Film Review “Eddie The Eagle”

Starring: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman and Christopher Walken
Directed by: Dexter Fletcher
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 45 mins
20th Century Fox
Our Score: 3.5 out of 5

If anyone ever took the slogan “Follow Your Dreams” to heart, it was England’s Eddie Edwards. Even though he grew up with braces on his legs, the young man knew, even as a boy, that he was destined for the Olympics. Too bad nobody let destiny in on the secret.

An enjoyable film, more in the tradition of “Cool Runnings” than “Remember the Titans,” “Eddie the Eagle” follows young Eddie (Egerton) as he tries, repeatedly, to find a sport he can represent his home country of England in the Olympics. His mother (Jo Hartley) does her best to encourage him, even giving him a biscuit tin to “hold all of your medals.” Unfortunately the only thing Eddie is able to collect is a growing number of broken eye glasses. Finally, he discovers ski-walking and is soon excelling in it. However, his odd personality and life class are used to keep him off of England’s Olympic Team. Heartbroken, he stumbles upon a sport where England hasn’t competed in almost 50 years – ski-jumping. If he can handle the landings he just may have his wish granted.

Hollywood loves promoting the stories of the underdog. Ironically, the Jamaican Bobsled Team that was the basis of the film “Cool Runnings” also competed, alongside Edwards, in the 1988 Olympics. Even though the outcome of these films is already known, a good movie will hold your attention. This one does almost in spite of itself. Egerton is fine as Edwards, and he bears a strong resemblance to the awkward young athlete. Supporting Egerton is Hugh Jackman, who plays a former ski-jumper named Bronson Peary now working at the international training facility in Germany. Jackman has always had a way of lighting up a screen when he shows up and he doesn’t disappoint here. What takes you out of the story is how, with the exception of the Finnish team, nobody else apparently needs to train for the games. Eddie pretty much just walks into the facility and begins throwing himself off of 40 meter jumps – nobody stops him. Because nobody is there. Just Eddie, Bronson, the chick who owns the bar and the Finnish team.

That being said, the production values are pretty good, especially the point-of-view shots coming down the ski jumps. “Eddie the Eagle” doesn’t soar as high as it could have, but at least it doesn’t crash.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: eagle, eddie, film, review

Concert Review “Distant Worlds: Music from FINAL FANTASY”

Distant Worlds: Music from FINAL FANTASY
Mahaffey Theater
Saint Petersburg, FL

I feel that Arnie Roth outdid himself with this show. I’ve seen another show that he produced and I liked this one even better. Every show is a little different. As they have over 300 songs to choose from over the Final Fantasy series, there is always a different selection. Some staples are at every show, though, with things such as the Prelude. You just can’t start a Final Fantasy show without that one.

This is a combination show. There is a live orchestra with a live chorus. The music is performed in time with a pre-recorded video showing clips of various Final Fantasy games. For example, if you’re listening to Final Fantasy VII music, you will see clips from the games as well as from the Advent Children movie. So, there isn’t much else to say about this show, because you just have to go yourself. I wanted them to keep right on playing when it was over. I can’t wait until the show is in town again. Go get your tickets. GO!

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Concert Reviews Tagged With: concert, distant, fantasy, final, music, review, ...

Film Review “Forsaken”

Starring: Keifer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland and Demi Moore
Directed by: John Cassar
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 30 mins
Moving Pictures Media
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Here’s a little trivia for you. Donald Sutherland and his son, Keifer, have appeared in two films together. One is A TIME TO KILL though they did not share a scene together. The other is MAX DUGAN RETURNS, which came out in 1983. The bad news is that it took the father/son duo more than three decades to team up on the big screen again. The good news is a new film called FORSAKEN.

“Your mother’s dead.” These are the first words that Reverend Clayton (Donald Sutherland) speaks to his son, John Henry (Keifer Sutherland) as he returns home after a 10-year absence. John Henry left home to fight in the Civil War but wound up a notorious gunslinger. He has come home to reconcile with his father, and the townspeople, who view the “new” John Henry warily. He has also come home to find that one of the town’s leaders, James McCurdy (Brian Cox) is using force to make people “want” to sell their farms and leave town. Those who don’t sell soon find themselves dead. McCurdy has hired notorious gunfighter Dave Turner (a very subtle Michael Wincott) to oversee the townsfolk and their migration. One of Turner’s men, Will Pickard (Landon Liboiron, in creep mode) enjoys violence and goes out of his way to belittle John Henry, who no longer wears a gun. That is, of course, until he has to.

FORSAKEN borrows from some of the best westerns of the past 30 years, including SILVERADO, UNFORGIVEN and HBO’s “Deadwood.” Both Sutherlands are in fine form and it is a genuine treat to see them together on screen. Their scenes together, especially those strictly devoted to being loving father and estranged son, are brilliant. A lot of people think of Brian Cox as a smooth character actor, but they never remember that he was the original Hannibal Lecter in the film MANHUNTER. While not as creepy here, his performance is strong and commanding. Wincott is also smooth and southern, obviously embracing the role of gunslinger as much as John Henry is trying to distance himself. As the woman he left behind, now married, Demi Moore makes a rare appearance and is also solid. Production values are well done and director Cassar, one of the driving forces behind television’s “24,” keeps the story moving smoothly. If you’re a fan of the genre’ you won’t be disappointed by FORSAKEN.

 

Related Content

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, foresaken, review

Book Review: “Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements”

“Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements”
Author: Bob Mehr
Publisher: Da Capo Press

Hardcover: 520 pages w/ 32 pages of black and white photographs

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

“Trouble Boys” is the first definitive biography of one of the last great rock ‘n’ rolls bands of the twentieth century: The Replacements. With the participation of the group’s key members including reclusive singer-songwriter Paul Westerberg and bassist Tommy Stinson- Author Bob Mehr is able to tell the real story. Additionally based on interviews conducted with family, friends, managers and musical colleagues, Mehr paints a deeply intimate portrait of the band. Far more than a conventional band bio, “Trouble Boys” is heartbreakingly tragic, frequently comic and ultimately a triumphant tale.

Right away I was interested in picking up this book and learning more about a band I was fairly late to discover in my music listening exploits. The Replacements were always a band I saw cited as an influence of some of my favorite artists however I had limited knowledge of the actual group aside from guitarist Paul Westerberg. As a cautionary mention before I go too far do yourself a favor and brush up on your Replacements knowledge prior to diving into this book’s immense 520 pages. Time and time again the author sites numerous names, events and locations both big and small all throughout the book and with limited knowledge of the bands career the reader can easily become lost. At several points during my reading I found myself having to go back over sections to find where the book was at as the story of just the band and its members is easily lost amidst miniscule details that were explained in far more detail than they probably needed to be leaving me to seriously question the books editing.

What “Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements” lacks in being clear and concise makes up for the shortcoming in content as I stated before the book is very detailed. The addition of 32 pages of photos was also a very cool addition. Hardcore Replacements fans will already have this book on their radar but more casual listeners may also want to take notice as this book will be a welcome addition to any music fans reading library.

 

Related Content

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Books Tagged With: book, boys, replacements, review, story, trouble, ...

CD Review: Anthrax “For All Kings”

“For All Kings”
Anthrax
Megaforce/Nuclear Blast
Producer: Jay Ruston
Tracks: 11

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

NY thrash legends Anthrax are back with a brand new full length studio album titled “For All Kings”. The album which is the bands 11th studio release and the first to feature lead guitarist Jon Donais features 11 blistering tracks produced by veteran producer Jay Ruston. “For All Kings” is being released in the states via Megaforce Records and internationally via Nuclear Blast and is available in a variety of formats.

As soon as I hit play “For All Kings” dominated my speakers. The albums opening track “You Gotta Believe” features the bands same signature in your face riffing which cemented them as one of the pillars of the Big 4 of Thrash on the early 80’s while the genre was still developing. The opening track sets the stage perfectly for what is to come and is immediately followed by another great track titled “Monster at the Gate”. Catchy sing along choruses, thunderous drum fills and a blazing guitar solo by new comer Jon Donais made this easily one of my favorites. This is not Donais’s only shining moment as the addition of the former Shadows Fall guitarist seems to have taken the bands already aggressive thrash sound and infused it with some heavy metal virtuosity. If you don’t believe me check out tracks like “The Battle Chose Us” and “Zero Tolerance” they are perfect examples of what I’m talking about.

If you are looking for heavy, the latest offering from Anthrax will certainly fulfill that need. Probably one of the bands most vicious sounding albums to date “For All Kings” is a near perfect testament from a band that has been waving the flag for heavy music since the early 80’s. Yes there were one or two tracks which for me personally missed the mark however the remaining 9/10 tracks easily outweigh anything negative and quickly pushed those short comings into the back of my mind. With such a solid release this early in 2016 Anthrax have certainly set the bar high.

Track Listing:
1.) You Gotta Believe
2.) Monster at the End
3.) For All Kings
4.) Breathing Lightning
5.) Suzerain
6.) Evil Twin
7.) Blood Eagle Wings
8.) Defend Avenge
9.) All of Them Thieves
10.) The Battle Chose Us
11.) Zero Tolerance

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: CD Reviews, Music Tagged With: cd, review

Blu-ray Review “Criminal Activities”

Criminal Activities
Blu-Ray/DVD
Rated: Not Rated
Studio: Image Entertainment
Running time: 94

Media Mikes Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

It all comes down to bad luck. One day you’re wondering how your friend is doing, the next your at his funeral because he got run over by a city bus. Such is the day that Zach (Michael Pitt), Noah (Dan Stevens), Warren (Christopher Abbott) and Bryce (Rob Brown) have when they attend the above named friend’s funeral. Meeting up afterwards they catch up with each other’s lives. All are doing fine but, like everyone else, can surely use a bump in income. Bryce shares with the others a medical company his cousin works for is about to go public. He also notes that they have an FDA approved drug about to be released. His cousin has accumulated a lot of stock and is looking to sell some. The price: $200,000. Only Noah seems to have the necessary funds so he agrees to front the amount for the group. Things go well until it’s discovered that the drug company was a sham and now it’s time to pay the piper. And the piper wants his money NOW!

“Criminal Activities” is the cleverly written directorial debut of actor Jackie Earle Haley and is a gem that was sadly overlooked during it’s theatrical release last November. The film follows the young quartet as they meet up with their financial benefactor, Eddie (Travolta, in tip-top “Get Shorty” form). With interest, etc, the boy’s $200,000 debt is now doubled. Eddie gives the lads a chance to clear the books. It seems one of his underworld rivals has kidnapped a family member and Eddie wants to repay the favor by having the rivals’ nephew snatched. It’s obvious that the boys are in over their heads when none of them recognize the gangster’s name. “Google him,” they are told. They somehow manage to pull off the kidnapping but they end up grabbing much more than they bargained for.

A triumph on all levels, the film’s strongest point is it’s cast. All four young leads have energy to burn, as does Edi Gathegi, who plays their kidnapee, Marques. As the old pro, it’s so good to see John Travolta having so much fun with a role. Director Haley cast himself and Christopher Jay Gresham as Eddie’s henchmen, and their interaction with the others makes for some of the films more humorous moments. As a director, Haley keeps the story moving at a fine pace, making great use of both long tracking shots and the sights of the city of Cleveland at night. Robert Lowell’s script is witty and sarcastic, with a twist to rival “The Usual Suspects.” If you didn’t get the chance to see this last year, I hope you find the time to see it now. You won’t be disappointed.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: activities, bluray, criminal, review

Film Review “45 Years”

Starring: Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay
Directed by: Andrew Haigh
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 35 mins
IFC Films

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I love actors. When placed in the right mouths, words that may seem meaningless become poetry when those mouths open. Two of the best ever, at least in my generation, are Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. You may remember Rampling as the dishonest love interest of Paul Newman in ‘The Verdict” and Courtenay holding his own against Albert Finney (both men earning Oscar nominations) in “”The Dresser.” Three decades later these two are still at the top of their game in the new film “45 Years.”

Meet Kate (Rampling) and Geoff (Courtenay) Mercer. They are full of excitement as they prepare to celebrate 45 years of marriage. As Geoff was ill when year 40 rolled around, Kate has decided to make this event one for the ages, and the majority of their small town will be at the celebration But as the day approaches Geoff receives a mysterious letter from Switzerland. He learns that the body of Katia, his first love, has been discovered. She disappeared over 50 years ago. Due to the circumstances she is literally frozen in ice, as beautiful as she was the day she disappeared. Even though Geoff feigns a slight interest, it is evident to Kate that the news is effecting him. Investigating on her own, Kate discovers secrets that make her question not only Geoff’s love, but their marriage.

A film this small scale – there are very few cast members – is only as good as its cast and the two veterans deliver in spades. Rampling, still beautiful at 70 — I’m sorry….is that a sexist statement…like I shouldn’t expect her to be beautiful at this age — says as much with her expressions and mannerisms as she does her words. Courtenay is her acting match here, observing small things and affecting small changes in his life. It’s obvious to both that the mystery of Katia is something that will linger for a long time.

The film is slight as far as subject matter is concerned but the two stars keep the pace moving, with Rampling shining in an Academy Award nominated performance. A fine alternative if you’re tired of bears, both grizzlies and pandas.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: 45, film, review, years

Film Review “The Choice”

Starring: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer and Tom Welling
Directed by: Ross Katz
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 51 mins
Lionsgate Films

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Lonely man making his way through life meets woman with a past. They fall in love. Something bad happens. If you’re thinking to yourself, “this sounds like something Nicolas Sparks would write,” give yourself a prize. And welcome to “The Choice.”

Travis (Walker) is apparently the world’s greatest veterinarian. Even though he lives in Wilmington, North Carolina his practice, which he shares with his father, provides enough money for him to live in a beautiful house on the water, where he barbecues on weekends when he’s not out in his cool boat. One night, during one of his barbecues, he is asked to turn the music down by Gabby (Palmer), a nurse studying for some medical exams. One thing leads to another and soon Travis and Gabby are fishing and boating and spending way too much time out in softly lit rainstorms. Things go well in the friend zone until Gabby’s wealthy M.D. fiancé’ (seriously, is there NOBODY in North Carolina that ISN’T wealthy?) has to go out of town for a month. The fact that he is played by Tom Welling means nothing to the pair and soon they have kindled a hot and heavy romance. Cue the music.

If you’re familiar with Nicolas Spark’s novels then you pretty much know what to expect going in to “The Choice.” What makes this film a notch above other cookie-cutter Sparks adaptations is a strong cast, particularly from the supporting actors. Of the three leads, Walker does the best. I enjoyed him as our 16th President in “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” and he credits himself here. Palmer tries to be the spunky girl but she can’t convince us that she has no interest in Travis. As for Welling…he has gotten HUGE. Too bad they’ve got Henry Cavil to play Superman because Welling looks like he could easily fill out the super-suit now. Supporting work by Tom Wilkinson, as Travis’ father, and Sharon McCormick, as their loyal receptionist, do make the film go by easier than expected. So if you “choose’ to see it with someone, let them know that it could be much worse!

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: choice, film, review

Film Review “Hail, Caesar!”

Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney and Alden Ehrenreich
Directed By: Joel and Ethan Coen
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 106 minutes
Universal Pictures

Our Score: 4 out of 5 Stars

The Coen brothers seemingly find a way, movie after movie, to blend genres and create something completely unique, pushing the envelope about what theater goers expect in terms of storytelling, plot, and character development. “Hail, Caesar!” is no different. There’s no denying the Coen brothers talent when it comes to their dramatic works, but when they focus solely on their comedic efforts, it yields a unique array of ideas. They’ve crafted cult classics, toe tapping musicals, and dull remakes. “Hail, Caesar!” falls on the high end of that their comedic works.

There’s a pretentious nature to what the Coen brothers do. There’s an inside joke to a lot of their movies, and if you don’t get, they won’t tell you. The inside joke to “Hail, Caesar!” is the film industry, celebrities, the 1950’s, and I’m sure something else. Someone my age may not understand the mocking nature of the inner workings of the movie studios, the nuances of an era before my time, or the parody nature of the movies shown during the fabulous fifties, but I still enjoyed the oddball nature of “Hail, Caesar!”. It’s a blown kiss and slap in the face to the Hollywood industry.

Eddie Mannix (Brolin) is a “fixer” for Capitol Pictures. His job is to run around all day, making sure the press doesn’t get wind of the latest shocking scandal (a starlet having a child out of wedlock), making sure productions are up to snuff, and that the men financing everything are happy. Of course for “Hail, Caesar!”, he’s also trying to find out where studio star, Baird Whitlock (Clooney) has run off to. Well, he hasn’t gone on one of his alcoholic benders or, as his wife puts it, at some floozies place. But Baird has been kidnapped.

Most other movies would make this plotline essential to the storytelling aspect of this movie, but the Coen brothers find entertainment in the array of movie products, random actors and actresses, and Eddie’s personal home life. There are so many cameos in this movie, it’s impossible to talk about every single one, as well as their subtleties that they add to the plot, the various themes, or their potential jab at real-life events and celebrities. Of course, as I stated earlier, the character may be a part of an inside joke that you may or may not get.

So in essence, it’s a Coen brother’s movie. “Hail, Caesar!” is rich with witty dialogue involving thick-headed actors and sophisticated directors. Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Jonah Hill, Wayne Knight, Frances McDormand, and others are scattered about, adding their own flavor to the movie. At times it can be overwhelming, but equally underwhelming at times, especially when we find out who has kidnapped Baird and why.

Just take a step back and accept that this is a screwball, ensemble comedy. With that in mind, you should be able to enjoy it’s, at times, confusing narrative. like a fine wine, I expect “Hail, Caesar!” to age gracefully and be a delight to watch occasionally, much like “Raising Arizona” or “The Big Lebowski”. It’s not a masterpiece by “Fargo” and “No Country for Old Men” standards, but it’s certainly a fine addition to the Coen’s collection.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: caesar, film, hail, review

Film Review “Two Rabbits”

Starring: Fernando Alves Pinto and Alessandra Negrini
Directed by: Afonso Poyart
Rated: Not Rated
Running time: 1 hr 41 mins
XLrator Media

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Nobody is bad. People just go the wrong way sometimes.”

Wisdom and reason, all in ten words. And the driving force behind the new film “Two Rabbits,” a film with so many twists and turns you’ll need to wear a seatbelt while watching it.

The basic story is redemption. The film begins with a horrible car accident which kills a woman and her son while they are walking across the screen. Through flashbacks we meet the people involved: the driver of the car, the woman’s husband, the local crime boss, his attorney and the attorney’s police officer wife. We soon learn that things are not as they seem. The wife, Julia (Negrini), finds mistakes in the police files or removes evidence, allowing her husband Henrique (Neco Villa Lobos) to get his high profile clients off in court. His current client is the evil Maicon (Marat Descartes), who will need all the help he can get if he wishes to be found not guilty. All of these people interact with Edgar (Pinto), a man with a past and, hopefully, a future. As the story progresses, things that seemed clear become blurred and people reveal themselves to be exactly what you DIDN’T think they were.

While director Poyart has written a strong script, one which could stand alongside “The Usual Suspect” as far as twists go, he double downs on the story with some amazing camera work. Portions of the film play like a straight-up thriller, others like a scene taken directly from the video game “Grand Theft Auto.” It’s a curious choice but one that works in Poyart’s hands. Poyart also served as the film’s editor, ensuring that the final vision is his. The cast is equally strong and as the plot slowly unwinds they roll well with the punches.

This is Poyart’s feature film debut as both a writer and director and it should be noted that his work here earned him the director’s gig on this fall’s upcoming mystery “Solace,” which will star Anthony Hopkins and Colin Farrell. I’m predicting no sophomore jinx for this filmmaker.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, rabbits, review

Film Review “The Finest Hours”

Starring: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck and Holliday Grainger
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 57 mins
Walt Disney Pictures

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…somewhere on the Walt Disney lot is a small office in which sits a little man not unlike Burgess Meredith in the “Time Enough At Last” episode of “The Twilight Zone” who does nothing but reads all day, looking for stories, new and old, about amazing events that leave the reader feeling good. It took him six decades but he finally found the story behind “The Finest Hours.”

It’s a cold day in February 1952 as the residents of the small town of Chatham, Massachusetts prepare for a storm. Among the locals is phone operator Vivian (Grainger) and her boyfriend Bernie Webber (Pine), who is stationed at the local US Coast Guard station. The townspeople are a little moody as they recently observed the one year anniversary of a horrible boating accident which killed many. Due to the weather conditions, the Coast Guard was not able to perform a rescue, and some in town still hold a grudge. It is when a similar incident arises, and Webber and his men are sent out into the storm, that old memories prove they do not die easily.

Based on a true story, “The Finest Hours” tells the tale of the four enlisted men who risked their lives in an attempt to bring back thirty-two survivors from a horrible accident in which their actual vessel broke in half. Led by Pine and Ben Foster, the brave military men are a strong and determined lot. Self-reminded of their failure the year before, the men go above and beyond to help. On the ship itself, the men are a motley crew of seasoned vets and young rookies. Let by Affleck’s chief mechanic, some are willing to listen while others distrust him. Then there is the ship’s cook who keeps things light by repeatedly singing “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat” from “Guys and Dolls!”

Technically the film is top notch. The special effects are well done and the various period pieces take you back to a time in life when you couldn’t just pick up your cell phone and check in with others. Do save your money and don’t see “The Finest Hours” in 3D. This may very well be the “least” 3D movie of any 3D movie I’ve ever seen. You’d be better served with an umbrella.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, finest, hours, review

CD Review: Leslie West “Soundcheck”

“Soundcheck”
Leslie West
Provogue
Tracks: 11

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Soundcheck” is the newest solo offering from legendary Mountain front man Leslie West. The album is the much anticipated follow up to West’s 2013 release “Still Climbing” which featured guest performances by Mark Tremonti, Jonny Lang and the late Johnny Winter. “Soundcheck” follows in the same suit as “Still Climbing” while taking things to the next level with brilliant performances on all 11 of the albums tracks by West and company.

From start to finish Mr. West and his assembled group of musicians are in top form as they blast through a variety musical styling’s covering everything from gritty rock ‘n’ roll to heart wrenching acoustic tinged ballads that echo to the inner most points of the listeners musical soul. The albums opening track “Left by the Roadside to Die” works perfect in its placement by setting the stage for what the listener is in store for. Mixed in with a handful of original tracks are a plethora of re-worked covers including Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” a rawkus rendition of Gretchen Wilson’s “Here For the Party” an eerie instrumental version of the Beatles track “Eleanor Rigby” and a one of a kind rendition of “You Are My Sunshine” featuring Peter Frampton. Other guest performers include Queen’s Brian May on the track “Goin’ Down” and the late great Jack Bruce on the live recording of “Spoonful” a recording which until now has never been released.

If you are a long time Mountain/Leslie West devotee then “Soundcheck” will fit perfectly in to your music collection. For the more casual listener you will be hard pressed to find a track on here you won’t like. The production on each of the 11 tracks is really on par and even though the last track is a live track recorded in 1988 it still sounds crisp and in line with the previous 10 tracks making this a great album to listen to over and over.

Track Listing:
1.) Left by the Roadside to Die
2.) Give Me One Reason
3.) Here for the Party
4.) You Are My Sunshine
5.) Empty Promises/Nothin’ Sacred
6.) A Stern Warning
7.) People Get Ready
8.) Goin’ Down
9.) Stand By Me
10.) Eleanor Rigby
11.) Spoonful

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: cd, leslie, review, soundcheck, west

Film Review “I Am Thor”

“I Am Thor”

Starring: Jon Mikl Thor
Directed by: Ryan Wise
Rated: Not Rated
Running time: 1 hr 24 mins

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Jon Mikl Thor was a bodybuilding, steel bending, brick-smashing rock star in the 70’s and 80’s whose theatrical band THOR hit the scene alongside Metallica and Kiss, but never achieved the gold record status of its contemporaries. After a brief but memorable film career saw him starring in cult classics like “Rock n Roll Nightmare” and “Zombie Nightmare” Thor all but disappeared. Tracing the rise, fall, and rebirth of a determined performer “I Am Thor” paints a fascinating and sometimes unbelievable portrait of this larger-than-life icon.

Anybody who grew up in the 70’s and 80’s had to have caught a glimpse or at the very least heard of Thor at some point during their adolescence. Whether it was tales of his abilities to bend steel or break cinder blocks with a single blow being told around the school yard to possibly catching a late night showing of “Rock n Roll Nightmare” or maybe you were fortunate enough to purchase a copy of Thor’s 1978 release “Keep the Dogs Away”. Whichever it may have been Thor was there. “I Am Thor” is more than just your basic rise, fall and rise again type of documentary. Instead you get an unprecedented look at Thor’s career told directly from the man himself Jon Mikel Thor. From his early beginnings as a body building champion in Canada and the subsequent evolution of the Thor character over 30 years the viewer experiences it all. Packed with both new and vintage footage the film had everything I like in a documentary of this style.

Yes the rise/fall/rise story line is becoming a bit tiring at this point as this film is certainly not the first to adopt this format nor will it probably be the last however, these type of films which showcase one person or a group of peoples undying dedication to themselves and their fans are what keep me coming back for more. “I Am Thor” is a diamond in the rough just waiting to be discovered.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, review, thor

Film Review “The 5th Wave”

Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz, Ron Livingston and Liev Schreiber
Directed by: J. Blakeson
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 52 mins
SONY Pictures

Our Score: 1 out of 5 stars

The following plea is for Chloe Grace Moretz: “PLEASE FIND A NEW AGENT!”

After a promising career that began with great performances in such films as “Kick Ass,” “Let Me In” and “Hugo,” in the past couple of years she has starred in such stinkers as the remake of “Carrie” and the “I’m not dead, I’m in a coma” film “If I Stay,” which had the distinction of being, in my opinion, the worse film of 2014. Now, apparently, she’s decided to make my job easy by showing up in, what I’m sure will be, among the worse films of 2016.

Cassie Sullivan (Moretz) is your typical youthful high school girl. She likes to hang with her friends and holds a secret crush on the captain of the football team. But she’s also a good girl, coming home from parties before curfew and looking out for her little brother Sam (Zackary Arthur). Then the aliens come. The end! Sorry. Sadly, it isn’t that easy.

A film only in the sense that it’s being shown in theatres, “The 5th Wave” tells the story about what can happen when you reveal the BIG ending 20 minutes into the film and apparently forget what the words “continuity” and “believable” mean. As the title maintains, there are five waves. The first wave has alien craft hovering over various cities. The second takes out all sources of power. Then the Pharaoh declares that all first born male children are to be killed. Not really. Just seeing if you were paying attention.

How do I hate thee, “5th Wave?” Let me count the ways. Let’s begin with the jaw dropping idea that, when there is an imminent alien invasion, we will continue to send out children to school. When there is no more electrical power or running water we will continue to appear freshly shaved and newly bathed. And when the world does come to an end, the only thing worth salvaging will be Slim Jims. Actually, I like the Slim Jim idea. Director Blakeson (who only goes by his first initial, J – and can you blame him? If I was associated with this film I wouldn’t give my full name either) has cobbled together a hodgepodge of bad plot lines and stretched them out for almost two hours.

Sadly, the fault is not all his (or, for all I know, hers). I also blame the three screenwriters who created these horrible tropes. I can’t believe Akiva Goldsman helped write this thing. This is a man who won an Oscar for writing “A Beautiful Mind,” adapted two John Grisham novels for the screen and does great work for Ron Howard. Of course, he also wrote “Batman and Robin” and the upcoming FIFTH “Transformers” film. OK, maybe I can believe it. Speaking of Oscar, if they gave away an award for most continuity errors in one film, this baby would sweep the category. Just off the top of my head, here are three to look for:

1. While heading for a certain destination, Cassie remarks that she is 30 miles from her destination. After walking for a day or so she comes across a sign that tells her she is 43 miles away. At least the sign points her in the right direction. That being said, a couple days later, when she asks how far she is, the answer is now 60 miles.

2. Early in the film Cassie is given a gun, which she later fires until the slide locks, indicating the weapon is empty. Next time you see it, it’s fully loaded.

3. Remember when I said that all power (electrical, gas, etc) has been eradicated? Cassie comes across an abandoned Jeep on her travels and hops in to rest. Thankfully the dome light is working properly so she can see better.

If you’re still interested in the film, you’re a better person than I am. Pays your money and takes your chances. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: 5th, film, review, wave

Blu-ray Review “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” Collector’s Edition

“The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” Collector’s Edition
Blu-Ray, DVD
Rated: PG
Studio: Shout! Factory
Film Run Time: 97 minutes

Media Mikes Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

It Doesn’t Get Any Grosser Than This… Especially in High-Definition! Your favorite grime bandits come to life in this hilarious film full of “gross-out humor” (The New York Times). Based on the wildly trading cards, “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” stars Mackenzie Astin (Iron Will, Wyatt Earp) as a perfectly nice teenager who discovers the Kids…to his great disgust! When the kids are accidentally released from their magical trash can prison, all smell breaks loose. Despite their offensive personal habits – and attitude problems – Dodger (Astin) soon becomes fond of the Kids. But when Messy Tessie, Foul Phil, Valerie Vomit and the whole crew join his fight against thuggish bullies, their efforts just might land them behind bars!

Upon hearing that “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” was getting a Collector’s Edition release I couldn’t wait to check it out in person. I remember renting this movie from the local video store and watching it over and over until we had to return it sometimes just to re-rent it. The latest version of the film’s release which I picked up in Blu-Ray format didn’t really add to the films initial quality including added clarity or sound as portions of the film still remained a bit grainy and the sound a touch on the tinny side however I found those minuet short coming only added to the films appeal as it was a bit reminiscent of the worn out VHS rental cassettes of the mid/late 80’s. It was great to see classic characters such as Ali Gator, Messy Tessy and of course my personal favorite Windy Winston.

As an added bonus to the collector’s edition there are several really cool sections which includes new interviews with the films Special Makeup Effects Creator John Carl Buechler and Makeup Effects Artist Gino Crognale as well as with the films lead Mackenzie Astin, Arturo Gil (Windy Winston) And Kevin Thompson (Ali Gator) among some other great features. Once again the great people at Shout! Factory delivers with this 80’s classic which I couldn’t be happier with.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, collectors, edition, garbage, kids, movie, ...
« sdf
Previous
Page 53 of 272
Next
Next Page »