Big Screen Blurb: Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II

People change. It's a fact of life. Sometimes change is for the good; other times, not so much. Usually, change is subtle. Then, there's Bella...not so subtle. You remember Bella (Kristen Stewart), right? She's that clumsy, little pale girl who was a tad lacking in the self-confidence department. Uhh...no more. Bella has changed. She is smooth, exceptionally confident and strong. In short, Bella is one bad ass; as is the latest installment in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II.

Yeah, motherhood has changed young Bella, but let's not kid ourselves. Bella's changes have a hell of a lot more to do with the fact that she is now a vampire. Gone are the days of mere mortal status. She is a vamp and loving it. Stronger. Faster. Actually, she's just a pair of metal legs away from Lee Majors. Her hubby is thrilled. That would be Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). He's glad to have Bella share in his powers. The pair wasted little time in making a baby, who emerges at the center of this flick. Little Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy) is half mortal and half vampire. The problem is that Renesmee is perceived to be an immortal child. That's trouble. You see, an immortal child would draw the fatal wrath of the Voturi--the oft-unjust governing body of the vampires. The rule is simple: All immortal children must die because they are simply too big of a threat to the vampires secretive way of life. So, the Volturi gather forces to extinguish Renesmee and anyone in their way. The trouble is simple. The Volturi have it all wrong. The kid is NOT immortal, but half and half. As minds are quite often very closed on the subject of immortal kids, it's up to the Cullens to find a few open minds. So, the Cullens travel to the Republican National Convention in search of a few open minds. Sadly, they find not one. Okay--I'm kidding, but I couldn't resist! Actually, they rally the troops who are either sick of the Volturi's bullying prowess or relatives willing to stick up for the Cullens and little Renesmee. Joining the defense are the werewolves. Of course, this is mainly because Jacob (Taylor Lautner) has imprinted on the baby--a concept that I have yet to wrap my little mind around because any way you cut it, watching the 20-something hottie pant like a pup around a 7-year old girl still freaks my freak...but, I digress. Yadayadayada...the Cullens with supporters and werewolves in town square off against the evil Volturi in a battle for the life of all, including lil Renesmee.

It's good...very good, actually. I'll go with 4.0 Stars on this one. I liked the first one. Loved the next two, but really hated the fourth installment. I figured that this one would be strong and anchor a great series nicely. It does not disappoint. Sure, halfway through this one, I was a little dissatisfied, but a very strong finish pushed Breaking Dawn Part II to a 4.0 Star finish.

Keep in mind, that I'm not at all familiar with the books, so I don't know what changes people have been talking about to the finale of the movie. However, I have no complaints. The epic battle scene I actually loved. That whole sequence played out to perfection in my book. You love the 'good' guys...you know why you hate the 'bad' guys and when all hell breaks loose and falls apart, we were left with a perfect sequence.

It was also good to see Bella's character evolve to such a confident strength that it did. She was always incredibly strong-willed and lovable. She proved to be even more lovable as a vampire. There were several characters who evolved nicely in this one. The inches of character evolving that we witnessed in the first four movies extended yards in the finale. Among others, that goes for Jacob as well, whose imprinting on Renesmee took his puppy-dog affections away from Bella.

All in all, the acting was good. I've always been a Kristen Stewart fan, and she didn't disappoint here. It's true that I've always been skeptical of Pattinson as Edward, but I think he had me sold by the third film and he proved solid here as well.

If you consider yourself to be a fan of Stephanie Meyer's collection, this movie version should not disappoint you. See it and see it BIG! If you've never paid any attention to this series, should you start now. Well, not unless you're willing to start at the beginning. Yeah--you may have been opposed to it for whatever reason...the vampire vs. werewolf thing? Maybe you didn't like Pattinson or Stewart or didn't want to see Lautner without his shirt on? Who knows! Just remember, as previously noted, people change and sometimes it is very much for the better. So--start at the beginning and give it a shot.

True...OUT!

P. S. This concludes my 60 reviews for the year. I've got a few that I've yet to post: Fun Size, Seven Psychopaths, Sinister. Those will probably get posted in January along with my December flicks...or feel free to email me if you want a sneak preview.

Big Screen Blurb: Lincoln

When asked to sum up Steven Spielberg's Lincoln in five words or less (this was a text request, after all), my response was simple: The inevitable failure of prejudice. There's no Hollywood glitz or Tinsel Town glamour here. Lincoln is a film for history buffs, pure and simple. And, those who understand history know that they are doomed to repeat it. Just as those that watch this flick, might well be destined to watch it again. It is quite good.

It is January of 1865. The United States of America has been broken. The Rebel cause to the South--fighting mainly about slavery, opposes Union forces to the North. In the middle of this shattered nation is a man trying to end the conflict and heal a hurting people. He does this by trying to end the immediate civil war, yes. However, further, he is trying to end and forever resolve the primary source of the conflict. His name is Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis). Loved by many. Hated by many. Considered a dictatorial tyrant by many. Lincoln's charge is to create a 13th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution that will officially end slavery by freeing those held captive to that institution. It's quite the battle. After all, the fall of slavery to some brings great economic hardship; and, as we all know, money talks quite loudly in these great states of ours. Freeing slaves to many would be the same as saying that one's house is open game...that you no longer own your home and that it's free for anyone to stay at within any time. Simply put: slaves were fiscal assets to many. Ahh...the plot thickens, hey? With this in mind, Lincoln must sharpen his political wits and create enough incentive for those neigh-sayers to side with him and have this Constitutional Amendment passed. Further, he must accomplish this before the war ends to ensure the end of slavery. End the war? End slavery? He wants both and sets to the task. Yadayadayada...while the war rages and begins to wane on the battlefield, it is just getting started in the House as a history-changer realizes his day.

It's good. It's very, actually. I'll go with 4.5 Stars but be warned. This is a movie that not everyone will embrace. The focus brings to attention a real-life look at that era and its numerous struggles. That strife is presented with great realism and attention to detail...historical detail. If you are looking for a period piece that glamorizes war and the battle of the states, make a request to Mel Gibson. I'm confident that he can create a film similar to The Patriot, just set about a hundred years later. This one, however...Lincoln, is about raw history. Our theater was sold-out and the credits brought a splattering of applause. I was among those clapping. The rest might have been asleep. In fact, one guy stood up and proudly exclaimed that it got good right when he fell asleep. Undoubtedly, he and possibly others, were expecting something that focused on the civil war or maybe the plot to kill Lincoln. That expectation was certainly a possibility in my mind before settling into this 149 minute flick. The object with Spielberg's Lincoln, however, was to rely on history to tell a great story, while shelving possible Hollywood-esque plot twists and fascinating explosions.

Spielberg takes us to that era very effectively. After all, it is a different time. The office of the President was not then, what it is today. In many ways, Lincoln is treated as just another guy in Washington. Yes, he is the president and that is clear, but prestige had yet to catch up with the power of the office. The president entering the room, was not necessarily cause for everyone to stand in attentive awe. His procession was met with mere and often disinterested glances, as was often his presence. Real stuff for that era. Good stuff.

Another case it point to the reality presented in the movie: Lincoln's popularity. In studying the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy in greater detail in preparation for a D.C. trip, I learned much of the reality that opposed traditional thinking. I had always thought that Lincoln was a beloved man in all circles. Not so fast, my friend. The reality paints quite a different picture. His image was quite split when he walked among us and that is accurately portrayed in the film. Yes, he was loved in some pockets, while he was hated in others. Again: realism reigns.

If realism was indeed, the goal here, I knew that several factors would play a role. The accuracy of the era, yes; but also the acting. Spielberg hits a homerun with the former and Day-Lewis and company all hit grand-slams with the latter. This is a definite Oscar nomination for Day-Lewis certainly, as his portrayal of such an historical icon was amazingly outstanding. From the 'look' to his approach and demeanor, this was undoubtedly the challenge of a lifetime for all involved in bringing this character back from the history books to the big screen. Day-Lewis was not alone, however, and far from it. He shares the spotlight with David Strathairn, who was wonderful as Secretary of State William Seward. Sally Field was tremendous as Mary Todd; while Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gulliver McGrath played the sons.

Should you see this one BIG. That really depends on you. If your cranium clock ticks with historical chimes, you will love this movie. If you need to see Tinsel Town shine with special effects that overshadow realism, you will probably find disappointment. I loved it and will, undoubtedly watch it again. Lincoln presents a great opportunity to watch the inevitability of a hard prejudice rightfully die; and, as we all know, once a debate begins about a prejudice...whether it is slavery, civil rights, women's rights or even gay marriage...once that debate begins, that prejudice has received a fatal blow. Lincoln saw to that in terms of slavery, and that is something that is definitely worth a view to me.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Here Comes the Boom

Here Comes the Boom. Based on the true story of little Scotty Trueblood, who overcame great odds by kicking his principal's ass to open a knitting club in middle school. Okay...that's a load of crock. I've never knitted anything in my life and this flick is not true at all, but take heart. It's actually pretty good...contains plenty of good lessons and is well worth a watch.

Meet Scott Voss (Kevin James). He's a high school Biology teacher who has lost his edge. Actually, he's lost heart in the system. This loss sees him routinely arriving late on the good days and sleeping through class on the bad ones. That is, until he witnesses a teacher with true passion for the game about to lose his job due to budget cuts. That teacher is none other than music teacher, Marty Streb (Henry Winkler). The music department is about to get the axe with cold-hearted Principal Betcher holding the handle. Inspired by ole Marty, Mr. Voss goes into action. He sets his sights on earning extra dough to save the program and Mr. Streb. When his $8 per hour Immigration Classes add up to little, Mr. Voss eyes the not-so-glamorous world of martial arts boxing. After all, he used to be a wrestler and Voss is seeing potential big bucks--even for a loss. Yadayadayada...we watch as Voss, backed by Marty and fellow teachers (led by Salma Hayek) to beat the odds and make it all the way to the UCF, inspiring students and teachers alike and truly lowering the boom on a career daze.

It's pretty good. I'll go with 3.5 Stars on this one. You experience enough laughs to realize that you just witnessed a comedy. There are enough inspirational moments to carry the experience to work the next day. And, there plenty of likable characters that help you bond with their plight and the story behind them.

Having some friends who are teachers and actually care about what they do; it's always challenging for them to battle the system. The problems are numerous. There are school systems bogged down in bureaucracy. Parents are usually more painful than helpful, insisting on special treatment when none is warranted. And, don't get them started on some of those kids! We see those issues highlighted in Here Comes the Boom as well. You've got a budget-minded principal who is ready to axe a music program to get rid of a teacher who doesn't have tenure. Parents insisting on teachers not trying to inspire there students and kids that run the gamut in terms of attention spans. Yet, here you have a story of what happens when people simply buy-in to something special without the typical hyper-criticism. Oh sure, it's there in the beginning...the story has to have a semblance of reality, right!?! Eventually, however, people jump on board and we see that old word from the 90's re-emerge: Synergy!

With all of that in mind, I admit that I enjoyed this one and was even a little inspired by it. Plus, it was good to see Kevin James in a slightly different role. We're all accustomed to seeing him as the goofy, chunky guy...ala Hitch, Paul Blart Mall Cop, etc. He's tougher in this movie and actually pretty cool.

Is this one to go BIG on? Hmm...maybe. It should definitely make your queue on the ole rental list to check out in February. Yeah, it may not be true...actually, but it presents a story that is very true to life and true to us all. Take heart...check this one out and you might find a little heart as well.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Flight

Will he or won't he? That's the big question...well, one of the big questions seeking answers in Flight with Denzel Washington. It's not a simple question, as we will soon see; nor is the answer black and white.

Whip (Washington) is a great pilot. There is no denying that tidbit. So, when equipment failure on a simple flight from Orlando to Atlanta prompts an impromptu landing in a Georgia baron field, Whip is heralded as a hero. Actually, what he accomplished was short of a miracle. Whip saved 96 of the 102 souls by inverting the plane to compensate for a stuck rudder, and whip it back over to land just yards from a church busy baptizing a few believers. Whip is hospitalized, along with many of the crew and passengers as the NTSB goes to work to find out what went wrong. So, Whip is a hero, right? Well, yes and no. You see Whip has a problem. He's an alcoholic and has a fondness for cocaine as well. Further, he had a bit of coke the morning of the flight and had emptied three small vodka bottles into his OJ on the flight. Shortly thereafter, Whip fell asleep at the controls only to be awoken to the crisis in which he saved so many. Now, the story is heating up, huh?!? Even though it was Whip's incredible flight performance that saved the 96, doing so under the influence draws the ire of the Feds and yadayadayada Whip battles the NTSB and himself as the question looms. Will he or won't he get away with it?

It's good. A good story that is very thought-provoking while highlighting a big issue suffered by so many today: Addiction. I'll give it 3.5 Stars. It's 138 minutes that move fairly quickly through a wave of interesting characters while posing many interesting questions.

Denzel is great; as usual. He's not alone. Don Cheadle, who plays Denzel's attorney, and Bruce Greenwood, who plays the pilot union rep are both outstanding as well. Meanwhile, John Goodman continues his recent big screen run with his portrayal of Whip's drug provider. Fascinating characters one and all. All are well played. But it is the questions that this story poses that made this an entertaining experience for me.

The plane was obviously faulty. The plane was the root of the crash...not Whip. Whip saved the majority with his incredible flight skills. Regardless of his condition, the end result was positive for cast and crew. After all, in the story, none of the NTSB's best pilots could replicate Whip's performance in simulation. All crashed the plane. Yes, Whip's accomplishments were done so while intoxicated. Maybe he couldn't have achieved the same results while sober. There's no way of knowing. Do end results outweigh the means? Certainly. At least that's the no-brainer response presented in the movie. Mirroring a social structure that would see Whip's behavior as a betrayal of public trust in a position of great responsibility, the very notion that he was under the influence puts plenty of blame on his doorstep...even if the plane was the biggest factor of the crash.

At any rate, Flight is a good story that is told in a fascinating way while posing many intriguing questions. Yes, it is depressing at times, watching the main character sink further into his problems...watching him deny his very obvious problems...watching a hero turn into a scapegoat with each passing minute. Actually, you're caught, at times, wondering who to root for in this one. Flight presents few characters that you want to root for at all. It is, however, a flick to see. Big or small screen? Good question. There are some great special effects in this one that are best experienced on the BIG screen. If that's not important to you, it may be better suited as a rental in March.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Chasing Mavericks

I never really understood surfing. There was no ball. There was no scoring. There really didn't seem to be a point. If you feel the same, Chasing Mavericks may help you discover exactly what I did, this little gem of wisdom: That IS exactly the point.

Meet my new hero: Jay Moriarty (Jonny Weston). Even as a lil dude, Jay was enamored with the ocean. So much so, that he was consumed by a big wave only to have his neighbor, Frosty (Gerard Butler), surf by to make a big save. From there, lil Jay pieced together a surfboard and begin tackling the real thing. Years later, Jay spots Frosty headed out to catch some early morning waves. He follows Frosty to find a little known and hidden area where the waves come in at Texan proportions. Jay is in and convinces Frosty to train him to ride these beasts. But wait, those whoppers are just the beginning. El Nino approaches and with it the promise of a Maverick--we're talking five story-high waves, baby. The training begins as Jay gets in touch with his inner self to tackle the elements of nature and yadayadayada...we get to know a real surfer and a tremendous human being.

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars on this one. Actually, doing a little inventory midway through, I would have scored this one lower. Hang in there though, because it finishes strong and stays with you. Sure, at the halfway point you might be thinking, "Okay...this is a just flawed Miogi training Daniel--just swap a surf board for a karate belt--so where's it going?!?" You might even be thinking, "Why is Jay doing this? There's nothing at stake here. Why risk life and limb for nada?"

True on both counts; but there is much at work here. After all, when you look at the master-student relationship between Frosty and Jay, you're probably left with an unsavory opinion of the teacher. Actually, it seemed hypocritical to be taking lessons on 'connecting' from someone who is quite 'disconnected'. Jay truly has his act together. Sure, at times, he's got the ole immaturity of a 16 year old thing going for him, but he's shouldered a lot in his life. Meanwhile, Frosty seems to be distantly disconnected to his wife, kids and actually anything or one not in the ocean. The point on this front leads you to realize that reality is truly at work here. Frosty is molding and shaping Jay--helping him overcome a lot of his obstacles, while Frosty begins to embrace his own teachings to do the same. Good stuff. Wise stuff. Real stuff.

What about that second question? "Why is he doing this?" Having sat through a lot of movies, it's a legit question to pose. We have grown very much accustomed to a story that would have evolved toward a storyline of: Jay has to surf to win a competition and it's $10,000 prize in order to save the family home...or, Jay has to beat his bully of a competitor to forever prove his worth over that enemy. When neither elements emerged, it really through me. What we got, however, was real. First, we got to know someone who--if this is an accurate portrayal--was one tremendous human being. Yes, he got bullied. Yes, he was betrayed. Yes, he was disrespected. Was each negative turned into a Hollywood positive? No. Each negative was ignored, allowing compassion to be embraced with each incident. It didn't fight back. It didn't seek to get even. It didn't look to save face. Rather, it embraced and left you wondering if Jesus had come back as a surfer! Each incident was embraced with a compassionate and confident understanding that far exceeded your typical 16 year old.

With that, you just really fall in love with this character. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trading in my boogie board for a surfboard. I do, however, understand the connectedness that surfers feel with their environment.

Should you go Big? Hmm...there's a lot of depth here. If you can patiently wait for the break, you'll ride a sweet wave. You just need that Hollywood story to make the trip worthwhile, stay on the beach. This is good stuff, but you've got to be willing to connect with it to make it worth the time and dime.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Taken 2

The movie world was certainly taken by Taken. I was totally taken, too. Would we all be taken, too by Taken 2? Uhh...yeah! Even following the same storyline, Taken 2 is one of those Hollywood rarities where the sequel lives up to the original.

He's just an OCD boy. Living in a lonely world. He took the midnight plane going to Istanbul. "He" in this little Mo-Town jingle is Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson). If you recall, Bryan has a very special skill set, which basically means he can find you and dismantle you in a millisecond. He did it once before when his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) was abducted by sex traffickers. He ruthlessly hunted them down and issued his own torturous sentence of death. Understandable considering the circumstances, right? Well, the papa of some of those deposed sex traffickers took exception to Bryan's brutality and wants blood in return. So, while Bryan takes care of some business in Turkey, along with his ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Jannsen) and Kim, the dissed papa sets out to take Bryan and his ex. Silly and stupid move from a man whose brain cells are seemingly scattered around Eastern Europe, huh? Meanwhile, Kim attempts to allude capture and help her dad go on the offensive. Mission accomplished. Yadayadayada...Once again, Bryan is able to use that deadly skill set to turn the tables on those hell-bent on evil.

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars for Taken 2. It's almost, if not as good as the original. The only thing the original had going for it was, well, exactly that: It was an original. This follows the same concept with similar action-packed and emotionally charged results.

One thing that did not really equate with the original was bad guys. With Taken, we got to know some pretty evil men pretty well. They weren't pretty to say the least and we got some instant gratification from watching Liam's Bryan Mills go to work on them. The bad guys in Taken 2 are bad--no doubt about it. However, we just don't really get to know them very well and don't experience that emotional charge that desperately wants to see Bryan do his thing. What you have is a bad guy who is a dad who loved his very evil son unconditionally and wants revenge. I would have liked to have seen Bryan shove the son's evil in papa's face a bit more to remind him why his son met a gruesome demise. Instead, we are left with papa's "I don't care what he did, he's my son", which is an attitude that is easy to connect with especially when the son's actions are really (for the most part) left out of the Bryan-Papa square off. Within that character dynamic, more would have been more.

Sure, there are some implausible moments that are typical of these action-adventure thrillers. None of those moments reach with any depth into the impossible, so they are manageable beyond the ole, "...uhhh--wait a minute" gut reactions.

All in all, Taken 2 is a fun flick with plenty of fun characters, action, emotion and the hearty roller coaster ride similar to the original. It doesn't try to do too much. It merely nudges the series along in a positive direction, which is far more than many sequels are able to accomplish.

With that in mind, see Taken 2 and see it BIG! You too, might be totally taken by Taken 2. 

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Argo

Keepin' it real. When it comes to appreciating the movie Argo, from director and star, Ben Affleck, that is a key phrase to remember. Embrace the reality and you have a tremendous movie experience. Looking for an action spy adventure with narrowly escaped explosions at every turn? Keep lookin' because Affleck ensures that Argo is keepin' it real, baby.

It's 1979. Picture it...little Scotty Trueblood playing diligently with his Star Wars figures. Got that image in place? Well, forget about it because it has almost nothing to do with what was going on in Iran that year. It was 1979 when Iranians stormed the US Embassy, taking American hostages. In return, they demanded the return of their ousted leader who had taken refuge in the USA. However, six of those hostages had escaped to a Canadian safe house. Enter Johnny Mendez (Affleck). He's brought into a think tank whose purpose is to brainstorm these six Americans home safely. Several ideas float about, but it is Johnny's plan that gets the nod. What's the big idea? Well, drawing from the popularity of the movie Star Wars, Johnny plans to pass the six hostages off as a film crew on a location scouting mission. The proposed movie is Argo--a sci-fi thriller in need of a desert location for filming. Argo...meet Iran. Is it suspicious considering the chaotic upheaval taking place in Iran? Sure. But as Mendez's boss (Bryan Cranston) points out: "This is the best bad idea we have."

To keep it real, Mendez brings in Hollywood. This means make-up guru John Chambers (John Goodman) and producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin). They use a real script...cast real actors...even have a PR event with cast and crew to draw some media coverage. It would all need to pay off as...yadayadayada Johnny and his crew of six ambassadors turned film crew navigate checkpoint after checkpoint on their way home.

It's good...very good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars on this gem. Again, Argo is not your Tom Clancy thriller turned big screen. It is a real story that leans heavily on history for a basis for its reality. These are real events, which make them even scarier; and, as they emerge onto the big screen, even more entertaining.

What Affleck captures here is truly the fear and shock injected into a nation at these horrifying events of 1979. I was a little fella, but I do remember this happening. Actually, I remember playing with my Star Wars figures on Mammaw Brown's couch one Friday night while she and Pap remained intensely glued to the TV as these events unfolded. Americans were outraged and enraged. That is one side. Affleck also effectively captures the rage pulsing through Iran that year. Their people had ousted someone they considered to be a horrible dictator and he had set up a convenient asylum in the US. The Iranian people took offense and a group of revolutionaries took action and sixty hostages in the process. It was chaos in motion and Affleck painted an absolutely brilliant picture.

Where does it come up short? You really have to get picky to come up with any negatives. Yeah, there are times when you edge up on that seat and wonder if Hollywood is behind it or these events unfolded as depicted. I'll give all involved the benefit of the doubt because nothing is remotely over the top. Again...keepin' it real, baby.

The acting? Great. From Cranston and Goodman and Arkin, this crew was as historic as these events. The only criticism on that front would be Affleck's portrayal of Mendez. No emotion with this character whatsoever. I promise that you will find no difference between Mendez and the stone wall nearest you, save some moss and dust on the latter. Now, the trouble with capturing a real-life person is that he may have been portrayed incredibly accurately. That would, after all, be quite real if Mendez's nickname was Stony. It may have been, but you're facing incredible feats with absolutely no sense of emotion at all? I suppose. Again, the real Mendez might have showered in Novocaine? I don't know. With that said, Affleck was either brilliant or a stone. With every other component well in place in Argo I'll side with brilliant.

Should you see this one BIG? Uhh...yeah! Argo is a fascinating peace of history and fun to watch on many fronts. Check it out and go BIG!

True...OUT!