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Reviews
Gake no ue no Ponyo (2008)
Ponyo is a Wonderful Surprise
Ponyo is a goldfish living in the ocean with her many sisters and their wizard father (Fujimoto) who used to be human. Fujimoto does not like humans and keeps his daughters under a close watch. Ponyo is not happy. She wants to be human and live on the land.
"He hates humans! He keeps me in a bubble" - Ponyo
Ponyo manages to escapes the ocean but she gets trapped in a glass jar and washes ashore. A 5 year old boy, (Sosuke) finds her and helps her out of the jar and puts her in a bucket of water.
Meanwhile, Ponyo's Father is searching for his lost daughter. He commands the waves and they find her and bring her back. Sosuke is sad and heartbroken. Ponyo declares she wants to go back and she magically starts changing into a human.
"Ponyo loves Sosuke! I will be a human too!" - Ponyo
Alarmed, Fujimoto locks Ponyo up and goes to find Ponyo's mother, "Gran Mamare" But with her sisters' help Ponyo escapes again, and using using Fujimoto's magic, she turns into a human and finds Sosuke.
"Mom! Ponyo came back, and she's a little girl now!" - Sosuke
However Ponyo unknowingly released a massive amount of her Father's magic into the ocean and that causes an imbalance, making the moon draw near to the earth, triggering a huge tsunami.
Now with the entire world in danger, only Sosuke can save them, and Ponyo, for Gran Mamare declares that if Sosuke can pass a test, then nature will be restored.... But if he fails, the tsunami will continue and Ponyo will be turned into sea foam.
Ponyo may look a bit silly, childish, and even a bit bizarre, but it is an amazing film for all ages. A beautiful story with the most endearing characters come to life with the animated magic of Hayao Miyazaki.
I have seen most of Miyazaki's films (My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away) and Ponyo is so different but still a wonderful surprise.... A crayon drawn child's story that adults will like more than children.
Cast - Liam Neesom, Cate Blanchett, Tina Fey, Betty White, Cloris Leachman, Lily Tomlin, Matt Damon, Frankie Jonas, Noha Cyrus.
The Mummy (2017)
This one is just a really fun popcorn movie.
Nick Morton is a U. S. Army Sergeant turned soldier of fortune. Nick accidentally unearths an ancient tomb of the evil Egyptian Princess Ahmanet. But what appears to be a huge archaeological find, is a terrible curse.
"Whatever's in there has been safely hidden for two thousand years. This isn't a tomb, it's a prison." - Jenny Halsey
In ancient Egypt, Ahmanet was in line to rule after her father the pharaoh, but he had a son and Princess Ahmanet was left with nothing. So she made a deal with the evil god Set and he gave her demonic powers. She murdered her entire family, but was caught and was mummified alive.
So Nick unknowingly brings Ahmanet back to life and she is about to unleash the ultimate evil on all humanity, the god Set.
Now Nick must put his trust in a British archaeologist, Jenny Halsey... and her eccentric boss, Dr. Henry Jekyll.
"Welcome to a new world of gods and monsters" - Dr. Henry Jekyll
Oh I really like this really dark Mummy movie. So much better than I expected. It is an old fashion fun monster flick. Tom Cruise is perfect as the fortune hunter caught up in an ancient demonic cruse and Russell Crowe is a awesome Dr. Henry Jekyll. This one is just a really fun popcorn movie.
Cast - Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson, Courtney B. Vance, Russell Crowe.
Majo no takkyûbin (1989)
A True Masterpieces on Film
Kiki is a young witch and she just turned 13 so it is time for her to go out on her own for her witch training.
"In order to be a good witch I have to train a year away from home!" - Kiki
Kiki flies out at night on her mother's broomstick along with her talking black cat, Jiji. Kiki plans to go south but they are blown off course by a storm and end up in a small seaside village.
Kiki meets a young boy, Tombo. He has an aviation club and is excited and amazed to have a real live, broom riding witch moving into his town!
Kiki finds a job at a family bakery and she decides to stay there and start a courier business, "Kiki's Delivery Service" All is going well, until while on a delivery, Kiki gets caught in a heavy rain storm, gets soaked, and wakes up the next morning sick. But even worse, she has lost her power to fly.
"Without even thinking about it, I used to be able to fly. Now I'm trying to look inside myself and find out how I did it.." - Kiki
Now Kiki is faced with the possibility of closing her delivery business, and that she may have even lost all her magic too... forever.
"If I lose my magic, that means I've lost absolutely everything." - Kiki
Then Kiki sees a breaking news report on TV.... a huge zeppelin in town is caught up a wind storm, and Tombo is holding onto it by a rope as it flies out of control. Now only Kiki can save him.
This English dubbed "Kiki's Delivery Service" is awesome! It has not lost any of the charm of the original Japanese. I don't think I have ever seen a bad Hayao Miyazaki film but Kiki's Delivery Service is truly one of the best films ever made. This is no silly cute kid's story. The animation is absolutely beautiful, the story is uplifting, the characters are so endearing, and the soundtrack is charming. This is a wonderful movie for all ages. A true masterpieces on film.
Cast - Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds, Tress MacNeille, Matthew Lawrence, Janeane Garofalo, Edie McClurg.
Nobody (2021)
All This Over a Kitty Cat Bracelet
Hutch is just an ordinary mild-mannered family man working at a 9 to 5 office job. His life is quite boring and mundane.... Until one night, two petty thieves break into his house with a gun. Hutch's teenage son Blake jumps one of them and Hutch picks up a golf club and has the other thief, but he does nothing and just lets them go.
Now Hutch is branded a coward by everyone, and in the next few days he starts to boil over. The last straw.... they stold his daughter's kitty cat bracelet.
"And you don't do that!" - Hutch
So Hutch decides to hunt the thieves down and get that kitty cat bracelet back. On the bus back home, Hutch goes all full blown vigilante on a gang of punks on the bus, putting them all in the hospital. But one of them just happens to be the brother of Russian crime boss, Yulian Kuznetsov. Yulian declares war on Hutch and sends the Russian mafia after his family. But he has no idea who Hutch really is and what he is cable of.
"Me? I'm... Nobody"
"Nobody" is a low key action flick. Almost to low key. A great cast but the story is really slow. The pace eventually does pick up a bit and there is a great pay off in the end. Stay tuned for a clip during the credits that sets up a possible sequel.
Cast - Bob Odenkirk, Christopher Lloyd, Connie Nielsen, RZA, Aleksey Serebryakov, Michael Ironside.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Good Story About a Father and His Son and Dragons
In a mythical world of Vikings, a young teenage boy (Hiccup) wants to prove himself a man and follow in his father's footsteps to become a dragon slayer.
"I need to make my mark!" I'll kill a dragon, my life will get infinitely better... I might even get a date!" - Hiccup
Hiccup does manage to shoot down a dragon. But this is no ordinary dragon, this is a Night Fury!
"Night Fury. The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Never engage this dragon. Your only chance: hide and pray it does not find you." - Hiccup
Well this Night Fury is not so furious at all, he seams more like a cute frightened puppy dog. So Hiccup discovers that everything he was told about dragons is wrong. He decides not to kill the dragon but befriends him and names him Toothless.
"Three hundred years, and I'm the first Viking who wouldn't kill a dragon!" - Hiccup
Hiccup trains Toothless to fly and he becomes the first Viking to ride a dragon. They become close friends, until they are discovered and the entire village wants to kill Toothless.
This a fun movie with a good story about a father and his son and dragons.
Not quite on the Pixar level, but nice animated family film.
Cast - Gerard Butler, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017)
Serious Ultra High-Octane Popcorn Fun
NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons has been killed by an apparent satellite crash. This crash is caused by a device, (Pandora's Box) which manipulates and controls satellites, turning them into warheads.
Then a highly skilled special ops team led by Xiang, (Donnie Yen) breaks into the CIA headquaters in New York City and easily steals Pandora's Box. But the thieves are ghost, no trace of them anywhere. Now the CIA needs help to find them and get Pandora's Box back.
"These a**holes just took out the best of the best like it was Sunday brunch. We need someone that can move like them, fight like them." - Jane Marke
That someone would be Xander Cage.... And being the patriot that he is, Cage agrees to help and gets his own special, unique team together.
"The good, the bad, the extreme and completely insane. Now this is the team I can work with." - Cage
So I guess Xander Cage no longer works alone.
Team Xander Cage tracks down team Xiang to the Philippines and discovers that Xiang is also XXX.
"We're are all triple-X. We just have different agendas. She wants to destroy it I want to use it." - Xiang
But a Russian military team shows up to take Pandora's Box. Now Cage and Xiang must join forces to stop Pandora from destroying the world.
This is the third film in the XXX series and it does not disappoint. Once again Cage is recruited by the government to save the world from destruction.
This XXX is a very entertaining movie full of over-the-top insane action and a new team with new awesome players, Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa, and Toni Collette. This XXX is not as serious as the first two films, but it is some really serious ultra high-octane popcorn fun.
Cast - Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen, Samuel L Jackson, Toni Collette, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, Rory McCann, Kris Wu, Nina Dobrev, Ariadna Gutiérrez, Hermione Corfield, Deepika Padukone.
Momentum (2015)
Awesome on-the-edge High Tension Thriller
Alex is a ex-CIA agent now turned thief. But she got out, until her former partner Kevin, convince her to come back for just this one last bank heist. It is a high tech operation. The target is a safety deposit box in the vault. The prize is a bag diamonds, or is it. There is something else hidden in the diamonds, a flash drive.
Well this flash drive contains incriminating evidence against a US Senator and he sends out agents and a hitman to retrieve that drive and eliminate the thieves.
"The video is embarrassing, the drive is treason." - US Senator
Now Alex is right in the middle of a government conspiracy. She goes on the run from the very people that hired her. But who is hunting who and who are the real bad guys and are there really any good guys.
The key to everything is on that flash drive and people are willing to kill for it.
This movie is really fast and furious. It starts with a violent, on-the-edge, high tension bank heist. From there on the movie just keeps picking up momentum until the very end.
There is a gritty political thriller, full of conspiracy theories, espionage, and betrayal. There is great action, really good actors, and a good story with plenty of twist and turns. The ending sets up a possible sequel. I do hope so.
Cast - Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman, James Purefoy, Colin Moss, Lee-Anne Summers.
Ocean's Eight (2018)
Fun and Entertaining Movie Night.
Debbie Ocean is a thief and con artist, and the younger sister of the infamous Danny Ocean. Debbie has just been paroled from prison and she has been planning something massive, a heist. The impossible heist..... and she has had a lot of time to figure it all out.
"Five years, eight months, and twelve days." - Debbie Ocean
Debbie is going to steal the Toussaint, a $150 million Cartier diamond necklace at the world's most prestigious and glamorous fashion event, the Met Gala in New York City.
"In three and a half weeks, the Met will be hosting its annual ball, celebrating its new costume exhibit, and we are going to rob it. Not the ball itself, but a very important set of diamonds that will be attending the ball. - Debbie Ocean
Now Debbie along with her former crime partner, Lou Miller, are putting together the dream team of all thieves. Five ladies with their own set of special skills.... a washed up fashion designer, a jewelry maker, a hacker, a street hustler/pickpocket, and a housewife who secretly fences stolen goods out of her own house.
Oh but this is not just for the money, Debbie Ocean has a score to settle and she is playing the game like she's got nothing to lose.
"3..2..1.. Game on!" - Nine Ball
I really like this all-female update on the Ocean's films. The story is sharp, quick, and clever and just a brilliant cast. But Helena Bonham Carter is absolutely awesome, stealing every scene she is in. On and Sandra Bullock is perfect as Danny's little sister following in his criminal footsteps. This cool ensemble group of all-girl thieves make for a fun and entertaining movie night.
Cast - Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Awkwafina, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, James Corden.
Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)
Absolutely Stunning
Ten-year-old Chihiro is not happy that she and her parents are moving from the big city to a small country town.... and a new school.
As they are driving to their new home, Chihiro's Dad makes a wrong turn and drives down a creepy unpaved one-lane road that dead-ends right in front of a tunnel. They walk through the tunnel and there is a old abandoned amusement park and there is a small town, but no people. They see a restaurant and lots of food. Chihiro wants to go back to the car and begs her parents to leave. Her parents eat anyway.
They unknowingly have entered into the secret world of kami. A world full of witches and spirits. A world were humans turn into beast.
A boy, Haku, tells Chihiro that they can not be here and her parents are in danger.
"You shouldn't be here! Get out of here now. Leave before it gets dark." - Haku
But it is to late, Chihiro's parents are turned into pigs and the river has flooded the way back.
Now suddenly the park comes to life and the town becomes full of demons, spirits, and gods. Everyone seams to be going to the bathhouse. This bathhouse is were the spirits come to replenish themselves. It belongs to the witch Yubaba and she runs this world and keeps all trespassers and makes them work for her.... And now Chihiro too.
Now it is all up to Chihiro to rescue her parents and somehow change them back to human and return to their world.
"I'm sorry my sister turned your parents into pigs, but there's nothing I can do. You'll have to help them by yourself." - Zeniba
But Chihiro is not alone, with the help of Haku, a mouse, and the spirit, No-Face, she plans to escape and free her parents.
I have seen the original Japanese version many times and it is absolutely brilliant. So I decided to watch the English-dubbed version and I must say it is just as good. It has not lost any of the beauty of the original. The story is captivating, the animation is absolutely stunning, and the characters are endearing and sincere. This is the type of movies that Disney used to make and should be making now.
Spirit Away is a wonderful magical movie adventure. Hayao Miyazaki has created a moving masterpiece, a movie experience that will stay with you forever. I really love this movie. Truly one of the best movies I have ever seen.
Cast - Suzanne Pleshette, Daveigh Chase, David Ogden Stiers, Susan Egan, Michael Chiklis.
Hercules (2014)
Dwayne Johnson is a Awesome Hercules
It is the year 358 BC in Northern Greece and the legendary Hercules, son of Zeus has been cast aside by the gods, He is now a mercenary for hire, along with his loyal friends, a small band of cast-a-way warriors.
The King of Thrace offers Hercules an offer he cannot refuse... his weight in gold, if he will train and lead his army against the warlord Rhesus. But Rhesus is not the only threat, an even more deadly army is coming. An army that is not human.
"They are the descendants of hades. They cannot be killed by an ordinary mortal..... a man with a cause can be stronger than a god" - Lord Cotys
But not all is as it seems. There is betrayal among the gods and men, betrayal spawned by power and greed. Now even Hercules himself questions his own mortality.
"Are you only a Legend or are you the truth?" - Amphiaraus
This is not the story I read in Greek mythology but I really like this Hercules. Dwayne Johnson is a perfect fit for the mythical son of Zeus, as is the entire cast, and they really make the movie fun and exciting. So much better than I expected.
Cast - Dwayne Johnson, Rebecca Ferguson, Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, John Hurt, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Joseph Fiennes, Peter Mullan.
The November Man (2014)
Awesome Spy Thriller
CIA agent Peter Devereaux is happily retired living in Switzerland. Until his ex-boss, John Hanley, shows up and tries to convince him to come back for just this one mission.... Go to Moscow and extract their agent who is deep undercover in the Russian government.
The agent has a name that can indict a Russian presidential candidate. A name the CIA will kill to keep secret. Just get the agent and get out.... a simple extraction. But this mission is very personal. The agent is Devereaux's ex-lover Natalia Ulanova.
"She's in trouble. If you want her to live you've got to get back in the game." - Hanley
Well that simple mission goes sideways when a special opps CIA team shows up shooting at them... and led by Devereaux's former pupil, agent David Mason, whose orders are to eliminate their own agent and Devereaux.
"This kid is the best assassin I have ever trained - Devereaux
Well Devereaux is not happy about being crossed by his own agency. But he has the name (Mira Filipova) and only a social worker, Alice Fournier knows who she is. But Russia puts a hit on Alice and sends their best assassin to kill her.
Now Devereaux along with Alice are on the run from the Russians, and the CIA. A simple extraction has turned into a deadly game with no rules. The line have been blurred. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys, And who is really is playing who.
November Man is a really exciting and entertaining spy thriller. The story is clever, fast and tense, with twists and turns and betrayals. Pierce Brosnan is dark, gritty, cold and ruthless. He is a man you do not want as a enemy. He is The November Man.
"Know what we used to call you Peter? The November Man.
Cause after you passed through, nothing lived." - Hanley
Cast - Pierce Brosnan, Olga Kurylenko, Luke Bracey, Bill Smitrovich, Lazar Ristovski, Will Patton, Amila Terzimehic.
Wrath of Man (2021)
Awesome Ritchie/Statham Flick
For the Fortico Security company, it is just a normal work day in the city of Los Angeles. Until one of their armored trucks is blocked by a DOT crew. It is a perfect ambush. The crew steals the cash, kills the drivers, and a innocent bystander.... And just like that, this one incident sets off a series of events that will change the lives of many people.... And the Wrath of one man's justice that will not be denied. Not even from the FBI.
"I can do in two days what you wish you could have done in twenty years." - H
Five months after the robbery, Patrick Hill (H) joins Fortico as an armored truck guard. H exceeds all of Fortico's expectations when he thwarts an armed heist and kills all the thieves. H is now a hero but his only goal is revenge on that DOT crew and he will stop at nothing until he has it.
H goes to work everyday in that armored truck full of cash just hoping to be robbed. H is like a lion waiting to pounce on on his prey. H totally bears a grudge and he has a list and he is killing everyone on that list like a runway train.
The Wrath of Man is a Guy Ritchie/Jason Statham movie! My favorite duo. Jason is dark, intense, and merciless in this top notch gritty crime thriller flick. Even though Ritchie tones it down a notch, he still turns an ordinary story into an extraordinary entertaining film.
Cast - Jason Statham, Josh Hartnett, Scott Eastwood, Andy García, Jeffrey Donovan, Holt McCallany, Niamh Algar, Chris Reilly, Eddie Marsan, Laz Alonso, Raúl Castillo, DeObia Oparei.
Robin Hood (2018)
Not the classic Robin Hood But a Ok movie
Lord Robin of Loxley, is a very wealthy Englishman living in his family estate in Nottingham. Robin, along with the love of his life, Marian are happy and all is well, until Robin is drafted and sent to war to fight in the Crusades.
Robin spends 4 years fighting in the Crusades and when he returns home Marion is gone and his estate has been seized by the Sheriff of Nottingham. All of the people living in the city have been exiled across the river to the coal mines.... Including Marian and her husband who are already forming a rebellion against the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Robin joins forces with these people along with an Arabian warrior, John and his good friend Friar Tuck. The plan, rob the Sheriff of Nottingham... take away his money and you take away his power
"You were a lord but you get to be a thief and I am going to show you how." - John
So Robin Hood leads this band of oppressed rebel miners against the Sheriff of Nottingham.
This is not the classic Robin Hood story I grew up with but it is an Ok movie. I really like the longbow action, and I wish there was more, but everyone seams a bit out of place and the dark sets really look like, well movie sets. The story is full of clichés, and one-liners and Robin Hood looks like he walked out of the Assassin's Creed's movie. Still not a terrible movie but really could have been much better.
Cast - Taron Egerton, Jamie Foxx, Ben Mendelsohn, Eve Hewson, Tim Minchin, Jamie Dornan, F. Murray Abraham.
Peppermint (2018)
No ordinary revenge flick
Riley North, is a middle class wife and mom working as a bank teller in Los Angeles. Riley's husband Chris owns a mechanic shop but they are struggling to pay the bills. Chris's friend offers him a quick way out of debt..... robbing Diego Garcia, the most powerful drug lord in LA. But at the last minute, Chris backs out, but not before Diego identifies him and orders his men to make an example of him.
On their daughter Carly's tenth birthday, Chris and Riley take Carly to a carnival, and to get her favorite ice cream, peppermint. As they walk to their car, Diego's men guns them down in a drive-by shooting. Only Riley survives.
Riley positively identifies the shooters, but Diego's powerful arm reaches all the way up to the justice system in Los Angeles and Riley watches the killers walk free.
"We know everything, but we cannot prove anything." - Detective Carmichael
Five years later, Riley returns and she has turned into a lean mean killing machine.... Executing her own justice on everyone connected to Diego. Everyone soon will never underestimate a Mother´s revenge.
"You didn't serve the justice. I will" - Riley
Peppermint is no ordinary revenge flick. This film gets down and dirty with a sharp bloody edge and the one thing that makes the story really work... Jennifer Garner. She gets her revenge (Alias stye) on everyone, even the local evil soccer mom.
Brutal violence - Good acting - Highly entertaining
Cast - Jennifer Garner, John Ortiz, John Gallagher Jr., Juan Pablo Raba, Tyson Ritte, Eddie Shin, Annie Ilonzeh.
Mile 22 (2018)
Bloody, Brutal, Violent & a touch Hong Kong Cinema.
James Silva is a top secret CIA agent. He is the leader of Overwatch, a team of elite special forces. Officially, they do not exists.
"We have a team of seven operators. They are no longer employees of the US government. They are engaged in a higher form of patriotism. They are ghosts." - Bishop
Silva leads Overwatch to take down a Russian safe house that is right in the middle of an American rural neighborhood. These Russians are planing to use the highly toxic substance caesium as a weapon against the United States. But Overwatch takes them down, killing all the foreign agents... including Anatole Kuragin,an, an 18-year-old kid that Silva executes on the site.
Now Sixteen months later, in Indonesia, the deadly cesium appears again, threatening the United States and the entire world.
"We're looking at approximately 60,000 people becoming Jell-O on our watch, all right? That's what this s**t does. Caesium-139 is Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. Only you don't need sophisticated planes to place it, you only need a kid who can empty an envelope on a sidewalk." - Silva
Then a rogue police officer (Li Noor) surrenders himself to the US Embassy. Li has the code to stop the release of the remaining cesium, and Li wants to make a deal.... the cesium for safe passage out of the country and a new life in the United States.
Enter Silva and his ghost team. The job, a 22 mile armed escort for Li to an extraction jet.
But the local government is in hot pursuit.... they want Li, and for 22 miles, the streets turn into a bloody battle field.
Oh this is a cool Mark Wahlberg movie. The story centers on his character and it is fast paced, bloody, brutal, and violent. But it is also a cool covert spy flick with some very cleaver twist and turns and a touch Hong Kong cinema.
I really like Mile 22 but there is so much happening so fast, I felt a bit exhausted when it was all over.
"Say hi to your mother for me." - Li
Cast - Mark Wahlberg,John Malkovich, Iko Uwais, Lauren Cohan, Ronda Rousey.
Uncharted (2022)
Fun Entertaining Popcorn Movie.
Sam and Nate are orphan brothers living in Boston, raised in a home run by Nuns. They dream of finding Magellan's lost gold. Sam runs away but promises Nate he will come back for him, leaving Nate his prized ring, owned by their ancestor, Sir Francis Drake. Through the years, Sam sends Nate postcards from across the world. Then suddenly the postcards just stopped.... Nothing.
Now, Fifteen years later, in NYC, Nate is now a bartender and he is also a highly skilled pickpocket, stealing from his wealthy customers.
Enter Sully, a seasoned treasure hunter that claims to know Sam. Sully needs Nate to find Magellan's lost gold that has been lost for 500 years and that is what Nate has always dreamed about..... And with the hope of finding his brother too, Nate agrees to go and the quest for the $5 billion in lost treasure begins.
But someone else is after the treasure, Santiago Moncada, a ruthless billionaire who believes he is the rightful heir to Magellan's treasure and will stop at nothing to get that gold.... Even murder.
"So much blood so needlessly spilled" - Santiago Moncada
So the treasure hunt turns into a deadly race across the globe and whoever can decipher the clues first and still survive, will find Magellan's lost gold.
Well I never played the Uncharted video game but the movie is a fun fast-paced adventure flick. It is not "Raiders of the Lost Ark" but it is a good movie. Antonio Banderas makes a great villain, and the teaming of Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland totally works. Nothing really special or groundbreaking, just a fun entertaining popcorn movie.
Stay tuned for two post credit scenes.
Cast - Mark Wahlberg, Tom Holland, Antonio Banderas, Tati Gabrielle, Sophia Ali, Rudy Pankow.
The Continental (2023)
Awesome story of Continental Hotel's mysterious underworld
Long before the infamous John Wick, there was the Continental Hotels. These Hotel are owned by the all powerful High Table and they have a strict code. The Continental is a safe haven for assassins and on these grounds, absolutely no business may ever take place. These are not just Hotels, they are a strong hold for the criminal world.
"This sacred institution welds power beyond your imagination" - O'Connor
This three episode mini series is the story of how Winston Scott became the proprietor of the New York branch of the Continental Hotel.
It is 1955 in New York city and young Frankie Scott and his little brother Winston get into trouble and Cormac O'Connor takes them in and puts them to work on the streets of New York City. A life of crime, working for O'Connor, for the High Table, working for the Continental Hotel. Frankie embraces a life of corruption with O'Connor but Winston escapes and goes to London to live.
Now it is in the 1970s and the hotel for assassins, the powerful Continental is still run by Cormac O'Connor, and Frankie is still there and has become O'Connor's top man.... and The Continental is still a safe haven for assassins... Well except when that red light comes on.
So when Frankie steals the High Table's priceless money press, from O'Connor's safe, that red light comes on and every assassin is after Frankie. But Frankie gets away.
Now the High Table is not happy and they send the Adjudicator, a judge and she has come to give O'Connor a warning.
"You have three days to locate the missing coin press and bring those responsible to our feet. If you fail, the High Table will declare interregnum, and suspend your position until we can name a successor" - Adjudicator
O'Connor kidnaps Frankie's younger brother, Winston and demands the whereabouts of Frankie.
"Your brother stole something from me. What he took is very important to a lot of very dangerous people. Find him because if you don't I will bring the weight of this entire institution down on you both" - O'Connor
Now Winston is literally dragged back into the hell he thought he had escaped from and left behind. Winston wants revenge and payback, for himself and for Frankie.
"This is more than vengeance this is justice" - Winston
Winston recruits the aid of a few Vietnam Vets, a cool karate chick, a marksman turn "good" assassin, and a homeless army of men.
Winston's team of misfits not only have to take on all of O'Connor's assassins, but the NYPD too, because the High Table doesn't just own the hotel, they own New York City itself.
"They control everything. They have eyes and ears everywhere.
They make people disappear" - Winston
But Winston has a a simple plan to take down O'Connor..... He is taking over the Continental Hotel.
"Lets take this town and everything that comes with it." - Winston
Wow! This is a Awesome mini series! The episodes are each over an hour long and plays more like mini-movies. So much better than I thought it would be and just an absolutely brilliant cast. Mel Gibson is great as the ruthless O'Connor.
The story starts fast and never slows down, with plots and twist and turns inside other plots and twist and turns. There are many characters with their own stories going on all at the same time. But they do not go out on their own, they are all woven together to emerge in one final conflict... and Winston Scott is the man that brings these unlikely people together for a final bloody, ultra violent showdown at the Continental Hotel.
"And away we go" - Winston
Cast - Mel Gibson, Colin Woodell, Katie McGrath, Nhung Kate, Jessica Allain, Ayomide Adegun, Adam Shapiro, Hubert Point-Du Jour, Mishel Prada, Jeremy Bobb, Peter Greene, Ben Robson
Episode 1 - "Brothers in Arms"
Episode 2 - "Loyalty to the Master"
Episode 3 - "Theatre of Pain"
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
Manners still maketh the man.... even in Kentucky
It has been a year since Valentine's attack on the world and Eggsy is now an official Kingsman, taking the place of Harry Hart. Eggsy is now Agent Galahad.
But the new Kingsman are not prepared for a massive ambush by the world's most powerful drug cartel, "Golden Circle." This cartel's psychotic leader is Poppy Adams, and she has set a target on every Kingsman member.
"Say goodbye to the Kingsmaen" - Poppy
And just like that, the Kingsman are almost all wipe out. All except Eggsy and Merlin.
Now Eggsy and Merlin must follow the doomsday protocol and go to America to seek the aid of their counterpart agents, the "Statesman"
"Welcome to Statesman, independent intelligence agency. Just like y'all, I reckon. But our founders went into the booze business. Thank the sweet Lord" - Tequila
The Statesman are a "Western Cowboy" version of the Kingsman. Now Poppy is holding the world hostage and with the clock ticking, these two secret agencies must team together to bring Poppy's Golden Circle down and save the world.
"As your American cousins, I'm placing all of Statesman's considerably larger resources at your disposal."- Champagne
Well honor and loyalty are the same both in London & in America and Manners still maketh the man.... even in Kentucky.
This Kingsman sequel is not quite as sharp as the first film, but I did enjoy the film. Not at all disappointing. Still a brilliant cast and lots of fast-paced action, cool weapons, stylish suits and clever dialogue.
Poppy is a bit over the top and Halle Berry and Channing Tatum are so cool and just totally wasted. However during the end credits, a added scene suggest a possible third movie. I do hope so.
"This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." - Harry Hart
Cast - Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Sophie Cookson, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal, Elton John, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges, Edward Holcroft, Hanna Alström, Emily Watson.
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Absolutely Brilliant British Action Spy Film
"The Kingsman is an independent international intelligence agency operating at the highest level of discretion. Without the politics and bureaucracy that undermine the intelligence of government-run spy organizations." - Galahad
In 1997, in the Middle East secret agent, Lee Unwin jumps on a bomb and saves his entire team. His leader Harry Hart, blames himself and returns to London and gives Lee's young son Eggsy a medal with a emergency number to call on the back.
Now, Seventeen years later, Eggsy is in jail and calls that number. To his surprises, he is unconditionally released. Harry Hart is waiting on him. Harry tells Eggsy that he is a secret agent in the "The Kingsman" and his father was too.
"The day your father died, I missed something. And if it weren't for his courage, my mistake would have cost the lives of every man present. So I owe him. Your father was a brave man. A good man" - Harry Hart
Now Harry, seeing the same potential as his father, offers Eggsy an opportunity to become a secret agent. Eggsy not only begins his training, he is finally doing something good with his life.
Then a genius sadistic billionaire, Valentine plans to fix the world's over population problem and save all of humanity..... by causing people to kill themselves!
"Mankind is the virus, and I'm the cure." - Valentine
Not on Eggsy's watch.... And with the Kingsman being compromised, Eggsy is the world's only hope.
Oh I really like Kingsman. The whole idea of the "Gentleman Spy" dressed in the finest tailored suits, cool gadgets, secret weapon umbrellas, and King Arthur codenames is so cool.
"The suit is the modern gentleman's armor. The Kingsmen are the new knights." - Harry Hart
This is a very smart British Action Spy film with an absolutely brilliant cast. The movie is super stylishly, fast, cleaver, crazy violence, and a bit of dry humor. This is a highly entertaining top notch production. I really must watch it again.
"Looks like a lot of people are going to die." - Gazelle
Cast - Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Michael Caine, Sofia Boutella, Mark Hamill, Sophie Cookson
Stay tune for an extra scene just after the credits begin.
Hypnotic (2023)
A cool B-movie
Danny Rourke, a police detective in Austin, Texas is recovering from the kidnapping of his 7 year old daughter, Minnie. It happened at the park, three years ago and right in front of him. He has replayed the event over and over again.
"I wasn't paying attention, for just... just for a second and I turned around and I didn't see her" - Danny
Danny's work is the only thing keeping him from going insane. While staking out a bank robbery, Danny watches a mysterious man calmly commanding civilians to rob the bank.... and they blindly obey with no resistance.
"What makes four total strangers pull off an elaborate bank heist... on a whim" - Diana Cruz
They only want a safety deposit box, but Danny gets there first and in that box is a photo of Minnie with "Find Lev Dellrayne" written on it.
Now empowered with a new hope that Minnie is still alive, Danny begins a new investigation to find his daughter.... And he starts with a local psychic, Diana Cruz. She says the bank heist was orchestrated by a hypnotic named Lev Dellrayne.
"Hypnotics have the ability to influence the brain.... sound, voice, locking eyes. Hypnotics use them to make you see a version of the world that doesn't exist." - Diana Cruz
Cruz tells Danny that Lev Dellrayne was a part of a secret government project to control people's minds. But he went rouge and escaped.
So what is real and what is not and what does any of this have to do with Danny and his daughter.
I thought the trailer had given away just about everything in the movie but you ain't seen nothing yet.
This is a very clever story told in the old school film making way. The movie is full of mystery and twist and turns, and had me guessing is it real or is all this in Danny's head.
Ben Affleck is absolutely brilliant as the guilt ridden father in search of his abducted daughter and William Fichtner is so creepy as the cold-hearted Hypnotic killer.
Now Hypnotic is by no means anything close to Hitchcock and looks a bit dated at times, like a B-movie.... A cool B-movie, and it is still a good suspense mystery film and a great watch for your next movie night.
Stay tuned during the credits for a really cool scene that sets up a sequel.
Cast - Ben Affleck, Alica Braga, William Fichtner, Jeff Fahey, JD Pardo, Hala Finley.
Echo (2023)
Nice spin off in the Marvel Universe
It is 2007, in Tamaha, Oklahoma, Maya Lopez a young deaf Native American Choctaw, is in a car accident that kills her mother and loses her leg.
Maya's grandmother, (Chula) blames Maya's father William for the accident and her daughter's death.
William, takes little Maya and movies to New York. There he continues a criminal life under Wilson Fisk, better known as The Kingpin. The Kingpin is the crime lord of NYC.
The Kingpin likes Maya and takes her in and becomes her adoptive uncle. He trains and teaches Maya to be a tough and ruthless killer... Maya becomes the Kingpin's second in command and a force to be feared and reckoned with.
But when William is killed and Maya discovers the Kingpin ordered the kill, Maya shoots him and goes back home to Tamaha, Oklahoma. But her past follows her... along with the Kingpin's thugs.
Maya plans to destroy the Fisk business and break The Kingpin's power over her and her town.
"Kingpin had his run. It's time for a queen." - Maya
But when she blows up one of the Fisk's armories, Maya's uncle Henry warns her to stop before the Fisk's men comes after her family.
"I won't bring a war here, to the people I love, and who love you." - Henry
With her family in danger, Maya must face The Kingpin and his thugs for one final showdown. But this time they are on Choctaw sacred ground, at their Powwow celebration. The ground were Maya's ancient ancestors powers Echo through the ages, watching and protecting their family, they Echo through Maya.
"I think generations are echoing... reaching out to us. At a time when we need them the most." - Chula
I only watched Echo for the Kingpin. I had no idea what it was really about. And I really like it. I think the story is a bit vague and broken at times, but it is well shot with lots of action. Vincent D'Onofrio is the perfect ruthless Kingpin I know from the comic book and the entire Native American cast is awesome. Echo is a bit campy but a nice spin off in the Marvel Universe.
Cast - Alaqua Cox, Tantoo Cardinal, Graham Greene, Vincent D'Onofrio, Chaske Spencer, Charlie Cox, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon, Cody Lightning.
Captain Phillips (2013)
Good Tom Hanks movie
In 2009 the U. S. container ship, Maersk Alabama is delivering food and aid to Africa. This ship is unarmed and without any security.
Soon after they enter international waters, the ship is hijacked by four Somali pirates. Captain Richard Phillips has his crew hide in the engine room and he tries to negotiate with the leader.
"We have been boarded by four armed pirates. You know the drill. We stay hidden no matter what. I don't want any hostages. We stay locked down until help arrives." - Captain Phillips
Captain Phillips offers them $30 thousand and safe passage. But negotiations are brought to a halt when the pirate leader, Muse wants millions of dollars and takes control of the ship.
"I'm the captain now" - Muse
The pirates then take Captain Phillips hostage onto the small lifeboat and head toward Somali.
Soon the US military arrives and surrounds the lifeboat. Muse demands safe passage and millions of dollars for Captain Phillips. So sitting in the middle of the ocean, with the world watching, they are at a standoff.
Then the Navy Seals Six are called in and now Captain Phillips knows there will be no more negotiations.
"It was supposed to be easy. I take ship... ransom... nobody get hurt." - Muse
One way or another, this will end soon and they are now at the mercy of the US special forces and now everything is beyond their control.
"Captain Phillips" is based on a true story and was the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in over two hundred years.
The movie really tries to be a pulse-pounding, on the edge of your seat type thriller, but it really just falls flat and looks more like a TV Doc/Drama. It is still a good story worth watching with Tom Hanks the carrying the film.
Cast - Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener, Barkhad Abdi, Michael Chernus.
Draft Day (2014)
Kevin Costner makes it worth the watch
It is the early morning on Draft day in the NFL and General Manager of the Cleveland Browns, Sonny Weaver is under pressure to make a trade for the number one pick. Pressure from the owner of team, his new coach, and even his mother.
"You can help me, by making a splash. And if you can't do it, then I have to do it, and... I don't wanna have to do that, Sonny." - Anthony Molina
Sonny really likes a lower rated Linebacker, but everyone wants him to take the popular superstar QB and #1 pick.
The clock is ticking, in only 13 hours the NFL Draft begins, so in desperation, Sonny trades the Brown's first round picks for the next three years! That is so much for just one #1 pick.
"Let me see if I've got this right: in the span of one day, you have managed to burn through three years' worth of first round and second round draft picks" - Coach Penn
As the play clock winds down, Sonny shocks the football world with his pick.
Draft Day looks a bit like a stage play and apparently the NFL Draft is more about money and politics than the game of football. But there is Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner, and Ellen Burstyn! They lift up this so so story into a entertaining movie that had me rooting for the underdog.
"Thirty-two teams, seven rounds, 224 young men who, today, are about to become players in the National Football League. Of course, I'm talking about... Draft Day!" - Chris Berman
Cast - Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, Ellen Burstyn, Denis Leary, Frank Langella, Sam Elliott, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Berman.
42 (2013)
Must see for Baseball fans
It is 1945, and the Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey decides to do something unheard of.... recruit a black baseball player for his team.
On the recommendation of sportswriter, Wendell Smith, Rickey picks Jackie Robinson of the Kansas City Monarchs. Robinson agrees and History is made.... But Rickey warns him of the disapproval and the hate that he will be facing.
"I want a player who's got the guts not to fight back ....you gotta have the guts to turn the other cheek. Can you do it?" - Branch Rickey
Well not only are baseball fans not ready for a black man in "white" baseball, even Jackie's own teammates sign a petition, refusing to play with him. But Robinson's talent on the field speaks volumes and head coach Leo Durocher puts an end to that quickly.
"If Robinson can help us win, then he is gonna play on this ball club!" - Leo Durocher
As the baseball season begins, so does the hate against Robinson. The hostile crowds, ridicule from both players and coaches, and even hotels refusing the entire team.
But through it all Robinson and the Dodgers come together as a team to win the pennant and win over the fans.
OK I only watched 42 because of Harrison Ford... And he is awesome as Dodger owner, Branch Rickey. But 42 is a really good film, and a must see for Baseball fans. The true story of Jackie Robinson, the first black MLB player is a above average sports movie. Just a superb cast and a good script. Great family movie.
"I'm not goin' anywhere! I'm right here!" - Jackie Robinson
Cast - Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, André Holland, Lucas Black, Hamish Linklater.
The Flash (2023)
Just a OK Superhero movie
The Flash, (Barry Allen) plans to use his super speed to travel back in time to save his mother. But Bruce Wayne tries to warn him of the consequences.
"Barry, if you were to go into the past, any interaction you have with your parents or yourself, you step on the wrong blade of grass, you have no idea what the consequences to that could be" - Bruce Wayne
But Barry really believes he can fix everything and save his mom.
"You could also destroy everything" - Bruce Wayne
Well Barry does go back and changes the past, and it seems to have worked. But as he is returning to his time, Barry is blocked and is literally knocked back by an unknown speedster.
Trapped in the past, Barry interacts with his parents, and he meets his younger self! Barry's interference with the past has changed the future and created an alternate world! A world without a Superman, Wonder Woman, or Aquaman. No Justice League! No superheros! And now General Zod is coming to destroy the earth
"I created a world with no meta- humans and now there's no one to defend us" - Barry
The two Barrys are now the last hope the earth has. But maybe there is someone that may can help them... a older retired Bruce Wayne.
"Yeah. I'm Batman." - Batman
Barry convinces Bruce to be the Batman again and help them to save the world and reset the future.
"If I can't undo what I did, if I can't get back, there may not be a future! - Barry
Based on the DC Comics, The Flash is a OK movie. At times Barry's dialogue is a bit goofy and just silly and annoying. Also the CGI is shockingly terrible! However the story becomes very interesting when the Batman enters the picture. Michael Keaton is so awesome again as a older retired Batman. I wish he had more screen time.
The storyline is a good idea and I like the humor and seeing all the superhero cameos from the DC universe. But I think the Flash is much better in the Justice League and not his own movie.
Cast - Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, Michael Shannon, Jeremy Irons, Sasha Calle, Ron Livingston, Maribel Verdú, Kiersey Clemons.