Easily one of the most influential pieces of entertainment ever created, this first Star Wars flick still stands the test of time. Not only did it change the face of cinema forever, but the franchise had a personal impact on me as well. If only the recent "sequels" measured up to this film's legacy...
One of the problems with prequels is that, if you've seen the films that take place afterwards, you know who lives and who doesn't. That's what took all the drama out of the battle scenes in Attack of the Clones and Obi-Wan's battle with General Grievous in Revenge of the Sith. Those who watch the flicks for the first time in chronological order may feel differently, but, for those like me who grew up watching the original trilogy on VHS back in the day, there's no surprise there.
Also, after The Last Jedi, I lost faith in Disney's take on "a galaxy far, far away". If you've seen my other reviews, you know that I've watched a lot of shows and movies from the House of Mouse: Lizzie McGuire, Queen of Katwe, Incredibles 2...and plenty more! Since high school, I've been known as "the Disney guy," which is why I had faith that they'd do Star Wars justice...and that made the travesty that was Episode VIII all the more heartbreaking.
So, how was Solo? To be honest, Han Solo has never been among my favorite characters from the franchise; I was a much bigger fan of the Jedi: Luke, Yoda, Obi-Wan, etc. Still, I felt that I had to watch it...and, although it had its moments, it didn't really feel like Star Wars. Between the annoying feminist droid, the excessive profanity--seriously, even the novels don't have that much language!--the appearance of Darth Maul--wasn't he cut in half?--and occasional crude allusions, this only furthers my opinion that Disney has ruined the franchise. Instead of more of this dreck, Lucasfilm needs to reboot the series and bring the Thrawn trilogy to the big screen. Now, there's good space opera!
Widely considered to be the best of the prequels--though, according to popular opinion, that's not saying much--Revenge of the Sith brings the action and drama as we see how one-time amazingly powerful Jedi Anakin Skywalker becomes the evil cyborg Darth Vader. A commanding story, insane lightsaber duels, appropriately heartbreaking scenes, a forbidden romance...this one has it all.
As good as it was, I did have one complaint: After the final lightsaber duel, the movie really drags. It spent too much time alternating between stories, and felt like it was just added for the sake of length. If they ever remake this saga, I hope they'll give us a more summed-up epilogue next time around.
Me and this second Star Wars prequel have an interesting history. (I know; I say that a lot, don't I?) My first time seeing it was actually in an IMAX theater at a local museum; at the time, that place had the only supersize movie screen anywhere close by. What I didn't know until after it was over was that the IMAX version actually was shortened; as soon as me and my brother-in-law walked out of the theater, one guy said to his friend who saw it with him, "So...how much did they cut out?" Still, despite the hate this movie has gotten--it was widely considered to be the worst of the saga even before the prequel trilogy was finished--I enjoyed it; the action sequences were spot-on, and it's interesting to see the start of Anakin's journey towards the Dark Side. True, the romance was a bit overdone, but, this series isn't about lovey-dovey scenes anyway.
The one complaint I did have is that it feels a bit...well, oversexed. Between seeing Anakin shirtless and Padmé's various immodest outfits, it seems that the makers were trying to provide unnecessary eye candy for viewers of both genders. Also mildly disappointing was the single profanity; the only one in the entire prequel trilogy!
Me and this movie have an interesting history. When it came out in theaters, I had friends who were chomping at the bit to see it, but I didn't want to because I thought it was graphically violent due to some Star Wars video games having a "T" rating. (Ironically, when I became a big fan of the franchise, those guys didn't care for it anymore; they said they "grew out" of it.) I did actually see it around Easter of 2000 at a family members house, and I had fun with it. My mom bought me a shirt that had to do with the movie, but didn't want me to have one with Darth Maul on it, because she felt he looked too much like the devil. (Looking back, I can see how such an image would have been perceived by some of my friends and family, especially those who were elderly.) This film was my introduction to the Star Wars franchise; though I had played games and read books about it prior to seeing this, I didn't really understand them.
So, maybe I'm biased, but I enjoyed this movie. Even though the acting wasn't the best, the scope is appropriately epic, and it sets the stage for later events that are even more tumultuous, such as Anakin's turn to the Dark Side. Like a lot of media, I can see why some people don't care for this or the prequels in general...but I still liked it, even this time around. It may not be perfect, but it's light years ahead of the shark jump that was The Last Jedi.
As usual, I'll start with my history with this franchise: In 2000, when I was in sixth grade, our teacher had us all read The Hobbit as it was adapted into a play in our literature textbook. Another teacher that year had copies of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy in her personal collection, so, I tried it...and just couldn't get into it. The next school year, a teacher recommended that I read the actual Hobbit novel, so, I attempted to...and had the same problem. When the movie came out in 2001, me and some family members went to see it on Christmas Day...and I was quickly bored. Not only was the flick overly long--probably the longest one I'd ever seen, and definitely the longest I'd watched in a theater--but, we arrived at the theater quite early, so having to sit still that long just drove me crazy. I was used to sitcoms and quick Super Smash Bros. Melee matches; a three hour movie couldn't hold my interest.
Despite that history, thanks to DVD technology, I discovered that watching long films in more than one sitting helped me appreciate them better. For example, I had trouble sitting through Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban at the cinema, but watching it and the other flicks in the series on DVD over the course of two or more days was much more fun. So, since I had the Lord of the Rings flicks on my DVD rack, I figured: Why not give them a whirl? For the past couple weeks or so, I've been watching Fellowship in fifteen-minute increments; this time, my reaction has been completely the opposite. The flick that once nearly bored me to death has proved amazing, inspiring, and beautiful.
I would say that I can't wait to watch the sequels...but, before I do that, I'm going to try out the extended edition, so I can see the entire story. Plus, I'm going to give the original novels a try as well; I had them years ago, and enjoyed the first two...but never finished the trilogy, even though I meant to do so for quite a while.
If you're a fantasy fan, and haven't seen this...you need to!
Let me start by discussing my history with this story, both in book and celluloid form: I was recommended the original novel in second grade, but couldn't get into it; I was too enthralled by computer games and television for it to interest me. In sixth grade, my homeroom teacher made it required reading; I was a bit hesitant to try it, but, when I did, I enjoyed it so much that I read the sequels later on in middle school, even though it wasn't required. To this day, that's the only book that was required reading for my entire class--at any point in school--that I actually liked. When the ABC telefilm came on, I started to watch it...but, then it got too late, and I had school the next morning, so, I taped the rest...and never watched it. Later on, I got the DVD from the library, but, it took multiple attempts to finish it. As an adult, I read/listened to the entire Time Quintet again, and it still held up, even though I wasn't too enthused by L'Engle's other works, especially A Ring of Endless Light, which I didn't care for even in DCOM form. When I heard that Wrinkle was getting the big screen treatment, I was curious what the House of Mouse would do with it; would they bring new life to it like they did the Muppets, or would they butcher it like they did Star Wars with The Last Jedi?
Unfortunately, I have to say that this falls into the latter category. To me, the best thing about this film was seeing Rowan Blanchard (Girl Meets World) in a role that was very different from Riley Matthews. If only she had gotten more screen time. The rest of the movie falls flat. Oprah Winfrey's performance was awful; while Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling were attractive, they also were just awkward here. The flick also takes too much liberty with the novel; so much so, I'd hate to see Ms. L'Engle's reaction to this if she were still alive. As it is, she probably was turning in her grave at this movie's release. Not only was the story butchered, but the Christian elements were removed as well. Fans of the books who are also part of the Way will likely be disappointed by that. Yes, the special effects were good, but, you can get that pretty much anywhere these days.
In short: Go read--or listen to--the book and its sequels; don't even bother with this mess.
I don't have time to do my usual in depth review, so, I'll just be brief: While Gal Gadot shines as Wonder Woman, the rest of the film falls a bit flat. Too much building up for what proves to be a rather anticlimactic battle. Ever since I was introduced to superhero cartoons back in 2011, I've always preferred them to the "blockbuster" films, and flicks like this are why. I'll take the Cartoon Network Justice League over this mess any day.
Synopsis: We all know the story of Simba's triumph over his evil uncle Scar, who killed Simba's father Mufasa...but, there's even more to that tale than you knew! Focusing on the backstory of Timon and Pumbaa, this sequel/prequel features the original cast and music by Elton John and Tim Rice.
The Good: Timon and Pumbaa have always been my favorite Lion King characters; they were comic relief in a rather serious film. So, this direct-to-video spinoff is charming and cute; it also brings the adventure and drama of the original film.
The Bad: The commentary nature of the flick--Timon and Pumbaa watch the film with you, and intersperse their own remarks--was a bit annoying. Also, the ending was a big cash grab by Disney.
Conclusion: Me and the original Lion King have an interesting history. Like most kids of my generation, I grew up watching it on video; on the last day of eighth grade, we even watched it in Spanish! I've also watched the sequel...and now this, to complete the "trilogy". As good as it is, I can't help but think they should have stuck with one movie; this seems like a mere attempt to cash in on a recognizable brand.
Synopsis: Continuing where the first film left off, the Incredibles work together to defeat the Underminer...only for it to result in serious destruction of the city. When superheroes are made illegal, the Parr family thinks it's time to hang up their super-suits...until Bob (Mr. Incredible) and Helen (Elastigirl) get contacted by a wealthy businessman who wants to change that law. He selects Elastigirl to be his "it" girl, and she soon saves the day...only to find out that an old nemesis, known as Screenslaver, is bent on her and her family's destruction. Who could this evil villain be? Will the Incredibles be able to save the day once again?
The Good: Pixar basically pioneered the computer-animated film, so, it's no surprise that the animation here is beautiful. The decades-old setting brings some old-school charm, particularly when the kids are seen watching the vintage Saturday morning cartoon Jonny Quest. As you'd expect, the action was spot-on.
The Bad: If only the rest of the movie matched up. As much as I love female superheroes, Elastigirl was annoying here; her voice nearly drove me bonkers. Violet's adolescent tantrums were just as ingratiating. The villain here wasn't very convincing, either. Some content concerns popped up as well: Though I expected violence, profanity (including misuses of God's name) and occasional crudity simply weren't necessary.
Conclusion: I first saw The Incredibles in a packed theater back in November 2004, and had a blast with it; so much so that, the following March, I begged my mother to buy the DVD when it was released. We popped the movie in one night...and never watched it again; soon after, I sold it at one of our garage sales. On the small screen--which really was small; we didn't have a very big television set back then--it just wasn't the same; it was almost as if I were watching Barney and Friends instead. Despite that, I had heard great things about the long-awaited sequel, so, I figured, why not? Well, I hate to say it, but Pixar got it wrong here. Yes, the animation was fabulous, but, these days, you need more than great visuals to win me over. While the content concerns were minor, the problems lied in poor voice work, annoying characters, and a sub-par villain. Part of me says they shouldn't make an Incredibles 3; then again, that would give them a chance to redeem themselves for this second outing.
Synopsis: Simone Burner is walking home from work...when a guy named Patrick Walters follows her and attempts to rape her. She finds a gun and shoots him in self-defense...but, Patrick's family is bent on proving him innocent and her guilty as not to besmirch the family name. Will Simone be able to prove her innocence? Meanwhile, three young American soldiers--one of whom is a mother of a young child--get captured by the Taliban; will their rescuers find them in time? Also, a young nurse has a rather difficult elderly patient; what secret is the old man hiding?
Stars Erik Estrada (CHiPs) and former soldier Jessica Lynch.
The Good: I like how the stories all come together in the end; at the start, they seem like disparate narratives, almost as if someone spliced three different films into one. By the time the credits roll, though, you see how they fit together. Simone is a likable heroine; she may have had a rough past, but, her dedication to overcoming it despite dire circumstances is inspiring.
The Bad: The biggest annoyance was the constant fadeouts; they could have saved a lot of running time if they'd just cut from one scene to another instead of continually fading to black. Also, though the ending was mostly inspiring, I would have liked the people who were trying to frame Simone to face consequences, such as jail time, for what they did; when the case was dropped, they got off scot free. Also, as you may have guessed, this isn't for kids; with an attempted rape being the main focus, and references to prostitution and drug use, this would have earned this a "PG-13" from the MPAA (and rightly so).
Conclusion: Christian movies can be hard to review at times; while I admire the heart and message behind them, the production values often leave something to be desired. Though there are times where they've gotten it really right (Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, for example) they've also seriously flubbed it more times than I would want to admit, such as the epic fail that was C Me Dance. This movie is somewhere in the middle: not amazing, but not terrible either. Fans of Christian cinema may want to give this a try, though I'd suggest renting it before purchasing it.
Synopsis: Josie couldn't be more excited; she is about to marry her sweetheart, Liam Page! Unfortunately, her joy turns to sorrow as Liam stands her up at the wedding. Several years later, Liam is living it up as a country singer...but has had enough of that life, and ventures back home to see his old flame. To his surprise, he discovers that he has a daughter, and a rather precocious one at that! Josie is hesitant about allowing Liam back into her life after what he did. Is he truly repentant? Will he and Josie reconcile their differences?
The Good: As a whole, I enjoyed this movie; it was cute for what it was, especially Billy, Liam's precocious daughter. Sure, it's predictable, but it's well-made, and it has the sweetness of a Hallmark telefilm, which you rarely see in theatrically released flicks, even Christian ones.
The Bad: Some may find this to be a bit edgy, both for a Christian film and a "PG". For Liam to have a daughter with a woman he didn't marry, as well as to have another lady in his hotel room after a concert, implies things that you may not want to explain to your youngster. Teens and adults will understand, but, I wouldn't want to answer a five-year-old's questions about that. Also, this film doesn't feel all that Christian, even minus the aforementioned content; sure, some of it takes place in a church, but that's mostly wedding and funeral scenes.
Conclusion: Overall, this was sweet and touching for what it was. You'll see the ending coming a mile away, but, that's part of the fun of movies like this. It's one of the better Christian movies I've seen recently, despite its flaws.
Synopsis: It's Hannah Montana...live and in person! This concert film features her performing some of her smash hits, such as "Girls' Night Out" and "Best of Both Worlds". Alongside the concert footage is a behind-the-scenes look at Miley's rehearsals and family life, including appearances by her parents, Tish Cyrus and country star Billy Ray Cyrus (Doc). Also featuring an appearance by the Jonas Brothers, this is a Hannah fan's dream come true!
The Good: Say what you will about Miley; she definitely knows how to put on a show. The choreography and showmanship here is impressive. My favorite part of this was the appearance by the Jo Bros.; they even did a rendition of "Year 3000," which is my favorite Jonas track.
The Bad: Unfortunately, parts of this concert film fall flat. While the behind-the-scenes footage is mostly fun, it was disheartening to hear Miley call her mother "woman". (Mark Lowry once said that, if you did that to your mom where he grew up, you'd be wearing your teeth around your neck.) I felt really bad for those dads who raced in high heels to get tickets to the concert; not only does that ensure that I'll never have kids, but...what guy would want that captured on film for all eternity?
Conclusion: If you know me, you know the Disney Channel and I have a long history that goes back way before anybody had ever heard of Miley Cyrus. After discovering Lizzie McGuire just after starting high school, I was known for my love of the Mouse network, whether for good or for ill. It wasn't just Lizzie, though; I was also a fan of Raven, Suite Life, etc. I still watch those old favorites sometimes, thanks to them being available on iTunes. However, I didn't do much with Hannah Montana until after the show's run was over; it just didn't appeal to me, and Miley was no Hilary Duff or Ashley Tisdale. Eventually, I started watching it, and I had fun with it, even if the title character wasn't my favorite Disney star. That's still true; I found Miley's backup dancers and singers to be more attractive than her, even if she was the main attraction. Still, as a Mouse network fan, I enjoyed it, even if it is a bit bittersweet when you realize that neither Miley nor the Jonases are the clean-cut stars they used to be.
Is it just me, or does Anneke look like Velma Dinkley?
I've seen multiple celluloid adaptations of Lewis Carroll's classic book, including the 1999 telefilm, the live-action Disney flick and its sequel, as well as SyFy's Alice miniseries.
Out of all of them, this has to be the worst.
While the animation was great, the songs were positively ingratiating, the heroine was unlikable and annoying, and it strays from the book quite a bit, but not in a good way.
This is definitely not among the best that the House of Mouse has to offer; then again, I've always been a bigger fan of their live-action productions, such as George of the Jungle or Lizzie McGuire.
Little kids may like this movie, but, this thirty-year-old viewer felt like he was being subjected to an episode of Barney and Friends.
No parody music video? Those are the best parts!
This was a mostly good episode, but they made one major mistake:
THEY CUT INTO THE THEME SONG!
What were they thinking? You don't do that with such an iconic piece of music!
I've never been a fan of Kim Possible. Even back when I watched Lizzie McGuire, Even Stevens, and Raven practically every day, I only watched one full episode one time; everything else I know about the show and its characters comes from endless Disney Channel commercials, or tail ends of episodes I saw while waiting for one of my favorites to start. My problems with it are twofold: One, I'm not a fan of Kim's usual style of dress; the Mouse network would never have allowed a live action heroine to consistently dress that way. Two, while I'm all for strong female characters, Kim is too much of a Mary Sue, whereas her best friend is unacceptably dimwitted. On Lizzie McGuire, Gordo may have been a different sort of best friend, but, at least he was smart. Even the fact that my second top celebrity crush, Christy Carlson Romano, voiced Kim wasn't enough to make me a fan.
Still, the show had its admirers; otherwise, it wouldn't have lasted nearly as long as it did. So, some time ago, when I saw this at a garage sale, I thought: Why not give it a chance? This one definitely had its moments; the animation was great, and the plot was rather convoluted. However, the problems I always had with the show were present in multiple ways. Not only was Kim too perfect of a heroine, but Shego was the only smart villain around. Yes, Ron may have saved the day, but, he did it by accident. When the movie opened with a suggestive cheerleader routine, I knew this wasn't going a very good production...and it wasn't. It was fun at times, but, I don't think I'll bother with any more Kim Possible episodes again...and that's a longtime Disney Channel fan talking.
Pure Flix is the leading studio for Christian movies, and they have some great films...but, this isn't one of them. The plot starts off interestingly enough: Mia never knew her father, and loses her mother to a car accident while in college. However, the further turns of events don't make sense: Daniel isn't Mia's father, and knows that he isn't, but pretends to be anyway? How heartbroken would she end up being in the future once the actual truth comes out, as it almost always does? Why would a woman change her last name without getting married? I've heard from female friends that getting your new surname on everything can be a doozy, even in this day and age. Also, why would a rape victim go from dropping charges to agreeing to testify? Doesn't make much sense to me.
Not only that, but, the content wasn't as clean as I've come to expect from this studio. At least four profanities--one d-word, two h-words, and a misuse of the Lord's name--and an immodest fashion sense, ranging from waitresses in low-cut outfits to seeing Mia twice in a bikini. Did the executives at the studio watch this before releasing the DVD? While I know that Christian movies often feature tough issues, the attempted rape scene may be hard for some to watch, especially for those who have past experiences with such an act. All in all, this is one of the films that gives Christian cinema a bad name.
It's been a while since I've posted an episode review, but, I have to ask: What was this mess? A superhero show where the heroes spend the entire episode watching television? True, at times, the Japanese version of Power Rangers was interesting...but, with all due respect to those in the land of the rising Sun, I much prefer the American adaptation to what I saw here.
It's great to see a Yuletide film that showcases the true meaning of Christmas; not just love, kindness, and family, but the birth of the Savior of the world. I've seen far too many "holiday" movies that are all about Santa Claus and gift giving, which leads many people--especially children--to be misled about the actual meaning of December 25. The story was touching, and Noelle was a likable protagonist. I have to give the makers kudos for including a handicapped kid as her best friend. Along with the British charm and lack of profanity, sexual content, drug use, etc., this was a winner. The only downsides were Maria's immodest wardrobe and an appearance by sultry singer Kylie Minogue.
This movie brings to light the struggle that those who profess Christ in China face every day. It makes you thankful for a country like America, where our Constitution grants us freedom of religion. Some scenes were hard to watch, especially when that mean lady tried to hold poor Chu Lee captive. Unfortunately, the film's production values are seriously low budget, which may turn some viewers off, and the whole approach to the subject could have been done better. Hopefully, a better funded film will help American Christians everywhere really see what their Chinese brothers and sisters experience on a daily basis.
I don't usually do baseball in my spare time, but, this movie sounded intriguing, especially since it was based on a true story. It turned out to be rather inspiring and well-made. The story drew me in, and I was definitely rooting for Norway the whole way. Unfortunately, the makers decided to add excessive profanity, drinking, and teen smoking into the mix. Even if that's the way it really happened, I still don't care to be inundated with such content. So, this was a mixed bag.
With December 25 soon approaching, we all need a reminder of what the biggest holiday on the calendar is truly about...and this episode shows just that. Along with the typical excellent animation, a fun Silly Song, and even a character voiced by Si Robertson (Duck Dynasty), this brings home a moral that all of us need to hear during the Yuletide season.
I don't usually do Jane Austen, but this movie won me over. A sweeping story, excellent performances--especially from female lead Keira Knightley--and sets that took me back in time. The only downsides were the occasionally immodest wardrobes and one usage of the a-word.
Synopsis: High school student Aaron Carlson aspires to be a lawyer...but, his parents and his high school principal think it's just a pipe dream. While pursuing his goal, Aaron finds his way into a local chess club...and finds out that becoming the regional champion could lead him to being accepted into his college of choice. He studies the game extensively...only to lose badly. Will he be able to emerge victorious and fulfill his goal?
The Good: As someone who grew up playing board games, both old and new, it's nice to see a movie that focuses on one, especially a timeless one such as chess. Also, a story a character shares serves as a good analogy for what an obsession or addiction to something--regardless of what it is--can do to you...something that definitely hits home in a world where people everywhere are glued to their phones or social media.
The Bad: Unfortunately, the rest of this film falls flat; it's just utterly boring. Add to that dislikable characters, a sparse and poorly done soundtrack, and a scene where the protagonist answers the door in his underwear--no joke!--and this was definitely a dud.
Conclusion: Back in the day, my neighborhood friends used to call me "the king of board games," because I had so many; most of them came from garage sales throughout my area. I eventually had to get rid of all of mine, because I had nobody to play them with anymore; still, I do have fun when I play them from time to time, because you never know what will happen! Despite my history with checkers, Monopoly, and such, I don't really want to watch a movie about a board game...especially a thinking game like chess. It may be fun to play, but, simply watching it is dull, especially how this movie presented it. After my bad experiences this month with this and other films in the genre, I'm beginning to see why Christian cinema has such a bad reputation.
Score: 1/5
Synopsis: Bobbie Thompson (country star Katrina Elam) has an amazing gift: a huge, exceptional singing voice. Raised by her "aunt" after the death of her mother, Bobbie escapes small-town life and heads to Nashville, hoping to become country music's next "it" girl. She soon gets a recording contract and is about to perform before a sold-out crowd...when she suddenly finds she can't sing anymore. Where did her voice go? Will she ever get it back? If she can't...she could be in serious trouble!
Also features appearances by Dean Cain (God's Not Dead), Bronson Pinchot (Perfect Strangers), and George Strait (the original Pure Country).
The Good: Can a sequel be better than the original? In this case, yes; however, the first outing in this series wasn't very good anyway. This second installment has a great moral compass, wonderful performances, a likable and attractive heroine, and portrays clergy in a positive light. It's not groundbreaking cinema or anything, but it's still great fun for what it is.
The Bad: Though not as badly as its prequel, this flick does have some content issues. Profanity pops up: about five d-words, two or three a-words, and a misuse of God's name here and there. It's implied that a character was born of an illicit affair, and Bobbie is seen wearing some low-cut outfits. Drinking is present, though it is vilified. The biggest issue, however, was in the first scene: "angels" in what appears to be heaven are seen to be swearing, and are portrayed irreverently. Some viewers, especially Christians, may take issue with such a display.
Conclusion: My mom is a fan of country music...but only the male singers. I've heard the musical stylings of Brad Paisley, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Lonestar for years. While country isn't exactly my favorite genre, I do enjoy some of it...by artists of both genders. I'd never heard of Katrina Elam before buying this DVD, but, I have to say that I love her voice. Unless you absolutely hate country tunes, this may make for a fun rental.
Score: 3/5
Synopsis: Jordan, aka Jordy, seems to find trouble everywhere he goes. Upon starting at a new high school after getting kicked out of his old one, he makes friends with Wally, a handicapped kid who is also a Christian. When the competition between Morris High and the rival school gets out of hand, Jordy decides to fight fire with fire, which only makes things worse. After his actions lead to Wally getting attacked, Jordy is going to be in big trouble again; will he learn the error of his ways?
From Billy Graham's World Wide Pictures.
The Good: At least this movie is only sixty-three minutes long; that's about the only good thing I can say about it.
The Bad: Where to begin? Most of the scenes feature high schoolers fighting with or bullying each other, which isn't pretty to watch. The scenes with the Billy Graham crusade and Jordy's eventual conversion feel tacked on, as if someone flipped the channel from Bravo to INSP. Most of the characters were rather dislikable. This is the biggest mess of a Christian movie I've seen in a while.
Conclusion: As a fan of Christian cinema, I usually enjoy the productions from World Wide Pictures, which was sponsored by the late evangelist Billy Graham. The first one I watched, The Climb, had a great plot and an inspirational story, even if the subject matter--rock climbing--didn't interest me that much. All of the ones I've seen since have been at least decent...until I sat through this dreck. I had high hopes for this one; it comes from the '90's, when many of my old favorites were made, and the jackets the kids wore look like the ones from my high school. Unfortunately, it ended up being garbage...which is just sad.
Score: 1/5
Synopsis: Emmet is just an average guy. He lives his life by the same routine every day, and always follows the instructions. One day, a weird mishap leads to him being declared The Special: the one person who can stop the evil President Business' dastardly plan of unleashing the Kragle on the entire world. The only problem is: There doesn't appear to be anything special about Emmet. Will he be able to save all his fellow citizens regardless?
The Good: This movie is a wonder to behold. The animation really brings inanimate Lego bricks to life, and the humor and pop culture references are spot-on. It also brings home an excellent moral: that everyone is special and valuable, no matter who they are. All in all, a wonderful flick.
The Bad: Nothing, really.
Conclusion: Me and Lego blocks have an interesting history. My mom got me some Lego sets as a kid, but, I had trouble manipulating the small pieces due to coordination issues. I had a good friend at church who loved those building blocks so much, he dressed up as a Lego for Halloween. Toward the end of my high school days, I had fun playing Lego Star Wars on my Nintendo GameCube; since then, I've had a blast with Lego's TV series, ranging from their comedic take on Lucas' space opera to Ninjago. I've been meaning to watch this flick for a while, but just recently got around to it; it was just as good as I expected and then some. If you haven't seen this yet...what are you waiting for? Go rent or stream it, now!
Score: 5/5
Synopsis: Dusty (George Strait) is the biggest country music sensation on the planet! Despite his massive fame, he is tired of playing one sold-out show after another...so, he abruptly leaves town after a concert, leaving his band flummoxed. While they hunt for Dusty, they get an aspiring country singer (Kyle Chandler, Early Edition) to fill in, making everyone think he is the real Dusty. Will his band ever get Dusty to perform again, or are his days of stardom over for good?
The Good: Like many movies about concert performers, this is a great look at what goes into live music. It also shows how easily people can be duped into thinking that "stars" have talent, when they really don't; in a world full of Auto-Tuned singers, airbrushed photos, and sub-par Hollywood actors and actresses, that point hits home even more now than it likely did in 1992.
The Bad: Unfortunately, this movie betrays its "PG" rating. While I expected some language--how often does a movie rated higher than "G" not have any?--I wasn't expecting seven or eight uses of the d-word, almost as many of the h-word, three or four of the a-word, and even two uses of the s-word, the latter of which was unspeakable on network television at the time. Misuses of God's name, euphemisms such as "gosh" and "crap," and unkind phrases such as "shut up" pop up here and there as well. Sexual content is also present; one man talks about a one-night stand, whereas another scene has a woman walking into a men's restroom and making a reference to a guy's private anatomy. There were some brutal fights; they weren't very bloody, but, one guy gets seriously injured. Alcoholism is seen throughout. This feels more like one of the "PG" flicks from the eighties, when the "PG-13" rating didn't exist yet.
Conclusion: As a result of my celebrity crush days, I'm better known for admiring celebrities of the female gender than ones with "Y" chromosomes. Even some of my friends may be surprised to find out that I've admired famous guys, including actors, for years. One of them is Kyle Chandler, who played the lead in Early Edition, a show my mom and I watched together back in the day not only when it was originally on, but also in reruns. Some years ago, I revisited the first season on DVD; recent news that the studio is releasing the entire series sometime this year is music to my ears. So, when I read that Mr. Chandler was in this movie, I gave it a chance. I have to hand it to him; he did his part well...but, that didn't save this movie from being a mess. Hopefully, the sequel (of sorts) is better.
Score: 2/5
