13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Bengazi

An American Ambassador is killed during an attack at a U.S. compound in Libya as a security team struggles to make sense out of the chaos.

It’s nice to see so many of these true war stories coming to the big screen.  We need more people to realize what our soldiers are doing for our country and the sacrifices they make on a daily basis.  Very impressed with the way Michael Bay created this movie, it’s a step outside of his normal filming process and he pulled it off in a way that appears almost as a Kathryn Bigelow or Clint Eastwood style of film.  This is going to be a breakout movie for the cast as well.   James Badge Dale and David Denman are well known on the big screen as well as John Krasinski.  In my mind this helps John’s career in a way that moviemakers will now see him as a leading man and offer more lucrative roles to him.  If you don’t know Pablo Schreiber, get to know him.  This is a breakout role for him and I have no doubt he will be racking up the IMDB credits very quickly in the coming years.  This movie is all about the bond and the brotherhood that the soldiers form with each other.  These guys aren’t war junkies; they are fighting to protect the man next to them.  An American Ambassador is killed in an attack and the closest support are these special operators who are only a mile away from the attack but because of the bureaucratic bullshit and red tape they are commanded to stand down until they say the hell with it and do what they are trained to do, protect lives.  There are some kick ass action scenes and some tense moments when these operators are being stalked by the enemy, along with walking the streets not being able to tell the bad guys from the good guys.  If you enjoyed, American Sniper, you will enjoy this movie.  I’m not putting this on American Sniper level being it’s a completely different story but it’s a great one and one that will make you laugh and cry watching some true American heroes. 

4.5 out of 5 popcorns.

STAR WARS The Force Awakens

 Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance.

Do I need to even say anything about this movie?  I am almost certain that everyone knew this was going to be a fantastic movie, and if you didn’t enjoy it, you must be one heck of a Star Wars nerd who didn’t like a certain story line.  By now the only thing I think J.J. Abrams can’t do is walk on water, and I would not bet that he couldn’t.  J.J. is to directing what Dwayne Johnson has been to movies the last 5 years, whatever he touches, it turns to green, and lots of it.  Last time I checked it was past Avatar to become the highest grossing film of all time and it had yet to open in China!  I love Star Wars but I’m not deep into it like I am James Bond but this was still a great movie that anyone can follow and if you know a little history of the new characters you will be leaving the theater like everyone else.  Scratching your head to figure out who belongs where on the game board, which is amazing.  The story can go so many ways and if you follow all the fan boy sites you will know what the biggest mystery is and how much fun it is watching theories roll out.  If you are thinking that Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher have no place in this film, think again, because you are very wrong.  J.J. is a master story teller and he proves yet again why he is the next coming of Spielberg, and Lucas, yes I said it, tell me I’m wrong, you can’t.  The blend of action, comedy, drama, new ships, and droids is brilliant and after seeing this movie you’ll know what everyone wants their very own BB-8.  Take the kids and start a new adventure with them that will last for years to come, according to the release dates of all the new Star Wars movies and stand alone movies to follow.

5 out of 5 light sabers.    

Daddy's Home

Stepdad, Brad Whitaker, is a radio host trying to get his stepchildren to love him and call him Dad. But his plans turn upside down when the biological father, Dusty Mayron, returns.

Finally!!! Will Ferrell has come back to great comedy!! (Shout out to The Rock)  This was my annual Christmas Day movie with relatives and I have to say I am so happy that we chose this movie because it was such a surprise how funny it was.  Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are a couple of my favorite actors but to put them in a movie like this could be a long shot.  Guess what? That’s why they put people like them in movies together.  We have comedy coming from so many different angles that it works so well together.  Sure we have seen some of the gags in this movie before but they are done in a fresh new way that made them hilarious.  The movie has grossed over 100 million already so that tells you people like it.  If it weren’t funny it would be hovering around the 25 million mark.  When I mention comedy comes at you from different angles I mean Thomas Hayden Church, and Hannibal Buress turn their turrets on you and unload with some heavy firepower that we have been missing in comedies.  The coverage of jokes in this movie is so vast that it is hard to find people, things, and places that didn’t get used as a joke.  Trust me you are going to enjoy this movie and all the Father’s are going to look differently upon Father, Daughter dances.  One thing I will say is this.  Dwayne Johnson instead of John Cena.  What’s interesting about that comment is that I heard a great number of people also say this.  Get ready to spill the popcorn and shoot soda out your nose with this movie. 

5 out of 5 Ford Edges

CREED

The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.

I know I am behind on my posts and I apologize but I will do my best to get up what I can before awards season is into high gear.  Here we are with one of the greatest movie franchises ever, and one that I thought ended well with Rocky Balboa.  Guess what? That was 10 years ago and it was time to add on to the franchise.  Some people had their doubts about this movie, but to put it in the hands of director Ryan Coogler, well, you knew it would turn out well.  This movie is such a throw back in a way that it reminded me a little of Spectre in terms of how the story was told.  There are little throwbacks that really get you excited about Rocky and get you thinking of all the movies that came before.  Sylvester Stallone gives in my opinion one of if not the best performance of his career and Michael B. Jordan is a great choice to play Apollo Creeds son.  The feel of the movie takes a lot of the same paths that the original did but in an updated way that keeps it fresh and doesn’t feel like a remake.  The fight scenes are incredible, especially in the final fight with plenty of action to make you feel like it’s the war in Rocky IV all over again.  The pacing is great and doesn’t drag the fights out so you get bored and want to run pee.  I also felt some of Rocky III in the final fight scene, which was written perfectly just like Rocky III.  I highly recommend this movie to everyone, it’s all the Rocky films rolled into one so it is easy to please fans no matter which is their favorite of the franchise. 

1 Oscar Nomination 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Sylvester Stallone

12 out of 12 rounds. 

The Peanuts

Snoopy embarks upon his greatest mission as he and his team take to the skies to pursue their arch-nemesis, while his best pal Charlie Brown begins his own epic quest back home.

Nothing makes me feel like a kid again more than watching Peanuts anything and this movie delivers that same feeling in a big way, around 80'x40' depending on theatre size of course.  I dreamed of being able take off from my parents backyard as a kid using our dog house, but no matter how hard I tried I could never get it off the ground, even after putting wheels and a motor on it.  The gang stays young forever and that's what we all want, to see them playing in the snow,  skating on the pond, flying kites and all the hijinks we are used to from the kids.  We can learn a lot from these movies, especially from the tenacity of Snoopy who is determined to succeed at all costs, and not to mention he has the greatest imagination in the world.  Never to be left out, the one and only Joe Cool makes a great appearance.  Charlie Brown struggles to find the courage to talk to the new red head girl that moved across the street from him.  But with the help of his friends and finding the strength to keep going no matter what life throws at you, we learn that you can over come anything and that confidence is something we all need to face our fears.  This movie keeps adults engaged and has no trouble doing the same for the kids, no matter if this is their first Peanuts movie or their 100th, it will keep you entertained start to finish.   Pack up the kids and be prepared to feel young again as your children begin their journey with one of your favorite cartoons of all time. 

5 out of 5 block heads.

Spectre

A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE. 

I am going to do my best to get through this review without gushing about how much I love this franchise, so without further adieu.  The movie opens with Bond in Mexico City during the Day of the Death Parade celebration with the streets bursting with people.  As we track bond through the streets with some fantastic camera shots that flow so well and make you feel like you are their with him. (Or it could have been the IMAX screen.) This leads to what all Bond fans know is going to be an incredible opening action screen before the main titles, sung by Sam Smith, begin.  Sam Mendes packed this movie with so much action, a little humor, and more throwbacks to Bond movies of the past that you must pay great attention to catch them all. We have a care chase in Rome with a prototype Aston Martin DB10 as well as a prototype Jaguar C-X75 through the streets of Rome and along the river banks with many fun call backs to the gadgets of old from the earlier movies, and they are done with fun and in a way that reminds you of how far this incredible franchise has come in 53 years.  Of course we see Bond seduce women but it's a perfect amount of seduction and interrogation that the women in the audience won't be shaking their heads in a 'whatever' fashion.   Spectre gives us back the fun banter of past between Bond and Q, yet at the same time we get to see some action from M who is fighting to keep the double 0 program operational while not knowing who to trust.  Every character is played to perfection while the action and fight scenes are not over done with people coming back to life after you've just seen them take a life stealing fall or get shot by an exploding bullet.  Christoph Waltz does an amazing job per usual while uncovering one of the best Bond stories to date as well as answering many questions from his past along with previous Bond movie stories. Big stunts, big cast, big fights, big chases, big story, all of this equals big fun and another fantastic Bond movie.  As I said before, I'm a huge Bond fan and I look forward to these movies more than a person should.  With that in mind I will say that Skyfall is a superior movie but trust me you won't be disappointed with Spectre as it has a feel of Skyfall with a touch of past Bond movies.  

1 Oscar Nomination

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Picture, Original Song - Sam Smith

Enjoy the show.  5 out of 5 Vodka Martinis