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Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009)
Pretty Good Overall
Gifted Hands is a pretty good adaptation. My only real complaint is that the film sort of skips over things and the pacing is a little odd. With that being said, Cuba Gooding Jr. Kills it as Ben Carson. He got the voice and mannerisms down really good. The message of the movie is good, the actors are good, and for a major release film, it still keeps his faith in the picture. Carson's story inspiring and I really enjoyed seeing it in a film. Like I said, my only real complaint is that the film skips over certain things. For example, it skips straight from him having anger issues to getting into an Ivy-League school with little explanation. Good film nonetheless.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Dark and thought provoking
This movie was super dark. It is powerful because it showcases the reality of war much like many war movies do. It is escpecially poweful because it came out not too long after the war. After watching this movie I had a long conversation that was deep and meaningful. Do not watch this movie lightly, watch it if you are ready to think. The film is very good quality, but I wouldn't call it a film I enjoyed. Its disturbing But that is not a bad thing. I would recomend this movie for philosophical and historical reasons, not for entertainment purposes. For the time, it is quite impressive. Glad I watched it.
Argylle (2024)
Subversion of Expectations and Suspension of Disbelief: The Movie
I went into this movie more blind then any other movie I have seen before. I was invited last minute by a friend. I had never even seen as much as a poster. I will say this, it is fun. It is unique. However, it felt a little lazy, just throwing twist after twist at the audience hoping that some would catch the audience off guard. The actors are alight, the cast is quite impressive for a movie based on a book that just came out. I was more confused when I left than when I entered, but the group of us had a good time. I suppose I would recomend it just to see how many of the twists would get you. Worth seeing.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
My favorite of the Vacation movies
Not only is this my favorite of the National Lampoon Vacation movies, but it is also one of my favorite Christmas movies out there. For someone like myself, the other movies push it a bit ethically or morally, and even though this film is a little edgy, it is much for of a family film than the others in the series. Like a classic Christmas movie, everything goes wrong throughout, and its very entertaining. Todd and Margot are one of the funniest parts of this movie. Clark is funny as ever, and the whole family being under one roof is a great source of comedy. If you have not seen this movie, you are missing out.
Elf (2003)
My all time favorite Christmas classic!
Elf is such a good movie! This fish out of water story is hilarious! Will Ferrell is in his element and the whole cast as well cast and do a great job! I really have no complaints with this heartwarming film. I watch it every year, frequently on Christmas Eve. The comedy is on point, Jon Favreau hits the nail on the head I love how the North Pole is inspired by the classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The message if priorities in life, with the growth of Walter as a character is a common but good message. If you have not seen Elf, you are missing out! This has become a Christmas tradition for many for a reason!
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Great Spider-Man Movie!
This is a fantastic movie! Love the animation as always, the voice actors are great, the plot is fascinating, the worst part is the cliffhanger at the end. I'm ready for part two. As long as one can get past the inherent silliness of a "Spider-Verse," this movie is fairly serious and is very entertaining. It leaves the viewer wanting more and on the edge of his seat. My only mistake was not watching this sooner. This is a good sequel as well, following up on the last movie's character development and arches. This movie understands what Spider-Man is, and gives the fans what we want, without sacrificing quality.
Secret Invasion (2023)
No bad, not good
This series feels like a missed opportunity layered with strange choices. First off, this should have been an Avengers movie. Secondly, it is very strange that Nick Furry has been married to an alien this whole time and we never even got a hint at it. The character development was weak and the plot was confusing. For such a big arch, it should have had a biggest scale, i.e. An Avengers movie. The MCU has more or less lost its touch lately, and it's sad to see. This was a perfect opportunity for twists and surprises done the right way, and that opportunity seems to have been missed. Hopefully Marvel can get their act together eventually.
Forgiving Dr. Mengele (2006)
Thought provoking!
Forgiving Dr. Mengele is a fascinating. I learned a lot from this movie looking at the historical side of things. The film provides a rare first hand account of the experiments of Mengele. This is a very unique kind of Holocaust survivor story. Another thing this film gets the view thinking about is forgiveness. Eva speaks to various people, both survivors and religious leaders about the concept of forgiveness and their thoughts on forgiving the Nazi's. I admire and respect Eva's ability to forgive the Nazi's, especially as a Christian, it seems to be the morally right thing to do. Even so, I appreciated how the film got me thinking about forgiveness.
12 Angry Men (1957)
Honestly, a Piece of Art
12 Angry Men takes place almost entirely in one room, with only 12 characters. This makes this a unique film. I really enjoy the mystery and persuasion of it. At the beginning of the film I was fully convinced that the guy was guilty, however, by the end, I was fully convinced that at the very least his fate is debatable. The case is made in a "edge of your seat" kind of way. There is tension, and the viewer feels like he is part of the tension. I felt like I was in the room. The angels and the actors are top tier, especially for the 1950s. I would highly recommend this film, and I enjoyed analyzing how each of the men handle the conflict.
Ahsoka (2023)
Pretty good for Disney Star Wars
Disney has not a great track record with this franchise, but I can say I enjoyed this show! The first thing I must say is that this is not really an Ahsoka show, it is entirely a sequel to Star Wars Rebels, which is not a bad thing. I do wish it was not titled Ahsoka, as she is arguably not the main character, that title probably goes to Sabine. The quest for Ezra is the center of the plot, which is literally picked up exactly where Rebels left off. Thrawn is a great villain, the acting is pretty good overall. I did feel the ending of this season was unsatisfying, but as long as there is a season 2, I'm alright with that. Overall, fun and would recommend.
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022)
More please!
Tales of the Jedi is something I would love to see more of! The animation style of The Clone Wars has been and still is very solid, and the anthology style of that show was also very solid. What I love so much about this show is that it fills in very minor gaps, but in such a way that makes them interesting, it's also fun that the episodes are short so even someone as busy as myself can watch it. I would love to see season 2 with more anthology stories about small gaps in the Star Wars timeline. I must say my favorite part was the episodes about Dooku, that was a story I have wanted to see for some time! Great show, highly recommend!
Dumb and Dumber To (2014)
Not a bad for a sequel!
I actually really enjoyed Dumb and Dumber To. Obviously, not as good as the first, but how often does that really happen anyway? There are some moments that take the absurdity too far, but it's hard to know where that line is with a film like this. I had a number of laugh out loud moments, and I did appreciate the call-backs to the original film. Some may say that it follows the plot of the first movie too closely, but I don't have a problem with a film like this keeping it simple, you are literally watching a movie called Dumb and Dumber. For a sequel coming 20 years after the original, I would recommend this movie, it's a lot of fun, but it's not really a masterpiece.
Jesus Revolution (2023)
Not your typical Christian film...in the best way possible
Jesus Revolution does not have any of the typical tropes of being a faith-based movie, in a good way! This movie is super thought provoking and had me thinking about a number of things throughout. It portrays these people are real, flawed people in a very refreshing way. The actors where very good and the plot felt very full and vast. The character development was good, and particularly Jonathan Roumie and Kelsey Grammar did such a good job of carrying the emotions. I would recommend this movie for so many reasons, but the #1 reason is that it is thought provoking and hopefully would show you a clear picture of who Jesus is!
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
On a different level than it's predecessors
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is not a horrific film, but is not nearly as good as what came before it. The movie feels significantly more corny than the previous three. Harrison Ford is still great and there are charming and cool moments, however, it still falls a little flat. The inclusion of aliens to the lore for some reason just feels out of place and the CGI at the time was not great (although that is not something I hold too much against it, it was 2008). The inclusion of the Indy's son was a good touch, but the rest of the plot feels generic and strange. Overall, the film was entertaining, but not great. Up to you weather it's worth watching.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Relatively funny
Anchorman is not a bad movie, but is not without faults. The film feels pretty grounded until about 2/3 of the way through the cartoonish comedy comes out of nowhere, with characters dying and loosing limbs for comedic effect. Thus, the pacing is not too consistent. The plot is very simple, but that's ok for a comedy film. The actors are the best part, they are very good comedians, especially Steve Carrell. I did not laugh as much as I would have liked to, but it was not boring at any point. The idea of the film is very good, the execution is far from perfect though. Overall, I enjoyed Anchorman to some degree, but not necessarily a film I would watch again.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Above average
I see why this movie got as talked about as it did. The movie has a significantly good animation style and has great voice actors as well! The story is solid with a good message and a simple story. There is not much to complain about here, it is a "kid's" movie. However, the goal of any "kid's" movie should be to be entertaining for both the kids and the parents who have to take to the kids to said movie. This movie delivers on this perfectly. Dream Works in general is good at this, and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is above average, even for Dream Works. I would recommend this movie, especially in a party/group setting.
Spaceballs (1987)
Pretty good at what it is trying to do
Space Balls works for what it is, a really stupid but self-aware Star Wars spoof. The only real problem I have with the film is when it goes off the rails towards the end and starts to incorporate other franchise parodies like Alien or Planet of the Apes. This ending seemed to be a bit much. Otherwise, I did find it funny, and although it is dumb, there is some level of intelligence behind it, as is does make some good points of criticism of Star Wars and films like it. I would recommend this film because it's a lot of fun and will give you a kick if you are a Star Wars fan. If you don't like dumb comedy, this is not your film, but that should be obvious.
Commando (1985)
Action, Action, Action
This is the most 80s action movie of 80s action movies. The film has a good basic premise and good action for the time, and those are the main things it has going for it. One could tear this movie to shreds over all the plot holes and inconstancies. Dumb is a harsh word I could use to define this movie, but I have a hard time doing that as I don't believe it is trying to be smart. Arnold is of course the star here, which adds at least one point. I do have an expectation that the films I watch are quality, and I am not sure this is a quality film. All that being said, this movie was somewhat fun and achieves it's bare minimum, but could have been much better.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Above-par sequel!
A fantastic end to the original Indiana Jones trilogy! This film has literally all my favorite parts of the original film, but without being repetitive. It has an interesting mythology with backstory properly built up, with character arcs done well throughout. The edition of Sean Connery as Henry Jones is a great expansion for Jones' character! The acting is good, the story and historical accuracy is pretty good, the effects are good for the time, there is not much to complain about. I find this I'd be fairly respectful for the Christian mythology upon which it's based, that being said, I don't believe any of it to be accurate. There is a difference between accuracy and respect. With all of that in mind, I really enjoy this film!
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Weakest of three greats
It is hard to follow Raiders of the Lost Ark, so it is hard to blame this film for not being as good as its predecessor. The film still has the charm and fun of the first, but lacks the flow and story that the first did so well. It is great to have another Indiana Jones adventure, in some sense the whole film feels like a side quest though. Nonetheless John Williams score and Harrison Ford's performance still make this film an above par movie, even though when compared it's the weakest of the original trilogy. Of course I would still recommend it, as all three original films are worth watching!
Air (2023)
Pretty Good Movie
I really did enjoy this film. It is really a business movie, so if you are looking for a sports movie I'm not sure this is your typical sports movie. With that being said I really enjoyed it, I like the business side of things. One gripe I have with not only this movie, but a lot of movies is the unnecessary profanity, that is a personal conviction thing, but it's not impactful if you are dropping the f-bomb every five seconds which this movie does. The only other issue I had was that they decided to never show Michael's face, which came off as awkward and unnecessary. I understand the artistic take they where trying to make, but that fell flat. Other than that, the acting is good, the pacing is good, leaving those complaints aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the film.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
This does put a smile on my face...
This movie is a ton of fun! I do have a few complaints though. I found it disappointing that Luigi and Peach swap roles in this film. It is a bummer that Luigi was in a cage the whole time. Peach is a bit of a Mary Sue character in this film. Part of the story of Mario is a damsel in distress story and Luigi in that role is silly. Nonetheless, I can get past that, because there is so much to like here! The effects are phenomenal, Illumination was the perfect pick for this film. The actors are great, even though I'm not sure about Pratt's accent. All the references are great and the overall plot is good. End of the day, no need to scrutinize this movie to death, it is fun and does exactly what it needs to do! Love it!
A Man Called Otto (2022)
Solid film, Tom Hanks, great as always
I really enjoyed this movie! A simple plot, but it soars above because of the talent of particularly Tom Hanks, but the whole cast is great. I enjoyed how as the film went on you had to try to piece together what exactly had happened in Otto's past. I will say that the film contains very serious themes and I was a little surprised with the PG-13 rating for that reason. The only real issue I have with this film is that they could not help but include controversial political commentary in regards to the LGBT inclusion. I go to films like this to escape, not to be lectured about real world issues. Putting that aside, I enjoyed this film!
Still (2023)
How can anyone have much bad to say about this film?
Michael J. Fox is an inspiration. This is a simple and powerful documentation of the story of his career and Parkinson's diagnosis. My only real complaint is that it seemed to end very abruptly, and that is really just a nitpick. It works well that they spliced together footage from his film career to tell the story, so in large part the footage is actually of a younger Michael J. Fox. Michael is very open about his disease now and the documentary feels real and open as well. I would highly recommend this to just about anyone. My grandfather has Parkinson's disease, and it felt like I was talking to him at points. Emotional and inspiring, highly recommend.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Underwhelming but fun finale
The Guardians trilogy has been something special. With the MCU on an overall decline, I figured I could count on this franchise to bring some good Marvel content. Overall, I enjoyed the film, it was funny and the cast was great as always. I did find things like Star-lord's "almost death" scene to be anti-climactic and just felt a little dumb. The film's villain was nothing special or memorable, what I will remember from this film is the cast and the characters. It was not too satisfying an ending for these characters though. Rocket's backstory worked well, Star-lord and Gamora's relationship ultimately amounted to nothing though. Some things worked, some things didn't, but still a fun ride with these guys!