- Racing Stripes
You were expecting chopped liver? Actually this movie about a young zebra that wants to be a race horse is pretty much what you'd expect from start to finish with many famous names doing the voices of the various animals. The problem with this film is that the plot never rises above cliché so you know where its going to go. That said there are many laughs in this film thanks to the actors who really sell their material especially in what appears to be frequent asides, throw away lines and random bits of back story (The tale of the hit-bird stork is hysterical) This really isn't worth seeing on the big screen for ten bucks a pop, but as a rental or better yet as something on cable this is a must since you won't mind that what you really want to watch is the background stuff while ignoring the main plot thread.Racing Stripes - Mr. Wrong
Martha (Ellen DeGeneres) is a single, thirty-something television producer who has had very bad luck in her relationships with men. Therefore, when she meets Whitman at the jukebox (Bill Pullman), a self-proclaimed investor-poet, she is smitten with his intelligence and his good looks. However, after a couple of dreamy days and nights, Whitman decides to reveal his "true self". He tells Martha he's going to take her on a fun date...they are going to go shoplifting. This is the just the beginning of the swell times ahead! Poor Martha! Will she never find true love? DeGeneres and Pullman display full-octane comedy in this film. The viewer can not help but laugh at their antics. And the supporting cast is such a dream, with Joan Cusack, Dean Stockwell, Joan Plowright and others! The script is humorous, the costumes are a pleasure, the San Diego setting is very nice, what more could one ask for? Please give this film a try, you'll like it!Mr. Wrong - Unfriended
When I sat through Unfriended, I kept asking myself whether modern teenagers would really communicate this way. To those that don't know, the movie in it's entirety is portrayed through a computer desktop; as in all the characters are communicating through Skype, text messaging, social media messaging or even random chat sites. My argument was that teens would rather communicate face to face rather then link their electronic devices together. But I underestimated how much our youth loves technology and can adapt pretty fast to the new hip thing, and therefore, ready to exploit it as much as possible. Teenagers may be the best candidates to become tomorrow's online engineers, but when a smart writer comes to Facebook, we also attract a couple of rotten viruses. I'm not talking about infections to ones software or system, but those bad apples that only want to start a fight or make someone else's life miserable by bullying them. This cyber bullying epidemic is so much of a problem that the things said about others or worse, videos posted about others, has led to mental problems and even suicides. One case of cyber bullying gets their revenge in the online set, Unfriended. The movies setting (a computer desktop) takes places on the screen of Blaire, a high scholar who is chatting with her other friends, boyfriend Mitch, alcoholic Adam, guy friend Ken, Jess, and Val. It is the one-year anniversary of the death of a fellow high-scholar, Laura Barnes who committed suicide over an embarrassing video that showed her drunk along with the message "Kill Ur Self Laura". The set of kids continue to talk about this, siding with the rest of the internet that the actions against this poor girl were awful. Things get weird when they notice that another person has joined their conversation. The blank screen that is the sixth person chatting never shows their face, cannot be hung up on, and sends messages demanding justice for Laura. Then Laura's old Facebook account is re activated with messages demanding that Blaire and the other kids spill their secrets. Blaire simply assumes that one of the other kids may be pulling a sick prank, but that theory is disproved when the ghost hacker starts to spill the secrets for them. None of the kids are allowed to leave their computers, as they must figure out a way to outwit the mysterious sixth caller or answer to their sins. As I've said, I've wanted more variety in the horror genre besides constant found footage features. Though this is similar, Unfriended managed to keep me on the edge of my seat. Not because of the scares I was about to face, but for the secret that each teen had to confess to. Unfriended clearly built up their characters and their history behind the cyber bullying death in a smart way that it's never spoon-fed. The revelation behind our characters is out of order and even with the computer screen facing the audience, we have to pay close attention to know what's going on. You know your sitting in an enjoyable movie when the teenagers watching Unfriended with you are loud during the trailer, but do not even peep a whisper during the majority of the film. The people were screaming in my theater, and though not everyone works, I did jump at a few of them. Even the reveal of the hacker was a little weak. I won't spoil it, but you'd wish it was more techno based then supernatural based. But the scares weren't the point of the movie; it's a revenge thriller first and foremost. I'll give this eight dead online accounts out of ten. Perhaps Unfriended will make you think twice before posting an embarrassing photo of someone you know; it just may come back to haunt you!Unfriended - Lee Cronin's The Mummy
Went into this w very low expectation. Then this film went on its way and boy oh boy what a pleasant surprise. It was overwhelmingly scary in some parts and most important its original in concept. The execution is very 1980's when films like Evil Dead and Nighmare on Elm Street took the genre by storm. Its does have sprinkles of 1970's "Exorcist" here and there but for a good solid horror film, it stand well on its own. This is one of those films where word of mouth will help in the success of this film.Lee Cronin's The Mummy - Deathwatch
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Having seen the original more than five times I can say this easily compares in quality. The original Intouchables from 2011, is in French so you need to read subtitles which never worried me. It is brilliant so if you like this and don't mind subtitles find it and watch it. Normally I am not a huge fan of remakes that the US does of successful foreign movies, but this is an exception to the rule and I will have no hesitation watching this again. Ignore the bad reviews they either have not watched this or are just remake haters. This has everything a good movie should have and it is highly entertaining. Bryan Cranston, Nicole Kidman and especially Kevin Hart are just superb, such a feel good movie with a very very good ending.The Upside - Exit Wounds
Despite Fire Down Below being a No. 1 hit in America, it went straight to video here in the UK and killed Seagal's career for four years. But then veteran action producer Joel Silver thrust Steve back in the limelight, put him on the Slimfast diet gave him slightly better material to work with. After all, an actor can only do as good as the script. From a novel of the same name by John Westerman (but bearing minimal resemblance to it) the plot centers on Orin Boyd, a cop busted down to patrolman after a rough encounter with the Vice-President. Once on the streets Boyd's suspicious nose can't keep him out of trouble with undercover cops who are trying to bust local Drug Boss Latrell Walker or so it seems. There are many attempts at irony throughout the movie and surprisingly enough most of them work. Boyd is forced to attend rage control classes in which he meets eccentric TV host Henry Wayne (Tom Arnold) who becomes his wannabe partner. But sadly enough the classes don't work as Boyd continues to uses violence first, ask questions later. And there is a public service announcement too; Seagal survives a car wreck by airbag. A later car crash victim doesn't have one and dies. Dozens of cop movie clichés staple the flimsy script together. And the bad guys are obvious from the moment they appear on screen. Bartkowiak's direction is better than in his debut Romeo Must Die, and adds a heavy dose of frenetic rush to such a fast-paced film. However the set-up and execution of the story is so dull you'll forget about it half an hour after the credits roll. Seagal has learned a little, just a little, more in the acting area but still doesn't know how to express himself much. There's too much frowning and not enough other emotions from Boyd. We do want to feel more from him but he won't allow us. I guess this is just how Seagal is. He just can't get away from himself no matter what role he plays. I wish Seagal would try harder, but he just never bothers with making an effort.Exit Wounds - Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth
For all you LOSERS who said it was a bad ripoff of Scary Movie, get your facts straight. This movie was written and produced BEFORE Scary Movie was even a thought. The Scary Movie production team stole pieces of this film right from the original draft. USA did do a lousy editing and mix job, but that is NOT the fault of the writers or actors. For those of you who said it reminded you of Airplane, kudos, from an article I read about the writers, that's what it was supposed to achieve.Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth - The Wild Pair
At first, THE WILD PAIR was going to be another in a series of plain vanilla 80s action movies with a top billed cast of popular actors. This one had a little more than I once thought realized. Bubba "Hightower" Smith is still the powerfully brawny, yet funny character that best described him. He's too strong to be cast in an action film as he beats up and shoves criminals too easily with tremendous power, but he does manage to pull off some interesting humor along the way, and he later becomes vulnerable to violent attacks near the end. Smith's move to an action thriller was a good change of pace from the POLICE ACADEMY series, and he does show potential. The father and son duo of Beau & Lloyd Bridges display opposite sides against each other, but remember that B. Bridges and Smith are cops. There are some satisfying action thrills as well as the comedy. It's fairly close to LETHAL WEAPON in a low-end kind of fashion. Just try it.The Wild Pair - An Innocent Man
This movie is a great example of a character thrust into an awful situation - a situation where you question, "What would I do in his shoes?" For that reason, it is very tense and suspenseful throughout as Tom Selleck's character tries to navigate prison life. I really felt for his character - his acting was great. Sure, there are some moments of cheesy lines and overdone composing and a bit of over-acting by the various villains, but for the most part, this is one of the better character thrillers I've seen in awhile. Selleck is great, as if the man who befriends him inside the prison. Can't find anything new to watch? I recommend checking out this little gem from 1989!An Innocent Man - The Intern
Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) is a 70 year old Brooklyn widower and a retired executive from the phone company. His son's family lives out of town. He tries to fill his days of leisure. He spots a flyer advertising internships for senior citizens. It's a fast-paced fashion internet commerce site run by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). It's been a hectic 18 months for the married mother of little girl and she is reluctantly forced to use Ben as her assistant. Her husband Matt gave up his job to be the stay-at-home dad. Fiona (Rene Russo) is the company masseuse. Ben befriends everyone until Fiona starts to find him indispensable. Nancy Meyers gets a bad rap as the rom-com has become a passe genre. This is not a rom-com but it is a friend-com. De Niro is a little too perfect as the magical old guy with all the answers and lessons for the young ones. This movie is a bit too neat and clean with the characters. Hathaway is the driven multi-tasking internet executive. The characters may be stock but the actors make them breathe. Some of the side characters have some fun. The big twist (not that surprising) does not really raise the drama although Nancy is trying to say somethings. It all combines to create a nice pairing of these two great actors.The Intern
