Barbershop—culturally rich—examines choices that impact the kind of life one will live. This movie has exceptionally well-written dialogue. It is highly creative and exceptionally fresh. Be aware that the movie has been crafted for the mature, adult audience. The movie itself is more than worth its watch.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Calvin inherits his father's barbershop. He is married, has a baby on the way, and must make some tough financial decisions.
Additional Thanks
Thank you to Director Tim Story for directing effort. Thank you to Producers George Tillman, Jr, Robert Teitel, and Mark Brown for making the film possible. Cast includes Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Troy Garity, Michael Ealy, Leonard Earl Howze, Keith David, and Cedric the Entertainer.
Buy a
ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. This is the first movie in a three part movie series. This film is culturally rich and worth viewing on that factor alone.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer—better than the last film—has actors reprising
their roles. The movie is watchable, but not recommendable. The animation of
the silver surfer on his surfboard is worth mentioning.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A humanoid-type silver surfer appears in earth’s atmosphere.
The Fantastic Four Team discovers that planets the surfer has previously visited
have all been destroyed.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Tim Story for
directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus, Kevin Feige, Stan Lee, and Mark Radcliffe, for making the film possible. Cast includes: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba,
Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Andre Braugher, Laurence Fishburne, Doug Jones,Beau Garrett, Brian Posehn, Zach Grenier, Dawn Chubai, and Chris Gailus.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Maybe. This movie runs on a better storyline than
previous series’ films. It has a better storyline and presentation.
Fantastic Four, thin story with no depth to the characters contributes
to this movie’s cult classic feel. While
some ‘cult’ movies like the 1990s Ninja Turtles movies touch on the fun to
watch factor and could be added to the home video library, this movie could not generate those frequencies.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Four persons find they develop extraordinary
powers and learn how to deal with those powers.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Tim Story for directing
effort. Thank you to Producers Avi Arad, Bernd Eichinger, and Ralph Winter for
making the film possible. Cast includes: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris
Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Hamish Linklater, Kerry Washington, Laurie Holden, David Parker, Kevin McNulty, Maria Menounos Michael Kopsa Andrew Airlie, and Pascale Hutton.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Maybe. The superficial treatment of story, challenges
its value as a remake to the 1994 film.
Tom and Jerry: The Movie—Nostalgia!—shows very well in its animation. Terrific
to see the Tom and Jerry cat and mouse activity and to also be reminded of Spike the Bulldog as built into this movie’s story. The live action is
problematic and detracts from the film. But it is good to see Michael Peña and the other
live action characters, Patsy Ferran is an interesting actress choice for this
movie. She will be looked for in other works to assess her handling of
characters. The film also makes a reference to Droopy the Basset Hound which is
quite welcome as another small trip down memory lane.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
Tom wants to be a pianist and Jerry wants a new home and the adventure is on.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Tim Story for
directing effort. Thank you to Producer Chris DeFaria for making the film
possible. Cast includes: Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Tom, Jerry, Jordan Bolger, Rob Delany, Patsy Ferran, Pallavi Sharda, Colin Jost, Somi De Souza, Ajay Chhabra, Patrick Poletti, Janis Ahern, and Ken Jeong.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. It brings back memories in a very big way
and entertains with its animation techniques and storyline.
Ride Along 2—same level of quality as the first Ride Along movie—is a bit ‘campy’
but the comical element overrides most presentation flaws. The movie ends with
a good comical scene that is more than worth watching. Kevin Hart, as in
the first film, seems a little over-the-top as a casting choice to pair with
Ice Cube. But, it’s refreshing to have the comedic element available and to
have the easy-on-the-mind presentation.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A policeman desires to become a police detective
and hopes for a recommendation from his future brother-in-law.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to Director Tim Story for directing
effort. Thank you to Producers Will Packer, Ice Cube, Matt Alvarez, and Larry
Brezner for making the film possible. Cast includes: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Ken
Jeong, Benjamin Bratt, Olivia Munn, and Bruce McGill.
Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?
Yes. The movie has comedy and action that works
on the Ice Cube and Kevin Hart-style of interaction. It has enough chuckles to
make it worth a watch and serves as an easy-on-the mind watch.
Ride Along—better than expected—does not have high comedic appeal but it does
have its chuckles along the way. Kevin Hart and Ice Cube do not make an
outstanding comedic team. One challenge is Kevin Hart’s overworking of his
character against the more comfortable screen presence of Ice Cube. Watch for a guest appearance of Laurence
Fishburne toward the end of the film.
Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images
Storyline
A young man
wants to marry the sister of a detective and wants a recommendation to join the
police force. He is invited on a ride-along to prove his worthiness.
Additional
Thanks
Thank you to
Director Tim Story for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Will Packer,
Matt Alvarez, Ice Cube, and Larry Brezner for making the film possible. Cast
includes: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, John Leguizamo, Bruce McGill, Tika Sumpter, and
Laurence Fishburne.
