Joshua Bell: A YoungArts Masterclass

A group of young and very talented musicians who all play a stringed instrument get to spend some time with Joshua Bell. They play two concerts with him and learn some valuable tips. They are so lucky.

All in all, I say: SEE IT

Bron / Broen

Two cops - one from Denmark and one from Sweden work a case together. This show was the inspiration for the American show The Bridge. The The Denmark cop has had about three wives and he's a bit of a ladies man. The Swedish cop has Aspergers. It's dark, but the two actors have a good rapport. All in all, I say: SEE IT - I watch it on Xfinity OnDemand.

The Comeback

I do NOT like reality tv shows, so a show about someone filming a reality show while she makes a comeback into sitcom wasn't appealing to me. I saw an interview on some evening talk show and decided to give it a go. I am embarrassed for the main character in every episode. Kudrow (Friends) is the main character.

It is a short half hour show that is now in its second season on HBO. I caught up on HBOGo. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

22 Jump Street

Same as the first only I think the screenplay was 100% better than the first. This time the guys are in college. I think it was funnier. Stormore (The Blacklist) is one of the bad guys. The end credits show a funny montage of future movies - it cracked me up. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you want a light comedy and you were a fan of 21 Jump Street the tv series. I watched it on Directv.

Miss Meadows

A fun dark comedy. The writer of Because I said so - Hopkins - writes and directs this film executive produced by Holmes (Go) herself. She is a proper substitute teacher who has no tolerance for the scum. She becomes a vigilante until she meets a local sheriff (Dale from World War z) and considers changing her ways.

His tattoos are visible in the movie and I am very curious about them. He is cute in this. Kiwi Mulvey (Rush) plays a bad guy.

 All in all, I say: SEE IT - I liked it - even though it's slightly dark - it was light. I saw it on Directv in Theatres.

November Man

A CIA hitman - now retired - is re-activated, or so he thinks. It turns out to be a conspiracy - didn't see that coming did you? (sarcasm) Brosnan, former 007 himself, gets back into the action, He doesn't appear to do many if any of his own stunts though. Kurylenko (Hitman) appears as a girl in need of saving again. There is only one sex scene and it is NOT with Brosnan - what?! you say - it's true. The scene is with Taylor (The 100) and Bracey (Monte Carlo) seen below.

I can't figure out what color his hari really is, but man he is gorgeous in this. The two hitmen and their action scenes are the only good things about this film. There is more than one editing error or error in plot. The plot itself is horrible and some scenes are just plain unnecessary. There are loose ends not tied up in the end as well. All in all, I say: RENT IT - don't pay too much to see it perhaps wait till HBO or Showtime show it. I saw it on Directv - had to - Bracey is too cute.

Into the Storm

Callies (Walking Dead) and Walsh (Veep) are storm trackers. They come into a town in OK where a high school graduation is taking place. The area is about to have multiple touchdown and the largest tornado in recorded history. The special effects are super cool - not since Twister have we seen such cool effects. This is filmed differently though - it's filmed from peoples cameras - not a movie studio standing still camera. It's not as jerky as you might think. The high school VP is played by Armitage (Hobbit). There is no cheesy romance in the span of the movie which is good because too often movies try to fit it in like it's plausible.

All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like disaster movies. I do and I thought it was perfect for a stressless movie afternoon. I watched it on Directv.

State of Affairs

Heigl (Grey's Anatomy), Woodard (Primal Fear), Kaufman (Without a Trace), McKenna (90210), Harbour (Newsroom), Kumar (The Cape), and Boutsikaris (The Bourne Legacy) all star in the pilot. She works for the CIA and makes the daily threat analysis reports to the President who was going to be her mother-in-law before her fiance was killed in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan. there is a lot more to what happened in Kabul that will be revealed slowly I'm sure. Her personal life is a wreck but she's good at her job. Remar (Dexter) is the best thing about the show even though I've only seen one episode. Until it gets beyond annoying and out there as far as plot - I'm going to give it a go. All in all, I say: TRY IT

Outlander

Based on the book and set in Scotland. A British army nurse has gone to Scotland with her husband to rekindle what they had before WWII. After the Druid ritual she walks up to some stones and places her hands on them. She is transported through time to 18th Century Scotland - when the Jackboots were plotting against the Red Coats. I couldn't get through the book, so I opted for the tv series on Starz. Let me show you why I watch - even though it can be frustrating & well the sex scenes are sometimes obnoxious - it is Starz.

All in all....need I write more...swoon

Memphis Belle

"It's May 1943 at a US Army Air Corps base in England. The four officers and six enlisted men of the Memphis Belle - a B-17 bomber so nicknamed for the girlfriend of its stern and stoic captain, Dennis Dearborn - will soon start their twenty-fifth mission, having completed their previous twenty-four successfully with nary an incident, while fewer and fewer other planes are coming back from their missions at all. If they complete their next mission successfully, they will be the first Army Air Corps B-17 Crew to complete their tour of duty. Visiting communications officer Lt. Col. Bruce Derringer wants to publicize and highly tout their accomplishment, even before it happens, as a long term good news campaign at a time when there is little good news to report. Derringer's plan is against the wishes of the base commander, Col. Craig Harriman, who would prefer to treat the ten as any of his other hard working men. The previous success of the Memphis Belle is despite the disparate natures of the ten men, whose personalities and backgrounds could not be more different. Each of the ten has a differing view of Derringer's publicity campaign as well as to the probable success or failure of what will be their last mission regardless, a dangerous one into enemy territory over the skies of Bremen, Germany." Written by Huggo

Modine (Full Metal Jacket), Stoltz (Pulp Fiction), Donovan (Argo), Sweeney (Fire in the Sky), Zane (Titanic), Astin (LOTR), Connick (Dolphin Tale 2), Strathairn (Lincoln), and Lithgow (Dexter) all star. I really enjoyed this film. I saw it on the big screen and I think I cried. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Kelly's Heroes

US Soldiers in the middle of fighting WWII decide to take their tank and go over the border to steal some gold. Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby) plays a private, Savalas (The Dirty Dozen) plays a master sgt., Rickles (Toy Story) plays a staff sgt., O'Conner (In the Heat of the Night) plays a major general, Sutherland (MASH) plays a sgt., and Stanton (Alien) plays a private. It has the perfect amount of humor and war. This is one of the first WWII movies I ever saw. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Das Boot

Petersen writes and directs (Air Force One). I love this plot description by IMDb, "The claustrophobic world of a WWII German U-boat; boredom, filth, and sheer terror." I thought this was a masterpiece. Prochnow (The English Patient) stars. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it's rare that we see a film from the other point of view.

Schindler's List

Directed by Spielberg (ET) and based on a true story. IMDb writes, "In Poland during World War II, Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis." This film is one of the most heartbreaking films on the planet. It is one of the best movies of all time. The cinematography is some of the best ever! The soundtrack is just as heartbreaking. The acting is indescribable. Neeson (Taken), Fiennes (Harry Potter), and Kingsley (Gandhi). All in all, I say: SEE IT - it is a requirement as a human being on this planet.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

A British colonel is adamant that everyone at a Japanese POW camp remained civilized. He devises a plan to use his captured men to help the Japanese build a bridge to keep things civilized and his men busy with their minds off their capture. Allies - and some of the POWs - plan to blow up the bridge at all costs. There is a famous song - people whistle all the time since this film. Holden (The Wild Bunch) and Guinness (Lawrence of Arabia) are the two most known. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Great Escape

POWs escape from a German camp and attempt to make it to freedom. It is based on a book and has been used as a reference in tons of others films. McQueen (Bullitt). Garner (The Notebook), and Attenborough (Jurassic Park), Coburn (Monsters Ink), and Bronson (The Dirty Dozen) all star. It was known for the motorcycle scene actually done by McQueen. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it's a classic and you will get many other movie references.

Saving Private Ryan

One of the best WWII movies of all time. Spielberg (ET) proves he is a master at the historical genre. Hanks (Apollo 13) leads a small number of men to locate Ryan, a soldier who has lost all his brothers in the war. He is his families sole survivor. It will make you cry like a baby. Damon (Oceans 11) is Ryan, Sizemore (The Red Road) is at his best, Burns (She's the One) is awesome, Pepper (Green Mile) does well, Diesel (Fast & Furious), Danson (Cheers), Giamatti (Sideways), Ribisi (That Thing You Do), Davies (Rescue Dawn), Farina (Snatch) also appear. The war scenes brought war vets to tears in the seats next to me. Amazing. All in all, I say: SEE IT - and how have you not already - shame on you.

Stories We Tell

Sarah Polley (Dawn of the Dead - remake) wrote, directed, and appears in this documentary about her family. It is specifically out her mother and the identity of her biological father. It is intriguing and very well done. All in all, I say: SEE IT - if you like autobiographies.

Fury

IMDb writes, "April, 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy commands a Sherman tank and his five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Out-numbered, out-gunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany." Ayer (Training Day) directs, and Pitt (Inglorious Basterds), Bernthal (Walking Dead), LaBeouf (Lawless), Lerman (Percy Jackson), Pena (Shooter), Parrack (True Blood), Henke (Pacific Rim), Isaacs (Harry Potter), and Eastwood (as in the son of Clint) all star. I enjoyed it - it was gritty and dark. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Twin Peaks (tv series, movie, and 2017 return)

Who killed Laura Palmer?

A tv series 1990-1991 that I was addicted to. MacLachlan (Dune) is an FBI agent sent to the small town to discover the whereabouts of a missing agent and stays to find the murderer of a young high school student. Everyone is a suspect. To help him stay focused he likes the coffee and pie at the town's diner. Ontkean (Slap Shot) is the sheriff, Amick (Witches of East End) is a waitress, and Ashbrook (Return of the Living Dead Part 2) is the dead girl's boyfriend.

Boyle (Men in Black 2) is the dead girl's friend, Fenn (Ray Donovan) also was a friend a think, Chen (The Last Emperor), Laurie (Carrie), Lipton (The Postman), and Wise (X-Men: First Class) also showed up on the series.

1992 the movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with me was released to finish off the series. They know who killed Laura and now the prequel to how the whole thing came about is released finally telling fans of the cult classic how the FBI ended up in town. Lee (Vampires) plays Palmer. The soundtrack was and is still downright eerie. The show and movie uncover every one's secrets good and bad. The cold, rainy town in Washington was perfect. Isaak (Singer) plays an FBI agent. David Lynch delivers a cult classic like no other.

SO, Agent Cooper disappeared behind the curtain and his doppleganger was released into the world. It's been 25 years and Bob will rear his head if things aren't put right. Most of the original cast has returned.
All in all, I say: SEE IT - all of it.

Wall*E

Everything that is great about PIXAR. This is a gem. Earth has become so polluted and toxic that humans leave for space. Things are run by robots and a corporation. Sound like modern day - it is. The people have gotten fat and complacent. Wall*E is a trash robot that was left behind on Earth. One day a probe - EVE - comes into his life and it is love at first sight. Will the fate of mankind be to return to Earth? Garlin (Daddy Day Care) is the Captain, Willard (Mighty Wind) is the President before the end of life on Earth, Ratzenberger (Cheers), Najimy (Hocus Pocus), and Weaver (Aliens) also do voice overs. It made me cry. All in all, I say: SEE IT and buy it!

Up

I took the kids to see this when it first came out. I thought I had already blogged about it. The opening scene is a tear jerker. Asner (Mary Tyler Moore Show) doesn't want to leave his house because it reminds him of his wife who passed. He decides to float it to South America like he promised his wife when they were kids. He feels like his wife never got to have her adventure. He discovers a lot along the way including a dog that can talk and a boy who needs a father figure in his life. All in all, I say: SEE IT - heck, own it!

Mr. & Mrs. Murder

IMDb writes, "Charlie and Nicola Buchanan (Shaun Micallef and Kat Stewart) are crime scene cleaners. As they go about their work, they collect evidence and clues the police may have missed. Every now and then, they get carried away with helping solve the mysteries the police have trouble closing." Written by HokeyPokey27

It is light-hearted and funny. It's nice to watch a murder mystery show that isn't gross or dark, and not a slap-stick. Pasvolsky (McLeod's Daughters) is the cop who always accepts their help. He's cute.

Sorry, he's handsome. I really like this Australian show. All in all, I say: RENT IT from Netflix or Amazon Prime

Palo Alto

IMDb writes, "Shy, sensitive April is the class virgin, torn between an illicit flirtation with her soccer coach Mr. B and an unrequited crush on sweet stoner Teddy. Emily, meanwhile, offers sexual favors to every boy to cross her path - including both Teddy and his best friend Fred, a live wire without filters or boundaries. As one high school party bleeds into the next - and April and Teddy struggle to admit their mutual affection - Fred's escalating recklessness starts to spiral into chaos."

Coppola (Casino Moon) directed and wrote this film She used the same style has her sister...long drawn out scenes where nothing happens. The actors look bored, the people they are portraying look bored, and I got bored. Franco (127 Hours) stars and helped write - it is based on one of his short stories.

All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Matched

Written by Ally Conde this young adult novel is one long set up for a climax that has yet to come. I am hoping it will be in the second book. This book was just boring detail and emotion after another long boring detail and emotion.

Amazon writes, "Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow."

All in all, I say: SKIP IT - I can't. It's too late for me and now I have to read the sequel.

The Escape Artist

BBC writes, "Revolves around Will Burton, a talented junior barrister of peerless intellect and winning charm who specialises in spiriting people out of tight legal corners. He is in high demand as he has never lost a case. But when his talents acquit the notorious prime suspect in an horrific murder trial, that brilliance comes back to bite him with unexpected and chilling results, not to mention a shocking twist in the tale."
I watched the first half of the first show and I realized the bad guy was going to kill the lawyers wife. I stopped the movie and went into IMDb and looked at the plot and sure enough IMDb wrote wife dies, and the lawyer spends all the other episodes trying to get the bad guy. I wasn't interested at that point - too frustrating. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Rudderless

Crudup (Almost Famous) a divorced agent goes through hell when his son dies. While working as a part time painter and living on a sailboat with no bathroom he listens to some of his son's music. He decides to play one of the sons at an open mic night. Yalchin (Odd Thomas) hears the song and with a lot of tenacity he convinces Crudup to let him join in at the next open mic night, and eventually start a band. Then there is a twist...I didn't see it coming...I made assumptions. The music is really good. All in all, I say: RENT IT

Step Up All In

IMDb writes, "All-stars from the previous Step Up installments come together in glittering Las Vegas, battling for a victory that could define their dreams and their careers." It takes some dancers from Step Up 1,2,and 4 - I don't pay that much attention to what the dancers look like, but I don't think anyone from 3 was in it. You don't watch any of these movies for the plot after 1. It's predictable and cheesy. You watch for the dance choreography. The final dance off in this is really good. All in all, I say: SKIP IT and just find the final scene on Youtube and you're done!

Husbands

A 45 minute show on CW Seed I came across when I finished Play It Again, Dick. A couple go to Vegas and get drunk married. They decide to move in together and give it a go. They have lots of celebrity guest stars - some parts are very funny. All in all, I say: SEE IT - if you like sitcoms.

Play It Again, Dick

IMDb writes, "Ryan Hanson tries to put together a Dick Casablancas-centric television spin-off, calling on his pals to help him get the show off the ground." Ryan plays is playing a parody of himself. It's a spin off of Veronica Mars - the pretend show. Most of the actors from the tv series Veronica Mars play obnoxious/fictitious versions of themselves. Each episode is only about 20 minutes or so. It plays on CW Seed on the web or on the CW app. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you are a Marshmallow - it's funny.

Constantine (movie & tv series)

In 2005, Reeves (Speed) made a movie about a character from a comic book series: Hellblazer. Reeves is John Constantine who is a supernatural detective. He deals with demons and angels. Weisz (Mummy) is a woman he is trying to help. LaBeouf (Disturbia), Hounsou (Gladiator), Rossdale (XXX), Swinton (Moonrise Kingdom), and Stormare (Blacklist) all star. Reeves is a little rough around the edges like he couldn't quit decide how to play the guy. I liked it - it was dark. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like supernatural stuff or hell if you like Reeves like I do.

Ryan (Vikings) accent and all takes on the role of John Constantine. He has been working for awhile. On his last assignment a young girl was taken by demons and heaven damned him to hell for his mistake. He wants to get into Heaven when he goes which he thinks may be very soon with a new evil seeping into all regions of the US. Supernatural events are on the rise and he has been given a mooa of where some really bad stuff will go down. So, as I understand it he will along with 2 others go to every place on the maps and try to end whatever evil is lurking and acting there. The first episode was filmed in Atlanta. There have only been 2 shows - he is hot, so I'm going to give him another episode or 2 and if it doesn't get better I'll quit. All in all, I say: NOT SURE

Farscape

Browder (Stargate) is an astronaut who ends up going through a worm hole and ends up in a distance part of the universe on a ship that is part organic. The crew has just freed themselves from captivity. He has to learn their ways and they learn his. They are all different species, yet they form long lasting friendships. Black(Stargate) also appears. The opening sequence music is horrible. I admit it, much of the acting, filming, and plots are kind of cheesy and sometimes bad. I just can't explain it - it grows on you and you can't help but watch. I didn't love it like I love Stargate, but I didn't hate it. After they were cancelled - end of season 4 - they made a movie to wrap things up and then the 2 main actors working on Stargate for the same channel SyFy. Almost the entire cast is Australian and it was filmed in Australia. All in all, I say: STREAM IT - if you like science fiction on Amazon Prime. Netflix has the movie.