Movie Reviews For November 13, 2015: LOVE THE COOPERS and THE 33

LOVE THE COOPERS
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: November 13, 2015
Director: Jessie Nelson
Stars: Diane Keaton, John Goodman, Ed Helms, Olivia Wilde
Plot: A Christmas family gathering makes them all take a new look at family bonds
Trailer

Clint Says: Don't even bother

To quote another Christmas movie, LOVE THE COOPERS sits on a throne of lies! This film has been marketed through the trailers as a fun holiday comedy. The truth? It's a sad, depressing, shallow movie that tries to redeem itself with three minutes of Christmas magic at the end.

The ensemble cast is great, and this may be Olivia Wilde's best work, but the plot is so terrible that their performances are overshadowed. 

If you are looking for a movie to get you into the Christmas spirit, stay far away from this one. The only gift this movie gives you is when the end credits finally roll.

THE 33
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: November 13, 2015
Director: Patricia Riggen
Stars: Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche
Plot: Based on the true story of the 33 Chilean miners trapped in a mine for 69 days
Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

In the Fall of 2010 we all sat glued to TV screens desperately hoping we would see the first miner come up through a small hole in the ground. When he finally did, you could almost hear the whole world cheering as one. No movie could ever recreate the sense of drama and intensity of that moment, but this film comes close.

It is impossible to imagine what life would be like living, for 69 days, under a rock that could shift and kill you at any second. The stress and fear must have been all but unbearable. We get to see some of that in this movie, but there are so many stories that the director tried to get in that we never really get to go deep into any of them.

The same can be said for the stories of the families waiting for their loved ones to be rescued and the rescuers. We get to see bits and pieces of a lot of stories, but we are never given enough to really care about individuals. Thankfully the story is so compelling itself that it makes the movie worth watching.

If you are looking for a dramatic and inspirational story, you will find THE 33 satisfactory.

DVD Review for September 9, 2014

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan
Plot: Captain America is forced into a battle with an old foe, but he must be careful because he's not sure who he can trust.

Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this DVD

This movie fits all the criteria for a great comic book movie: explosions, action, explosions, hot girl that might be good but is probably bad, explosions, epic fight scenes, a good guy that turns out to be bad, explosions, a bad guy that turns good, oh...and a super-good looking hero that slowly walks away from explosions.

CAPTAIN AMERICA is exactly what we have come to expect from the MARVEL series. It's an excellent action movie and a really good, fun time for viewers. Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America) and Scarlett Johannson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow) play well off of each other giving the audience entertaining and witty banter throughout the film.

There are several great moments throughout the movie that had our audience breaking out into applause a good six or seven times. (MARVEL movies are always best to see with uber fans). We also get some answers to long-held questions from the first CAPTAIN AMERICA movie.

THE WINTER SOLDIER is better than the original because it is much faster paced and we get to see a more developed hero. It's still not quite as good as the IRON MAN or THOR series, but it is definitely a worthy competitor.

If you like action movie and/or comic book based movies I highly recommend this one. 

WORDS AND PICTURES

Rated: PG-13

Stars: Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche
Plot: A washed up, alcoholic English teacher and an ailing Art teacher use their rivalry to inspire each other and their students to push harder than they ever have through a Words versus Pictures contest.

Trailer

Clint Says: This is worth a rental after you've seen what you really want to see

I went into this movie having no idea what to expect and came out pleasantly surprised, for the most part. Clive Owen and Juiliette Binoche have a quirky, intriguing chemistry that keeps the movie afloat through the slow parts. Unfortunately, the film relies on secondary characters to move the plot along and they don't carry their weight as well as one would expect.

The film is about 30 minutes too long and the soundtrack makes you feel like you are watching a cheesy love story from the early 80's, but the words and pictures are beautiful. There were times when this film reminded me of DEAD POETS' SOCIETY, but this movie is nowhere near that level of mastery. At best it's a poor man's version of DPS, at worst it's a blatant, but wrongheaded, attempt to be a knockoff film.

I did enjoy the inspiring nature of the movie and the passion and reverence it exudes for the art, both written and painted, was worth the price of admission. This film will not change your life, but it may inspire you to try a bit harder at life.



BRICK MANSIONS
Rated: R
Stars: Paul Walker, David Belle, RZA
Plot: An undercover cop and an ex-con must work together to bring down a crime lord overseeing a walled-in section of Detroit.

Trailer

Clint Says: Don't even bother

BRICK MANSIONS is the last film that Paul Walker worked on in its entirety. Unfortunately it is one of the lamest action movies I've seen in a long time. It is completely cliche and predictable and the dialogue is laughable.

I will say that there are some pretty good fight scenes and some cool parkour, but it's not worth spending even the $2.99 rental fee to see that.



THE HORNET'S NEST
Rated: R
Stars: Mike Boettcher, Carlos Boettcher
Plot: This war documentary follows US troops in Afghanistan battling the Taliban.

Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD if you can handle it

This is one of the most intense films I have ever seen. All of the footage is real. It is terrifying, brutal and horrific. But it is also heroic, strangely beautiful and mesmerizing.

This film is not for everyone, but if you think you can handle it, I highly recommend seeing what our troops go through every day to help keep our nation safe. You will have a new-found respect for our military men and women after seeing this film. 

Movie Review For June 13, 2014

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
Rated: PG
Stars: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchette
Plot: Hiccup and Toothless must fight to keep the dragons from falling into the hands of an evil warlord.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see it in theaters

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2, simply put, is another outstanding offering by the DreamWorks team, and it is just as good at the first in the series.

It is action-packed, funny and heartwarming. The story is compelling and will keep audiences of all ages engaged throughout. There was very little that I didn't like about this film, and those things were easily overlooked due to the general amazingness of the rest of the film.

The artwork on HTTYD2 is incredible. Several times I found myself mesmerized by the intricate detail, especially the fur on the clothes and the scales on the dragons. It's worth the price of admission just to see the artwork, but you get so much more.

Grab the whole family and enjoy this film together.




22 JUMP STREET
Rated: R
Stars: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum
Plot: Two undercover drug cops enroll as college students and try to blend in to the college scene in order to make a huge bust.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters

Very rarely is a sequel better than the original, but in this case it is. 22 JUMP STREET is riotously funny and Channing Tatum completely steals the show.

The story-line is similar to the first film, which typically would be boring, but in this case they use it to their advantage to make fun of themselves and, on several occasions, they make self-aware, tongue-in-cheek comments about the fact that they are in a sequel.

This film is almost as raunchy as the first one, but it makes up for the juvenile humor with a surprisingly interesting story that has several twists and turns uncommon for a typical action/comedy movie.

I haven't laughed this hard at a movie in a long time. If you are looking for a really fun date flick, check this one out.




WORDS AND PICTURES
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche
Plot: A washed up, alcoholic English teacher and an ailing Art teacher use their rivalry to inspire each other and their students to push harder than they ever have through a Words versus Pictures contest.
Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

I went into this movie having no idea what to expect and came out pleasantly surprised, for the most part. Clive Owen and Juiliette Binoche have a quirky, intriguing chemistry that keeps the movie afloat through the slow parts. Unfortunately, the film relies on secondary characters to move the plot along and they don't carry their weight as well as one would expect.

The film is about 30 minutes too long and the soundtrack makes you feel like you are watching a cheesy love story from the early 80's, but the words and pictures are beautiful. There were times when this film reminded me of DEAD POETS' SOCIETY, but this movie is nowhere near that level of mastery. At best it's a poor man's version of DPS, at worst it's a blatant, but wrongheaded, attempt to be a knockoff film.

I did enjoy the inspiring nature of the movie and the passion and reverence it exudes for the art, both written and painted, was worth the price of admission. This film will not change your life, but it may inspire you to try a bit harder at life.