The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

Rating 7 out of 10

When I saw the trailers for this movie my first thought was wasn't there a Three Musketeer movie not that long ago?  Do we really need another one?  After seeing the movie I would say the answer is yes.  The movie has several good actors yet none that would raise your eyebrows.  Milla Jovovich is good in all those bad Resident Evil movies I keep going to see. Orlando Bloom who can't seem to figure out what he wants to do after Lord of the Rings and Pirates. Oscar winner Christoph Waltz.  These are not even the main stars.

The movie begins with the Musketeers falling on hard times as the klutzy King of France phasing them out as unneeded.  They are pressed back into service to foil a plot by the evil Catholic Cardinal to cause war between France and England.  A young son of a past Musketeer joins force in his desire to some day been a Musketeer himself.

I know, they didn't rush out and buy their tux for the Oscars.  But you don't go to a movie like this for deep plots.  The action is very good.  The acting is mostly good.  I was impressed with the way it was filmed and liked the way they captured that era of London and Paris.

If you are looking for an entertaining action movie this is a good one to start with.

The Ides of March

The Ides of March 

Rating 4 out of 10

Sadly politics bore the pants off the average person.  Movies about politics no matter how many pretty boys you put in it are boring too.  That sums up Ides of March.  I keep up with politics alot.  Frequent a couple bbs's to debate the latest.  This movie was written and directed by George Clooney.  I'll be nice and say Mr. Clooney while being dreamy to look at is on the other side of the scale politically from my beliefs.  While this movie isn't an all out Republican bashing Clooney get's in his jabs.

Ides of March has an incredible cast.  Clooney is a central character, but not the main one.  Ryan Gosling, who seems like he is in half of movies released in 2011,  plays the silver tongued and idealistic campaign manager for Gov. Mike Morris (Clooney).  He really believes the Governor is a great man that will do great things for the country.  The whole race to the White House is boiling down to the Ohio primary in a close race with another Democrat.  Whoever wins Ohio wins the nomination and what is figured to be an easy walk to the President since the Republican is so evil.  The always great Phillip Seymour Hoffman plays Goslings boss who doesn't mind playing dirty if needed.  Paul Giamatti plays the press secretary for the challenger.  Marisa Tomei is thrown in as a snoopy reporter.

If you love politics and if it shocks you to find out it can be a dirty game you may like this movie.  Mostly it is like watching a rerun of 60 Minutes. It's a well made, well acted movie that happens to be very boring.  Rent it if you must.

Footloose

Footloose

Rating 7 out of 10


Most of the time I like remakes of older movies.  Some work while others (Arthur) do not.  When I heard they were remaking Footloose it sounded like a bad idea.  The original was such an iconic movie I didn't see why they would want to try.  The original Footloose is what led me to be such a great dancer.  Okay, I can't dance, but don't tell my teenager!  Back to the movie...  I did think it was cool this movie was filmed in my home town of Acworth, GA.  I know people who were in it as extras.

Being such a fan of the original and the poor reviews I went to this movie with low expectations.  Happy to say I liked the movie alot.  This time Ren McCormick is played by hunky Kenny Wormald who was born the year the original came out, 1984.  He has been a backup dancer in the past and gets a shot at the lead.  The wild preachers daughter is played very well by the lovely Dancing with the Stars gal Julianne Hough.

The city boy (Ren) moves to the small Georgia town where he learns dancing is against the law and he sets out to change things.  He butts heads with the main preacher man who seems to run the town.  This is played by Dennis Quaid.  I am a big fan of Quaid, but I think he was miscast here.

Not alot more you can say about this movie.  I doubt they will remake it 27 years but if you want to see a fun movie that will make you tap your toe a few times this is a good place to start.  If you live in the area it's fun picking out local spots they filmed in.  The Cowboys dance hall was the place of my first date with Cassie.  Must have been my dancing skills that hooked her?   Probably not.

Fall Tv Report Card

Fall Tv Report Cards

Every September there are many new shows hitting the airwaves with so much promise.  These shows are there to replace last years shows that had so much promise.  2011 is pretty much the same.

For my returning favorites...

Modern Family, Big Bang Theory and Mike and Molly are still very funny

I'm not crazy about the new Two and a Half Men.  I just don't think Ashton's dumb guy routine is very funny.

House so far is better than last year.  I had given up on House last year.  I'm liking the direction it is going this season.

Nikita is a kicking good time also!

New Shows...

I think Two Broke Girls is the funniest new show.  It has some very funny parts.  It has potential.

Whitney- Not as funny as I thought it was going to be but still has it's moments.

Terra Nova- A family goes from a time in the future when pollution is killing the planet thru a portal back in time when dinosaurs roam.  Interesting show with likable actors.

Last Man Standing-  Tim Allen's come back show and he is back.  If you liked Tool Time you will like this one too.  He is still funny.

X-Factor-  I was afraid this was going to be an American Idol knock off.  It is...

Person of Interest- Better than I thought it would be.  Could see how it could go South but for now it keeps me interested. Get it? Point of Interest.  Sorry...

Unforgettable- This show has promise too.  Good cast.  Not sure how far they can take it.

Pan Am-  The wife likes this one.  I couldn't get into flight attendants doubling as spies in the 1960s.

Never bothered with Charlie's Angels.  It looked stupid from the commercials.  Tried to watch Playboy Club.  Only made it 30 minutes.  Both were canceled after a couple episodes.

Up All Night-  I guess the Dad in me finds it irritating when tv shows act like a man changing a diaper is harder than cracking a safe.  Not for me.

Real Steel

Rating 7.5 out of 10

I think they started playing the previews for this movie last Christmas.  Drives me nuts when they start pushing a movie a year before it comes out.  Turns out this movie was worth the wait.  I liked this movie alot.

This movie does not break new ground plot wise.  It's just a fun movie to watch.  In the not so distant future boxing has gone from humans duking it out to huge 2000 pound robots that look like they came off my rock 'em sock'em robot game I played with as a kid.

Hugh Jackman plays the down and out guy who in his younger days was a decent boxer with heart, but maybe not talent.  Now he runs the robots with less success than he had as a boxer.  He finds a woman he had a fling with many years before and had a son he gave up on has passed away.  Now the son he has never known is spending the summer with him.  Together they find a broken down robot on a trash heap. You can guess the rest.

Doesn't matter.  You will want to stand and cheer as the robot goes from fight to fight and Father and son start to bond.  This is just a fun movie that you can take the whole family to.  I recommend it.

Killer Elite

Killer Elite

Rating 5 out of 10

This movie has been getting hammered in the reviews.  My young son I were wanting to see a movie and this was the only one fitting our schedule.  I probably should have listened to the reviews.  This is not a bad movie, but with the cast involved it should have been much better.

Jason Statham is a special ops agent that is just tired o f killing.  When he tries to retire he is drawn back in when his ex-partner and kind of father figure (Robert De Niro) is taken hostage by a sheik who wants to avenge the killing of his three sons.  To do this Statham must take out some evil British operatives (Clive Owen with a 70's porn star mustache).

The movie is based on a true story as disputed as it might be. The action is good at times.  It has a feel of a straight to dvd movie.  That is where you should view this movie.  On dvd.