What Happen to the TV Media Junkie?

In 2011 I abandoned  my Freedoms Right Network because I was tired of politics and of campaigning. I was just burnt out. So for the next five years I started a new network called The TVMedia Junkie. I just wanted to talk about TV and movies, No problem right? Just talk about what is going on in my favorite TV shows and movies, write reviews, chat it up about The Walking Dead and Marvel vs DC movies and when the next Star Wars movies will be coming out. You get the point.

Things went well for a while, I even spoke on a blog cast a few times. It was truly fun and I was enjoying  myself. Nothing makes me more happier then sitting on my couch in PJ's with my snacks and soft drink diving into my mindless world of TV, or going to the theater with my over priced snacks and watching the show.

But then came election 2016. I understand that we don't all agree on what direction this country should go. But I should not be shamed into thinking their way nor should I shame them. But it's getting ridiculous. These protest against Trump are out of control. It's like they fight to have no responsibility, a fight to have no respect for this great nation or whats left of it. I vote for conservative values but I am not a perfect conservative, I have my liberal moments, but when it comes to my country I aim to the right as much as possible. That is how I want my country to run. I want responsibility. Is that so wrong? I don't care what you want to do in your life or what you do in the bed room, but don't tell me it's normal and please stay away from children unless they are your own. That is what I believe. You can live in your world but don't tell me I have to join you.

With that being said, I found it hard to promote a industry that was trying to tell me how to think and feel so I backed way off of writing reviews and opinions about my favorite TV shows. The fun of doing it was gone. As much as I enjoy the fantasy world, I do not want to live in it all the time. How can I write about how great a actor was in a movie when he was out bashing people for voting for Trump? How can I support a actress for doing a great job in a movie but then she is out in the middle of the street naked or wearing a vagina suit screaming obscenities at the President or wishing him dead or screaming for his impeachment simply because your candidate did not win?

I am not perfect, but I believe in God country and family and the what the Bible teaches. Does that mean I follow the Bible perfectly? No I fail daily but everyday I try to be better. I like My TV and Movies, but I have a remote and I can stop my streaming services and not go to the movies. And I don't have to buy the next Blue Ray. Its my choice!

Hopefully I will start writing again about movie and TV opinions. But I am in no rush. If Hollywood sucks the fun out of watching, then I will lose my interest also 

Observations After "Watching 13 Reasons Why"

WARNING: IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THE SERIES, POSSIBLE SPOILERS!


I can understand the reasons why many people are overwhelmed while watching this popular Netflix series. This is the most intense fictional series I have ever watched. It pulls on all of your heart strings at once. It plays on your thoughts, doubts and criticisms of what you may think of depression and of what you might think loneliness is. Of course it explores of what we think we know and don't know what a person is feeling. to often we think we know, but we don't know anything of what a person is experiencing.

While I watch this show and let might self get immersed in the story, Why did Hannah not lean on her parents more? Or where they to involved in the failing family business to notice she was hurting? They series really speaks volumes about the statement that suicide is a permeate solution to a temporary situation. She was so desperate to fit into that part of the world for the time that she was in high school.

I am 54, and I have to admit growing up I wanted to fit in, but to what point? I hated school because at times it seemed to be more about social circles then education. The reward for a good education was fitting in with the crowd. But not for Hannah, she wanted good strong friends that she could lean on. My grades where below average, Did I try to do better? No! I just wanted to survive  that day at school and get home. That was my goal.

Watching Hannah surrender to suicide just hurt.  But nothing was more hurtful then the last 3 episodes. Don't get me wrong, the first 10 episodes where dramatically important, It was the foundation of what happened in the final 3 episodes.

When Clay was listening to his tape and understanding how he missed Hannah's call for help. He refused to tell her he loved her. When he was day dreaming about what he should of done and Hannah said "Clay why did you not tell me this when I was alive", it was a direct punch to the gut.

I can not bring myself to understand why Hannah killed herself, but that is me looking at a fictional TV character. That is me not understanding what it is to be truly alone. Hannah had loving parents, I was not clear what happen in that relationship, Why did she not talk to them more, or was it they did not talk to her?

This series should be a lesson for school systems not to micro manage what a young adolescent or teenager is feeling. This should be a wake up call for what happens in our schools and why so many kids drop out because of the daily depressing war kids fight everyday. For the kids left behind in the system it's more about surviving the school week then good grades, Put bad grades on top of that it's like a impossible situation to survive.

You can debate and discuss this series on so many levels. The series is the blue print of what we don't understand of what a person is experiencing or hell that the may be going through. And what are we suppose to do when we see a person that we believe is trouble? How much space do we give them or not give them? At what point do we intervene, and how do we know they are on the edge? In 2014 Robin Williams committed suicide, just recently it was reported that lead singer for the popular rock band sound garden Chris Cornell killed himself. what signs did they show before they died.

I only scratched the surface of what the series says about the human condition. I know I have repeated myself in this blog post, but this series forces us as humans to ask ourselves why?

Suicide is the Permeate Solution to a Temporary Problem     

PREVIEW: Thoughts on "13 Reasons Why" Coming Soon

I have not been posting because I have been busy watching and getting thoughts together. Yes I am back, but sometimes I have to watch a lot of TV and movies to get my thoughts together. My Template Movie reviews will be coming back soon.

One project I am working on now is a in depth look at the popular Netflix Series "13 Reasons Why".
This series has hit me in the heart in more ways then I can explain, but I am going to try. It's going to be a very long post, because there is so much you can draw from this series.

Stay Tuned, more to come.

Mark G Pogue

If you Cut the Cord to Cable, Be Careful Before You Swing to @Sling....

Today I had a on-line chat with Sling TV and I thought it all went well.

My original question was How much was the bill today because I had made some changes to my service.

Before I got my answer, the agent said they noticed that I had doubled paid for service and I was due a refund, AWESOME!

So again I asked how much was I being charged today. because it was due today. they answered it would be 3 to 5 days before I got my refund.

OK, so how about the bill that is now due.

The reply was today's bill was cancelled, so that means nothing will be paid today.

Now maybe I was wrong for being so trusting, but with that news I went and filled my gas tank and a hour later they took the money.

I called this time.and he said he would be pissed too, but here was nothing he could do, I asked to speak to a supervisor.

He said that because that my bill was due they took the money. OK I understand that but why did they say that today's payment was canceled, he said there was nothing that could be done.

again my original question was about today's bill. Why could they just not answer the original question about today's bill?

After experiencing today's goose chase, I was wondering is anyone else had problems with Sling customer service. As of right now I have not canceled, because the service it provides is awesome, but customer service sucks.

I have never had any problems from Netflix or HULU, and there web page is very easy to use unlike Sling which is a nightmare. and both make it very clear how much your bill is. I have never needed to call customer service from ether of them.

I found a gold mine of complaints

according to pissedconsumer.com

Sling Tv - Sling charged my card after I cancelled.

Sling charged my card after I cancelled.I called them and they said someone somewhere logged on with an X-box.
I told them I don't have an X-box and they said that there is nothing they can do and to call my bank and tell them there was a fraudulent charge on your card and they will send you a new one. I told them the only fraud here was Sling charged my card after I cancelled. They said sorry and they would remove my card from the account and that I can enjoy their service for another month.
I told them I don't want there service.Stay away from Sling.

Technical prerequisite for using sling tv is only made clear after you have paid

I signed up to get IPL (Indian Premier League).To do that you have sign up and pay and then download.
When I tried to get it on Apple TV I was told (through a chat with SlingTV) that I needed fourth generation apple tv which I did not have. This was discovered within hours of signing up and I complained to Sling TV support which promptly cancelled my subscription within 24 hours of signing up. I now discover they charged my credit card and refuse to refund saying their terms include a prepaid subscription. I have disputed the charge with my card.
I think sling tv is running a fraudulent scam.They are currently offering a 7 day free trial period which means they should be able to refund anyone who cancels in less than 7 days.

Cnet.com also had many consumer complaints, and Sling TV seems clueless how to fix them or just don't care.

As one headline read, Great concept, poor execution 

My Pinterest Page

I have been on Pinterest over two years. Actually I can not remember how long I have been on Pinterest. I left it alone for months and recently I went back and made some changes and will continue to do so. I added and deleted a few boards and geared it towards my TV Junkie theme.

I have added several boards

Game of Thrones

Star Wars

Planet of the Apes

Criminal Minds

Into The Badlands

LOST

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Friends

24 

Marvel

DC COMICS

Gotham

Star Trek

Hawaii 5-O

Doctor Who

Lord of The Rings

Sherlock

BOND, James Bond

Cowboy Movies

The Digital Movie Collection

When digital music on the cloud first became available, I was slow to get on board, but I have adjusted to the change and have what I consider a large collection of music on I-Tunes and Amazon Music. But now we have the movie DVD collection going that way and I am still slow to get on that band wagon, but again I am using it more and more and it is now affecting the way I add movies to my collection. for example, if it is part of a series that I am a fan of I will buy the Blue Ray and add it to my VUDU cloud. However, if it is a major Hollywood hit, I might just wait for a sale on VUDU and buy it. I will not pay full price for a new digital only movie to download on the cloud.

The problem with cloud movies is that I don't have something to look at and add to a collection to be admired by friends and family. It does not seem real. When I look at my ever growing collection on VUDU it just does not feel like I own anything. It's just pictures on a computer screen that I can watch anywhere there is a internet connection. It does not feel like it's mine.

The picture below is part of my DVD and BLUE RAY collection, it's part of my surroundings and home decor. I don't have to turn on my computer and look at my collection. It's my personal collection that I take a little pride in.

I just wish that I-Tunes, VUDU and Amazon or someone could come up with a way to make the cloud collections more personal and something to feel and touch.

MOVIE REVIEW: Arrival

RELEASE DATE: November 11th 2016

DIRECTOR: Denis Villeneuve

MAIN CAST: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker

IMDB Story Line

When twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world, linguistics professor Louise Banks is tasked with interpreting the language of the apparent alien visitors.

WHAT I LIKED

For a movie about a visitors from outer space, it was very different in thinking. For me it was not so much about aliens as it was communication and how as humans we fail at it because we always think we know what is being said from the other side. This was ever so true in this movie. I also like how they took time in building up to seeing the space craft. Even though I saw the trailer and knew what it looked like, the suspense grabbed me. It was a slow build up and usually I fall asleep during a movie like that, but it was so well written I was glued to the screen.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:

I found parts hard to understand, It was truly the action and the story telling that kept me interested. I found the ending confusing and asked myself what that was all about and what did I watch and what was the purpose of the movie. I will watch it again with subtitles on, because the movie was to well written to have that type of confusing ending. I had to miss something

SIDE NOTES

Movie received a PG-13 rating, I think it could have been a PG.I think this could be a family movie but younger viewers may find it boring and some may find the alien life form scary. I did not see this movie at the theater but did buy it on VUDU cloud on a discounted price. I gave this movie a 8 out of 10 on IMDB because of confusing parts  

@Skybound Recap of The Walking Dead Seasons 1-6

With the fast approaching Walking Dead Season 7 Finale, I thought why not a recap of Seasons 1-6 of how our the group got to this point, So while looking at YouTube to put together this Blog Post I found this great site called Skybound created by Robert Kirkman.  It's amazing what treasures you find when your doing a little research to put together a blog post. Here is link to this great site



Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Thoughts on The Walking Dead Season 7

As  write this, it is now two Sundays away from the finale of Season 7. For me this has been one long and crushing season. It was hard for me to watch, but it was a strong part of the whole story of The Walking Dead. We have seen this group overcome hell over the past 6 seasons that when we experienced Season 7 it was a the punch to the gut that would not get better. It was the everlasting common cold. It started with the deaths of Glen and Abraham, Daryl was captured and did not escaped until episode 8. The first half of the season was depressing and hopeless. Rick Grimes was beaten down so bad it was as if he was dealing with depression. The saviors just kept coming and taking the guns and the beds just to burn the mattresses in the middle of the road. It is hard enough to have something stolen from you and watch someone enjoy it, but just to steal it and have it destroyed was more painful.

But at the end of episode 8 we saw a glance of hope and Rick seemed to come back to himself and the birth of a plan to fight back after Daryl escapes Negan's prison. I am still wondering how King Ezekiel will play in all of this and will Sara give up the group she encountered in episode 6 called Swear and if they will play a part in the end? If so, how? Do not forget Carol, because she does what needs to be done. If you see her getting some gas her target may want to find flowers to look at. And I am more then positive that Jadis from episode 10 called New Best Friends will play a big part in the season finale. I have read that Negan will be back in Season 8. But how many episodes I do not know. I don't think he will be killed off at the end of season 7

Even if team Rick wins the war , there will be a heavy cost. It is almost certain that Sasha will die because of what has been reported on the verified news sites, but still can not say for sure. Who else might perish in the war.

it's Time to RISE UP!

MOVIE REVIEW: Van Helsing (2004)

RELEASE DATE: May 7th 2004

DIRECTOR: Stephen Sommers

MAIN CAST: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh

WHAT I LIKED

As best as it could, with all the modern changes made in movie making, this movie reached back to the classic horror film making. I don't mean to say it was terrifying, but the movie had it's intense moments. Awesome landscape and visuals. And while it was dark, there was a lot of vibrant color blended perfectly in the story. Dracula's ball at his mansion was filled with activity. It was a treat to the eyes. I enjoyed how the movie had all the old monster stories. Frankenstein monster, Igor, Jekyll & Hyde and Werewolves and of course Vampires and big creepy beautiful dark mansions.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

This was a good movie, I am not going to pick it apart for small things I may have not understood.

SIDE NOTES

Movie was rated a well deserved PG-13, Movie could be a family movie , do not recommend for younger viewers. Pre-teens or teenagers should be able to handle it, It all depends on your family standards. I gave it a 10 on the IMDB scal

Parental Viewing Guide For My Movie Reviews

Most of my post have been movie reviews, with that in mind I will soon change my family view rating guide with a trusted source. However it is possible that I may disagree with the source that I pick, that is not important. I want the reader to look at my opinion and consider the source I provided. I have not decided how I will make the change but wanted to put the word out there that I am looking at options how I will convert that part of the review.

Just because I may think it's a great family movie, you may not. Your family standard is more important, going forward I will explain why I think it is ok for the family. Maybe only a father and son or mother and daughter should watch the movie together. There could be different variables. I know when my kids where young there where movies I would watch with my wife but not my kids, or a movie I would watch with my son but not my daughter.

I will let you all know when I make the change, and go back and make chages into my previous reviews and upgrade my review as soon as I decide on the change.

MOVIE REVIEW: Crimson Peak

RELEASE DATE:  October 16th 2015

DIRECTOR: Guillermo del Toro

MAIN CAST: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston

IMDB Story Line

In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds - and remembers.

WHAT I LIKED

It was a general good ghost story with a big huge creepy house full of mystery. There was a great sense of adventure when the main character Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is exploring the house that lead up to her fate. There was a lot of  intense paranormal creepy scenes

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

The movie seemed to drag in the beginning before you understood what was going on, and then again the story line seemed to unfold way to fast. It seemed at points to be unbalanced in telling the story. I mean you understood the story, but I kept asking myself why was this part happening now. You don't want a ghost story that robs you of your chill or scare, I don't want to feel safe when the movie starts to unfold, I want to be scared right up till the end. Over all the movie did not keep my adrenaline going, it was sporadic. Over all I blame the trailer for misleading you to believe that it was all terrifying.

SIDE NOTES

Movie received a weak R rating. Depending on your family values, this is not a family movie. I gave this movie a 6 on the IMDB scale. I did see it on the big screen and did buy the Blue Ray. It will make a great Halloween movie

MOVIE REVIEW: The Last Witch Hunter

RELEASE DATE: October 23rd 2015

DIRECTOR: Breck Eisner

MAIN CAST: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood

IMDB Story Line

The last witch hunter is all that stands between humanity and the combined forces of the most horrifying witches in history.

WHAT I LIKED

It was horror meets fantasy with a vengeance and as complex as the story was it was easy to understand. It had a awesome villain and creepy scenes. It also had a classic horror movie feel to it.
The witches used spells. It was not a stiff super natural movie but a movie with magic and fantasy. It had curses and spells and potions. Not everything was explained to death. The back story was to the point and explained.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

Is that this movie received to many bad reviews and it bombed at the box office and there will be no sequel. While it would have never been considered for a Oscar, It was not that bad of a movie. I am sorry more people did not give it a chance.

SIDE NOTES

I did go see this movie at the theater and did buy the Blue Ray. The movie received a well deserved rating of a PG-13, If your family is into watching horror /fantasy, then this is a great film for movie night. But I would not recommend it for kids under 13 depending on family values. I gave the movie a 8 on the IMDB scale
    

MOVIE REVIEW: Pride Prejudice and Zombies

RELEASE DATE: February 5th 2016

DIRECTOR: Burr Steers

MAIN CAST: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston

IMDB Story Line

Five sisters in 19th century England must cope with the pressures to marry while protecting themselves from a growing population of zombies.

WHAT I LIKED

It is the Zombie Apocalypse British Style. The Zombies have intelligence but yet very deadly. According to my daughter they creatively kept the story close to the book. This movie also brought back the horror of the Zombie genre which has somewhat been weakened with the recent Zombie movies and TV shows, But I still love the AMC TV show The Walking Dead, but that show is more drama then zombie and horror. This movie is British tea time with a infected bite. There is a good mixture of horror and humor and a healthy touch of classic British theater.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

Is more of what I question

While I usually do not like the ideal of a intelligent Zombie, they made it work. However is this a first stage of the Zombie virus? Does the Zombie eventually decompose to the brainless need for feed Zombie?

SIDE NOTES

I am sorry to say I did not see this movie on the big screen, but did buy the blue ray. The movie was given a PG-13 rating but could have been pushed to a weak R. Depending of the age of your kids and family values this could be a family movie, But I strongly recommend parental guidance for any child watching the movie.

This is RIDICULOUS! #FREESPENCER

I have watched Criminal Minds from the start, There have been some up and down episodes and story lines that I did not care for, but I always hung on because it got better fast. I was disappointed this season when Thomas Gibson (Aaron Hotchner) was fired from the show, but unfortunately it was for good reason. I had to adjust to new cast members when Damon Gupton (Stephen Walker) and Adam Rodriguez (Luke Alvez) came to the show, But over all I liked the additions.

But now we have this horrible story line with Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) being charged with murder in Mexico and now in a U.S. Federal Prison. The story line is unbelievable and wrong for the Criminal Minds TV show. I don't like it and really want it to end. This story line is not true to what has made this show strong and popular. It would have been OK for a two part episode, But it is going on and on. But I will admit, I enjoy seeing Harold Perrineau (Calvin Shaw) on the show and hope this is just a way to introduce him as a regular cast member once they get Spencer out of prison.

I don't understand how this story line can be so complicated. This is a TV show, This should have already been figured out and I am just not buying the story line of the Spencer Reid in Prison . End this story line ASAP or me and thousands of other Criminal Minds fans may lose interest in the show. What is the purpose of Reid in jail? So he can get beat up and tortured and play the role of the victim when they get him out? They are going to get him out right? Please tell me they are not planning to kill him off in prison,. That would be a horrible way to kill off Spencer Reid.

And why are they working other cases? That bothers me! The only case they should be working is getting Spencer Reid out of Jail!

MOVIE REVIEW: Kong: Skull Island

RELEASE DATE: March 10th 2017

DIRECTOR:Jordan Vogt-Roberts

MAIN CAST: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson, Brie Larson

IMDB Story Line

A team of scientists explore an uncharted island in the Pacific, venturing into the domain of the mighty Kong, and must fight to escape a primal Eden.

WHAT I LIKED

I liked this slower but still action packed story of King Kong. This was more about Kong then the characters in the movie, but yet you still knew the back story. There was some tense moments, because sometimes you did not know if it was safe to look at the screen, however  it was not all gruesome. It was great that the story was set in the 70's and had a Vietnam war movie feel to it. and the question I asked myself several times is who is the main star of the movie, Kong or Skull Island. I was very happy they did not bring him to New York just to kill him. King Kong was truly the hero of the movie.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

I was hoping it would show more of the Islands creatures. Hank Marlow ( John C Riley) spoke of really big ants. I would have liked to seen a bunch of those.

SIDE NOTES

I was very happy to see the movie on the big screen. The movie was rated PG-13 and it was well deserved. It could have been pushed to a weak R. Depending on family standards, it could be a family movie, but can not recommend it for that because of strong gruesome parts. Like monsters eating people, but it is not a gory movie.It is a well written movie. There is a very good chance I will buy the Blue Ray when it comes out. Gave this movie a 10 on the IMDB scale

MOVIE REVIEW: BLOW

RELEASE DATE April 6 2001

DIRECTOR: Ted Demme

MAIN CAST: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Franka Potente

IMDB story line

The story of George Jung, the man who established the American cocaine market in the 1970s.

WHAT I LIKED

This was a American family tragedy story with all the trimmings. This movie made you feel like you was with George Jung as he went from rags to riches to rags in the most heart breaking way. You knew everything he was doing was against the law and that it was wrong, but you sympathized with him and maybe felt his success and disappointments with him. I enjoyed life and heart break with him. This movie touched the soul of the person watching it. Johnny Depp's delivered this character flawlessly. This movie was rich with drama, some laughter, many disappointments and  deep heart ache at the end. This was simply a awesome movie

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

I was to involved and wrapped up in the story to notice anything I did not like. Nothing for me to dislike here

SIDE NOTES

I seen this movie twice on the big screen, and while it was not full of big special effects, it chewed on the heart. The movie received a well deserved R rating and I gave this movie a 10 on the IMDB scale and it is not a family movie. However, I could recommend a parent view this movie with a teen to give a visual explanation of what happens to drug users and dealers. Because this movie does let you root for George Jung and experience his heart ache at the end.    

I Want a Negan Back Story on The Walking Dead

Who is Negan? Where did he come from? Why is he so evil and mean? We know he will not last on The Walking Dead to much longer, however he is going to be back on season 8, but we don't know how many episodes. The Governor was kind of explained along the way in seasons 3 and 4.

But I want a in depth look at Negan. He is as cool as he is mean. I almost think of him as a mafia leader at the top of his game before the Zombie Apocalypse happened. How did he turn so dark?
Did he have Mommy issues like Darth Vader did in Star Wars? Negan is just pure hate as if he enjoys it. Is he a cleaned up thug from the streets? Is he someone that gave up on the world before it all went wrong and just decided to take advantage of the situation when he could?. Was he a politician with dark plans?

I just don't think he was ever a good guy. I don't think there is anyway they could ever convince me that he is evil because of something in his past. However, the writers take joy in proving fans wrong. If they do a back story, I hope it is not a season premier episode, but in the middle of season A or B eight. I just want to know who Negan is.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Green Inferno

RELEASE DATE: September 25th 2015th

DIRECTOR: Eli Roth

MAIN CAST: Lorenza Izzo, Ariel Levy, Aaron Burns

IMDB Story Line

A group of student activists travels to the Amazon to save the rain forest and soon discover that they are not alone, and that no good deed goes unpunished.

WHAT I LIKED

This was one of those movies you never plan to see but start watching and can not turn it off. It did have adventure and strong story line, Greg Nicotero did not disappoint in special make up effects. The man is a genius, he was the reason I gave the movie a chance.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

It was very predictable and a basic story line of a Typical slasher/horror movie. I wish they would have spend less time on a back story and just spent more time in the jungle getting chased. This would have made the acting better, the acting was not bad but it was as if they where holding back and I think that was in part of the screen play because the actors delivered on everything else. Over all the movie did not take me away from the world around me, and that's what I look for in any movie or TV series.

SIDE NOTES

I am thankful I did not see the movie on the big screen and will not buy the Blue Ray. It did get a well deserved R rating and I can not in no way recommend this movie as a family movie in any shape or form. I gave this movie a 4 on the IMDB scale, However, Greg Nicotero deserves a 10 for the work he did.

Trailer History of King Kong Movies

KING KONG

RELEASE DATE: April 7th 1933

DIRECTOR : Merian C. Cooper

MAIN CAST Fay Ray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot

THE SON OF KING

RELEASE DATE: December 22nd, 1933

DIRECTOR: Ernest B. Schoedsack

MAIN CAST: Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack, Frank Reicher

KING KONG VS GODZILLA

RELEASE DATE: June 26 1962

DIRECTOR: Ishiro Honda

MAIN CAST Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, Yu Fujiki

KING KONG ESCAPES (1967)

RELEASE DATE: June 19th 1968

DIRECTOR: Ishiro Honda

MAIN CAST: Rhodes Reason, Mie Hama, Linda Miller

KING KONG

RELEASE DATE: December 17th 1976

DIRECTOR: John Guillermin

MAIN CAST: Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Jessica Lange

KING KONG LIVES

RELEASE DATE: December 19th 1976

DIRECTOR:John Guillermin

MAIN CAST: Brian Kerwin, Linda Hamilton, Peter Elliot

KING KONG

RELEASE DATE: December 14th 2005

DIRECTOR: Peter Jackson

MAIN CAST: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody

KONG: SKULL ISLAND

RELEASE DATE: March 10th 2017

DIRECTOR: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

MAIN CAST: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson, Brie Larson

MOVIE REVIEW: Cowboys and Aliens

RELEASE DATE: July 29th 2011

DIRECTOR: Jon Favreau

MAIN CAST:Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde

IMDB Story line

A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. A posse of cowboys and natives are all that stand in their way.


WHAT I LIKED


Is that this was a thinking out of the box fun western SCI-FI movie. This was bigger then a shoot out at high noon behind the OK Corral. This was survival. This movie tells the movie goer that know matter how much advanced weapons you have, sometimes you have to think like a cowboy to win. I really like the quality of the actors.That for me made this movie a success and come together.


WHAT I DID NOT LIKE


The movie was considered a flop at the box office, but not every movie made can be considered Oscar worthy. To me it was a great quality movie. It was not one of my all time favorites but I enjoyed it. So there was nothing I really did not like.


SIDE NOTES


I did see the movie in the theater and bought the Blue Ray. It was given a weak rating of PG-13. I think this could be a great adventures family movie depending on your family values. I gave the movie a 10 on the IMDB scale

So Many TV Shows and Movies So Little Time

There has been many changes since the turn of the century in communications. The list goes on and on and on with no end in site. One could almost say it is over kill by proxy because technology will never stop improving itself unless it destroys itself. We are inundated with choices of getting information and most of the time it comes right to our smart phone.

However, lets move from that to a ever so slight happier subject. The way we entertain ourselves and the choices we make to receive it. It could be at the theater with a movie or a live show. It could be on the big screen at home or on our smart phone. Do we have cable or will we net stream?

I myself have a collection of over 500 movies and just recently cut the cord to cable and have started Net Streaming all my entertainment choices which has solved the problem of just sitting down and flipping the dial over and over again till it's time to go to bed.

I finally faced the reality that I will never get to watch every good show that is out there. I am still a TV Junkie but I am taking a slower approach to watching my favorites. If I don't get to watch a great show, such is life.

I am trying to go back to a old way of watching TV when we only had 3 channels. Watch a few shows during the week and Thursday and Friday is my movies of the week. That is still a lot of TV but not trying to catch every episode of TV out there.

In the past it seemed the more TV I watched the more I missed because I was trying to catch everything and watching nothing or not letting my mind go with the story. When I watch TV I want to be in that world that I am watching and ignore everything around me. I do have a job and family that needs my attention more then anything. In the past I watched so much TV I had to ask why I watched it and did I really enjoy it.

In September of 2015 I decided to end the TV Media Junkie network but decided in in late 2016 to make a come back. The time off was a good ideal. My readers have increased and it's not that I blog more but it is more consistent. It has become more of a hobby then a chore and I enjoy it more.

It's OK to love watching TV, but don't make it a life choice.

  

MOVIE REVIEW: Godzilla (1998)

RELEASE DATE: May 20th 1998

DIRECTOR: Roland Emmerich

MAIN CAST: Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo

IMDB Storyline

A giant, reptilian monster surfaces, leaving destruction in its wake. To stop the monster (and its babies), an earthworm scientist, his reporter ex-girlfriend, and other unlikely heroes team up to save their city.

WHAT I LIKED

The over all monster movie genre of a monster destroying New York and Man vs Monster while local officials are trying to minimize the problem because of a mayoral election. That part was kind of dumb, but I can imagine it happening. The destruction parts where great on a massive scale. 

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE 

Was a romance story and a reporter that was trying to become big league. This movie should have been about how to beat a terrifying monster destroying the city, However Godzilla has always been the good guy in previous movies. He has always been mans unwanted best friend that has always been rejected. This story had too many sweet tender moments in it, The acting was great but I just did not like the over all story line. I also did not like the Godzilla invasion in the arena. I thought that was too much. I became confused with Jurassic Park 1993.

SIDE NOTES

I did see the movie in the theater and I bought the DVD because over all it was a good movie. It was given a well deserve PG-13 and depending on family standards it could be a adventurous family night movie. I gave this movie a 6 on the IMDB scale     

MOVIE REVIEW: Tomorrowland

RELEASE DATE: May 22rd 2015

DIRECTOR: Brad Bird

MAIN CAST: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie

IMDB Story Line

Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.

WHAT I LIKED

It was a fantasy that made you believe it is okay to dream bigger then what you understand. This is the movie for dreamers that dream of a better world. This is a movie no matter what your political views are to think outside the box and to listen to the ideals of people you may think that are stupid. It is a movie to let you know you may have to push a little harder to achieve your dreams. This was my dream science fiction movie to explain why we are always reaching for the stars. This is the reason I loved going to Disney World. Tomorrowland is a perfect explanation of what Disney was dreaming about when he created the park in Disney World. 

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

There was nothing for me to dislike about this movie. 

SIDE NOTES

I can strongly recommend this film as a family no matter what your standards are. Movie was given a well deserved PG. I wanted to see this in the theater but was not able at the time. I viewed it on STARZ and hope to buy the BLUE RAY soon. I gave this movie a 10 on the IMBD scal  

MOVIE REVIEW: The Haunting (1999)

RELEASE DATE: July 23rd, 1999

DIRECTOR: Jan de Bont

MAIN CAST: Liam Nelson. Catherine Zeta Jones, Owen Wilson

IMDB Story Line

When Eleanor, Theo, and Luke decide to take part in a sleep study at a huge mansion they get more than they bargained for when Dr. Marrow tells them of the house's ghostly past.

WHAT I LIKED

Regardless of my over all opinion, the movie had a lot of strong qualities. The big house was the real star of the house. The mystery of it's over all floor plan was amazing. The green house, the mirror carousel and all of the statues and grand scale of the house was awesome. 

The movie had a over all good strong plot and story line. The visual effects where well done, it had a great cast. Lili Taylor (Nell) was the strongest part of the movie but was not listed as a lead cast member according to IMDB. I felt she had a stronger lead then the three listed.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

With all the great qualities of the movie it was not put together well. While you had a great cast it was as if the screenplay was not written right. It did not bring forth their best acting talents. Some parts where to over written. While the part of Mrs Dudley talking about the dark was amusing , it seemed to funny. The trailer mislead you into thinking this was a dark scary ghost movie movie, it did have the elements but did not deliver the goose bumps. I expected more from director Jan de Bont who gave us such great movies like " Die Hard (1988) The Hunt for Red October (1990) and Basic Instinct (1992)

SIDE NOTES: 

I seen the movie at the theater, and I am glad I did . It was a fun family day and we did over all enjoy the movie and I did buy the DVD. It was solid entertainment and the scope of the house made it big screen worthy. Depending on your family standards I can recommend it as a family movie. It was rated PG-13 which I think it could have been PG. I gave the movie a 6 out of 10 on the IMDB Scale  

If Tomorrow Never Comes, Good Bye Rayna James

As a fan of many TV shows. it is always sad to watch your favorite shows kill off a main character. Most shows kill off characters fast and sometimes brutal, Sometimes you see it coming. The AMC TV series The Walking Dead has become a true champion of killing off fan favorites. Sometimes we celebrate when a character is killed off depending if they where a hero or villain.

The last time I cried over a characters death was when Beth Green was shot in the head on "The Walking Dead" I was ripped apart because I did not expect it. Before that was JR Ewing in the Dallas reboot on TNT, Larry Hagman died the year before that but the writers gave him a great send off.

However Last night I watched Nashville episode " If Tomorrow Never Comes" I was heart broken and Devastated and shocked in my TV world that Rayna James (Connie Britton) died. This was a heart felt tear jerking episode of epic proportions. This was not so much how or why she died as what happened when she died. This episode was one of the best written episodes of any show that killed off a major character. It was what happened building up to the moment of her death. She was getting better then took a turn for the worse and from that moment, the gathering of friends and family. Decon's (Charles Esten) heartbreak and the struggle of Maddie (Lennon Stella) to get to the hospital before her Mom dies. And then you have the youngest daughter Daphne (Maisy Stella) cuddling with her mom one last time. But I can't forget Decon pleading with Rayna not to leave him and the moment she passed as the family hugged and cried was overwhelming because I have witnessed a family member die in almost the same way. I related to this episode in a big way.

I have to wonder what is going to happen to the cast of the show now. How will this affect them? How will the show change because now it has to. What is going to become of Highway 65. The two I am most worried about is Decon and Maddie, and yet there  is Daphne, her role in the story is getting bigger. Big changes are for sure coming. Nashville will never be the same.

MOVIE REVIEW: Road To Perdition

RELEASE DATE: July 12th 2002

DIRECTOR: Sam Mendes

MAIN STARS: Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Rob Maxey

IMDB Story line

Bonds of loyalty are put to the test when a hitman's son witnesses what his father does for a living.

WHAT I LIKED:

This is a crime movie like no other, it is a story that a father has for his son, and the love a son has for his father. This is not like The Godfather or Scarface . This is a story about family and not just the mob. This is a story of where the line of loyalty and where the line in the sand is crossed. This could be a fathers day movie for a father and son to bond. While there is plenty of violence, it comes with a price. it's not all about revenge but the reckoning of a unfortunate event.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

This was just a good solid movie, nothing to dislike.

This movie was rated R, but while it deserved this rating, it was a weak R. Could be a family movie.

I did not see this at the theater, But I will consider buying the Blue Ray.

I gave this movie a 10 on the IMBD scale  

MOVIE REVIEW: The Hateful Eight

RELEASE DATE: December 30th 2015

DIRECTOR: Quentino Tarantino

MAIN STARS: Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh

IMDB Story Line

In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters.

WHAT I LIKED:

How is it possible for anyone to have anything to say anything bad about a movie that Quentin Tarantino directed? His movie always have a simple great story line and people get brutally killed or murdered. As always when bad things happen in a Tarantino movie, I always feel cold alone and isolated and that is the way Tarantino brings the viewer in to his world and yet not repeat the same story line over and over again. Tarantino has like a template for great movie making and he never gets it wrong. You can always count on something going horribly right or wrong depending on the situation. Over all I am a Tarantino fan and I liked everything he did in the movie.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

Nope not going there, it was all good

SIDE NOTES

This is one of those movies I wish I had seen on the big screen, but I did buy the Blue Ray. It was Rated R for obvious reasons, and it was well deserved, and in no way could I recommend as a family movie but families like mine will watch it together.

I gave this movie a 10 on the IMDB scale  

MOVIE REVIEW: The Great Wall

RELEASE DATE:February 17, 2017

DIRECTOR: Yimou Zhang

MAIN CAST: Matt Damon, Tian Jing, Willem Dafoe

IMDB Story Line

European mercenaries searching for black powder become embroiled in the defense of the Great Wall of China against a horde of monstrous creatures.

WHAT I LIKED

I have always loved monster movies, especially Godzilla, or anything that destroys Tokyo, Japan, I like Asian Horror movies, Asian Karate movies and Movies like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and the list goes on so I think you get the idea.

This movie was all that combined, and it felt like a great war epic. I was very happy with the action and flow of the story. It was not so much about The Great Wall as it was walls that we face in life. It had drama. In the past I have been a harsh critic of Matt Damon's acting, But Martian was the last movie I watched with him and he was awesome in both of them. I did have issues with the Martin, but it was not his acting. I felt in both movies he was not as stiff as he was in previous movies. 

The action and and epic scale of the movie was awesome and I am so glad I did not wait for the DVD, this movie was made for the big screen. Just over all and very enjoyable.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

The only problem I had with the movie, is as vicious as the monsters were I wish they would have explained how they knew what they knew about the monsters, It seemed to be missing a fuller explanation not that we needed a full origin of the beast, but just something to connect the dots they gave us.

SIDE NOTES:

I went to see the movie at Cinemark and I am very happy I did as I said earlier. I will most likely buy the DVD, I did not see the 3D version, but this would have been a good movie to see in 3D. The movie was rated PG-13, it was very violent, but I would not consider it gory. It could be a family movie depending on your family standards, even with the my dis-likes I gave this movie a 10 on the IMDB scale because I just over all liked the movie.     

I WILL NOT WATCH THE 2017 OSCARS

For years I loved watching the Oscars, I looked forward to the day when they announced the nominations. It was fun to see if my favorite movies won for that year. I remember when Sally Field said "You like me ,you really like me" in her 1984 speech for best actress, I remember Roberto Benigini winning Best Foreign Language film in 1999 for "Life is Beautiful", his speech was heart felt and so happy. I remember when Steven Spielburg won the Oscar for Schindlers List in 1994 and many more.

They where happy and honored being recognized for the work they had done and not for a lost election. 

Hollywood actors are using award shows to trash the country and I am done with it. Will I still continue to buy it's product? Yes, when I can afford it, I will go to the movies and buy the Blue Ray if I want. It's my choice I like to be entertained, But do not condemn me because I disagree with you. I am deplorable and proud of it.

If Hollywood does go on strike , Oh well good bye. It was good while it lasted.

I am not boycotting the Oscars, I just don't want to watch!

MOVIE REVIEW: Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

 RELEASE DATE: January 27th, 2017

DIRECTOR: Paul W.S. Anderson

MAIN CAST; Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen, ALi Larter

IMDB Story Line

Picking up immediately after the events in Resident Evil: Retribution, Alice (Milla Jovovich) is the only survivor of what was meant to be humanity's final stand against the undead. Now, she must return to where the nightmare began - The Hive in Raccoon City, where the Umbrella Corporation is gathering its forces for a final strike against the only remaining survivors of the apocalypse.

WHAT I LIKE

This was nonstop action from start till the end. impossible situations all the way through the movie. Great story telling, understandable, deep but not confusing. Special effects where awesome. Spectacular visuals  For the most part it fit all the the missing parts of of the previous movies together. Like I said for the most part because...........

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

The movie seemed to change the story line of the second movie dramatically, I really was upset with that small part in the beginning.

SIDE NOTES

I went and seen this movie on the super size RPX Regal Cinema at Great Northern. Did not care to see it in 3D, But I will buy the Bluy Ray when it comes out.But very happy I was able to see it on the big screen.

Movie was given a R rating, PG-13 would have been sufficient. I gave the movie a 9 on IMDB. It would have got a 10 if it would have not been for the dis-likes. 

MOVIE REVIEW: I.T.

RELEASE DATE: September 23rd 2016

DIRECTOR John More

MAIN CAST: Pierce Brosnan, Jason Barry, Karen Moskow

IMDB Story Line

Mike Regan has everything he could ever want, a beautiful family and a top of the line smart house. The company he owns is on the verge of changing flight leasing forever. That is, until the relationship with his I.T. adviser turns nasty, to the point where his teenage daughter is being stalked and his family is under attack through every technological facet of their lives.

WHAT I LIKED

Over all the story idea was good and made perfect sense because of the world we live in today, I liked the way the movie ended, it had a strong satisfying ending that made perfect sense.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

The movie took forever to get going, I thought it was very slow to explain the plot. Parts where very boring in the first hour of a 1 hour 38 minute movie, it was not until the last 30 minutes of the movie that it got going when it started to truly hold my attention.

SIDE NOTES

I am very glad I did not see this on the big screen, I can not recommend this movie and I usally like anything that Pierce Brosnan stars in.

Movie was not rated according to IMDB, but I would give it a weak R rating because of strong language and one sexual suggestion scene, I would no recommend this as a family movie.

I gave this movie a 3 on IMDB and will not be buying the Blue Ray   

MOVIE REVIEW: Spectral

RELEASE DATE: December 9th 2016 (Netflix)

DIRECTOR: Nic Mathieu

MAIN CAST: James Badge Dale, Emily Mortimer, Bruce Greenwood

IMDB Story Line:

A sci-fi/thriller story centered on a special-ops team that is dispatched to fight supernatural beings.

WHAT I LIKED

It was a gritty war movie against a unknown enemy. I have not seen this type of a gritty SCI-FI movie since the 2011 movie Battle Los Angeles, It kind of scared you the way they introduced you to the enemy. Through out the movie you are asking your self what kind of enemy is this because it does not seem like what is obvious. It really challenged the imagination of who they where fighting. The creativity of what to do to fight the enemy was well written and believable. The cast was perfect and put together well.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

With out giving away to much, the main solution to beating the enemy seemed a bit like Star Wars when Obi Wan Kenobi shut down the tractor beam in the Death Star.

SIDE NOTES

But over all it was great entertainment, I can strongly recommend watching the Netflix Original movie and hope they make a sequel if possible.

Movie was given a well deserved PG-13 on Netflix, depending on your family standards on violence I can strongly recommend this as a family movie.

Due to the fact that this is a Netflix movie I did not see this on the big screen, but they should give this a try on the big screen at the theater, Maybe even on I-MAX

I gave this movie a 10 on the IMDB scale, and will be happy to watch it anytime on Netflix, no need to buy a blue Ray

Investigation of Criminal Minds Episode "Proof" Season 7 Episode 2

Episode Aired September 28th 2011

DIRECTOR: Karen Gaviola

MAIN GUEST STAR: Andy Milder

SYNOPSIS FROM IMDB

Rural Oklahoma, 1986. We see a young boy named Cy, who is mentally challenged, being teased by the other children. FLASH FORWARD. Adult Cy videotapes himself walking into the rundown house he grew up in

This episode just hurts to watch, It was a awesome episode and well written, but it hurts to watch because it shows how people ignore the dangers we live with and don't even know it. We always assume because a person is mentally disabled, that they are also emotionally disabled also. This episode exposes that on so many levels from the time the unsub know as Cy (Andy Milder) and his brother Matt (David Starzyk) where kids. His brother ignored him because he was a liar. I know this is just a TV episode, but what it represents is just devastating to what our society has become and what we ignore as being normal or don't want to deal with.

I have to wonder how many people out in the world become homicidal maniacs because they don't get the attention they need till it is to late. Are families that naive to what is going on in their family?
It was also disturbing that this mentally disturbed person would go to such depths to kill his victims. I am use to seeing that in good guy vs bad guy movies, but it hurt to see that in a person that is considered mentally disabled and really is incapable of making decisions. I have read about it and heard it in the news but to see it visually was unreal. Criminal Minds Director Karen Gaviola did a awesome job in showing us what we forget as a society.

Criminal Minds writers, directors and actors always find a way in a 45 minute episode to take it to the next level  on a commercial network. Could you imagine a 2 hour R rated Criminal Mind episode?
Something tells me it would not work, but we learn from all the episodes, if you have the right team, it can get done and done right.