What I Liked?

The story and action in the movie is strong.  It is hard to not get swept up in this film and see yourself rooting for this ill fated plot.  However, this is also part of its demise as you know that they will not succeed from the start and so makes it a little more of a guessing game where you are wondering when the wheels will come off.

What I Did Not Like?

If I were to put this movie into baseball terms, I would say it was a double or possibly a triple, but not a homerun.  It certainly had potential with this type of story and intrigue, but it seemed to be missing some key pieces.  One piece is I think they failed to really show why we should be rooting for this plot.  I know everyone is just supposed to hate Nazis from the start, but for younger audiences this animosity is more abstract.  Instead, it would have been better to build up the case here to show that there really was a divided house in Germany about some of the nefarious practices of the Third Reich.  Instead, it was just assumed and I think this was a mistake.  Another obstacle was that Tom Cruise was not really a sympathetic character in this movie.  The story should have been reworked so that people could really feel for his character.  Again, it was just assumed we would and the result was less than spectacular.

Beyond these misgivings, the movie was still worth a viewing.  I would recommend it for a movie rental and could see how history buffs would really enjoy it by comparing it to what really happened.  Perhaps that is best legacy of this movie as it made me want to learn more about what actually happened there and how the movie compared to it.  However, unlike say Braveheart, this movie did not tug on the heartstrings.  I give it a B-.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on Valkyrie DVD.

What I Liked?

I pretty much like all sports movies so my demands on them are quite low.  However, I found Out Of The Blue to be particularly interesting because I root for another non BCS Team (TCU) and certainly remember this historic season for the Broncos.  What I liked about this movie was hearing the development of the Boise State program and how they were true underdogs throughout the season and how they overcame adversity.  You can throw in all the sports analogies you want; however, this is a film that encourages you to really pull for this team.  It is full of interviews with players, coaches, and fans.  In addition, there is plenty of game highlights for all to see and remember this season.

What I Did Not Like?

For a documentary on a football season, I thought it was very good.  My only misgivings are not based on the movie but remembering how my own team did not deliver that season.  Other than this, I don’t really have too much to knock it on except for maybe the ending was kind of weak considering the story and really could have finished on a higher note.

Overall, this is a great feel good movie/documentary that all sports fans will enjoy short of Oklahoma Sooner fans.  However, I bet even many of them can appreciate the role of the underdog even if the final game was at their expense.  A great movie that I give an A-.  However, remember I do love sports movies so am definitely grading on a curve.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on Out Of The Blue DVD.

Gran Torino is a very compelling move starring the now very famous Clint Eastwood.

For fans of his work, this will fit right in as another great Eastwood movie.  This one stars him as a retired auto worker and veteran who lives in a neighborhood that has changed with the times eventhough he has not.  This juxtaposition of his set in his ways thinking along with a new Asian immigrant family creates the backdrop for the film.

What I Liked?

Clint Eastwood does not make bad films.  Even his bad ones, are still good movies and so is this one.  Here, his character is a lovable character as people understand why he is the way he is: here, he is essentially a stubborn, crotchety old man who is at odds with his kids.  With this said, one of the biggest surprises and best parts of this movie is the next door neighbor’s daughter who plays a fantastic role of an Asian American balancing the Americanization of her growing up in America with her ties to her Asian culture as a new immigrant.  She provides just the right blend here and adds extra value to the movie.

Obviously, people will like Eastwood’s no bs attitude in this film and many will sympathize if not agree with some of his viewpoints.  Either way, he overall comes across as a stand up person with strong character which has been his calling card in all his films.

What I Did Not Like?

The ending was clever and realistic, but no the Eastwood way.  For audiences used to him coming out as the great shooter or clever winner who figured a way out, the ending may seem disappointing as there is a bit of a misdirection.  For those who have yet to see the movie, I will not discuss it any further to avoid running the ending.  It is enough for me to say that this movie sets you on one course and then goes another.

Overall, this movie is a good movie that many Eastwood fans would say is great.  I personally think he has done better work and this one gets a better score in people’s mind because of his overall past body of work.  Regardless, it is still a good film and I would grade it an A-.  Clint Eastwood certainly has moved to the upper echelon of actors as a Hollywood legend.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on Gran Torino DVD.

There Will Be Blood is a critically acclaimed story of a prospector turned oil man that chronicles his life while building up his oil empire.

This movie stars Daniel Day Lewis as the movie takes an unvarnished look at life as an oil man in the early 1900s.

What I Liked?

This movie definitely had its moments.  There are certain scenes in it that accurate display the pitfalls of working in the oil field at this time.  Beams fall on workers, fires are a significant risk.  In addition, the work is tough and dirty and will remind some of the life of miners.  These scenes were strong points of the movie.  In addition, the stretching and manipulation of the truth by the main character made this movie seem more authentic and gritty.  Based on my understanding of the times, the oil business was hard, often dirty business that had many characters who would fit this profile.  The references to Standard oil were also interesting as John D Rockefeller (Standard Oil’s boss) seemed to have a similar reputation.

Beyond this, I think a strong theme through the movie is to fight for what you earn.  This viewpoint is easy to follow thanks to the grim life of an oil man the film portrays.

What I Did Not Like?

This movie had elements in it that were just plain weird.  It reminded me of Stanley Kubrick films like Clockwork Orange, where strange seemed to rule the day.  At the heart of this was the antagonistic conflict between the main character and the young preacher of the local church.  The movie has them bang heads on a number of issues where it is clear the main character has nothing but contempt for organized religion.  In fact, the final scene of the movie centers on the main character forcing the preacher to admit he is a fraud and to show him how he was outsmarted.  This part of the story although seems fairly straight forward in the telling of it has a very peculiar effect on the movie.  It seems to serve little purpose except to possibly show the apparent conflict of business and religion.

With all this said, this movie has been well received.  I would definitely say it is an interesting movie to watch, but it does feel like it is incomplete like a puzzle that is missing some pieces.  I would give it a B or B+ although plenty others would give it a higher score.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on There Will Be Blood DVD.

The Bucket List is a movie from 2007 that stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as aging seniors who have discovered they are going to die within a year’s time.

This grim factor actually creates an opportunity where the two characters decide to create a kick the bucket list which shows all the things they would like to do before they die.  After creating this list, they go about doing all the things on the list making for an adventure that has them traveling across the globe.

What I Liked?

This is a heartwarming movie that chooses to deal with difficult issues with a smile on their face and the best the human spirit has to offer.  It puts forth the case that it is ok to want to do things and see them thru before you pass away.  Of course, the cast of this movie is phenomenal as you would be hard pressed to find a bad movie by either one of these actors.  Morgan Freeman does some narration throughout the film which has become a standard for this actor in other films like in Shawshank Redemption.  Jack Nicholson is his usual loveable characters as one who is stubborn and cantankerous and proud of being both.

Perhaps the most impressive part of this movie is the idea behind it of having and completing your own bucket list.  I can certainly see how this movie can be compelling to others who are nearing this part of their life, but I think just about anyone can appreciate this movie’s message.  This movie will not win any awards, but it will be a well received movie that will be a popular one to watch when it comes on regular television in the coming years.

What I Did Not Like?

Based on the story of this movie and what the movie is about, you would think the movie would be driving people home to some strong point or major take away.  However, this is where the movie falls kind of flat as it doesn’t really making it final, earth shattering pronouncement of what life should be.  Instead, it seems to suggest simply that you should live your life and do the things you want because life is short.  Depending on your upbringing and perspective, you could see this as being selfish or the very opposite.  Either way, I think the movie recognizes that it will polarize some people and is perfectly ok with it.

Overall, I enjoyed this film and think most people will too.  It will not receive an A score in my book, but does offer a strong B+.  This is truly a movie you could see again and again and enjoy watching it each time.  Something about going out and doing the things you want really seems to hit home with people so I think most audiences will appreciate what this film offers.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on The Bucket List DVD.

My Miracle At Saint Anna Review checks out the World War II movie made by Spike Lee.  Going in, I felt this would be very interesting to see as Spike Lee’s other movies tend to take on an urban American theme and had heard some mixed reviews of this movie good and bad.  With this said, here is how I saw it in my humble opinion.

What I Liked About It?

Miracle At Saint Anna had some interesting action scenes.  There is one scene very early on that film that instantly grips you and gets your attention.  Unfortunately, the film loses this gained attention and will go up and down like this throughout the film.

Another aspect that I found interesting was the multi-level dynamic that was going on with the Buffalo soldier regiment that was the focal point of the film.  The story actually focuses on four soldiers and covers topics like fighting as a black man for a white America, feeling more free in a foreign country, dealing with personal differences among the four, and struggling to keep alive and dealing with their thoughts on god.  The movie does a pretty good job of juggling all these things although white audiences may be leery of the racial issues in the film.  In actuality, it is not that bad, but Spike Lee does flirt with this line in the movie.

Some very likable characters in the film as one is dubbed a “Chocolate Giant” by a young Italian child.  His own superstitions and mannerisms make him a crowd favorite and an endearing character.  Other characters are painted as good and bad in different situations which makes their characters seem more authentic and realistic.

Finally, perhaps the most interesting aspect of the film is offers different points of view from all sides: American soldiers, German soldiers, Partisans, and towns people.  I believe this adds to the film although probably works better in a book than in a movie.

What I Did Not Like?

Some camera work early in the film dealt with building almost a motif about going down these corridors.  Whatever they were going for was missed though as I found it simply annoying and wasted film.  Would have been better to build up tension in some other way.

Another thing I did not like was there was no heroism or valor in the fighting.  Instead, a major focus seemed to be on showing the dissent of the soldiers and the needlessness of fighting.  Common complaints through the film were being hungry or not trusting commanders or simply wanting to go home.  Then, when the fighting carried on it seemed to be totally random on what would happen.  As one with no combat experience, I have no frame of reference for this, but found the lack of some valor or honor in their fighting to be a turnoff.

Overall Review

After thinking about this movie, I cannot say I thought this was a great film.  It wasn’t that it was a bad film, I think it is a decent one.  However, the problem with the film to me is there was no transcendence.  It was hard to overly identify with the characters which I think was unfortunate.  So although it was a good movie that played on some interesting themes, I felt like it was more like a work in progress that needed to be fine tuned and tweeked.  Perhaps a more uplifting message from the film would have made it be more popular with audiences.  I give this film a B-.  If you would like to purchase this film on DVD, you can at Miracle At Saint Anna Review.

What I Liked About it?

This is an action packed movie that does not try to do too much.  It is not loaded down with cheesy one liners and instead provides a believable story that never has audiences go, “Oh, yeah right like that would really happen”.  Instead, this movie is powerful because of its simplicity.  Also, the main character, Liam Neeson is effective in this role because he comes off as a mild mannered person who people can identify with and still is believable enough to have the needed “special set of skills”.

Another thing I liked about this film is that it did not worry about politically correct issues as it went ahead and provided a realistic story that mentions what unfortunately does happen in France and some other European countries.  Some people seeing the film are unaware of this but the story fits similar real life situations.

What I Did Not Like?

No strong roles by women.  Instead, women are portrayed as being the “bitch” showcased by the vindictive ex-wife, “ditzy” in the form of the daughter, or “clueless” as the wife of the French police captain.  Obviously, these roles will not endear themselves to female audiences and are actually also insulting to the intelligence of male audiences.  One of the underlying themes of the movie is the women in the movie do not realize that there are evil people in the world who can do them harm, but the men in the film know it all too well.  I think it was a mistake to paint such a clear black and white picture and would actually have been a better film if the female characters were given stronger and more realistic roles.

Overall Review

Despite some misgivings, I will say this is a good film that I enjoyed watching.  As long as you do not make an effort to overanalyze this film, most people will probably like this film too.  I think that should be made clear.  This movie is very straight forward:  A father has his daughter kidnapped and he is willing to do whatever it takes to get her back.  Trying to dig deeper is a mistake for this type of film.  The content will be appealing to male audiences who romanticize the role of protecting women and being the role of the protector; however, the negative stereotypes will alienate some women.

Regardless, I would give the movie a rating of a B+ as it is good for what it is.  I would recommend renting this movie and also would be a good movie to buy on DVD.  For more information on where to buy it, check out Taken DVD.

What I Liked About It?

The whole premise behind the movie is a fun one.  Someone who does the opposite of what everyone else does is a nice twist.  However, I did find that the novelty of this did run out faster than one would hope.  After all, you notice during this movie his life really isn’t that much different than everyone elses.  I will have to say that this movie did have a number of strong performances by the supporting actors and actresses.  The love interest in the story was particularly good in her role although the steam boat captain was an endearing character also.  So there were clearly some strong personalities throughout the film.

What I Did Not Like?

The movie did not really seem to have a point.  With this type of movie, there is usually some main point the producer tries to drive home to the audience like an example could be life is precious or you should live life to the fullest.  However, here it just seems to run along with no goal in sight.  This is unfortunate as I think such a goal or aim would have elevated the movie to another level.  As it is, the movie seems to muddle along with some fun movements and some clever dialogue, but never reaching its full potential.

Overall Review

Because this movie could have been much better in my opinion, I will grade it as a B-.  Judging by the readings of other reviews, I am sure some people would disagree, but I just feel like this movie could have been so much more.  Definitely an entertaining film, but not a must see.  If you would like to buy a copy you can at The Curious Case of Benjamin Button DVD.

This is the popular sequel to Batman Returns and it does not disappoint.

This has a full cast of characters including Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, and Aaron Eckhart.  Although Katie Holmes is not in this one, the movie does not miss a beat.  There is plenty of star power and the movie flows even better than the original.  The odds are good that you probably have already seen this movie based on the box office numbers, but in the off chance you have not, I hope this review sways you.

What I Liked About It?

The Joker has a unique character role in this one.  By far the best Joker of all the Batman films, Heath Ledger had truly turned in a wonderful performance.  Fans may be a little unsure of what to make of the Joker which kind of adds to his allure.  The game also returns key minor roles by Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman and both deliver their usual standards of brilliance.  This movie also has some new batman toys used that will impress fans.  I could go on and on about the movie here but it is enough to say there are plenty of good things to say about it.

What I Did Not Like?

Not too many things jumped out that were bad.  I could maybe say the movie could have done a little more to build up the joker’s character.  We only get glimpses of how he came to be and maybe a little more of how became the joker would of have made him a stronger villain.  Another knock in my opinion is that Two Faces character had his role condensed compared to the comics.  However, beyond these, The Dark Knight is still a very strong film.

Overall Review

This movie is a very good movie.  I would score it at as a B+ or A-.  It is a solid film that most people will enjoy seeing although it will be most popular with male audiences.  I would recommend renting this movie and also would be a good movie to buy on DVD.  For more information on where to buy it, check out The Dark Knight DVD.

Religulous is an irreverent series of interviews led by Bill Maher.

The topic of these interviews is to poke fun at organized religion and point out the flaws associated with them.  Although this movie will not be for everyone, it is an entertaining movie where Bill Maher is in rare form.

What I Liked About It?

When he wants to be Bill Maher can be a very funny comedian.  Sadly, many times I have seen his humor take on too much bitterness as he discussed some political topics.  Fortunately, here, he is completely control of his humor and it is a laid back style which plays so much better.

Another interesting aspect is that he talked a range of different religious figures who many gave as good as they got.  This back and forth added to the film and made it really.  The guy who played Jesus at the Holyland theme park was especially sharp.

What I Did Not Like?

There wasn’t much I did not like.  I imagine some people may feel uncomfortable at certain parts if that aspect hits closer to home.  However, even in these situations, the movie does a good job of not digging to deep.  A great philosophical, thinker movie this is not.  Instead, it looks at things more directly and looks at most things at face value.  This actually works well for the movie and helps keep things going forward.  In other words, even if you don’t agree with a certain part, you are quickly moved on to other aspects so it does not hurt the film.

Overall Review

I really enjoyed this movie as I am a fan of Bill Maher’s humor.  I don’t normally agree with a number of his political opinions but this was not problematic in any way while enjoying this film.  If I were to rate this movie, I would give it A or A-.  I would recommend renting this movie and also would be a good movie to buy on DVD.  For more information on where to buy it, check out Religulous DVD.