Month: November 2016

Allied

Intelligence officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) meets up with a French Resistance Fighter Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard) in North Africa, together they participate in a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Sometime later they reunite in London, their relationship blossoms, they marry and have a child but soon their relationship is tested due to the wartime constraints. The story unfolds from there…

There are parts of the movie that at times show signs of brilliance, but in the end it just doesn’t quite make it. From an execution stand point there are holes that need to be filled. The plot isn’t really clear.

“Allied” is a fairly decent movie. It should be better given the cast in front of the camera and behind the camera.

This is a 3 Star Movie!

Rules Don’t Apply

Its 1958, a young aspiring actress Marla Mabrey (Lily Collins) from Front Royal, VA makes her way to Hollywood, CA along with her Mother (Annette Bening) in the hopes of getting a part in a Howard Hughes film.

Upon arriving in Hollywood a driver, Frank Forbes (Alden Ehrenreich) is waiting to take Marla and her Mother where ever and when-ever they needed to go anywhere. There is instant attraction between Marla and Frank, but they both try to hide it. Frank is an employee of Howard Hughes and does not want to mess up. Marla finds out that Frank knows Howard Hughes and everyday peppers him for information about the Billionaire.

Howard Hughes (Warren Beatty) does not want people to see him and if anyone does it’s with the lighting very dimmed or off all together. Soon Howard sends for Marla. The story unfolds from there…

I found “Rules Don’t Apply” to be quite boring. The story jumps all over the place. There are at least 4 stories brewing in the movie, but they never percolate. The plot appears to be missing. It’s obvious that “No Rules Were Applied” when making this film.

“Rules Don’t Apply” is best viewed on Cable TV.

This is a 2 Star Movie!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in 3D

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” dazzles with wizardry and spectacular special effects!

I never saw or reviewed any of the Harry Potter franchise. I decided to take a chance and view “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”. I found the movie to be an adventure that was entertaining and well executed.
This new J.K. Rowling spin-off finds Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) arriving in New York via and ocean-liner in what appears to be the 1930’s. Newt has a mysterious suit case that he is carrying. As he makes his way through the streets of New York, he stops at a gathering of people listening to someone outside a bank. Newt makes a mistake and sets the suit case down. Magically a Platypus gets out and races inside the bank. This starts an array of events that happen with this magical suit case. Little does Newt know that he is being watched. The story unfolds from there…

I had no preconceived notions or opinions about this movie going in. I wanted to keep an open mind.

I found the movie to be loaded with a lot of CGI, Special Effects and Fascinating Cinematography. There is quite a bit of action and adventure. J.K. Rowling has a vivid imagination. This is the first of what is to be four installments in this franchise.

I did find the movie to be entertaining, magical and mystical. The 3D aspects were very good.

If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will find this new spin-off from J.K. Rowling worth a look.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!

Almost Christmas

“Almost Christmas” is a lively comedy about a patriarch whose one wish is that for the upcoming Christmas Holiday the family all come together for the 5 Days leading up to Christmas. This will be the first Christmas without the Mother as she passed away earlier in the year. The family consists of 5 adult children, 3 grandchildren and 1 sister-in-law. The wish of the patriarch is that they are all able to get along under one roof without killing each other. As the children start to arrive at the family home the fireworks begin. The story unfolds from there…

The events and drama that unfold with this family are not uncommon in real life. Jealousy, Envy, Ambition, Adultery, Grief and Misunderstandings all take up residence at this family gathering. The movie has good and bad parts, but it is entertaining, thought provoking and at times corny.

“Almost Christmas” is better that a lot of Holiday comedy movies that have come before it. I think “Almost Christmas” is worth a look.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!

Arrival

“Arrival” is way more than your usual “Run-of-the-Mill” Alien Disaster movies. If that’s what you are expecting, you will be so disappointed.

“Arrival” is a “Thinking Person’s Sci-Fi Drama”. The movie in and of its self is thought provoking and very cerebral.

Amy Adams is Dr. Louise Banks, an expert linguist whose expertise is called upon when a number of mysterious spacecraft touch down in various places around the globe. Dr. Banks and an elite team investigate the spacecraft that comes to the US. Dr. Banks uses her knowledge and with the help of her team they translate the responses received from the alien beings, but what Dr. Banks does and learns could not only put her life at risk, but all of humanity. The story unfolds from there…

“Arrival” is a bit subdued. It’s an intensely calm movie that will get you thinking.
The movie did engage my brain, but not my heart. While it was executed brilliantly, it will not become one of my favorite all time flicks.

If you are a Sci-Fi fan, “Arrival” is for you.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

Dr. Strange: The 3D IMAX Experience

Marvel Entertainment brings us another installment from the Marvel Comic Universe! This installment is about Dr. Strange.

Dr. Strange’s story is told in a colorful entertaining fashion. You are shown how Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), the renown Neurosurgeon becomes Dr. Strange the powerful Sorcerer after suffering through a tragic accident that leaves him unable to perform any medical surgeries.

“Dr. Strange” is an entertaining action movie that is a must see in IMAX 3D! The cinematography is awesome. The 3D aspects are very good. You are treated to a spectacular kaleidoscope of wizardry and special effects. Some of the scenes and special effects will remind you of the 2010 box office hit “Inception”.

Benedict Cumberbatch is smooth as silk as Dr. Strange. This will be another box office hit for the Marvel Comic Universe.

This is a 4 Star Movie!