@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