Automata

Banderas (Desperado) is an insurance adjuster for a company that makes robots. It's a futuristic, apocalyptic world. McDermott (Stalker) plays a dirty cop, Forester (Jackie Brown) plays a friend, McInnerny (Notting Hill) plays a bad guy and Griffith (Working Girl) plays a mechanic of sorts. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - so painful.

Wild Bill

IMDb writes, "Out on parole after 8 years inside Bill Hayward returns home to find his now 11 and 15 year old sons abandoned by their mother and fending for themselves. Unwilling to play Dad, an uncaring Bill is determined to move on. Although Dean the older boy has found a job and is doing his best to be a father to his younger brother Jimmy, the arrival of Bill has brought them to the attention of social services. With the danger of being put into care looming, Dean forces his feckless Dad to stay by threatening to grass him up for dealing. If there's one thing Bill doesn't want it's to go back to prison. He reluctantly agrees to stay for a week o help fool social services that the boys are being cared for. Having never really grown up himself Bill quickly connects with Jimmy and through this new bond starts to realize what he's been missing. He has a family, a place in the world. He is a father. However, their happy family set up is short lived when Jimmy gets into trouble with Bill's dangerous old cohorts. To sort it out would breach the terms of his license and risk sending him back to Jail. Bill's next steps will show what sort of a Dad he wants to be. A good one or a free one." It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Marco Polo

This is obviously about Marco Polo and the Mongolian/Chinese Empire during Kublai Khan's court in the 13th century. It's Netflix streaming, so there is language and nudity. Not sure it's 100% correct or anything. The main actor isn't very attractive. All in all, I say: SKIP IT unless you love historical dramas.

iZombie

Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) takes a smart alack young doctor and has her solve crimes. Yes! It's a lot like Veronica Mars only there's a catch; she's a zombie. When she eats the brains of a person on the autopsy table she gets glimpses into their life. It is quick witted and fun. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Odd Hours

The next book in the Odd series. When we left Odd he was headed out of the monastery. He had decided not to return home yet. Instead of a desert valley or cold mountains, he opted for a beach. This beach brings him a pregnant woman who talks in riddles and appears to be supernatural herself, as well as, a cast of criminals. A group is planing to bring WMDs on shore, truck to major cities, and set the world on fire. Odd has to stop it, but in order to do that he has to kill - and you know how much he hates guns. There are some hysterical scenes, and there are some seriously insightful lines. As good as it is I am still going to say: All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it's too religious for me. I don't think I'm going to like the new changes.

Young Ones

Water shortage causes people to do whatever they have to in order to survive. One family gets sucked into the violence and it doesn't end well for anyone. It was pointless at times, the plot was all over the place, and it was boring. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - don't let the actors fool you.

The Two Faces of January

Mortensen (LOTR) is a con man in Europe escaping prosecution with his new, young wife played by Dunbst (Interview with a Vampire). They run into and get help from another con man also from the US played by Guatemalan actor, Isaac (Drive). Horrible things happen, people become paranoid, and it doesn't end well for anyone. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - very boring.

Sabrina

Bogart (Big Sleep) and Holden (The Wild Bunch) are very wealthy brothers, but personality wise they are opposites. Holden wants to have fun and Bogart wants to improve the family business. When the chauffeurs daughter (Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffanys) returns from Paris looking very fetching she threatens the family future business plans. Bogart needs to keep her from his brother until the deal goes through - they end up falling in love even though she had always had a crush on Holden. It is classic Billy Wilder (Some Like it Hot). All in all, I say: SEE IT.

Only Pollack (The Firm) could remake this film.

It doesn't lose any of its charm with the remake. Ford (Raiders of the Lost Ark) is Bogart. Kinnear (As Good As it Gets) plays Holden's part. Ormond (Legends of the Fall) is Hepburns part. It was amazing. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Classic Bogart - My Favorites

Angels with Dirty Faces was filmed in 1938. It was directed by Curtiz (Casablanca). A priest tries to stop a gangster from corrupting a group of street kids. Bogart plays Frazier and Cagney played Sullivan. Some of it was filmed in Sing-Sing - a real penitentiary and was based on a true story. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

  Bogart would do countless movies with Cagney.
In 1941 he made High Sierra. He plays a man who escapes from prison and is hired by his old boss to help train a new crew to carry out a robbery at a California resort.

Huston (Maltese Falcon) wrote the screenplay for this, so you know the lines were classic. Travers (The Yearling) plays Pa. All in all, I say: SEE IT. I think it was first lead for Bogart.

This movie written by Huston was filmed in 1941. This is the famous Sam Spade character everyone will copy for decades and decades to come. He plays the film-noir private detective the way everyone after will play the typical film-noir detective. This is a real classic and a must see. The falcon is the key to everything - it's a statue. All in all, I say: SEE IT
Also in 1941, Bogart plays a gambler that helps sabotage a Nazi plot in All Through the Night. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it has some funny moments, too.

Huston would write and/or direct Bogart many times.
1942 is when the true Bogart classic is released.

I own this. Some of the most famous lines in history. One of the most debatable endings - who should she take off wife in the end. The man with the cause who needs her or the man she loves? Bergman (Spellbound) is the woman of his dreams who breaks his heart. Henreid (Dead Ringer) is the WWII fighter. Rains (Notorious) is the French Moroccan police officer. Lorre (M) has a small part. Sakall (Yankee Doodle Dandy) also has a small, but well played part. All in all, I say: SEE IT
In 1944 we see Bacall/Bogart in action in To Have and Have Not.

It takes place during WWII. He plays Harry Morgan who helps a French resistance leader escape Martinique with the help of lounge singer he meets and falls in love with. This was written by Hemingway - yes the Hemingway. It was directed by Howard Hawks (His Girl Friday). This is one of my all time favorite Bogart movies. Brennan (Rio Bravo) plays a drunk friend of Harry's who has some classic lines. Bacall is none to shabby either - you know how to whistle don't you? You pucker up and blow. All in all, I say: SEE IT
In 1946 Bogart will play another world famous private detective Philip Marlowe in The Big Sleep.

 This also stars his wife Bacall. A rich family hires him in this Film-Noir and he has to figure out if the woman he loves is involved. This was directed by Hawks. All in all, I say: SEE IT
In 1947, Bogart and Bacall work together again. This time they are trying to prove he didn't kill his wife in Dark Passage.

In 48 they are at it again in Key Largo. A hurricane is about to hit a hotel where a gangster and a sexy woman are staying.

In this Bogart has top billing over Robinson and Barrymore. This is a Huston. It's short, but good. All in all, I say: SEE IT - the actors are just too good to pass up.
Fast forward to 1954 and you have the classic Sabrina.

All in all, I say: SEE IT [described in another blog]
Curtiz hires Bogart again in 1955 for We're No Angels. [described in another blog] All in all, I say: SEE IT

Let's Kill Ward's Wife

Scott Foley (Felicity) must have made good money during The Unit and Scandal. He wrote, directed, and acted in this film where he kill's his friends very, very bitchy wife. It's a family affair - he cast his wife in it to play Wilson's wife. Then he cast Wilson's wife to play Faison's (Scrubs) wife. Foley and Wilson are married to sisters. Wilson (Home Sweet Hell) is the man with the plan to help his friends. Acker (Angel) is Foley's wife. Grunberg (Felicity) is Faison's neighbor. Acker's husband Carpinello (Felicity) is the single friend in the group. Nepotism really helped this film though - that's probably a rare thing. The script was great - the editing was great - the acting was amazing. I loved this film. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Home Sweet Hell

Heigl (One For the Money) is insane, and she has goals in life. God forbid anything get in the way of her goals, and that includes her husband affair and subsequent blackmail. Wilson (Girls) is the furniture salesman husband who cheats with Brewster (Fast & Furious). The only stellar part of this film is Belushi (Red Heat) and there isn't enough of him. Scotsman McKidd (Rome) and Buckley (Supernatural) star are criminals. It had potential to be funny, and it kept getting close. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Barefoot

Wood (True Blood) has been royally messed up by her mother. On her first night in a mental institution she meets Speedman (Felicity) who rescues her from another employee. He's got his own mess to deal with, and he is totally wandering through life. When the two support each other at his brother's wedding things change for both of them. Simmons (Oz) is the psychiatrist at the mental facility. Williams (127 Hours) and (127 Hours) star as Speedman's parents. I loved this movie - the two of them together and the script wasn't shabby. All in all, I say: RENT IT

By the Gun

Keitel (Pulp Fiction) is a gangster in Boston who is about to let a young guy from the neighborhood to become a made man. Problem - the new guy insults another mob guy and then proceeds to date his daughter. One of his friends from prison messes things up even more. It's a slow moving piece. There is nothing magical about the script or the filming. It's also totally predictable. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Classic Tom Hanks - the 80s

In 1980, I feel in love with a half hour comedy series on TV called Bosom Buddies.

They can't seem to find an affordable place to live. They become women in order to find affordable housing. You can imagine what sort of high jinks ensue. Proving once again and for times to come that drag makes for good laughs and awkward situations. They also play the brothers of the women they are pretending to be and become boyfriends of the women they live with. All in all, I say: SEE IT

In 1984, I think I made my parents rent this like three times. Splash was the story of a man that falls in love with a mermaid. Once the world discovers her and scientist want to keep her in a lab; he has to decide what to do. Live with her under the sea or be without her. Hannah (Legal Eagles) was the "it" girl at the time. Levy (Best in Show) also stars. All in all, I say: SEE IT - I thought it was so romantic!

In 1985, I went to the theatre to see Hanks in The Man with One Red Shoe. The plot was a popular one in the 80s at the time - spies. 

Because of a mishap the CIA accidentally believes him to be a spy. Coleman (You've Got Mail / Tootsie), Fisher (When Harry Met Sally), Belushi (K9), Durning (Tootsie), and Singer (Footloose) star making it a fantastic caste. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Also, in 1985 John Candy was big.

"Lawrence is a rich kid with a bad accent and a large debt. After his father refuses to help him out, Lawrence escapes his angry debtors by jumping on a Peace Corp flight to Southeast Asia, where is assigned to build a bridge for the local villagers with American-As-Apple-Pie WSU Grad Tom Tuttle and the beautiful and down-to earth Beth Wexler. What they don't realize is that the bridge is coveted by the U.S. Army, a local Communist force, and a powerful drug lord. Together with the help of At Toon, the only English speaking native, they must fight off the three opposing forces and find out what is right for the villagers, as well as themselves." Michael Silva [silvamd@cleo.bc.edu] All in all, I say: SEE IT

I saw this 1986 film a dozen times at least. I really liked Long (Cheers) at the time.

Long (Cheers) and Hanks are a couple that buy a house they cannot afford. They

try to fix it up into their dream house, but the cost and hassle threatens to pull them apart.

All in all, I say: SEE IT

In 1988, viewers saw a young boy go to the fair and ask to be an adult. The next morning he becomes Tom Hanks - an adult who has to get a job and a place to live. Where else would a kid want to work, but a toy store. The classic floor piano scene is from this movie. Perkins (Weeds) plays his co-worker and sort of adult girlfriend. Loggia (Bad Girls) plays the executive that learns to live again from becoming a friend/mentor of Hanks' character. It was funny without being too much slapstick - classic Hanks. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The 'Burbs in 1989 was a stroke of genius. I had just started working at Cineplex Odeon at Stone Mountain, so I got to watch this for free a dozen times. After it was spliced together we saw it around midnight and invited our friends. It was so clever. Fisher (The Man with One Red Shoe), Dern (Monster), Feldman (Lost Boys), Schaal (Inner Space), Gibson (The Blues Brothers), and Gains (Memphis Belle) also star. The first of it's kind to poke fun of suburbia. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The studio wanted their own version of K9 and so Turner & Hooch was filmed in 1989. It was so cute. The dog belongs to a dead man and Hanks uses the dog to find the murderer - he's a cop. It was adorable. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Based on the true story of the first women;s baseball league that was formed during WWII, this movie was a box office hit. He was the coach - Davis (Cutthroat Island) was the player with the most talent. Madonna, Petty (Free Willy), and O'Donnell (Sleepless in Seattle) also star. All in all, I say: YOU HAVE'NT SEEN THIS - YOU ARE CRAZY. "There's no crying in baseball!"
This was 1992 - so that closes us out for classic Hanks (the Hanks of the 80s).

Big Hero 6

IMDb writes, "The special bond that develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes." It's Disney so someone dies and someone learns a valuable lesson. There will be tears, but there will also be some confusion with timeline/plot toward the end. The connection between the boy and the robot is touching. It's clever and original, but it's no PIXAR. There is a Stan Lee cameo. All in all, I say: RENT IT, but don't expect it to be as good as Monster, Inc or How to Train Your Dragon caliber.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Same cast with the exception of the son. The magic is wearing off, so the team goes to London to ask Ahkmenrah's father (Kinsly from Gandhi) how they can get more juice to keep the magic that happens at night alive. Wilson (Pitch Perfect) and Stevens (Downton Abbey) join the cast. There is an amazing small part with Jackman (Wolverine) that is hysterical. There are some sad parts in this one - some things that are said have deeper meaning knowing that Williams and Rooney died during the final editing of the film. All in all, I say: SEE IT - you saw the other two, so what's it gonna hurt.

A Boy At War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor (Trilogy)

A novel by Harry Mazar who also wrote: Heroes Don't Run: A Novel of the Pacific War and A Boy No More. 

It took me about 1-2 hours to read the book. It is quick - just enough to get to know one character well, climax comes (bombing of Pearl Harbor) and then it ends as quickly as it began. They are at about a 6th grade reading level - all three. I have a few of each at work because they make great interest getters. Kids read these short books and get interested in the topic and then I show them a higher reading level book of same topic. I have also used to them to give brief background on the topics before going into more boring specifics. This is the first book - we meet Adam Pilko. His father is in the navy and is stationed on the USS Arizona. All in all, I say: READ IT.

This is the second book - Adam's family has moved to California after his father's death at Pearl Harbor. His friend from Hawaii, Davi, has been sent Manzanar and needs Adam's help. All in all, I say: READ IT

This is the third book - Adam joins the war. All in all, I say: READ IT.

Last Man on Earth

Forte (SNL) came up with idea and writes a lot for this half hour show. It starts with him being the only person on Earth to being one of two - Schaal (Toy Story 3). Then to being one of three - Jones (Mad Men). And apparently, he will become one of five. Some parts are funny in the first couple of episodes, but once Schaal shows up I started to get annoyed. I might try one more episode and see if anything comes of January Jones showing up - I think it's going to be predictable though. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

CSI: Cyber

It stays true to the series (CSI, CSI: Miami, and CSI: New York). They over act, educate, tech montage, and the lead has a thing they do every show. MacNicol (Chicago Hope) is the man in charge of the cyber division for the FBI. Arquette (Boy's Life) heads a team that consists of three computer people - one being the singer BowWow (Roll Bounce). The last person on the team is the muscle - does all the running, chasing, shooting, fighting, diving into lakes to save people, jumping onto the backs of moving subways - Van Der Beek (he did an episode on Arquette's last show Medium). If you have ever seen any of the CSI shows you know what to expect and you know why people watch it and it's not for stellar Emmy award winning acting - it's cheesy. All in all, I say: TRY IT if you like any of the others. Nothing is going to beat Grissom in the first series, but you learn to live with it. Besides the original is like on season 15!

The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood 12)

The 12th book in the series. This one focuses on Wraith and his parents. It also, focuses on the attempt to get rid of him as King. There are no lessers - thank goodness because that was getting old. The evil is just his political rival. All in all, I say: READ IT if you have read the other 11 - otherwise you don't have a clue, so SKIP IT

Graduation Day

The last book in the Testing trilogy.

The revolution has arrived - it is impossible to know who is on what side. I just wanted the whole thing to be over with I was getting irritated. I think all three books could have been put into one and gone a lot faster. All in all, I say: READ IT if you read the other two and are dying to know the ending otherwise - SKIP IT

Dracula Untold

I like a good Vampire tale and I just love Evans (Immortals).

Dracula is told by his former Turkish captors to turn over his son and 1,000 boys to fight for the Turks so else. So, he seeks out a creature that lives in the caves. He wants the same kind of powers and strength to fight the Turks. He gets it, but there is a catch. He cannot drink blood within three days or he will be a vampire forever. I think you can guess where things will go wrong. Oh, I forgot to mention that Cooper (Agent Carter) plays Mehmed. All in all, I say: RENT IT

Wild Card

Warning - this is only a 1 shirter.

Got this on DirecTv and had to watch it obviously. If you know anything about me by now you know my love for Statham (Snatch). The action in this is AWESOME. I could just watch him fight all day long. Angarano (Almost Famous) stars as a young wealthy thrill seeker of sorts. Davis (Allgiance) stars as a dealer at a casino where Statham takes the gamblers he bodyguards for money. Heche (Dig) is a waitress at the diner where Statham frequents. Tucci (Hunger Games) is a gangster. Alexander (Seinfeld) is a lawyer. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like Statham action and don't care about plot.
And who wouldn't want to just watch with mute on.