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Reviews
War Horse (2011)
Not the usual Disney movie, but still spectacular
Set during World War I, this tells of the bond between a horse and the young man who raises him. Starting with the birth of the thoroughbred horse, which is later named Joey, he is sold to a family of farmers that actually cannot afford him. However, a trust develops between the animal and the farmer's son, Albert. When Joey is later sold to a young military captain to aid the war effort, Albert is heartbroken, but is reassured by the soldier that he will return the horse when the war is over. The film then follows Joey's experiences in the war, which takes him many places, even behind enemy lines.
This is based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, and the stage play that was adapted from the book. The stage performance became famous for its use of mechanical horses in the action, but this film uses real, excellently trained, animals. The movie shows the deplorable conditions that the horses and their riders had to endure during the conflict of WWI, when engine technology had not caught up with artillery ingenuity, and horses were actually worked until they died to haul the huge war machines where they needed to be. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this has been produced in collaboration with Disney studios, but there is quite a bit more live action violence and dead bodies than in the usual Disney movie, so parents may want to take that into consideration before deciding to watch this on family night. However, this is an exquisite film, and deserves every award it was nominated for and won.
Dredd (2012)
An elite law officer and a vicious drug dealer do battle in the future
In a futuristic metropolis, an elite group of law enforcement officers called Judges are engaged to be judge, jury, and executioner to the criminals they are sent to apprehend. The best of them, named Dredd, is assigned a rookie, who also happens to be an extremely powerful psychic, on her first day. The two end up locked inside the largest housing building in the city, targets of the most dangerous and vicious drug dealer in business, a former prostitute called Ma-ma. Can they use their mixture of abilities and experience to survive?
This is a 2012 production based on a comic strip, starring Karl Urban (Lord of the Rings and Star Trek) as the main character. Though you never get to see his face (he wears an armored helmet), and he delivers his lines in a rough, grating tone of voice, the performance is stellar. Olivia Thirby (The Darkest Hour) plays the rookie, Anderson, who uses her mental gifts to confuse and control the small army sent to kill her and her partner. Full of action and suspense, this is a great effort by all concerned. Due to intense violence, including some involving children, and a great deal of strong language, this is not recommended for young viewers.
All the Old Knives (2022)
A thriller with many twists and turns
A CIA officer, Henry Pelham, is given the assignment of reopening the investigation of an eight-year-old case that involved a hijacked airliner than ended tragically when all the passengers and terrorists were killed. The mastermind of this act has been apprehended, and has indicated that the terrorists were being fed information from inside the CIA itself. So, Pelham finds himself forced to reunite with his old cronies from his station in Vienna, including the woman agent that he fell in love with. Who was the leak, and can Pelham trust himself to do what is right, even if it breaks his heart?
This is told in a series of flashbacks to the time of the hijacking and the sequence of events surrounding it. A thriller with many twists and turns, it is relentlessly intriguing and extremely entertaining. It keeps the interest with an almost hypnotic intensity, and should definitely be on the short list of all spy movie enthusiasts. Stars Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton.
The Thing Below (2004)
A little confusing and relatively predictable
Produced in 2004, this horror movie has alternate titles that include It Waits Below and Sea Ghost. It surrounds a top secret government drilling platform that has found and brought to the surface a meteor that holds an alien lifeform. The creature goes on a killing spree, and it is up to the crew of a supply ship that arrives shortly afterward to figure out how to kill it.
This one stars Billy Warlock, mainly known for his work on daytime soap operas, and Catherine Lough Haggquist, who has had numerous roles in television movies. It tends to be a little confusing to watch, mainly due to the fact that the alien seems to have some unusual psychic powers, and the action is relatively predictable. There is strong language, lots of violence, and some nudity. But a good vehicle for the monster movie fan.
Odd Thomas (2013)
He is the only one who can see them
Anton Yelchin plays a young man named Odd Thomas, who can see dead people. He can also see things he calls bodachs, evil beings that feed off death and despair. When he sees dozens of bodachs gathered around a man in the diner where he works, he comes to believe that something extraordinarily bad is going to happen to the town he lives in. With the help of the chief of police and the girl he loves, who both know about his abilities, he sets out to fend off the disaster.
This is a film based on a novel by the author Dean Koontz. It also features the talent of a young actor whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 27 in a freak accident. It is full of mystery, surprises, and supernatural happenings from the first minute right up until the last. Not recommended for very young children due to the violence, scary scenes, and some strong language, but definitely worth the time.
Bent (2018)
Shades of the old police dramas of the 80s
When a drug bust goes sour, a good cop takes the fall and ends up behind bars. Upon his release, he commits himself to finding out if he was betrayed by his partner or someone else. Along the way, he discovers that the case that he had been investigating has ties far beyond the drug trade.
Starring Karl Urban (Dr. McCoy in the new Star Trek films), this is a thriller with shades of the old police dramas that used to be all the rage in the 80s. Full of action, suspense, and a few good twists and turns along the way, it will definitely keep you guessing.
Margin Call (2011)
The excellent cast makes this breathtaking
While this is not the type of film I usually watch, I got into this one mainly because of the excellent cast. With the big names of Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, and Demi Moore, there were the added delights of Zachary Quinto, Paul Bettany, Penn Badgley, and Stanley Tucci, to name just a few. All came together to make this a completely watchable and believable take on what happens when an investment firm finds its recent activities have landed it in serious trouble, and the things that the executives at the top will do to avoid financial ruin, regardless of who may be hurt. A dramatic take on the beginnings of the downfall of Wall Street that will leave you breathless.
Cell (2016)
Programmed homicidal zombies!
After an electronic pulse over cell phones turns almost everyone into programmed homicidal zombies, a graphic artist goes in search of his wife and son. Along the way he meets various survivors, and watches the evolution of what could be a new race.
This is based on a novel by master author Stephen King, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Due to this, the main characters and events are basically true to the book. John Cusack stars in the main role, and his style of acting is actually well suited to the part of a sensitive man thrown into a nightmare. There is strong language and quite a bit of violence, including one extreme scene of suicide. However, this is a film that will keep the attention and gives good surprises.
Carriers (2009)
Prediction of pandemic
In a world where a pandemic has devastated the population, two brothers attempt to get a small group of friends to the place where they were happy as children. Along the way, they find a world of militant survivalists and infected victims.
Released in 2009, the producers of this film had no way of knowing that ten years later their predictions would come true, though to a lesser extent. Starring Chris Pine as the older of the brothers, this is a story of hopelessness and how different personalities react to it. As the movie travels through a landscape of despair, the effect finally ends up turning the people against each other, including the two brothers. Not a happy film with a happy ending, this is not recommended for family viewing, especially by young children. It is, however, a very good character study of how different philosophies can dictate who lives and who dies in nightmarish circumstances.