Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller

Year: 2012

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, David Oyelowo, Werner Herzog

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

My Review: Jack Reacher - Is a character from a series of novels (18 books) I've never read. As a matter of fact, I had never even heard of the character until my Brother in Law mentioned the movie. He enjoyed the movie, so Kim and I decided to kill a weekend by watching this movie (which I hadn't seen advertised anywhere before its release). With Tom Cruise in the lead role, I can see why Kim wanted to take a chance on the movie. His looks persist, even at age 50. Unfortunately, his acting in this movie were less impressive. He seemed to be sleep walking through the role, but that may have been the direction by Christopher McQuarrie (The Way of The Gun). Cruise plays Jack Reacher, a former military cop. A man who's convictions and sense of honor are well forged and grounded in justice. Reacher prefers anonymity, and as such he lives completely off the grid under an assumed identity with no ties to his past life. When Reacher sees a fugitive from his past on the TV, he makes his way to Pittsburgh. From that point on, Jack Reacher follows a path of investigative thriller where the protagonist must unravel the clues in order to 'solve the crime'. The opening sequences were quite thrilling, but the story unfolds in a rather predictable manner after that. As Reacher digs deeper he discovers just how far the tendrils of this conspiracy reach. If Tom Cruise is to be believed, he did all the stunts and driving himself. If so, kudos… and why do you think I needed to know that? Writing this review months after seeing the movie, I find myself unable to recall any of the salient details. I had to use web resources to refresh my memory regarding the films plot points. Basically, that means that the movie is forgettable. I give it a 3 out of 5. May improve with additional viewings.

Summary: In an innocent heartland city, five are shot dead by an expert sniper. The police quickly identify and arrest the culprit, and build a slam-dunk case. But instead of confessing, the accused man writes the words, "Get Jack Reacher." Reacher himself sees the news report and turns up in the city. The defense is immensely relieved, but Reacher has come to bury the guy. Shocked at the accused's request, Reacher sets out to confirm for himself the absolute certainty of the man's guilt, but comes up with more than he bargained for.

Genre: Documentary, Biography

Year: 2012

Country: Canada

Rating:

Starring: Bruce Lee, Paul Bowman, Daniele Bolelli, Richard Bustillo, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Director: Pete McCormack

My Review: Parts of this documentary were quite good. The parts that focused on Bruce Lee. When the narrative started to focus on MMA and the entertainers who were 'influenced by Bruce Lee', I wondered why? Apparently the writers/producer thought that the blood-spatter, human spectacle, that is entertainment through violence should stand on equal footing with a man who did his best to elevate the human condition. I really disliked the association of MMA's commercial and violent aspects with Bruce Lee. I liked the parts about Bruce Lee: Where he grew up (In Japanese occupied Hong Kong during WWII). Where he lived during his life. His early career in film. His struggles against racism and prejudice (the Civil Rights struggle in the U.S.). His poetry. His philosophy of life. This is one of the few movies to bring those aspects to the screen. Unfortunately, it was also mixed with the MMA crap and interviews with Mickey Rourke? The interviews with his wife were definitely worth-while, but these interviews with other 'movie stars' and 'entertainers' really wasn't that interesting. I give this movie a 3 out of 5.

Summary: Bruce Lee is universally recognized as the pioneer who elevated martial arts in film to an art form, and this documentary will reveal why Bruce Lee's flame burns brighter now than the day he died over three decades ago. The greatest martial artists, athletes, actors, directors, and producers in the entertainment business today will share their feelings about the one who started it all. We will interview the people whose lives, careers, and belief systems were forever altered by the legendary "Father of Martial Arts Cinema". Rarely seen archival footage and classic photos will punctuate the personal testimonials. Prepare to be inspired.

Genre: Sci-Fi

Year: 1998

Country: Canada

Rating:

Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, John Neville, William B. Davis, Martin Landau

Director: Rob Bowman

My Review: A film based upon the series and characters. This X-Files film is directed Rob Bowman (Director of hundreds of television shows from the 80s through present day), with screen-play by Chris Carter, and starring David Duchovny (as Mulder) and Gillian Anderson (as Dana Scully) in the series defining roles. In this made for the big screen episode, Mulder and Scully take up the case of an intricate E.T. conspiracy. There's plenty of series centric conspiracy and characters: A prehistoric E.T., an ancient space-ship, a DNA bending virus, government agents, conspirators and secret facilities. Similar to the TV series, here the treatment is bigger, with better locations, more sophisticated effects, a broad scope and engaging pace. If you're a fan of the T.V. series, this is a must watch. If you're a fan of sci-fi, you can't miss it. The backing cast (including Martin Landau) did an outstanding job supporting this excellent story. The production is T.V. level, scaled up in an impressive effort. If Mulder and Scully can't stop the spread of this mutagenic virus, the human race may soon become slaves for a race of genetically reconstituted aliens. Very entertaining - I own a copy and can't wait to watch it, again! 5 out of 5.

Summary: Mulder and Scully must fight the government in a conspiracy and find the truth about an alien colonization of Earth.

Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War, Western

Year: 1952

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Marlon Brando, Jean Peters, Anthony Quinn, Joseph Wiseman, Arnold Moss

Director: Elia Kazan

My Review: Anthony Quinn earned an Oscar for his portrayal of Eufemio Zapata in this dramatic revolutionary story. Starring Marlon Brando as Emiliano Zapata, Jean Peters as Josefa Zapata, Anthony Quinn as Eufemio Zapata, Joseph Wiseman as Fernando Aquirre and many others. The acting by Brando and Quinn was outstanding (Quinn's acting was superior, but everyone remembers Brando). The direction by Elia Kazan made this movie. The cinematography was done in an Italian neo-realism style, with stark black and white camera work, on location in a minimalist environment, with many local extras and a story of cultural struggle in a time of persecution and distress. Here is the dramatized/fictionalized story of the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata. Screenplay by John Steinbeck is based upon Edgcomb Pinchon's book, Zapata the Unconquerable. The movie features excellent pacing and doesn't find it necessary to resort to pacing of the 21st century… i.e. So fast your head spins! The story takes it's time to develop, and the look is highly authentic. Set between 1909-1919, the movie tells a story of revolution and land reforms during the Diaz dictatorship. The character Emiliano Zapata is a aristocracy-born, illiterate peasant who struggles to liberate the vast repressed populace of Mexico from a corrupt dictatorship that serves only the landed nobles of young Mexico. Emiliano is a native from a remote province who demands justice for the seizure of their farms. His brash demands for justice are taken as insolence by President Diaz, and he soon finds himself a prisoner, a fugitive, a revolutionary, a president and a leader. An excellent bio-pic that doesn't bother to embellish with hollywood style narrative. An excellent film with only a few flaws (makeup and sound track). I give this movie a 4 out of 5.

Summary: In 1909, Emiliano Zapata, a well-born but penniless Mexican Indian from a remote province, Morelos, comes to Mexico City to complain that their arable land has been enclosed, leaving them only in the barren hills. His expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the President Diaz puts him in danger, and when he rashly rescues a prisoner from the local militia he becomes an outlaw. Urged on by a strolling intellectual, Fernando, he supports the exiled Don Francisco Madero against Diaz, and becomes the leader of his forces in the South as Pancho Villa is in the North. Diaz flees, and Madero takes his place; but he is a puppet president, in the hands of the leader of the army, Huerta, who has him assassinated when he tries to express solidarity for the men who fought for him. Zapata and Villa return to arms, and, successful in victory, seek to find a leader for the country. Unwillingly, Zapata takes the job, but, a while later, he responds to some petitioners from his own village with...

Genre: Comedy

Year: 2013

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, Jim Carrey, James Gandolfini

Director: Don Scardino

My Review: A comedy starring Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Luke Vanek, Jim Carrey, Olivia Wilde, James Gandolfini and others. Directed by Don Scardino (TV Director - 30 Rock, Law & Order and many others) and written by too many people. Here's an entertaining take on the big show magician trade. Spoofing Las Vegas acts (such as Siegfried and Roy) in a big way. The characters were well developed but the story was a sad rehash of the 'out with the old in with the new' theme. The comeback story yet again. Steve Carell plays Burt Wonderstone, Steve Buscemi plays Anton Marvelton. The two appear amenable onstage and they're coasting on top of the market with their well established reputation. Wonderstone's ego is enormous and secretly they hate each other. When their personal feud begins to affect their act the upstart Steve Gray (played by Jim Carrey) starts to move in on the scene. Wonderstone and Marvelton stage a daring stunt to stave off this upstart, but the stunt turns south and their act falls apart. In the blow-out that ensues, the scene is left wide open for Steve Gray to swoop in and take the stage. The Wonderstone & Marvelton comeback is slow and boring, but eventually they manage to get their act together and put this upstart back in his place. The overacting was bothersome and the story quite stale. Jim Carrey's performance kept me interested, but the movie barely passes for watchable. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Summary: Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas Strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt's growing ego. But lately the duo's greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they've grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerrilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show is starting to look stale. But there's still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act - both onstage and off - if only Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.