For
Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada—based on
true events—recounts the Mexican government’s atrocities against Catholics in
its violent 1920s persecution. Mexican President Calles’ (Ruben Blades) historical
attempt to eliminate all Catholic religion, deport all foreign-born priests,
burn Catholic churches, and kill Catholic parishioners brutally comes to life
in this reality-based Mexican civil war film. Good historical rendering of what
came to be known as the Cristero War. The only fault in this movie is that it
does not properly show the magnitude or the impact of this war. The viewer sees
this event through a small group of impacted people and does not really
understand that this was a war that reduced Catholic priests from 4,500 strong
to about 334 individuals, now licensed by the government, to ‘practice’ in a
civil population of more than 15 million persons. The viewer does not
understand that over five percent of Mexico’s population fled to the areas
around Los Angeles (United States) to escape murder nor does the viewer
comprehend how well the United States has functioned as a bastion against
religious intolerance as it maintains quite necessary refugee cities for such persons
fleeing their own governments. The viewer is not given any appreciation for the
fact that the Los Angeles Mexican population is greatly founded from a
population with a need to practice their faith in freedom and security without
persecution from any political authority. This film is excellent, except for
its reduction of a horrific, widespread political persecution to what seems a
small scale challenge.
Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia
Storyline
The
Mexican government ruthlessly attempts to eliminate the dominant religious
class into subservience to the political authority.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to
Director Dean Wright for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Pablo Jose
Barroso for making the film possible. Additional Cast include: Andy Garcia, Oscar Isaac, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Santiago Cabrera, Rubén Blades,Bruce McGill, Adrien Alonso, Eva Longoria, and Peter O’Toole.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes.
This is a terrific film that tells its story well. Video Critique Available Here:
Bourne Legacy—spinoff from the original Bourne series—is not as good as the
first three Bourne movies but still serves as a good thriller film. Watch for terrific acting by Jeremy Renner and
Rachel Weisz and some very nice background scenery with good camerawork. The
movie is more than worth watching and it is a treat to see another character that can run alongside the original Bourne stories.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
This espionage action film is about: An espionage agency decides
to close down an operation and eliminate all operatives.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Tony Gilroy
for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley,
Jeffrey Weiner, and Ben Smith for making the film possible. Cast includes:
Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach, Oscar Isaac, Joan
Allen, Albert Finney, David Strathairn, and Scott Glenn.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. This espionage film relies on terrific stage
settings, good presentation, and a well-written script. It completely serves
the espionage movie fan as a good watch.
X-Men: Apocalypse supersedes the quality of the previous superhero
movie X-Men: Days of Future Past in writing, portrayal, and general cohesiveness
of storyline. It’s a treat
to see James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and the rest of the cast who play the younger
crew of X-Men. They do very well and do not disappoint the story which compares
very well with X-Men: First Class as a good sequel. This film is not flat and entertains
the superhero movie fan very well.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
This apocalyptic disaster film is about: X-Men uniting to fight
against an ancient Egyptian god.
Additional
Thanks
Thank to Director Brian Singer for
directing effort. Thank you to Producers Simon Kinberg, Bryan Singer, Hutch
Parker, and Lauren Shuler Donner for making the film possible. Cast includes:
James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas
Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sopie Turner, Olivia Munn, and Lucas Till.
Dune—read a plotline before going—works at an exceptionally high level of
complication and sophistication. This is an intellectual watch that may be
completely appreciated by a limited audience with specialized knowledge. It is not
as interesting, nor as good as the original movie, but the film does elaborate on
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen’s character and about his position in moving the story
forward. While the cast is star-studded, it surprisingly, at times, needs more
realistic acting and consistency in acting skills.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A family has become powerful due to its control
of ‘spice’. A ruler decides that a new family needs to control the ‘spice.’
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Denis Villeneuve for
directing effort. Thank you to Producers Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve, and
Eric Roth for making the film possible. Cast includes: Timothee Chalamet, Oscar
Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley
Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster,
Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Maybe. It is interesting to see the differences
between the original Dune and this story (which has been completely
rewritten with bits of the original story sprinkled in at curtain junctures).
There is little to recommend this movie to a general audience other than to see
new actors coming into their professional maturity and to view some very good
special effects, makeup artists' terrific abilities, and some fantastic architectural
structures.
