Lockout

Lockout

Rating 6 out of 10

When I saw the previews and read the reviews on this movie I knew it was a rental.  I was bored and even though I want to see Titanic again I didn't feel like sitting for three plus hours.  I gave it a shot.

If you like action type movies like this I feel if you rent or maybe see this on an early show you will be mildly entertained.  You won't come out of the theater wowed, but you won't feel you have wasted your money either.  I'd lean toward the rental.

One of the trailers I saw for this move touted it as a Die Hard in space or something like that.  The funny part of that is if only Bruce Willis had starred in this movie it probably would have been a blockbuster.  Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace are serviceable yet don't really have the star power or acting chops to make this even above average.

Pearce plays our hero Agent Snow.  Fifty years in the future the worst criminals are being taken to a space station prison where they are kept in a frozen state.  When the Presidents daughter visits (Grace) things go wrong and the inmates thaw out and take over.  Snow has been railroaded for something he didn't do and is told if he goes in and saves the daughter all will be forgiven.

The effect is how a movie like this will be judged.  Sometimes they are good.  Other times the movie looks like a video game.

If you watched the trailer and thought it looked interesting wait a couple months and rent this movie.  I think you'll be okay with it.

The Lorax

The Lorax

Rating 7.5 out of 10

I am generally not a fan of all the Dr. Seuss books turned movies.  The Grinch is a classic of course, but most of the rest of the movies have been on the boring side.  Yet I had a chance for a date with one of my favorite females and the Hunger Games or American Reunion would not do.  I was taking my two year old granddaughter to the movies.  This movie was the perfect pick.

I was going to the movie more for the company than movie content.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I found the movie laugh out loud funny several times and kept my attention the whole time.  I had not read this book nor knew the story.  Young Ted wants to impress the pretty redhead girl Audrey.  All she wants is a tree in her backyard.  The problem is all the trees were cut down many years ago by a well meaning guy named the Once-ler to make these cool widgets.  Ted is on the mission to find that one tree seed left in the world.

I always drive myself nuts in these animated movies trying to figure out who the voices are.  The only two I figured out on my own were Danny DeVito as the Lorax (he was put in charge of protecting the trees) and Betty White as Grandma Norma.  Zac Efron voices little Ted and Taylor Swift is Audrey.

The animation is absolutely incredible in the 2D version I saw.  Had a couple musical numbers that Delilah liked.  She enjoyed the movie.  She could have enjoyed the bag of Reeces Pieces or all the ice cubes out of my drink more.  

I know Grandpa enjoyed the time spent with Delilah and also liked the movie alot more than I thought I would.

Best Movie Year Ever???

Best movie year ever?

For me it was 1987.

I started a database back in 1985 of all the movies I saw. When my database was put to pasture by Apple I had to type in all my 1200+ movies into the new program.  I started wondering what was my favorite year for movies ever.  Not the movie I liked the most, but the year that had the most above average movies.  Movies that if I'm flipping thru the channels I'd watch again with a smile on my face.  I was surprised at how many very good movies were released in 1987.   I knew it was a great year for movies with The Princess Bride didn't even make my top ten!

Here are some of the movies from 1987 that I still enjoy watching.

Platoon-  This is actually considered a 1986 movie.  It was released in very few theaters on Christmas day 1986.  I consider it to be a 1987 release.  What a great movie.  It showed how crazy things were in Vietnam.  Also shows Charlie Sheen was crazy back then too.

Hoosiers-  Probably the best basketball movie ever made.  Gene Hackman at his best.  This movie reminded me alot of my high school days playing basketball in small town Louisiana.  I own this dvd and have watched it several times.

Lethal Weapon-  This movie was brought down by all the stupid sequels they made later on.  One of the best Buddy Cop movies ever made.  This Lethal Weapon was funny but had plenty of action too.

Overboard-  I have watched this movie a dozen times and when it's on TNT I'll hit play and grab a glass of iced tea.  Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.  A funny feel good movie.

La Bamba-  This movie didn't get as much play as it deserved.  Tells the story of 1950s rocker Ritchie Valens up to his untimely death in a plane crash that also took Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper.  Lou Diamond Phillips is perfect in this role.

Roxanne- A funny Steve Martin comedy with Daryl Hannah. I saw this movie last year and it still holds up today.

Robocop- Okay this movie is a little dated now with special effects being so much better.  It is still a fun movie to watch.

Extreme Prejudice-  I liked this movie alot even though few others saw it.  A good modern day western staring Nick Nolte as a tough Texas Ranger in a small Texas/Mexico border town.

Three Men and a Baby- Hard not to like this Tom Selleck movie.

The Princess Bride-  I can't believe I left this off my top ten list!!!  One of my top ten favorite movies of all time. I can't tell you how many times I've seen this movie and I'd watch it tonight if it were on tv.

Dirty Dancing-  I wasn't as big a fan of this movie.  Thought then and still feel Jennifer Grey was completely wrong for her part.  Yet Cassie has seen this movie a hundred times and loves it.

Predator- Arnold goes into the jungle to kill bad guys and finds a bad alien instead.

Most years you are lucky to get 2-3 movies you would want to see again.  In 1987 there were more than a dozen.   Anyone have a year that was better for movies?

Wrath of the Titans

Wrath of the Titans

Rating 7 out of 10

I saw one review on this movie that complained that it was one high powered action scene after another that hardly gave any time for a plot.  Well yeah!  Haven't they seen any of these type movies?  You don't go to any of the Zeus type movies for a complicated plot.  This is pretty easy.  If you watch this trailer and feel compelled to see it you will probably leave the theater entertained and feel you got your money worth.  If it is not your cup of tea you should shy away.

Wrath of the Titans takes place atleast ten year after Zeus (Liam Neeson)  bellowed the famous Release the Kraken in the earlier Clash of the Titans movie. Our hero Perseus (Sam Worthington) killed the Kraken, saved the village and won the heart of of the lovely princess.  Now we find Perseus living in a small fishing village raising his son.  The princess has died.  Either they didn't say how or I don't remember.  Although the village is on the ocean they clearly have no showers as everyone is in great need of a scrubbing.

Seems in the last ten years the mortals have quit believing  in the Gods and quit praying to them.  Somehow this causes the Gods to lose their powers and turn mortal themselves.  In their weakness their powers are being taken to release what is much worse than the Kraken, Dad.  Kronos is the father of Zeus, Hades Poseidon.

Action is everywhere.  Some cool effects even in the 2D we saw it in.  Lots of cool monsters.  Even 100ft cyclops that can use huge trees as toothpicks.  If you like things to go boom you will enjoy yourself here.