Movie Review For June 12, 2015: JURASSIC WORLD

JURASSIC WORLD
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard
Plot: The park is now open and business is starting to dwindle, so to keep it going the staff are creating hybrid dinosaurs. And, once again, through the order comes chaos.
Trailer

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

I found this film to be completely absurd and totally awesome. It is a great Summer flick. You don't have to think too hard, you can just sit back and be entertained. The effects are outstanding, there is enough suspense to keep you somewhat near the edge of your seat and the story, while not great, is good enough to make it engaging.

For those of you expecting this to be a nerdtastic sequel to the first epic film in the franchise, you will be disappointed. This is not a thinky science-fiction marvel like the original, it is more like a disaster film.

Although I really enjoyed this film I'm nervous that they left it wide open for multiple sequels. If and when there is a sequel I hope they add in the one missing element that will make it spectacular...JEFF GOLDBLUM! That is all.

DVD Review For December 9, 2014

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper
Plot: A misfit group is forced together and must use their skills to try to save the galaxy from a madman.
Trailer

Clint Says: Run to the store and buy this DVD now

Wow. Just. Wow.

Marvel has outdone themselves with GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY.

This was easily one of the best movies of the summer and probably one of the top ten movies of the year. It is gut-bustingly funny (to the point where I missed several lines due to all the laughter so I had to go back to the theater to see it again), it's exciting, the plot is compelling and the chemistry between the cast is near perfect.

Another aspect of this movie that will please movie-goers is that this movie has three strong female characters all with agency. It's so nice to see an action flick that treats the female characters in a way that makes them important to the plot and they have the will and ability to affect things on their own rather than waiting for their prince charming to save the day.

Children of the 80s will find this movie totally radical. For reasons that become clear in the movie, Peter Quill is essentially stuck in the 80s therefore all of his pop culture references are from that time period. It makes for some extremely funny moments.

The writing for this film is so spectacular that you really have no idea if any of these characters are going to survive to the end of the story. It's refreshing to see a movie that doesn't protect its main characters to the point of taking the suspense away as to what may happen to them.

This film can be wrapped up in two words. They will mean nothing to you until you see the movie, but once you do they will be epic. Those words are "dance off". Enjoy.

One small warning: Unlike most MARVEL films, this one uses quite a bit of adult language. So use your discretion when considering taking the young ones.



DOLPHIN TALE 2
Rated: PG
Stars: Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman
Plot: The staff at Clearwater must find a companion for Winter before she is taken away from them forever.
Trailer

Clint Says: This may be worth buying, but it's for sure worth renting

This is one of those films that I knew going into it, it was going to be a feel-good movie with a good dose of inspiration. I was surprised that that movie was actually very good and well done beyond the expected.

I saw this movie in a theater packed with children and adults with missing limbs or other physical challenges. Talking with them after the film helped me to realize how inspirational Winter is to so many of them.

I sat next to a young friend of mine, Zion, who had both of his feet amputated a couple of years ago. He kept whispering to me during the movie all the facts about Winter that the movie was leaving out. It was one of the more joyful movie experiences of my life.

This is a great family-friendly film that will inspire you and give you hope.




WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL
Rated: PG
Stars: Jim Caviezel, Alexander Ludwig, Michael Chiklis
Plot: The triumphant story of the heart behind the 151 game winning streak of De La Salle's high school football team.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent it when you have some extra time

This is another inspirational film that is exactly what you expect it to be. It has several meaningful and heartbreaking moments, but overall it really isn't that great of a movie.

The story isn't bad, the acting is okay and the drama seems real enough, but it just doesn't quite come together to make you feel like the movie wants you to feel when the credits roll.

It's much less a football movie and more of a relationship film, so for those of you that skipped it in theaters because you thought it was another sports flick, you may find it worth renting.

Movie Review for August 1, 2014

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper
Plot: A misfit group is forced together and must use their skills to try to save the galaxy from a madman.
Trailer

Clint Says: Drop everything and go see this movie now

Wow. Just. Wow.

Marvel has outdone themselves with GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY.

This could very well be the best movie of the summer and possibly one of the top ten movies of the year. It is gut-bustingly funny (to the point where we missed several lines due to all the laughter), it's exciting, the plot is compelling and the chemistry between the cast is near perfect.

Another aspect of this movie that will please movie-goers is that this movie has three strong female characters all with agency. It's so nice to see an action flick that treats the female characters in a way that makes them important to the plot and they have the will and ability to affect things on their own rather than waiting for their prince charming to save the day.

Children of the 80s will find this movie totally radical. For reasons that become clear in the movie, Peter Quill is essentially stuck in the 80s therefore all of his pop culture references are from that time period. It makes for some extremely funny moments.

The writing for this film is so spectacular that you really have no idea if any of these characters are going to survive to the end of the story. It's refreshing to see a movie that doesn't protect its main characters to the point of taking the suspense away as to what may happen to them.

This film can be wrapped up in two words. They will mean nothing to you until you see the movie, but once you do they will be epic. Those words are "dance off". Enjoy.

One small warning: Unlike most MARVEL films, this one uses quite a bit of adult language. So use your discretion when considering taking the young ones.



GET ON UP
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd
Plot: The story of the life of the godfather of soul, James Brown
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

James Brown was larger than life. Director Tate Taylor found that out when he took on the challenge of trying to fit all of James Brown into a two-hour movie. It's something that can be done, and someone may eventually be able to do it well, buy Taylor's effort doesn't make the cut.

The story jumps around in a non-chronological order with several story lines not coming together in a cohesive and understandable way until the last few minutes of the movie. In a movie with less content or fewer story lines it's a creative tactic that can add a compelling nature to a film, but in this case it's just confusing.

Taylor also tries to cover so much material that he misses major moments. For example, there are major, life-changing events that happen during the course of the film that are merely mentioned and then washed over by the next story. It was frustrating to be told that something significant was happening, but not be able to see the aftermath play out on screen.

Boseman does a fine job in portraying James Brown both on and off the stage, but his speaking pattern and accent are very difficult to understand. (I have a slight hearing loss issue and tend to read lips as an aide to understanding what people are saying. In this case it was very difficult for me to do that).

It's not a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not great either. It offers nothing to the audience that you can't get from waiting a few months and watching it on DVD.

DVD Review for March 25, 2014

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Rated R
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
Plot: The story of the meteoric rise and criminal fall of Wall Street tycoon and con man Jordan Belfort.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent it at your own risk (and keep the kids far away)

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET was hailed by most movie critics as one of the best films of 2013. While I agree that the plot was very compelling and the acting was superb, I found the movie to be over the top, obnoxious and about an hour too long.

A word of warning as well, this movie is rated R, but it is VERY R. It was probably mere seconds away from getting an NC-17 rating due to graphic nudity and hard core drug abuse.



DELIVERY MAN
Rated PG-13
Stars: Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders
Plot: A loser in life finds out he is the surrogate father of hundreds of children when 142 of them file a lawsuit to force him to make himself known to them. He then has to make the choice to continue his loser life, or be the man his children need.
Trailer

Clint Says: Let someone else rent it

DELIVERY MAN is just like every other Vince Vaughn movie...an adult acting like a child gets himself into an underdog predicament and, through the cunning use of wit and charm, simultaneously grows up, finds love and fixes the predicament like a boss.

If you are looking for a night on the couch with a few laughs, a few feel good moments and not having to tax your brain at all, this is a good choice. If you are looking for anything that might resemble intellect, this movie is not for you.



WALKING WITH DINOSAURS 3D
Rated PG
Stars: John Leguizamo, Justin Long
Plot: Patchi, an underdog dinosaur, rises up to be a hero.
Trailer

Clint Says: Don't even bother

 

While this movie is a visual marvel, the lack of plot and 3rd grade potty humor make this almost unwatchable.

If you want to watch a great dinosaur movie with the kids, go buy a copy of THE LAND BEFORE TIME.