Ender's Game 2013 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

This 2013 release that runs 114 minutes seemed to resemble 1984’s the last star fighter,a film revised on this blog,but the ending is far different and confusing if not downright unpalatable.
Buts thats for YOU to decide,still thats why I only gave it a 3 stars rating.Interesting cast of mixed veteran actors like Harrisson Ford and some youngsters.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

The Earth was ravaged by the Formics, an alien race seemingly determined to destroy humanity. Seventy years later, the people of Earth remain banded together to prevent their own annihilation from this technologically superior alien species. Ender Wiggin, a quiet but brilliant boy, may become the savior of the human race. He is separated from his beloved sister and his terrifying brother and brought to battle school in orbit around earth. He will be tested and honed into an empathetic killer who begins to despise what he does as he learns to fight in hopes of saving Earth and his family. Written by CrystalSinger45, Jesse Daniels, strouda56

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi722511385?ref_=ttvi_vi_imdb_1

Terror at the Mall 2014 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

HBO score another hit with this terror attack documentary that I won’t try to explain.The trailer URL is below the picture and a IMDB summary is below.Horror that is real !!!

On September 21st, 2013 a group of four to five young men aged between eighteen to twenty three from a radical Somali outfit related to Al Qaeda known as Al Shabaab, stormed an upmarket mall in Kenya's capital of Nairobi and went on a killing spree that left an estimated 71 people of different nationalities dead in its wake. The first responders included an armed businessman named Abdul Haji and several other plain-clothed cops who made the ultimate call not to wait for reinforcements but instead stormed into the Westgate mall with the aim of saving lives. We follow the heart-wrenching stories of the lucky survivors of this terrorist attack as they narrate the accounts of that Saturday afternoon. Some of them include women and children who lived to tell their stories. HBO also gives us the accounts of the first responders as we observe their performance thanks to the CCTV surveillance systems which the terror gang left intact. Written by Isaac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH5G9snHzc0

Black Sunday 1977 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Dated somewhat but this 1977 release that runs 143 minutes is still relevant in the continuing turmoil in the middle east.A great A+ cast and a pretty good pace makes the film watchable despite the dated surrounding of the the films background.I especially like the disgruntled homegrown terrorist played by Bruce Dern and the female handler played by Marthe Keller and Robert Shaw as the Israeli agent trying to stop a attack in the US at ,wait for it,THE SUPER BOWL.Worth a view,Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.


Terrorist organization Black September is planning an attack on the United States. A woman called Dahlia is the one overseeing the operation. She was in the Middle East with the other members of the organization, discussing the operation when some Israelis came in; the leader, Major Kobakov had his gun on her but didn't shoot her. Kobakov then informed the US what they found. Though they don't know what their operation is, Kobakov assures them that it will be devastating. So, with FBI man, Corley, they try to find out what it is before it's too late. But they both have different ways of doing things, and since Kobakov is the visitor, he is warned to watch it. Dahlia's "partner in crime" is Michael Lander, a Vietnam P.O.W., who is psychologically scarred by that experience, thus making him very susceptible to her machinations. Written by <rcs0411@yahoo.com>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzk3XZQMI88

TV Series - Houdini 2014 ( miniseries)

A History channel TV miniseries.Based on the life of the great escape artist Harry Houdini,its a entertaining if a little out there, story based on his life,with the claim he was also a covert agent of the US Government prior to the start of WW1,Really??Anyhow,Adrien Brody was just snarky enough as Houdini with a fine support cast.I would have liked more on his sibling rivalry but otherwise,ok.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Follow the man behind the magic as he finds fame, engages in espionage, battles spiritualists and encounters the greatest names of the era, from U.S. presidents to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Grigori Rasputin.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi872459289?ref_=ttvi_vi_imdb_7

Stalingrad 2013 - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

This Russian film is mis understood because of its grand title,its much more, though not in a violent sense.Yes, it has scenes of bloody action,what film about urban warfare wouldn’t ? However at its heart,its a film of rebirth in violent times,what could be more topical today?
     Beginning in the turmoil of the Fukushima disaster, a Russian rescue team is trying to save some trapped young German girls in whats left of a buildings rubble.Therein starts a flashback retelling of a band of Russian soldiers and a girl mixed in with a German officer and his forced young Russian girl lover,both squaring off over a building in rubble.Ah symmetry and could be corny right ? WRONG !!! Perhaps  its being forced to read those subtitles,it is in Russian spoken word,that invests you in the story.It brings to mind two other films,Enemy at the gates,and Miracle at St. Anna,however a far more intense experience for me.
Not wanting to tell much more,it is a rich emotional portrait of simple lives in the middle of all encompassing war.If you just want bang for your buck,you might be disappointed as there are films with more mindless violence BUT if you a story of hope in the middle of despair THEN enjoy.Released in 2013 it runs 131 minutes.Trailer URL follows the picture.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi216705817?ref_=ttvi_vi_imdb_1

RED 2 (2013) - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

After reviewing the first film in this series back in 2010 I was pleased to see this second installment didn’t suck.Bringing back a A cast for the most part and adding Anthony Hopkins as well as Byung-hun Lee.So for Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren fans and those who want silly blow up films that don’t get too serious ,check it out.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Retired CIA agent Frank Moses is in love with Sarah Ross and enjoying their normal life. Out of the blue, Marvin Boggs meets Frank in the supermarket and tells that Wikileaks has released the information that they had participated and know the whereabouts of the Nightshade, a portable nuclear weapon that was smuggled in pieces and hidden in Russia. Now the top agents in the world are under contract to seek them out to discover where Nightshade is. The trio travels to Paris and teams-up with the Russian Katja to track down the former Russian Agent 'The Frog' to get more information about the operation. They learn that the brilliant inventor Dr. Edward Bailey might know where the weapon is. They discover that Bailey has been interned in an asylum in London by the MI-16 for thirty-two years and the British Victoria joins the team. They rescue Bailey and find that the nuclear device is hidden in the Kremlin. Soon the dangerous South Korean Han joins the group expecting to retrieve the ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3200493849?ref_=ttvi_vi_1

Sharknado 2 The Second One (2014) - 1/2 star out of 5

After reviewing the first film in this series,I hoped the second would be decent.I was soooo wrong.Really bad from the acting to the story,even really snarkey bits from the “Today show”cast cameo’s by Matt Lower and Al Rocker and even the Mets City field. Just say no and stick with the first film.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

A freak weather system turns its deadly fury on New York City, unleashing a Sharknado on the population and its most cherished, iconic sites - and only Fin and April can save the Big Apple.

http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi1295821849?ref_=ttvi_vi_3

Planet of the Apes (1968) - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1968 and running 112 minutes,its worth a review in light of the new series of films of which I have only seen the first and reviewed,”Rise of the planet of the apes”.The original in a bit dated but highly watchable and has a great cast headed by Charlton Heston and state of the art makeup for its  day.It can be seen as both  good sci-fi tale or a parable of mans folly during the cold war.Highly recommend as reference point against the newer versions.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Taylor and two other astronauts come out of deep hibernation to find that their ship has crashed. Escaping with little more than clothes they find that they have landed on a planet where men are pre-lingual and uncivilized while apes have learned speech and technology. Taylor is captured and taken to the city of the apes after damaging his throat so that he is silent and cannot communicate with the apes. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3430940953/

Pacific Rim 2013 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2013 and running long at 132 minutes,I have 2 problems with this film.First it is FX CGI driven and second,its too comic bookish while trying to be serious.I love the plot and the idea of deep underwater knowledge or lack thereof,implied if not actuality stated.I also like the transformer-like yet human controlled machines of early Japanese cartoons updated to this film,to bad the lack of real characterizations and a viable plot were missing.All in all,little more that a teasing idea of what could have been a much better film.
Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.Maybe a bit too intense for the little ones and more than a bit silly for me.

When monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes - a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) - who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse. Written by Del Torro

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi513124633/

TV Series - Blakes 7 BBC 1978 -1981 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Many things from Star Trek are gleamed into this very dark and somewhat dated via a lack of good production values,a BBC  weak spot of those  days,EXCEPT the hopeful future that is the Trek world.Rather this is far bleaker than say Star Wars or even the new Battlestar Galattica. I found it quite interesting with many different ideas that make it  both funny and scary in a 1984 way.Of added interest is the creator of this series is Terry Nation of Doctor Who fame.I viewed it years ago and have revisited because of unconfirmed reports that the Sci-Fi channel was going to update the series.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.Not for the very young or FX driven and is violent tho not graphically so.

In the third century of the second calendar, a corrupt galactic federation, with Earth at its center, drugs its billions of citizens into placid submission. A rebel named Roj Blake, who once tried to organize a resistance group to overthrow this regime, was caught and divested of his memories. But Blake's revolutionary spirit is revived when he witnesses a mass slaughter by police that is covered up by the federation officials. He escapes exile on board a prison spaceship and, together with a lovable band of outlaws, takes over a vacant alien space cruiser of awesome drive capability. Naming their new ship as "The Liberator", Blake and his group travel the Milky Way to seek any opportunity to undermine the evil federation. Written by Kevin McCorry <mmccorry@nb.sympatico.ca>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRuqTQYSJMI

TV Series - The World Wars - 2014 - 3 part mini-series - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

The History channel makes highly questionable documentary type mini-series.This 6 hour 3 parter that ran over the memorial days holiday week is no exception.First the good news.The series endeavors to connect the 2 World Wars as no series have ever done before.Most series center on one war or the other.The actors portray most of the characters rather well according to whats known of these deceased leaders.The bad news is that you can spend years studying these wars as to cause and effect,6 hours is far to brief and the inevitable debates over certain things relevance to the total picture of the war,will be many.Mine was a statement of"3 remaining US Carriers"in the same sentence after the Pearl Harbor attack,giving the impression that carriers were lost in said attack,which they were NOT and thus a key point in the war in the pacific.Also it was painfully obvious the history of Japan between the wars was ignored as were its leaders,in favor of Stalin,Hitler,Churchill,Roosevelt and Mussolini.I don't even want to get into the Generals.That said,its still a useful tool to study the ideas about one thing leading to another or as they say"connect the dots"Watch it ONLY after seeing the BBC's"The Great War"and Tymes TV's "World at War".They are the definitive 26 episodes series about both wars.The Great War being WW1 and World at War being WW11.So the trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.Enjoy it a little :)

The World Wars tells the story of three decades of war told through the eyes of various men who were its key players: Roosevelt, Hitler, Patton, Mussolini, Churchill, Tojo, DeGaulle and MacArthur. The series examines the two wars as one contiguous timeline starting in 1914 and concluding in 1945 with these unique individuals coming of age in World War I before ultimately calling the shots in World War II.
- Written by Jiilo_Kim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z1bVXdYwyM

Lost in Space 1998 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Unlike "The Lone Ranger"a film reviewed on this blog also based on a classic TV show,this 1998 release that runs 130 minutes,is harder to feel as the TV show was almost all a comedy and turning to  Gary Oldman     to play Dr. Zachary Smith / Spider Smith didn't work for me.Still in many respects its not too bad IF you haven't seen the TV show.2 cameos by the original actors from the series is thus wasted in that respect.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

In the year 2058, the Earth will soon be uninhabitable after the irreversible effects of pollution and global warming! Professor John Robinson, lead scientist of the Jupiter 2 Mission, will lead his family to the habitable planet Alpha Prime to prep it for colonization. The Jupiter 2 is equipped with a hyperdrive that allows faster-than-light travel, which will eventually be employed to evacuate the citizens of Earth. However hypergates must be constructed on Earth and Alpha Prime to provide stable points of departure and arrival. Dr. Zachary Smith is bribed by a terrorist organization to sabotage the mission, and ends up an unwilling stowaway as the ship blasts off. Written by Anthony Pereyra <hypersonic91@yahoo.com>

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1336607001/

World War Z 2013 - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Brad Pitt ROCKS in this new take off on the zombie apocalypse theme.Not a big fan of these sort of films but Pitt + zombies that move like or as well as us is a  grim future indeed.Like the homage to Ramero by starting the film in Philly.Released in 2013 and 116 minutes,its a must for Zombie fans.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Life for former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane and his family seems content. Suddenly, the world is plagued by a mysterious infection turning whole human populations into rampaging mindless zombies. After barely escaping the chaos, Lane is persuaded to go on a mission to investigate this disease. What follows is a perilous trek around the world where Lane must brave horrific dangers and long odds to find answers before human civilization falls. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3616319001/

The Lone Ranger 2013 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2013 and running 149 minutes,its hard to get a handle on this updated movie version of the old 50's TV series.Johnny Depp is OK as Tonto but the film is supposed to be about the Ranger,played by Armie Hammer,whose NOT in Depps league.Also the film can't make ups its mind about being serious or a FX comic send up.Still its worth one view at least as a homage to those days of yesteryear………..
Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

In the 1930s, an elderly Tonto tells a young boy the tale of John Reid, the Lone Ranger. An idealistic lawyer, he rides with his brother and fellow Texas Rangers in pursuit of the notorious Butch Cavendish. Ambushed by the outlaw and left for dead, John Reid is rescued by the renegade Comanche, Tonto, at the insistence of a mysterious white horse and offers to help him to bring Cavendish to justice. Becoming a reluctant masked rider with a seemingly incomprehensible partner, Reid pursues the criminal against all obstacles. However, John and Tonto learn that Cavendish is only part of a far greater injustice and the pair must fight it in an adventure that would make them a legend. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi460432921/

Godzilla 2014 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2014 and running 123 minutes,I was disappointed.It took to long to get going and the idea of Godzilla sort of kinda helping by fighting other monsters rather than straight out attacking us is what hurt the series after the CLASSIC first film,reviewed on this blog.That said,some good FX buy too little to late.For die hard franchise fans only.

The world's most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2242293017/

Man of Steel 2013 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Disclosure,Superman is by far my favorite super hero so that must be taken into account as I review this 2013 release that runs 143 minutes.Its a very dark reboot but that seems to be the case in most instances these days,a sing of this post 911 world I guess.I have only 2 issues. Henry Cavill  as Clark Kent / Kal-El doesn't have the charisma to carry the part but he tries hard enough,and I/m, not a big fan of creatures vs high tech weapons.You'll see that in the opening Krypton storyline.That said a A+ cast overall and good enough FX and acceptable small tweaking of the storyline.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.Enjoy and wait for a sequel I hope.

A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind. Written by Warner Bros. Pictures

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi705668633/

Frozen 2013 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Disney animations rule and this 2013 entry that runs 102 minutes is no exception.My only problem is the story was kinda familiar and not that interesting to merit fine animations and music.But thats just me.I think you'll enjoy it and its nice to see more and more "girl"films.IMDB summary is below and a trailer URL follows the picture.My grand daughter loved it.

Anna, a fearless optimist, sets off on an epic journey - teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven - to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom. From the outside Anna's sister, Elsa looks poised, regal and reserved, but in reality, she lives in fear as she wrestles with a mighty secret-she was born with the power to create ice and snow. It's a beautiful ability, but also extremely dangerous. Haunted by the moment her magic nearly killed her younger sister Anna, Elsa has isolated herself, spending every waking minute trying to suppress her growing powers. Her mounting emotions trigger the magic, accidentally setting off an eternal winter that she can't stop. She fears she's becoming a monster and that no one, not even her sister, can help her. Written by DeAlan Wilson for ComedyE.com

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2482677785/

TV Series - Sherlock ( BBC ) 2010 + 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Having never read the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novels,of which all this is based. I have seen the old english series of movies as a youth and some more recent updated movie versions.So I have now viewed the first 3 seasons of this BBC series and will await the the next 2 scheduled to film in 2015.Season 1 and 2 were good,less so season 3 and some of the plots were stretched and somewhat uneven.That all said,I did like the updating to  modern day and yes, Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes,is outstanding as is  Martin Freeman     as Dr. John Watson.In fact all the acting is good.So if you want sharp wit and clever conversations then its for you. Trailer URL follows the picture as well as a IMDB summary below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj7ZSUkTTVI

Anchorman 2 The Legend Continues 2013 - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2013 and running 119 minutes,I believe what I saw was the "first"release,not the second,limited run with"new"jokes.No matter,still have to see the real first film that spawned this 2 version sequel.Good cast and  few good lines,but by and large maybe it does need that so called new jokes re-release.Anyway,judge for yourself.Trailer url follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Having left San Diego for New York City, Ron Burgundy is living the high life with his wife Veronica Corningstone and son Walter Burgundy. However, when the boss decides to promote Veronica to full time lead anchor and fire Ron, everything changes. Now heading back to San Diego, Ron is washed up and working part time at Sea World. His shot at redemption though comes in the form of a man named Freddie Schapp, who's an executive producer at the Global News Network, the world's first 24 hour round the clock news channel. He hires Ron, who proceeds to reunite the news team of Champ, Brick, and Brian, and head back to New York City. While there Ron and his news team are given the graveyard shift and a challenge. Ron comes up with a radical new idea to transform the news and that puts him at the top of the game once again. But how long will Ron's newfound fame last? And will Brick finally find true love? Written by halo1k

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2063575065/

Megiddo - The Omega Code 2 (2001) 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2001 and running 104 minutes,I had not seen this film or anything like it,so it was somewhat interesting till the end which,well,who could do Armageddon anyway??Still I will endeavor to view its earlier predecessor,"The Omega Code".In short it was "The Omen"not yet reviewed,meets its biblical sibbling ending. Its not great cinema buts its a story who filming is long overdue.Good cast helps shoddy production FX.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Megiddo is a supernatural ride into a world teetering on the edge of the Apocalypse. It follows the rise of a Machiavellian leader bent on amassing the armies of the world for the battle of Armageddon while calamities of Biblical proportions pummel the Earth. Though both prequel and sequel to The Omega Code, Megiddo works also as a stand alone story for anyone who missed its predecessor. For at its emotional core, Megiddo is the Caine and Abel story of the two men enamoured with the same woman, raised as brothers, who grew up to find themselves pitted against each other over the fate and souls of the entire world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5IdgOeeMuo