MOVIE REVIEW: Malevolent

RELEASE DATE: October 5th 2018

RUN TIME: 1 HOUR 29 MIN

MPAA RATING: TV-MA

MY IMDB RATING: 7

DIRECTOR: Olaf de Fleur Johannesson

MAIN CAST: Florence Pugh, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Scott Chambers

NETFLIX SUMMARY:

Brother and sister team Angela (Florence Pugh) and Jackson (Ben Lloyd-Hughes) are nothing more than scam artists. Preying on the grief stricken and the vulnerable, they convince the bereaved that Angela has the ability to contact the dead. It's a simple con, until Mrs. Green (Celia Imrie) summons the pair to her home -- the orphanage that was once stage to a string of murders of young girls -- and Angela grows less and less certain of what's actually real. The fake paranormal investigators suffer the ultimate reality check when they are confronted by the true horrors and terrifying past that lie hidden within the haunted orphanage.

MY REVIEW

When I gave my IMDB rating a 7, I was pushing it, Malevolent was a great well rounded movie and it had some very good solid scary moments. But it almost seemed predictable at times. But I really liked the over all creepy feeling that stayed with the movie till the end. It was well imagined and you could relate to the characters. There was nothing cheesy about the acting, it was intense at times but in some parts it dragged a little and you would lose track of what the story line was. But it was diffidently a great horror movie. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Chappaquiddick (2017)

RELEASE DATE: April 6th 2017 (USA)

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 45 Min

MPAA RATING: PG-13

MY IMDB RATING: 8

DIRECTOR: John Curran

MAIN CAST: Jason Clarke, Kate Mara, Ed Helms

IMDB Summary

Depicting Ted Kennedy's involvement in the fatal 1969 car accident that claims the life of a young campaign strategist, Mary Jo Kopechne.

MY REVIEW

I was only 6 years old when that event happened, but I have heard so many different interpretations of  the event , I feel as through I lived it and was there. This movie gives me that same vibe. Now don't get me wrong, I still have questions of how they know some of this happened the way it did, but this story is as old as the movie is new. It's amazing how this story seems so factual based on stories I have heard, but can not actually co-operate the facts. But I enjoyed it, it was like watching history in the making. While some parts may not be factual the writers and directors stayed close to the story as it was told over the years.  It diffidently takes you back in time to another era. It takes you back to the late 60's when the world was much different before smart phones and the internet and how news stories broke out and a glimpse of how the world actually runs and who has the power.  

NETFLIX TV SERIES REVIEW: The Haunting of Hill House

RELEASE DATE: October 12th 2018

CREATOR: Mike Flanagan

MAIN CAST: McKenna Grace, Carla Gugino, Michiel Huisman

NETFLIX Summary

The Haunting of Hill House is a modern re-imagining of the iconic novel, about 5 siblings who grew up in the most famous haunted house in America.

MY REVIEW

I am only three episodes into this series and I am hooked. It has a slow but freaky build up to something that has not been explained. It has that feeling from the ABC Series LOST, but in a haunted house with real ghost. But it's not so much the house is haunted as it is the Crain family, but don't get we wrong, that house is haunted. The family is very dysfunctional. I was on the edged of my seat most of the episodes I watched. I will update this posting when I watched the last episode. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Hold the Dark

RELEASE DATE: September 28th 2018

RUN TIME :2 Hours 5 Mins

MPAA RATING: TV-MA

MY IMDB RATING: 8

DIRECTOR: Jeremy Saulnier

MAIN CAST: Jeffrey Wright, Alexander Skarsgard, James Badge Dale

NETFLIX SUMMARY:

A gripping psychological thriller unfolds in the treacherous Alaskan wilderness when a retired wolf expert is summoned to investigate a child’s disappearance. Hold The Dark, starring Jeffrey Wright, Alexander Skarsgård and Riley Keough, and directed by Jeremy Saulnier,

MY REVIEW

This is a slow build up thriller. Lots of intense action once it gets started. Sometimes I became lost in the action. While I am sure this movie will find it's audience, it is a love it or hate it movie. Watch with out interruption and put your phone down.

When I first saw the description on Netflix, with out viewing the trailer, I thought it was going to be a wilderness movie about surviving the wild, and yet while I think about what I watched it could very well be that very thing. I guess it would depend on your opinion. This is a good movie, just not sure who I could recommend it to.

MOVIE REVIEW: Friend Request

RELEASE DATE: September 22nd 2017

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 32 Mins

MPAA RATING: R

MY IMDB RATING: 7.5

DIRECTOR: Simon Verhoeven

MAIN CAST: Alycia Debnam-Carey, Philip Koch, Connor Paolo

IMDB Summary:

When a college student unfriends a mysterious girl online, she finds herself fighting a demonic presence that wants to make her lonely by killing her closest friends.

MY REVIEW:

This was my kind of horror movie, a evil presence killing people off one by one. A strong story line easy to follow leading up to a ending that really did not explain everything. While the ending was good, it was not a happy ending which makes for good nightmares when you go to bed at night. I really liked how the story was written with social network interaction but was not the main focus of the story. Or was it? That's for you to decide. Everything blended well together. This movie had chills. While I will not buy it for my DVD collection, I will watch it again someday.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Angel

RELEASE DATE: September 18th 2018

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 54 Minutes

MPAA RATING: TV-MA

MY IMDB RATING: 9

DIRECTOR: Ariel Vromen

MAIN CAST: Hannah Ware, Toby Kebbell, Manwan Kenzari

IMDB Story Line

True story of Ashraf Marwan, who was President Nasser's son-in-law and special adviser and confidant to his successor Anwar Sadat - while simultaneously Israeli Intelligence's most precious asset of the 20th century. Based on NYT bestselling book 'The Angel: The Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel' by Uri Bar-Joseph.

MY REVIEW

This movie covers the history of tensions between Israel and Egypt from the death of Egypt President Gamal Abdel Nasser up to the Yom Kippur War. It's not the slit your throat bang bang your dead movie but it has all the same suspense and tension. I find the movie very factual. But remember, it's based on historical events. So do your own research. The movie does focus on the actions of Anwar Sadat's administration and his personal confidant Ashraf Marman, and his life during that time. Regardless if he was a good or bad guy, it shows he was a human being. It also makes you ask the question where was his loyalties, with Egypt or Israel. I liked the movie and thought it was really good and can diffidently recommend it.    

MOVIE REVIEW: The 3rd Eye

RELEASE DATE:  November 30th 2017 (Indonesia)

RUN TIME: 1 HOUR 47 MINS

MPAA RATING: MA-TV

MY IMDB RATING: 4.5

DIRECTOR:  Rocky Soraya

MAIN CAST: Jessica Mila, Bianca Hello, Denny Sumargo

IMDB Story Line



Alia decides to leave Bangkok and return to Jakarta once after her parents died. She and Abel, her teenage sister, moved into their childhood home away from the city. But Abel, who was often strange and frightened, disliked the house. She said there was something else besides them. Alia and Davin, Alia's boyfriend who accompanied Alia, were ignore everything which Abel said. But Abel's attitude is getting worse. Feel she must to help Abel, Alia intends to take Abel to a psychiatrist. But Abel refuses and she says that she can see those who are already dead because her third eye has been open since childhood. Abel invites Alia to see Mrs. Windu, a psychic who has been always helping Abel. Want to prove all the things that make no sense to this, Alia asked Mrs. Windu to open her third eye. And slowly, Alia began to experience unusual events. She began to see skmething that no one else could see, and the presence of ghosts who asked her help. But them who were appears at Alia's house hurt her. Their energy is so negative that it can harm Alia and Abel. Without any other place for them to stay, they are forced to stay there and ask Mrs. Windu's help. Can Mrs. Windu help them?


MY REVIEW:


On Netflix this movie is called The 3rd Eye, but the Indonesia title is Mata Batin and it was released in the USA in 2018. The movie has several cheap thrills that will make you jump and then becomes a confusing mess of everything. While the special effects where high school student level, the story line was strong in the first half. Then it went down hill. I thought the acting was ok but could have been better. I found a fan review page where people just hated this movie, but I think it's ok for a cheap Halloween scare, but this movie will not be in my movie collection unless it's a gift and then I will be trading it in.


However it's not bad enough to keep me away from the director or the actors in other movies, in my opinion this could have been done much better with the crew it had. I can't say I hated it or liked it because it did entertain me for the 1 hour and 47 minutes. I gave this a weak 4.5 just to be nice, because it was not the worse movie I had ever seen.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Nun

RELEASE DATE: September 7 2018

RUN TIME 1 HOUR 36 MIN

MPAA RATING: R

MY IMDB RATING 8.5

DIRECTOR: Corin Hardy

MAIN CAST: Demian Bichir, Tassa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet

A priest with a haunted past and a novice on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate the death of a young nun in Romania and confront a malevolent force in the form of a demonic nun.

MY REVIEW

This movie was part of the Conjuring Series focused on the investigations of  Ed and Lorraine Warren. It did not disappoint. It did have those spine tingling moments. And I am not sure what was more scarier, the ghost or the story behind the nun leading up to the end. They both worked together nicely terrifying.  It did not dwell on special effects till the end. What I mean about that is while there was special effects through out the whole movie, It did not need the big budget movie effects till the end. Too many special effects can kill a horror movie no matter how well written it was. I can not recommend this as a family movie and it has a well deserved R rating. It is really cool how the Conjuring movies blend together but are unique in their own way. It was really great to see this at the theater. I truly enjoyed watching this movie.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Wave

RELEASE DATE: August 28th 2015 (Norway)

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 45 Mins

MPAA RATING: R

MY IMDB RATING: 4

DIRECTOR: Roar Uthanug,

MAIN STARS: Kristoffer Joner, Ane Dahl Torp, Jonas Hoff Oftebro

IMDB STORY LINE

Although anticipated, no one is really ready when the mountain pass above the scenic, narrow Norwegian fjord Geiranger collapses and creates an 85-meter high violent tsunami. A geologist is one of those caught in the middle of it.

MY REVIEW

I am not sure how to put this into words, but I am going to try. The movie had a lot going for it in special effects and the story line seemed strong, but what killed me was the English translation track from the Norwegian Language of movie. The sound seemed off. The voice acting was horrible.If I could watch it with the original sound track and English subtitles and not English voice track, I think I would have enjoyed it better. But I could not handle the voice track with what was happening in the movie. It matched but was not convincing. I am sure the Norwegian acting was better.

The Disaster itself was awesome and welled played out, Special effects was on target. I believe a R rating was to harsh and could recommend this for family viewing. If I can find a way to watch it with English subtitles I will give it a second chance. Even Japanese Godzilla movies with English voice tracks are better then this.

Netflix Documentary Review: I AM A KILLER

Google summary

Profiling prisoners convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. Recounting the events that led up to their crime, the killers reveal their motivations and how they now view their actions, after time spent on death row.

MY REVIEW

I have watched 10 episodes of this serious, each with a different murderer with his own story. They bring you in and you almost feel compassionate for what they are going through. You feel bad for them, you see clearly their side of the story. You forget why they are there and what terrible crime they have done. No matter how serious the crime you are sad for them.

THEN
 You hear the prosecutors explanation and the victims family and friends side and you feel absolutely guilty that you could ever take the side of a murderer. This series was so well produced and written to bring you in that close and personal to a killer.

Do not expect to be entertained when you watch this series, but expect to be educated in the justice system a little deeper then your prepared to go. The killers description of the crime is not so much brutal as it is scary. This is not a TV fictional crime serious, this is deep. It is possible you might get board. Because they try to be overly smart in why they are the victim instead of the cold dead body in the ground who's life was taken from them.

The killers are very smooth talkers, and manipulative. You believe them line hook and sinker, it's almost like they are your friend down the street. You know this person. He's the guy that you see at the coffee shop everyday. The man at the barber shop or the one that sets on the steps across the street when you walk you kids to school.

And just before the knife goes in your chest you find out who they really are.

NETFLIX Documentary Review: Inside The Criminal Mind

IMDB Summaries

Inside the Criminal Mind- a gripping exploration exposing the psychological machinations and immoral behavior that define the most nefarious criminal types. Every episode of the series delves into the ardent backgrounds of infamous criminal's and with commentary from world leading experts, a cognitive profile is created allowing the audience to not just understand but recognize the psychology that creates the most fearsome types of criminals.
—Jon Loew

Episode 1

Serial Killers

They may appear to be as ordinary as your next-door neighbor. In reality they're far from it. Serial Killers possess an unquenchable thirst for murder, performed with a total lack of remorse. Their names are seared into our collective consciousness as symbols unthinkable terror: Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer. Their heinous deeds are immortalized by their fearsome nicknames, Zodiac Killer, Green River Murderer and the BTK Strangler...Bind, Torture, Kill. For decades criminologists and forensic scientists have searched for keys to unlock the twisted psyche

Episode 2

Kidnapping

Their names made international headlines for their cruel and sadistic acts. Kidnappers who abducted young women, imprisoned them for months, years or even decades and subjected them to rape and torture - sometimes even fathering children with their captives. Psychologists and profilers struggle to understand the motives and mindset behind these horrendous, long-term abductions. Ariel Castro captured and sexually abused three young women for a decade. Phillip Garrido took Jaycee Dugard when she was just 11 and imprisoned her for 18 years, fathering two daughters with her

Episode 3

Death Cult Leaders

They are some of the most terrifying and tragic events of the 20th century - tales ending in horrific scenes of massacre, murder, sexual abuse and mass suicide. These are catastrophes caused by psychopathic Cult Leaders and their maniacal teachings. Charles Manson and his demonic family slaying seven innocent victims, including a woman who was 8 months pregnant. Jim Jones and his infamous poison potion killing over 900 followers, a third of them children. David Koresh responsible for horrible sexual abuse and the fiery death of more that 80 people at least 20 of them

Episode 4

Crime Lords

They are some of the most powerful business executives on the planet, described as, "part CEO, part terrorist and part rock star." Crime Lords control powerful organizations that generate unimaginable wealth. But their fortunes aren't created through clever corporate strategy. Their businesses are built on gambling, drugs, intimidation, fear and murder. Their tactics are heartless, their methods are cruel and their psychology is pure evil. Al Capone, John Gotti, Pablo Escobar and Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. They are the cunning and ruthless leaders of syndicates,

MY REVIEW

This was like watching your favorite crime movie with the exception, this was real. They broke down each famous criminal and the crime they committed. It was watching the history of criminals all the way back to Al Capone. It's not that you went inside the criminals mind but you heard the opinions of medical professional give medical explanations of why people do bad things and why they act out fantasies or become what the are. These range from a imbalance in the brain to sexual abuse or  Parental/adult abuse. Bottom line is all this criminals had a passion to big something bigger then they where no matter who stood in the way with out and any reguard for the written laws of the land or the authority of law enforcement.

TV Shows I am Watching

Instead of watching movies I have been watching Netflix and CBS All Access.

Here is a list of Shows and Documentaries I plan to watch and review on my Blog.

Now watching on Netflix

Inside the Criminal Mind

IMDB Description

Inside the Criminal Mind- a gripping exploration exposing the psychological machinations and immoral behavior that define the most nefarious criminal types. Every episode of the series delves into the ardent backgrounds of infamous criminal's and with commentary from world leading experts, a cognitive profile is created allowing the audience to not just understand but recognize the psychology that creates the most fearsome types of criminals.

—Jon Loew

I AM A KILLER

Will Be Watching Soon

CBS All Access

One Dollar

Set in a small rust-belt town in post-recession America, a one-dollar bill changing hands connects a group of strangers involved in a shocking multiple murder.

Strange Angel

A rocket scientist in 1940s Los Angeles is secretly the disciple of occultist Aleister Crowley.

My blog writings will be slower, but sometimes you need to watch a whole season in order to give a complete review

TV SHOW REVIEW: Star Trek Discovery

When They announced the show I was very skeptical and refused to give it a chance because you had to subscribe to CBS ALL ACCESS, but over the past year after selective advertising and several blog post and reviews of the show, I decided to pay for the subscription service and really enjoy the series.

It was not so much a new adventure every week as it was the continuing the story. I really enjoyed Jason Isaacs playing the his role and I don't want to give to much away , but by the end of the season he really showed his true colors. If you have watched his roles in The Patriot and the Harry Potter movies you will know what I mean. Jason played Captain Gabriel Lorca and it has a real twist by the end of the series.

Sonequa Martin-Green plays Micheal Burnham, before STD, she played Sasha Williams on The Walking Dead. She plays such a strong character on STD that I forget she was ever on TWD, and TWD is my favorite show.

The only thing I don't like in the show is the look of the Klingons, they look to intense however, I am in the minority in that opinion. But there is many other great characters in this show, and they have great important roles in the series.

I really like how they blend this in to the Star Trek History that we all know and love. It is it's own show and has it's own identity, but very much part of the Star Trek family. I am really looking forward to season 2 in 2019, and speaking of Star Trek I am looking forward to Patrick Stewart reprising his role as Captain Picard in a new Star Trek series. Will he be retired captain or serving in another role?

CBS All Access a worthy Net Streaming Service

For the past few years people have been cutting the cable cord and moving to net streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Sling and so on. And the choices are endless. The problem is the more you subscribe to you can end up paying more then the cable bill you hated. But you can always pick and chose and cancel and resubscribe when you want. For example I always subscribe to HBO when the next season of Game Of Thrones premiers or other favorite HBO shows then cancel at the end of the season. 

When CBS announced they where going to have there own service, I said no way this is stupid. I have changed my mine. For me I have always liked the quality of CBS shows. They hire and fire people just like the rest of the networks, but they have a standard second to none. I am not sure whats makes them different but since I was a kid back in the late 60's and 70's they have had the same standard. How is that possible with all the mergers  and acquisitions?

But I still refused to try ALL ACCESS, But Star Trek Discovery put the hook in my mouth and when Patrick Stewart announced that he was reprising his role as Captain Jean Luc Piccard I gave in and subscribed.  And I am happy with what I see. All CBS shows, old and new and I got the no commercial service plan. This is real entertainment. CBS  quality streamed through my Chromecast. I think this could be the best quality Net Streaming service and could be better then Netflix And Hulu because of it's limited focused line up.

I Watch Star Wars in This Order

There is much debate how to watch the Star Wars Movies, and like everyone else I have mine.

THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY

Star Wars: A New Hope Episode IV (1977)

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Episode V (1980)

Star Wars: Return of The Jedi Episode VI (1983)

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

THE PREQUEL TRILOGY

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Episode I (1999)

Star Wars: Attack of The Clones Episode II (2002)

Star Wars: Revenge of The Sith Episode III (2005)

THE NEW TRILOGY

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Episode VII (2015)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Episode VIII (2017)

At This time the 3rd movie will not be released till 2019


MY REASON

For me I have to watch the heart of the story that beckons the questions of how did Darth Vader become who he is, How did the twins get separated? And where did Han Solo come From? What Sacrifices where made to get the Death Star Plans? Yes I have watched the movies many times. But watching the movies in that order rekindles the magic of the Star Wars franchise. By not watching them in order it provides space to enjoy the time line. You feel like you have lived it with you heroes. To watch the movies in order just rushes the experience.

Many fans are upset with the new movies, but I am not that judgmental with the new movies. We can't dictate how the movies should go. Yes, I understand the fans wanted it to go another way. But our original heroes have got older and can't be the same as we knew them forty years ago. They are not bad movies. They are very well made so get over it and let the saga continue. 

I Agree With Pierce Brosnan, But I really Like Daniel Craig as 007!

It seems That Pierce Brosnan is not a big fan of the Daniel Craig Bond movies, and while I agree with his opinions , I am still a fan of Daniel Craig. The newer Bond films are a bit more serious then any other of the old Bond movies. I have several favorite old Bond movies that include Brosnan, But how can you not like what Daniel Craig has brought to the Bond role. It is a darker bond and more believable story lines. My two favorite older Bond movies are 1979 Moonraker staring the late Roger Moore and Die Another Day with Brosnan.

Both where very far fetched and took a stretch of the imagination to find believable. I really like it when a writer and director and twist your imagination so hard you can believe anything and put you in that world,

I can not find fault with any of Daniel Craig's Bond movies. You see the vulnerability of 007, and you get a sense that he might not make it out of a bad situation. This was never more truer then when "M" Died in Skyfall. Even though you knew Craig was coming back for another Bond movie I felt he could die. That is good movie making! And Spectra is my Favorite of Daniel Craig.

But I am still a fan of Pierce Brosnan, and will continue to watch for him and anything he plays. There has been a couple of his movies I did not like, But for the most part he will always be a great actor.

I am not sure I agree with this video, but it gives a good retrospect

MOVIE REVIEW: The Meg

RELEASE DATE: August 10, 2018

RUN TIME:1 Hour 53 min

MPAA RATING: PG-13

MY IMDB RATING 6

DIRECTOR: Jon Turteltaub

MAIN CAST: Ruby Rose, Jason Statham, Rainn Wilson

IMDB STORY LINE

After escaping an attack by what he claims was a 70-foot shark, Jonas Taylor must confront his fears to save those trapped in a sunken submersible.

MY REVIEW

This was a good shark movie that could have been better. I wanted to see more carnage. It's as if they made the over size shark to friendly. There where parts that you could not relate to how big the shark was suppose to be. The acting was good but script writing made the story weak.

I seen this in 3D because I was excited for the movie, I am not sure if it was worth the extra money. While some scenes where intense and awesome, it built up to a let down. I will still buy the Blue Ray because it's not a bad movie, But the trailer built you up for something that was not there.

Its not really a family movie, but I believe it could be a fun ride for the family depending on your standards

MOVIE REVIEW: The Veil (2016)

RELEASE DATE: January 19th 2016

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 41 mins

MPAA RATING: R

MY IMDB RATING: 8

FAMILY SCALE RATING: 5

DIRECTOR: Phil Joanou

MAIN CAST: Jessica Alba, Thomas Jane, Lily Babe

IMDB Story Line
Twenty-five years after members of a religious cult committed mass suicide, the lone survivor returns to the scene of the tragedy with a documentary crew in tow.

MY REVIEW

This movie reminds me a lot of the Jim Jones Peoples Temple mass suicide event of 1978. Except with a supernatural touch. It grabbed me from the beginning and kept me entertained. Some of it was very predictable and repetitive of other horror movies but over all I liked it. I did get a few chills but nothing to give me nightmares. The plot was very creative and satisfying over all, but this is not a family movie because of intense horror scenes and cult activity. It's a good sit down Saturday movie.  

MOVIE REVIEW: How it Ends

RELEASE DATE: July 13th 2018

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 53 Mins

MPAA RATING: MA-TV

MY IMDB RATING 4

FAMILY SCALE RATING 5

DIRECTOR: David M. Rosenthal

MAIN CAST: Theo James, Forest Whitaker, Kate Graham

IMDB Story Line
A desperate man tries to return home to his pregnant fiancée after a mysterious apocalyptic event turns everything to chaos

MY REVIEW
I think a lot of people would disagree with me about my opinion of this movie, But I did not like it because I kept waiting of a explanation of what happened. There was action and suspense but no resolve. You could say the ending was satisfying but not for me. It kept me interested till the end and dropped me off the edge. I was drawn to the movie because of the actors and promise of a end of the world story. That was there but not enough for me. This is not a family movie because over use of the F word. But in the end it's your decision if this movie was good or bad or a family movie or not.
 

MOVIE REVIEW: Last Man Standing

RELEASE DATE: September 20 1996

RUN TIME: 1h 41 min

MPAA RATING: R

MY IMDB RATING 10

FAMILY SCALE RATING 1.5

DIRECTOR: Walter Hill

MAIN CAST: Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern William Sanderson

IMDB Storyline
A drifting gunslinger-for-hire finds himself in the middle of an ongoing war between the Irish and Italian mafia in a Prohibition era ghost town.


MY REVIEW
This was a old fashion good guy vs bad guy movie except no one wore white hats. In this case John Smith (Bruce Willis) comes to town and cleans up both sides. this was the old west meets the mafia at high noon with all the drama and more. The gun and fist fighting was simply awesome. This should be a classic along side the Godfather. The backstabbing and fake alliances formed in this movie reminded you of a dirty political election. It was brutal in so many ways. At times you felt sorry for the bad guys (NOT REALLY). There is nothing bad I can say about this movie, it was awesome, I can totally give it my strongest recommendation if you like crime movies. But I can not in no way recommend it as a family movie. It is very violent.

MOVIE REVIEW: Vertical Limit

RELEASE DATE: December 8 2000

RUN TIME: 2h 4mins

MPAA RATING: PG-13

MY IMDB RATING: PG-13

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE 9.5

DIRECTOR:  Martin Campbell

MAIN CAST: Scott Glenn, Chris O'Donnell. Bill Paxton

IMDB Summary
A climber must rescue his sister on top of K2, one of the world's biggest mountains.

MY REVIEW

This was a great family tragedy, hope and family bonding story. This is when two siblings are mad at each other but would do anything for each other including risking their life. Great story surrounded by the adventure of the K2  mountain. The risk are awesome and again one of my favorite type of story lines is the will to survive in impossible odds. You really feel alone in some parts of this movie and hopelessness is ever present. I love the magnitude and scope of this movie. It is one of those movies you want to watch on a super huge TV screen. 

I gave this movie a high family movie rating depending on your standards it could be a great family adventure to watch.

MOVIE REVIEW: Poseidon (2006)

RELEASE DATE: May 12th 2006

RUN TIME: 1h 38min

MPAA RATING: PG-13

MY IMDB RATING 10

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE 8.5

DIRECTOR: Wolfgang Peterson

MAIN CAST: Richard Dreyfuss, Kurt Russell, Emmy Rossum

IMDB STORYLINE

On New Year's Eve, the luxury ocean liner Poseidon capsizes after being swamped by a rogue wave. The survivors are left to fight for their lives as they attempt to escape the sinking ship.

MY REVIEW

I love a disaster movie where things go wrong and people are forced to help other people. This is what happens in Poseidon. Hope is fading fast and someone has a crazy ideal to move on or die. You can listen to someone of authority or someone that knows how the ship is built and whats going to break. You have the perfect amount of a backstory to know what survivors are thinking when they have to make a choice. To me this was a great action movie like the ones they made in the 70's. This movie was never going to win any Oscars, but it was a fun movie to watch and I can watch it over and over again. Depending on your family standards this could be a perfect family movie. I think they could remake this movie once every 5 years with different story lines like the Airport series of the 70's

MOVIEW REVIEW: Rocky Balboa

RELEASE DATE: December 20th 2006

RUN TIME: 1h 42min

MPAA RATING: PG

MY IMBD SCORE 7

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE; 7

DIRECTOR: Sylvester Stallone

MAIN CAST: Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Tarver, Milo Ventimiglia

IMDB Summary

Thirty years after the ring of the first bell, Rocky Balboa comes out of retirement and dons his gloves for his final fight; against the reigning heavyweight champ Mason 'The Line' Dixon.

MY REVIEW:

When I first saw the trailer for this movie back in 2006, I thought to myself, this is just another Rocky movie to make a Rocky movie. And while that still maybe true, it beat my expectations. This was more like whatever happen to Rocky.  In Rocky V, Rocky lost his big home all of his cars and had to move back to the streets of his home town. But it was good to see him as a business owner.

Rocky Balboa was a character that you developed a relationship with and wanted to know he was OK. And while he did get back in the ring it was more to prove a point instead of winning a fight. A all out victory was not important in this movie but you wanted Rocky to survive. While times have changed around Rocky, he is still the same person in every movie.Nothing has changed about him.

I gave this a high Family movie rating but some younger kids might fall asleep during the slower parts and dialogue. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix

RELEASE DATE: July 11th 2007

RUN TIME: 2 Hours 18 Mins

MPAA Rating: PG-13

MY IMDB SCORE 9

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE 5.8

DIRECTOR: David Yates

MAIN CAST: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint,

IMDB Story Line
With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.

MY REVIEW
The happy go lucky days of Harry Potter and friends is over, The dark times begin and Harry must start to deal with his destiny. Dolores Umbridge takes over and makes life hell for the students at Hogwarts.

I really like /hate Dolores Umbridge. She is as evil as she is sweet. She is like eating a stalk of Rhubarb. You really want to cause her pain. She is easy to hate. You want to prove her wrong when you get the perfect chance. Harry starts to question his own destiny and power, he seems his determination starts to be challenged, it seems at times his closes friends can not help him hold it together.

We have watched Harry and his friends transition from a happy childhood to a more depressed gang with a clouded future. But even with tough challenges they hold it together. This is what makes the Harry Potter series so great, it's not so much about Witches warlocks, wizards magic and fantasy as it is about relationships and friends.

I gave this movie the highest family rating I could because the series becomes really intense in the last of the movies and books.

MOVIE REVIEW: TAU

RELEASE DATE: June 29th 2018

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 37 Mins

MPAA RATING: R

FAMILY RATING: 3.5

IMDB SCALE: 7.5

DIRECTOR: Federico D'Alessandro

MAIN CAST: Maika Monroe, Ed Skrein, Gary Oldman

IMDB Summary:

A woman is held captive in a futuristic smart house and hopes to escape by breaking into the computer programs that control the house.

MY REVIEW
This was a really cool and crafted movie. It is a Netflix Original. Even though we are talking about a AI computer, The movie speaks volumes about how education is a powerful tool in the world. It is also about being so smart that you lack common sense, this could teach you about developing relationships and survival instincts. If you fall into a deep muddy slippery hole and there is no ladder and it seems impossible to get out, you have a choice to give up and die or keep trying to get out till you die because you never know what will happen if you keep trying. It's about finding a weakness in the system. It's about developing trust and friendship and making friends with someone or something your afraid of. This is about putting fear on the run.

I can not give this movie a strong family rating, but it could be a family or group discussion topic. This movie is science fiction, but is it really? In a world of Google, Alexa, Echo and Siri, How long will it be before this type of house can be built?

MOVIE REVIEW: Solo: A Star Wars Story

RELEASE DATE: May 25th 2018

RUN TIME: 2 Hours 18 Mins

MPAA RATING: PG-13

FAMILY RATING: 6.5

IMDB SCALE: 9

DIRECTOR: Ron Howard

MAIN CAST: Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, EmilaClarke

IMDB Summary

During an adventure into the criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future copilot Chewbacca and encounters Lando Calrissian years before joining the Rebellion.

MY REVIEW

I am not sure why the fans was so upset with this movie. This was a great installment to the story line. This reminded me of why people fell in love with the Star Wars saga. It was brilliantly written and directed. Ron Howard did a awesome job in bringing Hans story out. Hans story is a story in itself that had little to do with the over all Star Wars plot, but yet he connects with the franchise. He is truly a loner. This movie explains why Han is the way he is. 

I gave this a strong family rating but it may not be right for your family because of intense action and scary looking monsters. I heard rumors that they messed up Lando's character, that is totally not true. This movie deserved better box office ratings then it received.

MOVIE REVIEW: Underworld Blood Wars

RELEASE DATE: January 6 2017

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 31 min

MPAA RATING: R

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE: 2

IMDB SCALE 9.5

DIRECTOR: Anna Foerster

MAIN CAST: Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Tobias Menzies

IMDB Summary

Vampire death dealer, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) fights to end the eternal war between the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her.

MY REVIEW:

The best way to describe this movie is a fight to the death or survival, your choice. But this was bringing the franchise back to what made it good. Not that any of the sequels was weak, but Selene was vindicated for all her troubles and problems she had with the vampire clan that betrayed her. I really liked the direction this movie went with her. The big battle was intense and satisfying. If this is the last time we will see a Underworld sequel or Selene, then it ended well.

MOVIE REVIEW: Brain on Fire

RELEASE DATE: June 22 2018

RUN TIME:1 Hour 28 Mins

MPAA RATING: PG-13

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE 7.7

MY IMDB SCALE: 10

DIRECTOR: Gerard Barrett

MAIN CAST: Chloe Grace Moretz, Thomas Mann, Richard Armitage

IMDB Summary

YouTube Summary
A mysterious illness is devastating her body and mind, but she's determined to find answers

MY REVIEW:
This is the true story of  Susannah Cahalan, a writer for the New York Post. I usually don't watch these types of movies but I really like the movies that Chloe Grace Moretz chooses to be in. She always brings more then what your expecting and you believe what you are watching. It also makes you question the tactics of modern medical care and how far a doctor will go to find a cure. It makes you wonder how many people that have good health care are walking around with health problems because a Doctor is relying on test results and not looking at the problem closer before they give up and deliver a false diagnoses. The director did a awesome job of keeping it simple but very informative and inspiring and suspenseful. 

I did give this movie a high family movie rating but some kids may not understand. So I stronly recommend to watch with your kids 

MOVIE REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

RELEASE DATE: November 18th 2005

RUN TIME: 2 Hours 37 Mins

MPAA RATING: PG-13

MY IMDB  SCORE 8

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE 5.5

DIRECTOR: Mike Newell

MAIN CAST: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint,

IMDB Story Line
A young wizard finds himself competing in a hazardous tournament between rival schools of magic, but he is distracted by recurring nightmares.

MY REVIEW
While still holding on to the innocence of childhood, the series stays light but transcends to a darker a story line and it pretty much stays that way the rest of the series. Lord Voldemort's plans become more clear. It seems that no one can be trusted at times. Harry's path becomes more clouded. Signs of distrust between him and Ron begin to show and put a strain on the close friendship and bond they have together. However Hermione sticks to the facts and stands by her friends. Sometimes it seems she is the stronger one of the group.The Games are more dangerous then you can imagine and a friend pays a heavy price at the hands of Voldermort. 

I gave this a conservative low family score, however if your family has watched since the beginning and read the books, you are well prepared. But it does get intense.

MOVIE REVIEW: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

RELEASE DATE: June 22nd 2018

RUN TIME: 2 Hours 8 Mins

MPAA RATING: PG-13

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE 4.5

MY IMDB SCALE 9.5

DIRECTOR: J.A Bayonna,

MAIN STARS: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall

IMDB Summary
When the island's dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen and Claire mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event.

MY REVIEW:
This sequel was really a true debate on animal rights. The park was destroyed and now the animals are roaming the earth free and wild. And that is another question: Are the dinosaurs monsters or animals. And Ian Malcolm expanded on his quote from the first movie.

"Yeah, yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should."

While Dr. Ian Malcolm never repeated that in this movie, his testimony definitely reminded you of that debate with John Hammond in the Jurassic Park 1993 movie. At first I was disappointed in where all the main Dinosaur action took place, but it totally made since by the end of the movie and truly gave the movie depth in thought of how we look at animals and animal rights. To me what the movie said was if you merge unlimited money and science together, responsibility ends because the  scientist don't know when to stop.  Have you ever done research on what scientist are trying to do right now? I have only googled it and I hope and pray what I read is fake news, but I am sure some of it is true.

I gave this movie a low family rating because it might be to intense for younger viewers, but what is good for your family may not be mine and vise versa. But when you watch this movie focus on the story line and not so much the action, but the action is awesome.

MOVIE REVIEW: Death Note

RELEASE DATE:August 25th 2017

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 41 Mins

MPAA RATING: TV-MA

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE: 5

MY IMDB SCALE: 8.5

DIRECTOR: Adam Wingard

MAIN CAST: Nat Wolf, Lakeith Stanfield, Margaret Qually

IMDB Summary

Death Note is a movie starring Nat Wolff, Lakeith Stanfield, and Margaret Qualley. A high school student named Light Turner discovers a mysterious notebook that has the power to kill anyone whose name is written within its pages, and launches a secret crusade to rid the world of criminals.

MY REVIEW

This was a NETFLIX original film based on the Japanese anime movie, It was non stop action and suspense from the start of the first kill. It had a deep mystery plot and a lot of intense action and unanswered questions. But it was a great movie over all. What I really like about the movie is it did not take long to start the story line.  It is also one of those movies that make you ask what would you do if you had such a power.

MOVIE REVIEW: Dante's Peak

RELEASE DATE: February 7th 1997

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 48 Mins

MPAA RATING: PG-13

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE 7.5

MY IMDB SCALE 8

DIRECTOR: Roger Donaldson

MAIN CAST: Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton, Jamie Renee Smith

IMDB SUMMARY
A vulcanologist arrives at a countryside town recently named the second most desirable place to live in America, and discovers that the long dormant volcano, Dante's Peak, may wake up at any moment.

MY REVIEW

This is a awesome disaster movie for the family. As much as it is about disaster it is about a family and loss. This had a great blend of special effects along with a strong story line. The disaster was not the star but Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton was. Because it was about decisions they had to make for survival and saving people from the doomed town. When I say family I am talking parents and adolescent kids. Once the volcano blows it's top it is non stop action and one disaster after another. Jamie Renee-Smith who played the Mayors Racheal(Linda Hamilton) daughter was a real gem, she was the sunshine during the darkest parts of the movie,

MOVIE REVIEW: James Bond: The World is not Enough

RELEASE DATE: November 19th 1999

RUN TIME 2 hours 8 Min

MPAA RATING: PG-13

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE: 5

MY IMDB SCALE: 7.5

DIRECTOR: Michael Apted

MAIN CAST:Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle

IMDB STORY LINE
James Bond uncovers a nuclear plot when he protects an oil heiress from her former kidnapper, an international terrorist who can't feel pain.

This was Pierce Bronsnan's best Bond film, but not my favorite. In my opinion the writers knew that the Bond films where going to go much darker with the next actor to play Bond. This was another movie transitioning to that Bond roll. We find Bond getting beaten up a bit more then previous Bond movies. We have always seen Bond in a fight, but he was taking more of a beating here. This seemed more darker then Licence to Kill. However the story line was classic Bond. A lot of fast passed action and impossible battles. Bronsnan was at his best, in fact this could be his best film ever but not the Bond film I like him best in nor my favorite Bronsnan movie. However The World is not Enough was a fine addition to the Bond Collection.

MOVIE REVIEW: Underworld Awakening

RELEASE DATE: January 20th 2012

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 28 min

MPAA RATING: R

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE 2

IMDB MOVIE SCALE 9.5

DIRECTORS: Mans Marland, Bjorn Stein

MAIN CAST: Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, India Eisley

IMDB Summary

Vampire death dealer, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) fights to end the eternal war between the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her.

MY REVIEW

I disagree with the IMDB Summary. Selene has always fought to end the war, but this movie is more about survival of her Micheal and her child. However in this sequel she wakes up in captivity. It appears that a new order has taken over the world, but what is scarier is who is in charge.Again Selene finds herself being a reluctant alley with the vampires in fighting the lycans. But her daughter has some surprising talents of her own and turns out to be a trusted alley. However Selene is more alone then ever in this battle.   

MOVIE REVIEW: Exorcist: The Beginning

RELEASE DATE: August 20th 2004

RUN TIME: 1 Hour 54 Mins

MPAA RATING: R

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE: 4.5

MY IMDB MOVIE SCALE: 6.5

DIRECTOR: Renny Harlin

MAIN CAST: Stellan Skarsgard, Izabella Scorupco, James D'Arcy

IMDB Summary

Years before Father Lankester Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil's soul, he first encounters the demon Pazuzu in East Africa. This is the tale of Father Merrin's initial battle with Pazuzu and the rediscovery of his faith.

MY REVIEW

This movie is the origin story of Father Merrin. While it is creepy and does give a chill or two, it is not as intense as the 1973 Exorcist  movie. It gives a history of what how Father Merrin became a exorcist priest. It is the story of how he became a believer in evil. It is his education of what evil can do. When I watched the 1973 I did not understand his confidence when he was fighting the demons that was inside the young girl Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair), In the 1973 movie Max Von Sydow played Father Merrin. But This movie explains FatherThis was a overall good movie and intense in some scenes. But it will not keep you awake like Regan MacNeil did.

MOVIE REVIEW: James Bond: Licence to Kill

RELEASE DATE: July 14th 1989

RUN TIME: 2 Hours 13 Mins

MPAA RATING: PG-13

FAMILY MOVIE SCALE: 5

MY IMDB SCALE: 8.5

DIRECTOR: John Glen

MAIN CAST: Timothy Dalton, Robert Davi, Carey Lowell

IMDB STORY LINE
James Bond goes rogue and sets off to unleash vengeance on a drug lord who tortured his best friend, a C.I.A. Agent, and left him for dead and murdered his bride after he helped capture him.

This was Timothy Dalton's 2nd and last time as James Bond. This is when they started to darken the role of James Bond as he goes rogue in a plot of revenge for his C.I.A friend. In many aspects you can see how this was more like the recent Bond films with Danial Craig. I think Dalton played a better darker Bond then his successor Pierce Bronsnan did. Bronsnan played a great Bond but would have been better between The Late Roger Moore and Dalton. However in a world of contracts and negotiations that most likely would not have happened. Timothy I think however got us ready for a Daniel Craig type Bond. I don't have a problem with any of the men that played Bond, they all had a specific style they brought to the roll.

The darker plot was a excellent transition from the previous Bond by Dalton The Living Daylights Because you saw a more lighthearted Bond to a Bond filled with vengeance in Licence to Kill. Bond was hurt and upset and wanted justice at any cost. He did not care about the rules. Much like Daniel Craig but not the same as Craig.

This is my Favorite of the Bond films That Dalton was in and in my top five Bond films. But I really do like all the bond films.