Based on a true story, “McFarland, USA” is about how the economically challenged 1987 McFarland High School Cross Country team beat the odds to become a power house and go on to win 9 State Championships in 14 years.
The story is engaging, intriguing and quite entertaining. This is an excellent Disney production.
Kevin Costner was excellent as Coach Jim White.
This is a 4 Star Movie!!
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!!
“Mr. Grey Will See You Now”. Christian Grey finally jumps off the pages of the best selling E.L. James novel and onto the big screen.
Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) is a senior in college. She has an assignment to interview the good looking, young multi-billionaire of the conglomerate “Grey House”. She arrives and after meeting and talking with Mr. Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), Anastasia is intrigued. Little does Anastasia know, she has made a serious impression on Mr. Grey
Christian Grey shows up where Anastasia works and indicates he would like to get to know her better. She has no idea what she’s getting herself into. The story unfolds from there…
“Fifty Shades of Grey” is nothing more than a keen play on S & M. There is nothing romantic about pain and torture. Aside from the fact that at times there was a lot of steam and fireworks between Christian and Anastasia, the movie it’s self was “Grey”.
Actress Dakota Johnson does an excellent job of playing a naive, innocent young woman.
“Fifty Shades of Grey” is a Trilogy. A sequel has already been announced.
The movie will take in some serious cash this weekend even though it’s going up against “Kingsmen: The Secret Service” (I will review tomorrow).
Check it out for yourself. YOU be the judge.
This is a 2 Star Movie!!
You are a rouge submarine captain who has just been laid off. Your family left you because of the job and now the job leaves you.
You have been contacted about a rumored sunken treasure in the Black Sea. You put together a misfit crew of merry men that you believe represent the best in their position as it pertains to a submarine.
There is money to be made if you find the treasure. So off you and your crew go. Time passes as you travel under sea heading toward the location site. Desperation and greed take control as uncertainty sets in among the crew. The story unfolds from there…
“Black Sea” is not the very best “Suspense Thriller”, but it is a very good one. Two time Oscar Nominee; Jude Law is awesome as the rouge submarine captain. The movie is entertaining and gloomy all as the same time.
“Black Sea” was directed by Academy Award Winning Director Kevin McDonald.
If you like “Suspense Thrillers”, “Black Sea” is worth a look.
This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!!
“Jupiter Ascending” is spectacular from a visual point of view. Too bad that’s as good as it gets.
Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) was born under the night sky with signs that predicted she was destined for great things. Jupiter grows up to live what appears to be a dull mundane life. Then one day Caine (Channing Tatum) an ex-Military Hunter comes to earth to track her down. Jupiter soon finds out that a greater fate awaits her on another planet. The story unfolds from there…
The story and plot are not set, so you have no clue as to the reasoning for some of the events that take place in the movie. It’s only after the first 45 minutes that you start to piece the puzzle together, but it still does not make sense.
As I stated earlier the visual effects are great. There is a lot of action and nice special effects. The problem with “Jupiter Ascending” is that the story isn’t put into context soon enough. There is too much bewilderment.
This is a 2 Star Movie!!
Imagine losing your seventeen year old daughter when she is giving birth and then losing your wife in a tragic traffic accident. All you have left is your granddaughter.
The extended family hasn’t really been part of your granddaughter’s life and definitely not her biological father, but now that your wife has died, the extended family wants to play a bigger role. They even want sole custody.
This is what the movie “Black or White” is about although during some parts of the movie it becomes more about “Black or White”.
The story is a bit disjointed. You have to piece it together bit by bit. The movie is not bad. At times it’s rather entertaining. The young lady (Jillian Estell) who portrays the granddaughter Eloise Anderson is cute and adorable. She plays well with Kevin Costner.
The paid critics were rather harsh about “Black or White”. I think it deserves a look.
This is a 3 Star Movie!!
“A Most Violent Year” opened in limited release on New Year’s Eve. After a month it finally opens nationwide this weekend.
Set in 1981 New York, a year that has been historically categorized as the most violent year of the city, Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) an immigrant and his family try to capitalize on the “American Dream”. Abel owns a thriving business, but the violence and corruption threaten him, his family and all that they have tried to build. Abel and his wife Anna (Jessica Chastain) find themselves defending their business and their version of the “American Dream” to a New York Police Detective (David Oyelowo) who is charged with investigating Abel’s business. The story unfolds from there…
“A Most Violent Year” is an understated, straight forward, no nonsense, mildly intense dramatic film.
There are several good movies out right now. “A Most Violent Year” should be considered amongst them.
This is a 4 Star Movie!!
“Whiplash” is probably the best non-blockbuster movie you aren’t watching. You need to check this out, but you must be a friend of Jazz Music!!
“Whiplash” is one of the eight Best Picture Nominees for this year’s Oscars.
Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) is a young drummer attending an east coast music conservatory. He is very talented and wants to go far. Andrew’s father’s (Reiser) failed writing career shadows him and he wants to get out from under that shadow.
Andrew desperately hungers to be among the great Jazz musicians such as Charlie Parker. Music Instructor Terrence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) who is equally known for his talent as well as he terrifying teaching methods recognizes Andrew’s talent and tries in his own way to bring it out, but will dealing with Fletcher’s way of teaching cause Andrew to loose his mind first? The story unfolds from there…
The movie is awesome plain and simple. Maybe I am bias because I am a Jazz fan, but the movie is intense, brilliantly executed and well-acted. The music isn’t bad either.
J.K. Simmons’s role as Instructor Fletcher is a 360 degree difference from when he was Psychologist “Emil Skoda” in 46 episodes of the original Law & Order.
“Whiplash” is a must see!!
This is a 5 Star Movie!!
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” 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!
MovieWarrior 