Despite the criticism he seems to get at times, I've always liked Superman; his earnest goodness and clean-cut image have always appealed to me. After watching this, I can see why some people will only accept Christopher Reeve in the role; he did an amazing job. This was one of the earliest superhero movies, and it stands the test of time very well; despite the dated special effects, the story, performances, and sets drew me in. It's a shame this franchise eventually got ruined; from what I've heard, though the sequel to this flick was great, the third and fourth outings were such garbage, Superman Returns completely ignored their existence. Unfortunately, even back in the '70's, movie makers felt the need to add some unnecessary bits; in this case, it was several profanities and occasional crude references. I can see why the extended edition--aka the version I watched--was "PG-13" by modern standards. Still, those only slightly detract from what continues to be considered a true classic...and likely will be for many years to come.
The last of the four Gospels comes to life!:
http://reading-rebel.blogspot.com/2017/11/movie-review-gospel-of-john-2014.html
With the addition of more characters, such as the now-iconic Yoda, better acting, and some surprising twists--especially the now-infamous declaration by Darth Vader during his lightsaber duel with Luke--this is classic Star Wars at its best.
However, some new viewers may be disturbed to discover that the flick has no end; you have to watch Return of the Jedi to see how things get resolved.
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...
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!
It's the greatest story ever told!:
http://reading-rebel.blogspot.com/2017/10/movie-review-gospel-of-mark.html
One of Big Idea's earlier productions, Josh and the Big Wall retells the story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho. As usual, the makers have fun with the story ("How are we clapping?" "I have no idea!") and there's the usual dashes of humor and fun. The Silly Song in this episode is "The Song of the Cebü," which is definitely among the funniest VeggieTales tunes. More than that, this story illustrates how important following God's commands is...even when His instructions don't seem to make sense. Fighting our human nature is tough; I've been a Christian since 2003, and still struggle with it. It's not enough to just know what God says, though that is important; we have to act on it. Despite its age, this 1997 release stands the test of time, and will likely be entertaining to kids and parents alike; I had fun with it, even though I'd seen it at least once already.
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 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.
Good, clean Christian comedy. The only complaints I have is that this recording is a bit short--a mere forty minutes--and there was a bit of repetition. If you can forgive that, this is great fun.
The Hunger Games is a dystopian young adult book series that became a blockbuster film series. Usually, I don't bother much with popular movies unless they fall into the sci-fi/fantasy or superhero genres, but, I made an exception for these movies some years ago, and I'm glad I did. It's easy to see why this series has captivated moviegoers worldwide, especially given the state of our country and our planet. Modern screen legend Jennifer Lawrence excelled as heroine Katniss, and everyone else did very well; Haymitch has always reminded me of former dc Talk member Kevin Max, for some reason. There wasn't any profanity, and one brief kiss was about as sexual as it got, both of which are shocking for a "PG-13" film. I honestly wish I had the sequel on hand; I can't wait to see what happens next. By now, I would think all fans of the franchise have already seen this; if you're unfamiliar with these movies, you definitely should check them out...but, they're not for the faint of heart!
Content Concerns:
Sex: One brief kiss; a girl invites a guy to snuggle with her in bed, only for her to wake up and find that it's a dream. 4/5
Nudity: None. 5/5
Language: Nothing worse than "shut up" or "horse manure," which is shocking for a "PG-13". 4/5
Violence: People are shot dead; scenes of massively destructed towns; a bombing or two; a guy attacks a young woman, and she ends up with a neck injury as a result. 2/5
Drugs: Alcohol and prohibition are mentioned; nobody actually drinks, though. 4/5
Frightening/Intense Scenes: The whole tone of the movie is dark; the scenes showing destructed towns; the aforementioned attack; frankly, there's little here that isn't intense. 1/5
Score: 4.5/5
Another great product from Big Idea. For more, read my review:
http://rwlreviews.blogspot.com/2014/08/dvd-review-sheerluck-holmes-and-golden.html
A tour de force, and a wonder to behold. For more, see the review:
http://rwlreviews.blogspot.com/2014/09/movie-review-hunger-games-catching-fire.html
Synopsis: In first century Rome, evil Emperor Nero rules with an iron fist. Those who follow Christ live in hiding and fear for their lives; Nero has been casting those of the Way to the lions because of their faith. Paul, world-traveling missionary, is imprisoned and nearing the end of his life. Luke, a doctor and fellow believer, visits him in prison. When military commander Mauritius' daughter is sick, he is desperate to save her...but, nobody seems to be able to help. He has heard that Luke is an amazing physician...but, he can't bear the thought of having one of those Christians set foot in his home. Will he be able to save his daughter...and learn the error of his ways?
The Good: For a Christian movie, the production values here are incredible. It really took me back to the time of Acts, which, ironically, was where I was in my Bible reading plan when I started and finished this. The actors all did amazingly well, and this flick doesn't shy away from showing the brutality that those of the Way faced back in the day. There is some blood, but much of the more intense violence is implied...which can leave quite the picture in your mind's eye. Showing Paul's past haunting him was a plus; I'm a Christian now, but, I had a rather troubled childhood as well, despite being raised in a faithful home. So, when his deeds in his younger years haunted him, that just makes me identify with him all the more. All in all, this was excellent, except...
The Bad: I had a hard time getting into this at first; the jumping around made me feel like I was watching a clips show instead of an actual movie. Plus, though Jim Caviezel did well as Luke, hearing his voice made me think I was hearing Jesus instead, as he does the voice of Christ in The Word of Promise audio Bible.
Conclusion: Other than Jesus, who is your favorite person in the Bible? I've heard answers ranging from Peter to Abraham to even Samson. (I don't understand the reason for the latter answer; he may have been really strong...but he was also a rather messed-up guy, and undone by a woman.) For me, that answer is Paul, because he is a lot like me: a checkered past, a passion for expressing ideas through words, and a head for Scripture. This film illustrates his life very well; though I've seen other cinematic interpretations of his life, this one ranks above the rest. Just make sure that you stick to it when you decide to watch this; it may be a bit hard to get through at first, but it's worth it.
Score: 4/5
Synopsis: In this follow-up to the Disney smash hit, Simba and Nala now have a daughter, Kira, who is as mischievous as young Simba himself. When Kira goes exploring, she finds those Simba banished in the aftermath of Scar's murder of Simba's father, Mufasa. They seem to be bent on destroying Simba and his family at any cost...except for their son Kovu, who has fallen in love with Kira. Will his love for her win out?
The Good: Prior to watching this, it had been a while since I've done any regular Disney animation; I've done live-action from the House of Mouse, as well as Studio Ghibli, but not something like this, especially a direct-to-video sequel. While I doubt any movie will live up to the epic original, this one had great animation, good music, super voice work...all the hallmarks of Disney animated fare.
The Bad: The songs were lame; then again, the musical aspect of Disney animated movies is something I've never really liked. Also, this movie is a bit short compared to the original.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Lions romantically nuzzling and pawing at each other.
Nudity: None.
Language: Name-calling, at worst.
Violence: Animal fights throughout, including a rather intense final battle where at least one character dies; a flashback to the stampede scene from the first film.
Drugs: None.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: The evil lions are a bit scary; a dark mood in some scenes, particularly the climax.
Other: A bit of bathroom humor; communication with the dead.
Conclusion: Disney's direct-to-video sequels have drawn the ire of many a movie fan. Ever since The Return of Jafar, video stores have been flooded with many a film that never made its way to theaters, most of which have been scathingly reviewed by both amateur and professional critics everywhere. While I can't comment on most of the others, because I've never seen them, I have to say this one was surprisingly good for what it was. As long as you don't expect it to be as epic as the original Lion King, you might enjoy it; I know I did.
A decent adventure, but it ran a little long.
Synopsis: Just after being released from an unfair prison sentence, preacher Dave (David A.R. White) names his good friend Jude as his associate minister...only for Jude to be killed in an accident caused by a brick thrown into one of the windows of the church building, which also burns the building down! Dave is bound and determined to have his church rebuilt; problem is, it's on the campus of a university, and the leaders of the college want the church removed. Not sure what to do, Dave turns to his long-lost brother, a lawyer, for help in the legal fight. Meanwhile, Christian college student Keaton (Samantha Boscarino, Nickelodeon's How to Rock) is experiencing serious doubts in her faith...which become even more complicated when she discovers her boyfriend Adam was the one who threw the brick that started the whole affair! Will Adam ever come clean? Will Dave be able to rebuild his church building?
The Good: This had some surprising plot details, especially portraying a preacher as a flawed individual who messes up in a big way. It also makes a wonderful point about what a church truly is. (Hint: It's not a building!) All of the actors did amazingly well, and the storyline had me hooked.
The Bad: The only complaint I had was with the beginning's out-of-order chronology; it would have been better if they'd shown it in order.
Content Concerns:
Sex: College co-eds briefly seen dancing at a party; kissing.
Nudity: A girl in a one-piece swimsuit; slight midriff.
Language: Name-calling, at worst.
Violence: A man is killed in an accident, which is a bit bloody; two men get into a fight, which leaves a gash on one's face; a man knocks a college student into the bushes.
Drugs: Possible drinking at a college party.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: The accident scene at the beginning; emotional intensity throughout; people arguing on television news programs; a funeral; the fights.
More excitement! More fun! This sequel is just as much of a blast as its predecessor. Some fans may be disappointed with the Empire Strikes Back-style cliffhanger ending, though.
Content Concerns: Fantasy violence throughout, scary creatures (goblins, orcs, etc.), one or two brief crude remarks, use of magic, etc. Take the "PG-13" rating seriously.
When Disney bought Marvel, people had a lot of questions: How would the universes of beloved characters such as Spider-Man, the X-Men, or the Avengers be affected? Some people had their doubts, and rightfully so; when the Mouse owned Saban, the Power Rangers seasons they produced are still to this day widely considered to be the worst, and many longtime space opera fans feel that The Last Jedi was a shark-jumping moment for Star Wars. Still, Disney has gotten their own franchises wrong, too; The Lizzie McGuire Movie may have been the first theatrically released film to be the series finale of a television show, but it betrayed the now-iconic sitcom on which it was based. So, they could have either hit a home run...or completely strike out.
Well, if this movie is any indication, then Mickey's ownership of Marvel is working very well. This film packed a punch unlike any animated movie I've seen in a while. Some scenes made me almost tear up, whereas others made me want to cheer. The animation was outstanding; seriously, it was on par with Pixar's creations. As usual, there was plenty of action and heroism, not to mention a cameo by Stan Lee, albeit one after the credits.
However, I do have to warn viewers that, though this movie was amazing, it is also very emotional. Early in the movie, the main character's brother is killed; later on, multiple characters are feared dead, including the protagonist's robotic companion. For those who can't handle seeing such tragedy because of events in their own lives, it might be best to avoid this.
Synopsis: Walter, a lifelong fan of Kermit, Miss Piggy and crew, dreams of visiting the Muppet studio. When he, his brother Gary, and Gary's significant other, Mary (Amy Adams), finally make the trek over there, they discover that it's been largely abandoned. Worse yet, Walter overhears an evil tycoon's plan to buy the Muppet studio only to dig up the oil reserve beneath it. The only way the nefarious scheme can be stopped is if Kermit and friends can raise ten million dollars. Kermit assembles the old crew together to put on a benefit...but, that nefarious oil baron will stop at nothing to be the owner of the Muppet studios. Will Kermie prevail in the end?
Features appearances by Jack Black, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Selena Gomez, Emily Blunt, and several other celebrities.
The Good: After Jim Henson died, the Muppet franchise went into a downward spiral. Muppet Treasure Island and Muppets from Space were pretty good...but, after the mediocre and somewhat crude It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, the absolutely horrible The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, and the inane A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa, things seemed bleak for Kermit and crew. Well, I'm happy to say that this film brings back the Muppet magic. It's a serious throwback to a time when movies were made to simply be enjoyed, not picked apart for hidden meanings. Humor abounds; the musical numbers were great; the heroes were likable; the villain was utterly despicable; and, there's many a cute moment.
The Bad: Unfortunately, the makers felt the need to add some occasional crude bits, though it's nowhere near as egregious as in the other Muppet flicks mentioned above. Without them, this movie could have scored a "G".
Conclusion: I grew up watching the Muppets in various forms: movies, both older and newer; Muppet Babies; Muppets Tonight; and, yes, even Fraggle Rock. That may make me a bit biased, but, I still had a blast with this movie. Say what you will about Disney; they brought back the Muppets to their former glory. Whereas the movies from the 2000s would have made Jim Henson turn in his grave, this would have made the late Muppet creator proud. Let's hope the next movie, Muppets: Most Wanted, continues this trend.
Score: 4.5/5
I haven't read the original novel in nearly two decades, but this celluloid adaptation of Lewis Carroll's second Alice novel was a blast. There were so many twists and turns and so much action that I almost felt as if I was playing a video game instead. The plot kept me involved, and, all in all, I enjoyed this one; it was a fun diversion from a depressing situation I was facing at the time while I was watching it. While this sequel may have been a bit unnecessary, that didn't keep it from being good, clean fun, the kind we need more of these days.
After Revenge of the Sith, the last of the prequels, came and went, it seemed that the Star Wars saga was over, as far as the films went; sure, there was the Clone Wars movie, but its box office receipts were well under the standard set for the series. Some years later, Disney bought Lucasfilm, and it was soon announced that there would be a new film in the series. People doubted the House of Mouse, but, the flick was a massive hit, and, soon, there were further films announced, the first one of which was Rogue One, another prequel to the original trilogy. The previous prequels had sort of a mixed reaction from moviegoers and critics alike, but, this one is in a completely different vein. Instead of the childishness of The Phantom Menace or the romantic aspect of Attack of the Clones, this one focuses largely on action, and answers a very big question: How exactly did the Rebels get the plans to the Death Star? Most of the characters introduced are likable, especially main heroine Jyn Erso. There are some familiar faces, though: Darth Vader makes two or so appearances, and there's even a scene with a very realistic computer-generated Princess Leia, who very much looks like a young Carrie Fisher. There's plenty of action and heroism, and no annoying characters like Jar Jar. Even the content is clean; though there's plenty of violence, as expected, it's not graphic, sexual content is absent, and language is limited to one unfinished, "What the...?"
Despite my high praise, I do have to issue some complaints: There was a pokey moment here and there, and, at times, it felt underwhelming. Still, for Star Wars fans like me, this is a blast.
This is "those meddling kids" as I've come to expect them. Mystery, action, and comedy abound as Scooby and friends figure out the real story behind musicians disappearing left and right at an Australian battle of the bands. The "down under" setting made it even more fun, especially since it taught me how to properly say "Bondi," an important term for a lifelong Mac user. The only complaints I have are Daphne and Velma's voices were off again, the wardrobe was a bit immodest--especially seeing Daphne in a bikini twice--and the appearance of the Hex Girls bothered me. If that doesn't concern you, Scooby fans will likely enjoy it, though, as with many movies in this series, it might scare the youngsters.
The good points? The production values are great; the sets really take you back in time. All of the actors give an outstanding performance, especially Tom Selleck (Magnum, P.I.) as the lead, and Mark Harmon as the antagonist. I loved the action sequences as well. The bad points? Way too much profanity; it seemed as if there were an expletive in almost every sentence! Also, a bit of sexual content was present; there was talk of a guy "raping a squaw". While I expected violence--what's a Western without it?--I wasn't expecting excessive profanity, especially not from a movie based on a classic work of literature, and one that is rated "G" in Canada. (What were the raters thinking? This would definitely get "PG-13" here in the States!) Unless you have a way to eliminate the profanity from your movies and TV shows, I'd suggest discerning viewers stay away.
Synopsis: High school student Allie Pennington (Britt Robertson) is ecstatic to find out that she will actually be staying at Avalon High for three years, instead of moving after mere months like her parents have always done. Mom and Dad happen to be professors of medieval history, and constantly talk about King Arthur, the wizard Merlin, and their contemporaries, so, Allie knows all about the subject. Upon starting at her new school, she makes friends with football captain Will, his girlfriend Jen, and weird, nerdy Miles. When Allie and Miles are assigned a project on the Order of the Bear, they find that it's a group of people who believe that King Arthur will one day be reincarnated...and it's slated to happen soon. Allie can see where the people at her school fit into the Arthurian legend: Will is the King himself, and Miles is Merlin...but, will she convince them of their true destiny before it's too late?
The Good: The movie starts out great; it brings together modern times and an ancient legend. Allie is a likable character, and so are Miles and Will. Hopefully, this telefilm will encourage its viewers to check out the original Arthurian stories. The actors do a wonderful job, and the sets are very nice.
The Bad: Unfortunately, everything gets ruined in the last fifteen minutes. Instead of Will being King Arthur, it turns out that Allie--the movie's female lead!--is, whereas Mordred, Arthur's main nemesis, is a teacher who walks with a cane. Seriously, I know female empowerment has been a big thing on Disney Channel for a while, but, that's just nuts. Even the original Meg Cabot novel didn't have that ridiculous plot twist! A woman can't be a king; the definition of "king" is a male ruler! Sorry, but the climax messed up what could have been a great flick.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Teenage couples kiss and hug; a girl cheats on her boyfriend, but not in a sexual way.
Nudity: Allie's midriff is seen once.
Language: Name-calling.
Violence: Scenes of bullying; a fantasy battle that involves a jousting match.
Drugs: None.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Scenes of bullying; an evil teacher; some emotional intensity.
Other: Use of magic.
Conclusion: Don't you just hate it when the last act completely ruins a movie? That's what happened here, though, and it did not make me very happy. I expected better from Disney Channel; maybe I should watch more of their sitcoms and less of their original movies from now on.
Score: 4/10
This movie was FABULOUS! China Anne McClain (A.N.T. Farm) and Kelli Berglund (Lab Rats) were the perfect she-geeks, and the rest of the cast also did quite well. The plot kept me wondering, and the ending was very sweet. This DCOM makes me proud to be a Disney Channel fan.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Flirting; one near-kiss. 4/5
Nudity: Shirtless guy; girls in short shorts and off-the-shoulder dresses. 4/5
Language: Name-calling, at worst. 4/5
Violence: A brief human/robot fisticuff; a robot self-destructs; some rough-and-tumble sports action. 3/5
Drugs: None. 5/5
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Some emotional intensity. 4/5
Score: 5/5
Typical for Disney Channel Original Movies...in both good and bad ways. Read for more:
http://rwlreviews.blogspot.com/2014/06/movie-review-zapped.html
Who hasn't heard the song "Amazing Grace"? Even if you've never attended a church service, you've probably heard it in some form or another. I can remember a scene in According to Jim where that hymn was played on a harmonica during a funeral of sorts, and an episode of Home Improvement where Jill alluded to it. Most songs have a story behind them, and "Amazing Grace" has quite the history; after seeing this, you won't hear that hymn the same way ever again! Better yet, the production values and story were better than usual for a Christian film; the performances were all outstanding, especially the lovely Romola Garai as Barbara. However, what I didn't expect was for some problematic content to be thrown into the mix. While I knew there would be disturbing descriptions of slavery, as that was a deplorable practice, I was bothered by some of the female characters' low-cut outfits, as well as several utterances of profanity, including British crudities "b----y," "b------s," "arse," and right many uses of the h-word not in reference to the place. Despite its problems, it was still a great movie; however, with a bit more decorum, it could have been much better.
I'm a longtime fan of Christian entertainment, but, over the past year or two, I have sat through some terrible cinema within that genre. Inane plots, poor production values, boring themes, inappropriate content...yeah, that's why the only movies I'd watched so far this year had been Star Trek flicks.
Still, I figured they couldn't be all bad, so, when I saw that the free Tubi app had this movie available to stream, I tried it out...and was pleasantly surprised. The story was engaging, the performances were great, and Grace was a likable and attractive lead. Better yet, the film preaches a moral that Christian singles--such as yours truly--need to hear.
While nothing amazing, this is better than usual for Christian cinema. If you've been burned by some of the garbage put out under that banner, give this a try; you might just like it.
I know I'm probably the odd one out here, but, though most of the film was a blast, the ending was too pat for me, and it dragged a bit. Other than that, I enjoyed it; I just wish the final chapter or two had been better.
