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/

Kingpin 1996 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

OK,the only real problem with this film is all the inside jokes.If you are not a big movie watcher you'll miss a lot this film has to offer,thats the reason I took a star off,and well no kid film ether.However all that said,this 1996 release that runs 113 minutes is funny as hell,if by hell you mean sick twisted and side splitting.Its sort of the "Hustler"goes beyond"The Color of Money"and then some.Even some funny quick cameos,like Rodger Clemens and the sport of bowling( sport??)is just destroyed and seeing  Bill Murray as Ernie McCracken is worth the whole film.The rest of the cast fits just right,but its the zaniness thats over the top thats makes for this "adult"comedy.So the trailer URL is after the picture and a IMDB summary below.

 Roy Munson was raised to be the best bowler in the world (trained early on by his father). But a fellow bowler, Ernie McCracken and a misunderstanding with some rough punks, leaves poor Roy with the loss of his bowling hand! Not to let this get him down, he gets a prosthetic hand and becomes a travelling sales man. But it's really all down hill for him from that night on until ... One day he meets Ishmael who is Amish and sneaks away from the farm to bowl (his fellow Amish would disown him if they knew)! Roy convinces Ishmael to let him be his trainer and he'll make him the best bowler the world has ever seen. Reluctantly Ishmael agrees to go on the road and shortly afterwards actually finds that life outside the farm is quite fun. Soon their paths cross that of Ernie McCracken who is still a top ranking bowler. While Roy's career and life have landed in the toilet bowl, Ernie is still drawing huge crowds and all the babes! They both square off for the ultimate bowling championship ..... Written by Jane Byron Dean <McGinty@aol.com>

http://www.zuguide.com/#Kingpin

Olympus Has Fallen (2013) - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2013 and running 120 minutes,this film asks you to believe in the unbelievable,but isn't that what good action flicks do?? So I did take one star off for the big strech.There was a season of"24",that crazy TV series where terrorists take over the white house.Well THIS movie takes its que from that and then some,its a reach but its a wild video game type ride none the less and a good time.Be warned however it is EXTREMELY VIOLENT and  Gerard Butler's  portray of Secret Service agent Mike Banning makes Jack Bower of"24"seem like a alter boy !!!The rest of the cast works well also but the FX and story is the key here,not withstanding the likes of Morgan Freeman ect.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

When the White House (Secret Service Code: "Olympus") is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential Secret Service Agent Mike Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As our national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning's inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President and avert an even bigger disaster. Written by FilmDistrict

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3995772697/

Casting By 2012 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2012 as a HBO documentary series film that runs 89 minutes,its a informative although highly slanted  tribute to the late Marion Dougherty,who died in 2011, as much as it is to the subject of casting directors in general.Thus I took 1 and 1/2 stars off for the motivation of this"documentary".That said,there are many A+ stars who give insights into what the casting directors meant to their careers as well as directors and a few studio executives,however the film is NOT kind to the film industry as much as it is to television.Its worth a view for a few interesting star tales as well as a behind the camera peek. Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.
By the way,did you know Bette Midler has a bit part,from casting director Marion Dougherty, in"Hawaii"a film reviewed on this blog,and used the money she got from it to move FROM her native Hawaii,(yes she was raised there)to NYC and the rest was as they say history??

The surprising, never-before-told tale of the indispensable yet unsung Casting Director - Iconoclasts whose keen eye, exquisite taste and gut instincts redefined Hollywood.

http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi2278859801/

Oblivion 2013 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Perhaps the strangest sci-fi movie I have ever seen.I need to re-watch the Matrix saga before I can be sure,but for now,this is it.The cast is very professional and the FX fine,but its the story thats the thing.And just what is that story??Ah,thats why its a must see.It has elements of many classic films and is not afraid to use them to confuse and dare I say,abuse you,the viewer.In the end however it was a ride and the only reason I took 1 star off was it was a slow starter and I still don't fully "get it"but hey,thats what sci-fi is all about.Lets just call it,the Road Warrior becomes the Terminator within a Star Trek morality play or not,but thats for you to figure out.Released in 2013 it runs 124 minutes.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

One of the few remaining drone repairmen assigned to Earth, its surface devastated after decades of war with the alien Scavs, discovers a crashed spacecraft with contents that bring into question everything he believed about the war, and may even put the fate of mankind in his hands. Written by Black Dahlia

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi498116121/

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Finally I get it.After many discussions about new things that have been reworked to appeal to a new generation and still keeping a tie to the original,I can except this second entry into the Star Trek film family even more than the first,which I did review here but was unhappy with the destruction of the planet Vulcan.Thats what reboots do.Many have told me that they hated the new"Battlestar Galattica",reviewed on this blog,for such reason,while I enjoyed it much more than the original.Many say the same about these new Star Trek films.However this 2013 release than runs 132 minutes brought back some favorite old TV series chestnuts along with film references and mixed them up in new and exciting,at least for me,ways.I took 1 star off for a rather lame ending but hey,even the old Trek films were sometimes guilty of that.I wont go into the cast and all the old references but to mention that  Karl Urban     as Bones does really look like what you might think the late Deforest Kelly might have looked like and the favorite new angle on the little know prior marriage of Kirk,first noted in The Wrath of Kahn",reviewed on this blog,is teased at by  Alice Eve as Carol Marcus,that future wife.All in all,I check out another if it comes. Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew. Written by Paramount Pictures

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1137026585/

Pitch Perfect 2012 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

After watching this I must re visit the old classic"Fame".At first I thought I was watching"Glee"meets"Twilght"as the go to college together.After 15 minutes or so I began to "feel"the characters and,well,its NO classic,it was watchable and so although I am clearly NOT the demographic the film is shooting for,the "hook"of singing"accoppia"was enough to make me want to see what happens and I was impressed at the references to"The Breakfast Club",a film also reviewed on this blog.All that said,this 2012 release that runs 112 minutes still is not great nor really original in its storyline.It just comes at it from a different angle,thus the 1 1/2 stars off.Still there ai FA worse out there for a harmless night of musical movie viewing.Thus I recommend it as a diversion when you want some some fluff in your life.B+ level cast but well acted none the less.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

The Barden Bellas are a collegiate, all-girls a cappella singing group thriving on female pop songs and their perfect looks. After a disastrous failing at last year's finals, they are forced to regroup. Among the new recruits is freshman Beca, an independent, aspiring DJ with no interest in the college life. But after she meets Jesse, from the rival all-male a cappella group, Beca has a new outlook and takes it upon herself to help the Bellas find their new look and sound and get back into the competition. Written by napierslogs

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1930733337/

TV Series - Rizzoli & Isles 2010 - ongoing - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

My daughter in-law clued me in to the series now in its 5th season on TNT and she was right-on target.At first you'd think its a female answer to all the testosterone  cop shows on TV and in some ways you'd be right,buts its far more.First,its a female Boston homicide detective played by  Angie Harmon as Detective Jane Rizzoli, who is the friend of a Doctor from the coroners office, Sasha Alexander     as Dr. Maura Isles,and they are indeed buddies from very different back grounds,but the cast is rounded out by some fine character actors and a continuing story that is both feminine yet also interesting for us guys as well without being a sexy ga,ga show.The series is based on a series of  "Rizzoli and Isles" books by Tess Gerritson." and although I have not read any,I really enjoy this "different"cop/buddy show and strongly recommend it. Trailer URL follows the picture.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2105188889/

TV Series - Hell on Wheels 2011/13 3+seasons - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Now entering the 3rd season on AMC cable channel,I must admit I'm getting a little board,but not enough to stop watching yet,thus only 1 star off.The first season really rocked and the second rolled however after 4 episodes this third season I'm a little antsy.The reason I first watched was the story of the west after the civil war and a old tricky star was cast, Colm Meaney     as Thomas 'Doc' Durant.However the main 2 stars interesting relationship was what keep me,those being  Anson Mount as Cullen Bohannan  and  Common as Elam Ferguson.There are many,many others in a great ensemble  cast as well. So if you like westerns,railroads,and a violent retelling of such things,check it out.Trailer  URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

 Cullen Bohannan, a former soldier and slaveholder, follows the track of a band of Union soldiers, the killers of his wife. This brings him to the middle of one of the biggest projects in US history, the building of the transcontinental railroad. After the war years in the 1860s, this undertaking connected the prospering east with the still wild west. Written by cc ardbeg

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi577806617/

Ice Age - Continental Drift 2012 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Worthy addition to the franchise that keeps on giving over and over again despite the formula starting with the acorn chasing squirrel and the disasters that always follow,abet lots of fun to boot. Released in 2012 and running only 88 minutes,I took 1 star off for maybe being a bit intense for real young ones,but otherwise,loved the homages for adults to many films,like"The  last of the Mohicans,"a film reviewed here,with that classic line,"stay alive,I will find you" and the Ewoks from star war fame as well as the pirates of the Caribbean  and so on.So if animation is your thing and need a cartoon that won't bore YOU for the kids,check it out. Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Manny, Diego, and Sid embark upon another adventure after their continent is set adrift. Using an iceberg as a ship, they encounter sea creatures and battle pirates as they explore a new world.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi991012633/

Lee Daniels' The Butler 2013 - 5 stars out of 5 stars

This 2013 release that runs 132 minutes is everything that last years"Lincoln",a film also reviewed on this blog,promised but only partially delivered. Sadly so much of this story I vividly remember and enjoyed the many fine actors who help bring those characters back to life but make NO MISTAKE,this is  Oprah Winfrey's film as she portrays  Gloria Gaines,the wife of the title character Cecil Gaines,the Butler,for Lee Daniels is the films director, also well played by Forest Whitaker,who might also get a nomination. The events that are portrayed are a reminder,however painful,of the not so glorious past of this great nation and why as the Jewish say,we must never forget.While no holocaust,it was violently shameful.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.


As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and American society.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi707045657/

Elysium 2013 - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

The dictionary defines "Elysium"as,
 1. Greek Mythology The Elysian Fields.
2. A place or condition of ideal happiness.
     This movie however is a fantasy in the traditions of"Lost Horizon (1937)"and in a sense then, the culmination into "Atlas Shrugged - Part 1 and 11 - The Strike - (2011 + 2012)"all films reviewed on this blog.Sadly thats why I can only give it my weakest recommendation at 2 1/2 stars,50-50.Released in 2013 it runs 109 minutes.The FX is fine,acting,well average and the story weak at best,Based on the old chestnut as I explained above.There were a few clichés such as the role played by  Jodie Foster as Delacourt is virtually the same as  Jack Nicholson played as Col. Nathan R. Jessup in "A  few good men",a film also reviewed on this blog.So see it out of curiosity BUT its nothing really new or shocking if you seen films like the ones described above.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

Set in the year 2154, where the very wealthy live on a man-made space station while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth, a man takes on a mission that could bring equality to the polarized worlds.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4196837657/

TV Series - How to Make it in America - 2 seasons- 2010/11 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Since I'm from Brooklyn originally I must admit I loved the realistic scenes of the city I knew which is far more that Manhattan.While the story is very "today"much is as I remembered from back in the day.The clash of cultures and aspirations are very NYC-ish. However its not the NY others had seen so it has  a very regional approach and maybe thats why it only lasted 2 seasons.Still I did enjoy it and highly recommend it.The theme music is great,acting good enough and as I said,the story lines are very NY.I only took 1 star off as I have trouble with the the"fashion"end of it by that was more than made up for with"rasta monster"You have to see it,ha,ha.Opening credits URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.

"How to Make It in America" follows two enterprising Brooklyn twenty somethings as they hustle their way through New York City, determined to achieve the American Dream. Trying to make a name for themselves in New York's competitive fashion scene, Ben Epstein (Greenberg) and his friend and business partner Cam Calderon (Rasuk) use their street knowledge and connections to bring their ambitions to fruition. With the help of Cam's cousin Rene (Guzman), who is trying to market his own high-energy drink, and their well-connected friend Domingo ("Kid Cudi"), the entrepreneurs set out to make it big, encountering obstacles along the way that will require all their ingenuity to overcome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sN49nNdE58

Planes 2013 - 3 1/2 stars out of 4 stars

Standard acceptable Disney fair.Released in 2013 and running 91 minutes,this film was released in a 3D version and I saw it that way in the theater.The 3D was average as was the story and animation which was in the case of a Disney film, good enough.Thus a fair 3 1/2 stars  rating by me.I'm a little bias so the best scenes for me involved a aircraft carrier, "Dwight "Yorkie" D. Flysenhower",cool enough for a Navy dad such as myself.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below. Decent.

Dusty Crophopper is a little cropduster plane with a fear of heights and a crazy dream of being a racer. While his friends need convincing, Dusty gets the training he needs from Skipper, a veteran fighter, and qualifies for the Wings Across the World race. In the event, Dusty finds competitors who soon learn that there is something special about this underdog as he is tested to his physical and emotional limits. In doing so, Dusty soon finds enemies, and more importantly friends, who are inspired by his dream. In the face of all obstacles, the winner of this air race will be anyone's guess. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1501275673/

Desperately Seeking Susan 1985 - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1985 and running 104 minutes,I can only give this film a so-so 2 1/2 stars .The acting was good but it was terribly dated and the story was too far fetched for even the great Rosanna Arquette  and Madonna to make believable.However for those who want a "80's"film and are curious how Madonna looked in her heyday,well its worth one viewing,but only once.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below. 

Bored Roberta spots a regular personal ad in the paper titled 'Desperately Seeking Susan'. She heads off to New York, following one of the ads, and finds Susan. When Susan sells her jacket, Roberta - trying to emulate her mystery ad writer - buys the jacket and wears it. Little does she know someon is looking for the jacket - and its owner... Written by Colin Tinto <cst@imdb.com>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGDLAba7XV0

Ruthless People 1986 - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Another classic comedy from the Zuckers and Abrahams,you know "Airplane",reviewed on this blog,and others.This film was released in 1986 and ran only 93 minutes.I took 1 star off for being very dated as well as a far out story.The reason to see it,the same far out story and great acting in a cast headed by Bette Midler and Danny DeVito and many many more fine actors.Also one of the great cinema lines"I've been kidnapped by Kmart".
This is one of  my top 10 comedies I think,if not,it should be,ha,ha.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.Just thinking of Beth and Danny married makes me laugh.

 Sam Stone is a clothing manufacturer, who married his wife Barbara, for the money that she was supposed to inherit from her dying father, but her father didn't die for another fifteen years. He is now planning to kill her and he tells his girlfriend Carol what he is going to do. He then on his way home to do just that but when he gets there, she's not there. He then receives a call from someone claiming to have kidnapped Barbara and threatening to kill her if he informs the police, which he does hoping that they do. What Stone doesn't know is that the kidnappers, Ken and Sandy are a couple whose idea for a garment he stole and made fortune off, are not that lethal, as a matter of fact Barbara's more lethal. And what Stone doesn't know is that Carol, has another boyfriend and they plan to blackmail Sam, by videotaping him disposing of Barbara's body. When her boyfriend, Earl goes there to do that, the person who goes there was not Sam but a guy with a hooker, and the guy instructs the ... Written by <rcs0411@yahoo.com>

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

Elephant 2003 - 0 stars out of 5 stars

Big hype,crap story.Why,why why??? Columbine ending with no reason.Poor excuse at teenage angst for a big slaughter payoff at the end.If it wasn't such a big hype of a indy film I wouldn't even waste the space on my blog.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary below.Its hard to offend me with any film,but this just did.At least with"The Life before her eyes",a film reviewed on this blog,there was a story and purpose to the slaughter in a very strange even esoteric way,and a twist at the end that made me highly recommend it,this on the other hand…………..Released in 2003 it ran 81 minutes TOO long.

Several ordinary high school students go through their daily routine as two others prepare for something more malevolent.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1000538393/

The Last of the Blonde Bombshells 2000

Somehow with a great cast headed by Judi Dench and Ian Holm and even smaller roles by Leslie Caron and Cleo Laine and on and on,I could only give 3 stars instead of the five I had hoped to give.Perhaps its a lack of"chemistry"or direction or just a slow moving back and forth with flashbacks that tempered my take on it but as a HBO film with such a  cast and storyline it didn't deliver as I hoped.Released in 2000 and running only 84 minutes,its still worth your time as the story is unusual yet moving and oddly enough,in a story about older folks I felt that young Millie Findlay as a granddaughter was the real star of the film.I also smiled about roses on drum,you just have to see it.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

After Elizabeth's husband dies, she begins to play her tenor saxophone again, and remembers when she was 15 and a member of the Blonde Bombshells, an all-girl (with one exception) swing band. Accompanied by the exception and urged on by her grand-daughter, Elizabeth hunts up all the old members of the band and urges them to perform, and in doing so, learns more than she knew about the band, its members, the roses on the drum set, and herself--the last of the Blonde Bombshells. Written by Kathy Li

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2291466521/

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter 2012

Finally a Vampire film without teenage girl angst or role reversal sexy female hunter/killers.
Now the south might view this as northern revenge after the fact for "Birth of a Nation",reviewed on this blog,however lighten up,it just throwing vampires into the mix after the fact in a fictional way without the heroism of the KKK in Birth of a Nation.Released in 2012 and running 105 minutes,I'm sure the timing of the release after Speilberg's film"Lincoln',also reviewed on this blog,was no accident.But this is no cheep knock off.The FX is state of the art and the slow mo martial arts action will please many.I took 1 star off because well,it is a little stretch plot wise with a few holes and it lists Tim Burton as only one of a few producers but it has his handiwork all over it.It also twists a few excepted old school Vampire facts but most new vampire sagas twist some,thus we should now refer to "old school"when reviewing the new stuff for things like going out in the daytime.The cast is B level but fit for their parts and you might enjoy the "leaps"for things we really never knew the true reasons for,like Mary Todds madness amongst other things.All in all,for you Vampire/history fans get the popcorn and hold on.Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

At the age of 9, Abraham Lincoln witnesses his mother being killed by a vampire, Jack Barts. Some 10 years later, he unsuccessfully tries to eliminate Barts but in the process makes the acquaintance of Henry Sturgess who teaches him how to fight and what is required to kill a vampire. The quid pro quo is that Abe will kill only those vampires that Henry directs him to. Abe relocates to Springfield where he gets a job as a store clerk while he studies the law and kills vampires by night. He also meets and eventually marries the pretty Mary Todd. Many years later as President of the United States, he comes to realize that vampires are fighting with the Confederate forces. As a result he mounts his own campaign to defeat them. Written by garykmcd

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3272845081/

The Birth of a Nation 1915 - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Before I give my 2 cents on this 1915 B&W silent film,the second I have reviewed, that runs  165  minutes,let me say that the late Rodger  Ebert,renowned deceased film critic,put if far better than I can,so i have put a link below to his review as you might benefit from his prose more than mine.

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-birth-of-a-nation-1915

That all said and leaving the racism that is obvious in the film,I'll give my opinions in other areas.I took 1 and 1/2 stars off for being in B&W and silent ,which honestly half the folks alive will avoid this film for.Also it does glamorize "the klan"a bit too much.Now for the plus's.The first half of the film is a great reference to parts of the civil war.Made less than 50 years after that war,and now almost 100 years after that.Its a marvel of battle seances and the assassination of  Abe Lincoln .Also its a interesting tale of 2 families separated by War yet intertwined in many other ways.There is much to see and gain  insite from,after understanding that racism is not always apparent even to the racist.For even D.W. Griffith stated at the very beginning that slavery would cause disunity.So if your a real student of history and human nature,its a film to be studied and learned from and can be debated on so many levels.After all,isn't that the definition of a classic film??Trailer URL follows the picture and a IMDB summary is below.

Two brothers, Phil and Ted Stoneman, visit their friends in Piedmont, South Carolina: the family Cameron. This friendship is affected by the Civil War, as the Stonemans and the Camerons must join up opposite armies. The consequences of the War in their lives are shown in connection to major historical events, like the development of the Civil War itself, Lincoln's assassination, and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan. Written by Victor Munoz <vmunoz@macul.ciencias.uchile.cl>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9UPOkIpR0A