Netflix Friday - Vol. 113

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 Magnificent Seven (2016)
Seven gunmen from a variety of backgrounds are brought together by a vengeful young widow to protect her town from the private army of a destructive industrialist.
 

Drama: Warrior (2011)
The youngest son (Tom Hardy) of an alcoholic former boxer (Nick Nolte) returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament - a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother (Joel Edgerton).
 

Comedy: Dream Horse (2020)
Dream Alliance is an unlikely race horse bred by small-town Welsh bartender Jan Vokes (Toni Collette). With no experience, Jan convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help raise Dream in the hopes he can compete with the racing elites.
 

Animation: Child of Kamiari Month (2021)
A year after losing her mother, a little girl learns that she must journey across Japan to the annual gathering of gods in the sacred land of Izumo.
 

Romance: Love & Gelato (2022)
Lina makes a promise to her sick mother that she'll spend the summer before college in Rome, where she falls for the city, the people - and the "gelato".
 

Horror: The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga) travel to North London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by a supernatural spirit.
 

Science Fiction: Men in Black (1997)
A police officer (Will Smith) joins a secret organization that polices and monitors extraterrestrial interactions on Earth.
 

Crime: Way Down (2020)
Follows a genius engineering graduate (Freddie Highmore) who is interested in the Bank of Spain's safe.
 

Thriller: Shutter Island (2010)
In 1954, a U.S. Marshal (Leonardo DiCaprio) investigates the disappearance of a murderer who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane.
 

Documentary: The Hidden Life of Pets (2022)
Bow wows and purr-fect pets. Meet amazing creatures from around the world and dig into the latest science on our animal friends' senses and skills.
 

Family: Spy Kids (2001)
Using high tech gadgets, two kids have to save their reactivated OSS top spy parents when they're taken by an evil, high tech enemy.

Netflix Friday - Volume 63

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

Action: Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
In a twist to the fairytale, the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) ordered to take Snow White (Kristen Stewart) into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mento in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen (Charlize Theron)
 
Drama: Only the Brave (2017)
Based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a group of elite firefighters who risk everything to protect a town from a historic wildfire.
 
Comedy: Fighting with My Family (2019)
A former wrestler (Nick Frost) and his family make a living performing at small venues around the country while his kids (Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden) dream of joining World Wrestling Entertainment.
 
Animation: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
When Hiccup and Toothless discover an ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious dragon rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace.
 
Romance: Little Women (2019)
Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) reflects back and forth on her life, telling the beloved story of the March sisters: four young women, each determined to live life on her own terms.
 
Horror: Fear Street Part 3: 1666 (2021)
The origins of Sarah Fier’s curse are finally revealed as history comes full circle on a night that changes the lives of Shadysiders forever.
 
Science Fiction: Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
The legendary Greek hero (Todd Armstrong) leads a team of intrepid adventurers in a perilous quest for the legendary Golden Fleece.
 
Crime: The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Seven gunmen from a variety of backgrounds are brought together by a vengeful young widow to protect her town from the private army of a destructive industrialist.
 
Thriller: Disturbia (2007)
A teen (Shia LaBeaouf) under house arrest becomes convinced his neighbor (David Morse) is a serial killer.
 
Documentary: The Story of Diana (2017)
She was beloved by millions, but plagued by hidden turmoil. A tale of royalty, resilience and the heavy cost of fame.
 
Family: A Dog’s Way Home (2019)
A female dog (Bryce Dallas Howard) travels hundred miles in search of her owner throught a Colorado wilderness.

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 158: The Maginificent Seven

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Genre: Action/ Western/ Adventure
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Etha Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, Byung-Hun Lee, Manuel Garcia Rulfo, Martin Sendmeier, Haley Bennett, Peter Sarsgaard, Matt Bomer

Description: Seven gun men in the old west gradually come together to help a poor village against savage thieves.

Review: Remakes are dangerous and most often I don’t like them. The original “The Magnificent Seven” is one of my favorite classic westerns. This remake has a double risk. The original by John Sturgess was already a retelling of the legenday “Seven Samurai”, translated to a western. Director Antoine Fuqua doesn’t only have to fight the popularity of the 1960 film, but also has to refresh the well-known story. Luckily for us, “The Magnificent Seven” is not a bad remake.
Fuqua takes his time with the introduction and really focusses on the charisma of Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke. All three are convincing. Washington as the calm bad-ass, Hawke as tence sharp shooter and Pratt as a cowboy with a sense of honor.
The violent opening sets a certain tone, but then “The Magnificent Seven” turns into a more standard western. Lots of action, pretty shots of landscapes and a big dose of testosterone. For the genre it’s good, but it never reaches the same level as the original.
The final battle of the movie is action packed and it’s one giant spectacle. Beautifully shot.
“The Magnificent Seven” is a good film when you think of it as an original film. When you compare it to the original, it’s better than average. Very entertaining and a good cast.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (250)

Here are this week's trailers.

Rules Don't Apply
Director: Warren Beatty
Description: An unconventional love story of an aspiring actress (Lily Collins), her determined driver (Alden Ehrenreich), and the eccentric billionaire (Warren Beatty) who they work for.
Starring: Lily Collins, Haley Bennett, Alden Ehrenreich, Alec Baldwin, Matthew Broderick, Chace Crawford, Paul Sorvino, Annette Benning, Ed Harris, Candice Bergen, Warren Beatty, Steve Coogan, Martin Sheen
Trailer: Trailer "Rules Don't Apply"
Comment: Another Howard Hughes story.

The Girl on the Train
Director: Tate Taylor
Description: Rachel (Emily Blunt) takes the train every day to her imaginary job every morning and night at a specific time because she got fired when she drank way to much on a lunch and yelled at a client and lost the company their business...
Starring: EMly Blunt, Haley Bennett, Luke Evans, Justine Theroux, Rebecca Hall, Alisson Janney, Laura Prepon, Lisa Kudrow
Trailer: Trailer "The Girl on the Train"
Comment: A new trailer, it got me even more excited for this film. Can't wait!

The Magnificent Seven
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Description: Seven gun men in the old west gradually come together to help a poor village against savage thieves.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Haley Bennett, Vincent D'Onofrio, Peter Sarsgaard, Matt Bomer, Cam Gigandet
Trailer: Trailer "The Magnificent Seven"
Comment: A remake that I'm actually looking forward to seeing.

xXx: Return of Xander Cage
Director: D.J. Caruso
Description: Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) is left for dead after an incident, though he secretly returns to action for a new, tough assignment with his handler Augustus Gibbons.
Starring: Vin Diesel, Ruby Rose, Samuel L. Jackson, Nina Dobrev, Toni Collette, Rory McCann
Trailer: Trailer "xXx: Return of Xander Cage"
Comment: Do we really need him to return???

Dunkirk
Director: Christopher Nolan
Description: Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France are surrounded by the German army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.
Starring: Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, Harry Styles, James D'Arcy
Trailer: Trailer "Dunkirk"
Comment: Just a little glimpse, can't wait to see a full trailer.

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 76: The Magnificent Seven

Director: John Sturges
Genre: Western
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 1960
Starring: Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, James Coburn, Jorge Martínez de Hoyos, Vladimir Sokoloff, Rosenda Monteros, Rico Alaniz, Pepe Hern, Natividad Vacío, Mario Navarro, Danny Bravo, John A. Alonzo, Enrique Lucero, Alex Montoya, Robert J. Wilke, Val Avery, Whit Bissell, Bing Russell, Horst Buchholz

Description: An oppressed Mexican peasant village assembles seven gunfighters to help defend their homes.

Review: A gang of Mexicans always raids the same little town. The citizens are simple farmers, who don’t know what to do about it. One of the farmers asks for help and meets Chris, one of the bravest men. The farmer doesn’t pay much, but Chris wants to help him. He assembles six other men who are just as noble, to help him protect the town.
In “The Magnificent Seven” we aren’t dealing with just one American hero, but seven. The characters don’t have the depth that you would hope for. The movie is missing some pace, but because there is also a lot of humor you don’t care about that tempo. The acting is okay. Especially Eli Wallach as villain Cavalera and Steve McQueen as Vin.
The music is amazing, by Elmer Bernstein. It helps the atmosphere.
“The Magnificent Seven” is a good western, I highly enjoyed it.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (235)

Here are this week's trailers.

The Magnificent Seven
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Description: Seven gun men in the old west gradually come together to help a poor village against savage thieves.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Vincent D'Onofrio, Haley Bennett, Matt Bomer, Ethan Hawke, Cam Gigandet, Peter Sarsgaard, Vinnie Jones
Trailer: Trailer "The Magnificent Seven"
Comment: A remake I'm actually excited for.

The Girl On the Train
Director: Tate taylor
Description: The Girl on the Train is the story of Rachel Watson's (Emily Blulnt) life post-divorce. Every day, she takes the train in to work in New York, and every day the train passes by her old house. The house she lived in with her husband (Justin Theroux), who still lives there, with his new wife (Rebecca Ferguson) and child. As she attempts to not focus on her pain, she starts watching a couple a few houses down -- Megan and Scott Hipwell (Haley Bennett, Luke Evans). She creates a wonderful dream life for them in her head, about how they are a perfect happy family. And then one day, as the train passes, she sees something shocking, filling her with rage. The next day, she wakes up with a horrible hangover, various wounds and bruises, and no memory of the night before. She has only a feeling: something bad happened. Then come the TV reports: Megan Hipwell is missing. Rachel becomes invested in the case and trying to find out what happened to Megan, where she is, and what exactly she herself was up to that same night Megan went missing.
Starring: Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Allison Janney, Rebecca Ferguson, Laura Prepon, Edgar Ramirez, Lisa Kudrow
Trailer: Trailer "The Girl On the Train"
Comment: I'm reading the book right now, super excited for the film.

The Infiltrator
Director: Brad Furman
Description: A U.S. Customs official (Bryan Cranston) uncovers a money laundering scheme involving Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Starring: Bryan Cranston, John Leguizamo, Benjamin Bratt, Diane Kruger, Amy Ryan
Trailer: Trailer "The Infiltrator"
Comment: COuld be interesting.

Jason Bourne
Director: Paul Greengrass
Description: Jason Bourne, now remembering who he truly is, tries to uncover hidden truths about his past.
Starring: Matt Damon, Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, Albert Finney, Julia Stiles, Vincent Cassel
Trailer: Trailer "Jason Bourne"
Comment: Hell yeah. What I love most about this trailer is that I dn't know much about the plot yet. That makes it even more exciting.

The Do-Over
Director: Steven Brill
Description: Two down-on-their-luck guys decide to fake their own deaths and start over with new identities, only to find the people they're pretending to be are in even deeper trouble.
Starring: Adam Sandler, David Spade, Paula Patton, Kathryn Hahn, Luiz Guzmán, Sean Astin, Nick Swardson, Renée Taylor
Trailer: Trailer "The Do-Over"
Comment: Ugh...