DVD Review For September 15, 2015: FURIOUS 7, CINDERELLA, and MONKEY KINGDON

FURIOUS SEVEN
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell
Plot: Dom and his team must recover a high-tech surveillance program in order to go after the guy that's trying to take them down
Trailer

Clint Says: Grab some popcorn, check your brain at the door and buy this DVD today

This film is ridiculous, stupid, over the top and COMPLETELY AWESOME!

Look, you know what you are getting into with this flick. It's fast cars, hot people, epic fighting and not much else. That said, the reason anyone goes to see these movies is for the fast cars, hot people and epic fighting.

This franchise really hit its stride with 6 and now 7 keeps that momentum going. It's a fun, exciting popcorn flick that will have you holding your breath and then driving too fast when you leave the theater.

For a movie about fast cars, it does take a while before it gets going. The first 20 minutes or so are pretty slow, but once the action kicks in it's a non-stop street race to the credits. There are several moments where the action is eye-rollingly ridiculous, but in this style of movie that is perfectly fine, and as far as I'm concerned, encouraged.

Paul Walker fans are going to be very pleased with the film. I'm not sure how much of the movie is actually him and how much is his brother filling in, but there wasn't a single second when I could tell that is wasn't him. The "face-replacing" technology that we first saw in the latest TRON film with Jeff Bridges was amazing, but still looked a bit odd. It was used in this film to put Paul's face on his brother's body for certain scenes, but now, it is seamless.

The last five minutes of the film are a tribute to Walker. It is a wonderful tribute, but it barely has anything to do with the rest of the movie. It's almost as if the Director said, "Plot? We don't need to worry about plot! This is Paul Walker!" But, even though the tribute doesn't fit it at all with the rest of the film, fans of the franchise will probably have a tough time keeping from shedding a tear.

A note to my Nashville area readers: Be on the lookout for the reporter about 10 minutes into the movie. She is our very own Stephanie Langston from News Channel 2!




CINDERELLA
Rated: PG
Stars: Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett
Plot: A beautiful girl grows up as the servant to her wicked step-mother, but she finds love with the Prince.
Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this DVD if you have Disney fans in your house

If you have a tween or younger girl in your house you simply must take them to see this movie. They will LOVE it. CINDERELLA is a beautifully told tale that doesn't feel like a rehash of the dozens of other movies by the same name that have popped up through the decades.

One nice aspect about this new Cinderella is that she is much more than just a pretty, nice girl that can only escape her pitiful situation by finding the love of a man. In fact, the first time she meets the prince the outcome is quite unexpected.

Cate Blanchett does a stellar job as the wicked stepmother, and even though we are still very early in the year, we may see her get some award nominations as 2015 comes to a close. The step sisters are riotously funny and Helena Bonham Carter is perfect as The Fairy Godmother.

My only issue with this film is that the first half hour is really sad and slow. After that the story picks up and we are all on a ride into a wonderful ever after.

By the way, it's worth the price of admission just to see the Disney animated short FROZEN FEVER that plays prior to the film. It's seven minutes of pee-your-pants funny.




MONKEY KINGDOM
Rated: G
Stars: Tina Fey
Plot: The story of a young monkey and mother trying to survive in ancient ruins in South Asia
Trailer

Clint Says: It's worth a rental

These DisneyNature films are always very well done and interesting and MONKEY KINGDOM is no exception, but like the others, there isn't anything in the movie that makes it so compelling that you have to see it in theaters. You will get the same effect and joy by watching this in your own living room four months from now that you would get by seeing it this weekend.

Really, the only reason to see it in theaters is because part of the ticket sales go to helping the monkeys survive. But if that is really something that concerns you, then just donate the full price of a ticket and then wait for the DVD.

As with most DisneyNature films, make sure you stick around through the credits. they show the camera crews working closely with the animals. To me it is the most intriguing part of the whole movie.

This film is safe and enjoyable for the whole family, so if you are looking for an outing this would be a good choice. Just don't expect your kids to walk out of it like they had just seen FROZEN.

Movie Review For May 29, 2015: SAN ANDREAS and ALOHA

SAN ANDREAS
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Giamatti, Carla Gugino
Plot: A father tries to save his wife and daughter during a swarm of massive earthquakes
Trailer

Clint Says: The only way to see this movie is in the biggest theater possible

Let's be honest, nobody goes to a disaster movie expecting to be mentally inspired. You go because you want to see a whole bunch of stuff blow up, fall down or otherwise be destroyed in some epic fashion. SAN ANDREAS gives you exactly what you are expecting.

This movie is a loud, intense, over-the-top, two-hour thrill ride that will have you on the edge of your seat and holding your breath. As long as you check your brain at the door as far as science goes you'll really enjoy this popcorn flick.

I must warn you though that this is not the kind of movie you can wait to see on DVD. You either need to spend what it takes to see this in IMAX 3D or don't bother seeing it at all. This is the kind of film you need to experience, not watch.




ALOHA
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams
Plot: A former military man returns to his old stomping grounds as a civilian contractor forcing his new and old worlds to collide.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

This film has one of the best ensemble casts of 2015. Unfortunately, the script doesn't do them justice. The acting in ALOHA is outstanding, but that can only take a movie so far.

Even though this movie isn't even two hours long, it feels like it drags on. There isn't any conflict or really anything of interest that happens during the first half of the movie. It wasn't until almost the hour mark where I stopped questioning why I was seeing this film.

This movie could have been much better with some simple changes to the storytelling, but as it is, it is confusing, slow, boring and pretty much useless. It's a pleasant and nice film, but there isn't enough going on to make you feel anything until almost the very end.

Movie Review For April 3, 2015: FURIOUS SEVEN

FURIOUS SEVEN
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell
Plot: Dom and his team must recover a high-tech surveillance program in order to go after the guy that's trying to take them down
Trailer

Clint Says: Grab some popcorn, check your brain at the door and go this weekend

This film is ridiculous, stupid, over the top and COMPLETELY AWESOME!

Look, you know what you are getting into with this flick. It's fast cars, hot people, epic fighting and not much else. That said, the reason anyone goes to see these movies is for the fast cars, hot people and epic fighting.

This franchise really hit its stride with 6 and now 7 keeps that momentum going. It's a fun, exciting popcorn flick that will have you holding your breath and then driving too fast when you leave the theater.

For a movie about fast cars, it does take a while before it gets going. The first 20 minutes or so are pretty slow, but once the action kicks in it's a non-stop street race to the credits. There are several moments where the action is eye-rollingly ridiculous, but in this style of movie that is perfectly fine, and as far as I'm concerned, encouraged.

Paul Walker fans are going to be very pleased with the film. I'm not sure how much of the movie is actually him and how much is his brother filling in, but there wasn't a single second when I could tell that is wasn't him. The "face-replacing" technology that we first saw in the latest TRON film with Jeff Bridges was amazing, but still looked a bit odd. It was used in this film to put Paul's face on his brother's body for certain scenes, but now, it is seamless.

The last five minutes of the film are a tribute to Walker. It is a wonderful tribute, but it barely has anything to do with the rest of the movie. It's almost as if the Director said, "Plot? We don't need to worry about plot! This is Paul Walker!" But, even though the tribute doesn't fit it at all with the rest of the film, fans of the franchise will probably have a tough time keeping from shedding a tear.

A note to my Nashville area readers: Be on the lookout for the reporter about 10 minutes into the movie. She is our very own Stephanie Langston from News Channel 2!

DVD Review For November 4, 2014

MALEFICENT
Rated PG
Stars: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning
Plot: The untold story of how Maleficent came to be and the story behind the story of Sleeping Beauty is finally revealed.
Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this DVD now

Unlike many film critics, I am a sucker for a good Disney flick, so walking in to see MALEFICENT I had high hopes that it would live up to the incredible trailers and that the story they chose for her would be worthy of a film of this magnitude. My high hopes were met with an astoundingly epic movie that was suspenseful, charming, and funny.

Kudos to the special effects team. If they aren't nominated for an OSCAR there is something wrong in Hollywood. The creatures' texture and movement is as close to real as I have ever seen in a movie. Their attention to detail was so precise that you almost feel like you can reach out and touch the scenery.

Angelina Jolie puts the entire cast and crew on her back and carries them all to the finish. She is Maleficent, and if you aren't completely enamored with her by the end of the film we probably need to break up. As for the secondary characters (read: everybody but Angelina), they do a fine job of supporting Jolie without getting in the way of her stellar performance.

My only beef with this film are two gaping plot holes near the end that are obvious enough that even casual movie-goers will most-likely notice them. Aside from that though, MALEFICENT is one of the best movies of the year.



HERCULES
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane
Plot: A mercenary fights alongside a small band of warriors while trying to live up to the legend of Hercules
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD as soon as you can

This film really surprised me. I'm typically not a fan of Greek legend movies because they are either over the top with violence or long and plodding. HERCULES is neither. It is action-packed, fast-paced, thrilling, humorous, and the story is compelling and well done.

This is a new take on the legend and myth of Hercules that will satisfy fans of the classic Hercules story as well as fans of good action flicks.

Dwayne Johnson does a marvelous job of portraying Hercules, but in a way that doesn't make the demi-god too serious. Ian McShane is a scene stealer throughout, and the rest of Hercules's team round out a fun cast with great on-screen chemistry.

The special effects are well done and not overbearing. You'll want to see this on as big a screen with the best sound system possible.

It's nice to see that someone finally made a movie about Hercules that is worth seeing and is not only entertaining, but fun and exciting as well.



PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE
Rated - PG
Stars: Dane Cook, Ed Harris
Plot: Dusty becomes a firefighter after pushing his engine too hard while racing.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD for the kids and leave the room

This movie has a lot of action and adventure for the younger crowd, but parents will not be amused. The plot has potential but the execution is fair at best. It feels like the honchos on this film just went through the motions knowing that no matter how good or bad it is it will still draw crowds and make a nice profit.

I will say that the animation in PLANES is spectacular. In fact, there are a couple of scenes that I thought might be real. If incredible, true-to-life animation is your motivation then this movie will blow your mind.

One aspect of the film that some movie-goers will not appreciate is the seemingly constant use of plays on words to make it sound like the characters are cursing. One example being when Dusty says, "I kicked As...ton Martin." I'm really not sure why the creators of films for kids do this. It adds nothing to the movie and offends a portion of the crowd.

The movie does have a few good lessons on listening, patience and perseverance, but I wouldn't say that it is worth the price of buying the DVD. A single viewing will be satisfactory for most people.

Movie Review for July 25, 2014

AND SO IT GOES
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton
Plot: A curmudgeonly old widower and his singing widow neighbor must learn how to care for a granddaughter he never knew he had.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

This movie is a prime example of why we hear people complaining how Hollywood has lost its creativity, and nothing original comes out of Hollywood anymore. Hollywood has learned that most of their "original" ideas are old, dried up and a waste of time.

While this film has a few laughs and a few warm, fuzzy moments, overall it is a slow, boring tale. Douglas and Keaton spend most of the movie just going through the motions. And the plot is so ridiculously predictable and stereotypical that most in the audience will spend a large part of the movie rolling their eyes.

Watching this felt a bit like watching a superstar athlete trying to keep up after he is well past his prime in a league that has passed him by. It's sad in a way to see the likes of Rob Reiner, Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton trying to remain relevant in an industry that has moved away from their style of movies.

If you really want to see these actors in something good this weekend rent some of their better works. You'll be happier for it, and it will save you from wasting your money and your time.



LUCY
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman
Plot: A young woman is drugged and as a result is able to tap into 100% of her brain's capacity.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD and let someone else rent it

Luc Besson, writer and director of LUCY, needs to get some people on his team that are willing to tell him "no"...quickly. I'd be hard pressed to try to come up with another movie that falls apart so thoroughly in the last 20 minutes.

Besson has done some very good work in the past, but he's had some real stinkers too. This film falls into the latter category. Morgan Freeman's character is completely useless to the plot and is really only there to preach at us for 90 very long minutes. There are plot holes and inconsistencies throughout the entire film, some of which are so blatantly obvious that even the most casual movie-goer will notice.

I saw LUCY with my wife. And while I am a stickler for story integrity, she, being an author, puts me to shame in that category. Her rant about this film for the entire 45 minute ride home was epic. I've heard her rip some movies to shreds before over plot, but this one was one for the ages.

The first hour of this film is actually pretty exciting despite the preachiness and plot holes. My recommendation is, if you really must see this in theaters, watch until Lucy lands in Paris. At that point, get up, walk out of the theater, go get some coffee with a friend and come up with your own ending to the movie. I guarantee you that your ending will be way better than the actual ending.



HERCULES
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane
Plot: A mercenary fights alongside a small band of warriors while trying to live up to the legend of Hercules
Trailer

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

This film really surprised me. I'm typically not a fan of Greek legend movies because they are either over the top with violence or long and plodding. HERCULES is neither. It is action-packed, fast-paced, thrilling, humorous, and the story is compelling and well done.

This is a new take on the legend and myth of Hercules that will satisfy fans of the classic Hercules story as well as fans of good action flicks.

Dwayne Johnson does a marvelous job of portraying Hercules, but in a way that doesn't make the demi-god too serious. Ian McShane is a scene stealer throughout, and the rest of Hercules's team round out a fun cast with great on-screen chemistry.

The special effects are well done and not overbearing. I would even recommend seeing this film in 3D or even IMAX 3D because this is one of the few films that actually uses 3D technology to make the film better rather than the usual gimmicky shots we see in lesser 3D action flicks.

It's nice to see that someone finally made a movie about Hercules that is worth seeing and is not only entertaining, but fun and exciting as well.