42

THE PITCH

WORTH
$$$$$

THE VIEWING

"You have my heart."

         That quote was said more than once from Jackie to his wife in this phenomenal breathtaking bio pic. It also just so happens to be the underlining feeling as you leave the auditorium.
         From the very start, when Harrison Ford's Branch Rickey announced that he would do the unconventional, the unpopular, the most basically treasonous most unamerican act at the time... He told his staff that he would hire a black athlete... Then he gave this goofy grin :], a grin of approval to his own words.  I was hooked right there.  
          Being one of my most favorite actors, I don't see how he's not the early favorite for the Oscars next year.  Everything Harrison did on screen was an event by itself.  Not to mention all the young acting talent that surrounded him. Chadwick Boseman and Nicole Beharie gave exceptional performances as Mr and Mrs. Jackie Robinson.  Both deserve Oscar nominations as well. 
         Riding an emotional roller coaster throughout and paralyzed with sheer awe of incredible film making, it was more than clear why this film was titled 42 and not "The Jackie Robinson Story" or "Baseball's Hero".  This film's depth and substance was not limited to sports or even social change, but it polarized for us the human spirit. Yet without the expense of coming across too preachy or fact shooting. Just an awesome screenplay, that told a great story, about incredible men that helped shape this nation and ultimately the world... Oh, and it happens to be all be true.
       Baseball is a world sport now.  It is also as American as any sport could be.   It is very difficult for me to watch it especially at home, I'll be the first to admit.  However, I play it whenever I get the opportunity.  Something about a ball park that's more than nostalgic, I don't even know how describe it.  Some films do a remarkable job at recreating that feeling.  The essence of grass and sun, the sound of the ball coming off the bat "SsssTOK!", traditional baseball jingles "take me out to the baaaall game..." or just the sound of the ice-cream truck behind a sandlot.  42 captured the substance of baseball in every manor I can think of.  I'm not exaggerating when I say my love for the game has been rekindled. 
          
     I don't know if any CGI was used which is the very mark of it being used correctly.  No nudity scenes, excessively foul language or over-the top action scenes... In this era of movie making where ANYONE with money can make a visually stunning movie, It's so hard to call a film  "one of the greatest" and I know it's still early but prepare yourself for what I believe could be the greatest baseball film ever.  Also one of the best films ever made.  You decide.

     worth watching. letter grade: A+ 


Dedicated to my cousin Lynn for taking me to my first Tigers game with Danny when I was little.  Love you!         .   

            

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

THE PITCH

WORTH
$$$

THE VIEWING

"Everybody wants to rule the world."


     Whether it's Tears for Fears or Zartan from G.I. Joe, the statement is true.  I believe G.I. Joe: Retaliation jumps off the summer action blockbuster series.  Considering that it was delayed all the way from the summer of last year, logic tells me the the producer(s) wanted to make sure that the movie did well.  It was rumored that the delay was due to the insertion of 3D technology to the movie, which I don't buy, to getting certain actors being squared away with contracts. Overall, I want to say it was worth the wait but the reality is I'm just glad it's complete. 
          I'm also happy that the story revolved around my favorite character growing up.... Roadblock.

                 
            Dwayne Johnson did a great job and the movie was better than I expected but the true center piece of the movie, as in the original, was the story of the two ninjas.  Storm Shadow and Snake eyes.  This sub-story, again, helped propel the film.












          Even in the time of the popular TV show these two characters where very intriguing.  I wish that they can have their own spinoff movie. I still don't know why Bruce Willis was in this movie after watching it, but despite minor gripes the movie was very watchable and interesting.  Unfortunately after seeing a movie like Olympus Has Fallen where plausibility takes the front seat, it makes it very hard to watch bullets being sliced in half by samurai swords and motorcycles transforming into missiles... but honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm a fan.

my unbiased report is the movie is worth watching and it get's a B-
           

TEMPTATION

THE PITCH

WORTH

$$ and a 1/2

THE VIEWING

      Was it predictable? Yes.  Acting sub-par? Yes.  Did the subject matter break any new ground? No, but was it interesting?... emphatically yes!
      If you saw the trailer you knew what the main plot was, we were just waiting for it to unfold.  When it happens you instinctively try to reason certain decisions being realistic or fantasy along with the consequences. Then you compare them to what you think you would of done in that same situation.  I like movies like that.  Movies that make you analyze life. Movies that you can discuss in the car ride back home. After all, isn't that the weightier reason we go to the show? and I answer myself:  Hollywood doesn't think so.... I think they feel we want to be entertained ALL of the time.
      
           The Theater was packed Saturday. I sat next to three ladies in their 50's, maybe older, on my left.  They weren't loud or rude about it but they had knee-jerk commentary throughout the entire movie.   There was a part in the movie where the husband was watching a game and his wife made a certain decision to leave out the house for a minute. When that happened the woman next to me uttered "see, see, he deserved to be cheated on" (no spoiler) but that evoked so much emotion in me that I had to turn and just stare at her a bit... My thinking was "how dumb can you be?", but I respected her opinion and didn't say anything and turned back to the screen.... She didn't say much throughout the rest of the movie though the point is: The picture did it's job if we are reacting to it... I dare to attribute all these reactions that I mentioned earlier as proof that there is substantial "substance" to the movie.
    worth watching at the theater.
grade: C+ 

Olympus Has Fallen

THE PITCH

WORTH
$$$$and a 1/2

THE VIEWING

 "We are never stronger than when we are tested"


           What Sylvester Stallone successfully accomplished in bringing the 90's action flick genre to this generation with the first Expendables and Rambo(2008) movies... Olympus Has Fallen succeeded in as well. The only difference is the first two are lofty fantasies of realistic war situations. Albeit inaccurate and inadequate, OHF's Home Land Security protocol seems a bit more plausible.  Enough believability to keep my right eyebrow down while watching this very entertaining movie.

      Aaron Eckhart along with  Dominic Cooper, Jeffery Wright and Gary Oldman round off the list of most under rated actors of our time.  Aaron gave a great performance as did Morgan Freeman and Finley Jacobsen playing the POTUS's son Connor. 
        Seems as if there is another White House take over movie in the works with more star power. (view the trailer here--->White House Down )
 
               That's how it works now... Good idea's get ripped off from screenplays circulating Hollywood looking for a producer to "green-light" it.  Think: Sudden Impact and Armageddon, or even Skyline and Battle: Los Angeles. 

          Definitely worth watching, worth popcorn and a pop, and I can see myself buying the Bluray for the movie library at home. Re-watch value is pretty high... I was so amped walking out the theater that when we got to the truck, I turned around and looked at the theater then looked at my sister and said... "The theater should just blow up right now!"



   letter grade: B+