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This animated movie stars the hilarious Jim Parsons as Oh, a Boov who is not liked by his people due to his constant mistakes.  The Boov are always on the run from their enemy, the Gorgs, and are in search of a new planet.  They settle on Earth and quickly banish the humans from their homes so they can take over. 

Oh is excited to be in a new home and throws a party inviting all his neighbors.  When no one shows up, he becomes depressed.  He decides to send a mass email to all of the Boov inviting them to the party.  However, the email goes to everyone in the galaxy including the Gorgs.  All the Boov are searching for Oh in hopes of recalling the message.  They just need Oh’s password.  

One teenaged girl named Tip (voiced by Rhianna) has managed to escape capture along with her cat who is named Pig.    While on the run, she meets Oh, who is now also on the run after realizing his mistake.  Oh and Tip soon strike up a friendship and Oh promises to help Tip find her mother who was banished with the other humans. 

The humor in this movie was terrific. What else would you expect from Jim Parsons who was absolutely fantastic?  Rhianna did a great job as well.  The animation was really well done.  3D doesn’t always add a lot but I felt it did here. 

The movie was just a little too long but I still loved it. 

I gave this movie three out of four stars.  

Furious 7

Hold on to your hats in this movie because it starts fast and never slows down.  Vin Diesel returns as Dominic Toretto, the leader of the group.  Michelle Rodriguez as Letty Ortiz, Paul Walker as Brian O’Conner,  Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs, Chris Bridges as Tej Parker, and Tyrese Gibson as Roman Pearce all return.  Jason Statham plays the part of Deckard Shaw who is out to seek revenge for his brother, Owen, who Dom’s team had defeated in the previous movie.

The movie begins by showing how all of the crew are getting on with their lives.  Brian is adjusting as a husband and father while Letty is trying to regain her memories.  A mysterious package is left on the porch at Dom’s home.  While standing outside talking with Brian and his wife, he receives a phone call from Deckard Shaw and then the bomb goes off destroying Dom’s home. 

The crew are recruited by Frank Petty (Kurt Russell) to assist him in preventing a mercenary from acquiring God’s Eye which is a computer program that can track down any person through their digital devices and also to save the program’s creator Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) at the same time.  In exchange Frank will help them in getting Deckard Shaw.

This movie was a great tribute to the late great Paul Walker and was just fantastic.  The action never stopped.  Everyone who had a part in this movie played their roles to perfection.   The whole movie blew my mind by how enjoyable it was.  I encourage everyone to go watch this movie.  

I gave it movie four out of four stars.  

Insurgent

Shailene Woodley and Theo James return as Tris and Four in the second installment of the Divergent series. In this version, Tris and Four are on the run evading the Erudite faction and Jeanine (Kate Winslet) who has accused them of leading the attacks by the Dauntless.  They hide out with the Amity faction led by Johanna who was played by Octavia Spencer.  Soon, however the Dauntless arrive, forcing Tris and Four to run again. 

The Dauntless faction is ruthlessly searching for a small box that is thought to contain the means to put an end to the Divergents.  However, only a divergent can open the box.  This is the same box that Tris’s mother died to protect. 

Tris and Four travel to Factionless territory where they discover that Four’s mother is the leader. Four wants nothing to do with his mother, and they soon head to Candor where they are forced to take truth serum to prove their innocence in the attacks they have been accused of.  After passing the test, Jeanine plays on Tris’s heart strings by getting people to attempt suicide if Tris does not turn herself in. To avoid more death,

Tris does just that and is now the next person who will attempt to open the box and avoid death in the process.

I thought this movie was better than the first one.  I loved how the characters developed and the comradery between them.  Shailene Woodley was again fantastic and gets better and better as an actress every time I see her.  The chemistry between Shailene Woodley and Theo James was terrific.  The special effects were spectacular as well. 

Four and his mother were building on their relationship and I think that will be a big factor in the next movie.  I enjoyed this buildup and can’t wait to see the next installment.  

I gave this movie four out of four stars.  

Blue Rays and DVD’s: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

This is the last of the three Night at the Museum movies and may have been the best.  It was definitely better than the second movie.  It again stars Ben Stiller as Larry Daley who is the security guard at the Museum of Natural History in New York City.  When the museum closes at night, the exhibits come to life.  In this version, all of the characters travel to London to visit the British Museum. 

This movie is loaded with stars.  Besides playing Larry Daley, Ben Stiller also plays Laaa who is a Neanderthal.  Ben Kingsley plays as a powerful pharaoh named Merenkahre.  Dick Van Dyke stars as Cecil, a retired security guard for the museum.  Rebel Wilson plays Tilly, the security guard at the British Museum, and Owen Wilson plays Jedediah, the cowboy.  It also features the late Mickey Rooney as Gus, another retired security guard, and the great Robin Williams as Theodore Roosevelt.  Even Hugh Jackman makes a brief appearance.

Ben Stiller was terrific as was the other cast and I really enjoyed it. 

I gave this movie 2 ½ out of 4 stars.  

Blue Rays and DVD’s: Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

I truly loved everything about this movie starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, Liam Hemsworth as Gale, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch, and Donald Sutherland as President Snow.  This movie in the Hunger Games saga is very good and full of action.  Katniss continues her fight for independence for her people from President Snow.  Peeta, however, is being held by President Snow and used as a pawn to convince Katniss to stop her resistance. 

The acting, the imagery, and everything involved in this movie is spectacular.  Even if you were able to catch this at the theater, I recommend you add this movie to your DVD/Blue Ray collection.  

I gave it four out of four stars.  

Run All Night

Run All Night is an action movie starring Liam Neeson as an aging hitman named Jimmy.  Jimmy had worked most of his life for his best friend Shawn, played by Ed Harris.  Because of his profession, Jimmy’s son Mike (Joel Kinnaman) will have nothing to do with him.  Mike is an amateur boxer as well as a limousine driver. 

Shawn’s son Danny (Boyd Holbrook) is trying hard to follow in his father’s footsteps but doesn’t have his father’s experience and maturity.  He tries to join with an Armenian man to venture into drug smuggling but his father refuses to agree.  Danny has already taken money from the Armenian’s and when they come to collect, he tries to swindle them.  Danny kills them all with the help of a friend. 

The Armenian’s had hired Mike to drive them.  While waiting outside, he witnesses the death of one of the men.  After realizing that Mike is a witness, Danny goes after him but Mike disappears leaving behind his wallet.  Danny calls his father who calls Jimmy.  Shawn tells Danny that he will take care of it but Danny doesn’t listen and goes to Mike’s house anyway.  

Mike asks Jimmy to leave.  While outside, Jimmy notices Danny’s car.  He arrives just in time to keep Mike from being shot by Danny.  Jimmy kills Danny in order to save Mike.  Out of respect, he calls Shawn to tell him what has happened.  Shawn advises him that Mike will be killed in retribution and next will be Jimmy.  The chase is then on and Jimmy and Mike are now on the run. 

The acting by Liam Neeson and Ed Harris was amazing.  They work really well together.  Joel Kinnaman was also quite good and held his own with his performance. Nick Nolte even made a brief appearance as Eddie, Jimmy’s brother.  The action in this movie was terrific and kept you entertained.  Once you see this movie, you will enjoy it as much as I did.  

I gave this movie 3 ½ out of 4 stars.

Cinderella

This version of the Disney Classic stars the beautiful Lily James in the lead role as Ella, Richard Madden as Kit the prince, and Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine who his Ella’s wicked step mother.  This version was superbly directed by Kenneth Brannagh. 

Ella’s mother dies when she is very young.  Her mother left her with the words to always show courage and kindness to others.  She quickly becomes the apple of her father’s eye.  He becomes lonely and marries the recently widowed Lady Tremaine who has two daughters of her own.   Ella’s father’s profession requires him to travel around a lot.  While away on a trip, her father dies leaving her alone with her wicked step mother and two wicked step sisters.  All quickly assign her the duties of cooking and cleaning for them and banish her to the attic. 

One day while out riding her horse, she comes upon a group of hunters and chastises one of them for hunting a defenseless animal.  She did not realize that the man she spoke to was the prince as he only told her his name was Kit. 

There is to be a ball that all of the people of the land are invited to. The purpose of the ball is for the prince to choose a wife.  Ella wants to attend so she might meet up again with Kit but is forbidden by her step mother.  However, she finds a way with the help from her fairy godmother.

The imagery in this movie was terrific.  I really loved everything about this movie.  I have seen several versions of Cinderella but this might be the best.  I encourage all families to take their kids.  However, adults will enjoy this just as much.  

I highly recommend this movie and gave it four out of four stars.