Now Playing

Here's a brief take on new films I saw this last week.

Cop Out
Starring: Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Seann William Scott and Guillermo Díaz
Quick Take: This is a buddy cop picture — a genre Bruce Willis if familiar with. What you're expecting is a little bit of action, a few laughs and a nice distraction from life. This movie provides that, for the most part. But it's a huge disappointment for Kevin Smith fans. The director — known for his off-color, off-beat indies — sells out with this film. There are some funny moments but Smith doesn't have a great eye for action or some of the conventions of the genre. Plus, a little Tracy Morgan goes a LONG way.
Rating: R for pervasive language including sexual references, violence and brief sexuality.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

The Crazies
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell and Joe Anderson
Quick Take: This is a re-make of the 1973 film from legendary zombie-movie maverick George A. Romero. The film takes place in rural Iowa and centers on a government accident that turns the locals to their darker natures. This is a surprisingly strong film for the genre. Director Breck Eisner brings a strong touch and, unlike most modern horror films and re-makes, "The Crazies" relies on tension and setting the scene to provide chills instead of out-and-out violence. Not that the film doesn't have it's violent moments. For the genre, though, "The Crazies" is a cut above recent fare.
Rating: R for bloody violence and language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief
Starring: Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Kevin McKidd, Sean Bean and Pierce Brosnan
Quick Take: This could well be a "Harry Potter"-like franchise in the making. Set around Greek Mythology, Percy Jackson discovers he's the son of Poseidon, the God of the Sea. Soon he's paired with other youths that share a supernatural lineage and must go on a quest to save the world. The film is aimed at kids but is entertaining for fans of all ages. You can see the potential for the series, as the initial film was more entertaining than the first installment of the "Harry Potter" series.
Rating: PG for action violence and peril, some scary images and suggestive material, and mild language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more