Rambo, Rambo: The Extended Cut, Rambo IV,John Rambo or whatever you want to call it is Sylvester Stallone’s follow-up, some 20 years later, to the successful Rambo franchise of the 80’s.  Unlike its predecessor, this film kicks a$$ in all four of my major action/war critical requirements: realism/believability, brutality, heart pounding action sequences and satisfying necessary emotional ties.  However, this time around, Lionsgate provides us Blu-ray customers with an alternate Director’s Cut version of what many peeps may call Stallone’s best entry into the franchise since the original film. Did we really need another cut of the successful 2008 film or should the question simply be did the fans really want another version?  I can’t speak for everyone, but in the case of the last question my answer would be a loud hell yeah, bring it on!  But perhaps the real question here is whether this new Extended Cut is really better than the theatrical presentation?  That was the firs thing that was on my mind as I sat down to watch/review this Blu-ray disc.  So give me a few minutes of your time and I will give you my two cents on this important issue/debate. Read the full story

I’m not sure what everyone’s problem is with this film.  I have previously been lambasted for openly writing my feelings about how much I liked Fame during its theatrical run and I have seen and heard nothing but pessimistic and repugnant comments from the critical community.  Am I the only one out there who sees the beauty, faith and inspiration that can be drawn from the film?  Should I be concerned or seriously ponder anymore why I thought Fame was one of the better movies of 2009?  I initially went into the theatrical presentation of this movie that I had little to no interest in, especially considering the subject matter, and I came out a believer.  I’ll expound on that in a little bit, but for now let’s talk more Fame! Read the full story

Often times, turning an extremely popular book into a film is a daunting task. The book is often times filled with so much detail that to include most of it will lead to a rather slow and ponderous film. I am amazed at how well they have been able to translate the Harry Potter books into so many successful films given how dense the books are. Another author of extremely dense books is Dan Brown. Read the full story

Taken represents a parent’s worst nightmare. As children get older, they want to branch out and experience the world. A natural part of that experience is traveling to other parts of the country and perhaps the world. When they go out alone or with friends, we can no longer protect them from the many dangers the world present, unless of course we are a retired CIA black operations officer. Which brings us to the action thriller Taken. Read the full story

For the most part, movie trilogies are a mixed bag. While there seem to be many, there are only a few where the third installment is at least as good as the original. The top two that come to mind are the Bourne series and Indiana Jones, where, at least in this writer’s opinion, the third installment betters the first. I am sure there are some of you out there will also want to add the Lord of the Rings given that it was the third installment, The Return of the King, which garnered the Oscar for Best Picture. Not me as I felt The Return of the King to be the worst and most ponderous of the three films. Now we can add High School Musical to the list of film trilogies. How does High School Musical 3 Senior Year compare to the wildly successful first installment? Read the full story

Being an animal lover, it pains me to have to sit through the story of King Kong.  To see him get shot down from the top of the Empire State Building is just gut wrenching.  My wife asked me why I feel the way that I do.  She said that the military had no other choice because he was destroying everything and everyone in his way.  You want to know how I responded to that question?  Regardless of whether you do or not, I will tell you anyway.  I said ‘good.’  I was rooting for the beast in Peter Jackson’s King Kong even though I well knew what the tragic outcome would be.  A boy can hope can’t he?  I said, “What did they expect when you bring such a savage and untamed beast back to the States and keep him in captivity within the city?”  Sure Kong is smart and loving, but did they really expect him to just become a model citizen? Read the full story

I don’t know what it is about Owen Wilson, but whatever film he’s in, he seems to be playing himself. The soft spoken rather glib personality has taken him places over the years, but you have to ask yourself if he’s ever going to actually take any risks. Drillbit Taylor is no more a stretch for the actor than any of these other roles. What that means for us, the viewers, is that we’re sure to get a solid and quite believable performance. We know that we’ll end up warming to Wilson’s character in spite of the various flaws we are apt to discover along the way. If Wilson does anything well, it’s redemption. You get the impression that a lot of Wilson’s lines are his own. Read the full story

When it comes to teen high school comedies, I think I have seen them all. They all seem to have the same premise. It is usually a couple of guys who are in high school and are looking to get laid at a prom or party or wherever they can get it. Nothing has changed in the 33 years that I have been watching movies. It works, the premise still works. But not all movies can pull off the perfect teen comedy?but Superbad comes super close.

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WHAT TIME IS IT? Well, actually it’s about 2:30pm EST during a snowstorm where I’m sitting, but had I asked the same question to either of my kids, or likely any preteen of the female gender, I may have been answered with: SUMMERTIME! followed by the rest of the theme from High School Musical 2, which has already been so ingrained into their very being, they have no choice but to break into song on cue. Yep, that even includes my 3 year old. You might think I’m a sad excuse for a parent, but maybe I’m just looking for ANY possible alternative to grown men singing about fruit salad. So yeah, we’re cool with HSM at my house, and it’s only easier to justify on Blu-ray.
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“Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes.” The shot heard ‘round the world. Lexington. Concord. Valley Forge. All of these phrases and places hold, or at least they should hold, a special place in the heart of every blue-blooded American. I am more than a little surprised that these events haven’t inspired more major films than they have. The Patriot joins a rather limited number of films to be shot using the American Revolution as the setting. For you blokes in England, of course, I’m referring to the American Colonial Rebellion. If you are looking for an educational film on the events of that war, you are looking in the wrong place. Read the full story

There is only one reason that possessed me to add Ghost Rider to my ever growing library of Blu-ray titles, and that’s the simple fact that the movie provides ample opportunity to show off the capability of the next-generation video formats. What, you think watching a Oscar winner sport a bad haircut and an Elvis impersonation, and I’d like it? Come on, do I really have to talk about this movie? Oh well. Read the full story

Donnie Brasco is one of my favorite Mob movies ever. It was released in 1997 (WOW 10 Years ago) and has some very special performances by both Johnny Depp and Al Pacino.

This films centers around Depp, an FBI agent, gangster, husband and father. In the 1970s, FBI undercover agent Joe Pistone (Depp) infiltrates the mob, leaving his family behind and assuming the false persona of the “jewel man” Donnie Brasco. Read the full story

A whole franchise of Stargate has spawned from this 1994 motion picture, and over a dozen years later the franchise still remains successful. This film was originally intended to be a franchise of pictures but instead found its way onto television and writings, with a fair sized fan base. If people still like the concept thirteen years later then it must be pretty appealing, myself, I have never seen this picture and am pleased that I finally have the opportunity. Read the full story