Alexander

Movie based the real life of Alexander the Great. Farrell (In Bruges), Jolie (Wanted), Kilmer (The Missing), Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs), Leto (Lord of War), Dawson (Seven Pounds), Meyers (August Rush), and McCann (Game of Thrones) all star. It is a big budget film and there are excellent actors, but... the screenplay and editing were horrible. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - I know I say this about a lot of Oliver Stone films - I just don't really like him or his style.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Filmed in 1951, I saw it in black and white. Rennie (The Lost World) is an alien that has landed on Earth and is demanding to speak to it's leaders to give them a warning. They either stop making weapons or they will be attacked by his people. A single mother and her son help the alien get in touch with a scientist in hopes of convincing the world leaders that he is not the problem building the weapons is the problem. He has with him a robot creature that is seen in the poster. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it's kind of cheesy, but remember when it was filmed.

An updated version starring Reeves (Matrix) as the alien. Connelly (Blood Diamond) plays the single mother. Smith (Karate Kid), Cleese (Monty Python), and Hamm (Mad Men) also star. It's more complicated and it goes a bit further than the original. All in all, I say: SEE IT after you watch the first, if you liked the first one. If you didn't like it, then SKIP IT

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Aliens are on Earth, but how does one know when they look like your loved ones. You have to catch the little things. While you sleep aliens are creating duplicates and killing the original. A doctor discovers it and attempts to stay awake in order to not be duplicated. Toward the end this plan becomes harder and harder as more and more people are duplicated. Will he be able to stay awake and alive? Will it even matter when it appears as though you are one of the last people on Earth? All in all, I say: SEE IT - it was filmed in 1956, but very creepy.

Filmed in 1978 - the remake was just as disturbing as the original. Sutherland (MASH), Nimoy (Star Trek), and Goldblum (The Fly) star as does Adams (The Dead Zone). A much larger group is involved in this one if I remember correctly. All in all, I say: SEE IT - a lot of Sci-fi actors. 

Filmed in 1993, this was more of a parallel story. The invasion is taking place (plot of other two movies), but this one focuses on one military base.Anwar (Burn Notice), Tilly (Valmont), and Whitaker (Phenomenon) star. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you liked the other two and want to see a unique view of the same plot. SKIP IT if you want it to be just as good as the other two - it won't be.

Girl Most Likely

Wiig (Bridesmaids) goes to New Jersey to her mom's house after her boyfriend breaks up with her, her friend turns her back in her, and her landlord locks her out. While there she discovers a connection with her mother (Bening from Mars Attacks), her realizes her father is a dick, her mom's boyfriend is exactly who he claims to be (Dillon from Crash), her brother is a genius, and a little generation gap isn't a bad thing. It had some comedic irritating moments, but some fun moments, too. All in all, I say: RENT IT

Prisoners

Filmed in Georgia - Walton and Rockdale Counties. Two girls go missing. A father Jackman (The Prestige) will do anything including torture the man he believes to be the culprit (Dano from Little Miss Sunshine). The cop (Gyllenhaal from End of Watch) knows there is a connection; he just needs to time to put all the pieces together - problem is the girl's are running out of time. It's slow, but intense. It takes place across the span of seven days, but feels longer to give the audience a sense of urgency I think. Davis (The Help), Bello (Payback), Howard (Wayward Pines), Leo (Homicide), and Minnette (Saving Grace) also star. If you are familiar with a lot of mysteries and basic criminal psychology you will know an hour in based on evidence where the girls are, so it will drive you even more crazy wanting them to hurry up and figure it out. If you don't try to piece it together then you will be shocked. All in all, I say: RENT IT

24 Season 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Plot of every single season: Jack Bauer played by Kiefer Sutherland (Young Guns) goes to extreme measures and moves non-stop for a single purpose to catch terrorists and stop evil plots against America. He has the help of techno-savvy people who often die, suffer loss, argue with one another, fall in love with one another, get fired, and sometimes even get interrogated because they are wrongly or not so wrongly accused of helping the terrorists. Meanwhile, the President has to give orders to Jack, approve missions for the good of all people, negotiate with terrorists, deal with traitors in their midst, and make friends of enemies. Nothing is ever as it seems, but Jack is super smart and he is ALWAYS RIGHT but season after season he is ignored by almost everyone until the last minute. He loses a lot of people and causes a lot of pain to others and himself - reluctantly. He saves the day every day - you know each season lasts for 24 hours, so you know that nothing will be solved until the last show. You know there are now nine seasons so you know he lives - the action isn't bad and he is a bad-ass. I often fast forward through the predictable crap. The one good thing - each season there are some fun actors that join for a show or 2 or more. All in all, I say: STREAM THEM on Amazon - that's what I've been doing - they are fun. Just keep in mind - it is meant to be insane - these things would never happen to one person in 24 hours - it's highly improbable, but go with the flow.

Resident Evil

So, my mom was asking about this series the other day which made me decide to go back and blog about all the ones I haven't blogged on. This series is based on a video game about a woman who fights an evil corporation responsible for a zombie like outbreak. The first film is called Resident Evil.

Anderson (Death Race) directs this action packed film. Jovovich (Fifth Element) wakes up in her shower. She can't remember anything. Immediately a military group busts into her home and explain to her that she is a guard for an underground facility. The facility had an outbreak and she was gassed and her memory erased. Rodriquez (Fast & Furious) is one of the military people. The group also runs into Mabius (Ugly Betty) and Purefoy (The Following). The get into the facility and must fight to survive against the computer that has taken over. The action is amazing, it's just scary enough, and the end... only 2 survive, but do they really?
Next film...

Alice - Jovovich awakens to find herself along in a medical facility. She breaks out and goes into the street of Racoon City. It has become infested - the disease got out of the underground facility and has started infecting the world's population. She runs into others trying to escape the city which is about to be bombed. Anderson wrote this one, but left the directing up to Witt (Skyfall). The action is just as good as the first. Fehr (The Mummy), Kretschmann (U-571), and  Glen (Game of Thrones) joins the cast. Does she make it out alive?
Next film...

Alice takes who survives the last movie across the Nevada desert on the way to Alaska which she has come to believe will be a safe haven. Meanwhile, the Umbrella Corp is still trying to destroy everything at every turn. Anderson writes this one, but Mulcahy (Highlander) directs. It's got action, but it wasn't as powerful as the first two. Larter (Heroes) is part of the cast and she plays Claire - if you know the game a very important part of the plot to come. O'Mara (Terra Nova) and Ashby (Teen Wolf) join the cast. I don't want to say who else & you shouldn't look or it will give it away who survived the 2nd film. Does she make it to Alaska or get sidetracked?
Next film...Afterlife (blogged about earlier) then...Retribution (blogged about earlier) and then....
Coming in 2015 Resident Evil: Rising
All in all, I say: SEE THEM - ALL OF THEM do a marathon - it's ton's of fun!