Category: Mystery

Bridge of Spies

“Bridge of Spies” is “Cold War Espionage at its finest!!”

It’s basically “we got spies”, “they got spies”. We got their spies, they got our spies. We want ours back, they want theirs back. Let’s make an exchange on a bridge. That is the simplest unabridged version. Here are the details.

“Bridge of Spies” is based on factual events. Tom Hanks is James Donovan an American attorney in a major NY law firm. He gets tasked with providing legal counsel for a man who was captured in the US believed to be a Russian Spy. The man is convicted and sentenced to 30 years in a Federal Prison.

On another front, the military has a U-2 Spy plane that can fly at 70,000 feet in altitude. The plane is deployed, but during the mission the American pilot is shot down over hostile territory during the Cold War and is taken prisoner.

Attorney James Donovan and a team of CIA agents go to Germany and Russia to negotiate the release of the American Pilot. The story unfolds from there…

“Bridge of Spies” is excellent. The only problem I had with the movie is that some times it dragged a bit.

This is a 4 1/2 Star Movie!

The Perfect Guy

“The Perfect Guy” is a case of “Been There, Done That, Seen It!” Good looking actors trapped in a bad script in a not so good looking movie.
A successful lobbyist, Leah Vaughn is tired of her current romantic situation, so after Leah parts ways with her current beau, Leah meets a very charming stranger.
After a while Leah’s former beau re-enters her life. Soon after she finds herself wondering who to trust and who to fear. The story unfold from there…

As a stated previously good actors, bad movie. Although the end is white-knuckled intriguing. I really expected “The Perfect Guy” to be different from movies like “Fatal Attraction” etc…The movie makes no attempt to be different. What a shame and a waste of actor talent

This is a 1 Star Movie!

Marvel’s Ant-Man: The IMAX 3D Experience

“Ant-Man” one of the founding members of Marvel’s The Avengers is brought to life on the big screen.

Master thief Scott Lang “Ant-Man” is called upon by his mentor Dr. Hank Pym to help protect the secret of behind the phenomenal Ant-Man suit.

With the ability to shrink to less than the size of a dime, gain extra-ordinary strength and speed, “Ant-Man” along with some of his closest friends (human and ants) device a plan to stop Dr. Pym’s secrets from not only being discovered and used for evil, but they must also save the world. The story unfolds from there…

The story starts off a bit slow, but soon becomes a runaway freight train and is very entertaining. The Cinematography is great!! The special effects are very cool. The movie is funny, clever and has plenty of action. The movie is better than I expected.

If you are going to see “Ant-Man”, it’s a definite must see in IMAX.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie

Self/less

“Self/less” is “Selfish”!! Its “Selfish” in its Execution and “Selfish” in its Delivery.

An extremely wealthy business man Damien (Ben Kingsley) is dying from some form of neurological cancer. He is offered a chance to undergo a form of radical treatment that transfers his consciousness into a healthy younger man.

Once the transfer takes place and the healthy young Damien (Ryan Reynolds) wakes up, is rehabilitated and starts his new life, all is not what it seems. As the younger Damien starts to uncover the mystery of the original older Damien, the secret society behind the treatment will stop at nothing to protect its cause.
The story unfolds from there…

This is one of the worst executed stories I have seen in a long while. It seems that the story is being made up as it moves along. There are so many miss-connected dots. The story does not flow at all. It starts off odd, gets odder as the movie continues and ends in strange fashion.
This is a movie that should have gone straight to video. Its not worth the money. In fact it probably should have been placed on the cutting floor.

It was a waste of Ben Kingsley and Ryan Reynolds acting abilities.

I do not recommend “Self/less”

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Based on a comic book, “Kingsman: The Secret Service” is about a very secret Spy Organization that is in need of fresh recruits, so they can continue to stay ahead of the latest global threats. The organization recruits a kid off the streets, but he isn’t just any kid; his father was a member of “The Secret Service” and he gave his life years ago to save his fellow team members.

The recruitment process is ultra competitive and at times it’s questionable as to whether any of the 6 recruits will rise to the top, but some do just in time because there is a Tech Genius who is launching a threat. The story unfolds from there…

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” is entertaining, thrilling, action packed and suspenseful.

There are some interesting special effects and some cool cinematography.
The movie is diminished a bit by some intense killing sprees, but other than that it’s very good.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” is worth a look.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

The Imitation Game

Nominated for Best Picture “The Imitation Game” is a very well executed movie.

Based on a true story, in 1952 the British Authorities entered the home of, celebrated professor Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) because of a reported burglary, but after their investigation they arrested Professor Turing on a charge of “Gross Indecency”. Back in those days homosexuality was against the law.

The authorities had no idea that they were arresting the man who along with his merry motley crew broke the code that would lead to stopping the German World War II Enigma machine.

“The Imitation Game” takes you through Professor Turing’s life from his school days to his working with Intelligence Agents to over throw the Enigma Machine.
Richard Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Alan Turing is haunting. The movie could be boring, but it’s not. It’s very educational from the stand point of the machine that Alan Turing created, we know today as a computer.

“The Imitation Game” is worth the price of admission.

This is a 4 1/2 Star Movie!

The Boy Next Door

“The Boy Next Door” is “Been There, Done That, Seen it 20 Times before.”

Jennifer Lopez plays Claire Peterson, a newly divorced high school literature teacher. When the boy next door (Noah) introduces and ingratiates himself into the lives of Claire and her son Kevin (Ian Nelson), Claire can’t help but find herself attracted to the very handsome young man. Noah is very attracted to Claire and decides to do something about it. Soon after things get out of hand and turn dangerous. The story unfolds from there…

“The Boy Next Door” lacks creativity. The movie is predictable and leaves little to the imagination. Some of the events that take place in the movie are just plain stupid. Think “Fatal Attraction meets High School Boy”.

This movie rates a big fat “0”. Don’t waste your time or money. The male viewer will find the sex scenes very interesting. Jennifer Lopez did her own scenes.

This movie does not rate any stars!

Gone Girl

“Oh My Gosh!!”, “Gone Girl” is jaw dropping good!! The mystery of it all is insane!! The plot and story are out of this world crazy!! The movie is based on the best-selling novel by Gillian Flynn.

“Gone Girl” is about the ups and downs of a modern marriage. On their fifth wedding anniversary Nick Dunne (Affleck) finds himself contacting the police because he comes home and finds what appears to look like a struggle of some kind took place in his home and his wife is missing…The story unfolds from there…

Straight away it looks like “Been there done that”, but WAIT!! It’s like a made bed that you decide to unmake. As you remove pieces of the bedding the picture starts to come together and oh what a picture it makes.

“Gone Girl” is excellently executed, a slow churning suspense mystery with plenty of intrigue. You will be on the edge of your seat. The performances of the actors are superb.

This has to be the best Suspense/Mystery/Thriller I have seen in a while…

If you like Suspense/Mystery/Thrillers, “Gone Girl” is your movie.

“Gone Girl” is definitely a must see!!

This is a 4 1/2 Star Movie!!