Movie Review #15 "Top Gun (1986)"

Movie Review #15 "Top Gun (1986)"

Okay ... Okay ... Most people my age have seen this at least once ... twice ... well ... I'm in the 50s on the number of times I have seen this movie.  My brother and I used to watch this, turn down the volume, and take a character's dialog and do the movie ourselves ...

So ... I'm a little sentimental ... This is the movie that made me cut my "Greg Brady Afro" to a crew-cut!

On IMDB: "Top Gun (1986)"

Benny Tabasco Rating:  8 / 10 Tabasco Peppers

Synopsis:  A fighter pilot goes to Top Gun Aviator Flight School to become "One of the Best Fighter Pilots (excuse me, Naval Aviator) ... He has some misfortune due to his cockiness and falls in love with one of the instructors.  I don't think that the plot was much more than that ... Sorry ...

Cast: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside, Meg Ryan, Kelly McGillis, and Anthony Edwards ... There is so much testosterone in this film that it borders on same sex marriage ... Well ... I won't reprint rumors ... :)

Direction:  For the most part, this is a guy's film ... The acting is so-so ... Not much direction that I could see ...

Quotes:  "I feel the need, the need for speed" or "Take me to bed or lose me forever" ... I could go on ... "Hey Slider ... You stink" ...

Cinematography: Still to this day, one of the best aerial shots there is ... The planes (primarily the F-14 - now retired) and some T-38 for the Migs ... were filmed OUTSTANDINGLY (Is that a real word?) ... If you ever watched the TV show, "JAG", they used some of the footage from the movie ...

I do have to mention one scene that I thought was filmed brilliantly ... When Maverick (Tom Cruise) and Charlie (Kelly McGillis) are having dinner ... The use of natural light and camera angles was something that I have tried to replicate in my own work (unsuccessfully so far) ... That one scene makes me want to continue as a filmmaker ...

Writing:  It should have been titled "An Officer and a Gentleman Part 2" ... Very cliche ... Very expected ... Dialog for the most part is trite and unoriginal ...

Overall Review:  It's worth a sit-down and a bowl of popcorn with your TEENAGERS ... Not for the little ones ... Unless you fast-forward through the bedroom scene ... I love this movie ...

Movie Review #14 - "The English Teacher (2013)"

Movie Review #14 - "The English Teacher (2013)"

Before I start, I really like the acting style of Julianne Moore ... I really enjoyed her character in "Laws of Attraction" with Pierce Brosnon ... and also, "Evolution" with David Duchovny ...

Unfortunately, I didn't like the character in "The English Teacher" ...

On IMDB:"The English Teacher (2013)"

Benny Tabasco Review:  5 / 10 Tabasco Peppers

Synopsis:  A High School English Teacher played by Julianne Moore runs into one of her former students who has written a Broadway play.  The student, Jason Sherwood (played by Michael Angarano) is somewhat of a MONUMENTAL liar.  His dad, Dr. Sherwood (played by Greg Kinnear) plays the mean and belligerent father since his wife left him ...

The story deals with a Drama Teacher played by Nathan Lane (aka Timon from "The Lion King") gets a hold of the play and decides to perform that play instead of the same play that they produced year after year at the high school.

Ruckus erupts with Julianne's character (Linda Sinclair) is seduced by Jason Sherwood in the classroom ... Needless to say, they do the "nasty" ... Then, she decides it's not best or she gets jealous (pretty forgettable at this point) and Jason decides to get romantic with one of the High School Drama Kids (a girl) ...

It's sappy .. It's soupy ... And up until the last 30 minutes mildly unpredictable ...

Writing:  It's was OK ... At best ... The story is interesting ... I would have rather seen the set be a College / University instead of a high school ... Sorry, not into the pedophile thing ... 

Cast:  Julianne Moore ... Nathan Lane ... Greg Kinnear ... and a couple of kids that look like they came from a Disney set ... I thought that Julianne would carry this ... But alas, I was wrong ... The performances, other than Nathan Lane, were tolerable at best ... Greg Kinnear has one decent scene ... The rest seems contrived and trivial ...

Cinematography:  Sorry ... Looked like an Indie film ...  Shot like an Indie Film ... Probably is an Indie Film ... Enough Said.

Direction:  Did I say "Indie Film"?  Julianne's talent was so wasted in this movie ... It was kind of depressing ...

Overall Review:  Pass ... It's pretty simple.  One person has suffered for all of you ...  If you don't believe, you can choose to watch it on Netflix ...

 

Movie Review #13 - "Kon-Tiki (2012)"

Movie Review #13 - "Kon-Tiki (2012)"

Before I delve into this movie review, I remember as a child seeing the book, "Kon-Tiki" by Thor Heyerdahl in the libraries that I visited.  Someone told me that it was a great book about adventure and sailing ... How stupid was I never to have read it then ... 

On IMDB:  "Kon-Tiki (2012)"

Benny's Tabasco Rating:  10 / 10

Synopsis:  Thor Heyerdahl, a Norwegian scientist, ventures to the Polynesian Islands to do research for (I'm guessing here) to be published or a doctoral dissertation.  The movie doesn't elaborate on it much.  While he is researching, one of the native Polynesians takes him to a statue of Tiki, a Peruvian idol.  Thor gets inspired and writes a book on how Polynesia was settled from the West not the East (e.g. Asia).

So, he goes to New York City to raise capital for his voyage.  During his trip, he meets Herman Watzinger, a somewhat lonely and depressed refrigerator salesman.   The two become instant friends and they leave New York City without all of the funding they need.

They travel to Peru and meet up with Thor's friends, Erik, Knut, Torstein, and a photography named Bengt.  They build a raft made a balsa wood (yes, balsa wood) and begin their 5,000 miles journey from Peru to the Polynesian Islands.

There are challenges along the way ... And of course, they make it ... 

Writing:  Oh my word!   This is one of the best screenplays ever written.  The dialog is tight, solid, and substantial.  The character development of each character blew me away.

Direction:  Joaquim Ronning and Espen Sandberg are incredible.  The movements, the pain, the joy, the sadness ... They really brought it out of a cast of actors that most people (including myself) have never seen or heard of ...

Cinematography:  One word.  Stunning.  Even though I was watching this on my 27" monitor, I was amazed at the incredible shots.  Almost every shot was breath-taking, even the shots in New York City.

Actors:  While I really had never seen any of them until this film, they were amazing.  Pal Sverre Hagen plays Thor Heyerdahl and truly carries a lot of the film.  My favorite actor, by far, was Anders Baasmo Christensen  who plays Herman Watzinger.  The other cast members were solid in their performance; each of them plays a key role in the success of the adventure.

Overall Review:  First, it's on Netflix (link below).  You might try to find it at Redbox or even the Public Library.  It's now one of my Top Ten.

You have to watch this film if you have any spirit of adventure, love the ocean (or nature for that matter), or simply love a good story.

So .. What are you waiting for?

Netflix:  "Kon-Tiki (2012)" --- On Netflix

Movie Review #12 - "The Wishing Tree (2012) -- TV Movie"

Movie Review #12 - "The Wishing Tree (2012) -- TV Movie"

All right ... Before you get started on me for reviewing a TV Movie ... It was on Sunday morning ... I was half asleep at 6:30 AM when I got up ... After breakfast, I woke up and watched some other nameless "Hallmark Channel" Christmas Movie with Tammy (my wife) ... Then, I fell asleep again and started watching this Christmas Movie ...

Me, watching a Christmas movie before Thanksgiving ... That's almost sacrilegious ... But Tammy and I were watching it ....

On IMDB:  "The Wishing Tree (2012) -- TV Movie"

Benny's Tabasco Rating:  1 / 10 Tabasco Peppers (I was close to 0 peppers .. but it allowed me to spend time with my wife.

Synopsis:  First, this movie was on the "Hallmark Channel" ... So ... Don't expect much ... It's a story about a trio of rich prep school kids that are stuck on school grounds during the Christmas break ... Professor Evan Farnsworth (played by Jason Gedrick ... you know him from the 1st and 2nd Iron Eagle movies ... wait .. that's a long time ago ... Maybe his character role in "Backdraft" ... Wait, that's old too! ... He was on "Desperate Housewives" ... any better? ) is recovering from the death of his wife from two years ago and is stuck babysitting the trio of kids at the school ... Along comes "The Wishing Tree" ... It's a fundraiser for the little storybook town ...   Long story short, Professor Farnsworth has dreams about his dead wife ... One of the three kids is a trouble rich kid ... One lacks confidence ... and the other is a kid who lacks acceptance by his classmates in general ... (I feel like I am writing a review for "The Wizard of Oz" (which, by the way, comes on TV on Sunday on TBS on your TV :)  ...

Characters:  Professor Evan Farnsworth is the lead character played by Jason Gedrick.  The character is developed well, but it is SO PREDICTABLE ... You basically can do the dialog without the volume turned up.  The three students, Andrew Breen (played by Richard Harmon ... who?) is the troubled rich kid searching for love from him parents, Juliet Espinoza (played by Emmalynn Estrada ... no relation to Erik Estrada) is the singer who lacks confidence, and Albert Nevins (played by Amatai Mamorstein) is the nerdy kid that no one likes but becomes a great leader, are SO laughable in the acting ... I giggled a lot at the "sad parts" ...

Writing:  It's so predictable that you can look at the title and figure the movie at before watching ... Yes, it's that bad ... No offense to Michael J. Murray, the principal writer, but ... please ... make it interesting ... There are so many cliches in this movie that you have time to fix breakfast and not have missed a thing ....

Cinematography:  Not awful. However, your personal video camera or the one on your phone could do just fine for this movie.

Location:  Not bad for the film.  Set design was decent ... But the writing just dragged the whole movie down.

Direction:  I think that they should have fired both the writer and the director ... Direction was weak at best.

Overall Review:  If it's a Sunday morning, you are half-asleep, and nothing else is on TV, please do the following:
- Change into your pajamas (if you were pajamas)
- Set the thermostat on your heater or air conditioning to the optimal level of comfort
- Dim the lights or close the curtains
- GO BACK TO SLEEP ... 

This movie is not just bad ... It's like a bad dream ... 

Movie Review #11 - "Olympus Has Fallen (2013)"

Movie Review #11 - "Olympus Has Fallen (2013)"

On IMDB:  Olypmus Has Fallen (2013)

Benny's Tabasco Rating:  8 / 10 

Synopsis:  A terrorist has taken over the White House.

What?  That's it?  That's all you are going to say ...

No?

Cast:  Gerard Butler. Aaron Eckhart, a small part for Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman and ... Angela Bassett ...

The casting was pretty darn good for this movie ... Gerard Butler plays a Secret Service agent ... There's a lot of fighting, shoot'em up, and explosions ... Definitely a guy's film.

Aaron Eckhart plays the President of the United States ... Morgan Freeman, Speaker of the House ...

Mr. Eckhart was tolerable as the President, but seemed to be a little too ... well ... punchy ... Morgan Freeman ... I don't know if he was napping or acting ... He simply needs to retire .. His best work is light years beyond this performance ...

Director:  Antoine Fuqua directs this one ... You might know him from "Shooter" with Mark Wahlberg and Michael Pena ... or "The Replacement Killers" with Mira Sorvino and Chow Yun-Fat ... I love this guy's style ... He's very on par with his previous work ... So, if you like "Shooter" or "The Replacement Killers", you will enjoy this one!

Writing / Story:  I really enjoyed the writing even though it may seem ... well ... A lot over the top ...
North Korean terrorist gaining access to some of the US' super secret weapons much less a US Air Force Cargo Plane seemed a lot unrealistic ... Also, the response time was ... well ... too much delayed ...

Synopsis Part 2:  It's a story about a Secret Service who early in the story, unfortunately, let's the President's wife die in a car crash.  He's sent to the Treasury Department to work when ... BOOM! ... there's a terrorist attack on the White House ...  Lots of death, gun fights, explosions, a little torture, and ... Watch the movie!

Overall Review:  Lots of action ... Some language ... So, not for the kiddies ... But it's a good movie ...

It's now on Netflix ... Add this one to the queue ...

Movie Review #10 - "The Lifeguard (2013)"

Movie Review #10 - "The Lifeguard (2013)"

So, over the past week or so, I have been waking up at weird hours of the night ... I usually try to find something on Cable to watch ... But lately, I have grown tired of Zip Removing Cream and the weird Knife Selling Channel ...

On IMDB:  "The Lifeguard (2013)"

Benny's Tabasco Review:  5 / 10 

Synopsis:  A 29 year old writer for the Associated Press has basically a nervous breakdown and moves home to her parents in Connecticut.  She meets up with old friends from High School and gets her old job back as a Lifeguard at a Condo Association Pool.

Story:  I haven't written many of these parts in my reviews.  However, this story is awful.  It's tries to be like "Garden State" (great work Zach Braff), but it fails miserably.  I found myself watching this movie thinking, "Do people really act this way?"  I answered, "NO!'.  Upon further reflection, I guess some people do they this way ... 

The writing is interesting and disturbing ... Not that I am giving it all way (e.g. Spoiler), but the relationships in this movie are STRANGE!! (Well, at least to me).

Cast:  First, let me say, I like Kristen Bell.  She's played several roles you may be familiar with ... Like "Veronica Mars" or "Gossip Girl" ... I know her from "Heroes" ... I loved "Heroes" ... Primarily Season One ... Back to Kristen Bell.  She is an outstanding actress who did a great job with this character ... The rest of the cast are pretty much unknown except for Amy Madigan (from "Field of Dreams ... Ray Kinsella's Wife) ... She played Kristen Bell's character's mother ... It was a nice job ...

Cinematography:  Some shots were really awesome ... However, the shots lost their impact in the Edit Bay ... There is a wide expansive shot that really depicts Kristen's character's loneliness well ... Unfortunately, it's a 10 second shot at the longest ....

Overall Review:  Hey ... It's Kristen Bell ... It's on Netflix so I didn't have to pay rental fees ... Not for kids ... And not as good as "Garden State" ... But if it's 3 AM and not else interests you, you might give it 30 minutes to decide ...

Movie Review #9 - "The Sapphires (2012)

Movie Review:  "The Sapphires (2012)"

On IMDB: "The Sapphires (2012)"

Benny's Tabasco Rating:  7 / 10

Synopsis:  This movie is based on a true story (loosely based of course) about 4 Aboriginal Girls / Ladies from a hick town in Australia who can really sing ... However, the Aboriginals were discriminated just as bad as the African-Americans were during the 1700s - 1990s ... Or maybe even worse ... (I didn't study my Australian history prior to my review).  They encounter a musician named Dave Lovelace (played by Chris O'Dowd) who becomes their manager ... The girls find an advertisement for singers in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.  They go through there to sing to the U.S. Troops ... There are many twists and turns (not over the top) and end up telling a great story about music, racism, and love ...

Cinematography:  I was a little disappointed since a portion of the film occurs in Australia.  I was hoping to see more wide-angle camera shots of the landscape, but I was sorely disappointed.  The shots in "Vietnam" were OK ... I did appreciate the tight camera work during the performances.  It's a common technique that film makers use when they don't have a lot of budget for extras or there's a lack of extras.

Acting:  Chris O'Dowd steals the movie hands-down.  My first experience with Chris O'Dowd was on the British Comedy Show, "The IT Crowd".  Being a geek, I loved the show ... Not only that, the comedy sketches are really funny...  

A big surprise was by Deborah Mailman who plays "Gail".  Her character was developed well and her acting was surprising for my first "running into a film with her".

Overall Rating:
 I liked this movie.  In fact, I have watched it 4 times now.  There's a good bit of singing which I like a lot.  Also, I really didn't understand how poorly the Aboriginal People of Australia were treated.  I've been to Australia and enjoyed my time there.  However, racism is still here ...

I was going to rent this from Redbox.  Instead, I received an email from Netflix telling me it was available with my subscription... 

It's pretty good for a seemingly low-budget Indie style film.  And it's free with your Netflix subscription.