Movie Review ~ True Grit

Drama / Western, Released in 2010, Starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld

A tough and grizzled U.S. Marshal takes on a bounty offered by a bright young woman to  track down and bring in her father’s murderer. Along the way they encounter and team up with a Texas Ranger after the same man for another crime.

 

A remake of an old John Wayne film with the same title, I didn’t expect much of the movie, as I rarely enjoy remakes as much as the original film. This one was different, As much as I love John Wayne, this was excellently done, and  Hailee Steinfled did a much better job of Mattie than Kim Darby.

Movie Review ~ Hardwired

Action / Sci-fi, Released in 2009, Starring Cuba Gooding Jr, Val Kilmer, Michael Ironside

After a car accident kills his pregnant wife, Luke Gibson is given a brain implant that saves his life, but erases his memory. Luke begins seeing and hearing things not there, and tries to discover what’s going on. Along the way he is met by a group of hackers who want to help him survive, and want his help to get to the bottom of what’s being done to people.

 

This was ok. not great, not totally horrible.

Movie Review ~ Transformers: The Dark of the Moon

Action / Sci-Fi, Released in 2011, Starring Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson

The Autobots, who have been working with the U.S. government to prevent the Decepticons from gaining power, discover that there was a Cybertronian spacecraft that crash landed on the Moon, and humans knew about it. Now Megatron is using something off the craft to try to take over the world again. Sam, the Autobots and the military unit attached to them must try to prevent it.

 

In my opinion, this one was only so-so. It wasn’t BAD per se, but it wasn’t really good either. There was lots of action, but the story line was lacking. I’ll admit, it was slightly better without the 3D, as I felt the 3D only distracted for what decent parts there were. 

All in all there were 2 really good parts of the movie… the music, and Josh Duhamel. And there wasn’t enough Duhamel.

Movie Review ~ Fast Five

Action / Thriller, Released in 2011, Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson

Taking up where the previous movie left off, Brian, the ex-FBI agent helps Mia break her brother Dom out of jail, or in this case, transport to jail, and they all flee to South America, with DSS Agent Hobbs hot on their tails. Once in Brazil the trio becomes involved in a heist that lands them on the wrong side of the drug lord that runs the city. Determined to make one last heist and best the drug lord at the same time, they stay in Rio. Maneuvering around Hobbs and his men they plan the heist, but will they get to execute it before Hobbs finds them?

 

Ok, I admit, I loved this, The story was not bad, but not great either. The cars were pretty good, but the action and eye candy were excellent, and really, other than fast cars, cool driving tricks, and hot actors, why else would someone watch a Fast and Furious movie?

Movie Review ~ Season of the Witch

Adventure / Fantasy, Released in 2011, Starring Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Claire Foy

Knights of the Second Crusade are tasked with transporting an accused witch to a monastery so that her powers can be banished, as the church believes she is the cause of the Black Plague. It’s not an easy trip over unfamiliar ground, with strange occurrences happening along the way.

 

I disliked this. It was way more graphic than I expected (and normally I don’t mind graphic,)  and far darker than advertised. I expected better from Cage, especially after Sorcerers Apprentice.

Movie Review ~ No Strings Attached

Romance / Comedy, Released in 2011, Starring Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Kline

Two people meet several times over the years, both attracted to each other but not working out for one reason or another. When Adam discovers that his father is living with, and sleeping with, his ex-girlfriend he goes on a binge, while calling every girl in his phone on a mission to have sex. This brings him to Emma yet again. They soon decide that they can have sex as long as there’s no romance involved. But that only lasts until their emotions get involved.

 

I enjoyed this, it was funny. The romance part was hit and miss, but the comedy kept me watching.

Movie Review ~ Addicted to Love

Comedy / Romance, Released in 1997, Starring Meg Ryan, Matthew Broderick, Kelly Preston

When two jilted people discover that their ex’es are together they work together to get their revenge. One out to hurt the ex, while the other is out to get them back. Can they manage to break them up?

 

This is an older film that I somehow missed the first time around. I enjoyed it. the comedy was off the wall, but that’s Broderick’s style. The ending was predictable, but it wasn’t something I was expecting to surprise me.