South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

The TV series is going into the 16 year and this is the only full length movie made so far.Released in 1999 and running only 81 minutes,it packs all the wit and sarcasm that the series is know for.My only issue is that its TOO short.The"blame canada"song still makes me laugh when ever I see a maple leaf:)There is a trailer URL after the pix as usual and a IMDB summary below.This year there are 4 kids messing around all the time and they are running for the Republican nomination.Which 4 kids would YOU rather see?? Oh by the way,in case you've been in a coma,this is a cartoon !!!Adult,but still a cartoon.

When four boys in South Park Stan Marsh, Kyle and his stepbrother Ike Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick sees an R-rated movie featuring Canadians "Terrance & Phillip: Asses of Fire", they are pronounced "corrupted", and Kyle's mom Sheila with the rest of the parents pressure the United States to wage war against Canada for World War 3! It's all up to Stan, Kyle and Cartman to save Terrence and Phillip before Satan and his lover Saddam Hussein from Hell rules the world and it'll be the end of the whole world. Written by Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aes3Iz8QPgA

Battle Royale - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

I have NOT seen "The Hunger Games"as it just opened in theaters,however some have compared it to the 2000 release of the Japanese cult classic"Battle Royale"which I HAVE seen and am now reviewing for you.At 114 minutes this movie is subtitled and very violent and it has  HS kids killing HS kids.The Japanese have far different views on violence than we do and there's no need to talk about WW11 or A bombs or the cult of the Samurai to explain it here. Lets just accept it for the purpose of this films review.
I have put the trailer URL after the pix as usual and a IMDB summary below.I took 1 and 1/2 stars off because it is subtitled and very violent but its also thought provoking in some ways.However that is why US film makers re-make Japanese films so many times to avoid the cultural disconnects.Seven Samurai becomes "The Magnificent Seven"and "Rashomon" has spurred many tributes in many US films and TV shows.Horror films are many.So I'm not claiming "Hunger games"has done that,but this film is a cult classic and we shall see if Hunger becomes one.

Forty-two students, three days, one deserted Island: welcome to Battle Royale. A group of ninth-grade students from a Japanese high school have been forced by legislation to compete in a Battle Royale. The students are each given a bag with a randomly selected weapon and a few rations of food and water and sent off to kill each other in a no-holds-barred (with a few minor rules) game to the death, which means that the students have three days to kill each other until one survives--or they all die. The movie focuses on a few of the students and how they cope. Some decide to play the game like the psychotic Kiriyama or the sexual Mistuko, while others like the heroes of the movie--Shuya, Noriko, and Kawada--are trying to find a way to get off the Island without violence. However, as the numbers dwell down lower and lower on an hourly basis, is there any way for Shuya and his classmates to survive? Written by Prissy Panda Princess

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-T7yPJVvXw

Bull Durham - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

My favorite baseball movie.Released in 1988 and running 108 minutes the only issue I have is its a little amoral for me,but for the "game"it can't be beat,thats why I only took 1/2 star off.I love the line in the movie where Kevin Costner as Crash Davis ,a never was is telling a future star Tim Robbins as Ebby Calvin 'Nuke' LaLoosh ,"its time to practice your cliches",as he's advising him about talking to the press on the major league level.The story of 2 ballplayers as seen through the eyes of a woman who has"had"them both is really not the story.Its really the story of those on the fringe as triple a ball players and what its like to go through the life on the bus and road hopping someday to catch that dream,which never comes.Going to "The Show" !!! Susan Sarandon is fine as Annie Savoy,that woman but as I said its more about "the life"all of it,not just love, which happens to everyone.The rest of the cast is fine and for minor league flavor they even have the late Max Patkin,who really was the clown prince of baseball minor leagues shows for various teams.I actually saw him here in Round Rock at a Express game the year before he died.So if you love baseball the way it was when YOU actually played check it out.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.

A fan who has an affair with one minor-league baseball player each season meets an up-and-coming pitcher and the experienced catcher assigned to him. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2_4LKWV3Nk

Night Hawks - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1981 and running 99 minutes this might be the best Sylvester Stallone not named Rocky or Rambo.It seems to draw on what was know about the famous terrorist "Carlos"and concoct a story involving NYC and a street cop to catch or kill him in the fictional thriller.Rutger Hauer is excellent as Wulfgar ,the Carlos type as Stallone and Billy Dee Williams are as the NYC cops after him.Add Persis Khambatta as Shakka Holland,Wulfgar's associate and a few well known supporting actors with NYC flavor and you have a fairly suspenseful thriller with NYC themes.I enjoyed it and my only issues were that as much as I enjoyed it,I never once believed it as the terrorist we know today are not like Wulfgar or even Carlos was as religion is far more relevant in their doctrines.Thats why I took 1 and 1/2 stars off.Still worth a few views.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below. 

Conservative street cop DaSilva reluctantly agrees to terminate an international terrorist who has demanded media attention. But DaSilva's "at-home" tactics are very much put to the challenge.

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

Pure Country 2: The Gift - 1 stars out of 5 stars

Don't see this film.Its not a sequel to "Pure Country"a poor picture itself,but this film is dreadful.There are 3 well known actors that I won't name here that made this film for a payday check playing angels,because even they stunk it up.The only reason I gave it a star at all was it was a well made made "Bad Picture"meaning the crew behind the camera did well except to film the crap in front of it.Shame on George Strait for being in this swell for a check as well.Released in 2010 and running 112 minutes even the music sucks.Trailer url follows the pic and I advise you miss it !!!

Three angels bestow the gift of song to a young girl, who must follow a series of rules in order hold on to it during her rise to fame and fortune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=703Eq0gRwxk

The Interpreter - 4 stars out of 5 stars

I had no idea what this film was about and only viewed it out of curiosity because of the director and cast.Sydney Pollack makes a film with a interesting take on a up and coming theme.Africa and its politics and the cast's main two characters add star power to a good all around supporting cast as well.Sadly this film released in 2005 and running a little long at 128 minutes is ahead of its time.Today Joseph Kony, a real african war crimes fugitive, is  similar to the African head of state in this film. However this film is really about two emotionally wounded individuals brought together against the backdrop of child soldiers,broken promise's and the turmoil in Africa.Nicole Kidman as Silvia Broome ,the interpreter in this drama and maybe the best performance of her career,along with Sean Penn as Tobin Keller,a secret service agent,again a fine performance as we have come to expect from this countries lest appreciated actor,excel as a almost cold war era elaborate story unfolds after Silvia overhears a  assassination plot and Tobin must stop it.The only reason I took 1 star off was its length and the plot weaves are not for everyone.But if you like a good "today"issue wrapped in a timeless story of political intrigue,that you'll love it.
The film is also a endorsement of the UN at a time,now,when it's not loved at all.Trailer URL follows the pix.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q10c0ijJczw

The Core - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Sometimes a movie has a great cast,a good story idea,and after watching you say,what happened??This is such a movie.released in 2003 its a bit long at 113 minutes and I guess I took 2 stars off because I didn't feel entertained after watching it.The A+ cast includes Hilary Swank and Stanley Tucci and a fav of mine,Delroy Lindo,yet after it was all over I was unhappy.The trailer follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.It was well made,so thats wasn't it.Watch it once because maybe its just me??

The Earth's core has stopped spinning. Disasters are appearing all over the world: Birds acting crazy, powerful thunderstorms, 32 people die within seconds of each other when their pacemakers quit working. Dr. Josh Keyes and his crew of five (total members: 6) go down to the center of the Earth to set off a nuclear device to make the Earth's core start spinning again or Mankind will perish. Written by Inhotenjoys 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foAyvN6mVwQ

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Sometimes imitation  is better than flattery.Sergio Leone made a western as good as anything Ford and John Wayne ever made.Its a real love story to the old west were men and emotions were bigger than the land they saw before them.When they say "they don't make em like this anymore"its this sort of film "they"are talking about.Oh and the music is BETTER than any western soundtrack except perhaps The Magnificent 7.
Anyway the cast has 3 main characters who are the movie.Without them,there is no bigger than life characterizations.     Clint Eastwood as Blondie launched a movie career.Lee Van Cleef as Sentenza / Angel Eyes is at his best.Eli Wallach as Tuco is however my favorite.He also played a Mexican bandit in the classic 1960 Magnificent 7 and does it again 6 years later.Think about it.A jewish boy from the Bronx.Can he act or can he act !!!!
The story is simple enough as the IMDB summary below outlines but there is also a scene with no relevance to the movies plot but all the relevance in the world to US history depicting a worthless wasteful battle for a bridge in the Civil war.Blondie says "Never have so many men been wasted so badly."For history buffs that war remains the biggest loss of life of combatants this country has ever had ,being both sides were us.Sergio is also reminding us,20 short years after WW11 that maybe we finally got it right?Released in 1966 it runs a little long at 161 minutes which is why I took 1/2 star off.

A bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yB_vNhxpSE

Ronin ( 1998 ) - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1998 and running a bit long at 122 minutes,this film delivers lots of action after a slow start but very little story.Thats why I took 1 and 1/2 stars off + there's a lot of collateral damage as well.As best as I can make out its a scheme by the CIA to catch a IRA terrorist to facilitate a end to the"unpleasantness".A + cast headed by Robert De Niro as Sam and Jean Reno as Vincent and finally Natascha McElhone as Deirdre ,note first name only characters,deliver fine performances even if the story is murky,but the shoot outs,and car chases are great even though a lot of bystanders bite the bullet.Trailer URL below the pix and IMDB summary below.I know the story of the "Ronin"in Japanese warrior lore,but I don't really get here.

A freelancing former US intelligence agent tries to track down a mysterious package that is wanted by both the Irish and the Russians.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGbCQczril0

Green Lantern - 3 stars out of 5 stars

It's hard NOT to like a film that has a scene at a bar when a guy persuades a girl to dance to the tune,Come Softly to me by the Fleetwoods. Sadly ,thats the part I liked the most. DC comics has always been my favorite or Marvel and their heros,but,Green Lantern was one I rarely saw so I didn't really know how true the commix the movie would be.However early in the film we learn that Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern ,is flying F35 fighters for a munitions company doing tests  against drones,we know its a MUCH updated version of the comic IF like it at all.So judging it on the film alone,its so-so.Toooooo much CGI and outer space mubo jumbo kill the earth plot and well,I never liked Ryan Reynolds in serious roles,I just don't believe him.Still,its not worse than most of the stuff out there and it ends on a sequel idea.One will hope THAT will be better as I crave more DC comic heros.They changed Batman actors,they can with Green Lantern too.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.

A test pilot is granted an alien ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, as well as membership into an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oazFv302DIM

Brian's Song - ( 1971 ) - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

OK the ultimate TV sports get out your hanky film.Legendary and TRUE.Besides the football theme there is a civil rights theme as well.The first time a black and white roomed together in the NFL.I understand ABC redid this film later but this is the one that everyone saw if you were alive in 1971 and old enough to see TV.James Caan plays the title character Brian Piccolo one year before the release of "The Godfather".What a contrast in roles and cements him as a truly great actor.Sexy Billy Dee Williams plays Gale Sayers with the confidence needed in what may be HIS best role ever.It's a story of"man"love in the best light of competition  and respect.Release in 1971 for TV broadcast its a short 73 minutes and a 2 hanky final.I only took 1/2 star off because it was TV after all,not big budget,but the football clips are priceless.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.SEE THIS FILM !!!!

Gale Sayers joins the Chicago Bears and is befriended by Brian Piccolo, an over-achieving running back. Although they compete for the same spot on the team, and despite the fact that Sayers is black and Piccolo white, they become roommates on the road and very close friends, especially when Sayers is injured and Piccolo helps his recovery. Later, they and their wives must both deal with the harsh reality of Piccolo's cancer. Written by Jerry Milani <jmilani@ix.netcom.com>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnt-BqOjaTQ

The Hunted - ( 2003 ) 3 stars out of 5 stars

First let me say this is a "bad" Rambo fighting the man who trained him,sort of.There was another film of the same name 1997 , but is not the same story at all.Just the name.
Now I took 2 stars off because its real violent and not a nice story at all as well as a very little plot line too.Released in 2003 it only runs 94 minutes to,short for a action film.So why watch it all ?? Because I'm a Tommy Lee Jones butt boy and I enjoy William Friedkin's style of directing.In short,this film is a quity pleasure.It's worth one view but not really anymore. Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.

In the green woods of Silver Falls, Oregon, Aaron Hallam, a trained assassin AWOL from the Special Forces, keeps his own brand of wildlife vigil. After Hallam brutally slew four deer hunters in the area, FBI Special Agent Abby Durrell turns to L.T. Bonham-- the one man who may be able to stop him. At first L.T. resists the mission. Snug in retirement, he's closed off to his past, the years he spent in the Special Forces training soldiers to become skilled murderers. But when he realizes that these recent slaying is the work of a man he trained, he feels obligated to stop him. Accepting the assignment under the condition that he works alone, L.T. enters the woods, unarmed--plagued by memories of his best student and riddled with guilt for not responding to Aaron's tortured letters to him as he began to slip over the edge of sanity. Furious as he is with his former mentor for ignoring his pleas for help... Written by Sujit R. Varma 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmUxlhjwVb8 

Pay it Forward - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2000 and running a little long at 123 minutes, this is the sort of film you see and are glad it was made but disappointed that you wanted so much more.Sadly only 12 years later you cannot re-make this film because we are at war and "Trust"and "Kindness"are always casualties in conflict.This film is NOT about was but rather a idealism that you lose today.Anyway,I took 1 star off for the length and wanting more.
I loved all the cast but thought Jay Mohr  as the reporter Chris Chandler,a major character that follows the story and ties it all together,was in over his head, with the rest of the cast. However Jon Bon Jovi     as typical white trash loser Ricky McKinney,proved he is more than a pretty boy rocker.A+ for him.However the real 3 stars are Kevin Spacey as a disfigured teacher,Eugene Simonet,Helen Hunt as a low class but good at heart mother,Arlene McKinney   and Haley Joel Osment  as her idealist son Trevor McKinney.
Honorable mention to Jim Caviezel  as Jerry ,a troubled junkie.The story gets muddled at times but basically young Trevor believes you can change the world one person at a time and to do this three times change will come IF those three "pay it forward"three at a time.Sort of a GOOD top down "Ponzi"helping hand.Sadley the film is set in the outskirts of Las Vegas and well you just know bad things happens with losers in this sort of dead end environment.It does and the ending rivals Brians song as a tear jerker.Poor Trevor is stabbed and dies trying to help another kid,his third pay it forward,by a bully.That IS timely today even if the idea of paying it forward only lives in insurance TV commercials.
Trailer follows the pix and a IMDB summary is below.A must see for your humanity. 

Young Trevor McKinney, troubled by his mother's alcoholism and fears of his abusive but absent father, is caught up by an intriguing assignment from his new social studies teacher, Mr. Simonet. The assignment: think of something to change the world and put it into action. Trevor conjures the notion of paying a favor not back, but forward--repaying good deeds not with payback, but with new good deeds done to three new people. Trevor's efforts to make good on his idea bring a revolution not only in the lives of himself, his mother and his physically and emotionally scarred teacher, but in those of an ever-widening circle of people completely unknown to him. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pCtXRP1edo

Gnomeo and Juliet - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

I must say up front that I am not a fan of cartoons in general.The reason I watched this one was the re-worked soundtrack of Elton John music and the fact it was a english flick instead of the standard pixar/disney animation.For a little while I found the animation of garden statues interesting than boring.Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story,this is a typical girl and boy will get together no matter what so the "name"is misleading.That said even the re-worked music is a little weak.Thus I rate it 50-50 nearly watchable but a nice change from pixar  or disney if you need that.Released in 2011 it runs a short 84 minutes.
Most of the voices are english with a few americans thrown in like Hulk Hogan.The noteworthy voices include,Emily Blunt,Michael Caine,Maggie Smith,Jason Statham,Ozzy Osbourne and Patrick Stewart amongst others.Trailer URL follows the pix.IMDB summary below.

The neighboring gardens of Montague and Capulet are at war, but the gnomes, Gnomeo and Juliet, are in love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJVHy6uT9XA

Grease - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Travolta made 3 wonderful musicals and I've already reviewed the other two.Saturday Night Fever and Urban Cowboy.This was the biggest hit because its so old school broadway musical-ish. Set in the 50's its a summer romance that carries into the school year as both boy and girl wind up in the same HS.Sex,rock,and cars and great music.The only reason I took 1 star off was I liked the other two better.This is a safe formula film but I liked it anyway. Released in 1978 it runs 110 minutes and has a great cast besides John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as most musicals do.I have to mention Sha-Na-Na and Eve Arden and Edd Byrnes as well as legendary comic Sid Caesar and even Frankie Avalon,all icons from back in the day.The real under appreciated performance however is Stockard Channing as Betty Rizzo that tries to bring a little realty to a otherwise fantasy film.Trailer URL is below the pix and a IMDB summary is below.

Good girl Sandy and greaser Danny fell in love over the summer. But when they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1jZd94CFHM&feature=fvst

Fast Times at Ridgemont High - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1982 and running 90 minutes this film is nothing like MY HS days.The film is dated and its upper middle class and suburban where I was lower middle class and urban and 15 years earlier.So i can't relate and I'm sure no one day can ether thats why I took 1 and 1/2 stars off.That said the film is well acted and full of cliches,some funny and some not so much.Sort of a less wild HS version of animal house in some ways but not made to be as outlandishly humorous as that film was.Three standout scenes for all time.    Sean Penn as drugged out surfer Jeff Spicoli ordering PIZZA in Ray Walston as Mr. Hand's class, Phoebe Cates as Linda Barrett instructing Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stacy Hamilton on how to give a BJ using a carrot,and finally Judge Reinhold as Brad Hamilton ,masturbating in the bathroom to a image he had of Linda.All three scenes are worthy of a homage to Animal house.Although the acting works well and the music rocks,the story is like,who cares,get over it spoiled brats.See it once for historical reference.
Trailer URL below the pix and a IMDB summary below.

Follows a group of high school students growing up in southern California, based on the real-life adventures chronicled by Cameron Crowe. Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner are looking for a love interest, and are helped along by their older classmates, Linda Barrett and Mike Damone, respectively. The center of the film is held by Jeff Spicoli, a perpetually stoned surfer dude who faces off with the resolute Mr. Hand, who is convinced that everyone is on dope. Written by Rick Gregory <rag.apa@email.apa.org> 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhUfmDGdK7M

Game Change - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars.

Another fine HBO film based on a novel about the last presidential election.Like most films about politics there are different points of view so the only way to truly judge such a film is the way it seems to be as we saw it in the media so we can at least maybe believe the behind the scenes stuff MIGHT have been.In this regard the film succeeds.Julianne Moore     as Sarah Palin is far better than Tina Fey in any SNL scotch,Ed Harris as John McCain is believable and the rest of the actors are fine as we don't know those real people nearly as well as Palin and McCain.All the flubs are there as well as the a portrait of a woman in over her head but  who truly believes what she says. I took 1 and 1/2 stars off because we can never know the truth about the behind the scenes stuff and its a movie that won't be interesting 5 years from now.Politics is very fleeting.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.Released on HBO in 2012 it runs about 2 hours.

Follows John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, from his selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate to their ultimate defeat in the general election

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPhh7mch5zo

Dreamscape - 3 stars out of 5 stars

When I reviewed that bust of a picture "inception"awhile back I said I'd review this one at a later date.It's very dated so it doesn't stand up well and the story gets a little confused at times BUT there is a STORY and good acting makes a far better picture but still could have been so much more.Thats why I only give it 3 stars.Dennis Quaid as Alex Gardner heads a cast that includes this years academy award winner for best supporting actor,Christopher Plummer,and always professional Max von Sydow and Speibergs wife or is ex ? Kate Capshaw,oh well,amongst others.Released in 1984 it runs 99minutes.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB review below.

A government funded project looks into using psychics to enter people's dreams, with some mechanical help. When a subject dies in his sleep from a heart attack Alex Gardner becomes suspicious that another of the psychics is killing people in the dreams somehow and that is causing them to die in real life. He must find a way to stop the abuse of the power to enter dreams. Written by Zaphod <aaa@scs.leeds.ac.uk>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRYp3LPL0bc

Flyboys - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

I had a problem with the title of the film and then the point that it was a pure fictional account of the famed Lafayette Escadrille.The title is confusing with a book of the same name about a US WW11 fighter squadron and thus I think many went to see it for that reason.Since there are few pictures made of this war its also sad to see pure fiction even though the Escadrille was real and one wishes a more factual movie would have been made.Thats why I took 1 and 1/2 stars off.All that sad,it may be the best performance by James Franco to date and the rest of the cast is OK.The FX used in the flying scenes were exceptional and I enjoyed the ride once I came to grips that it was not the film I hoped but was ok for what it was meant to be,a exciting imaging of that war and those men.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.Enjoy it for what it is.


Before the United States entered World War I, young Americans went to France to be fighter pilots, joining the Lafayette Escadrille. This fictional version follows a laconic Texas rancher, an eager Nebraska kid, a Black boxer already in France, and a New York swell, as they arrive green for training, get their baptism by fire when German planes ambush them on their first mission, and graduate to heroics. Rawlings, the Texan, falls in love with a young woman he meets at a bordello. Keeping their eyes on them are Captain Thenault and Cassidy, the resident ace, who keeps a pet lion. Can the boys measure up? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

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

The Red Baron - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

I have a couple of thoughts on this film both positive and negative.The positives first reason.WW1 has been largely forgotten or remembered as being in the  far distant past with little relevance.We are but 2 years from the 100 anniversary of the start of that war and many issue of that day remain now and plague us still.Any thing to remind us of that terrible war and the little that it resolved, is sorely needed and should be seen. The positive second reason is anything about "The Red Baron"The only hero of a enemy this country celebrates thanks to the "Peanuts" comic strip character of Snoopy as the Red Baron and a christmas song commemorating that.
Now the negatives.First,Matthias Schweighöfer as Manfred von Richthofen don't have the gravitas to carry out such historical character.he's badly overshadowed in the scenes with Lena Headey     as Käte Otersdorf and even Joseph Fiennes as Capt. Roy Brown who would have been a better choice to play the baron.
Now considering this is a movie and NOT a documentary,its not really important if there was a real romance between Kate and Manfred.It's enough that they knew each other and a dog was there and a character named Doring which I assume is meant to be Goring,the future Nazi leader of the German airfare in WW11,who historically later replaced him and the fact he was killed in the last German offensive of the war,the "Michael".History is told by the winners and facts get "tweaked"all the time.I see no bad tweaks when compared to the facts of depicted of the terrible war.
Just judging it on its merits,the old planes and dog fights are great.The few ground battle scenes are horrific and the illusion of gallantry in the air is maintained as if there were two separate wars being fought.
Sadly the casting of Matthias Schweighöfer as Manfred von Richthofen is the major downer for me.Thats why I take 1 and 1/2 stars off.Released in 2008 it runs 106 minutes.Trailer URL follows below.I do recommend a view for historical reasons.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er--DLaG7SM

Pork Chop Hill - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

The Korea war is still the US least remembered war,maybe because it was fought as a "police action"on behalf of the UN with the US as the policeman against North Korea aggression against South Korea between 1950 and 1953.being only 5 years after WW11 and the fact we weren't attacked makes it of little interest to most.However we lost almost 37000 killed which makes it only 18000 less than Vietnam so we bled in this forgotten war.
Few movies have been made about this war and this is the second I've reviewed,"The Bridges at TokoRi"being the other.I took 1 and 1/2 stars off because as a pure combat action film its run of the mill full of cliches.Its filmed in b&w as well.No the value in the film is that it was made at all because like that war itself,the battle was purely political.A bad to see how much each side would expend troops over a objectve that had no military value.The value was a battle of will.You see it was being fought while a cease fire was being negotiated at Panmunjom to end hostilities.Each side showing it wouldn't give a inch while trying to make gains at the negotiating table.The cast is serviceable headed by Gregory Peck     as Lt. Joe Clemons .But the value is for you to want to know more about this conflict as North Korea is still a threat to peace today and we still have 30000 serviceman stationed near its boarder.Released in 1959 the film runs a short 97 minutes.Trailer URL follows the pix.

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

Moby Dick ( 1956 ) - 4 stars out of 5 stars

After seeing this film for the first time since I was a youngster I'm shocked at how much of Ricardo Montalban's dialogue as Khan in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"is out and out copied from Gregory Peck 's dialogue as Captain Ahab in this film not to mention the obsessive mannerism of the acting as well.
That in itself is enough of a reason to see this film.
Based on a novel by Herman Melville who was the but of a joke in the film "animal house"about being long winded and not easily transferred to our time,has merit as well as the subject of whale hunting is a PC no/no today takes 1 star off.Otherwise what a film !!!
For the PC correct,lets remember the whale wins and kills all but one !!!
The story is straightforward.Its 1841 and a young man Richard Basehart  as Ishmael signs on to a whaling ship out of new Bedford Mass.whose captain is Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab whose reason to continue sailing is not to make money on the whale fat from whale kills that are boiled down to oil and brought back to be used much the same as in ground oil is used today,no, its to hunt and kill a white whale that took his leg in the past and scarred his face so he is obsessed with killing it before he dies.That is now his only reason to live.There is a colorful cast but there are really only 3 characters.Ahab,Moby Dick,which is the name given to the whale,and the witness to the obsession,Ishmael.
They wouldn't make a movie about whaling like this today,but that was life in parts of New England back then and it serves better as a metaphor for obsession than some teen sex/slasher film I believe.So do others as it seems it was remade a few times and I'm not sure this masterpiece released in 1956 and running 116 minutes is the first version.
A great action flick for the time and no CGI,FX the way it used to be!!
Trailer URL follows pix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_ibjoSB6Xs

Jungle Fever - 3 stars out of 5 stars

One of the best soundtracks of any movie ever.That said,Spike takes a little easy way out by have a middle class black cheating on his wife with a middle class white woman.More likely would have been intense teen relationship with the future at risk,but,still the middle class relationship has its own risks.It's just that I expected more edge from Spike.Another great cast and they try hard.Of note is a small role by Halle Berry as a crack whore and  small role by legendary Anthony Quinn as well as Spike regulars Sam L Jackson,Ossie and Ruby and John Turturro  and a whole bunch of other good actors,including Spike, help Wesley Snipes and Annabella Sciorra pull of the rather tame by Spike standards,forbidden love story.I liked it but it's in the middle of his volume of films.Released in 1991 it runs a little long at 131 minutes.You should enjoy it even if I took 2 stars off for the length  and not as edgy as I wished.Still its a Spike film and no one does it quite as good as Spike.Trailer URL follows the pix and a brief IMDB summary below.

Friends and family of a married black architect react in different ways to his affair with an Italian secretary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ64smS4Lyk

Malcolm X - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Guess we are having a mini Spike movie fest here.Truth is,this flick has one of the great performances by a actor of a formally living person ever filmed.There are a few great performance's of live people where the actor gets a chance to meat the person and hopefully add things accordingly.Its far harder when the subject is dead and all the actor can draw upon is what we all already know.In this case Denzel nailed it. Malcolm X was as important figure as Dr King whether we would like to admit it or not.Even though I am white,I remember the "black"muslims as I grew up however it wasn't till after Malcolm was killed did I know of the rift between him and Elijah Muhammad.Being a muslim in the black community back in the civil rights movement was a big thing.Remember "Cassius Clay"and "Lou Alcindor"? NO?Well then how about Mohammed Ali and Kareem Abdu Jabbar? There were 2 schools of though on the movement,Dr Kings and Malcolm X's.Both widely followed and both had influence.A must see film for your enlightenment of the times,and great acting by all.Might well be the movie Spike is remembered for 100 years from now.Not my favorite film of Spikes because I wasn't a fan of Malcolm's but by far Spikes most"important film.Thus I took 1 star off for the subject and length of the long film.Released in 1992 and runs 202 minutes this film could not be made today because of 9/11 and any attempt to understand Islam.Trailer URL follows the pix as well as a IMDB summary below.


Biography of Malcolm X, the famous African American leader. Born Malcolm Little, his father (a minister) was killed by the Ku Klux Klan. He became a gangster, and while in jail discovered the Nation of Islam writings of Elijah Muhammad. He preaches the teachings when let out of jail, but later on goes on a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, there he converts to the original Islamic religion and becomes a Sunni Muslim. He changes his name to El-Hajj Malik Al-Shabazz and stops his anti-white teachings, as he realises the error of his mistakes. He is later on assasinated and dies a Muslim Martyr. Written by Anonymous

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rfaiu8DbRs

Do The Right Thing - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Arguably Spikes most famous film.I like it but I can't make up my mind if its my favorite Spike film because I like SOoooooooo many of his.Released in 1989 and running a just right 120 minutes I took 1 star off because I disagree that a riot is sometimes justified.That said,sit back and enjoy the flick.Spike played a major role himself as Mookie.He's not in class of some of the other actors but he does't shame himself ether.Danny Aiello as Salvatore 'Sal' Fragione,lends credibility to the story as a inner-city pizza parlor owner and Spike regular John Turturro plays Pino,Sal's son.Ruby and Ossie have roles and the rest of the cast is outstanding especially Giancarlo Esposito as Buggin Out,the instigator of most of the conflicts.Great soundtrack as well.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary is below.FIGHT THE POWER !!!!  

On the hottest day of the year on a street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, everyone's hate and bigotry smolders and builds until it explodes into violence.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=muc7xqdHudI

Rosewood - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

This is a very hard film to review.On one hand it's based on a sad 1923 incident.On another its by a good "black"director,John Singletary. Still more, it has a stellar cast that I don't want to name just a few of.So why does this 1997 film task me?Well for starters its too long at 140 minutes and is very slow to start and thus boring in spots.Finally,and it may be my fault being white,but it comes off as white on black racial" porn". Too many whites making blacks suffer and the great black actors showing that suffering,to the delite of the whites who do not suffer in the film,to me,thats porn for the racial bigoted whites out there.Sure much later the black survivors received compensation from the state of florida,but THAT was 70 years later and the whites who did that deed had fun and were never punished.To me,I'm sorry,if thats not biased porn,what is?Thats why I gave it my lowest but yet,recommended 2 1/2 stars.Trailer URL follows the pix.A IMDB summary is below.See it and make your own judgement.At the very least you will know that such things did in fact happen.

A dramatization of a 1923 horrific racist lynch mob attack on an African American community.

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

Logan's Run - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

If ever a film cried out"re-make me"this is the film. Released in 1976 and running long at 119 minutes,I took 2 and 1/2 stars of for the length and poor production qualities.Lest we forget its unfair to judge too harshly for it was up against a landmark FX film released the same year,"Star Wars".But model trains and cardboard sets,really ???Its bearly watchable today for after you've seen star wars,how can you sit thru what seems a amateur production by comparison.
However it is a good story with a good cast that just sucked as a watchable film.The trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.If you like a good sci-fi futuristic tale than sit thru the production shortcomings.( remember Star Trek the original series?)

It's 2274 and on the surface, it all seems to be an idyllic society. Living in a city within an enclosed dome, there is little or no work for humans to perform and inhabitants are free to pursue all of the pleasures of life. There is one catch however: your life is limited and when you reach 30, it is terminated in a quasi-religious ceremony known as Carousel. Some, known as runners, do try to escape their fate when the time comes and it's the job of a Sandman to track them down and kill them. Logan is such a man and with several years before his own termination date, thinks nothing of the job he does. Soon after meeting a young woman, Jessica-6, he is ordered to become a runner himself and infiltrate a community outside the dome known as Sanctuary and to destroy it. Pursued by his friend Francis, also a Sandman, Logan and Jessica find their way to the outside. There they discover a beautiful... Written by garykmcd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WUUnc1M0TA

The Mark of Zorro - ( 1940 ) 4 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1940 and running 94 minutes this movie is the definitive Zorro.better than Disney or the movies before and after it.First,the story of Zorro is also the story of Robin Hood.Different culture and times and ethnic devices but really,think about it.Noble,poor,military.Whats really great in this version is the casting of Basil Rathbone as Captain Esteban Pasquale because he also played Sir Guy of Gisbourne,a bad guy in the 1938 version of The Adventures of Robin Hood ,maybe the best version of THAT franchise.Talk about semitry.
Anyway,the only issues with this film is thats its in b&w and a as Hollywood did,cast whites instead of ethnics in major roles.That why I took the star off.That said,Tyrone Power as Don Diego Vega / Zorro ,is brilliant and the rest of the cast excels as well.Still its good vs evil,Zorro vs Esteban. Rob from the rich and give to the poor.All in 1820's spanish california.If you like period adventure this is your movie.Trailer below the pix is a scene since I can't find a trailer,and a IMDB summary below

A young aristocrat must masquerade as a fop in order to maintain his secret identity of Zorro as he restores justice to early California.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKwVFDKWl84