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joshuasbrenner
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Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Mel Gibson out did himself and Vince Vaughn and Andrew Garfield out did themselves!!
HACKSAW RIDGE (2016): REVIEW
For those who do not know of this movie, it is a Christian Driven True Story about Private Desmond T. Doss and the Battle at Hacksaw Ridge in 1945.
Let me reiterate that this movie, directed by Mel Gibson, is R-Rated due to violence and blood only. This movie is not for anyone who cannot stand the site of blood---I watched the HD version (not 3-D) but every time someone got shot, it seemed like 3-D and reminded me of a Slasher movie and a zombie movie all in one with the gore. NOTE: If you have Military Related PTSD, this movie will likely trigger you!
OK; that being warned-- Mel Gibson out-did himself with this movie!!
Andrew Garfield (Spider-Man) portrayed his best acting ever and in surprise, Vince Vaughn was a key actor in the movie and not one ounce of comedy here and he out-did himself as well.
Private Doss was the first ever, Medal of honor recipient which is the highest medal next to the purple heart. He joined the Army to be a combat medic. Due to his Christian values of "Shall Not Kill" he refused to ever touch a weapon of any kind. The first half of the movie takes the audience through boot camp and faced with a Court Martial for disobeying several orders to go through rifle training which he refuses. Will his company (fellow soldiers) stand with him or against? There is a Court Martial Trial in the movie.
The second half of the movie (not really a spoiler here since it's based a true events; but when his platoon retreats down a 75-100 ft. ridge as Navy destroyers fire suppression rounds on the ridge to take out the Japanese forces, Private Doss runs back into the blasts and enemy gunfire equipped with only his Bible and a picture of his wife, he is faced with being shot at and going after wounded soldiers.
Private Doss single-handedly saved 75 men including 2 Japanese soldiers by lowering them down the ridge one at a time. Private Doss lived to be 87-years old (2006).
The movie is just over 2-hours with about 1-hour of blood and gore but at the same time, he was quoted for praying out to God and asking, "Just let me save one more..." of which he repeated about 70 times.
God was definitely there and I sure felt Jesus' presence through the eyes of Garfield, who no doubt was channeling Private Doss during the movie. I give this 10/10!
I am constantly trying to watch mostly Godly movies these days and ... WoW....Just WOW!!
(Highly Recommended ages 18+).
Mystery Diners (2011)
Proof of Fake Reality Show
I came across this show on Netflix a few weeks ago and couldn't get enough of it. I went to YouTube and discovered 200 something episodes. I have multiple degrees in Criminal Justice and was a Private Investigator and worked undercover for about 12-years so I really liked this show until a couple of episodes stood out with known goofs. In the episode with the mob like thug who was stealing meat from supplier and selling it to a restaurant; they said they were calling the police. In the control room were 2 alleged police officers in blue uniforms. Charles said for the officers to take the crooks away and on the left shoulder their patch said, "Security." I played it back several times.
Then, I came across Season 10, Episode 2 with a countdown of the 'sneakiest employees.' In the episode with "Bob" who was caught faking a hurt leg from a Workers Comp Claim and Mystery Diners proved he was faking. In the control room, I recognized the so called "Bob." After watching it back several times, I identified "Bob" as actor
Robert Palmer Watkins currently plays the role of Dillon Quartermaine on General Hospital for a little over a year. I have been watching GH for 30-years, so I know who he is and yet "Mystery Designers" is not listed under the actor's credits. I respect Robert as a great actor on GH and something like this discovery could hurt his resume but the truth needed to come out.
It's a shame because there are probably legitimate episodes but ran out of those in need and kept the show running with the fake shows. Talk about a discredit to the series.
Son of God (2014)
This movie should be the perfect mustard seed for any non believer needing saved
I just watched this movie and at first, I thought the camera effects and acting was a bit over played but honestly, I am glad I kept watching the movie because it was just perfect and towards the end, I did not want it to stop. I have not seen the series, the Bible but I researched the actors from the movie and they are all from the TV series (2013). It looks like the TV series was canceled after one season and made in to this movie. I thought the Passion of the Christ was the best version even though it was subtitled from Aramaic. But, honestly, I give this movie a 10/10 because I felt like I was one of His disciples every step of the way, wanting to rise up and walk along side of Jesus and help him up as he walked to his crucifixion.
This movie should be the perfect mustard seed for any non believer needing saved. I thought it was very powerful.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
Army of Darkness FANS will LOVE this Movie
I just watched this movie and it reminded me of the same type of entertainment and special effects and make up as Army of Darkness from the Evil Dead series. It was comical and truly entertaining and unpredictable at times. Even though, the DVD I rented was not in 3-D as it was released in the theatres, it was just like watching the 3-D version on my flat screen TV. Despite some of the comments in the forums, the casting for this movie was excellent. This movie was some good old fashion entertainment that would normally fall under Cult Classics. It was kind of like Conan the Barbarian (original version) meets Army of Darkness.
I sure hope there is a sequel!!
Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010)
Review
If it were not for the sequel in post-production (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1726802/), I would have been even more disappointed with the first movie. When I first saw the previews it reminded me of the original 80's movie, Red Dawn; and even though, a remake is about to hit the theatres in a couple of months, I thought that this movie would be a new take on the same story-line. I felt this movie was really good and was not as predictable as I would have thought in some scenes.
I was however, disappointed how the movie ended because it left so many unanswered questions about the WHY. During the movie, there were no news broadcasts either by TV or on the radio about how North Korea (or whomever the enemy was) had breached Australia's military offenses.
There were no reasons mentioned about why they were attacked or whatever happened to the captured community who were put in concentration camps. And, just when the kids began to take back their town and fight against enemy soldiers, the movie ended. For a nearly 2 hour movie, I expected more. The acting was good but naturally, there was one character who was as dumb as a box of rocks who did things that left me yelling at the TV about what an idiot he was. He reminded me of those slasher movies where the character leaves their secured cabin and goes out to the dark woods where there is a likely chance of dying! Not to mention that he was the coward of the movie who ran away several times leaving his friends to fend for themselves. All and all, I give the movie a 8/10. I would have given it a 9/10 had their been more questions answered in the movie and not need to wait for the second movie which probably will not answer any questions either while leaving the audience to wait for the 3rd movie!
The movie is worth watching but try not to get your hopes up too much.
The Muppets (2011)
Disappointed, but...
I was looking so forward to seeing this movie. I missed it while in the theatres and just watched it on DVD. I loved all of their movies as a kid. I'm in my 30s now. I have to say that I was disappointed with the movie, it just seemed like it was missing something; or like the movie was thrown together over night, similar to the 48 hour window in the movie. I loved Amy Adams in the movie, who is always like a breath of fresh air but the musical numbers were only so/so. On one end, I was disappointed but on the other end, the kid in me was just happy to see the whole gang again! - Except, for one character who had about a 5 second cameo - Rizzo the Rat. He is probably my all time favorite and would have liked to see more of him. Who knows, maybe he asked for too much money to do the movie. Waka Waka.
So, was I disappointed? Yes...but it's the Muppets! It's kind of difficult to be too disappointed.
Underworld: Awakening (2012)
Disappointing!
I saw the movie in 2D but to be honest, the low rating was not because of the lack of 3D but rather that it was very disappointing. I felt like the movie had a good storyline but it only touched on segments of it rather than expand on it. The Cryogenics with a 12 yr gap did not make any sense. If the little girl was her daughter than how come she had no memory of giving birth. If the hybrid was a test tube baby she would have still come from somewhere, unless the female scientist who looked after the child was the real person who gave birth to her? Also, when Selene met with Thomas, he knew who she was and that she was responsible for killing elders but it didn't really touch on how he knew even though he acted like he was an elder which I do not think he was. As for me, the special effects were so/so but it was more like watching the first Matrix movie. The scene where she storms the office building and attacks the guards was very similar to scene in the Matrix. It did not really leave much for the imagination.
Towards the end of the movie where the bad guys get the upper hand and the plot of the movie, it is short lived. The ending of the movie was like when the Empire Strikes Back ended. Just when the movie was getting good, and they followed a lead to meet with her hybrid lover, the movie ended! Guess there will be another sequel! When the movie ended, I looked at my watch and realized that it was just under and hour and 1/2. There was so much more they could have done with this movie and cranked out another 20-30 minutes to complete the storyline.
It just seemed as if they filmed the movie in a couple of months. I do not understand how there was a budget of $70 million when the special effects seemed below par. Yet, Underworld 3, was budgeted around $35 million.
Naturally, Kate Beckinsale looked as sexy as ever, which probably the highlight of the movie.
Another Earth (2011)
went to far
Excellent movie and storyline. I can understand her need to want to help the father rebuild his life after losing his family but she should not have had sex with him. This is wrong on so many levels, especially when the next scene involved them cuddling, followed by him sharing the story behind losing his son to a drunk driver and his unborn daughter. He even goes on to say that he did not know the name of the driver because 'she' was a minor and he was in a coma. She felt guilty about what she did to his family and it is noble what she did but, this scene was just too far. A relationship with him was pushing the envelope. I was hoping that she would go and find that his kids are alive and that he was deceased and that some how they would bring the children to reunite with the father. Instead, the end of the movie twists, and she confesses to change the very reality she wanted to change.
As for the story of Earth 2, this movie was not a typical SyFi movie but rather a world of imagination. I would have given it a perfect 10 but this scene was an unfortunate let down.
The Darkest Hour (2011)
Movie Similarity
I read a review on this page before going to the movie since the actual movie ticket websites had little or no descriptions. I must admit, having a preference of horror and SyFy movies, this one kept me on the edge of my seat! It is somewhat predictable but even I was shocked at times. This movie reminded me of the Pulse movies. Pulse was Ghosts and Darkest Hour involved aliens but it had the same special effects and similar themes.
The movie probably could have had a couple of longer scenes. There is a scene with a dog that is defined but there is a scene with a cat that left me wondering what happen to the cat, despite his little protective suit.
I kept thinking about one thing though...with Pulse, red tape was a means of protection and everyone was using it but with Darkest Hour, one of the ways to stay hidden from the aliens was with windows, so I kept wondering why not walk in a group with a constructed cube around them with no bottom, allowing them safe passage and drop the cube to the ground when confronted? Anyway, either the ending sets it up for a sequel or the ending was not so good. Oh well, but I still give it a 9 for keeping me entertained and on the edge of my seat.