Arrow Season 2

I think that this year is even better than the first.  There is tons of action and I liked the romantic scenes between the characters.  I loved the relationship between Arrow, his mom, and Arrow’s sister.  This really added something special to this completely and utterly amazing TV series.  I gave this series 4 out of 4 stars.  

Halloween the Complete Collection

This set of movies has all of the past titles including Rob Zombie’s two movies.  All are included in this fantastic array of horror films.  The first two movies were related but the third movie has nothing to do with the first two.  However, the third was highly suspenseful and I loved it.  There are ten movies in total, and each one is terrific.   

Jamie Lee Curtis and John Carpenter voice the first title which was released by Anchor Bay at Halloween last year.    There are many other great stars that provide voice in the other versions.  If you like horror films, this is a must buy.  I give this collection 4 out of 4 stars.  

The Maze Runner

This movie is about a bunch of boys who have been mysteriously delivered to a glade outside of a maze. However, the only way out is to find their way through the maze.  The kicker is that the maze is constantly changing. 

The star of this movie is Thomas, played by Dylan O’Brien.  Once Thomas arrives in the glade, life begins to change drastically for the other boys.  One boy in particular, Gally (Will Poulter), is not happy with the changes and makes life difficult for Thomas every chance he can. 

The movie shows a lot of interaction among the boys and the indecision as it relates to getting through the maze and all of its gotcha’s.  The movie was OK but I wasn’t blown away by it.  The acting was fine but could have been directed by a better director.  The action was great and kept you on your toes but that’s the end of the good in my opinion.  I gave this move 2 ½ out of 4 stars. 

A Walk Among the Tombstones

This movie stars Liam Neeson as Matt Scudder, an ex-police officer turned private detective.  Early in Scudder’s career he witnessed a robbery in which the owner of the business was killed.  He gives chase and in the midst of the shooting, one of his bullets ricochets and a child is killed.  This memory stays with him and he becomes an alcoholic.

He joins AA and while having coffee at a meeting is approached by another member for a job.  He is to meet a brother of the other member to help find the brother’s wife who has been kidnapped.  It turns out that the brother is a drug dealer and so the plot begins.

I was one of the few people that I know that actually enjoyed this movie.  I thought it was very suspenseful and Liam Neeson did a great job of acting in a difficult role.  I was very absorbed by this movie and I think everyone should give it a shot.  Once you watch the movie, you will appreciate Liam Neeson’s performance as well as that of the other actors.  I gave this movie 3 out of 4 stars. 

This is Where I Leave You

This terrific movie stars Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver, Corey Stoll, Jane Fonda and many others.  It is the story of a family, the Altmans, mourning the death of their father. 

The mother, played by Jane Fonda, is an author of a very popular book discussing the intimacies of the family where nothing was off limits.  Even though the family was not Jewish, she arranged for a Jewish ceremony which included sitting shivah – seven days of prayer and mourning.  Jason Bateman plays one of the sons, Judd, who discovers that his wife has been cheating on him with his boss.  Tina Fey plays the part of the daughter, Wendy, who is aware of Judd’s personal problems and has two kids and a terrible marriage herself.  Adam Driver plays the youngest son, Phillip, who is a playboy.  Corey Stoll plays the oldest son, Paul, who took over the family business and remained in his home town. 

As in most families, there are always disagreements and heckling within the family.    The movie does a wonderful job of focusing on each individual’s issues with the other characters.  The fact that Jane Fonda was in charge of the whole family was a treat to watch because when she plays a role, it is always good. 

I love Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, and Corey Stoll in this movie.  They were all excellent actors.  I was looking forward to this movie and I was not disappointed.   The other characters were great as well.  I think everyone should go see this movie.  You won’t be disappointed either and will have a great time.  I gave this movie 3 ½ out of 4 stars.  

Brick Mansions

This is one of the last movies filmed by Paul Walker before he died.  There are some very exciting scenes in this movie but once again at other times the movie lacked solid entertainment.  I really feel bad about that because of the great actor that Paul Walker was. 

The low points unfortunately overwhelm this movie.  I gave this movie 2 out of 4 stars. 

Captain America: Winter Soldier

I think that this is one of the best movies that the Marvel universe has ever made.  Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson are all terrific in their pivotal roles.   It just makes the upcoming movie, the Avengers, even more highly anticipated.  

Everything in this movie is top-notch, the special effects, the acting, and the directing.  I would highly recommend that you sit down and watch both the first Captain America and the even more brilliant Captain America:  Winter Soldier. 

I gave this wonderful movie 4 out of 4 stars.

Let’s Be Cops

I thought that this movie had some very funny parts in it.  It starred Damon Wayans Jr. and Jake Johnson as two friends trying to make their in life in California.  They dress as police officers to attend a masquerade party and have so much fun they decide to continue to pretend to be police officers after the party is over.  Their exploits get them involved with a mob who are bullying the neighborhood for “protection money”.  The mob becomes angry with them and try to hunt them down.  

I thought this movie was hilarious at times but other times it didn’t hold my attention.  I went in hoping that I would just laugh out loud but that really didn’t happen so I was horribly disappointed.  It had great potential but was written poorly.  I gave this movie 2 out of 4 stars. 

As Above/So Below

The first 15 minutes of this movie had me very intrigued.  But after that the movie went way downhill. 

This movie took place in France.  An archeologist, played by Perdita Weeks, was searching for the Philosopher’s Stone while carrying on her dead father’s legacy.   She gets together with a cameraman (Edwin Hodge), and an old friend (Ben Feldman) as well as a group of friends in France who know their way around the catacombs.  As they walk around below France in the catacombs, they see things that have happened to them above ground in the past.

Overall I was completely bored by this horrific and unchallenging movie.  I only gave this movie 1 out of 4 stars. 

Draft Day

I thought Draft Day was incredible.  Once again Kevin Costner goes back to his athletic roots and comes up with a spectacular film.  The movie also stars Jennifer Garner, Frank Langella, Denis Leary, and many others. 

Kevin Costner plays a general manager in charge of making the number one draft pick for the Cleveland Browns.  I thought this movie was an awesome additive to the great Kevin Costner sports movies.  I gave this movie 3 ½ out of 4 stars.