Month: April 2017

The Circle

“The Circle” was an utter waste of my time. It’s a let-down considering the cast!

Mae (Emma Watson) gets hired by the world’s largest and most successful Tech Social Media Company. Mae grips this opportunity like it’s a life line. She starts off slow, but soon rises thru the ranks. The Company Founder, Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks) encourages Mae and her ideas. Mae soon embarks on an experiment that is groundbreaking and also pushes the boundaries of how we live life today, but this new experiment could also alienate her from her family. The story unfolds from there…

“The Circle” is one dimension. There is no plot and no story. The movie just goes along its merry way. You could take from the movie that not everyone is going to like you on social media, not everyone is going to agree with your opinions on social media and not everyone cares what you do on social media even if your millions of so-called friends are watching your every move every single day on social media…

“The Circle” has great actors in a bad movie. “The Circle” is the late Bill Paxton’s last movie.

This is a 1 Star Movie!

Gifted

“Gifted is a very cute and moving movie”

Chris Evans plays Frank Adler a single man who is tasked with raising a seven year old little girl who is a prodigy. Frank is raising his niece Mary at the wishes of his sister who is no longer living. Frank promised is sister that he would make sure that Mary had a normal life and did the fun things that little girls do growing up.

Mary is anything but a normal little girl. She can solve mathematical problems without blinking an eye. The school she attends wants to send her via a scholarship to a school for gifted children, Frank refuses because he feels that Mary would not adjust well because she would be viewed as different. Soon Mary’s Grandmother Evelyn comes calling from Boston. Evelyn wants to take Mary away to live with her. Frank is not about to allow that to happen. Soon Attorneys get involved and everyone goes to court. The story unfold from there…

The story is moving, heart-warming and at times a bit comical. There are a few places where the movie drags a bit, but that doesn’t deter from the story. It’s cute to see little Mary working mathematical problems the way a child would color in a coloring book. Chris Evans does a good job of transcending to a different role than Captain America.

All in all I say “Gifted” is worth a look. It’s open in a minimum number of theaters around the country. Check it out if you can.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!

Fate of the Furious: The IMAX Experience

“The Fast & Furious Franchise Lives On…”

I was actually stunned to hear that another installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise was coming our way after the great sendoff that was given for Paul Walker during Furious 7. I thought it would be tough for the original cast to continue without him, but I guess I was wrong. It is really all about making “Dead Presidents”.

So here we are two years later and the original cast minus Paul Walker with about five new faces ventures into another realm. There is some very good casting although this installment moves further away from its roots.

The story starts off great with Toretto (Diesel) and Letty (Rodriguez) together doing their thing in Cuba living what appears to be a normal life. The rest of the team is no-where around. The peace that Toretto and Letty enjoy can only last so long. A new villain makes its way into Toretto’s life. This villain needs Toretto’s special driving skills to pull of some major international jobs. In order to get Toretto’s help, this villain has already procured something that is very precious to Toretto, so how can he refuse? The story unfolds from there…

In order to keep this franchise going there needed to be a fresh new story, with fresh new characters. On a very small scale this story is fresh with new characters, but on the larger scale it’s a “Been There, Done That” sort of story. Unfortunately Jordana Brewster did not reprise her role as “Mia”. She is one of the original cast members.

There is a ton of action, serious car chases, crashes and cool moves. The computer age is rampant in this movie as there are many high-tech maneuvers made and used. There is even some comedy relief. During the opening credits the music that plays is off the chain…

“Fate of the Furious” is a must see in IMAX. The camera angles, sound and the cinematography are excellent and you will feel like you are in the cars and planes riding right along with the gang.

The movie is not bad, it’s just not as fresh as it needs to be with an eighth installment.

“Fate of the Furious” is definitely worth a look.

I am almost sure there will be a ninth installment.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!

Going in Style

“Going in Style” is Hilarious!!

Just imagine you are in your “Golden Years”. You have retired after working 30, 40 years at the same company. You have a pension that you expected to last as long as you do. The company you worked so hard for is having problems and has been purchased. The new company has decided to freeze all pensions from the purchased company. This leaves all of the current retirees without any money.

Desperate times calls for desperate measures. You get together with your retired pals and decide to rob a bank. There is planning, getting into shape and learning to shoot a gun among other tasks that you need to undertake, but first you need some help from someone with a criminal mind. The story unfolds from there…

The paid critics are very Luke-warm about “Going in Style”. What could possibly be Luke-warm about a movie with Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin as its stars?
I thought it was funny, entertaining and lighthearted while potentially ringing in some truth. In America today, pensions disappearing does happen. It’s funny to see 70+ year old’s putting together a plan and robbing a bank.

“Going in Style” is an entertaining movie and worth a look.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!