Movie Review - John Candy: I Like Me

Director: Colin Hanks
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: John Candy, Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Dan Aykroyd, Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Martin Short
 
Description: Explores the life and legacy of the iconic funnyman John Candy, who died of a heart attack in 1994, at the age of 43.
 
Review: If you grew up in the 80s and 90s, like me, you probably also grew up with John Candy movies. The funnyman who starred in movies like “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”, “Uncle Buck” “Splash” and “Home Alone” was a big part of my childhood. And for anyone like me, the documentary “John Candy: I Like Me” is a must-see.

The title refers to a quote from his character Del Griffith, in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”, where he tells Steve Martin that he likes who he is, after Martin just completely trashed him. If you have no idea who Candy was, this documentary gives you some insight into his life and career. But it will not have the emotional load. For me, this was a very heartwarming, moving tribute to the comedian. His family, friends and colleagues praise Candy with warm and honest stories about him. Candy was such a loving man and he touched the lives of everyone he met. And of the people who watch his movies.

Like I stated before, we watched a lot of John Candy films during my childhood years, and still. “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is an absolute favorite in my family and we still revisit it every holiday season. If you grew watching him, this documentary will definitely get you emotional.

Rating: 5/ 5

Ranking the Franchise - Robert Langdon

Based on the famous Robert Langdon book series, by author Dan Brown, director Ron Howard has turned three of the books in the series into movies. By the time I’m rewatching these movies, Dan Brown has just released his sixth book in this series. The books were kind of randomly turned into movies, starting with book 2, then book 1 and the last was book 4.
 

3. Inferno (2016)
This film, based on the fourth book in the series, was released six years after its last Robert Langdon film. It was clearly my least favorite of the three films and the one I remember the least about. Even though it’s the most recent film in the series. Mainly because it’s feels a lot like the other ones and unoriginal. Check our my full review HERE.
 

2. Angels & Demons (2009)
I really enjoyed the mystery here, more than its sequel. The film opens with a bang and I loved the setting. There is a lot of explaining and the runtime is fairly long, but I did enjoy this film. HERE is my full review.  
 

1. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
This is clearly my favorite. I actually first saw it in theaters and was obsessed with it for a long time. I have rewatched it many times since then, but it had been a while since I last watched it. But it still holds up. This is the only really good adaptation of one of the Robert Langdon books. It’s also very true to its source material. The performances in this movie are  very strong overall, which is not the case for the other two films. The characters in “The Da Vinci Code” are more memorable. Read my full review HERE.

00s Movie Review - Angels & Demons

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Thriller/ Mystery
Runtime: 138 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgård, Ayelet Zurer

Description: Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) works with a nuclear physicist to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican during one of the significant events within the church.

Review: “Angels & Demons” open with a bang, as well as visual as sound. Director Ron Howard sets the tone to the spectacle we are going to experience. You are overwhelmed with tons of info, see grotesque images of the Vatican and the laboratory of CERN. After that opening, we see Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon for the first time in this film. He is called to the Vatican to help them with the kidnapping of the four preferiti.

The movie has a quick montage and it looks all so impressive. But there is also some room to breathe and reflect. The search for the missing preferiti is exciting, but sometimes a little bit predictable. But overall it’s a well-executed thriller that keeps you on the edge at all times. I loved Tom Hanks in “The Da Vinci Code” but also in “Angels & Demon” (okay, I love Tom Hanks in everything). Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgård are solid supporting actors.

Although I really enjoyed “Angels & Demons”, I prefer “The Da Vinci Code”.

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - The Da Vinci Code

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Runtime: 139 minutes
Year: 2006
Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina, Jean Reno

Description: A murder and clues in paintings lead to the discovery of a closely guarded religious mystery

Review: The church wasn’t happy with the book “The Da Vinci Code” by author Dan Brown. But I think the church hates the movie even more, because it’s very detailed, realistic and close to its source material. A plus for director Ron Howard, who gave Browns killer a face, lets the blood visually flow and made the search for the holy grail a mysterious quest. It’s a search full of discoveries, surprises and cliffhangers. Over two hours on the edge of your seat. 

How detailed the movie may be, you can’t be as complete as 429 pages. But there is no need to. Howard used enough references to history from daily life. Why Friday the 13th is an unlucky day for instance. They aren’t flashbacks, it’s like Professor Langdon and Sophie are thinking it all over, to help them with deciphering codes, anagrams and riddles. 

Off course nothing speaks like your imagination. It’s often said that the book is better than the movie, because the characters get a different face than you imaged for instance. But the casting is good. Tom Hanks leads it as Robert Langdon and, as always, does a great job as the leading man. Audrey Tautou convinces as well as Ian McKellen and Jean Reno. But it’s Paul Bettany that steals the show, as Silas. The way he portrayed Silas; possessed, brutal, submissive.

Howard used some modern tricks for the movie. Where Langdon and Sophie use a library database in the book, here they work their way around a pocket computer with wireless internet connection. And the drive in a Smart, that manages to sneak through a gap between two trucks, is also a bit more spectacular than in the book. 

The movie is not as complete as the book, but equally impressive. The movie challenges you to believe, or at least ask yourself questions about it. The truth behind it when it comes to religion and history. For many “The Da Vinci Code” is a collection of factual inaccuracies, but the truth is what you believe. And that’s what Robert Langdon thinks.

Rating: 4/ 5

90s Movie Review - That Thing You Do!

Director: Tom Hanks
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 1996
Starring: Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Jonathan Schaech, Ethan Embry, Steve Zahn, Tom Hanks, Charlize Theron, Giovanni Ribisi, Bill Cobbs, Kevin Pollack, Rita Wilson, Chris Isaak

Description: A local Pennsylvania band scores a one-hit wonder in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as they can, with lots of help from their manager (Tom Hanks)

Review: “That Thing You Do” follows a young, ambitious group of young men, in the 1960s, that love music. They start a band. When their drummer breaks his arm, right before an important show, they hire Guy Patterson. He has a different view on music and tries something more up-tempo. This works well and it turns their band, “The Wonders”, into a rock ‘n roll sensation.

It’s the directorial debut of star actor Tom Hanks, who also wrote the script. Hanks also has a role as the manager, but wanted young actors to steal the show. Jonathan Schaech plays lead singer Jimmy, who is very ambitious and talented, but the stardom changes him. Steve Zahn is always excellent at playing the funny supporting characters and does that very well in this movie. Liv Tyler, as Jimmy’s very supportive girlfriend Faye, is lovely as ever. But the real star is Tom Everett Scott, as Guy Patterson. This was his first movie he starred in. Tom Hanks first didn’t want him to star, because he resembles a young Hanks. His wife Rita Wilson, who also has a small role in the movie, finally convinced him. And it was the right choice, because Tom Everett Scott steals every scene he is in.

“That Thing You Do” is one of those fun comedies you can watch over and over again, and you never get tired of it. Even when the song, titled ‘That Thing You Do’, is played so many times. Because you hear it a lot! It’s the perfect movie for a night you don’t want to think too much and just enjoy a fun film.

Rating: 4/ 5

20s Movie Review - Here

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 104 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly
Description: A generational story about families and the special place they inhabit, sharing in love, loss, laughter, and life.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 11: A FILM WITH ROBIN WRIGHT
 
Review: Robert Zemeckis, once the Hollywood legend of blockbusters such as “Back to the Future” and “Forrest Gump”, hasn’t had many success lately. His last one was probably “The Walk” from 2015. With “Here” he proves what a talent he has.

“Here” is based on a graphic novel and it seems difficult to film. The book is quite experimental, telling the history of a particular place without a traditional storyline. The point of observation remains the same; the reader is merely an observer of events. Such a non-narrative concept is not easy to translate to film, but in the right hands it van produce something very special. As a result, the films has some engaging plot lines, but no concrete story. “Here” is more about theme and the bigger picture than individual stories. The graphic novel focuses primarily on the broader existential question surrounding forgotten history and emotions of a place. The film has a clearer focus and acts as a silent reflection on American history.

The film shows moments from different times, sometimes even within the same fram. While an important event takes place in the living room, other parts of the screen show what took place there years earlier and later. As a result, you not only see how society is changing, but also get an intriguing glimpse into the lives of everyday people.

A common criticism concerns the CGI rejuvenation of Tom hanks and Robin Wright. Although the effects look technically very impressive, and they both look as how they did years ago, it’s still strange because we know they are much older know. Because when we meet these characters they are teenagers, when they’re both well in their fifties and sixties.

Regardless of the quality of this, all the actors deliver great performances. Hanks an Wright reunite after having worked together in “Forrest Gump”. Paul Bettany is actually the one that stands out the most.
I really think that the concept of this film is really unique and special and I’m glad that Robert Zemeckis hasn’t lost his groove yet. I feel that “Here” deserved more attention when it came out, I feel that this was a very overlooked film. I enjoyed it.

Rating: 4/ 5

10s Movie Review - Toy Story of Terror

Director: Angus MacLane
Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Family/ Adventure
Runtime: 22 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Carl Weathers, Timothy Dalton, Stephen Tobolowsky, Wallace Shawn, Kristen Schaal, Kate McKinnon, Ken Marino

Description: Woody (Tom Hanks) and the gang are held up at a roadside motel and members of the group start to disappear. Woody sets about getting to the bottom of the mystery.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 15: A FILM STARRING YOUR FAVORITE ACTOR OR ACTRESS
 
Review: The “Toy Story” series is very high on my list of favorite Pixar films. The third film is my favorite and I really enjoy all the characters in this franchise. Even in a short story like “Toy Story of Terror”, you get tons of laughs from all these fun characters.

The toys are in the trunk of the car, traveling with Bonnie and her family, when they get car trouble. They have to stay overnight at a roadside motel. Strange things start to happen at night, when members of the gang start to disappear.

This short film was release around Halloween time in 2013 and has a pretty simple premise. It even introduces a few new characters. It’s not a horror film of course, it’s supposed to be for the entire family. But there are some nods to “Psycho”, for the adults. It’s a fun little short film, I enjoyed it and really loved seeing all the characters together again.

Rating: 4/ 5

90s Movie Review - A League of Their Own

Director: Penny Marshall
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 128 minutes
Year: 1992
Starring: Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Lori Petty, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Anne Ramsay, Anne Cusack, Megan Cavanagh, Bitty Schram, David Strathairn, Jon Lovitz, Bill Pullman

Description: Two sisters (Geena Davis, Lori Petty) join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amid their own growing rivalry.

Review: “A League of Their Own” is a movie I grew up watching with my family. 

When World War II threatens to shut down Major League Baseball, a candy manufacturing magnate decides to create a women’s league to make money. Dottie Hinson is a terrific hitter and gets an offer to tryout, but she is content where she is. He younger sister, pitcher Kit, loves the game so passionately but is not as much of a talent. Kit gets to tryout, but only if Dottie comes too. Both women eventually go and get into the team, that is led by drunkard and former baseball player Jimmy Dugan. More and more people start showing up to the games and it becomes a huge success. 

I always found “A League of Their Own” so much fun to watch. It reaches a broad audience, because it mixes up things many people love: comedy, drama and sports. 

Tom Hanks is my favorite actor and he can’t do anything wrong in my eyes, but even non-fans have to admit that his portrayal of coach Jimmy Dugan is hilarious and very memorable. ‘There’s no crying in baseball!’ I also loved Geena Davis in her role. The rest of the acting is maybe not that fantastic, but the cast works really well together and they make it work. 

“A League of Their Own” is a fun film, a film that never bores. A definite favorite.

Rating: 5 / 5

Movie Review - A Man Called Otto

Director: Marc Forster
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 126 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Trevino, Rachel Keller, Truman Hanks, Cameron Britton, Mack Bayda, Juanita Jennings, Peter Lawson Jones
 
Description: Otto (Tom Hanks) is a grump who’s given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves across the street, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol (Mariana Trevino), leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 17: A MOVIE WITH AN ACTOR YOU LOVE

Review: “A Man Called Otto” is based on the book “A Man Called Ove”. And Tom Hanks pays the titular Otto.

When you first meet grumpy, you would think he is quite unsympathetic. A blunt man who plays by the rules and berates you if you park where you’re not supposed to, for example. When new neighbors movie in on his street, the pretense he puts on slowly subsides. So he helps them (reluctantly) with chores. In return, he gets nice meals, which make him feel a little appreciated again. The film manages to combine (dark) comedy and drama well.

The story follows a well-known path. A grumpy man slowly becomes more gentle and builds a bond with another person. Otto’s backstory is also told, which impressed me. His life was full of misfortune, which makes you somewhat understand why he is the way is. And by the end of the film, you love Otto. Fun fact: Young Otto is played by Tom Hanks’ son, Truman Hanks.

I loved “A Man Called Otto”. It’s funny and heartwarming and in a melancholy way, it is quite a feel-good film as well. Tom Hanks never disappoints and once again the film is carried by him. The path from grumpy man to likeable guy is very well-executed.

Rating: 4/ 5

80s Movie Review - Big

Director: Penny Marshall
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 104 minutes
Year: 1988
Starring: Tom Hanks, Robert Loggia, Elizabeth Perkins, John Heard, Debra Jo Rupp, Jared Rushton, Jon Lovitz

Description: When a boy wishes to be big at a magic wish machine, he wakes up the next morning and finds himself in an adult body.

Review: It has been done several times: characters that wake up in a different body. “Freaky Friday”, “13 Going on 30”, “Vice Versa”. “Big” is from 1988, but still the best film with this theme. “Big” is original, funny and touching. Because who hasn’t dreamed of being big as a kid?

Josh is a 13-year old teenager from New Jersey. While visiting a carnival, he is too short to go on a cool ride. He feels humiliated. As frustrated as Josh is, he throws a coin in a machine that claims to grant wishes. He wishes to be big. The next morning Josh wakes up in the body of a 30-year old man. Because nobody but his best friend Billy believes him, he decides to go to New York. He finds a simple job at a toy manufacture. Josh gets a promotion and co-worker Susan falls in love with him. Josh realized that being an adult is a lot harder than he thought.

For most people Tom Hanks became famous in the 90s, but in the 80s he showed us his comedic talent. Just look at “Splash”, “Bachelor Party”, “The Burbs” and ”Money Pit”. “Big” was probably his big break, not only because of his humor, also for his sense of drama. And Tom Hanks is constantly believable as a boy trapped in a man’s body.

What makes this such a strong film, besides the script and Tom Hanks’ performance, is that “Big” speaks to both kids and adults. For kids the film is funny and relatable. Adults will realize that you should never lose the kid inside and that adulthood is not easy. “Big” is an ode to childhood.

“Big” is a classic in the comedy genre and is filled with humor. Tom Hanks is without a doubt one of the best and most believable actors in Hollywood (to me THE best) and he proofs that in “Big”.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - Elvis

Director: Baz Luhrmann
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 159 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge, Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, Dacre Montgomery, Luke Bracey, David Wenham, Kodi Smit-McPhee
 
Description: The life of American music icon Elvis Presley (Austin Butler), from his childhood to becoming a rock and movie star in the 1950s while maintaining a complex relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).

Review: It takes guts, making a movie about Elvis Presley. Director Baz Luhrman dared to do it. And you just have to dare, playing Elvis and singing in your own voice. Actor Austin Butler dared and succeeds with flying colors.

With Baz Luhrman we have a man who received an Oscar nomination for “Moulin Rouge”. The second leading actor Tom Hanks has already won two of those awards. But Austin Butler isn’t yet a big name. I believe that after you see him in “Elvis”, there’s no way you won’t remember his name.

“Elvis” is the type of movie that depends on the performance of the lead actor. Now matter how good the story is, a mediocre portrayal of The King will break the film. And from the first moment you see Butler as Elvis, you see Elvis, not an actor playing him. And the fact that he sang everything himself, makes it even more incredible!

The story itself is told from the perspective of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’ manager. Tom Hanks portrays him. He is actually known as Dries van Kuijk and came from Breda, The Netherlands. And even though he always claimed to wanting the best for Elvis, he wasn’t a good man. And Hanks does a fantastic job, as always, in a more villainous role, which is something we don’t often see from Hanks.

As every Baz Luhrman movie, the film looks gorgeous and stylish. And with a runtime of more than 2,5 hours, the movie never gets boring. It has a fast pace, where there is almost no time to catch your breath. I wouldn’t have mind some quieter moments here and there.  Thanks to great performances, this movie is definitely worth watching.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Pinocchio

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Genre: Family/ Adventure
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Tom Hanks, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Angus Wright, Cynthia Erivo, Keegan-Michael Key, Lorraine Bracco, Guiseppe Battison
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 42: A CHILDREN’S MOVIE
 
Description: A puppet is brought to life by a fairy, who assigns him to lead a virtuous life in order to become a real boy.

Review: After “Beauty and the Beast (2017)”, “The Lion King”(2019) and “Aladdin” (2019), it is time for yet another Disney fairy tale to be turned into a live-action movie: “Pinocchio”. None other than Tom Hanks takes on the role of Geppetto, but even Hanks can not save this somewhat disappointing retelling of the familiar fairy tale.

Geppetto must learn to cope with the loss of his son and makes a wooden doll that reminds him of his boy. How wonderful it would be if this Pinocchio were really alive. He makes a wish and it comes true. Pinocchio comes to life and embarks on a grand adventure. From his first day at school to an encounter with questionable characters.

Tom Hanks works together with director Robert Zemeckis again, who he made “Forrest Gump” with. Such a big name as Hanks naturally attracts many fans, it was a reason for me to watch it. As Geppetto, Hanks is merely the creator of Pinocchio and then fades into the background.

The story has no faults. The donkeys, the fairy, the whale and the evil fox and cat: we know it all from the original fairy tale. All the elements are in it again this time. And it all looks beautiful. Even though it’s a live-action film, most of the film is still animated, or computer animated anyway. The film is filled with CGI, when many things could have been recreated with practical effects. Because of this, the film really loses its magic and pure beauty, that we know and love from the animated film.

This is one of these movies I really wished I loved, but I didn’t. Probably my least favorite of the recent Disney animations brought to life in live-action.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Five to Watch - Underrated Tom Hanks Movies

Tom Hanks is on everyone’s favorite actor list. And we all love “Forrest Gump”, Saving Private Ryan”, “Toy Story” and “Big”. And there are many, many more movies that are well-loved by people all over the world But I decided to create a list of five of his movies that hardly anybody ever talks about. Here are five underrated Tom Hanks movies.
 

That Thing You Do (1996)
Hanks has a role in it, but this is also his directorial debut. It’s a lighthearted film that tells the story of the rise and fall of a pop group in the mid-1960s. under the name Ondeders (later changed Wonders, because they always pronounce it as Oh-needers) they record their first song independently. Their song, That Thing You Do, becomes a hit and we see what it does with each band member. It’s a fast-paced story, with a fun setting and it’s a perfect feel-good film.  
 

The ‘Burbs (1989)
Ray Peterson is in need of rest and spends his vacation in his boring, decent suburban home. But then the Klopek family moves into a house nearby. The Klopeks are a bit strange and at night there are strange noises coming from their house. Along with his neighbors Mark and Art, Ray sets out to investigate. It’s such a funny, absurd dark comedy, which isn’t only underrated, but also very overlooked. I hardly know anyone who has seen it. My brother and I can actually quote from it, that’s how much we love it (and how many times we’ve watched it).
 

Road to Perdition (2002)
Tom Hanks plays gangster Michael Sullivan, handyman to mob boss John Rooney and father of two sons. One of Sullivan’s sons witnesses a murder, forcing him and his father to take the road, and his father down the path of redemption and revenge. The violence remains mostly off screen, but the film shows the effect of violence on people. I think this is Hanks’ most underrated film ever.
 

Bachelor Party (1984)
Rick announces that he is marrying girlfriend Debbie. Debbie’s father thinks that Rick is just a loser and tries to sabotage the wedding. Rick’s friends organize a wild bachelor party for him, with lots of booze and strippers. This movie was made way before Tom Hanks became a serious actor and superstar. He played a lot of these comedic roles. It might be a bit dated, but it is your typical 1980s comedy, that still is pretty funny.
 

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
In the US, Fred Rogers is an institution, because of his TV-show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”, in which he spent more than thirty years talking to children about social issues, in an extremely calm and kind manner. Fred Rogers is one of television’s most kind-natured people. So who else, than America’s sweetheart Tom Hanks to portray him. This is not your standard biopic. The film is based on an article in Esquire. A journalist who is initially skeptical of Rogers’ impeccable image but becomes increasingly impressed with him. Hanks is perfectly cast. The film is sentimental, but nuanced. It will have a bigger impact if you also grew up with Rogers’ TV show, but still a movie that I could recommend.  

90s Movie Review - Forrest Gump

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 142 minutes
Year: 1994
Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field

Description: Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny Curran (Robin Wright), eludes him.

Review: “My momma always said, life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”. Forrest Gump isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but his mother was such a smart woman. With these words Forrest starts telling us his life story, to perfect strangers who sit next to him at a bus stop. The result: a extraordinary story, mesmerizing from beginning till end, about a simple man with a pure heart and the will to make the impossible possible. Very American, but so beautiful. 
Forrest Gump is honest and open, with all the best intentions. His naïve view on the world makes sure you feel for him right away. From him as a successful American football player to the captain of a shrimping boat and from a Vietnam war veteran to a pingpong champion. He has done it all. The film is filled with romance, tension, drama and humor.
Tom Hanks is simply brilliant as Forrest. This is still his best performance and I doubt if he can ever top that. We don’t see Hanks in this movie, we the simple and naïve Forrest Gump. Robin Wright also does an excellent job as Jenny. Gary Sinise as Forrest’s army friend lieutenant Dan and Sally Field as momma Gump both perform very decently.
“Forrest Gump” is my second favorite movie of all time and it won the Academy Award for best movie (where it beat my number on favorite movie “The Shawshank Redemption”). “The world will never seem the same, once you’ve seen it through the eyes of Forrest Gump”. A movie that will never leave you.

Rating: 5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Apollo 13

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Drama/ Adventure
Runtime: 134 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Gary Sinise, Kathleen Quinlan, Ray McKinnon, Clint Howard

Description: NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.

Review: Jim Lovell is working at NASA, in 1970s America. He wants only one thing and that is to set foot on the moon. He has therefore had to wait a long time, but now it’s finally  happening. Due to illness of the original flight leader, Jim and his team are deployed on Apollo 13. During the flight, which initially goes well, some major problems arise. Jim and his team now have to do everything to get back to Earth safely. Jim, and his team members Fred and Jack must survive in a hostile environment, with a dwindling supply of oxygen.
“Apollo 13” tells the true story of the failed trip to the moon on the thirteenth Apollo mission. This was to be the third time humans would walk on the moon, but during the trip, all sorts of things went wrong. Commander of the ship, Jim Lovell, wrote about his experiences in the book “Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13”. This book was the basis for the film, which was directed by Ron Howard. True-life stories van be bogged down quite often in a heavy dose of sentiment and tear-jerking. “Apollo 13” also has several moments where this applies, but overall it is a film that manages to captivate and entertain. the facts told in the story are exciting and dramatic enough in themselves. I actually thought that the whole family drama at home, took the tempo out of the movie a bit. I was more interested in the space part, not the personal lives.
The cast seems to give their all and is extremely empathetic. The roles of the three astronauts are played by Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Bill Paxton. Hanks is strong as ever, but Paxton and Bacon manage to hold their own alongside him. The trio manages to convey the desperation and mutual tension well. This makes the whole thing come across as authentic and realistic. Ed Harris and Gary Sinise, in smaller roles, also make  an impression.
“Apollo 13” is clearly created with a lot of love and attention to detail and it looks very realistic. It’s an entertaining movie, even on multiple viewings.

Rating: 4 / 5

Movie Review - News of the World

Director: Paul Greengrass
Genre: Drama/ Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Tom Astor, Mare Winningham, Ray McKinnon, Bill Camp

Description: A Civil War veteran (Tom Hanks) agrees to deliver a girl (Helena Zengel), taken by the Kiowa people years ago, to her aunt and uncle, against her will. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers as they search for a place that either can call home.

Review: Like his movie “Greyhound”, Tom Hanks saw his film “News of the World” go straight to a streaming service. It’s quite understandable due to the pandemic, but it’s a pity, since everyone loves to see new movies on the big screen. But look on the bright side, watching a new movie with Tom Hanks from the comforts of your own home is my way to sit back and relax.
In 1870s Texas, Jefferson Kidd has a remarkable profession: he travels from town to town reading the newspaper to paying listeners. Judging from his introduction, for many this offers a way to forget their daily worries for a moment. A big difference with our present, in which the constant flow of news is the cause of many people’s worries and escapism is mainly served by consuming as little news as possible. As a kind of troubadour of the wild west, Kidd knows how to entertain his audience with beautiful stories, but he has enough integrity to also read out the important news that may not be to their liking. Although Kidd has no specific agenda, he acts as someone who represents civilization in a place where it is sometimes far from it.
During one of his travels, Kidd stumbles upon the young girl Johanna. Originally of German descent but raised by a Native American tribe that has since been wiped out, she is all alone in the world and unfamiliar with the language Kidd speaks. The girls is as unruly as she is intelligible, and so Kidd tries to get rid of her as quickly as possible. But when he realizes that she shouldn’t expect help from anyone else, he decides to take the girl to her only surviving relatives. The resulting journey of over six hundred kilometers would now be a matter of hours, but takes several weeks in 1870 and is not without any dangers. Fortunately for Kidd, he can somewhat combine this undertaking with his work as a newsreader.
Story-wise, the combination of elements is unfortunately not that smooth. The fact that Kidd takes care of the young girl has nothing to do with his work or background. This means that the already fairly episodic story constantly switches between the travel adventures of Kidd and Johanna, and Kidd’s news briefings. Both fine scenes, but they are completely unrelated. Hardly ever do these two elements collide. As a viewer, you thus sit and wait for the premise of someone reading the news to provide some direction to the story, but in the end Kidd’s profession gradually proves less and less relevant to bringing the girl home. Kidd could have been a hunter or salesman, thematically it makes no difference. Tom Hanks portrays Kidd sympathetically and he is easy to believe. Character development isn’t really happening for him, even though his performance is really strong. And I really like the fact that he didn’t portray the usual gunslinger you usually see in westerns. Kidd has a lot more heart and moral and he is a genuinely good person. Could he use more rough edges? Maybe. But then again, he would become a more stereotypical touch guy. “News of the World” shows that the western genre doesn’t only have to contain people shooting guns at each other, thieves robbing trains or cowboys and Indians riding horses. 
While the screenplay might not be the strongest, there is little fault in the execution of “News of the World”. Director Paul Greengrass abandons his signature rough style (with shaky cam) for a more appropriately classic cinematic language: expansive landscapes, natural lighting and a pleasantly calm editing. Only during an intense shootout scene does he use handheld camera work, without damaging the clarity. Also in terms of pace, Greengrass takes it slower than in his previous films. But it’s not a boring movie.
“News of the World” is the type of film whose quality are almost self-evident. A western directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Tom Hanks? Yes, of course it’s worth watching. Even if its not perfect.

Rating: 3,5 / 5