Movie Review #21 - "Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings (2012)"

Movie Review #21 - "Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings (2012)"

It's Sunday afternoon ... Nothing that I really want to see at the theatres ... So ... Amazon Prime find me a movie ...  There's nothing there that I haven't seen ... Search Documentaries ... No ... I don't want to watch a movie about "Food" ... Then, I stumbled on this one ...

On IMDB:  "Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings (2012)"

Benny's Tabasco Rating:  8 / 10 Tabasco Peppers (almost a 9)

Synopsis:  This documentary tells the story of a young man, Jake Shimabukuro, from Hawaii who plays the ukulele like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, or Eddie Van Halen plays a guitar.

Cast:  Well ... Jake ...

Cinematography:  It's well done for a documentary.  There are some nice shots of Jake performing.  The most amazing shots were of Shendai, Japan after the tsunami ... For those of us who saw and maybe went through Hurricane Katrina, these shots were jaw-dropping of the damage that town has suffered.

Overall Review:  First, just watching this guy play the ukulele is incredible.  Seeing and hearing his life story was pretty good as well ... He's a really cool guy ... I would love him to be a friend ...   I don't want to give it all away because you just have to watch this young man play ...  For that alone, it's worth that hour of your time ... I promise you will be telling your friends about this movie / man. 

Movie Review #20 - "White House Down (2013)"

Movie Review #20 - "White House Down (2013)"

Beginning Comments:  What is it this year?  The year of "Take Over the White House" movies?  Really? And really bad movies about "taking over the White House"?

On IMDB:  "White House Down (2013)"












Benny's Tabasco Rating:  3 / 10 Tabasco Peppers

Synposis:  Wait ... Before I start, I really like Jamie Foxx ...

OK ... An inside man decides that he doesn't agree with the President politics and wants to forcibly remove him from the White House.

Cast:  Jamie Foxx as the President.  First, I love Jamie Foxx and his work ... Well .. most of his work ... He plays the President ... I guess the stereotypes are gone for the white guy president (welcome change) ... But Jamie Foxx ... He's too young (or at least looks too young) and good-looking to be the President.  Channing Tatum ... really ... Why didn't the cast Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Ryan Gosling?  Then, it could have been the "Sex Symbol" movie.

Story:  James Woods plays the head of the President's Secret Service detail who doesn't agree with the President's politics to remove the troops from the Middle East ... Yes, the entire US Armed Forces would be gone from the Middle East ... I couldn't get behind the "believe-ability" factor for this movie ... Second, Tatum plays a Capitol City Cop who is interviewing for the Secret Service right at the same time people are taking the White House ... Really?  Come on ...

Cinematography:  Again ... Green Screen?  Why?  All of the flight scenes were CGI and some of the other portions were so bad that you were hoping that the editor missed something to show you the green screen ...

Direction:  First, why would you take the gig?   Second, the director, James Vanderbilt, tried to add humor to this ... Right when things were really serious, there comes a joke ... Jamie Foxx is so much better of an actor than this script ... And the director didn't pull anything out of him ...

Screenplay:  This must have been Columbia Pictures' purchase since Film District was releasing "Olympus Has Fallen" (only slightly more believable, but better acting, direction, and screenplay).  The writing could have gone through at least 20 more revisions before it was "Foxx-worthy" ... I really feel badly for Mr. Jamie Foxx.

Overall Review:  One of the most non-believable screenplays at an attempt to convey a takeover of the White House.  The cast except for Channing Tatum has more talent than I expected and could have been a really good film.  I don't recommend this film to anyone except 13 year old girls who like Channing Tatum.  If you are expecting a good film because of Jamie Foxx, you are going to be very disappointed.  Instead, rent "Olympus Has Fallen" ... Better story ...

Movie Review #19 - Pacific Rim (2013)

Movie Review #19 - Pacific Rim (2013)

Benny's Apologies:  Followers ... Haters ..  Lovers ... I want to apologize for missing the past couple of weeks ... Physical Therapy and the lack of motion in my right shoulder has made me ... well ... angry ...

However, I have three movies today for your enjoyment or lack of enjoyment ...

On IMDB: Pacific Rim (2013)














Benny's Tabasco Rating:  3 out of 10 Tabasco Peppers:

Synopsis:  Aliens from the deep attack Earth ... In response, Earth unites and builds giant mechanized machines to fight the aliens ... Yawn!

Cast:  Um ... No one that I really recognized ... and well ... The only guy I recognized is Clifton Collins Jr.  ... I know you are asking, "who?" ... well ... He's been a character actor in a lot of TV and movies ... I think I recognized him from "The Event" .. a short lived NBC sci-fi ... Long story short, it's a bunch of unknowns and really don't cares ... The only person that stood out was Rinko Kukuchi ... A Japanese actress who actually made the story sort of believable ...

Ron Perlman is this ... You might know him from "Hellboy" or "Drive" ... I doubt seriously that anyone in this film will even see a "Golden Globes" nomination for this work ...

Cinematography:  What cinematography?  The whole thing seemed, if not really, one HUGE green screen with really cool graphics ... But ... The myth that green screen can seem real got really lost in this ... There wasn't a cool shot ... or even, wow, that's believable ... I just didn't like it.

Direction:  Guillermo del Toro directs this ... There was so much hype about this film and that he was directing ... I didn't get it ... While I liked his work on "Mimic", I didn't get it ...

Overall Review:  I really didn't get it.   Have I said it enough?  The story seemed to be a rehash of a bad Godzilla movie ... The effects, while "neat" and "groovy", didn't impress me ... I'm glad that I didn't pay full price .... If you are bored and want to see a green screen movie with no chemistry, this one is for you ...

Movie Review #18 - "Into The Blue (2005)"

Movie Review #18 - "Into The Blue (2005)"

 This one is a little tough to write about since the death of Paul Walker ... Unfortunately, Paul Walker died in a fiery car crash this past weekend ... I wasn't going to review this one for a while ... But ... This might be "Paul Walker Week".  And no, I am not reviewing any of "The Fast and The Furious" movies ... That's for another time ...

While many people did not know Mr. Walker from any of his other works, I truly enjoyed several of his film projects ... "The Legend of Bobby Z" ... "The Lazarus Project" ... and more to come ...

Well ... This one's for you Paul!

On IMDB:  "Into the Blue (2005)"

Benny's Tabasco Rating:  5 / 10 Tabasco Peppers

Synopsis:  A couple living in the Bahamas is living a life of working hard to make ends meet.  Both of them love the ocean.  Jared, played by Paul Walker, is a treasure hunter with a busted up boat and is working crappy jobs to make ends meet.  His friend, Bryce (played by Scott Caan), shows up and provides a way for them to go treasure hunting for an old shipwreck named the Zephyr.  Insert intense car chases, a mean bad guy, drugs, and sharks ... 

On the surface, it's a fun movie to watch ... A little deeper and there's not a whole lot to it ... But if you love the ocean and like to see some action scenes, you'll like it ...

Casting:  Paul Walker plays Bryce, the lead character ... He fits the role well ... His personal life involved the water as he was an avid surfer ... He and Scott Caan (who plays Bryce) were roommates and surfer together ...

But then again ... For the guys, Jessica Alba plays Sam, Jared's girlfriend ... She doesn't exactly get quality lines ... But then again, she can dive ...

There are a couple of other casting choices that were excellent.  Josh Brolin plays the evil boat captain of a treasure hunting crew ... Ashley Scott (you might know her from the TV Show, "Jericho") plays Bryce's girl friend.

Cinematography:  First, as a avid ocean lover and former surfer, I thought the shots they chose were AWESOME!!!! Having been in the water with a shark (about 4 feet away) in Australia, I completely understand the fear that it can bring ... Jessica and Paul didn't seem to be too afraid as their characters or individuals (see the extra footage on the DVD).

Direction:  This film was directed by John Stockwell ... He was the actor in the first scenes on "Top Gun" who freaked out with the MIG jet in the first scenes ... He became a director and also did "Blue Crush" ... I have a feeling he likes the ocean as much or more than I do ... 

Some of his direction was a little weak at times ... But I blame the writers ...

Writing:  This is a typical good guy wins at the end ... There aren't many surprises or twists that you don't see coming ... Again ... Jessica Alba in a bikini ... That's enough for me ...

Overall Review:  It's not a great film ... If you love the ocean, like the "visual" perspective of the actors, and like an action flick, you'll enjoy it ... Does it compete with "Gone With the Wind" or "Top Gun", nah ... I liked it ... and have watched it many times ... 

It's not on Netflix ... Amazon has it to rent or I'm sure that Walmart has it in the $5 bin ..