12 Strong tells the true story of the horse soldiers who were the first to fight back after 911

Movie Title:   
  12 Strong

Grade:   B

Rating: R,
  2 hours 10 minutes

In a Nutshell:  This declassified true story has good intentions and a solid cast, but doesn’t give us the depth that other war movies have provided in recent years.

Hoorah to our American soldiers who bravely fight in impossible circumstances.  I'm a proud mother of an officer in the US Army, so this kind of movie really tugs at my heart.

The inspiring stories after 911 seem to be endless.  A horse soldier statue was erected at the new World Trade Center in honor of the heroes in this story.  The film is based on the book 12 Strong: The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers.

Tips for parents: 

• Tons of profanity and trash talk from tough soldiers.
• Lots of shooting and violent deaths.
• Blood and gore.
• Lots of subtitles.

                                         

Uplifting theme: 

• “The greatest weapon in the history of the world is this (points at heart).”  - General Dostum   (Navid Negahban)
• “How do we love our family and leave them to go to war?” – Hal Spencer (Michael Shannon) 
• War, brotherhood
• Friendship
• Communication, culture

                                                                 

Things I liked:

• Because it's a Jerry Bruckheimer production, you are assured some great action sequences.  
• The capable cast includes the always hunky Chris Hemsworth, compelling Michael Shannon, and likable Michael Pena.
• Pictures of the real soldiers about whom this movie was made are shown at the end of the movie.
• I get a kick out of Rob Riggle in everything he does.
• Great sound effects that make you feel like you're in the middle of it all.
• The absurdity and horror of horses facing tanks is actually made believable in the movie.

Things I didn’t like:

• Sometimes it’s hard to understand what everyone is saying.
• Sometimes it’s hard to see what’s happening too, especially in the evening scenes.
• A surprising amount of standing around talking.  There is hardly any action during the first hour of the movie.  Lots of action in the second half.
• If you don't know the true story, you'll feel the suspense and danger.  If you already know who does and doesn't survive the ordeal, the tension lessons tremendously.  The good news for this movie is that most people don't know the story at all and will enjoy the ride.
• It's definitely a man's movie, so some women will feel pummeled and exhausted by the end.
• Some of the battles feel repetitive.

Interesting lines:

• That’s not intel; it’s motivation.” – Sam Diller (Michael Pena)
• “Stop being a soldier and start using this (points to heart) and you can be a warrior.” –General Dostum

Funny lines:

• “What is that?  $10?  $9.50?”   (American soldier says to an Afghan street vendor who holds up his hand and has a finger cut half off.)

911 War movie that did it better:
Black Hawk Down

                                              @trinaboice

Thor hammers into our hearts with entertaining humor and action

Movie Title:
  Thor: Ragnarok

Grade:  A

Rating: PG-13, 130 minutes

In a Nutshell:  Count them…17!  Thor: Ragnarok is the 17^th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  New Zealand director Taika Waititi directs this super colorful, funny superhero movie presented by Walt Disney Pictures.  He also voices the lovable character Korg.

It’s fresh and fun family entertainment that makes us love Thor even more.

Uplifting theme: 

• Brother’s keeper
• Forgiveness
• People are more important than places.
• Teamwork, unity
• Love, service to others
• “A wise king must never seek out war, but must always be ready for it.” – Thor
• “I choose to run towards my problems and not away, because that’s what heroes do.” - Thor

Things I liked:

• Chris Hemsworth is awesome, but everyone else in the cast also steals the show.  It’s a collection of fantastic actors who each contribute unique, entertaining characters to the story.
• Tom Hiddleston is a better Loki we’re learning to love.
• I have adored the talented, beautiful Cate Blanchett for many years.  How is it that she never ages, but I do?  She makes a fantastic villain.
• Anthony Hopkins is always epic.
• Awwww, Benedict Cumberbatch.  Doctor Strange has an amusing visit with Thor.
• Mark Ruffalo spends more time being The Incredible Hulk, but Hulk is really endearing in this film.
• Jeff Goldblum is hilarious.  I love him in everything he does.
• Fun surprise cameo towards the very beginning of the movie.  No spoilers!
• It appears that Marvel has finally learned that audiences love fun, funny, irreverent, out-of-the box thinking superhero movies.  Ever since the first Guardians of the Galaxy (Plus Bonus Features)thrilled audiences, superhero movies have lightened up a lot more, don’t you think?
• Female fans get to see Chris Hemsworth with his shirt off.  Wow, those arms are the size of tree trunks!  For those who love his long, golden locks, you’re in for a surprise.
• I love that Marvel puts Stan Lee in every movie. I always look forward to seeing what funny line they give him.
• Stay until the end of the first set of credits to see more.  Then, stay until the very, very end of all the credits to see another funny scene with the Grandmaster.
• In an interview, Taika Waititi said that 80% of the movie was improvised.  What?  That’s crazy and amazing!
• Led Zepplin’s Immigrant Song really rocks the final battle scene.
• The Gladiator scene with Thor and Hulk in the arena was extremely entertaining.
• Some new creatures and characters fill the Marvel Universe with even more creativity and fantasy.
• Energizing soundtrack: Thor: Ragnarok 

Things I didn’t like:

·    Some fake video-game looking fight scenes.

• Some of the jokes don’t quite get the reaction I’m sure the director hoped they would.
• It helps to have seen Thor and  Thor: The Dark World and know the characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  You'll enjoy the movie more.

Funny lines:

• “Yes!  We know each other!  He’s a friend from work.” – Thor talking about when he first sees Hulk in the arena
• "I have been falling for 30 minutes!" - Loki

Tips for parents: 

• Superhero violence and destruction.
• You see the naked backside of Hulk.
• Some profanity
• Young children may be frightened by a big, fiery monster

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

The Huntsman: Winter's War is a mixed prequel/sequel

Movie Title:  The Huntsman: Winter's War

Grade:  B

Rating:  PG-13, 2 hours 3 minutes

In a Nutshell:    This ain’t no Frozen Film critics are ripping this prequel/sequel to shreds, but I actually enjoyed it.  There is some humor, adventure, great CGI, beautiful landscapes, fun action sequences and even romance.

Sure, the story is a little messy and uneven, but it’s still entertaining and visually stunning, especially if you liked Snow White & The Huntsman .  It has more enchanted charm than the first one, even if it’s a sequel that viewers never asked for.

 Uplifting theme: 

• “Love doesn’t make you weak.  It’s all that ever gave me strength.” – Eric/The Huntsman
• What does the mirror show YOU?
• What is the source of YOUR power?
• “Love conquers all…so I’ve heard.” – Queen Freya   (It really does.)
• Jealousy and revenge hurt you more than the other person.

Things I liked:

• The majority of the CGI is really impressive.  Some of it is fake looking (the fog on people's breath), but most of it is really good and believable.  I thought it was cool (pun intended) how there are delicate snowflakes in the air wherever Queen Freya stands.
• The musical score by James Newton Howard is really good, noticeably good.
• I could watch Charlize Theron all day long.  I think she’s absolutely beautiful…the fairest of them all. Unfortunately, the story about how she comes back to life is a bit weak and vague. Who cares though, really?  We get to see Charlize in beautiful gowns looking wicked and glamorous.
•  I loved the river scene with the sprites and the enchanted forest scenes with the fairies.  Adorable turtle covered in moss.  (You might miss him if you're not paying attention to the background.) The film is from the same producer who worked on Maleficent and has that same feel.  You can read my movie review for Maleficent here.
• The dwarves offer plenty of comic relief.
• You get to learn a little bit more about Eric/the Huntsman and his back story. Chris Hemsworth works his charm and even has some funny lines.  I don't remember him talking with a Scottish accent in the first film, but he lays it on pretty thick in this one.
• I really like the title "Winter's War".  It refers to the coldness of heart and the internal battle between good and evil, love and hate, as well as the actual snowy winter scenes where battles are fought in the movie.

Things I didn’t like:

• They talk about Snow White, but you only get to see her from the back.  Apparently, Kristen Stewart didn’t want to have anything to do with this film, so they used a body double.
• I really like Emily Blunt, but her portrayal as Queen Freya was a bit...shall we say...cold?  She has a new movie coming out in October called The Girl on the Train  
• Lots of leather.  Lots.  Some of the clothing looked like new, fresh costumes and should have been messed up a little bit to look more authentic.  Queen Freya and the Evil Queen look wonderful.
• There is a fight scene in a tavern that has good action, but it’s filmed too close, so you can’t see everything that’s going on.  It has no music in the background, just fight noises, which actually was an interesting sound choice.
• Like Maleficent , the protagonist could teach young girls an important lesson in personal empowerment, yet becomes completely unhinged and evil because of a man who betrayed her.  Not exactly a good role model for our daughters.
• The beginning and end feel a bit heavy, but the middle feels like a magical adventure.

Funny lines:

• “This is the worst plan ever.” – Eric/The Huntsman
• “What are you going to do: take on two evil sisters and their entire armies?” – Sara (Jessica Chastain)

“Yeah, pretty much.” – Eric/Huntsman

Interesting lines:

• “Men have forgotten what it means to be afraid.” – Queen Freya
• “You may know much, Ravenna, but you do not know all.” – Queen Freya

“I’m afraid I do.” – Ravenna

• “If she could not raise a child, she would raise an army.” – narrator who is the wonderful Liam Neeson
• “In my kingdom, there is but one law: do not love.  It is a sin.” – Queen Freya

Tips for parents:   

•  Some profanity, as well as "colorful" Scottish insults
• The goblins might scare very young children
• There are some inappropriate sexual innuendoes, but they’re subtle and will probably fly over most kids’ heads.  There are two scenes when sex is implied, but you don’t really see anything.

In the Heart of the Sea offers amazing cinematography and CGI

 Movie Title:    In the Heart of the Sea

Grade:  A-

Rating:  PG-13, 2 hours 1 minute

In a Nutshell:     1820. A giant, vengeful whale.  A ship.  A determined captain.  Man vs. beast.  Imagine Entertainment and Director Ron Howard create a visual masterpiece with unbelievable cinematography, sailing you to the “edge of insanity.”

This seafaring yarn graphically illustrates how Herman Melville’s famous novel Moby-Dick came to be.  While the screen definitely captures your attention, the storytelling has movie critics disappointed.  I was entertained and intrigued, as well as disgusted and exhausted. 

As always, the book is better than the movie, but these special effects are innovative and effective.

Uplifting theme: 

• “Can man bend nature to our will? – Captain Pollard  (Benjamin Walker)
• Persistence and tenacity will see you through.
• Integrity is worth more than reputation or money.

Things I liked:

·         THOR!  If you’re not in awe of the giant whale, then you have handsome and studly Chris Hemsworth to stare at.

·         Believe it or not, I actually like it when there are water spots on the camera lens.  That tells me there was real water in the scene and not just CGI.  Then again, some of the scenes made me wonder if the water spots were CGI!  If so, nice detail!  The water scenes are so well done that sometimes you even feel like you’re going to get splashed on.

·         The scene with the blood raining from above was disgusting and extremely powerful.

·         I liked learning more about Melville, the author of Moby-Dick, and played by Ben Whishaw.

·         How did they get some of those amazing scenes?  Drones? 

·         Interesting camera angles.  I also love how the camera goes under the water and back above the water seamlessly.  Great underwater scenes.  You might feel like holding your breath.

·         I thought the whale pins were cool.  In order to earn one, young Tom Nickerson (Tom Holland) is told that “you have to thrust a killing lance into one of the largest beasts to grace this earth.”

·         I love the mention of Nathaniel Hawthorne.  Tom Nickerson asks “Have you read Hawthorne, Mr. Melville?  There’s a writer, great writer.”  Apparently, Herman Melville was quite taken with Hawthorne and even dedicated Moby-Dick to Hawthorne whom he compared to Shakespeare and called a genius.

·         Great sound effects, although sometimes a bit too loud.

·         I’ve always liked Charlotte Riley and wonder why we don’t see her more often.  She was really great in Ridley Scott’s medieval drama “World Without End.”

·         I’m always impressed with characters who rise above their temptations, like Cillian Murphy’s character, Matthew Joy. His resolve to not drink alcohol, even when things got tough, was inspiring and not seen often enough in movies.

·         I love that they included a quick shot of the words “Call me Ishmael” on the screen, which is the first sentence in the book Moby-Dick.

Things I didn’t like:

·         See it in 3D if you can, unless you get motion sickness.  You might get sea sick watching some of the scenes.  Just close your eyes for a few seconds and you’ll be fine.

·         Some scenes have so many loud noises between people yelling and waves crashing and boats creaking that you can’t quite understand what anyone is saying.

·         Animal activists will find many of the scenes unnerving.

·         I’ve never understood how all those sails and ropes work, but it’s always fascinating to watch sailors work it.

·         The scene that shows the ocean view from Owen’s house looks terribly artificial, but all of the other CGI scenes were very believable.

Interesting lines:

·         “Sometimes, the fewer questions one asks, the better.”   - Matthew

·         “I’ll come back as quick as a summer’s eve.” – Owen

“Just come back.” – Peggy

·         “Without you, the world plunges into darkness.” – Pollard senior

·         “Monsters, are they real or do the stories exist to respect the sea’s dark secrets?  The question both vexes and excites me.” – Herman Melville

·         “The whale?  So, it’s true?” – Melville

“Yes.  Too much is true.” – Nickerson

·         “The devil loves unspoken secrets.” –  Melville

·         “No right-minded sailor discards what might save him.” – Owen Chase
*    "We will surely perish out there." - Captain Pollard
       "We might also survive."  - Mr. Chase

Tips for parents:   

• The sailors draw a picture of a topless woman.
• Some profanity.
• Several intense scenes with lots of blood and guts. 
• Skeletons of dead guys might frighten young children.
• Explain to your kids that a “greenhorn” is the old-fashioned way of saying “newbie”.

Sailing definitions:

Doldrums: an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with unpredictable and often no winds

Port side:  left-hand side of a ship

Squall:  a sudden violent storm

I always do all the “talking” in these reviews, but I want to hear what YOU liked and didn’t like!  Please comment below!

Avengers: Age of Ultron is a fun addition to the Marvel movie franchise

Movie:   Marvel's The Avengers: Age Of Ultron

PG-13, 2 hours 21 minutes

Grade:  A-

In a Nutshell:   Bring on the summer popcorn blockbuster movies!  Packed full of action, impressive special effects, cool futuristic  technology that no one really understands, romance, and a powerful villain, this Avengers flick is a nice addition to the Marvel movie franchise. Welcome back to some of our favorite superheroes:

Iron Man – Robert Downey Jr.

Captain America – Chris Evans

Thor - Chris Hemsworth

The Hulk – Mark Ruffalo

Black Widow – Scarlett Johansson

Hawkeye – Jeremy Renner

Nick Fury – Samuel L. Jackson

Uplifting Theme:

·          “Ultron thinks we’re monsters, that we’re what’s wrong with the world.  This isn’t just about beating him.  It’s about whether he’s right.” – Captain America

·         Flesh is better than metal.

·         It doesn’t matter what you were, you can be a hero now.

Things I liked:

·         There are plenty of high octane action scenes, but just enough slower ones to build interesting back stories that enhance the human drama of it all.

·         I love seeing how each of the Marvel movies chooses to use Stan Lee in a cameo.  This one is pretty funny.

·         I love Paul Bettany in anything, even if he’s a red robot (the Vision).

·         I wondered if Iron Man’s “Jarvis is my co-pilot” bumper sticker would catch on and sure enough, you can get it on a T-shirt.

                                     

·         I wish I had their 3D computer monitors.

·         You’re probably going to want to watch this on DVD again later so that you can push the pause button and really see everything that’s going on in each frame.  

·         Marvel seems to have learned from the highly successful Guardians of the Galaxy movie that a frequent spattering of humor makes a fun flick even better.

·         Semi-SPOILER ALERT: Who knew one of the Avengers had a wife and kids and did odd jobs around the house? 

·         Ever wonder what a feature film all about Black Widow would be like?  Check out this funny Saturday Night Live clip: 

Fans of Scarlett Johansson will be happy to know that a REAL Black Widow movie IS coming out next year!

Things I didn’t like:

·         I thought it was ironic and funny that Ultron, who was designed to create world peace, has such a menacing voice, thanks to the voice talents of James Spader.

·         It’s annoying how the evil Ultron quotes scripture.

·         If you haven’t seen any of the Avengers movies, don’t start with this one or you’ll be a little lost.  Even more important, you won’t appreciate the greatness of our superpowers, as this film focuses on their character flaws and inner demons.  For a review of the latest Avenger movie, check out my movie review before watching this sequel.

Funny lines:

·         “Unlike you, I don’t have a lot of time for parties…..will Thor be there?” – Dr. Helen Cho (Claudia Kim)

·         “You’re not the director of me.” – Iron Man

·         “You know, I really miss the days when the weirdest thing created by science was me.” – Captain America

·         “Come here to confess your sins? – Ultron

“I don’t know.  How much time you got?” – Iron Man

“More than you.” – Ultron

·         “As the world’s leading author on waiting…don’t.” – Captain America on love

·         “Our job is IF.” – Iron Man

·         “I am Thor, son of Odin.  As long as their life in my breast, I….I’m running out of things to say.” – Thor

·         “At long last is lasting a little long, boys!” – Black Widow

·         “No surrender!  I’m going to surrender…” – Baron Wolfgang von Strucker

·         “He’s fast, she’s weird.” – Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders from the funny hit How I Met Your Mother: Season 5 ) talking about the twins and their special powers

·         “You’re unbearably naiive.” – Ultron

“Well, I was born yesterday.” - Vision

Interesting lines:

·         “Did you know that this church is in the exact center of this city?  The Elders decreed it so that everyone would be equally close to God.  I like that… geometry of belief.”  - Ultron

·         “Everyone creates the thing they dread.  Men of peace create engines of war, invaders create avengers, people create smaller people…uh, children.” - Ultron

·         “You’re not going anywhere!” – Iron Man

“Of course not.  I’m already there.  You’ll catch up.” – Ultron

·         “Every time people try to win a war before it starts, innocent people die.  Every time.” – Captain America

·         Tips for Parents:            

Some profanity, but one of the running gags is how Captain America tries to clean up everyone’s language
The body count is high...well if you count humans AND robots.

Other fun Avenger movies you'll enjoy:

   

Thor gets hammered by movie critics

Movie Title:  Thor: The Dark World

In a Nutshell:  More Thor.  More Chris Hemsworth. More muscles and awesome abs. More beautiful Natalie Portman.  Thor has to save Earth and the Nine Realms from another evil enemy who looks like he stepped off the movie set of Star Trek.  All of Asgard’s soldiers look like they’d be good buds with the characters in the Lord of the Rings.  It feels a bit like a summer popcorn movie where yet one more superhero saves not just the helpless people of a doomed city, but the entire universe.

A lot of movie reviewers have criticized the sequel for various reasons, but if you love Thor or Chris Hemsworth, you’ll be entertained for almost two hours.

Things I liked:  The background story at the beginning is a quick refresher if it’s been awhile since you saw the first Thor movie or are unfamiliar with the comic books. Several fun twists will keep you guessing. I love the high-tech gold lace wall that keeps prisoners in their cells, as well as the barrio that rises up and around the king’s castle to protect it from incoming flying intruders.

I admired the Queen’s (lovely Rene Russo) regal bravery and (SPOILER ALERT) thought the funeral scene was touching and stunning.  Young actress Kat Dennings plays the snarky comic relief that she is known for on “Two Broke Girls” and even a recent Lipton tea commercial she was featured in. I love Heimdall’s fierce loyalty to protect Asgard, reflected in his intense eye color, as well as the cool, shimmering bridge he watches over.  Tom Hiddleston plays a deliciously conflicted Loki.

Things I didn’t like:  It’s hard to take bad guys seriously when they’re wearing the lovable Jabbawockeez dance crew face masks and beautifully intricate hair braids. It’s such a contradiction to see Asgard possess such advanced technology in one scene, along with relics from Medieval ages, such as sophisticated laser weaponry next to swords.  Another example is the futuristic medical table where nurses attend to Jane Foster, yet they aren’t able to heal a sword wound on another person.  Was it intentional that both Jane (gorgeous Natalie Portman) and the hopeful love interest (Jaimie Alexander) looked alike, including facial beautiful marks?  I wish there were more chemistry between Thor and Jane…their kiss and embraces fall fairly flat. What’s holding up King Odin’s eye patch?  Svartalfheim…really?

Uplifting theme:  Good conquers evil. Yay.  The King of Asgard (wonderful Anthony Hopkins) worries about his legacy and Thor tells him “I shall try to live with honor…is that not legacy enough?”

Funny line:  Dr. Erik Selvig is seen either nude (naughty parts blurred out) or wearing only underwear in most of his scenes.  When the danger heats up, he snaps out of his exhibitionist funk and says “I better get my pants.”  An amusing image is of Thor walking onto a modern-day subway train in London’s famous Tube and asks “How do I get to Greenwich?” sending the female passenger next to him in a smitten trance.

Things to look for:  -  Stan Lee’s cameo performance when he says “Can I have my shoe back?”  I love that he is spotlighted in every Marvel film. 

-        Digestive crackers on a table.

-        Captain America even makes an appearance.  Cute scene.

-        Harry Potter-looking book with moving images

-        Thor hangs up his hammer on a coat rack when entering an apartment.

-        Soldiers using rocket launchers next to sword fighters

-        Giant bowls of spices

Tips for parents:  You can’t expect to see a Superhero battle evil without some violence, although you don’t see gruesome blood.  (SPOILER ALERT) Thor’s hand gets cut off, but it’s a pretty sterile slice.  The kissing is also pretty sterile. No bad language. 

Grade: B+