Tag: Common

The Kitchen

Three Hell’s Kitchen Housewives soon find themselves husband-less because their husbands tried to rob a liquor store and failed. Once their husbands were sentenced to spent time behind bars, the three wives went about hatching their own plans to make money in Hell’s Kitchen. The story unfolds from there…

I had high hopes for “The Kitchen” when I first saw trailers of the movie, I thought wow this should be interesting.
My hopes were dashed only 20 minutes into the movie. The movie was dry and lifeless, almost listless. I found myself a bit bored.
There was no real back story. Each housewife had a story, but it never really came to the surface. Those stories should have come to the surface even for just a few scenes so you could understand the events that happened.

There is some suspense and intrigue, but not nearly enough to justify a $15 dollar movie ticket. I was very surprised given the cast in the movie, but it just goes to show that a great cast does not always translate into a great movie.

I say wait for cable for “The Kitchen”.

This is a 1 Star Movie!!

Hunter Killer

“Hunter Killer” is a fresh take on “The Hunt for Red October”. Unfortunately the plot is weak and the back story virtually non-existent.

Deep under the Arctic Ocean lies a US Submarine in distress. American Submarine Captain Joe Glass (Gerard Butler) has been requested to take on the mission of locating the distressed Submarine.
While on this mission Captain Joe Glass and his crew must deal with being fired upon by Russian ships and Submarines, a booby-trapped Ocean and a possible coupe taking place in the Russian Government involving the Russian President. In addition to the undersea mission an elite team of Seals are formed to help out. The story unfolds from there…

The movie is intriguing and very suspenseful, but the plot is lite and the back-story non-existent. The movie is still entertaining and worth a look. It is not as bad as the paid critics made it out to be.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Megan Leavey

“Megan Leavey” is based on a true story about a Marine who after boot camp is assigned to the Canine Unit where Bomb Sniffing dogs are trained and then sent with their soldier into combat.

Megan Leavey (Kate Mara) gets assigned to “Rex” a German Shepherd. “Rex” didn’t like his previous soldier and actually bit him. Megan however is determined to change “Rex’s” behavior and make him the very best Bomb sniffing dog in the unit. Soon after training Megan’s unit deploys to Iraq. The story unfolds from there…

The story is heart-warming and at times sad. The movie has the ability to bring tears to your eyes. With that being said though, the movie is executed very well and is very entertaining and intriguing.

“Megan Leavey” is not billed as a big box office hit, but it’s definitely better than any other movies of its type that opened this weekend.

“Megan Leavey” is definitely worth a look.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

John Wick: Chapter 2

Welcome to a Special Edition of “Thursday Night at the Movies with The Movie Warrior”

I am often leery about second installments of a movie whose first installment was surprisingly good. I did not think that “John Wick: Chapter 2” could improve on its 2014 debut, but I stand corrected. As action/drama movies go, “John Wick: Chapter 2” is awesome!

“John Wick: Chapter 2” has an excellent lead in and it reminds you of what transpired in the first installment. John (Keanu Reeves) wants desperately to retire, but after only being home for a couple of days a former associate from his past comes knocking at his door. At first John refuses the assignment that is offered, but the associate who visits him refuses to take no for an answer. Since John said “No”, the associate exacts revenge and destroys John’s house which leaves him homeless. Now John has no choice but to find out what the assignment is and go execute it. The story unfolds from there…

The action is awesome and intense. The events are non-stop. There is a ton of suspense and intrigue. Keanu Reeves is in great shape for his role as John Wick. There were many awesome fight scenes. The only draw-back is the dialog. If you are interested in a movie that has a lot of dialog, you will not be happy with “John Wick: Chapter 2”. The dialog is minimal, but is enough to get the job done.

All in all “John Wick: Chapter 2” is definitely worth the ticket.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

Barbershop: The Next Cut

After 10 years we get a fresh new appointment at Calvin’s Barbershop on the South-side of Chicago.

The crew that we came to love is still there, but the shop has undergone a major change. Calvin’s is no longer a male only Barbershop. Calvin has a female partner and there are several chairs rented to female hair stylists.
The female hair stylists bring their own brand of hair fashion, drama and gossip.
All in all the shop is very lively. The conversations flow and the quips keep coming and are just enough to keep the customers coming in.

Calvin’s Barbershop becomes more than just a place to get a hair-cut, shave or shampoo. There is real crime and gang problems on the South-side of Chicago and Calvin is tired of the youth dying before they have a chance to grow up.

Calvin’s Barbershop devises a plan to orchestrate a cease-fire for 48 hours. The story unfolds from there…

“Barbershop: The Next Cut” is entertaining, funny, hilarious and at times preachy, but the movie does raise important questions after race, violence and sex.

“Barbershop: The Next Cut” is worth a look if for no other reason than the entertainment factor.

This is a 4 ½ Star Movie!

Run All Night

I thought the weekend was going to slip by before I could see “Run All Night”. I have been severely under the weather with an Acute Sinus Infection and on Antibiotics. Heavily medicated I was NOT going to let a Liam Neeson movie pass by if I could help it. So off to the movies I went late this Sunday afternoon.

Liam Neeson plays Jimmy Conlon, a mob hit-man in this crime thriller. He and his estranged son Mike Conlon (Joel Kinnaman) are fleeing the wrath of a vengeful crime boss, Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris) after Jimmy kills Shawn Maguire’s son in self defense to save his own son, Mike. The story unfolds from there…

There are lots of twists and turns and intrigue. It’s in your face violence. There are some interest stunts and moves, but nothing to far out of the way that it’s totally unbelievable.
The only strange element is actor Common playing a sort of “Cyborg” Hit Man. He is out of place here…Common is good looking and debonair. He should stick to the “Lover” type roles. He does not transcend to bad guy very well.

If you like Crime Suspense Thrillers and Liam Neeson, “Run All Night” is worth a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Selma

I don’t give 5 stars to a movie lightly…That being said, “Selma” deserves all of the “Oscar” buzz, “Golden Globe” buzz and “Best Picture” buzz that it has been receiving.

Keeping in context the subject matter, “Selma” was brilliantly executed and deeply moving. The events of Selma and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Civil Rights crusade are given new light. The brutality portrayed in “Selma” will move you to tears. If you feel anything after seeing “Selma”, the movie will have done its job. David Oyelowo’s portrayal of Dr. King is superb.

The movie is quiet and understated, yet brilliant.

“Selma” is a must see!

This is a 5 Star Movie!!

Now You See Me

“Now You See Me” is a sophisticated game of “Cat & Mouse” with a group of extremely good magicians, the police and the FBI.
Four top notch magicians perform never before seen tricks. Their tricks are so elaborate they involve theft of money and safes. This draws the attention of not only a former magician who seeks out magicians to expose their tricks, but the police and the FBI get involved. the story unfolds from there…
Things are definitely not what they seem and this is the “Magic” of “Now You See Me”. Move over Houdini because you have nothing on these four fresh magicians.
The movie is good and you will be entertained. The magic is very cool!! The intrigue, twists and turns will keep you on your toes. Don’t blink or you might miss something important. This is a “Must Pay Close Attention” type of movie.
The plot and reasoning is baffling at best and that’s what keeps “Now You See Me” from being a 4-5 star movie.
The paid critics say it’s “So-So”. I disagree, I think “Now You See Me” is worth a look.