John Carter

A movie that was based on a series of books written by Edgar Rice in 1911. Not having read the books I can only guess that the action between the pages were more exciting than what took place on the big screen. There was just enough going on to keep my attention, but not enough to put me on the edge of my seat. The best part of the film was seeing small traits of other sci-fi cult classics (Star Wars, The Martix, Dune) on one screen. I must admit seeing where other directors got their inspiration was pretty interesting. Sadly I can't say the same thing about the dialogue, it just wasn't enough to take me there. It was "OK".

NOW- I will recommend this film for a science teacher who wants to show their students the beauty and coolness of science because just about everything in the film can be explained through science. No special magic powers, no inner will power. Just science. As an added bonus it was refreshing to see an intelligent and fighting princess. That alone shattered the "pretty helpless princess" image disney is known for producing. Overall, it was an "OK" movie. Not something worth going to see but on a rainy saturday night with nothing else to do it would be a good movie.

I grade this movie: Rent It

Act of Valor

To call Act of Valor a movie would be like calling the bible a bedtime story. This film gave it's viewers a glimpse into the lives and emotions of the United States military. The roles of the military soldiers were played by real military soldiers which makes the dialogue a little dry and their acting (when called for it) was a little less to be admired,hey it's OK because these men and women are soldiers and not paid hollywood actors who worry about if their makeup is done correctly or not. Knowing where to stand so that they're not in a shadow is way out of their element and it showed on scene.But when the bullets started flying and they had to fight against a Mexican Cartel just to get to the terrorist you begin to see their true colors, you see the hours of training they were put through just to handle something of that nature..but only in real life. This was an amazing project.

NOW! The problem I do have isn't so much with the film itself but there are a few things I want to hit on, but first I want to talk about the fact that this film wasn't given it's justice. The only time I even saw a trailer for this film was when I went to the movies to see another movie. Where was the TV support, where was the news story about soldiers doing a movie and NOT taking a dime? Now I could be wrong, they could have done all of that and I just didn't see it. But if you ask me..it wasn't enough. But back to the small problem I have with the movie. The one thing I don't like in any movie is that someone is writing a letter about what happened or someone telling the story while we're watching, more than likely that lets the viewer know that someone is going to die already and we're just watching to see who it is. Another thing I didn't like was the lack of noticeable time lap. One soldier left and his wife was pregnant  (not showing), some stuff happens, some stuff get blown up, some people get shot, and when he calls home she's showing...We're left thinking when did four months go by?  Overall I'll say this, if you love the military you'll love this movie. If you love playing Call of Duty you'll REALLY love this movie.

I grade this film: DVD

Good Deeds

Tyler Perry is back again with another one of his automatic classic films; Good Deeds. Wesley Deeds (Tyler Perry) is a successful and wealthy black man who has always done what was expected of him. That is until the beautiful but down on her luck Lindsey Wakefield ( Thandie Newton) stumbles into his life and stirs something in Deeds that he had long forgotten was there; happiness. Each character had their own story to tell and each story lead to an certain expectation of Wesley Deeds. If no other film of his I would like to see Good Deeds made into a book. So much needs to be told about Wilimena Deeds (Phylicia Rashad) the almost stuck up mother and Walter Deeds (Brian White) the overly pissed off younger brother. Good Deeds shows the growth of Tyler as a storyteller and Director. I think anyone going to see this movie will enjoy the emotional rollercoaster they will be sent on.

NOW-you will only enjoy the movie if people leave their kids at home. I mean come on, I went to the show for that theater experience but what I ended up with was a bootleg experience; had kids running back and forth in front of me, some child in the upper left corner kept calling for his mother. "mom,mom,mom" Just answer the child so they can hush already. I believe it's time for viewers to understand the HUGE difference between a Madea movie and a Tyler Perry movie. Kids have no place in the theater for a Tyler Perry movie, they're going to get bored and then they are going to get on my nerves. Madea movie: Kids will watch because it will hold their attention, they will laugh, everyone will laugh so it's OK. I will say this one this about Brian White's character. From the second he walks onto the scene he is the guy you will love the hate, I mean the brother is just out there. Oh and ladies you if you ever want to see Tyler Perry get it in, I mean REALLY GETTING IT IN!! You want to see this film (another reason to leave the kids at home). and fellas it's with Gabrielle Union so we don't lose out either. Great film overall

I grade this film: Go See it / DVD

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Nicolas Cage is back to play the role of one of Marvel's darkest heroes Ghost Rider, feeding off of evil where ever he can find it. What can I say about this film?? Well the popcorn was good, the soda was a little watered down..oh right! the "movie".  If you've ever seen a Nicolas Cage movie then you already know what you're going to get from his acting. Sadly Cage only has one way of acting. But if you like that kind of thing then you'll love this movie. Same goes for viewers who saw the first Ghost Rider, if you didn't like it, don't bother wasting gas to go see this movie. Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine had a $25 million dollar budget increase to create a better movie but before I tell you where most of that money went let me pause and use a line from Jurassic Park; " So preoccupied with whether they could they didn't think if they should." Because Taylor and Neveldine had the money they throw every effect they could think of from their favorite movies, you had various split scenes, slow motion camera movement, the one gold star I will give is the work they spent on the Ghost Rider, the flames and the movement was bad ass. But honestly if Idris Elba who played Moreau did one more Matrix move I was leaving and I was taking my watered down soda with me..

So overall I'll say this, if the power went out in house, you don't have any family or friends who lived close by and you have some time to kill..oh and there was NOTHING else in the box office you didn't want to see you might want to see this movie. Other than that....

I grade this movie: DVD it!!!

Safe House

Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds makes an excellent pair in this non-stop action thrill ride SAFE HOUSE. From the second Denzel walks onto the scene as Tobin Frost; fugitive, every scene after that becomes more intense than the previous one. With his seasoned acting skills Washington does not let the audience down. His words are brilliantly put together to draw you into his world, his action scenes will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering how it is going to end but overly waiting for another hit of intensity.

But let's not forget about Ryan Reynolds who was more than able to hold his own and demand attention in his role as Matt Weston; CIA agent. Reynolds who mostly known for his humor in his films played it straight this time as he matched Washington moves and actions step for step. Reynolds out did himself in this film so much that I'll be willing to see him in something else like this.

If SAFE HOUSE was a game of chess then Denzel Washington would hands down be the chess master and Ryan Reynolds would be the more than capable opponent. As an added bonus to why I loved this film, is because it took place in Cape Town, South Africa. It was about time Hollywood showed Africa and it's people in another light. NOW my prediction is that Denzel will get an award for this film ONLY because he played the "bad guy", like he did for Training Day. Personally if it was me I would leave the award where it was until they added 38 more like it (and that's not counting his TV movies). I'm just saying!

I grade this film: GO SEE IT / OWN IT 

The Woman In Black

The Woman In Black takes places in a "remote village" dated around the late 1800's. Where a young lawyer by the name of Arthur Kipps played by Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) has to venture to in order to make sure the law firm truly has the last will and testament from recent owner of the home in the marsh. It's not long before this easy task turns out to be not so easy after all. Now that you have the basics of the story let me tell you what this really is, this movie was an attempt for Daniel Radcliffe to break away from his role as Harry Potter. Epic Fail. He still finds himself in always dark town, that always seem wet, or on a train traveling through the countryside of London reading a newspaper (sounds familiar?) The only thing missing was the people moving in the paper. You will jump more than a few times, I'll give it that, in fact the film was OK at best. For this to be one of Director James Watkins films you kind of get what you paid for. James is known for his films Eden Lake and The Decent part 2. Besides the film has a PG-13 rating so you weren't going to get much out of it anyway.

I grade this film: RENT IT 

Red Tails

Red Tails, a movie that portrayed the lives of the Tuskegee Airmen as they fought for their rightful place in the sky to be amongst other pilots as America went to war with German in 1940.  The film was aligned with stars such as Cuba Gooding Jr. (The Hit List, American Gangster, Daddy Day Camp), Terrence Howard (Law & Order: LA, Iron Man, Pride), Nate Parker (The Secret Life of Bees, The Great Debaters, Pride), & David Oyelowo ( Rise of The Planet of the Apes, A Raisin in the Sun, The Last King of Scotland). You would think with such talent in this film it would be a hit. Not so. I was counting the second until I saw the ending credits of this film. If it wasn't the horribly  thick portrayal of country accents, It was Goodings role as Major Emanuelle Stance that put you in the mind frame of Robert De Niro role as Master Chief Billy Sunday from Men of Honor, (I just wanted to break that pipe) and if that didn't do it for you it was Shaffer Smith (Ne-Yo) accent that made him sound like an old country man  they would call Cookie from those old westerns. Of course the only thing to out shine the bad accents was the bad and out dated dialogue. For there to be so many actors with great accomplishments under their belts they all came across as new actors and this was their first big role. There was even a scene where Ne-Yo told a White Pilot " When you cold, you Blue, When you scared, you Yellow, When you sick, you Green, and you have the nerve to call us colored". I heard that joke from one of Richard Pryor stand ups. I doubt that joke was that old for one of the Tuskegee airmen to be using it in a bar in 1940.But aside from all of that you would think a movie that had a budget of $58 million dollars you could afford more than two women; Daniela Ruah (NCIS: Los Angeles) who played Sofia and Tina D'Marco who played Sofia's mother. Oh and Tears. Yes, tears. There were more than a couple of scenes where you would have thought the actors could had shown a hint of emotion, but never the less every eye stayed dry. Not even a single GLORY tear.  But all is not lost...for Nate Parker who played the role of Marty 'Easy' Julian, this was his entry into Hollywood as a man. Forget the fact that his character looked like Denzel Washington from Malcolm X,  this role is a far separation from his last films and I believe we haven't seen the last of him yet. For his sake and ours I hope that is true.

I grade this movie: Rent It