Philomena 2013 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2013 and  running 98 minutes,its hard to review this film because there are many levels to the story,not the least of which is the catholic church and teen pregnancy and homosexuality.So,i'll just say I was moved.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below. It's also very british with fine acting from Judi Dench and others.

A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman's search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2290198553/

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013) - 2 1/2 out of 5 stars

OK,this 2013 release that runs 92 will offend everyone.If your a fan of MTV's Jackass,i'm not,you'll love it.I like the punching aspect however so a very tepid recommendation for a view,maybe…..Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

86-year-old Irving Zisman takes a trip from Nebraska to North Carolina to take his 8 year-old grandson, Billy, back to his real father.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1086630169/

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2004 and running 88 minutes,this is the first of a series of films about a modern day "Cheech and Chong"stoner buddies.While I don't condone drug use,i'm not quite sure on this films stand ether,but it has a few bright spots.The cast works with a few cameos that are interesting,and who among us didn't have "the crave".So watch it once for a throw back to the humor of the 60's set in todays world.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

An Asian-American office worker and his Indian-American stoner friend embark on a quest to satisfy their desire for White Castle burgers.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1873543449/

The Producers 2005 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2005 and running 134 minutes,this is faithful to the 1968 film release,also reviewed on this blog,with a smash Broadway play in-between.However be warned,no one BUT Mel Brooks could get away with this film today in the "politically correct"world we now live in.Still,how could you not enjoy this satirical romp??Small cameo follows the credits by the great Books himself,who only adapted this version. Trailer follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

After putting together another Broadway flop, down-on-his-luck producer Max Bialystock teams up with timid accountant Leo Bloom in a get-rich-quick scheme to put on the world's worst show.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3220308249/

Blue Jasmine 2013 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

The latest 2013 release from neurotic Woody Allen that runs 98 minutes is only interesting from the standpoint that  Cate Blanchett  who plays the title character Jasmine,plays her like a female composite of all the male characters Woody has played through the years,although he only wrote and directed this film and doesn't appear in it. Zo recommended for die hard Allen fans only.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Jasmine French used to be on the top of the heap as a New York socialite, but now is returning to her estranged sister in San Francisco utterly ruined. As Jasmine struggles with her haunting memories of a privileged past bearing dark realities she ignored, she tries to recover in her present. Unfortunately, it all proves a losing battle as Jasmine's narcissistic hangups and their consequences begin to overwhelm her. In doing so, her old pretensions and new deceits begin to foul up everyone's lives, especially her own. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4282230809/

Saving Mr.Banks 2013 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2013 and running 125 minutes,a great cast headed by Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks make this film watchable although a simultaneous  storyline is always confusing and this more than most.Disney truth or a good tale,you decide.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

 Author P.L. Travers reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2341120281/

The Iron Giant 1999 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1999 and running a short 86 minutes,this is a surprisingly good animated non Disney film.A boy a giant robot and the paranoid federal agent,good stuff !!!
Good soundtrack as well.Trailer follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.One of the few "kids"films a truly enjoyed.

This is the story of a nine-year-old boy named Hogarth Hughes who makes friends with an innocent alien giant robot that came from outer space. Meanwhile, a paranoid U.S. Government agent named Kent Mansley arrives in town, determined to destroy the giant at all costs. It's up to Hogarth to protect him by keeping him at Dean McCoppin's place in the junkyard. Written by Anthony Pereyra <hypersonic91@yahoo.com>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgjmFBX34zc

The Contender 2000 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

This 2000 release that runs 126 is kinda long and talky as well as not a very interesting female lead portrayed by a not so sexy Joan Allen BUT if you can get over that,its a very good look at "partisan"politics in a whole different light as it is set before 9/11.
I recommend for those who are not bored easily and like a good political infighting drama.
Some other very interesting casting moves as well.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

A political thriller about Laine Hanson, a senator who is nominated to become Vice President following the death of the previous office holder. During the confirmation process, Laine is the victim of a vicious attack on her personal life in which stories of sexual deviancy are spread. She is torn as to whether she should fight back, or stick to her high principles and refuse to comment on the allegations. Written by Ted Johnson

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3096838425/

Zelig 1983 - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1983 this film runs a short 79 minutes,is in B&W and you'l understand why after seeing it.The only thing worth seeing it for is that super in position of a documentary style that was  cutting edge back than and the interplay between Woody Allen and  Mia Farrow.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a man who becomes a celebrity in the 1920s due to his ability to look and act like whoever is around him. Clever editing places Zelig in real newsreel footage of Woodrow Wilson, Babe Ruth, and others. Written by Scott Renshaw <as.idc@forsythe.stanford.edu>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agkCEOHQVgg

Total Recall 2012 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

This 2012 release that runs 158 minutes is based on a 1990 film that I must revisit as I don't remember it well.However THIS remake CAN stand on ot own due to a B+cast and good FX for those who like that sort of stuff.The cast includes Kate Beckinsale,Colin Farrell,Jessica Biel and "Breaking Bads"nasty Bryan Cranston.Recommended on its own merits.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

In the near future Earth almost uninhabitable, only two territories remain, The United Federation of Britain or UFB, and the Colony. The UFB has been trying to make the Colony part of them but a group led by a man named Matthias and rumor is that a UFB security man, Hauser is helping them but word is that he is dead. Douglas Quaid, a man who lives in the UFB who is married to Lori, has been having nightmares of him being in some kind of battle with another woman, that ends with him getting captured. He decides to go to Rekall, a place where a person can experience something by having it implanted in his mind. When the memory he chooses is about to be implanted, it is detected that he has memories of being a spy, that's when they pull guns on him but some UFB security people show up and shoot up the place. Quaid goes home and tells Lori what happened, that's when she tries to kill him. He asks her why is she trying to kill him, she tells him that she's not his wife, she's UFB security ... Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2983110425/

August Osage County (2013) - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Seen this all before.Only the acting makes it worth a view in this 2013 release that runs 121 minutes.The cast is A+ headed by Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts with many others turning in fine performances.Benedict Cumberbatch again shows why he's a up and coming actor to watch in a small but important role.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2288757017/

Captain Phillips 2013 - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

This 2013 release,that runs 134 minutes, is based on a true incident you might remember.
Even if you don't,its a current events lesson as well as good drama.The acting is A+ headed up by Tom Hanks an newcomer Barkhad Abdi. I highly recommend as a primer to the nasty world we live in.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi699050009/

12 Years a Slave (2013) - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

A graphic rehash of the old slave plantation days is shown in this 2013 release that runs 134 minutes.While the acting is great,the story is interesting,but at the end of the day nothing that hasn't been shown or said before is shown other than basingt his film on a book written by a former slave. The "N" word is also said for effect too much for me.Still the younger folks who didn't grow up seeing the old YV series"Roots"would learn some things I believe.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi302032921/

Her 2013 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Strange film that is not for everyone.I can best describe it as Woody Allen getting freaky with Siri,although its NOT a Allen film however.Still this 2013 release that runs 126 minutes,draws heavily on Allen's films without the humor. Thats all I'll say.If you like Allen,you'll love this extrapolation,otherwise,you won't.Trailer follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.Oh great cast,but its the story here that matters.

A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4112492569/

American Hustle 2013 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Reportedly  based on a FBI sting called "Abscam"back in the 70's,this 2013 release that runs 138 minutes,is little more than your standard "con man"genre film distinguished by a truly fine cast and some great acting headed by,Amy Adams,Christian Bale,Bradley Cooper,Jeremy Renner,Jennifer Lawrence and many many more with a few cameos as well.I would thus rate it higher if I didn't really care for the genre.So recommended for those who like such films and the trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

A con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive British partner, Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso. DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2928060441/

Gravity 2013 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2013 and running 91 minutes,this is a FX masterpiece put little else.Its a standard survivor genre flick with average acting and very poor science.Sandra Bullock's hair is always neat in wait-less situations,get the picture?? Anyway,the oscar buzz and FX make it worth something but the science,not so much.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2340006169/

The Wolf of Wall Street 2013 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

This rather long,180 minutes,2013 release directed by   Martin Scorsese was interesting only in the over the top portrayal by  Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort .What was missing was any new insights into "the street"as a whole.Thus the tepid recommendation.Not for kids because of excessive nudity and foul language. Still ok for one adult viewing.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below,

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2312218649/

Chasing Mavericks 2012 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2012 and running 116 minutes,this film gave me a mixed reaction.On one hand I am a sort of surf dude in spirt,on the other,the casting and acting was poor I felt.Still based on a true story and some fine shots of big wave surfing,its worth one view for me and maybe you??Maybe I'm a big fan of Gerard Butler,but I felt the rest of the cast was poor and was Elisabeth Shue ever wasted !!!! Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.  

When young Jay Moriarity discovers that the mythic Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, exists just miles from his Santa Cruz home, he enlists the help of local legend Frosty Hesson to train him to survive it.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3776161561/

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) - 3 stars out of 5 stars

This 2013 release that runs 146 minutes,is the second in a 3 part trilogy and is therefore unsatisfying pot and story wise and therefore forces you to the third installment for closeure.That said it is kinda entertaining and well acted for sure.Jennifer Lawrence shines again and in a much bigger role does Donald Sutherland.After the first film there was some debate about resemblance to"Battle Royal",a film reviewed on this blog,but this time there is really a definite feel of"Rollerball",a film also reviewed on this blog,that is far more striking.So a tepit recommendation,nothing more. Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

A year after winning the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and her partner, Peeta Mellark must go on what is known as the Victor's Tour wherein they visit all the districts. But before leaving, Katniss is visited by President Snow who fears that Katniss defied him a year ago during the games when she chose to die with Peta. With both Katniss and Peeta declared the winners, it is fueling a possible uprising. He tells Katniss that while on tour she better try to make sure that she puts out the flames or else everyone she cares about will be in danger. But unfortunately she fails to do that. So Snow decides to enact what is known as the Quarter Quell, the right to make a change to the Hunger Games, which he is allowed to do every 25 years. He decides to hold an edition of the Hunger Games wherein previous winners will compete again. Their mentor Haymitch thinks their best chance to survive is form an alliance with some of the others. They decide to align themselves with Finnick and his... Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4243236889/

Darkside of the Rainbow 2005 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Its highly unusual for me to review something like this and even more so not to have it legitimized by IMDB,but here is one really weird occasion.Rather than try to explain what this film is ,I have posted below a brief description taken from Wikipedia and then the link to the complete page all about it.All that said I found it eerily entertaining.A real must see for Pink Floyd fans who also know the film"The Wizard of OZ"Reviewed on this blog awhile back.No trailer but a full sync one time run through of the urban legendary phenom URL follows the picture.

Dark Side of the Rainbow – also known as Dark Side of Oz or The Wizard of Floyd – refers to the pairing of the 1973 Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon with the visual portion of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz." [1] This produces moments where the film and the album appear to correspond with each other. The title of the music video mashup-like experience comes from a combination of the album title and the film's song "Over the Rainbow". Band members and others involved in the making of the album state that any relationship between the two works of art is merely a coincidence.[2]
Additionally, another technical issue is that the roughly 43-minute Dark Side of the Moon is short compared to the 101-minute Wizard of Oz.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Side_of_the_Rainbow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gXvVUg-VAE

Dodgeball - A True Underdog Story 2004 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

When I first saw this film i was sort of surprised .Even though it was kinda over the top with comic slapstick violence,it was funny for me nonetheless.Great cast headed by Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Vince Vaughn and others make it well worth the view.Released in 2004 and running 92 minutes,the trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

A group of misfits enter a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament in order to save their cherished local gym from the onslaught of a corporate health fitness chain.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4238475545/

Lord of the Flies 1963 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Based on a powerful novel for its time,this 1963 release that runs 92 minutes and is in B&W is not as powerful now as then,too many terrible things have happened to make this movie seem somewhat tame today,however its worth a view for those who wish to relieve the past classic tales and a idea of what may have helped more recent  film and novel writers gain inspiration.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

 A group of young boys are stranded alone on an island. Left to fend for themselves, they must take on the responsibilities of adults, even if they are not ready to do so. Inevitably, two factions form: one group (lead by Ralph) want to build shelters and collect food, whereas Jack's group would rather have fun and HUNT; illustrating the difference between civilization and savagery. Written by Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au>

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi496435481/

Promised Land 2012 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Despite a good competent cast headed by Matt Damon this movie never really explores the key issues of"fracking"which is the core of this movie.That said,its only a slice of the heartland out of context to the theme and so I can only slightly recommend at 3 stars this 2012 release that runs 106 minutes.Never assume your audience knows the issues.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Corporate salesman Steve Butler (Damon) arrives in a rural town with his sales partner, Sue Thomason (McDormand). With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders see the local citizens as likely to accept their company's offer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed relief. What seems like an easy job for the duo becomes complicated by the objection of a respected schoolteacher (Holbrook) with support from a grassroots campaign led by another man (Krasinski) who counters Steve both personally and professionally. Written by Focus Features

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1278780441/

Magic Mike 2012 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Strange film indeed.Male stripping or a comment on being too self centered?You'll have to decide.The casting of Matthew McConaughey and Channing Tatum make it worth one view.It could have been a lot worse film but not sure if it could have much better.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Mike Lane is a thirty-year old living in Tampa,Florida. By day he works as a roofer whilst at night, as Magic Mike, he is the star attraction of the Kings of Tampa, a group of male strippers. Secretly he wants out in order to further a projected furniture-making business but his credit rating precludes a bank loan for this despite his considerable savings. One night Adam, a teen-aged work-mate of Mike, follows him to the club and, when one of the acts is unable to go on,he is prevailed upon to strip - becoming a huge hit. However success goes to his head and his foolish actions not only threaten to jeopardize his sister Brooke's relationship with Mike but Mike's ambitions as well. Written by don @ minifie-1

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1209313049/

The Dinosaur Project 2012 - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2012 and running only 83 minutes,this is a sci-fi film in the new genre style of"The Blair Witch Project"and not very interesting at that. Perhaps its because I'm not a fan of the so called real documentary style of"selfe" filming it uses.Anyway,that said maybe YOU might enjoy it.So if you are into these selfe documentary style sci-fi/horror flicks then watch it once maybe.The FX are passable as is the acting.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.The only film shot in this style I really liked was "Cloverfield"reviewed on this blog.

A British expedition formed by the lead researcher Jonathan Marchant, his assistant, a doctor and a TV crew, travels to Congo to seek evidence of a dinosaur. A local guide and the helicopter pilot join the team and the group heads to the jungle. During their trip, they find a stowaway in the helicopter, the son of Jonathan. Soon the helicopter is attacked by flying creatures and crashes in the jungle in the beginning of the last journey of Jonathan Marchant and his team.
- Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi3951666969/

Division III: Football's Finest (2011) 4 stars out of 5 stars

Footballs version of "Animal House",a film reviewed on this blog,directed and co-written and starring Marshall Cook with a lot of help from Andy Dick and many others.Its lewd,vulgar and very politically incorrect  but funny and gezz, football is a joke in college for the most part and this film is a acquired taste.So if you want some,GET SOME.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.FOR ADULTS ONLY !!!!!!

This ensemble comedy follows the Pullham University Bluecocks, a small liberal arts college with a Division III football program (the lowest division in the NCAA). When the head coach unexpectedly dies, the future of the flailing football program is in jeopardy, as they have not had a winning season in decades. In a desperate attempt to create some media attention for the athletic program and the university, President Georgia Anne Whistler hires known lunatic and felon, Coach Rick Vice, for what could be the football programs final season. Vice, an overly aggressive redneck racist, quickly becomes the team's and athletic director's worst nightmare. Vice especially butts heads with Mitch DePrima, a reluctant quarterback who was drawn to the college thinking he would play ball as a big fish in a small pond, only to find himself riding the bench in his final year. Navigating between an insane coach, meat-head teammates, his male cheerleader roommate and the sexy new sports trainer, Mitch struggles to find himself. But Vices particular brand of unorthodox coaching, may just be the spark that Mitch and the entire team need to turn the program around and become winners!
- Written by Anonymous

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3575291417/

Steel Dawn 1987 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

This old 1987 release that runs 100 minutes is mostly for Patrick Swayze fans and post-apocalyptic film buffs.There are a lot better films and stories but its interesting to examine all the sorts of films this great actor made.Its worth a view but its not "The Road Warrior".Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

In a post-apocalyptic world, a warrior wandering through the desert comes upon a group of settlers who are being menaced by a murderous gang that is after the water they control.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0YNBkO2SI4

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen 2011 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Throughout this 2011 release that runs 107 minutes,lies a subtle yet every present danger of terrorism that is only very briefly shown.While this is a humorous view in true British understatement,it is also the films weakness,there is little today we can smile about in the middle east.That said it is still a good romantic comedy in that also very British farcical  way.I also am a huge fan of the 2 leads, Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor.So i did enjoy it somewhat and recommend to those who bend towards the British brand of romantic comedy.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

A fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible possible.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2517739289/

The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2012  and running 136 minutes,this is not a bad re-boot of the Marvel comic hero film series.To be honest it looked like a very dark reboot and in some respects it is,however I did feel somewhat engaged and enjoyed all the corny morality and preaching, that in the end,brightened this film considerably.The cast is good and it was weird to see Denis Leary as a cop but all the casting worked well.So if your a "Spidey"is a MUST see.
Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father's former partner. 

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2937169689/

The Dark Knight Rises 2012 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

A very dark and brooding Batman yet he still hesitates to kill.Go figure.Just one of a few issues I have in this final film of the most recent Batman Trilogy released in 2012 and running a bit long at 165 minutes,another issue I had.However good acting,interesting script with a surprise ending and the big boom FX you all seem to crave make it a worthy  view.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Eight years on, a new evil rises from where the Batman and Commissioner Gordon tried to bury it, causing the Batman to resurface and fight to protect Gotham City... the very city which brands him an enemy.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3591481113/

The Hobbit - an Unexpected Journey 2012 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2012 and running 169 minutes,this is the first of a "prequel"trilogy to the "Lord of the Rings"trilogy ( think Star Wars) of which I have yet to review.That said,this film is entertaining on its own.While I am not a big fan of CGI,this plays like a video game with tons of violence so I'm not sure its for kids but rather for the kid in us adults.My main problem with the film is it took a little bit too long to take off but once it did it was fairly spectacular.Fans of the Ring series will enjoy seeing some of the characters from there along with a few interesting new ones.So do check it out if you fantasy sword and sorcery fan( think Game of Thrones ).Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.  

Bilbo Baggins is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever ... Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities ... A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to ... Written by Production

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2182391577/

The Reluctant Fundamentalist 2012 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Interesting 2012 film release but far too long and at 130 minutes and in the end,I'm not so sure I really cared.The cast is what drew me,B+ and trying at every step.Maybe I was too set in my ways going in but I had trouble feeling sorry or even sympathy but it was a interesting take on post 9/11 prejudice and worth a view even if it fell short.The trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

A young Pakistani man is chasing corporate success on Wall Street. He finds himself embroiled in a conflict between his American Dream, a hostage crisis, and the enduring call of his family's homeland.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2639832857/

Cloud Atlas 2012 - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2012 and running VERY long at 172 minutes I rely wanted to like this film but sadly,I didn't get it.However the cast and scope of the storyline might be worth  view by you.Far be it from me to say that because I didn't get it,you won't.A+ cast always is worth  a view,headed by Tom Hanks and Halle Berry.So be warned,you just might be wasting your time.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.

Slow and long and I don't get it.Trailer URL below.

Gangster Squad 2013 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2013 and running 113 minutes,this film starts very slow as far as action goes but the cast is "A" level headed by favs of mine,Sean Penn,Josh Brolin,Sullivan Stapleton,Nick Nolte and many more fine actors who seemed to enjoy this tribute to the 40's "film nor" genre. That said,its no new spin on the old gangster vs honest cops story and so along with the slow start it for this sort of genre fans only dispute the fine"over the top"acting.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

It's 1949 Los Angeles, and gangster Mickey Cohen has moved in, with the intention of controlling all criminal activity in the city. He has bought local judges and police, and no one is willing to cross him or testify against him. Everyone except Seargant John O'Mara, a former World War II soldier, whose goal is to settle with his family in a peaceful Los Angeles. Police Chief William Parker decides to form a special unit whose mission is to take down Cohen, and chooses O'Mara to lead the unit. O'Mara chooses 4 cops and asks another cop and vet, Jerry Wooters to join him but Wooters is not interested. But when he witnesses the murder of a young boy by Cohen's people, he joins them, and they decide to take apart Cohen's organization. Cohen wonders if a rival is going after him, but eventually he realizes it's the cops. Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi504473369/

Looper 2012 - 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Usually I don't mention bad films here,but for the 4th or 5 th time I must because this 2012 film that runs 119 minutes is just that bad with a A list cast and a interesting premise but that is it and I won't  name the cast to avoid embarrassing them.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.AVOID !!!!

In 2074, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent 30 years into the past, where a hired gun awaits. Someone like Joe, who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the loop' by transporting back Joe's future self.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1427416857/

Cleanskin 2012 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2012 and running 108 minutes,the main reason to see this film is  Sean Bean as Ewan as some sort of british secret agent and a plot that started good and well…….
Also I wasn't thrilled with the rest of he cast,but still it was a good "fix"for fans of Sean Bean.The trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

 A British secret service agent is faced with the task of pursuing and eliminating a British-born suicide bomber and his terrorist cell. 

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3212288281/

Forever Young 1992 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1992 and running 102 minutes,it may be corny but it works as a rare family entertainment film.A+ cast and not that bad of a story line despite being somewhat unbelievable.Mel Gibson as Capt. Daniel McCormick reminds us of the talent he once was as does  Jamie Lee Curtis as Claire Cooper  and a young  Elijah Wood as Nat Cooper.In fact everyone fits well to help believe in a far our storyline.I liked it quite a bit.The trailer URL follows the picture nd a IMDB summary below.

A 1939 test pilot asks his best friend to use him as a guinea pig for a cryogenics experiment. Daniel McCormick wants to be frozen for a year so that he doesn't have to watch his love lying in a coma. The next thing Daniel knows is that he's been awoken in 1992. Written by Rob Hartill

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi145228057/

Trouble With the Curve 2012 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2012 and running 111 minutes,this film is better than you would think because of a unusual mix of actors and that makes the totally unbelievable plot,believable,to a point,and thats enough to recommend it.Start with Clint Eastwood as a aged baseball scout,mix in AmyAdams as his lawyer daughter,strain in  John Goodman as Clint's boss and top off with Justin Timberlake as a love interest and stir. Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Gus is a baseball scout. The team he works for thinks he should retire. He asks them to let him do one more scouting job to prove himself. His friend, Pete, asks Gus's estranged daughter, Mickey, if she could go with him to make sure he's OK as his eyes are failing. The doctor tells Gus he should get his eyes treated but he insists on doing his scouting assignment, which takes him to North Carolina. Mickey decides to put her work on hold to go with him and she wants him to explain why he pushed her away. Whilst there he runs into Johnny, a scout from another team who was a promising player Gus once scouted. Johnny and Mickey take an interest in each other. Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3809584921/

That's My Boy 2012 - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2012 and running 116 minutes,you have your standard Sandler comedy.Vulgar,offensive and juvenile.Exactly what his fans have come to expect and want.Thus the 50/50 rating of 2 1/2 stars.He delivers what HIS fans want but I want more.
So for those who like his work,you'll enjoy it.Those who want some sophistication,pass on it.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

While still in his teens, Donny (Adam Sandler) fathered a son, Todd (Andy Samberg), and raised him as a single parent up until Todd's 18th birthday. Now, after not seeing each other for years, Todd's world comes crashing down on the eve of his wedding when an uninvited Donny suddenly shows up. Trying desperately to reconnect with his son, Donny is now forced to deal with the repercussions of his bad parenting skills. Written by Official site

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2295244569/

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2012 and running 101 minutes,I'm not really into this new genre of waiting for the end to come sort of film.However the film is watchable with a reasonable cast so if you like this sort of fatalistic humor than see it,if not,don't.The best I can say is that its well done.So the trailer follow the picture and a IMDB summary is below.By the way,there was a film called"Last night"that I reviewed on this blog,that is still I believe,the best of this genre.

As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neighbor who inadvertently puts a wrench in his plan.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2149949721/

Prometheus 2012 - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Greek mythology,prequel to "Alien"and the meaning to life,what could be better??Released in 2012 and running quite long at 124 minutes,sorry to say,I didn't really get what this film wanted to be,maybe you will.Thus the lowest possible 50-50, 2 1/2 star rating.Good director and cast but very visually dark film is another handicap for me.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

This film is set in 2093 and takes place in the same universe as the 'Alien' movies. A group of explorers, including some archaeologists, are on an "undisclosed" mission. They arrive at a planet millions of miles away from Earth. The team spot what they believe to be signs of civilization. They go to investigate and find more than just signs, they find conclusive evidence. But some of them have an ulterior motive for being there, including the Weyland Corporation. They believe that this is where the human race actually came from. Things soon turn from excitement to survival once inside their discovery. Written by Michael Hallows Eve

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1964287769/

Oz the Great and Powerful 2013 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2013 and running long at 130 minutes,Disney studios has filmed a life action/animation "prequel"to the classic 1939 "Wizard of Oz ",reviewed on this blog,and I'm quite conflicted about THAT and the films storyline as well.The casting is just ok as is the acting but the FX is worthy and well,darn,Dorothy DID dream it all didn't she?? So how could there be a prequel without her character??Anyhow there is enough to hold some interest.Still see for yourself,its worth one view at least.Trailer follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

 Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. At first he thinks he's hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking. That all changes, however, when he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz), and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry-Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well. Written by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi297314073/

The Gingerbread Man 1998 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1998 and running 114 minutes,I kinda thought this film had 2 major flaws.First,Kenneth Branagh as lawyer Rick Magruder,didn't work for me,maybe Robert Downey Jr.,who played a associate of his,would have worked better.Second,I'm not a "sleazy"mystery fan. So  that all said,it wasn't THAT bad.So if thats all there is,watch it once for the "Grisham"factor.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

Lawyer Rick Magruder has a one-night-stand affair with caterer Mallory Doss. He becomes hooked on her, and when he learns her nut-case father Dixon is threatening her, he puts the weight of his law firm behind Mallory, has Dixon arrested and subpoenas her ex-husband Pete to testify against Dixon in court. Dixon is sent to an asylum, but escapes from there and the lives of many people are in danger. Written by Anonymous

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi730661145/

Here Comes the Boom 2012 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2012 and running 105 minutes,I kinda enjoyed this film in a silly and unbelievable way.It's no "Rocky",a film reviewed on this blog,but it has a few moments.
 Kevin James     as HS teacher Scott Voss is kinda funny and Selma Hayek is strangely just right as a love interest.The film is also a advertisement for the UFC and even that works.Still its kinda juvenile ad silly but worth  few laughs for comedy fans.The trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

 A high school biology teacher looks to become a successful mixed-martial arts fighter in an effort to raise money to prevent extra-curricular activities from being axed at his cash-strapped school.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1058318105/

Dark Shadows 2012 - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Based on a classic TV series from the 70's I expected a better film that this 2012 release that runs 113 minutes.Perhaps the fact that Tim Burton directed and Johnny Depp starred as the Vampire Barnabas Collins had something to do with it,I'm not a big fan of ether,or just the campy-ness of this version ?Whatever,view it only a curiosity.See the old series rather as I just might.Anyway,below is a IMDB summary and a trailer link follows the picture.

In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet-or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy...until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. Matriarch Elizabeth ... Written by Warner Bros. Pictures

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4178618137/

Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight (2013) - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Growing up when this whole thing happened I sort of thought this film would give the topic justice.Sadly this HBO film of 2013 that runs 97 minutes only gives us a few clips from then and surrounds them with the story of a bunch of old white men arguing about this issue and the law clerks who serve them.So only the 50/50 recommendation for the very young who don't remember it and then for historic reference only.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

Ali's biggest match, his fight with the US government. A film about the politics and hubris surrounding the Vietnam War and the revenge exacted on America's greatest sportsman of the 20th century because he refused to fight in that war.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L--qbSFx7I4

My Girl 1991 - 4 stars out of stars

It's hard to describe this film.Its life and death and sad yet joyful.I guess in a word"life".
Oh it has humor and a slick sense of 90's humor,after all it was released in 1991 and runs 102 minutes,but it's about a different time as now is. Perhaps a more REAL time.But make no mistake,the punch in the later part of the film is gut wrenching yet totally and sadly believable and even life reaffirming.I took a star off because i'm not sure if its for kids or not.but it is much better than I had remembered from so long ago and did spawn A sequel I haven't yet seen,but will.The acting is A+ headed by that girl Anna Chlumsky and boy Macaulay Culkin and adults Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.You just might laugh AND cry,I did. 

 Vada Sultenfuss is obsessed with death. Her mother is dead, and her father runs a funeral parlor. She is also in love with her English teacher, and joins a poetry class over the summer just to impress him. Thomas J., her best friend, is "allergic to everything", and sticks with Vada despite her hangups. When Vada's father hires Shelly, a makeup expert, in his funeral parlor, and begins to fall in love with her, Vada is outraged and does everything in her power to split them up. Written by Liz Jordan <c9310494@alinga.newcastle.edu.au>

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3719102745/

Age of Heros 2011 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2011 and running 90  minutes I first viewed this film because I am a James Bond fan and I was interested in Ian Fleming's (James D'Arcy) true WW11 historical creation of the modern precursor to the  SAS.Nope,only a brief part and more about a mission headed by Maj. Jack Jones(Sean Bean),thus only 3 stars.The story is average at best and only exciting for the insights into commando operations and even that has been shown before.So I can recommend only for diehard WW11 movie fans.Still it is noteworthy that this action novel writer himself lived a sort of action life,if far less glamorous and far more dirty. Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Based on the real-life events of Ian Fleming's 30 Commando during World War II this is a story which takes our heroes from the edge of defeat on the beaches of Dunkirk to the mountains of Norway on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines that, if successful, could change the course of the war. Written by comingsoon.net 

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi890019097/

City of Life and Death 2009 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2009 and running a bit long at 133 minutes,I took 2 stars off for being in B&W and long and far more narrow in its scope than I hoped and violent in the extreme, yet its still informative because little is ever shown in this country about the occupation of China by Japan in WW11 but we should not forget it happened as both of those nations today still remember it.The story is centered on one part of the city of Nanjing for the most part,that of where there are foreigners who give some temporary shelter to the locals as well as a young Japanese soldier who struggle with what he sees.While the acting keeps you involved,the length sometimes gets very tedious.Still I recommend for the historical perspective and another example of Chinese film making.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

In 1937, Japan occupied Nanjing, the Chinese capital. There was a battle and subsequent atrocities against the inhabitants, especially those who took refuge in the International Security Zone.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3417376537/

TV Series - The Kill Point 2007 - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Spike TV had a almost perfect miniseries back in 2007 with this gem.Very "adult"but ringing very probably doable in this crazy world we live in.War messages,and lots of sexual tensions as well  as a good old fashion,if very violent,crime story only makes me take off 1/2 star for uneven acting in minor roles,which was for the most part outstanding with John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg leading the way. Its a same Spike hasn't made anything close to this since,that I'm aware of.I also dug the small yet big town touch of a Pittsburg location.So,it you like a out of the way crime story with good action and acting on a movie level,check it out but ONLY if you are over 21.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

People in a Pittsburgh bank are taken hostage when a bank-robbery goes wrong. It's the work of a group of initially masked Iraq veterans, lead by sergeant 'Wolf', who also has secret trump-cards outside. The police lays siege to the bank, with experienced Horst Cali as negotiator, whose authority is however challenged by the D.A.'s office, deputy chief Abrami, a local tycoon leaning politically to save his daughter and the FBI. Written by KGF Vissers

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3068526873/