Genre: Animation, Comedy, Musical

Year: 1999

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mary Kay Bergman, Isaac Hayes, Jesse Howell

Director: Trey Parker

My Review: Brought to you by the pair responsible for the South Park animated television show (Trey Parker and Matt Stone). Featuring old school animation, potty mouthed dialogue, and some really awesome songs, this movie is definitely not a 'cartoon for the kids' - Unless of course your kids are the kind that get off on crude adult humor, satire and socially relevant topics. The plot is very loose. With two themes run through the movie, it felt as if Trey and Matt didn't really know what they wanted to say. One theme features the corruption of our 'youth' (the South Park kids) by the potty mouthed Canadian comedic duo of 'Terrance and Phillip'. The other theme is a love-hate relationship between Satan and Saddam Hussein. Tying the two together - Cartman, Stan, and Kyle must prevent the death of Terrance and Phillip, in order to prevent Satan and Saddam from ruling the world. The pacing was a bit too fast, and the dialogue a bit difficult to follow (at times). If you can see past the potty mouthed lyrics, you'll see a story full of socially relevant topics. The 'song and dance' musical numbers were outstanding. This movie was a gift from a friend at work. It's not my favorite movie by this dynamic duo (Trey Parker and Matt Stone), but I like it well enough to watch it again. 3 out of 5.

Summary: When four boys in South Park Stan Marsh, Kyle and his stepbrother Ike Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick sees an R-rated movie featuring Canadians "Terrance & Phillip: Asses of Fire", they are pronounced "corrupted", and Kyle's mom Sheila with the rest of the parents pressure the United States to wage war against Canada for World War 3! It's all up to Stan, Kyle and Cartman to save Terrence and Phillip before Satan and his lover Saddam Hussein from Hell rules the world and it'll be the end of the whole world.

Genre: Drama, War

Year: 1945

Country: Italy

Rating:

Starring: Aldo Fabrizi, Anna Magnani, Marcello Pagliero, Vito Annichiarico, Nando Bruno

Director: Roberto Rossellini

My Review: Made in 1945, here is a drama co-written by Federico Fellini and directed by Roberto Rossellini (two of my favorite directors). This movie fairly marks the beginning of something called the 'Neo Realist' movement. Set in 1944, with an occupied Rome as the backdrop, the feel is just about as authentic as you can get. With the end all but certain, desperate Nazis control the capitol of Italy, and they busy themselves by hunting partisans. The partisans are a rag tag group of misfits; men who chaffed under Italian leaders, socialists, children and a priest. While the German regulars duke it out with American forces to the South, the Gestapo does it's best to ferret out the leadership of partisans committing acts of sabotage in the open city of Rome. An excellent depiction of despair and determination in the face of insurmountable odds. The characters are oppressed, beleaguered and tortured, but they never surrender their dignity or falter in their resolve. Excellent writing and direction. The camera work was a bit shaky at times, but this movie deserves all the praise it gets. 5 out of 5.

Summary: Rome, 1944. Giorgio Manfredi, one of the leaders of the Resistance, is tracked down by the Nazis. He goes to his friend Francesco's, and asks Pina, Francesco's fiancée, for help. Pina must warn a priest, Don Pietro Pellegrini, that Giorgio needs to leave the town as soon as possible ...

Genre: Drama, Thriller, War

Year: 2009

Country: USA, Germany

Rating:

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender

Director: Quentin Tarantino

My Review: A Quentin Tarantino movie. Not to be confused with 'Inglorious Bastards' (note spelling), here's an original script (written by Tarantino) and another hit from Tarantino. The plot - It's WWII, and the allies are behind enemy lines in occupied France. Brad Pitt leads a group of American Jews in missions to de-moralize the Nazis. His gang of 'Basterds' pull no punches in their persecution of the enemy, and their reputation precedes them. They soon become involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler and the entire high-command in a single audacious mission that's sure to fail! Mix in some rather nasty Nazis, some tongue-in-cheek humor, and a few knock out gorgeous gals, and you've got a sure-fire recipe for a block buster. Aside from the signature Tarantino violence (I had to turn my head away at one point - Somewhat reminiscent of 'Irreversible'), I was quite entertained by this movie. The pacing was quick, the direction superb, the acting outstanding, and the dialogue fantastic. The camera work, sets and props were technically perfect and period precise. What really impressed me most was the writing. In particular the ending. I really didn't see that coming. This one is definitely worthy of a re-watch or two. Well, maybe three. I rate it a 5 out of 5.

Summary: In Nazi occupied France, young Jewish refugee Shosanna Dreyfus witnesses the slaughter of her family by Colonel Hans Landa. Narrowly escaping with her life, she plots her revenge several years later when German war hero Fredrick Zoller takes a rapid interest in her and arranges an illustrious movie premiere at the theater she now runs. With the promise of every major Nazi officer in attendance, the event catches the attention of the "Basterds", a group of Jewish-American guerilla soldiers led by the ruthless Lt. Aldo Raine. As the relentless executioners advance and the conspiring young girl's plans are set in motion, their paths will cross for a fateful evening that will shake the very annals of history.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller, War

Year: 2007

Country: Russia

Rating:

Starring: Sergei Makovetsky, Nikita Mikhalkov, Sergey Garmash, Valentin Gaft, Aleksei Petrenko

Director: Nikita Mikhalkov

My Review: A remake of the classic 'Twelve Angry Men'. This movie puts a 'Russian Spin' on the movie. Featuring twelve jurors from various different walks of life. They're sequestered in a high-school gymnasium during their deliberations, but nothing is ever as easy as it seems. The accused is a teenaged Chechen orphan, accused of killing his ethnic Russian 'uncle'. The man who adopted him after Russian forces killed all his other family members. The political tension is underplayed, and there's no effort to make this a 'anti-war' movie. The inter/inner-character drama is quite well played, and the acting was fine. Depictions of Russia's segmented society are quite well played, but just a little bit lost on this viewer. Ultimately, a tolerance angle, as opposed to an investigative angle emerges as the overarching plot theme. The pacing is fine, but there isn't much new to see in this time tested classic. I give it a 3 out of 5, but I'd definitely like to see other films by this director.

Summary: A loose remake of 12 Angry Men (1957), set in a Russian school. 12 jurors are struggling to decide the fate of a Chechen teenager who allegedly killed his Russian stepfather who took the teenager to live with him in Moscow during the Chechen War in which teenager lost his parents. The jurors: a racist taxi-driver, a suspicious doctor, a vacillating TV producer, a Holocaust survivor, a flamboyant musician, a cemetery manager, and others represent the fragmented society of modern day Russia. A stray bird (a touch of New Age cinema) is flying above the jurors' heads, alluding to tolerance.

Genre: Action, Drama, Romance, Western

Year: 1939

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Andy Devine, John Carradine, Thomas Mitchell

Director: John Ford

My Review: Another classic by John Ford. Here's an early film starring John Wayne (Released in 1939, John Wayne was only 32 years old). The casting was definitely the best part of this movie. The plot starts out simple and uncomplicated, but the characters are rich and detailed, making for great drama despite the limited scope of plot. Rumors of an Apache raid don't deter this group of diverse characters from piling into a stagecoach for a ride across the dusty and dangerous landscape of . They've all got their reasons, and those reasons aren't the happy kind. With a complex and conflicted cast of characters, the tension builds as the threat of danger increases. The acting was great, the direction superb, and the music expertly crafted to elevate the mood. The locations and camera work were surprisingly pleasing for such an early release (an early sound movie shot on location). Unfortunately, the film is deteriorating and the exposure suffering (especially the opening shots). Justly deserving of it's two oscars. 4 out of 5.

Summary: A simple stagecoach trip is complicated by the fact that Geronimo is on the warpath in the area. The passengers on the coach include a a drunken doctor, two women, a bank manager who has taken off with his client's money, and the famous Ringo Kid, among others.

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Year: 2010

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams

Director: Martin Scorsese

My Review: Despite my gut instincts, the plot kept me guessing from beginning to end. Based on a novel, Martin Scorsese does an excellent job directing this well cast movie. Here Leonardo DiCaprio plays a U.S. Marshall charged with the investigation of a patient missing from 'Ashecliffe' mental hospital. It's a remote installation, isolated on a rocky island in the middle of Boston harbor. Set in the aftermath of WWII, the post-war feel is frequently used to accentuate the movies plot. The sets, locations, and period work is superbly handled. The atmosphere in this psychological thriller is thicker than the Boston harbor fog that shrouds the rocky shore of this remote island. An impenetrable plot and mysterious characters kept me entertained throughout. As the ending approaches, the consequences and revelations pile up. The final piece of dialogue was quite surprising, providing yet another plot twist. 4 out of 5.

Summary: It's 1954, and up-and-coming U.S. marshal Teddy Daniels is assigned to investigate the disappearance of a patient from Boston's Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital. He's been pushing for an assignment on the island for personal reasons, but before long he wonders whether he hasn't been brought there as part of a twisted plot by hospital doctors whose radical treatments range from unethical to illegal to downright sinister. Teddy's shrewd investigating skills soon provide a promising lead, but the hospital refuses him access to records he suspects would break the case wide open. As a hurricane cuts off communication with the mainland, more dangerous criminals "escape" in the confusion, and the puzzling, improbable clues multiply, Teddy begins to doubt everything - his memory, his partner, even his own sanity.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime, Mystery, Thriller

Year: 2009

Country: USA, Germany

Rating:

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan

Director: Guy Ritchie

My Review: This movie was purchased at Kim's insistence. She loved it. It was on my list (to watch), but I wasn't quite as impressed. Here's a re-imagination of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective series by Guy Ritchie (director of Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch). Starring Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson. This movie seeks to remake the genre as an action flick. This remake/reimagining is based on a Comic book by producer Lionel Wigram. The Comic book influence makes for great storyboarding, translated into great camera work, but the story is watered down when compared to the narrative of the original genre. I enjoyed the revised Watson character, but the new Holmes as a disheveled, pugilist, savant didn't quite meet with my approval. The pacing was quite brisk, and the HD (we bought the Blu-ray version) treatment was great. Unfortunately, the plot was rather transparent. Mystical bad man threatens to overthrow the British government using black magic. Holmes and Watson team up to thwart his dastardly plans. The level of intricacy was shifted from plot to background. The settings, props, and digital locations were all highly detailed, the plot wasn't. I liked the movie, but didn't appreciate the rather linear and uninspired plot. The ending was a clear set-up for sequels or a series. 3 of 5.

Summary: After finally catching serial killer and occult "sorcerer" Lord Blackwood, legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson can close yet another successful case. But when Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his killing spree, Holmes must take up the hunt once again. Contending with his partner's new fiancée and the dimwitted head of Scotland Yard, the dauntless detective must unravel the clues that will lead him into a twisted web of murder, deceit, and black magic - and the deadly embrace of temptress Irene Adler.

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Thriller

Year: 2009

Country: Australia, USA

Rating:

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Harriet Minto-Day, Claudia Karvan, Willem Dafoe, Damien Garvey

Director: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig

My Review: Starring Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe, this sci-fi, horror, action, thriller, is set a mere 10 years in the future (2019). A plague has spread among mankind, converting most into vampires. The remaining Humans are reduced to a hunted, harvested, endangered species. The Vampires are on the verge of catastrophe. As captive livestock, the dwindling supply of Human blood isn't enough to feed the undying population of Vampires. When Vampires are deprived of Human blood they become feral, brain-damaged, and extremely deadly Subsiders. While the Vampires search for a blood substitute, rationing is implemented to stave off the impending descent into chaos. As the free Humans struggle to survive, resist, and find a cure, they look for Vampire allies to help them with their goals. When a group of free Humans hook up with disgruntled chief hematologist Edward Dalton, a possible breakthrough is discovered. Can this group of unlikely allies avert mankind's extinction? While the story was well written (written and directed by Michael and Peter Spierig), there wasn't much new in this 'Find a cure or we all die' movie. The movie lacked nuance, suspense and mystery. The direction wasn't the best, the action scenes were well done. The acting by Dafoe and Hawke was o.k. The production was excellent. Great lighting, camera work and artistic design. I rate it 3 out of 5.

Summary: In a world 10 years into the future, vampires make up the vast majority of the population with only 5% of the human race remaining. This presents particular challenges as the vampires' food supply - human blood - is dwindling and rationing is now the norm. There is growing evidence that vampires deprived of an adequate blood supply are themselves evolving into wild, vile creatures that attack anyone and anything in order to survive. Dr. Edward Dalton, a vampire and hematologist who works for a pharmaceutical firm, has been working on finding an artificial blood supply that will meet the vampire society's needs. He is sympathetic to humans and sees his work as a way of alleviating their suffering but his views on finding a solution change considerably when he meets someone who found a way to transform himself from being a vampire to again take human form.

Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport

Year: 2009

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head, Lily Collins

Director: John Lee Hancock

My Review: The best part of this movie? It's based on the true story of Leigh Ann and Sean Tuohy. A socially privileged family from Memphis, Tennesee takes in Michael 'Big Mike' Oher, a homeless black teen-ager. Starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Quinton Aaron. This feel-good, socially conscious drama, tugs at the heart strings and carries a powerful positive message. With little chance for a normal life, Big Mike tackles life's challenges head on. With little education, a crack addict for a mother, and a missing father, Big Mike finds some relief when a football coach sees some potential and gets Mike enrolled in a private Christian school. When Leigh Ann Tuohy sees a young man who needs help, she accepts him into her upper class, privileged home. Providing food, shelter and a chance to better himself, Michael and the Touhy's lives are transformed when Michael embraces football and his education. With some hard work and dedication, Big Mike soon finds himself on the way to a football scholarship. I couldn't stand Sandra Bullock in this movie. Was she playing herself? If her character was supposed to be transformed by this experience, why did I get the feeling that she (Bullock) didn't change at all throughout the movie? The movie contained several loose ends, and the pacing was a bit too fast (for events that took more than two years to unfold). The characters covered every racial, socio-economic stereotype, and the plot left very little to the imagination. Poor editing and poor acting. This movie was Hallmark/Lifetime channel quality - at best. Definitely not Academy worthy, despite the nomination and the win by Sandra Bullock. 2 out of 5.

Summary: Based on the true story of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy who take in a homeless teenage African-American, Michael "Big Mike" Oher. Michael has no idea who is father is and his mother is a crack head. Michael has had little formal education and few skills to help him learn. Leigh Anne soon takes charge however, as is her nature, ensuring that the young man has every opportunity to succeed. When he expresses an interest in football, she goes all out to help him, including giving the coach a few ideas on how best to use Michael's skills. They not only provide him with a loving home, but hire a tutor to help him improve his grades to the point where he would qualify for an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship. Michael Oher was the first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL draft.

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller

Year: 1995

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson, Graham Greene, Colleen Camp

Director: John McTiernan

My Review: Bruce Willis is back again - As the ass kicking NY City cop, John McClane. In this movie, he starts out as a down and out suspended cop, with alcohol and marriage problems. When a mad bomber 'Simon' calls in with a bomb threat, the police department puts John back on active duty. In no time at all, John is back on the streets, teamed up with no-nonsense shop owner 'Zeus' (played by Samuel L. Jackson), in an effort to thwart the plans of 'Simon', the disgruntled brother of Hans Gruber from the original 'Die Hard'. The acting by Samuel L. Jackson was worthy, but Bruce Willis wasn't up to speed on this one. The acting by others was less notable as well. The plot was a bit transparent, but the car chases and action sequences made up for a lackluster plot and confrontation. Nowhere near the calibre of the first movie. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Summary: John McClane is now almost a full-blown alcoholic and is suspended from the NYPD. But when a bomb goes off in the Bonwit Teller Department Store the police go insane trying to figure out what's going on. Soon, a man named Simon calls and asks for McClane. Simon tells Inspector Walter Cobb that McClane is going to play a game called "Simon Says". He says that McClane is going to do the tasks he assigns him. If not, he'll blow off another bomb. With the help of a Harlem electrician, John McClane must race all over New York trying to figure out the frustrating puzzles that the crafty terrorist gives him. But when a bomb goes off in a subway station right by the Federal Reserve (the biggest gold storage in the world) things start to get heated up.