There are some movies that just have to be watched on a big screen which is why I some day hope to own a 60-inch TV with an awesome surround system to try and get that movie theatre feeling at home. The last movie I actually went to see was the Lord of the Rings - Return of the King which was a must for me and was well worth the price of admission. That was on Boxing Day in 2003 by the way.
So like many folks, I usually wait for the movies to be released on DVD so I can spend five bucks and watch it at home when I am able to do so. Lately I've been fortunate to watch several movies and without going into too much detail I thought I'd give a brief review of some of them; nothing too elaborate. If you've seen any of the same movies, please feel free to post a comment to give your thoughts.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest:- A thoroughly enjoyable movie which I actually enjoyed more than the first installment. I'd recommend it to everyone if you haven't seen it yet. (8/10)
Glory Road:
- Considering I don't even like basketball, I was even more surprised by how much I liked this movie. The story is strong and it didn't wreak of trying to drive home the sappy message of the first college coach to start an all black team. (8/10)
Annapolis:
- About a boy from the wrong side of the tracks whose dream of attending the U.S. Naval Academy becomes a reality. Yes...it was as boring as it sounds and the acting was less than impressive. There's a reason why it wasn't considered for an Academy Award. (3/10)
Firewall:- Harrison Ford plays the head of security at a major global bank whose wife and children are held for ransom in order to convince him to rob his own bank for millions of dollars. This movie actually wasn't too bad. I preferred Harrison Ford when he was flying the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars but he does a good job in this movie with a captivating story. (7/10)
Inside Man:
- It takes places during a hostage situation in which a tough cop (Denzel Washington) matches wits with a clever bank robber, who sets to pull the the perfect heist. Not a bad story with a couple of interesting plot twists. I enjoyed it. (7/10)
The Sentinel:
- A suspense film based on the novel by former Secret Service agent Gerald Petievich starring Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland. I wasn't expecting much from this movie and was rewarded with a good plot that kept me entertained for the entire movie. (7/10)
United 93:- A real time account of the events on United Flight 93, one of the planes hijacked on 9/11 that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania when passengers foiled the terrorist plot. I really felt what it must have been like for those on the plane and for those dealing with the terror of this day on the ground. I highly recommend this film. (9/10)
Mission: Impossible III:
- Tom Cruise returns to one of his signature roles, Secret Agent Ethan Hunt. In this pulse-racing, mind-bending action thriller, Hunt confronts the toughest villain he’s ever faced. this is easily the best of the three and the story, action and suspense will keep you entertained the whole movie. I can't understand how this didn't do better at the box office. (8/10)
Poseidon:
- When a rogue wave capsizes a luxury cruise ship in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, a small group of survivors find themselves unlikely allies in a battle for their lives. If you saw the original...save your money. other than when the ship is hit by the wave it's average at best. (4/10)
X-Men: The Last Stand:
- The final chapter in the "X-Men" motion picture trilogy and probably the best as well. Good effects and a good story with some surprises. An entertaining movie if you're into this type of genre. (7/10)
Click:
- Adam Sandler portrays a family man who gets a universal remote for his television with magical powers. This was another movie where I didn't expect much but was surprised by an interesting story that makes you think about how each moment of your life is precious. An enjoyable movie. (7/10)
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby:- The film tells the story of NASCAR stock car racing sensation Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) whose "win at all costs" approach has made him a national hero. Obviously this isn't a thinking persons movie but if you're into stupid comedy, racing and laughing...it's entertaining. Then again, I'm a Will Ferrell fan. (8/10)
World Trade Center:
- Oliver Stone's drama about some of the heroes of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Not as riveting as the 9/11 documentary I saw or even the movie United 93 but still a feel good story that came out of one of the worst days in our recent history. It's worth renting. (7/10)
The Departed:- A film about Irish-American mobsters and the cops in Boston who are their nemeses. Each side working feverishly to flush out a mole, with deadly consequences. This is a fantastic movie and certainly deserving of it's Oscar for Best Picture. A great cast with a wonderful story. (9/10)
Flags of Our Fathers:
- The Battle of Iwo Jima, which took place in winter 1945, was a turning point in the Pacific theater. The battle produced one of the most enduring images of WWII: a photograph of U.S. servicemen raising an U.S. flag on the flank of Mount Suribachi, the island's commanding high point. The story wasn't exactly what I expected as it wasn't a typical war movie as it followed the men in the photograph back home. Still, it was a very good film and I'd watch it again. (8/10)
Bobby:- A film chronicling the intertwining lives of a grand cast of characters present at Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel in the hours leading up to Robert F. Kennedy's assassination. This was a very interesting film. I wasn't aware of its plot prior to watching the film but in the end it all made sense. An excellent story that was both entertaining and shocking. (7/10)
Eragon:
- A boy whose discovery of a dragon egg leads him to become a knight and battle an evil king. Yes, it's a fantasy story but it's not a bad story. It's worth a rent and the best part is the story is to be continued with more chapters to be released. (6/10)
Rocky Balboa:
- In the film, Rocky has long since retired but is drawn back to the boxing ring one last time. I was glad that I actually enjoyed this movie because I was so disappointed in the last Rocky movie and didn't want it to end on such a bad note. If you're a fan of the original Rocky, you'll enjoy it. (7/10)
The Good Shepherd:- The tumultuous early history of one of the most covert and powerful government agencies in the world is viewed through the prism of one man's life in this espionage thriller. This movie is one of the best I've watched in a long long time. A great story that keeps you guessing and draws you into the plot. Awesome movie. (9/10)
Dreamgirls:
- Based on the award-winning hit Broadway musical about a female singing group called the Dreamettes. This was a painful movie to watch and I came close to turning it off a couple of times. Eddie Murphy was about the only enjoyable character in this movie. I also lost a lot of respect for the Academy after seeing Jennifer Hudson's performance. It was average at best and certainly not worthy of an Oscar. (3/10)
Night at the Museum:
- A bumbling security guard at the Museum of Natural History accidentally lets loose an ancient curse that causes the animals and insects on display to come to life and wreak havoc. This is a super family film with good effects and a wonderful story. How can you go wrong with Mickey Rooney and Dick Van Dyke? (7/10)
Casino Royale:- In his first mission, James Bond must stop Le Chiffre, a banker to the world's terrorist organizations, from winning a high-stakes poker tournament at Casino Royale in Montenegro. In my opinion the was the best Bond film ever. With action galore and a Bond character that was believable as a spy it was an excellent film. The older films were good but this was the way Bond was meant to be. (9/10)
That's a lot of movies and there were more I could have talked about. Perhaps in my next review. I hope you take the time to see some of these films...but avoid Dreamgirls like the plague.
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