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Showing posts with label Movie Review Mom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movie Review Mom. Show all posts
This is going to be a big box office weekend with the newest AVENGERS: Infinity War movie hitting the Big Screen! Movie Review Mom is now using to help my readers secure their movie tickets in advance! Atom donates a percentage of ticket sales to my favorite cause (my son's college tuition)! Click on either Atom image on this post to get your movie tickets from now on. My son thanks you.
In a Nutshell: Count them…17!
Thor: Ragnarok is the 17th 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.
In a Nutshell: Based on a true story and an article written in GQ Magazine, this is a timely film
that spotlights true heroes who fight fires.
More specifically, it honors the real men called the Granite Mountain
Hotshots in Arizona.
Uplifting theme:
The motto of the Granite Mountain Hotshots is "Esse quam videri," which means "To be, rather than to seem."
Brotherhood, unity, loyalty
Courage
Family
Second chances and forgiveness
"Doing something that's never been done before takes time." - Duane Steinbrink (Jeff Bridges)
Things I liked:
Wow, how did they film some of those scenes? The fire looks very real. Great job.
You
get to see pictures of the actual men who served in the Granite Mountain
Hotshots team at the end of the movie.
Jennifer Connelly makes a gorgeous cowgirl and gives the best stand-out performance in the movie. Her emotional range was stellar. She spent time with the real Amanda Marsh to prepare for her role in the film.
Jeff
Bridges sings in a band called "Steinbrink and the Rusty Pistol" in a bar scene!
I thought it was interesting that the famous travel empire, Conde Nast, was involved with this film. You see some beautiful Arizona landscapes.
In terms of emotion and exciting fire action, Only The Bravereminded me of the 1991 movie Backdraft, which I loved.
Congrats to Miles Teller for having two movies in theaters at the same time! He's currently also starring in Thank You for Your Service
There
are several other movies also titled “Only the Brave”, but they are not
related to this movie. Seems like they could have picked another title, right?
There were some scenes that were annoyingly dark, as in, I couldn't see the expressions on people's faces when they were talking in a dark room. I'm sure it was an artistic choice, but it still bugged me.
Sometimes you can't quite hear the dialogue, because there are so many other sounds going on.
I like Jeff Bridges, but lately he only plays the same old character in all of his movies. This is the first time he and Josh Brolin have worked together in a film since True Grit, another fantastic movie where Jeff Bridges plays the same kind of character. Don't get me wrong...he does it very well!
In a nutshell: I love China, San Francisco, Kung Fu, and
Bruce Lee. Put all of those things
together and you get this entertaining movie directed by George Nolfi, who also directed the fun movie The Adjustment Bureau.
While Birth of the Dragon is a fictional origin film, it's based on an event that supposedly occurred. It's an imagining of what may have inspired Bruce Lee to develop his unique style of martial arts.
Uplifting theme:
“Kung Fu is not a game,
gentlemen. It is not a
religion. It is about who lives and
who dies.” – Bruce Lee (Philip Ng)
“Kung Fu is about self-discipline
and self-discovery.” – Wong Jack Man (Yu Xia)
“Kung Fu does not reside
in the fists, but it resides in the soul.” – Wong Jack Man
Balance
and harmony
Things I liked:
Serious
old-school Kung Fu fighting.
1 inch
punch. Ha ha
A good
amount of humor.
Great stunts and action. I have a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, but I was always pretty clumsy and awkward, especially compared to all of the actors and stuntmen in this movie!
I loved the flowing movement of Wong Jack Man's golden robes. Besides it looking cool, it represented his inner dance for balance in his life. I've been to China twice and love their philosophy of chi and harmony in all things.
The movie makes Bruce Lee look really
cocky. In reality, Bruce Lee inspired millions. One of his famous quotes is, "Real living is living for others." The Bruce Lee Foundation was created in 2002 by his wife and daughter. Every year they donate money and help students with scholarships.
I can’t
stand fake flying in martial arts movies.
Steve McKee (Billy Magnussen) has a much larger role in the film than he probably should, considering this movie is supposed to be about Bruce Lee. In fact, there are some Asians who are completely offended that it's a white guy who seems to be at the center of the story and, ultimately, saves the day. They have a valid point. While it's not supposed to be a biopic, we watch this movie because we want to learn more about Bruce Lee and watch him kick a$$, instead of see some white guy who has a crush on a Chinese girl.
Interesting lines:
“Now
you have begun to exceed your limits.” – Wong Jack Man
“What limits?” – Bruce Lee
“I was
going to be a star, but I’d rather be a legend.” – Bruce Lee
Tips for
parents:
Some
profanity.
Lots
of fighting! (Duh!)
Discussion
of prostitution.
If you have a child who is taking some kind of martial arts lessons, you can point out the lessons learned in this movie about when to fight and how to do it with honor.
“Being
a kingsman is more than the clothes we wear or the weapons we bear." - Harry (Colin Firth)
"Having something to lose makes life worth living." - Harry (Colin Firth).
Friendship, loyalty, love
Good over evil
Things I liked:
The talented cast is fun to watch and includes Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Julianne Moore, Mark Strong, Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, and Jeff Bridges. Throw a thick mustache on Pedro Pascal and he looks like a young Burt Reynolds, right?
The
movie starts with a great action sequence and runs fast the entire 2 hours.
I got
a kick out of the British vs. American banter.
Taron
Egerton is the perfect Eggsy and really shines in his role.
Julianne
Moore is a fun villain. You can see
her play twin sisters in the dark comedy Suburbicon in theaters now.
Yes,
that’s the real Elton John in the movie! His acting isn't very good, but he's still awesome.
Great stunts and special effects.
Cool James Bond types of weapons.
John Denver and Elton John music. Ahhh.
Things I didn’t like:
It’s
extremely over-the-top and exaggerated.
Jeff
Bridges seems to play the same crusty, old fart in all of his movies
lately.
There is a LOT going on!
Funny lines: * "If I save the world, can I have two tickets to your next concert?" - Harry to Elton John "If you save the world, you can have a backstage pass." - Elton John
Tips for
parents:
Lots
of crude profanity, including many F-bombs.
Lots
of violence, deaths, and destruction.
Several
inappropriate sex jokes and images.
Gross images involving a meat grinder and other forms of death.
In a Nutshell: No, this
movie isn’t related to the 2013 Home Again movie with Tatyana Ali. This rom-com
features America’s sweetheart, Reese Withersppon, but certainly is not her best
work. You'd think they would have picked a different name. Something like "Shacks Up with An Impetuous Boy Toy" would be appropriate.
Uplifting theme:
“This
is your day, your year. Get ready
Alice. The future is yours!” - Alice’s father
Family comes in different shapes and sizes.
Be open to change.
Things I liked:
Alice’s
little blonde daughter is adorable, played by Eden Grace Redfield. She has a bright future in film and TV if she wants one. You can also see her in The Glass Castle.
They
play Heads Up! in a musical montage, so you might miss it. It's a free app and a lot of fun!
Alice’s
boy toy is played by Pico Alexander.
Teddy
is played by Nat Wolff. Did you
know his mother is Polly Draper (thirtysomething: Season 1) and his father is
Michael Wolff, the bandleader on the old Arsenio Hall Show? Nice pedigree!
I love
Candace Bergen in anything. It’s
always great to see her.
Throwing
up, sleeping with a stranger after just meeting. Nope.
Not glamorous. Alice and her
boy toy are sluts. What happened to old fashioned romance?
Lots
of music montages with talking, laughing, drinking, and kissing.
The
boy toy acts selfishly when he storms out when his friends explain they’re
working on additional projects. Instead, he should be happy for them.He seems young and immature and self-centered
the entire time.
Alice (Reese Witherspoon) makes some very bag parenting choices. For example, she brings in three male strangers to live in her house, even though she has two young daughters. That's just asking for trouble in the real world. Sleeping with one of them is irresponsible and confusing for the children. It's supposed to be adorable and charming in the movie, but it frustrated me.
The premise is pretty unrealistic and ridiculous.
Instantly forgettable.
Tips for
parents:
“Can’t I just go on anti-depressants just like
everyone else?” – Isabel (Lola Flanery) She talks about having anxiety and depression and watches her mom
pop pills every time she has a problem.
Profanity. I
hate it when kids swear.
A married woman sleeps with a young guy (you only see kissing)
In a Nutshell: I don’t like gory, torture movies, so it’s no
surprise that I’ve never seen any of the previous 7 movies in the Saw
franchise. Somehow I ended up in the
theater watching this one. (Oh yeah, I
get paid to watch movies.)
It’s basically what I expected: a gory, torture movie. Yuck. Presented
by Twisted Pictures, this is just a twisted, sick movie. Saw fans will probably
enjoy it, since it has been many years since the last movie….which was actually
supposed to be the last movie in the series. Why did we need another one?
Uplifting theme:
“What’s
the value of a life?” – Anna (Laura Vandervoort)
“There
are no short-cuts in life.” -
Jigsaw
“We
all have a thumb on the scale, for good or for evil.” – John Kramer (Tobin
Bell) TRUE
Motivations
Take
responsibility for your actions.
Things I liked:
Timed
well for Halloween. Is it me or has
Halloween become more freaky, creepy and sick lately?
I hear
that the first 7 films in the Saw franchise had odd color and sound
effects, but this one looks more professionally made.
It
takes those popular “Room Escape” concepts to a new level. Have you ever been to any of those? I’ve been to a few in several different
cities and got a kick out of them.
Twist. I love twists in movies.
Things I didn’t like:
The
plot doesn’t make sense.
It’s
just demented.
Tips for
parents:
This
is a messed up movie. It tries to
act like John Kramer is torturing people with nothing but good intentions
in mind and to create balance in the world.
In a Nutshell: Nope. Hated it. The film tries to be a drama, dark comedy, murder thriller, and social
commentary all at the same time, but it’s a messy downer. I felt like I just wasted a part of my
life. Dang it.
Actor/Director George Clooney and the Coen writing brothers
have talent, but it’s not revealed in this movie. Super disappointing.
Uplifting theme:
Hypocrasy
Racism
Things I liked:
The
1950’s tone was well done.
The
talented cast did a great job with the material they were given,
especially Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, and Oscar Isaac.
Things I didn’t like:
The
trailer was extremely deceiving. It
makes the film look like a fun, dark comedy with quirky characters. Well, I guess it was those things, but
without the fun.
It reminded me of another ugly film that had great acting talent in it, but left me wanting to take a shower. In 1989, Tom Hanks starred in the mystery thriller The Burbs.
Tips for
parents:
Lots
of profanity, including F-bombs.
The
film shows a black family being bullied and violently attacked.
There
are slurs against Jews and Episcopalians.
A
child walks in on a couple having sex (no nudity).
While this third installment in the Lego movie
universe isn’t getting the rave reviews that the first two did, I still got a
kick out of it and recommend it for families. As a mother of 4 sons who were all obsessed with Legos while growing up,
I wish these movies had come out years ago.
The jokes and gags fly fast and furiously, making for an energetically,
fun time.
Uplifting theme:
“Some
powers you cannot see, and those are the most important powers of all.” –
Master Wu (Jackie Chan)
“Even
if you’re different, you can still do great things.” – Master Wu
“To be
a master, it takes patience, hard work, and courage.” – Master Wu
Family
Love,
forgiveness
Everyone
has a unique talent
“You
must forget everything you know and see things in a new way.” – Master Wu
“The strongest
weapon is inside you.” – Master Wu
Things I liked:
Jackie
Chan is currently in two great movies in theaters: this Lego movie for
families and The Foreigner (DVD) for parents only, where he shows impressive
dramatic depth. He’s so amazing.
The
beginning and end were super sweet with live action Jackie Chan.
Plenty
of humor for kids and adults. The
visual gags are hilarious.
Cat humor.
Voice talents include Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Olivia Munn, Fred Armisen, and Michael Pena.
Keep
watching during the rolling credits at the end for a funny blooper reel
with Jackie Chan and to hear the funny “Dance of Doom” lyrics.
There’s
a good dose of the Darth Vader/Luke Skywalker relationship going on for
all you Star Wars fans out there.
Things I didn’t like:
Sometimes you can't quite understand what Jackie Chan says because of his thick accent.
Some of the jokes are repetitive and tired.
The
storytelling is uneven, but the target audience for this movie certainly
won’t care one bit.
Tips for
parents:
Some text messages, so kids who
can't read will miss the humorous notes.
Lots of Lego fighting.
Some
potty humor, but not as much as you would think, considering the target
audience’s age.
Strained
father/son relationship.
Lots
of fighting and Lego destruction (nothing you haven’t already seen when
your kids play with Legos.)
has an amusing visit with Thor.
, but Hulk is really endearing in this film.
thrilled audiences, superhero movies have lightened up a lot more,
don’t you think?
really rocks the final battle scene.
and Thor: The Dark World
and know the characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You'll enjoy the movie more.
reminded me of the 1991 movie Backdraft
, which I loved.
, another fantastic movie where Jeff Bridges plays the same kind of character. Don't get me wrong...he does it very well!
. 
is a fictional origin film, it's based on an event that supposedly occurred. 
in theaters now.
movie with Tatyana Ali. This rom-com
features America’s sweetheart, Reese Withersppon, but certainly is not her best
work. You'd think they would have picked a different name. Something like "Shacks Up with An Impetuous Boy Toy" would be appropriate.
.
in a musical montage, so you might miss it. It's a free app and a lot of fun!
) and his father is
Michael Wolff, the bandleader on the old Arsenio Hall Show? Nice pedigree!
. 
for parents only, where he shows impressive
dramatic depth. He’s so amazing. 
LEGO NINJAGO The Green NRG Dragon 70593 Fun Toy
LEGO Ninjago Movie Spinjitzu Training 70606 Building Kit (109 Piece)
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