My last movie reviews

This will be my last movie reviews, because I have still not completely recovered from my surgery.  I can't write very much, but still watch movies. I feel that it is more important to spend my limited writing time on my novels and short stories. I hope that you enjoyed the movie reviews that I did – they were fun to write. Thank you for years of support.

American Hustle, great characters loosely following the true events. The music, hairstyle, clothes of the time – 1970s – was fun to watch. Good acting. Great cast. The story had suspense as well as some heart. Recommended.

The Grand Budapest Hotel, this was a quirky film. Not quite so much fun as expected, but a very good story. Recommend if you are really willing to pay close attention to the dialogue and the fast pace storytelling.

 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, this was clearly just a prequel, so they could up the future Jack Ryan films. The plot was very predictable. The acting was not very inspiring. Rather boring. Not recommended.

The Monuments Men

The Monuments Men, George Clooney directed, produced, and starred in this WWII film that tells the story of a group of men that try to save much of Europe's priceless artwork from Adolf Hitler's plan to confiscate or destroy it all. My father, 86 years on, watched this movie and his critique was that there was not enough information about the art that was stolen and saved. My son, 24, was only able to watch the first 20 min. His comment was that the "movie is boring!" Unfortunately, they are both right, but I did watch the entire film and I have to give Mr. Clooney kudos for trying... The premise is based on a true story. It's a story, a lesson, worth telling—people will come and go, it is the art, monuments, architecture, literature, music, language, culture and traditions that will endure and ensure the survival of civilization (loosely paraphrased). The movie takes a middle of the road approach to drive this point home. It's the dialogue between the men, their thoughts about the mission that's emphasized, not the art, not the action, not the drama. I guess this makes sense with the title, but because of this approach the movie falls flat.... With the great cast, Kate Blanchet, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Matt Damon, the French guy, and several others—there was a missed opportunity to make a fun, entertaining movie; perhaps another Dirty Dozen, Ocean's 11, or something similar. With the compelling true story, there was a chance to make a real documentary type film that would have been interesting as well as educational. The producers should have gone one way or another. Hypocritically, I've got to say that my recommendation is also middle of the road. I can honestly say I did enjoy it, but on the other hand, I don't really recommend it.

World War Z

World War Z, 2013 soft zombie movie starring Brad Pitt (soft because it's rated PG-13). I usually avoid these made for adolescent boys' movies like zucchini and raw broccoli. Unfortunately, this film was available free on my cable TV, and I felt like watching something mindless. I thought maybe with Brad the movie would have some redeeming value – WRONG! However, It is completely mindless. The story was stupid and predictable. The acting was worse, Mr. Pitt really just took the money and ran for the hills on this one. The zombies were not scary – gross, weird, spastic... but, definitely not scary. There were a couple of suspenseful moments, but they were slow moving and never really made me jump or believe that zombies really existed. Some of the special effects were okay – but, nothing to raise the roof about. Watching a swarm of bees ON a PBS documentary is more terrifying. I almost turned off the TV midway through... Now I don't want to discourage you zombie freaks out there from watching this film, but in this world of so many choices – death by zombies seems to be the least plausible. For everyone else, I don't recommend this movie. Don't waste your time.

Man of Steel

Man of Steel (2013) is the most recent remake of the Superman story. This, by my count is the seventh Superman movie – there was one Supergirl film (1984) – geewhiz, can't believe I missed that one. The first film was done in 1951, Superman and the Mole Men. I will have to look for that one. The iconic Christopher Reeve did four of these movies... all of which I dutifully attended during the 70s and 80s. Hollywood probably should have stopped there, but they didn't, and there's no stopping them now. Of course, a sequel to Man of Steel is in the works... look for it sometime in 2016 "Batman (Ben Affleck) versus Superman"—I have no idea who the actor is who plays Superman–I guess I don't care, okay, okay, his name is Henry Cavill.

I'm usually not in favor of remakes. I prefer original storytelling when possible. However, because it was a slow Monday night for television and HBO was offering this DC comic classic—I couldn't resist. I was pleasantly surprised, somewhat entertained, and generally felt as if I had not completely wasted two hours of my life. The story was in the same fashion as the previous "origins" films, nothing really new here. It was just reimagined for the computer-generated graphics action-thriller 21st-century audience. In that respect, the producers and directors did a decent job. I enjoyed the sci-fi look and feel of the film. Superman's suit was pretty cool, much better than the blue tights and red underwear Christopher Reeve had to wear. The interstellar space scenes and special effects were quite nice. The action sequences, especially some of the fight scenes were quite well done. I always feel sorry for New York City though, it seems that every superhero has to fight to the death in the streets of that city... Kevin Costner and Dianne Lane as the Earth to Kansas parents of Clark Kent were fun to watch. Russell Crowe as Superman's biological father was passable. Amy Adams as Lois Lane was rather silly, but she looks nice on the big screen. There was some terrible dialogue, and some rather corny scenes, but I expected that – it is based on the comic book after all. So, if that's what you are looking for, this might be worth a rental. However, if you're looking for an original story, dramatic acting, or some deeper intrinsic value—don't bother, you're not going to find it here. Maybe the sequel will be better.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, is two hours and forty minutes of nonstop Peter Jackson inspired J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy! If you're a fan of Tolkien, you have probably already watched this movie. If you're not a Middle Earth fan, or you are on the fence because the previous Hobbit movie was a bit of a disappointment, fear not – sally forth and rent this movie.

However, before you do, against my advice and previous review of the The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – I recommend that you watch that movie first. It's not as well done, but it does set up the second movie very well... Without watching it you may be lost.
Smaug is the fifth three-hour plus movie based on the books, I believe there's just one more to go, thank you very much. That makes over 18 hours of couch potato movie experience – perhaps rereading the books would have been a better use of my time, but since I enjoy movies, fantasy and relentless action, my time hasn't been completely wasted. Peter Jackson delivers! His artistry is clearly on display in this film. The special effects are wonderful. The scenery is great. The good characters are especially good, and the bad are fabulously evil. The Orcs are nasty. The Elves are as arrogant as ever. The Dwarves are loyal and brave. Bilbo the Hobbit is a wonderful hero. The Dragon, Smaug, is expertly rendered and fearsome, and Gandalf the wizard leads the way! It's an adventure not to be missed.

Saving Mr. Banks

Saving Mr. Banks, tells the story of how Walt Disney made the movie Mary Poppins. I wanted to watch this movie because I've always admired Disney's work, and can remember very vividly watching the movie Mary Poppins as a young child, and then sharing the wonderful film with my son years later. The movie, Saving Mr. Banks, is based on truths, or shadows of the truth, so this made it intrinsically interesting to me. I had no idea that Disney struggled for over twenty years to get the rights to create the film. I had no idea who wrote the book, Pamela Travers, or anything about her story. I never read her book, but I certainly love the movie. Now I understand that the book and the movie are actually very different stories, and after reading some more about Mrs. Travers, I understand that the movie Saving Mr. Banks is also very different from reality. I understand why... Disney believes in happy-endings.

The acting was good, Tom Hanks was decent, but not at his best. Emma Thompson was great. The music and supporting cast were excellent, giving it a very authentic flavor to Disney's empire, and the making of the movie. The movie was well-written, nicely paced, and a refreshing break from the intense, drama filled, action-packed, movies of late. If you are looking for high drama or action, this is not your cup of tea.
So, who is Mister Banks? Without spoiling the movie, I can tell you that he is the father in the original Mary Poppins movie and book, and that he is based on a mix of childhood memories of their own fathers – Disney and Travers, mostly Travers. The movie is not about Mary Poppins. It's about the drive and determination that Disney and Travers had to create timeless masterpieces, and how their very different visions melted together to create the classic movie. This is enough of a story to create a decent movie, but had the writers gone a little bit deeper, I believe this could have been a much better film. First of all, we are told almost nothing about Mrs. Travers adult life. All of her memories are based on her childhood. By adding more information about her later life, some of the quirky and unique behaviors of Mrs. Travers would have been better played and more meaningful. Secondly, Mary Poppins does not even appear in the movie until we are almost towards the end. Sadly, I wanted to know more about Mary Poppins – showing I guess, how powerful the original Mary Poppins character really is... I recommend this movie, if you are interested in learning more about Walt Disney and the reflection of reality in the Mary Poppins story.

The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street is two hours and 59 minutes of 1980s sex, drugs, foul language, greed, blind ambition, loose morals, blurred lines, corruption and just plain bad behavior—all this without the usual Martin Scorsese mobsters, murder, guns, blood and violence. Instead, we get a taste of the full-on unscrupulous life of a Wall Street stockbroker, supposedly based on the life of a real person, Jordan Belfort, but surely exaggerated and glorified. The movie depicts a different kind of "white collar mobster" with classic New York accents and single-minded drive to be the King Pin of the financial world.
It's a rollicking story and a fun movie for adults, but only if you're willing to suspend your own morals for a while and just enjoy the ride. It is an engaging story, yet, three hours of debauchery did get a bit tiresome—after the main characters' third near-fatal overdose on Quaaludes and cocaine, I began to think enough already. There could've been a little bit of film dedicated to the actual details of how the stockbrokers really worked, how they made the millions, how they duped their customers, and how the government and most of Wall Street looked the other way. Scorsese did throw in some tidbits here and there, but mostly this was a story about the wild and crazy, up and down life of Belfort.
Leonardo DiCaprio played the main character, and Jonah Hill played his partner. They both did a great job. They both deserved their Academy Award nominations. Some of the dialogue was superbly written and executed. DiCaprio as the ultimate salesman was riveting—some of the speeches and monologues that he delivered were fantastic. I was completely sold on his character and believed that he could sell anything to anyone. Matthew McConaughey gives a short cameo at the beginning, which is pure genius. Jonah Hill had some of the funniest lines and scenes. The supporting cast was believable and the direction/editing pure Scorsese. The movie was able to shock me and make me laugh at the same time. I recommend it.

Gravity

Gravity grabbed me from the very beginning and held tight until the very end. I'm actually glad that I didn't see this film at the theater in IMAX or 3-D. I'm sure I would have been overwhelmed sitting there in my wheelchair, trying to breathe with my portable ventilator. Even in the comfort of my bed, on the small screen TV, the movie was still captivating and there were a few times when I had to hold my breath. However, perhaps because the special effects were not so "in my face" I paid more attention to the story. Don't get me wrong, if you have the opportunity to see this movie on the big screen, I recommend it, if not, however, it is still worth a rental.

The numerous Academy awards that the film won for, directing, special effects, editing, and other technical aspects were very much deserved. I want to mention two special effects (attention to detail) that I especially appreciated—first was the complete silence of space—this was used very effectively. Second, was the weightlessness of space—a tear floating off the cheek of Sandra Bullock into space was riveting. Another thing that I really liked about this movie was that there were no flash-forwards or flashbacks. The movie started in Earth orbit and stayed there. The writer, director, did not spend a lot of unnecessary time trying to develop characters or give background information. The story moved along at a quick, intelligent pace. It was a little less than 90 min. long, which is quite a rarity these days with movies. It was refreshing that a good story could be told under two hours. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney did a great job, though, Mr. Clooney could have been played by anyone, and his dialogue and robot-like "bravado" was cliché, old-hat, and tiresome. I was glad Sandra Bullock had most of the screen time.
A great movie!

RUSH

RUSH is a 2013 film directed and produced by Ron Howard. I've always respected the work of Ron Howard (Splash, Cocoon, A Beautiful Mind, Backdraft, Apollo 13, the da Vinci Code movies, etc.). Even though he doesn't routinely create huge blockbusters or multi-Academy award winning films – he has the gift of telling a great story. This movie did not disappoint me. The story was well-rounded, nicely paced and engaging. The acting was good, and the photography was excellent. Many folks may shy away from this movie because it centers around the world of Formula One racing in the 1970s – but, even if you're not a fan of racing, the movie still has a lot to offer. It is at its core a story about the rivalry between two driven characters – not racing. The similarities and contrasts between the two men, the serious Austrian misfit and the British playboy, make the story interesting. The relationship that they build, and the ultimate respect that they pay to each other, give the story meaning. The fact that it's a real story, makes the movie even more enjoyable. If you like racing, you will definitely find this film to your satisfaction. If you're just interested in watching a good story unfold, this is also a good choice for a rental. I recommend it.

House of Cards, Season Two

I just finished binge watching House of Cards, Season Two. Thirteen episodes in five nights! It was worth every minute. It's great to be able to watch an entire season in a short period of time, especially a series that is as well made and entertaining as this. Everything about it is superb. The plot is complex, but not confusing – though there are more twists and turns in Season Two, than the first season. The characters are believable, intelligent, ambitious, realistically flawed and conflicted. The dialogue is exceptional, fast-paced and at times almost beautiful in the language that is used. There were a couple of times when I wanted to rewind and listen to the dialogue again, not out of confusion, but because it was so deep and revealing. The acting is fabulous. Kevin Spacey, as Francis Underwood, the main character, is just amazing. I love how he speaks directly to the camera, bringing the audience in closer. The rest of the actors are also excellent and very well cast. Netflix deserves a huge "Bravo!" for this production.

The story moved seamlessly from season one to Season Two. Everything seemed to be going along as expected – good political drama – when suddenly, "Wham" at the end of the first episode, Francis does something totally unexpected and completely dark and evil. OMG! was my honest reaction. I rarely have this strong of a reaction to any television show or movie. I'm not going to give it away, you got to watch it to believe it. From the very first episode, I was hooked.

The next twelve episodes were not as shocking, but they were just as intense. In fact, if I have any criticism at all, it's that this second season seems to have almost too much going on. There is political intrigue, corruption, scandal, bribery, adultery, blind ambition, manipulation and backstabbing, as well as numerous subplots pulled from current headlines – China trade, money laundering, political action committees, lobbyists run amok, terrorism, sexual assault in the military, abortion and the driving need for our politicians to be re-elected above everything else.

It's all great stuff! Don't blink or you'll miss something. Definitely rent it, or join Netflix – at eight dollars a month it's one of the best deals around.

Lee Daniels' The Butler

I finally got around to watching Lee Daniels' The Butler. I wanted to see it before the Oscars, even though it wasn't nominated – there are so many good movies made these days, sometimes the ones that are not nominated for Oscars get lost in the shuffle. I was glad I took the time to watch this one. I really enjoyed it, but also, because of its depth and breadth, I felt that there were times that it was disjointed—montage-like. The central story, the Butler working in the White House, played by Forest Whitaker was dramatic, tragic, meaningful and emotionally moving. It's amazing that this is really a true story, based on a real person's life. It's difficult to imagine the conflict he must've felt during his lifetime. The contrast between this man's life and the world of the White House is portrayed expertly. There are several scenes where the director/writer flashes between the Butler doing his job in the cloistered atmosphere of the White House, and real events happening in the outside world. The scenes are riveting and revealing – they must've been very difficult to write and create. Mr. Whitaker definitely deserved a Best Actor nod.

The sub story of the civil rights movement and the progression of black people through America's turbulent and sad history, is less dramatic but still informative and educational. This is where I believe the director, writers and producers were too ambitious. They tried to put too many incidents, events and issues into the film. It must've been very difficult to decide what to include and what to leave out. The film is epic in scope, covering the Butler's life from the early 1940s to the present day. At times, I felt as if the filmmakers were trying to educate me, rather than really tell the story of the Butler and his family. That's okay, I was a willing audience, especially knowing that this was based on a true story.

The dialogue was excellent and engaging. The acting was superb. Watching Oprah Winfrey smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol to excess, dance and party, was worth the price of the rental by itself. Don't let this fine film get lost in the very crowded shelf of options – it's well worth watching.

After Earth

After Earth, Will Smith and son's 2013 summer sci-fi flick is a miss on most accounts. However, for me it served its purpose. I needed a break from the Olympics and the movie was available "Free" on Starz Network. If I had to pay for a rental, I probably would have chosen something else, but I am a solid science fiction fan and usually enjoy this genre. I have to admit even though there were many flaws to this movie, the time passed pleasantly enough. The flaws were very obvious – Will Smith does not do a very good job of acting. He seemed to be more concerned about his son's debut on the screen, letting the boy try and carry the scenes and much of the story. This is a mistake, the boy is cute and does a decent job, but Will Smith is capable of much more. The story is predictable and somewhat corny in places. The camera angles were strange at times – I found myself thinking how are we suddenly being transported to this point of view. I think it was the unsteady hand of the director, M. Night Shyamalan. I blame some of the stupid dialogue on him as well, he wrote the screenplay. Other than that, there were some redeeming points to the movie. The overall pace and rendering of the story was pleasant and engaging. The computer generated special effects work was nicely done. The sci-fi aspects were cool. I especially liked the idea that the boy was wearing a camouflage/chameleon-like suit that was "smart" and was able to change with the environment/situation. I do applaud Will Smith for looking more closely at the relationship between father and son – a relationship that is often overlooked in today's movies. I don't recommend this as a rental, unless you are a tremendous Will Smith fan, or like me you're looking for something light and sci-fi like to pass the time.

Comments setting changed – now open to everyone!

It has come to my attention that some of my readers have commented on some of my movie reviews and wondered about the status of their comments. The comment feature had been turned-off.

Sorry about that, my mistake... I have now changed the setting so that now anyone can comment on a post, whether you are a subscriber or guest visitor.

As the title suggests, the main purpose of this blog is to give my friends, family, supporters and acquaintances across the Internet an opportunity to read my opinion about DVDs that I watch, and perhaps steer someone away from a bad movie, or towards a good one. I'm not a professional movie critic. I do these reviews just for fun. I try to make my reviews direct and to the point, short, and sweet or sour – depending on the movie.

Thus, this blog is really meant to be a place for sharing opinions, comments or discussion about the movies that are reviewed. I encourage all of you to post your opinion about the movie, whether you agree or disagree with me.

The more opinions the better!

I hope this clarifies how the comments are handled on this blog. If you would like to give me feedback, suggestions or comments directly, please contact me at – rraker@hawaii.rr.com.

Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips, 2013 movie starring Tom Hanks is a wonderfully intense –worth watching. I was totally engaged from the very beginning and all the way through until the climactic end. There was not a moment that I was not riveted to the screen. The story, based on true events, was told expertly but rather blandly, without special effects, superhero fanfare, political preaching, heavy-handed patriotism or moral lessons. How refreshing! It was a straightforward story, told a straightforward way, there was more than enough content and drama to make a fantastic movie. I'm sure there was pressure to make it a "blockbuster" – Die Hard, Zero Dark thirty, type of film, but the director, writer, producers and actors resisted this temptation. Instead, making an almost documentary type of film that is low-key and yet horrifying in its portrayal of real events. I believe that the producers tried to present "Just the facts, please." but, there is some controversy about this – nevertheless, the film is realistic and believable.

Tom Hanks did a superb job as the captain. He seemed to be just an ordinary man, going about his business/his work, but I empathized with him immediately. I was able to feel what he felt—the terror, the fear, the uncertainty. I have to admit that during the last couple of minutes of the movie, I had to ask someone to wipe the tears from my eyes. The Somali actors were also superb. This is not a movie for young children, too intense, but adults who like good acting and nonstop suspense/action will enjoy it. I believe this is not a movie with a hidden agenda, but I'm sure some people will try to find one – you know, violent poverty-stricken Somalis versus rich American vessels filled with capital goods for the world. Please don't bother looking for the message, there isn't one. It's just an expertly made real life story. Worth a rental. Bravo!

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a documentary film about the most famous and most skilled sushi master in Japan, is very much worth watching whether you love sushi or not. You can view this documentary on PBS.org/Independent lens, as well as Netflix. Jiro is in his late 80s and nowhere near contemplating retirement. He runs a small sushi shop in Ginza, Tokyo with his first son and several apprentices. The restaurant has no menu – you eat whatever the master chef serves you. There are no appetizers or other dishes, only sushi. You get one delicious piece at a time. There's no background music, no noise or loud chatter. You must make reservations at least one month in advance. Prices begin at $300 per person, and ultimately depend on the price of the fresh fish/seafood purchased for that day. There are usually no more than 10 customers in the restaurant at any one time.

The film tells the story of Jiro – How he grew up, how he worked hard every day of his life to become the most skilled sushi master in Japan. There's very little narration, it's mostly the words of Jiro, his sons and the apprentices that do the talking. The dialogue – English subtitles – is excellent and very engaging. The photography is wonderful. Jiro's philosophy of life and work probably seem quite severe and harsh to today's younger generation, but actually his outlook on life/work make him a contented and happy man. He believes that to master a skill, such as making the perfect sushi, is worth his life's ambition and commitment. To achieve this is true happiness, money doesn't matter. I doubt seriously whether many young people today would feel that work, any kind of work, is worthy of this type of complete commitment or could bring true happiness... There really is quite a lot to be learned about Japan, Japanese culture, life and work from this film. It is much more than just sushi.

'2' guns

'2' guns, starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg was on my list of movies to watch on a Friday night when I was looking for a couple of hours of guns, explosions, bad guys and mindless action. This movie had all of that, and the real drawl was the "cool factor" of Washington and Wahlberg together. It was no Training Day, but it was good fun. The plot was unrealistic and stupid – everyone was corrupt, the DEA, the CIA and the NCIS. Since when does the Navy investigate drug trafficking? Washington and Wahlberg were actually the good guys, double-crossed by their bosses for millions of dollars that they stole from a bank as part of a undercover operation. The money was supposedly some kind of CIA slush fund gotten through deals with the drug cartels – sheesh! A weird and convoluted plot, but that didn't matter. All we needed was some really bad guys for Washington and Wahlberg to go against – it could've been anybody. Some of the dialogue was funny. Denzel Washington of course is the better actor, and still for my money, one of the coolest dudes around. Wahlberg, I usually don't like very much, but he did a decent job in this film. So, if you're in mood for a rental with lots of action, and a couple of cool dudes – check it out. If you don't expect too much realism, this movie should entertain you.

Jack the Giant Slayer

Jack the Giant Slayer, one of the many action movies that came out during the summer of 2013, was actually better than I expected. I usually shun remakes, especially the so-called reimagining of the classic fairy tales. Most have been dismal failures, and in general, I'm afraid that there's an entire generation that has missed out on the original magic of the stories as they were meant to be told. The Wizard of Oz, Snow White, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Little Red Riding Hood, and Hanzel and Gretel – are just a few that have wandered through the movie theaters in the last couple of years, and now we have Jack and the Bean Stock. I am not sure what possessed me to watch this movie, other than the fact that it was free and I was in the mood for some lighthearted entertainment. It turned out to be worth the money and the time to watch. The script tried to remain faithful to the original, I like the fact that it began with a mother and father reading the story of Jack and the Bean Stock to their children. The little boy and little girl become the main characters of the adventure. The movie is not ashamed to be "fairytale like" – it doesn't try to be anything more than good fun and adventure. The acting is passable and no big name actors or actresses to embarrass themselves. The computer-generated giants are scary enough for the children, and do some gross and silly things for the camera. All in all, pretty good PG family fun. With some reservation, I recommend this if you got nothing else to watch with your kids.