Come on, what were you expecting? It's your typical Liam Neesom action/thriller that he's become famous for and could play in his sleep. The plot is full of holes, much of the story had been done before and is mostly implausible but guess what? I didn't care. It's 90 minutes of solid entertainment. Neesom plays a bank robber who's motivations for doing so are barely explained but we know even as we see his character doing what he does best that he's not evil at heart because he's, well...Liam Neeson and we know that before the movie is over he will have cleared his name from an attempted framing by a couple of corrupt FBI agents because he's, well, Liam Neesom. You probably won't remember this movie 30 minutes after you leave but you'll be entertained because, well, it's Liam Neesom.
Reviews
11 Reviews
Another creepy Scotty crush episode.
21 June 2020
You'd have thought the writers would've learned by now that Scotty only true love was his engines. The attempts at romance for our favorite chief engineer always came off as extremely creepy and 'The lights of Zetar' is no exception. The biggest problem is that we simply don't care about the never before or since mentioned Lieutenant Romaine. Jan Shutan and James Doohan have no screen chemistry whatsoever and the whole thing comes of as dirty old mannish. This episode would've been much better if the Lieutenant Romaine part had been given to a crewman we were emotionally invested in like Uhura or Chapel and they could've dropped the romance angle altogether. I liked the idea of incorporeal aliens as opposed to some guy in a suit or a hideous puppet head but the story was so dull and unfortunately because the budget had been slashed to the bone it was soundstage bound. There's just nothing to grab onto here and you'd miss nothing as a Star Trek fan if you never watched it.
Angel City
(1980 TV Movie)
"You'll find out on Saturday"
10 June 2020
Does about as good of a job explaining the problem of migrant worker exploitation as a 1980 TV movie could do. My issue with this movie is with the casting. Mexicans were heavily exploited in camps like this but of course a white family is picked to tell the story. I could live with this if they had done a better job casting the parts. I mean I can buy Ralph Waite as the weary, down on his luck homesteader who leaves behind his home in the hills to look for work. His weather beaten face and persona as Mr Walton fits the role well but his family looks more like they belong on a 70's sitcom. Jennifer Warren is a capable actress who isn't given much to do here other than support her family and be really, really pregnant but she looks like a suburban soccer mom, not a woman who's been scratching out a hard scrabble existence in the hills of West Virginia in addition to the fact that she looks way too young to be Ralph Waite's wife. And the kids? Are you kidding. They look like 2 suburban teenagers who've never done a hard days work in their lives. This aside this movie is saved by the chemistry between Ralph Waite and Paul Winfield as you really sympathize with their plight. Reliable character actor Mitchell Ryan plays the sleazy camp owner Silas Creedy (That just sounds like the name of an evil plantation owner) who we can sense is a lowlife from the time he's introduced but we don't realize just how sleazy and depraved he really is until the movie's final act. Character actor and sometime stuntman Bob Minor and Elvis bodyguard Red West play his 2 camp thugs Jabo and Sud.
Typical Twilight Zone.
9 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Ms Elva Keene is a lonely invalid, crippled years ago in a car accident that killed her fiancé Brian. She is tended to daily by her nurse Ms Phillips. Ms Keene begins receiving late night phone calls by an anonymous caller who is silent at first but eventually begins to say "hello" over and over. The terrified Ms Keene is informed by the local phone co that the calls have been traced to a downed wire at the cemetery where she recounts to her nurse the story of her crippling.
THis episode is beautifully acted by veteran character actress Margret Cooper. Some other reviewers have commented on the cruelty of the ending but listen people, this is the TZ. Have you seen Time Enough at last, Elegy or The old man in the cave for cruel endings?
THis episode is beautifully acted by veteran character actress Margret Cooper. Some other reviewers have commented on the cruelty of the ending but listen people, this is the TZ. Have you seen Time Enough at last, Elegy or The old man in the cave for cruel endings?
Green Lantern
(2011)
Better than the critics give it credit for.
26 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I know this movie has been critically panned for the most part but I found it very entertaining and after all isn't that what we go see movies for in the first place.
Most of you know the story. Talented but cocky and irresponsible test pilot Hal Jordan is chosen by a dying alien to assume his role as this sectors protector by giving him a power ring and a batter to charge it with.
To me what carries this movie is one thing. The charisma and likability of Ryan Reynolds in the role of Green Lantern. He brings just the right amount of naivete and boyish charm to the role. I never lost interest in what happened to him during the entire movie.
Oh, there are a few nitpicks with it. I though Blake Lively as a test pilot was comical. She flies a fighter plane in one scene and then spends the rest of the movie in tighter and shorter dresses. The cast is excellent but not given much to do. Tim Robbins as the typical dirtbag senator and Angela Bassett as a government scientist are under utilized in my opinion. Also I thought they could have given Green Lantern better "constructs" as the other Green Lanterns call them. I mean you have all the power your imagination can come up with at your command and all you can come up with are machine guns, race cars and planes.
Oh well I said just a few nitpicks. This movie is very entertaining and charming so don't listen to the critics.
Most of you know the story. Talented but cocky and irresponsible test pilot Hal Jordan is chosen by a dying alien to assume his role as this sectors protector by giving him a power ring and a batter to charge it with.
To me what carries this movie is one thing. The charisma and likability of Ryan Reynolds in the role of Green Lantern. He brings just the right amount of naivete and boyish charm to the role. I never lost interest in what happened to him during the entire movie.
Oh, there are a few nitpicks with it. I though Blake Lively as a test pilot was comical. She flies a fighter plane in one scene and then spends the rest of the movie in tighter and shorter dresses. The cast is excellent but not given much to do. Tim Robbins as the typical dirtbag senator and Angela Bassett as a government scientist are under utilized in my opinion. Also I thought they could have given Green Lantern better "constructs" as the other Green Lanterns call them. I mean you have all the power your imagination can come up with at your command and all you can come up with are machine guns, race cars and planes.
Oh well I said just a few nitpicks. This movie is very entertaining and charming so don't listen to the critics.
X: First Class
(2011)
Solid Prequel
6 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Why does this movie work? Because we care about the characters which isn't always something we can say about an action movie. Although the CGI is excellent it never becomes the star of the movie like so many films of this genre where we just wait for the dialouge to end so we can watch the special effects.
Almost from the beginning we are drawn into the relationships. We care about Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and sympathize with him and understand why he doesn't trust mankind. He's only seen the ugly side of it throughout his youth. His counterpart Professor X (James McAvoy) has grown up in wealth and privilege and is far more idealistic.
And lets be honest. The dilemma here is that they have a problem in which they both have a piece of the truth. Magneto is right. There will always be a segment of the human race that will fear and hate the mutants. Mankind is partially right too. There WILL almost certainly be some mutants who will go anti social with there powers no matter what type of treatment they get from human beings.
A few nitpicks with the film, it barely stays PG13 and really isn't a kids movie so beware for those of you who plan to take children under 10. Most PG13 movies can get away with at least one F-bomb and this one does although its done very cleverly and with a surprising character who utters it. And there are PLENTY of scantily/barely clad women. As a matter of fact there is barely an ounce of fat anywhere in this movie. Also, did women wear mini skirts that short in the early 60's, and did they really pull the old "kill the black character first" cliché? As I said these are just nitpicks. THis is an excellent fast paced flick that entertains from start to finish.
There is also a barely concealed political agenda here. There is a lot of talk about coming out, being proud of who you are, not hiding, being "cured" and one character says "SInce you didn't ask I didn't tell" Hmmmmm.
Almost from the beginning we are drawn into the relationships. We care about Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and sympathize with him and understand why he doesn't trust mankind. He's only seen the ugly side of it throughout his youth. His counterpart Professor X (James McAvoy) has grown up in wealth and privilege and is far more idealistic.
And lets be honest. The dilemma here is that they have a problem in which they both have a piece of the truth. Magneto is right. There will always be a segment of the human race that will fear and hate the mutants. Mankind is partially right too. There WILL almost certainly be some mutants who will go anti social with there powers no matter what type of treatment they get from human beings.
A few nitpicks with the film, it barely stays PG13 and really isn't a kids movie so beware for those of you who plan to take children under 10. Most PG13 movies can get away with at least one F-bomb and this one does although its done very cleverly and with a surprising character who utters it. And there are PLENTY of scantily/barely clad women. As a matter of fact there is barely an ounce of fat anywhere in this movie. Also, did women wear mini skirts that short in the early 60's, and did they really pull the old "kill the black character first" cliché? As I said these are just nitpicks. THis is an excellent fast paced flick that entertains from start to finish.
There is also a barely concealed political agenda here. There is a lot of talk about coming out, being proud of who you are, not hiding, being "cured" and one character says "SInce you didn't ask I didn't tell" Hmmmmm.
Jumping the Broom
(2011)
Tries too hard to be all things to all people.
8 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Entertaining but a little confusing to me. This is another movie done by TD Jakes and for a movie with religious undertones (although not overdone) there is a lot of sex talk, sexual innuendo, short tight skirts and cameras that do a lot of panning down womens bodies, not to mention the obligatory shirtless men playing football on the beach which almost seemed to be a throw in shot for the ladies. Not that I minded but I'm not sure just what this movie wants to be. Is it a romantic comedy, a morality tale, a commentary of classes in the black community? It almost like its trying to touch on too many issues in a little under 2 hours and then when its touched on everything from class war, skin color, religion, bankruptcy, surrogate parenting, younger man, older women relationships, jealousy of the success of others within the black community it just wraps everything up in a neat little bow and suddenly years of building problems magically go away in 10 minutes. I kept waiting for someone to say that it was going to take years to deal with some of these issues.
Also some of the characters the movie really could have done without. The Blythe character (Meagan Good) is little more than eye candy and her tryst with the chef was totally unnecessary and added nothing to the movie, the issues between the groom and his cousin are alluded to and then solved with a predictable punch to the jaw and then never mentioned again, the wooing of Shonda (Tasha Smith) by Sebastion (Romeo) was just plain creepy and unconvincing.
On the positive side the excellent performances by Brian Stokes Mitchell and Angela Bassett save this movie from total cliché. Frankly I found their relationship the most interesting in the movie, no doubt due to the professionalism of these two veteran actors. Paula Patton and Laz Alonso are OK as the two young lovers about to be married but I had a hard time buying Sabrina's (Patton) quick change from a series of apparent one night stands to making celibacy pacts with God. Loretta Devine (Mrs Taylor) brings her usual solid performance to her role and slips easily from comedy to seriousness. She is made for this type of role as the over possessive mother of the groom. Mike Epps as the grooms uncle is his usually wise cracking self although he actually gets to act a little bit in this movie. Most of us know an Uncle like him.
By the way is there an ounce of fat ANYWHERE in this movie. I thought America had an obesity problem. You wouldn't know it by looking at this film. Everybody except Mrs Taylor looks like they stepped of the cover a a magazine. Even among the middle aged 50 somethings there isn't hardly a receding hairline or pot belly to be found. Its one of those alternate universes that only exists in the movies and TV.
TD Jakes makes his usual cameo as the wisdom dispensing minister and later performs the wedding of course. I just hope he doesn't try so hard to woo the non faithful that he totally forgets who his core audience is.
Also some of the characters the movie really could have done without. The Blythe character (Meagan Good) is little more than eye candy and her tryst with the chef was totally unnecessary and added nothing to the movie, the issues between the groom and his cousin are alluded to and then solved with a predictable punch to the jaw and then never mentioned again, the wooing of Shonda (Tasha Smith) by Sebastion (Romeo) was just plain creepy and unconvincing.
On the positive side the excellent performances by Brian Stokes Mitchell and Angela Bassett save this movie from total cliché. Frankly I found their relationship the most interesting in the movie, no doubt due to the professionalism of these two veteran actors. Paula Patton and Laz Alonso are OK as the two young lovers about to be married but I had a hard time buying Sabrina's (Patton) quick change from a series of apparent one night stands to making celibacy pacts with God. Loretta Devine (Mrs Taylor) brings her usual solid performance to her role and slips easily from comedy to seriousness. She is made for this type of role as the over possessive mother of the groom. Mike Epps as the grooms uncle is his usually wise cracking self although he actually gets to act a little bit in this movie. Most of us know an Uncle like him.
By the way is there an ounce of fat ANYWHERE in this movie. I thought America had an obesity problem. You wouldn't know it by looking at this film. Everybody except Mrs Taylor looks like they stepped of the cover a a magazine. Even among the middle aged 50 somethings there isn't hardly a receding hairline or pot belly to be found. Its one of those alternate universes that only exists in the movies and TV.
TD Jakes makes his usual cameo as the wisdom dispensing minister and later performs the wedding of course. I just hope he doesn't try so hard to woo the non faithful that he totally forgets who his core audience is.
Behemoth
(2011 TV Movie)
By the numbers monster movie.
16 January 2011
Its almost as if the producers just looked at a list of clichés and just picked the ones they like from it. Its all here. The pretty scientist, the handsome local to serve as a foil to create a sexual tension, the young college age couple, the old man who knows what is happening but everyone thinks is crazy, the skeptical sheriff, the mysterious, cryptic government agent along with all the usual stuff about how mankind is causing the earth and environment to fight back against all the horrible things manking has done to it. This time its in the form of a creature who supposedly has the power to destroy all life on earth as we know it. To me it just looks like a poor mans Kraken from Clash of the Titans. Don't't waste your time.
A Throw of Dice
(1929)
Holds up well for a silent flick
25 July 2010
Actors & Actresses from the silent movie era tend to overact by today's standards but the acting in this sweet little movie is commendably restrained especially for an "action/suspense type movie.
The story is of two Indian kings, both avid gamblers who both fall for the same woman played by a functionally beautiful Seeta Devi. One of the kings has been secretly plotting to assassinate the other and take over his kingdom but his first attempt only wounds him. He is nursed by health by Sunita (Devi) & her father who is a man of medicine who has previously left the kings court to live in the forest because he is put off by the gambling.
The entry of Sunita onto the scene escalates the stakes as the evil king uses various methods to eliminate the other & not only take his kingdom but take Sunita as well.
The story is nothing special but as I said before the acting is reserved for a silent picture. Devi in particular is able to convey her feelings with a simple look or facial expression, an excellent display of subtle acting far different from the usual histrionics that you'd usually see from actresses at this time.
Look for some excellent camera work at the beginning showing some of the local wildlife.
The story is of two Indian kings, both avid gamblers who both fall for the same woman played by a functionally beautiful Seeta Devi. One of the kings has been secretly plotting to assassinate the other and take over his kingdom but his first attempt only wounds him. He is nursed by health by Sunita (Devi) & her father who is a man of medicine who has previously left the kings court to live in the forest because he is put off by the gambling.
The entry of Sunita onto the scene escalates the stakes as the evil king uses various methods to eliminate the other & not only take his kingdom but take Sunita as well.
The story is nothing special but as I said before the acting is reserved for a silent picture. Devi in particular is able to convey her feelings with a simple look or facial expression, an excellent display of subtle acting far different from the usual histrionics that you'd usually see from actresses at this time.
Look for some excellent camera work at the beginning showing some of the local wildlife.
The Car
(1977)
"We've got a crazy on our hands"
25 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Little does the small town police chief of a small Utah town know just how crazy. This movie was standard drive-in theater fare from the 70's that doesn't hold up very well by todays standards. Nevertheless there were some decent actors in this movie. Ronnie Cox, Kathleen Lloyd & R G Armstrong in yet another of his maniacal characters playing a drunken, wife abusing blast expert who becomes crucial to the finale.
The star of the movie is James Brolin who never really became a major box office draw and is these days is more known for his 9/11 conspiracy rants as well as being married to Barbara Streisand than for his acting.
He is well cast here however as a weary single father policeman who is thrust into command after the police chief is killed by the car. The Car is the real star of this movie and it looks truly menacing, black, with no handles on the door & a horn blast that will echo in your brain long after seeing the movie it goes on a murderous rampage, killing anything that gets in its way as well as anyone who insults it. Who is driving? We are given a small hints by an old Indian woman, the car's refusal to enter a cemetery where some school children are hiding, bullets that have no effect on its tires or windshield & finally Wade's secretly reading a bible at his desk.
All in all even though it gets somewhat slow in the middle & there is a totally unnecessary subplot about one of the characters hiding a supposedly conquered drinking problem there is enough action to keep you interested in the TRUE star of the movie. The Car.
The star of the movie is James Brolin who never really became a major box office draw and is these days is more known for his 9/11 conspiracy rants as well as being married to Barbara Streisand than for his acting.
He is well cast here however as a weary single father policeman who is thrust into command after the police chief is killed by the car. The Car is the real star of this movie and it looks truly menacing, black, with no handles on the door & a horn blast that will echo in your brain long after seeing the movie it goes on a murderous rampage, killing anything that gets in its way as well as anyone who insults it. Who is driving? We are given a small hints by an old Indian woman, the car's refusal to enter a cemetery where some school children are hiding, bullets that have no effect on its tires or windshield & finally Wade's secretly reading a bible at his desk.
All in all even though it gets somewhat slow in the middle & there is a totally unnecessary subplot about one of the characters hiding a supposedly conquered drinking problem there is enough action to keep you interested in the TRUE star of the movie. The Car.
First Blood
(1982)
Sylvester Stallone shines.
25 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
First Blood tells the story of a man trained to kill who like so many returning soldiers is unable to adjust to the day to day sameness of everyday life.
I realize people see what they want to see but I didn't find this movie overly patriotic or jingoistic. You could actually make a case that it is anti-war because it was one of the first movies of the 80's to tell of the difficulty of returning to civilian life by those who have been in a war zone.
John Rambo simply wants to find something to eat but is out of place in a rural NorthWestern town with his military jacket and long stringy hair. The rest of the movie deals with his dealings with the town's provincial sheriff & his men.
Sylvester Stallone shines here as he gets to show his acting chops and is able to bring depth & soul to the Rambo character. He's not just a killing machine as others have said. Spoilers Ahead. As a matter of fact he doesn't actually kill anybody in the entire movie but for those of you who like action & explosions there is plenty of that here for you. A solid 8/10.
I realize people see what they want to see but I didn't find this movie overly patriotic or jingoistic. You could actually make a case that it is anti-war because it was one of the first movies of the 80's to tell of the difficulty of returning to civilian life by those who have been in a war zone.
John Rambo simply wants to find something to eat but is out of place in a rural NorthWestern town with his military jacket and long stringy hair. The rest of the movie deals with his dealings with the town's provincial sheriff & his men.
Sylvester Stallone shines here as he gets to show his acting chops and is able to bring depth & soul to the Rambo character. He's not just a killing machine as others have said. Spoilers Ahead. As a matter of fact he doesn't actually kill anybody in the entire movie but for those of you who like action & explosions there is plenty of that here for you. A solid 8/10.
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