Netflix Friday - Volume 62

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
A reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home, and the gold within it from the dragon Smaug.
 

Drama: Concussion (2015)
In Pittsburgh, accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu (Will Smith) uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play.
 

Comedy: 50 First Dates (2004)
Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) is a man afraid of commitment until he meets the beautiful Lucy (Drew Barrymore). They hit it off and Henry think he's finally found the girl of his dreams until discovering she has short-term memory loss and forgets him the next day.
 

Animation: TMNT (2007)
When the world is threatened by an ancient evil, the four adolescent turtles must reunite and overcome their faults in order to stand against it.
 

Romance: Me Before You (2016)
A girl (Emilia Clarke) in a small town forms an unlikely bond with a recently-paralyzed man (Sam Claflin) she's taking care of.
 

Horror: Fear Street Part 2: 1978 (2021)
Shadyside, 1978. School's out for summer and the activities at Camp Nightwing are about to begin. But when another Shadysider is possessed with the urge to kill, the fun in the sun becomes a gruesome fight for survival.
 

Science Fiction: Jurassic World (2015)
A new theme park, built on the original site of Jurassic Park, creates a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, the Indominus Rex, which escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.
 

Crime: Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)
The drug war on the U.S.-Mexico border has escalated as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border. To fight the war, federal agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) re-teams with the mercurial Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro).
 

Thriller: Death Wish (2018)
Dr. Paul Kersey (Bruce Willis) is an experienced trauma surgeon, a man who has spent his life saving lives. After an attack on his family, Paul embarks on his own mission for justice.
 

Documentary: Strong Island (2017)
When filmmaker Yance Ford investigates the 1992 murder of a young black man, it becomes an achingly personal journey since the victim, 24-year-old William Ford Jr., was the filmmaker's brother.
 

Family: Jumanji (1995)
When two kids find and play a magical board game, they release a man (Robin Williams) trapped in it for decades - and a host of dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game.

Netflix Friday - Volume 44

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: Salt (2010)
A CIA agent (Angelina Jolie) goes on the run after a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy.
 

Drama: Flight (2012)
An airline pilot (Denzel Washington) saves almost all his passengers on his malfunctioning airliner which eventually crashed, but an investigation into the accident reveals something troubling.
 

Comedy: The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Goated by his buddies, a nerdy guy (Steve Carell) who’s never “done the deed” only finds the pressure mounting when he meets a single mother (Catherine Keener).
 

Animation: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)
Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her, but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime.
 

Romance: Love, Rosie (2014)
Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) have been best friends since they were 5, so they couldn’t possible be right for one another.. or could they? When it comes to love, life and making the right choices, these two are their own worst enemies.
 

Horror: 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019)
Two sisters diving in a ruined underwater city quickly learn they’ve entered the territory of the deadliest shark species in the claustrophobic labyrinth of submerged caves.
 

Science Fiction: Jurassic World (2015)
A new theme park, built on the original site of Jurassic Park, creates a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, the Indominus Rex, which escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.
 

Crime: Sicario (2015)
An idealistic FBI agent (Emily Blunt) is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating wat against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.
 

Thriller: Death Sentence (2007)
Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) is a mild-mannered executive with a perfect life, util one gruesome night he witnesses something that changes him forever. Transformed by grief, Hume eventually comes to the disturbing conclusion that no length is too great when protecting his family.
 

Documentary: Night Stalker (2021)
This documentary tells the true story of how one of the most notorious serial killers in American history was hunted down and brought to justice.
 

Family: Zathura (2005)
Two young brothers (Jonah Bobo, Josh Hutcherson) are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is hurled through the depths of space by the magical board game they are playing.
 

Top 5 Thursday: Movies That Revived a Franchise

The movies on this list, blew new life into movie franchises that were dead until these movies were released. Movies that came out long after their previous installments or short after a flop in the movie series. Movies that revived a dying or otherwise dead franchise. Here are my picks.

5. Casino Royale
“Die Another Day” was a terrible James Bond movie, maybe even the worst. But it was followed by, what I call, the best in the franchise. “Casino Royale” And Daniel Craig gave us a more realistic version of the spy.

4. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Although “Mission: Impossible 3” was already a pretty good film, it was “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” that blew our minds. Especially because it’s the fourth film in the franchise and it’s better than all its previous films. It continued with “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” which is also amazing.

3. Jurassic World
Dinosaurs make money Hollywood. And although this movie wasn’t loved by everyone, I enjoyed it and really think it was an actual good film. “Jurassic Park” is still one of the best movies ever made. It was followed by “The Lost World” and “Jurassic Park III”. I liked both movies, but most people didn’t. 14 Years later, the long awaited “Jurassic World” got everyone excited again. It was one of the movies that got me (and my brother) as excited as a child.

2. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
The “Star Wars” prequel series was a serious let down. Fans were expecting nothing but perfection from the next “Star Wars” installment. And boy did it deliver. We were treated to a space epic, combining both the new and old “Star Wars” generation.

1. Mad Max: Fury Road
The original “Mad Max” series ended in 1985. But in the spring of 2015 it made a comeback. It’s an adrenaline fueled action film, that tells the story of Max and Furiosa’s attempt to fight the tyrannical leader Immortan Joe. It has non-stop action sequences and it looks like it has no intention to stop at all.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Star Trek, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men: First Class, Batman Begins

Top 5 Thursday: Movies I Watched for My Challenge (June 2015)

A really good month I have to say. I saw some new ones in the theatre and also some older movies. But overall, I saw some really good films. Here are my favorites for this month.

5. Chef

Food porn, that’s what “Chef” is. Don’t watch this movie when you’re hungry. This is such an enjoyable film, I really liked it. Jon Favreau, well done!

 

 

4. How to Train Your Dragon 2

The first movie was already a lot of fun, but the sequel is even better. This is the example of how a good sequel should be. Loads of fun!

 

 

3. Dead Man’s Shoes

A movie that stayed pretty much under the radar, which is a shame. Everyone should see “Dead Man’s Shoes”, because it’s an amazing film.

 

 

2. Jurassic World

This is the movie I’ve been looking for, for such a long time. I probably rated it higher than most people, but it gave me what I wanted. I never expected it to bring me that same excitement “Jurassic Park” gave me when I first saw it, but it’s a great sequel. And Chris Pratt is just so great!

 

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

OMG, this was AWESOME! I knew it was going to be good, but I never expected it to be this amazing. From beginning ‘till end, one giant thrill ride, not a moments rest. Fantastic movie, even better than the original movies.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Spy, The Big Blue, Bronson

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 78: Jurassic World

Director: Colin Treverrow

Genre: Action/ Adventure

Runtime: 124 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Irrfan Khan, Jake Johnson, Omar Sy, BD Wong, Judy Greer, Jimmy Fallon

Description: Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor's interest, which backfires horribly.

Review: It’s pretty hard to come with a new sequel, 22 years after the original masterpiece “Jurassic Park” by Steven Spielberg. The movie didn’t only have a perfect balance between tension, action, humor, with memorable characters and good actors. It also introduced the audience to impressive, realistic looking dinosaurs. The plot and the location of the original sort of reused for “Jurassic World”. It’s an enjoyable film filled with action, humor and great references to the original.

The movie opens with a hatching dino egg and the movie title. Next we meet two young boys, Zach and Gray, who are on their way to the park, where there aunt Claire works as an operations manager.

Director Colin Trevorrow is clearly a fan of the original and uses many subtle and less subtle references. Off course the base of the film is similar to “Jurassic Park: people create dinosaurs, dollar signs in their eyes, and learn a lesson that wild animals can’t be tamed. The theme music from the original is also present, which still gives you goosebumps. And the shots from the helicopter, with green mountains and waterfalls, is also nothing new. There is also a funny dialogue where a Jurassic World employee, Lowery, tells us he is a fan of the park. He even wears a Jurassic Park T-shirt. He thinks the new park is fake, because the original park had real dinosaurs, instead of mutated hybrids. It’s a good thing that the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously on this point, and Jake Johnson is the perfect actor to set that tone.

With that mutated dinosaur he refers to the first genetically modified hybrid. Because dinosaurs are becoming ‘normal’ and not ‘wow’ enough. People want to see scary animals, with more teeth. We meet the Mososaurus, the first sea creature in the series, that is the star of a Sea World like show. But the movie is about the Indominus Rex, a mix of a T-Rex and… the rest is classified. There is also a big role for the velociraptors. In “Jurassic World” the raptors are trained by ex-marine Owen Grady, a role played by Chris Pratt. This whole concept sounds ridiculous, but surprisingly works.

The movie also has humor. The previous Jake Johnson, as Lowery, is the comic relief. But also Chris Pratt’s character is funny. He also has enough chemistry with Bryce Dallas Howard, to keep it all interesting. Pratt doesn’t claim all the attention, but has so much charisma and is one of the biggest stars of the moment. He can easily carry a movie. Dallas Howard’s character starts out a bit stereotypical, but makes a good switch from cold businesswoman to full-on action heroine.

When you go see this movie, you shouldn’t expect to be wowed as much as “Jurassic Park”. It’s simply impossible to get that same feeling you got from the original. But even though “Jurassic World” looks like a ‘been there, done that” movie, it never bothers you. It’s a great dedication to the original, highly enjoyable and entertaining and it has some nice twists. “Jurassic World” is definitely a movie worth watching, if you’re a fan or not.

Rating: 4/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Movies to Look Forward to in 2015

The year 2014 is almost over and it has brought us some great movies. But 2015 is just around the corner and I’m already excited about some movies. Here are the five movies I’m most looking forward to.

 

5. In the Heart of the Sea

The trailer looks amazing and Chris Hemsworth is… well also amazing. Looking forward to seeing this cool film.

 

 

4. Avengers: Age of Ultron

“The Avengers” is one of the best Marvel movies ever made and I can’t wait to continue this wild adventure with the cool superheroes. The trailer is awesome and I’m super excited.

 

 

3. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

Off course this is on my list, I can’t wait to see how it ends. Well… I already know how it ends, but I want to see it on the big screen.

 

 

2. The Hateful Eight

Although we don’t know much about the movie yet, I’m also in the mood for a Quentin Tarantino movie. It’s about time that he releases a new film.

 

 

1. Jurassic World

Without a doubt this is my number one. I have watched the trailer over ten times already, that’s how excited I am. I hope I will not be disappointed, but Chris Pratt is enough to keep me happy. And that awesome dinosaur jumping out of the water!

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Ant-Man, Terminator Genisys, The Walk, St. James Place (working title, official title still has to be released), Inside Out, Mad Max: Fury Road, Ted 2, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Movie Trailer Sunday (166)

Here are this weeks trailers.

Jurassic World

Description: Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park , Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor's interest, which backfires horribly.

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Judy Greer, Chris Pratt, Ty Simpkins, Jake Johnson, Nick Robinson, Irrfan Khan, Vincent D'Onofrio, BD Wong, Omar Sy, Katie McGrath, Lauren Lapkus, Andy Buckley

Trailer: Trailer "Jurassic World"

Comment: The nerd in me is really happy! I watched this trailer so many times already, this better be good!

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

Description: A continuation of the saga created by George Lucas set thirty years after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).

Director: J.J. Abrams

Starring: Harrison Ford, Andy Serkis, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, Max von Sydow, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Lupita Nyong'o, Crystal Clarke, Pip Anderson, Christina Chong, Miltos Yerolemou

Trailer: Trailer "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens"

Comment: I'm not a fan like many people, but still a geek alert here!!!

Unfinished Business

Description: A hard-working small business owner (Vince Vaughn) and his two associates (Tom Wilkinson, Dave Franco) travel to Europe to close the most important deal of their lives. But what began as a routine business trip goes off the rails in every imaginable – and unimaginable – way, including unplanned stops at a massive sex fetish event and a global economic summit.

Director: Steve Conrad

Starring: James Marsden, Tom Wilkinson, Sienna Miller, Nick Frost, Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco

Trailer: Trailer "Unfinished Business"

Comment: Great cast, I hope it's worth while.

Murder of a Cat

Description: A man investigates the murder of his cat.

Director: Gillian Greene

Starring: Nikki Reed, Greg Kinnear, Blythe Danner, Fran Kranz, J.K. Simmons

Trailer: Trailer "Murder of a Cat"

Comment: Looks like fun.

The Wedding Ringer

Description: Doug Harris (Josh Gad) is a loveable but socially awkward groom-to-be with a problem: he has no best man. With less than two weeks to go until he marries the girl of his dreams (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting), Doug is referred to Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart), owner and CEO of Best Man, Inc., a company that provides flattering best men for socially challenged guys in need. What ensues is a hilarious wedding charade as they try to pull off the big con, and an unexpected budding bromance between Doug and his fake best man Jimmy.

Director: Jeremy Garelick

Starring: Cloris Leachman, Jenifer Lewis, Kevin Hart, Olivia Thirlby, Mimi Rogers, Josh Gad, Ken Howard, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting

Trailer: Trailer "The Wedding Ringer"

Comment: It's supposed to be funny, but I think it's going to be bad.