative beast, with a grocery list of demands. Hollywood is not what the Lincolns had in mind, but Sean believes he can swim with the sharks. As for Beverly, she’d rather go back to the UK than deal with these Episodes. Starring Matt LeBlanc, Tamsin Greig, Stephen Mangan, John Pankow

 Heartland: The Complete Sixth Season (NR)

A multi-generational saga set in Alberta, Canada and centered on a family getting through life together in both happy and trying times. Starring Amber Marshall, Chris Potter, Shaun Johnston

 House of Lies: The Fourth Season (TV-MA)

A subversive, scathing look at a self-loathing management consultant from a top-tier firm. Marty, a highly successful, cutthroat consultant is never above using any means (or anyone) necessary to get his clients the information they want. Starring Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz, Josh Lawson

 The Masked Saint (PG-13)

A pastor and professional wrestler accepts a position at a struggling church where he helps the community both in his official capacity and as his alter ego The Saint. Starring Brett Granstaff, Lara Jean Chorostecki, T.J. McGibbon

 The Odd Couple: Season One (NR)

After being kicked out of their houses by their wives, two friends try to share an apartment, but their ideas of housekeeping and lifestyles are as different as night and day. Starring Matthew Perry, Thomas Lennon, Lindsay Sloane, Yvette Nicole Brown, Wendell Pierce

 A Place to Call Home: Season 3 (NR)

A mysterious woman is perched between the harsh legacy of World War II and the hope of a new life in Australia. Starring Marta Dusseldorp, Noni Hazlehurst, Brett Climo, Craig Hall, David Berry, Abby Earl, Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood, Aldo Mignone

 The Von Trapp Family: A Life of Music (NR)

Agathe von Trapp, the eldest daughter of a well-known musical family, overcomes many obstacles to pursue her musical career and move to the United States. Starring Eliza Bennett, Lauryn Canny, Yvonne Catterfeld, Rosemary Harris, Matthew Macfadyen

Synopsis by IMDB.

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War Room (2015) Rated PG

War RoomA wife struggling to keep her family together, takes advice from an older, wiser, woman, and begins praying for her family. Starring Karen Abercrombie, Priscilla C. Shirer, T.C. Stallings, Michael Jr., Alex Kendrick.

The Kendrick Brothers have done it again. This is a beautiful film about the power of prayer. The production quality, script, and performances grow stronger with each Kendrick Brothers film, and this one is the best by far.  I admit, I was skeptical at first, expecting a sugar-coated story about making a room in your house for prayer, but that wasn’t it at all. It’s about making sure you make time for prayer in your life and seeing how God answer prayers. This film is worth a watch, and it’s going on my best of the year film list.

Posted in 2015, Christian Films, Drama, films, Movie reviews, movies, Rated PG | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Christmas Consultant (2012) Rated NR

Christmas consultantA highly sought after consultant is hired by a workaholic mom to help get her through the holidays. Starring David Hasselhoff, Caroline Rhea, Barclay Hope.

This is, by far, the worst holiday film I have seen. The writing and acting were both horrible.  The actors were too over the top, with no balance, due to the script, which made no sense at all.  It had no redeeming qualities, whatsoever.  There is no sense of the reason for the season, Christmas spirit, or whatever other holiday significance one might attribute to a Christmas film.  It is NOT worth a watch.

Posted in 2012, Canadian Films, Christmas Films, Comedy, Lifetime, Rated NR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brooklyn (2015) Rated PG-13

BrooklynAn Irish immigrant settles in Brooklyn, New York in the 1950s. When she falls in love with a New Yorker, she must decide which life to lead. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Hugh Gormley, Brid Brennan, Julie Walters, Emily Bett Rickards, Jim Broadbent, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson.

This is a wonderful film centered on a girl trying to make a new life for herself in a new country while longing for her home country and family. Ronan is among the finest of young actresses; her performance was impeccable. Cohen and Gleeson are also strong as the two men vying for her heart.  I didn’t necessarily agree with the decisions she made while still in Ireland, but by the end of the film, she really came into her own. Beautifully filmed, with a universal message, this is a movie worth watching.

 

 

Posted in 2015, Drama, films, Movie reviews, movies, Rated PG-13, Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden (2012) Rated UR

Seal team sixA group of Navy Seals go after Osama Bin Laden. Starring Cam Gigandet, Anson Mount, Freddy Rodríguez, Xzibit.

This felt like a made for TV movie (which it is), with slow but to the point pacing.  I appreciated seeing the events unfold, but I found myself questioning how accurate this movie really was.  I also did not like how they placed all the emphasis on Obama’s part in catching Bin Laden, rather than focusing on the real heroes of Seal Team Six, who the movie is named after.  They are the ones who risked their lives to catch him. This story could have been told much better, but out of consideration for its content, I still say it is worth a watch.

 

 

Posted in 2012, Action, Crime, Drama, films, Movie reviews, movies, Rated UR, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New This Week in Theaters, March 31, 2016

 Everybody Wants Some (R)
Opens on Friday, April 1
Starring: Will Brittain, Blake Jenner, Zoey Deutch

A group of college baseball players navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood.

 God’s Not Dead 2 (PG)
Opens on Friday, April 1
Starring: Melissa Joan Hart, Jesse Metcalfe, Ernie Hudson

When a high school teacher is asked a question in class about Jesus, her reasoned response lands her in deep trouble and could expel God from the public square once and for all.

 Collide (PG-13)
Opens on Friday, April 1
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Felicity Jones, Anthony Hopkins

An American backpacker gets involved with a ring of drug smugglers as their driver, though he winds up on the run from his employers across Munich’s high-speed Autobahn.

 Miles Ahead (R)
Opens on Friday, April 1
Starring: Don Cheadle, Ewan McGregor, Michael Stuhlbarg

An exploration of the life and music of Miles Davis.

  Meet the Blacks (R)
Opens on Friday, April 1
Starring: Mike Epps, Zulay Henao, George Lopez

The Black family is getting out of Chicago in hopes of a better life. After Carl Black comes into some unexpected funds, he takes his family and leaves the hustling lifestyle behind for something better. Carl, his new wife Lorena, son Carl Jr., daughter Allie Black  and cousin Cronut  pack up and move to Beverly Hills. Turns out, Carl couldn’t have picked a worse time to move. They arrive right around the time of the annual purge, when all crime is legal for twelve hours.

 The Dark Horse (R)
Opens on Friday, April 1
Starring: Cliff Curtis, James Rolleston, Kirk Torrance, Miriama McDowell

An emotionally charged and inspiring drama about a man who searches for the courage to lead, despite his own adversities – finding purpose and hope in passing on his gift to the children in his community.

 Kill Your Friends (UR)
Opens on Friday, April 1
Starring: Ed Skrein, Nicholas Hoult, Rosanna Arquette, James Corden

An A&R man working at the height of the Britpop music craze goes to extremes in order to find his next hit.

 Natural Born Pranksters (R)
Opens on Friday, April 1
Starring: Roman Atwood, Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, Dennis Roady, Kevin Brueck

YouTube’s best pranksters, Roman Atwood, Vitaly Z, and Dennis Roady make the leap to the big screen.

 Standing Tall (R)
Opens on Friday, April 1
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Rod Paradot, Benoît Magimel, Sara Forestier

The story centers on a young delinquent as he comes of age.

Synopsis by IMDB.

Posted in 2016, films, movies, New in Theater | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Backtrack (2015) Rated R

BacktrackA psychologist realizes that his patients are actually ghosts from his past. Starring Adrien Brody, Sam Neill, Robin McLeavy.

Adrien Brody plays the psychologist who realizes that his patients are ghosts from his past, trying to unblock his memory of an event from his childhood.  The film is beautifully written, and Brody is excellent in his role.  After a steadily building pace throughout, the end felt a bit trite and soft, unlike the powerful climax I expected.  Even though it didn’t make much sense, the film is still wonderful and worth a watch.

Posted in 2015, Australian Films, Drama, films, Movie reviews, movies, Mysteries, Rated R, reviews, Thrillers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bridget Jones’ Baby Trailer

 

bridget_jones_baby

I’ve been anxiously awaiting this movie, and I couldn’t help but share the trailer and my corresponding thoughts.  It definitely poses more questions than answers.   For one, when did Bridget and Mark break up? At the end of The Edge of Reason, I assumed that Bridget and Mark were together, even married (unless that sequence was all in Bridget’s head, which doesn’t seem probable). Second, how did Bridget go from TV reporter/host to a producer? That also didn’t seem to be on the horizon for Bridget at the end of The Edge of Reason.  The trailer seems to imply that this movie takes place just weeks after The Edge of Reason, but it also gives the impression that it could be years. These questions concern me; I am worried about how good this film will be, when Bridget doesn’t seem to know who the father is. I’m still anxious to see it, with apprehensive optimism.  Anyone else excited for Bridget’s next installment?

 

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