RyanEberhart Reviews

Wrath of the Titans (2012)

Excellent!

[10/10 · 5 January 2014]

If you haven't guessed by now I am attempting to connect one movie to another in some way or another. Connecting the previous movie to The Wrath of the Titans is actor Sam Worthington. Although I could have connected using Liam Neeson or Ralph Fiennes, I chose to use Sam Worthington.

Worthington reprises his role from Clash of the Titans as Perseus. Liam Neeson reprises his role as Zeus and Ralph Fiennes reprises his role as Hades. In Wrath of the Titans Hades teams with Ares (Edgar Ramirez), the God of War, to take down Zeus and Poseidon (Danny Huston) and release Kronos.

In order to save Zeus Perseus must team with Agenor (Toby Kebbell) and Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike). Agenor is Perseus' cousin, a son of Poseidon. Queen Andromeda was saved by Perseus in the previous movie, she became queen when both her mother and father were killed.

Just like the last movie I liked the mythology of it all. Although it is completely different using creative license by the writers. Since the writer wrote Io as deceased, Gemma Arterton did not reprise her role. However, Rosamund Pike is an equally beautiful substitute.

The graphics are awesome and spectacular. Especially when Kronos is released from his prison and brings his wrath down upon Zeus, Hades and all human-kind. Perseus saves the day after killing his brother, Ares. The action scenes are pretty cool. The labyrinth is pretty cool also.

I give this 10 stars out of 10. Excellent movie!

Clash of the Titans (2010)

Pretty Good!

[10/10 · 5 January 2014]

Gemma Arterton also starred in another fantasy movie in 2010... that being Clash of the Titans. In Prince of Persia she played a Princess who was charged with a sacred mission by the gods. In Clash of the Titans she plays Io, Io in Clash of the Titans is the protector of Perseus. Io, according to the movie, rebuffed the advances of an unknown god and was cursed with immortality.

Perseus (Sam Worthington) is the son of Zeus (Liam Neeson) and Danae (Tine Stapelfeldt). Danae was tricked by Zeus as he was disguised as Danae's husband, Calibos (Jason Flemyng). Calibos is enraged that his wife is impregnated by Zeus and kills Danae and her child... well he tries to kill the child. Perseus survives. Calibos is hit with a lightning bolt as he attempts to toss Danae's casket into the sea. The lightning bolt disfigures him.

I know I say this a lot, and I mean it a lot, I really like this movie. Although, the creative license that the writers have utilized in creating Clash of the Titans has been pretty extreme. Don't believe me. Look up Io or Perseus or any of the other characters online. The way their lives are depicted in Clash of the Titans is pretty different than what the ancient Greeks believed. Fortunately for the writers, these characters are made up... so they can use as much creative license as they was in order to make the kind of movie they want.

I liked a lot of the fighting scenes. Especially the scene when Perseus and his fellow travelers are fighting Medusa. Perseus is successful in chopping her head off which was his mission to begin with. However, it cost him his companions... including Io, who he had begun to fall in love with. And the bitch of it was... she loved him also.

Because I love mythology and everything that goes along with it I loved this movie. It didn't hurt that Gemma Arterton was in it... she is quite beautiful. I give this movie 10 stars out of 10

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

Pretty Damn Good!

[9/10 · 3 January 2014]

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is based on a video game, but this is more than a video game homage. In the previous movie I reviewed Jake Gyllenhaal played a political cartoonist turned amateur detective. In this movie he plays a prince who is capable of incredible gymnastic feats.

The movie begins by talking about the Kingdom of Persia. Persia was an empire that existed long ago. Many of the stories about Persia are a part of myths and legend... this included. But of course the creator of the video games and the writer for this movie did a pretty good job researching Persia in order to create a realistic looking story.

Prince Dastan (Gyllenhaal) is an orphan and street urchin as a child. As a young boy he saves a friend from being beaten by a guard for stealing an apple. The way he does this is performing his incredible gymnastic flips and jumps. The king of Persia, King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup), witnesses this act of courage by Dastan. After hearing the Dastan doesn't have parents, Sharaman adopts Dastan as his son and raises him as his own to be brother to his biological sons.

Years later, Prince Tus (Richard Coyle), Prince Garsiv (Toby Kebbell) and Prince Dastan along with their uncle, Nizam (Ben Kingsley) and their army attack Alamut. A spy reported that Alamut was supplying weapons for the enemies of Persia. Dastan does what he does best and allows the Persian army to enter Alamut and conquered it. In Alamut, Dastan discovers not only his destiny but the truth. He also discovers Temina (Gemma Arterton), Princess of Alamut.

Prince of Persia is not only a fantasy story, it is also a love story. For in this movie Dastan and Temina fall in love as the story continues. However, in the end Dastan is the only one who remembers.

There are many scenes I like about this movie. I like Dastan's gymnastic abilities. I love the fact that Gemma Arterton was cast to play Temina; she is very beautiful woman.

This movie gets 9 stars out of 10 from me.

Zodiac (2007)

Pretty Damn Good!

[9/10 · 1 January 2014]

I like crime dramas that make you think and Zodiac certainly does just that. For those readers of this blog Zodiac is based on a real life crime in which a serial killer in California in the late 1960's and early 1970's killed at least 7 people and wounded 2, those were confirmed. Another five victims are suspected of being committed by Zodiac. The reason this is such an interesting story is because of the mystery and that the crime has never been solved.

The movie, made in 2007, follows pretty much all of the actual events. Some of the victims were switched around. There is a lot of the story that pertains to the personal lives of the newspapermen and detectives.

Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) catches the amateur detective bug when he sees the first cipher the Zodiac killer sent to The San Francisco Chronicle in 1969. Graysmith was a political cartoonist turned true crime author. Because of the Zodiac case Graysmith changed careers; in the movie it almost became an obsession to the point that it cost him his marriage, or so it seemed.

In the movie, Inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Inspector William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) catch the case of the attack in San Francisco. They consolidate all of the other attacks and pretty much take over the investigations. Eventually Inspector Armstrong leaves the investigation because the investigation has gone cold. Inspector Toschi is eventually removed from the case because he was accused of writing one of the several letters The Zodiac sent to one of the newspapers.

One of the prime suspects, Arthur Leigh Allen (John Carroll Lynch), is investigated several times. All the evidence pointed to Allen, especially after Graysmith began his investigation and started piecing everything together. One of the clues was a phone call that Melvin Belli (Brian Cox) received, or rather his housekeeper, the caller, presumably The Zodiac, mentioned it was his birthday. Graysmith figures out that the date The Zodiac called was December 18th, which so happens to be Allen's birthday. However, before Allen could be brought in Allen died of a fatal heart attack.

I actually liked this movie. All the actors played their roles pretty well. I give this 9 stars out of 10.

Band of Brothers: Day of Days (2001) Season 1, Episode 2

Pretty Damn Good!

[10/10 · 8 December 2013]

In the second episode of Band of Brothers, Day of Days, we are shown what Easy Company went through when they did their first jump into Normandy on June 6th. The whole episode is well done from beginning to end. There are a few bits that were slow but if it weren't for them it would have been wall to wall shooting and it wasn't always like that.

All of the actors that had a part in this episode did a phenomenal job portraying their respective characters.

Since I already shared how well I liked Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and all the others job in creating this exceptional series, I won't do so again. You'll just have to read the previous episodes review. What I will do is give you the scenes I liked over all the rest.

The first scene I liked was when Lieutenant Winters (Damian Lewis) hit the ground and realized he didn't have his weapon or some of his other equipment. Another paratrooper, Private John Hall (Andrew Scott), hits the ground near him. After introducing themselves to each other they realize that either one or both of them are in the wrong landing zone. Later they meet up with Carwood Lipton (Donnie Wahlberg) and two paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne, further displaying that the paratroopers of several outfits are in the wrong landing zone.

Several minutes later, at least in the episode, Winters, Hall and Lipton have picked up Don Malarkey (Scott Grimes), Bill Guarnere (Frank John Hughes) and a few others. On their way to the rallying point the group comes across several German soldiers. Winters gives the order to wait for his command to fire, Guarnere disregards this order and fires when he wants to. He does this because before the jump he gets news that his brother had been killed at Monte Casino in Italy and he wants revenge.

The third scene I like is when Winters meets up with Buck Compton (Neal McDonough) at the rallying point and receives orders from Lt. Colonel Sink (Dale Dye) to take out a nest of German 105 heavy guns at Brécourt, a nearby French estate. The guns are aimed directly at Causeway #1 at Utah Beach and are inflicting heavy casualties. Winters gathers two squads, one led by himself, the other by Compton. The Battle of Brécourt Manor follows and Winters proves himself an excellent tactician, using a small force to take out a larger one in a heavily fortified position. During the fight, Popeye Wynn (Nicholas Aaron) is wounded and is forced to leave the battle. Winters himself destroys three of the guns, using TNT and German "potato masher" grenades on the guns' barrels. Private Hall is killed in the trenches by a booby trap. Several of the men prove their valor in battle and Winters plans to recommend them for commendations. Lt. Speirs (Matthew Settle) takes out the fourth gun himself and the platoon retreats.

I'm gonna give you a fourth favorite scene. It's a small scene but I think it is a very important scene. Right before they arrive at the rallying point, they come across several captured German officers, one of whom is part of the "volksdeutsche" effort; German-Americans who returned to their ancestral homeland to join the German army. Malarkey himself is quite astonished that the man he meets is from his home state of Oregon. After Malarkey rejoins his company, he sees 1st Lt. Speirs of D company pass by. Malarkey hears heavy gunfire as Speirs (apparently) executes the captured German soldiers.

The episode gets 10 stars out of 10. The story is very well portrayed. The acting is great and the action is awesome.

Band of Brothers: Currahee (2001) Season 1, Episode 1

One of the Best!

[9/10 · 6 December 2013]

Band of Brothers is one of those mini-series that will be watched for years to come. The whole series was wonderfully done. Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and the rest of the Producers along with HBO created one of the most realistic WWII television shows, ever. If you think about it, though, if it weren't for Stephen E. Ambrose writing the book that would eventually become the series, we wouldn't have this series to watch.

Not only did they do a phenomenal job creating this series but the casting of each of the characters was perfect. David Schwimmer as Herbert M. Sobel was great. After seeing Scwimmer as Ross Gellar for 10 years on Friends as the older brother of Monica Gellar (Courtney Cox) who was a nice guy, sort of bumbling, it was a nice change to see him be an asshole.

The best part of this series is that at the beginning, or end as in the case of the last episode, the men the characters of this series are based off of are presented to the audience. Not until the final episode, however, does the audience know who each man is, but getting to see these men in later life is a remarkable addition to the series. Afterall, why shouldn't they be a part of the series that tell the story of their experiences in WWII.

Currahee is the first episode of The Band of Brothers series. The episode starts out with Easy Company waiting to head to France from England to begin their part of Operation D-Day. In this episode we meet the many different characters, well most of them anyway. The audience learns that Currahee is the mountain that Easy Company, part of the 506th Infantry, trained. Currahee is also the motto by which these men follow, a Cherokee word meaning "stand alone".

So as it has become customary for me to describe my favorite scenes I will do so now.

The first scene I liked is when Sobel has Easy Company run up Currahee after eating spaghetti for lunch. Many of the soldiers throw up along the way, but they continue to run up Currahee. As they do so, and the fact that none of his men fall out, Sobel realizes that they are running up Currahee to spite him.

The different training scenes are my second favorite scenes. The two best scenes are those that depict Sobel screwing up. The first scene is when the company is in textbook position for an ambush, Lt. Winters (Damian Lewis) pints out this fact and suggests staying in position, Sobel ignores the suggestion and has the company move out... right into an ambush. The second scene depicting Sobel's incompetence is when he, and some of his men, are on maneuvers and he becomes lost. It is the way he is spurred into action that is the best part. Not too long after this scene is when several of the non-commissioned officers of Easy Company attempt "mutiny" by refusing to follow Sobel into combat.

The last scene I like is when Joe Toye (Kirk Acevedo) lists off all the equipment that he has to carry. "Three day supply of K-rations, chocolate bars, Charms candy, powdered coffee, sugar, matches, compass, bayonet, entrenching tool, ammunition, gas mask, musette bag with ammo, my weapon, my .45, canteen, two cartons of smokes, Hawkins mine, two grenades, smoke grenade, Gammon grenade, TNT, THIS bullshit, and a pair of nasty skivvies!" I like the fact that he is complaining about how much he is carrying, but either forgets of doesn't care that everyone else has the same or similar amount of equipment.

I give this episode 9 stars out of 10. There was no fighting in this episode, just training. For the most part it was still a pretty good episode.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Excellent!

[10/10 · 25 November 2013]

Sequels have a hard time even equaling the success of their predecessor, but The Hunger Games: Catching Fire does give the first movie in this series a real run for supremacy. Why? The story just keeps building upon itself, with many twists and turns that keep the viewer kept off guard the way through. If you have read the books, you know what is going to happen, but bringing the book to life is what amazes me.

Suzanne Collins wrote an amazing book, that was turned into a first rate script by screenwriters Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt. The cast brings to life the characters that Suzanne Collins created for her dystopian world. Donald Sutherland plays President Snow very well in both movies, in many ways he is the perfect villain. Jennifer Lawrence does a wonderful job bring to life Katniss Everdeen, and has run the gamut of emotions in both movies; in every sense she is the perfect heroine.

Because this movie has only been in the theaters for approximately 3 days at the time of this writing I won't describe in detail big amounts of scenes. I would like to encourage you to watch the movie as soon as possible. I will give my rating now though of 10 stars out of 10; really just to get it out of the way.

I will tell you three things I liked about the film.

First, I liked the emotional roller coaster that each character had to travel over the course of this film. Each character, from Katniss, Peeta Malark (Josh Hutcherson), Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) and Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) to Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), Snow, Johanna and Finnick (Sam Claflin). Taken as a whole the roller coaster of emotions makes sense, and they are a big part of the movie. Every scene invokes a different emotion and sometimes more than one at the same time.

Second, I will describe one scene because it has nothing to do with the plot of the movie. After all the tributes are introduced in the parade, Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch are making their way to the District 12 apartments, Johanna Mason from District 7, joins them in the elevator. Johanna is disgusted by the dress her stylist makes her wear and begins disrobing in front of the others. She asks Peeta to unzip her dress and then peels it off, leaving her naked. Katniss is visibly disturbed by this. Haymitch and Peeta give admiring glances. Don't worry, nothing is shown. It is a PG-13 movie after all. It's just the idea of Johanna Mason (Jenna Malone) disrobing is... exciting.

The third thing I liked was the graphics. The graphics in Catching Fire play a big part in the film and were excellently done. Since the graphics play a big part in this film I won't describe them, however, I will say that without them the whole series would probably be very boring.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Excellent!

[10/10 · 25 November 2013]

The Hunger Games is one of the best movies of the last few years. Released a year and a half ago, The Hunger Games has grossed nearly $500 million; with a budget of $78 million. Suzanne Collins, with the help of Gary Ross and Billy Ray, wrote the screenplay for The Hunger Games using the book of the same name as a guide. The screenplay is as close to the book as possible given that the author is Suzanne Collins herself.

Suzanne Collins created an amazing story about a dystopian future, the totalitarian nation of Panem is divided between 12 districts and the Capital. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part Entertainment, part brutal retribution for a past rebellion, the televised games are broadcast throughout Penem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors while the citizens of Panem are required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives. (The Hunger Games storyline, IMDb.com)

Since this movie is more than a year old I can safely describe my three favorite scenes and not feel guilty about giving away any surprises.

The first scene I liked was the when Katniss volunteered to take her sister's place as tribute. All the teens assemble in order to be selected as tribute. They are selected by lottery, with each having their names entered at least once, many several times. Katniss is worried that Prim, who is only 12, would not be able to survive the brutal combat. In order to save her sister when her name is called, Katniss volunteers to go in Prim's place. It is an emotional scene, as is the scene in which Katniss is saying goodbye to Gale, Prim and her mother.

The second scene I liked was actually the sequence of scenes that each district representatives are in training. It is here that Katniss and Peeta gain allies and support. My favorite part is when Katniss shoots an arrow in the direction of the judges. It is not well received.

My third favorite scene is when Katniss kills Marvel. Marvel, the male tribute from District 1, attacks Katniss and Rue. Katniss dodges Marvel's spear and shoots an arrow at Marvel killing him. Katniss turns to Rue and sees that the spear she dodged had instead impaled Rue through her chest. Rue dies in Katniss's arms. Katniss decides that to honor her friend and ally she would decorate Rue with wildflowers. Rue's family and the rest of District 11 appreciate the sentiment that Katniss showed. Upon seeing the last of his daughter before her body was taken away, Rue's father and many of the other men in District 11 start a riot.

I loved The Hunger Games. The graphics were amazing. The storyline was awesome. I could see how some of the things in the story could actually happen.

I would, however, suggest that before you watch any of the movies in The Hunger Games series, please read the books.

I give The Hunger Games 10 stars out of 10.

Taken 2 (2012)

Almost as good as the first...

[10/10 · 10 November 2013]

Usually the second movie in a series is not as good as the first, but Taken 2 is almost as good as the first. Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, who wrote Taken, followed up with a spectacular sequel. Set in Istanbul the families of the men that Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) killed in Paris have come calling for revenge. The tagline on the DVD I have says "First they took his daughter, now they are coming for him."

Bryan is working as a body guard in Istanbul and has invited his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), and his ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Jensen), to join him as a get away for a few days once his work is complete. The families of the men Bryan killed in Paris are trying to track where Bryan and his family will be... they find him. On the morning of the first full day Kim and Lenore are in Istanbul the men attack, but they only get Bryan and Lenore. Kim had stayed at the hotel to swim in the pool and relax, claiming jet lag.

Just like in Taken there is almost nothing about this movie I don't like. However, in Taken 2 there is a scene where Bryan and Kim are racing through the streets of Istanbul in order to get to the U.S. Embassy. Bryan is yelling at Kim to drive faster. Kim is yelling back that she can't. The thing that I didn't like is that at every turn Kim whines that she "can't". But as we see she certainly can.

When you like the whole movie it is difficult to choose which scenes you like and want to talk about. But I'll try.

There is a series of scenes that I like that have to deal with when Bryan and Lenore are taken. Bryan tries to get Lenore to safety by telling her how to get back to the hotel, but that doesn't work and she is captured. Before Bryan finds out that Lenore gets captured he is ambushed and fights about five or six different guys, maybe more. Bryan finds one of the guys guns and points it at one of them threatening to "blow his brains out". Another guy then shoots his "friend" three times. That is when Lenore is brought to the courtyard and Bryan calls Kim. Bryan tells Kim what is going to happen and what he wants her to do.

The next scene I like is the car chase Bryan and Kim lead through the streets of Istanbul, despite Kim whining most of the time. The aggressiveness that is required to avoid not only the guys trying to kidnap them, but also to avoid the police is pretty cool. At one point during the chase Kim and Bryan are driving through a train yard; they dodge a train but one of the bad guys trucks isn't so lucky. Just after this Kim and Bryan make it to the Embassy, though they have to drive through a hale of gun fire by U.S. Embassy guards. Bryan calls his friend, Sam (Leland Orser), to make sure they are safe.

The final scene I liked is when Bryan goes after the rest of the group who have Lenore. Bryan now knows that the man in charge is the father, Murad Krasniqi (Rade Serbedzija), of the man he electrocuted in Paris. When Bryan and Lenore had been taken earlier that morning, Bryan paid attention to sounds and turns in the road. He followed those sounds and turns until it lead him to the house Lenore was being held in. Once he gets there... all hell breaks loose. Bryan kills every last one of the men in the house and tracks down Murad and another man, who have left the house with Lenore. Bryan tracks them to a bath house. After killing the last man, Bryan decides to leave Murad alive if he would just go home and live the rest of his life caring for his remaining sons. Murad has other plans and still tries to kill Bryan. Bryan shoves Murad's head into a coat-hook which penetrates the base of his skull.

Taken 2 is a great movie, almost as good as the original. Even though I say that sequels are almost never as good as the first and that I gave Taken 10 stars out of 10, I also give Taken 2 10 stars out of 10.

Taken (I) (2008)

Pure Genius

[10/10 · 8 November 2013]

Liam Neeson is one of my all time favorite actors. I have many of his movies, I would like to have them all. I even have Krull, which will be reviewed sometime in the future.

The actors in Taken are some of my favorites as well; Famke Jensen and Maggie Grace are just two of them. I thought the acting by these two and Neeson were phenomenal. Some of the best acting I have ever seen.

The script was awesome. The subject matter was pretty daring. The action itself was great. The only negative that I saw was when Liam Neeson was running. But I can't fault him too much, I don't run well either. But enough of that.

I give Taken 10 stars out of 10. From start to finish Taken is just a great movie.

Liking this movie as much as I did I have a hard time picking three of my favorites scenes. But The three that pop into my mind right now are some of the best of the movie.

The first scene is a difficult scene to watch. It's the scene where Amanda (Katie Cassidy) and Kim (Maggie Grace) are kidnapped from Amanda's cousin's apartment in Paris. Kim is talking on the phone with her father, Brian Mills (Liam Neeson). She sees through a window that a couple of guys have grabbed Amanda and she relays this to Brian. Brian tells Kim to go to the next room and hide under the bed. Brian talks to Kim calmly and explains what is going to happen and what he wants her to do. Kim is taken, but as she is being taken from the room she yells out things she sees. When everything is quiet Brian hears someone pick up the cell phone and hears breathing. Brian explains "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for, I will find you, and I will kill you." The response is "Good Luck"

What a great scene. Even if it was difficult to watch.

The next scene I like is when Brian finds out where the girls were taken to in order to get them hooked on drugs and turned into prostitutes. He enters the house on the pretense that he is part of the local police force and he is now in charge of collecting the "shake-down" money for not putting a stop to illegal activities. At the end of the conversation Brian asks the five men in the room to translate a phrase he has on a piece of paper, it's in Albanian. The phrase is translated and said out loud by one of the men, who says "Good Luck." At that moment, Brian realizes that that man was the one he talked to on the cell phone that his daughter had. That is when he takes those five men out, along with all the other members of the gang that are in the house. Unfortunately, Brian finds Amanda in one of the upstairs rooms... dead from an apparent drug overdose. Then he finds one of the men alive and tortures him by strapping him to a metal chair and hooking up what looks like jumper cables to the light switch and turns it on. When Brian gets the information he wants, he turns the switch on and leaves it on walking out of the house.

Awesome sequence of scenes. It shows that a father will do almost anything to find and protect his children. That being said, the sequence of scenes that lead to Brian rescuing his daughter says that he will do everything possible to save Kim. That is an awesome sequence.

Brian Finds out that his daughter is going to be sold because she is a virgin. He finds out through a man he thought he was a friend that the man he needs is St-Clair and where to find him. Brian enters St-Clair's house and finds the auction rooms in the basement. He gets one of the buys to buy his daughter in order to save her. But Brian gets captured and sentenced to death by St-Clair. Brian escapes and kills St-Clair. He then follows after Kim and her "owners" in order to rescue her. He kills everyone on board the boat his daughter has been taken aboard. When he finds Kim she is being held at knife point by Sheik Raman (Nabil Massad). Raman attempts to negotiate, but Brian is in no mood to negotiate, so he puts a bullet through his forehead.

There are other scenes I could have talked about. Like when Lenore (Famke Jensen) tries to browbeat Brian into signing the permission form for Kim to go to Paris because she is under 18. Or the scene when Brian goes to his so called friend, Jean-Claude (Olivier Rabourdin), in Paris by going to his apartment and shoots Jean-Claude's wife... in the arm. Or I could have described the scene where Brian saves Sheerah (Holly Valance) from some crazed fan who attempts to stab her after a concert.

Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen wrote one hell of a great movie. And Director Pierre Morel did a phenomenal job creating one of my favorite movies.

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)

Nearly as good as the original...

[9/10 · 6 November 2013]

Halloween 4 is a pretty damn good movie. I rated it at 9 stars out of 10. This movie could only have been better if Jamie Lee Curtis had reprised her role Laurie Strode, or as it is suggested Laurie Lloyd. As it is having Michael Myers (George P. Wilbur) and Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleascence) back in the script made this a hundred times better than Halloween III.

First of all, I have to say that the script and acting were pretty damn good. Bringing the next generation into the storyline was a great idea. The fact that Michael Myers ends up going after his seven year old niece, Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris), was a nice twist. Also, writing in that Laurie Strode had died in a car accident with her unnamed, but assumed to be Jimmy Lloyd, husband; Laurie and Jimmy are Jamie Lloyd's parents.

Now for my favorite scenes.

My first favorite scene is when Dr. Loomis is heading to Haddonfield tracking Michael Myers. Loomis stops at a roadside gas station for gas, but finds only death. Loomis goes into the service bay area where he finds the mechanic dead. He then goes into the restaurant and finds a waiter behind the counter, also dead. Loomis looks around and sees Michael standing in an adjacent doorway, he tries to talk to Michael, but is unsuccessful. And so Loomis shoots at Michael. Michael escapes but not before destroying the gas station and Loomis's car, and taking out the telephone lines.

The second of my favorite scenes is when Jamie Lloyd goes out trick-or- treating with her foster sister Rachel Carruthers (Ellie Cornell). They go to several houses and end up at Sheriff Ben Meeker's (Beau Starr) house. When Sheriff Meeker's daughter, Kelly (Kathleen Kinmont), opens the door Rachel sees her "boyfriend", Brady (Sasha Jenson), inside. Rachel notices that Kelly is half dressed and so is Brady, at which she walks off and Brady chases after her. Jamie wants to continue trick-or- treating so she and Rachel end up getting separated.

The third scene I liked was when Michael Myers gets into Sheriff Meeker's house. Michael first kills Deputy Logan (George Sullivan) and sits in the chair that Logan was sitting in holding the shotgun. Kelly Meeker comes out of the kitchen with a tray of coffee and discovers that Logan is dead. She tries to leave but Michael stabs her with the shotgun. Thought that stabbing her with the shotgun was an interesting choice.

I really love this movie, but it is still not as good as the original. What do you think?

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

Not one of my favorites...

[6/10 · 6 November 2013]

Well, what can I say about Halloween III: Season of the Witch?

It's very hard to find something positive to say about Halloween III. I can say that Dan O'Herlihy and Tom Atkins both did a pretty good job of delivering their lines. Some of the other acting was OK. However, with the script not including Michael Myers this was a poor movie over all. I guess that the writers tried to explain why Michael Myers was hell bent on killing his family.

When I bought this movie I only bought it because it "belongs" in the series. I'll try to come up with something or some scene I can say that is positive, but there isn't much I can say. I've only watched Halloween III about a half dozen times, including while writing this review. IMDb.com only has 4.2 Stars out of 10 as a rating, I have to say that I only gave this a 5. If I can't find anything positive to write about this movie I am sure I won't have to apologize too much or be asked to.

It would be easier to list the things wrong with this movie. For instance, no Micheal Myers. The damn commercial that hypnotizes the children into killing their parents and then kills the children. The robots that do the dirty work such as killing. Really?! Robots?!

The tour of the Silver Shamrock factory was pretty cool. I liked that they showed how the masks were made, from pouring the latex to the painting. Wow, if I am talking about a tour of a factory from a movie then there really isn't much hope for the whole movie. I think I might have to rethink what rating I am giving this movie, it's pretty hokey. However, unless the story is pretty bad, the acting is horrible and many other aspects of the movie are substandard then the rating will stay where it is. OK, I might raise it to a 6, but not any higher. I think not having Michael Myers in this movie detracted from it significantly. Although, having Nancy Kyes and Jamie Lee Curtis play some kind of role in this movie was somewhat of a plus.

Halloween II (1981)

Awesome!

[10/10 · 3 November 2013]

Halloween II picks up right where the first movie left off. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a sequel if Michael Myers (Dick Warlock) was really killed by Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence). Dr. Loomis shot Michael six times and Michael fell of the second story balcony of the Doyle House. However, when Dr. Loomis runs downstairs to investigate Michael is gone.

John Carpenter and Debra Hill wrote a great sequel. They continue their use of lighting tricks and psychological tricks to keep the terror going. John Carpenter and Debra Hill almost single handedly jump started the horror genre.

Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is taken to the Haddonfield Memorial Hospital to get treatment of her injuries. Michael Myers finds out where Laurie is and makes his way to the hospital. Somehow he gets inside.

I love this whole series, not so much the third one, but for most part the whole series. There are plenty of scenes I like that others like just as much.

The first scene I like is when Jimmy Lloyd (Lance Guest) walks into a minor surgery room to get Mrs. Alves (Gloria Gifford), the head nurse. Jimmy doesn't notice the red liquid on the floor under Mrs. Alves until he see the needle and hose sticking out of Mrs. Alves's arm. He quickly stands up to leave the room, but slips on what turns out to be blood, and is knocked unconscious.

The second scene I like is when Michael finds Laurie. Laurie runs, as best she can on a fractured ankle, from Michael. She makes her way down a set of stairs into the basement, Michael follows. Laurie gets cornered, but sees a window that leads into another section of the basement and she climbs through just as Michael gets to her. Laurie gets to the elevator and the doors close just as Michael reaches them.

The third scene I liked was when Dr. Loomis and Laurie are pursued into an operating room by Michael. Michael stabs Loomis with a scalpel, but doesn't kill him. Laurie takes the gun that Loomis gave her and shoots Michael, apparently, in both eyes. Loomis opens the compressed tanks, pure oxygen and ether, and uses a lighter to ignite the gas. Fortunately, Laurie has escaped, but witnesses Michael walk out of the surgical room engulfed in flames. He falls to the ground, again, apparently dead.

Some other great scenes are when it is discovered that Michael had been to the elementary school and he stabbed the sister of a drawing of a family. Michael also wrote the word "Samhain" on the chalk board in blood. Dr. Loomis explains that "Samhain" is the Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "dark half" of the year. Samhain is celebrated between sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1. In Halloween II it is explained that Samhain is also the Druid God of Death.

Or when Annie Brackett (Nancy Kyes), Lynda van der Klok (P.J. Soles) and Bob Simms (John Michael Graham) are taken out of the Wallace house. Annie's father, Sheriff Lee Brackett (Charles Cyphers), pulls back the sheet covering her face. Before going home to tell his wife their daughter is dead, Sheriff Brackett berates Dr. Loomis for letting Michael escape in the first place.

Also in Halloween II we find out that Laurie Strode and Michael Myers are brother and sister. Laurie was born two years before Michael killed his older sister, Judith Myers (portrayed by Sandy Johnson in Halloween). A few years after Michael killed Judith, Laurie's birth parents were killed in a car accident and she was adopted by the Strode family.

I give Halloween II 10 stars out of 10. If they haven't been already, I declare that the first two movies of the Halloween Franchise are classics. They are pure psychological thrillers. John Carpenter and Debra Hill wrote perhaps the two best Horror/Thriller movies of the last 35 years. Carpenter and Hill take what Alfred Hitchcock did during his career and expanded on his psychological genius.

Halloween (1978)

I LOVE this movie!

[10/10 · 1 November 2013]

I love this movie! Halloween is the best horror movie made in the last 35 years. Yes, I said 35 years! If you don't believe me watch it and see for yourself. I have seen this movie at least 20 or 30 times. I won't exaggerate, because there is no need to.

John Carpenter and Debra Hill took a budget of $325,000 and created a franchise that has scared movie goers for 35 years. The franchise estimated budget, according to different sources, is somewhere around $80,325,000; this covers all ten movies, including the two Rob Zombie versions. The total gross income for all ten movies is over $366,000,000.

Over 115,000 IMDb.com users have voted that puts Halloween at 7.9 stars out of 10. I of course believe that this is one of the scariest movies ever made and give it 10 stars. John Carpenter used many different tricks of lighting and shadow in order to create this masterpiece. He used many tricks of psychology in order to feed the movie goers fears of what might happen next. The tricks that Carpenter used are so simple.

As I said before I have seen Halloween many, many times. So yes, I know what happens. But, knowing something is going to happen and the anticipation of it happening is enough to make anybody jump even just a little.

I love Halloween from beginning to end. But I will describe my three favorite scenes from the movie.

The first scene I liked is when Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence) and Nurse Marion Chambers (Nancy Stephens) are driving up to Smith's Grove Sanitarium. They are talking as they drive up to the hospital and all of a sudden they see several patients wandering around in a storm. Dr. Loomis orders Chambers to drive up to the gate, he gets out of the car to inspect the gate house. As Loomis does this, one of the patients climbs on top of the car and then forces Chambers out. The patient, later determined to be Michael Myers (Tony Moran), drives off.

The second of my favorite scenes is one that has been talked about before on other reviews. It's the scene where Annie Brackett (Nancy Kyes) is going to pick up her boyfriend. She goes out to her car and tries to get in, but the door is locked. She runs back into the house to get her keys and comes back and gets into the car... without using the keys to unlock the door. She goes to put the key in the ignition and notices the windows are fogged up. As she tries to wipe off the condensation she is attacked by Michael Myers, wearing his now famous mask. Michael eventually cuts Annie's throat. Of course, the fact that her throat is cut is not why I like this scene. I like this scene because Annie doesn't even pay attention to what she is doing, but a real movie fan would have picked up on the fact that she couldn't get into the car and then about 30 seconds later she can.

Before I describe my third favorite scene I want to tell you about my favorite line. Dr. Loomis explains "I met him, fifteen years ago; I was told there was nothing left; No reason, no conscience, no understanding; and even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, of good or evil, right or wrong. I met this six-year old child, with this blank, pale, emotionless face, and the blackest eyes... the devil's eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up because I realized that what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil."

The third scene I liked is when Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) goes to the Wallace house to see what is keeping Annie. She walks in and searches the house, but doesn't find anyone until she gets to an upstairs bedroom. When she enters the bedroom she finds her friends Annie, Lynda (P.J. Soles) and Lynda's boyfriend, Bob Sims (John Michael Graham) have been killed. She runs from the Wallace house to the Doyle house, across the street, in an attempt to call the police. Laurie is pursued by Micheal and then the real fun begins. Michael pursues Laurie several times; I say "several times" because Laurie stabs him with knitting needles and a few other items, but he gets up after each. It is only after Dr. Loomis shoots Michael several times that he seems to be stopped.

Yes, I know, I gave away the ending of the movie. There aren't too many ways that someone could have never seen Halloween. Giving away the ending of a movie that is over 30 years old is not a bad thing. Like I said before it is the way the scenes are set up that make the movie anyway. The psychology of fear that John Carpenter used to scare everyone.

I already gave this movie 10 stars out of 10. What did you think?

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Perfect!

[10/10 · 8 October 2013]

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second installment of J.K. Rawlings phenomenally great series that has been adapted into a movie. The series is so great in my opinion that I will go ahead and post right now that all of them get a score of 10 stars out of 10. Don't worry, I'll remind you of the scores for each of the next 6 movies.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets builds on the first movie. After all, the movies are supposed to follow Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) as they attend school at Hogwarts. In this movie we meet Guilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh), the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. Lockhart is full of himself and is an inept wizard; it's amazing he has made it as far as he has in life and being so inept.

As I did for Sorcerer's Stone in giving my favorite scene I won't describe the big scenes, though they are some of my favorites. However, I have other scenes that I like that will be listed below.

The first scene I liked was when Ron and his twin brothers, Fred (James Phelps) and George (Oliver Phelps), come to Surrey, England to rescue Harry. Harry has been put on lock down in the Dursley house because of something he didn't do. Dobby (Toby Jones) the House Elf has taken it upon himself to save Harry Potter from a plot against him. Dobby drops a cake on Uncle Vernon's boss's wife's head. When Ron, Fred and George come to rescue Harry they do so in a flying car. When they get to the Weasley home we meet Arthur Weasley (Mark Williams) and Molly Weasley (Julie Walters), parents to Ron, Fred and George. We also meet Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright).

The second scene I like was the dueling scene between Harry and Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton). They are supposed to only disarm each other, but Malfoy cheats (shocker!). Harry retaliates, but Malfoy comes back with a spell that produces a snake. Harry talks to the snake trying to convince it to not attack another student, this shocks everyone because talking to snakes is not a common gift.

The next scene is one of the funniest scenes. It's when Harry and Ron "accompany" Lockhart into the Chamber of Secrets to save Ginny. They see a snake skin on the ground and Lockhart faints. However, this is a ploy in order to steal Ron's wand. Lockhart attempts to erase Harry's memories, but Ron's wand was broken near the beginning of the movie and he never replaced it. The spell Lockhart tries to use backfires and causes a cave-in, it also causes Lockhart to lose all of his memories.

I already scored this movie, how would you score it?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Amazingly well done!

[10/10 · 8 October 2013]

I had a friend who worked at a movie theater during the releases of the first two Harry Potter movies who kept getting asked if he was hired as a look-alike for Harry Potter. He hated it. But that is not to say that he didn't like the movies, or at least the ones I know he watched.

Anyway, I loved these movies. I liked how we got to watch the characters grow. I mean why not, there were 8 movies covering 7 years of growth. We got to see the three main characters go from awkward pre-teens to very talented and strong adults.

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone we meet all the characters. Well, the most important characters for the whole series and many others that played big part throughout. We meet other important characters in later movies that play important parts.

The graphics are great. I especially like when some of the different characters are shown flying broom sticks. I thought that having Hagrid driving a flying motorcycle with a sidecar was a nice touch. Speaking of Hagrid, I liked how the Special Effects Department made a 6'1" actor, Robbie Coltrane look 8'6".

My favorite scenes may not be what you think they should be. I like the big scenes, but my favorite scenes are not the big scenes.

The first scene I liked was when Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and the Dursleys go to the zoo. Harry's cousin, Dudley (Harry Melling), is celebrating his birthday. Harry, Dudley, Uncle Vernon (Richard Griffiths) and Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw) are in the reptile house at the zoo. They are looking at a Burmese Python and Dudley wants it to move. Uncle Vernon knocks on the glass to try to get it to move, Harry yells that its asleep. After the others leave, Harry begins talking to the snake... and it understands him. Dudley turns around and sees that the snake is moving. He runs over and pushes Harry out of the way. In anger, Harry makes the glass disappear and Dudley falls in. The python escapes, but Dudley is stuck inside the python's exhibit. Serves him right!

The next scene I liked was the scene of the first Quiddich Match Harry was ever in. I won't describe the scene in detail, but I will tell you that it is amazing to watch. The best part is when Harry catches the Golden Snitch to win the match. He does so by catching it in his mouth.

The third scene I like is chess game Harry, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) play in order to stop Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) from getting the Sorcerer's Stone. It's a giant chess game in which the three young wizards have to play as pieces. There is a scene earlier in the movie when we see Harry and Ron playing Wizard Chess and this is exactly like that only bigger.

Of course I am going to give Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 10 stars out of 10. I liked everything about this movie.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Best of this Trilogy!

[10/10 · 7 October 2013]

Well, this is a continuation of the previous movie, Anakin is still portrayed as a whining brat. At least at the beginning. At the end his temper tantrum is almost epic.

In this installment of Star Wars, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christiansen) and Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) are married and are expecting a child. Actually two children. They are keeping their relationship secret, as well as, who the father of Padme's children are.

The graphics are very good. I especially liked the event that Chancellor Palpetine (Ian McDiarmid) was attending when Anakin went to meet with him. Many of the battle scenes are pretty cool. I thought it was great that Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) was brought into the movie. The fight between Yoda (Frank Oz) and Emperor Palpetine was amazing, even though Yoda lost.

There are many scenes I liked, some of them I have already mentioned. But I will describe at least three more.

The first scene I liked was the scene in which Anakin and Obi-Wan are sent to rescue Chancellor Palpetine. Palpetine was kidnapped by Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and General Grievous (Matthew Wood). Anakin and Obi-Wan confront Dooku. Obi-Wan is knocked unconscious. Anakin cuts off Dooku's arms at about the elbow. Dooku is helpless and on his knees. Anakin has both his and Dooku's lightsabers crossed in front of Dooku's neck. Palpatine eggs Anakin on to execute Dooku, and Anakin does. Anakin immediately regrets his action.

The next scene I like is the fight scene between Obi-Wan and Grievous. Some of it is funny, especially when Obi-Wan kicks Grievous. This was a stupid move since Grievous is a cyborg(?). In the end Obi-Wan succeeds in defeating Grievous by shooting him in the chest and destroying his heart. Yes, Grievous had a heart.

The third scene I liked was the fight scene between Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) and Palpatine. Palpatine reveals that he is well versed in the Jedi arts. Anakin comes in and attempts to help Windu bring Palpatine under arrest, but ends up helping Palpatine defeat Windu. This is the act that causes Anakin to become Darth Vader, but he needs to complete one task for Palpatine... Kill all Jedi in the Jedi Temple, including younglings. It would be this act of killing younglings that would kill the relationship between Anakin and Padme.

I give Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith 10 stars out of 10. What do you think?

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

Pretty Good

[8/10 · 6 October 2013]

The second installment of the new Star Wars series was far better than it's predecessor. However, I didn't like how they portrayed Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christiansen) as a petulant child. This portrayal was carried over to the next movie where is always whining that "it's not fair."

Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones adds onto the story the was started in Phantom Menace but takes place ten years later. Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) is no longer Queen of Naboo, instead she has been elected Senator. As Senator she represents the planet of Naboo in the Galactic Senate. Anakin Skywalker has progressed in his training as a Padawan Learner in the Jedi Order with Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) as his Master.

Even though they portrayed Anakin as a whining child, I did like this movie.

Of course there are scenes in this movie that I like more than others.

The first scene I liked is when Anakin and Obi-Wan are chasing Zam Wessell (Leeanna Walsman) after her second attempt to assassinate Padme. The chase scene is pretty elaborate and kind of fun. In the end Zam is killed by another assassin before she can reveal anything to Anakin or Obi-Wan. The other assassin turns out to be Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison).

The next scene I like was when Anakin goes in search of his kidnapped mother. He finds her just before she dies. In his grief, Anakin slaughters the Tusken Raiders who have held her captive. Anakin didn't just kill the men, he killed the women and children too. This is the event that begins Anakin's path to the Dark Side and to his new identity as Darth Vader.

The last scene I liked in this takes place after Anakin and Padme are captured on Geonosis. They are taken to an arena where they are to executed along with Obi-Wan. They are joined in their fight by several Jedi, including Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) and eventually a clone army. At the end of the scenes on Geonosis Anakin has been wounded by Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) when his arm was severed.

I give this movie an 8 out of 10 stars. The graphics were pretty good, especially Yoda's light saber fight with Count Dooku.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Not One of the Best, But Still Good

[7/10 · 3 October 2013]

I have to say that I am surprised at the reception of the prequel trilogy. Many fans of the original trilogy were reluctant to accept these movies. Some thought that they took something away from the original movies. I disagree.

I liked episodes 1 through 3 just as much as I liked 4 through 6, maybe even more. I like that the first three tell the story of Anakin Skywalker and what leads him to become Darth Vader. But beyond that it is the story of Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) and her relationship with Anakin.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a favorite but not at the top. Based on a 10 star rating I give it a 7. The story was pretty good, but the script and acting seemed a little forced at times.

I do have many favorite scenes.

The first favorite is when Quigon Jin (Liam Neeson) and Obi Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) first meet Jar Jar Binx. Quigon supposedly saves Jar Jar's life. The antics that follow make for some pretty good comic relief.

My next favorite scene is the pod race scene. The whole scene is pretty cool. It shows the Tuskan Raiders, the Jawas and even Jabba the Hutt. I like the different things that happen just before, during and at the end of the pod race.

The third favorite scene is the final fight scene between Qui-Gon Jin, Obi Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul (Ray Park). In the end Qui-Gon is killed by Darth Maul. But, Darth Maul is killed by Obi Wan Kenobi.

The music is great. Especially in the pod race scene and the final Darth Maul fight scene. John Williams did a phenomenal job.

I have already given my rating of this movie. What is yours?

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Great movie! Great special effects! Great Action!

[9/10 · 30 September 2013]

Terminator Salvation is my second favorite movie of this series. I like it because it actually tells the story of the war between humans and machines, or at least a little part of that war. However, I was a little upset that John Connor (Christian Bale) was not the leader of the human resistance, just a unit leader, but by the end of this installment that will be rectified.

The special effects and graphics are very good. The fight scenes are pretty awesome. The script and plot are very good. I like that the scars on John Connor's face we have come to see on all the actors who have played him are explained.

According to IMDb.com fans have given Terminator Salvation an average score of 6.7 stars. I actually give Terminator Salvation 9 stars, I couldn't wait for the war between humans and machines to be depicted. That is why this is my second favorite of these movies. Perhaps the scores have been so low because time-travel wasn't a part of the script, or was it? How did Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) die in 2003 and wake up in 2018?

There are many great scenes in this movie that I liked, however, I will only describe three (as usual).

My first favorite scene is when Marcus meets Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) and Star (Jadagrace). It's a little sparse as far as action or speaking go, but it is the first time we see Kyle as a teenager. And really it is the first time we have seen this character since the first movie. Although, there was a scene in T2 that didn't make it to the theatrical version where Kyle comes to Sarah in a dream.

The next favorite scene is when Marcus escapes from John Connor's resistance compound. He is helped by Blair Williams (Moon Bloodgood). He has to escape in order to rescue Star and Kyle, but really he has to escape because it has been discovered that he is a Cyborg. But he is not like the Terminators we have come to know. Marcus has a human mind and heart, but everything else is robotic. John Connor goes against everything he believes in in order to save his father, Kyle; John lets Marcus go hoping that Marcus can help save Kyle.

The last favorite scene is when Marcus gives John his heart. Marcus had been a convicted murderer in 2003, and was sentenced to death by lethal injection; which was carried out. However, he was revived by CRS aka Skynet, to infiltrate the resistance. But, Marcus redeems himself, both as a human and a machine by giving John his heart. I believe this is where the salvation comes in. Marcus is the salvation of everything; he helps save Kyle, he helps save John, and he ultimately helps save the resistance.

I almost forgot. Kate Connor (nee Brewster) is played by Bryce Dallas Howard. Bryce is Ron Howard's daughter. I think this was a great casting choice. I have liked everything that I have seen her in. It doesn't hurt that she is a redhead, which is my favorite hair color. Or, more accurately, she is usually a redhead.

These are my thoughts on this damn good movie. What do you think?

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Best of the Four (so far)

[9/10 · 28 September 2013]

Of the four Terminator movies this is my favorite. I like Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines because it actually tells the story of how the machines takes over. I get that the first two movies are an important part of the story but to me they were a shadowy prelude to this movie.

The graphics are just as good, if not better, as the graphics in the second movie. And a hundred times better than the first movie. The premise of this movie is very well thought out, especially when the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) explains that the apocalypse was only delayed not averted. The Terminator says that the apocalypse is inevitable.

According to Internet Movie Database movie fans that have rated this movie has rated in on average 6.4 stars. I however, have to give this 9 stars out of 10. I gave it 9 stars because the evil Terminator was a woman this time, and she was hot. Also, there were many great scenes, even the one where the good Terminator has to get clothes. Yes, I know Arnold is naked in this scene and I shouldn't be talking about this, but it is funny that he goes into a local strip club... on ladies night. The Terminator scanning for appropriate clothing is hilarious. However, I did like the evil Terminator looking for clothes more to my liking.

The three best scenes are as follows, at least in my opinion.

The first scene I liked was the scene in which the evil Terminator (Kristanna Loken) tracks down John Connor's lieutenants, before they become his lieutenants. I don't like that she is killing these people. What I like is that she is so methodical and cold. The best part is when she comes to the animal clinic looking for Kate Brewster (Claire Danes), but finds John Connor (Nick Stahl).

The next best scene takes place just after the first favorite. It's the chase scene where John is driving the animal clinic's truck with Kate in the back. The evil Terminator is driving a Terex-Demag AC 160, better known as a crane truck. The good Terminator is driving a motorcycle. The good Terminator is knocked off the motorcycle but ends up hanging from the end of the crane. However, he ends up getting knocked off the crane by a fire engine. The sequence of this scene is nothing short of remarkable.

The third and final best scene is when the two Terminators are fighting at the airforce base Kate's father, General Robert Brewster (David Andrews), is commanding and in charge of Skynet. The fight scene is fairly awesome and a little drawn out. There is a breakaway scene that shows Kate and John escaping, Kate grabs a machine gun and shoots a mini-plane robot thing. Kate looks at John and says "what?" John replies, "You remind me of my mother."

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Could have been better

[7/10 · 27 September 2013]

Though I love the Terminator series, this is my least favorite of the four movies. Terminator 2: Judgement Day takes place about twelve years after the first movie. In this movie we find that John Connor (Edward Furlong) is living with foster parents because Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) is in an asylum for trying to blow up a computer company.

The graphics for this movie were far better than what the graphics for the first Terminator movie were. They ought to be, the budget was just over $100,000,000 compared to $6,500,000. That is quite a lot of difference.

Anyway, even though this is my least favorite of all four movies I do have some favorite parts. But, before I list them I want to say that I could have gone a lot longer in my life with out seeing the naked asses of Arnold Schwarzenegger or Robert Patrick. That said I think I can list my favorite scenes without ever having to reference those scenes again.

My first favorite scene is when The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) walks into the road house to get clothes (oops, I'm referring to Arnold being naked). The Terminator takes out five or six bikers. One of the bikers pulls a knife and the Terminator disarms him and stabs the biker through the shoulder and pins him to the pool table. After the Terminator gets clothes and takes a motorcycle, the bartender come out to stop him with a shotgun. The Terminator disarms the bartender and takes his sunglasses, but leaves without further harm to anymore humans.

My next favorite scene has to deal with when The Terminator and the T- 1000 and when they first find John Connor. The fight between the two terminators is pretty good. However, I like the chase scene through the storm canals better.

The last scene I like is the scene when the T-1000 is defeated. It's a pretty drawn out elaborate fight scene that sees him fall into a vat of molten metal. Unfortunately for the Terminator, and John, that isn't the end of the movie. The Terminator must be destroyed, so he is lowered into the same vat of molten metal.

I give this movie 7 stars out of 10. I didn't like how Sarah Connor was extremely butch and gung-ho, I understand it, but I didn't like it.

The Terminator (1984)

Excellent!

[8/10 · 27 September 2013]

The Terminator is a classic! Yes, I said a classic. Of the four movies so far this is my third favorite, behind the third and fourth movies.

The graphics are just what you would expect from a movie that was made in the early 1980's. At the time the graphics were state of the art. However, today they are antiquated, which makes this a classic.

The story was unique. Before 1984 there were scripts and plots that had robot that looked robotic, or monsters that looked like monsters. In 1984, James Cameron gave us The Terminator, a machine that can't be "bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead."

The script revolves around Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) who is the mother of John Connor, a future leader who fights and eventually defeats Skynet. Skynet developed technology to travel back in time in the hopes of killing Sarah Connor to prevent John Connor's birth. The human resistance sends Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) to save Sarah Connor and stop, if possible, the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger).

As always I will list my three favorite scenes. As this movie has been around for nearly 30 years I have no issue in including any scene from the beginning to the end.

The first scene I liked was when Sarah is in the nightclub waiting for the cops. She is being followed by Reese and the Terminator. When the Terminator walks by the table Sarah happens to drop something on the floor and bends over to pick it up. The Terminator eventually sees Sarah and moves in for the kill, but Reese intervenes.

The second scene I liked was actually all of the flashback scenes for Reese. They were flashback scenes for Reese but would be flash-forwards for us. It gets a little confusing for when you talk about time travel.

The third scene I liked was the final scene when Sarah defeats the Terminator. Reese is killed when he puts a pipe bomb in some of the Terminators gears. The resulting explosion kills Reese, cripples the Terminator, and injures Sarah. Sarah defeats the Terminator by crushing it.

Before I finish this review I do have something to say. I could have gone my whole life without seeing the naked asses of either Michael Biehn or Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I give this 8 stars out of 10.

The Expendables 2 (2012)

Way better than the first...

[9/10 · 25 September 2013]

Expendables 2 was a lot better than the first movie, the number of action stars who were cast in this movie increased and for the better. I like the addition of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Liam Hemsworth, Chuck Norris and Nan Yu to this movie; as well as the expanded roles of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. The plot was better than the first movie as well.

The script itself could have been better, at least as far as some of the duologue, but for the most part was pretty satisfying. I have mixed feelings about some of the actors saying lines that the another actor said in other movie series. For instance, Bruce Willis says "I'll be back" to Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Arnold says "Yippee-ki-yay."

I have several scenes I like in this movie, but I will only describe three.

The first scene I liked, or really the first part of a scene I liked was the end of the rescue scene at the beginning of the movie. The Expendables are sent to rescue Dr. Zhou (Wenbo Li), they complete the mission, but also rescue Trench (Arnold Schwarzenegger). To escape the compound that Dr. Zhou was being held hostage in the Expendables use some power lines as zip lines. Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) end up on the ground surrounded by enemy soldiers, they are ordered to drop their weapons and they do, Barney holds his index finger pointed out like a gun and does the motion of shooting the soldiers with his finger. The soldiers are shot but by a sniper named Billy the Kid (Liam Hemsworth).

My next favorite scene is when the Expendables are on their plane heading to Albania. Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren) attempts to flirt with Maggie (Nan Yu), but she rebuffs him. Maggie, however, befriends Billy the Kid just to spite Gunnar. Billy tells Maggie why he left the Army and it pretty much effects every member in the exact same way, not a dry eye was had within ear shot.

Another favorite scene is after Billy is killed by Villain (Jean-Claude Van Damme) the Expendables vow to hunt Villain down. The Expendables end up staying the night in a mock-New York City training center somewhere in Eastern Europe, probably a hold over from the Cold War. The next morning as everyone is getting ready to attack Villain's group, Gunnar is still asleep on the floor snoring away. Barney yells out and wakes Gunnar up, to which Gunnar bellows "You Rang". I found this to be very hilarious.

I won't tell you how this movie ends because it was that good. I will tell you that Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis played a huge role in the finale of the movie.

I give this 9 stars out of 10. The blood still looked fake.

The Expendables (2010)

Could have been better

[7/10 · 24 September 2013]

Expendables was not exactly my favorite but I would have to say that for the most part it was a decent action movie. With the amount of actors that were cast in this movie that had huge success in other franchises it was a little bit of a disappointment for me to see this movie at the level it was. I would have expected better.

That being said, there are a few scenes that I found pretty good. Incidentally these are the most action packed scenes of the entire movie. Go figure.

The first scene I liked was when Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) fly down to Vilena, an island in the Gulf of Mexico (fictional, of course). They are doing reconnaissance for a job to take out the dictator of the island. Ross and Christmas witness local soldiers terrorizing the citizens of the island and being directed by James Munroe (Eric Roberts) and Paine (Steve Austin). The best part of the whole scene is when Ross and Christmas escape the island, but end up taking out the dock area they landed their plane. The do this, Christmas first fires Browning M2 Aircraft machine guns quad-mounted into the nose of the plane. Then fuel is dumped on the dock, dousing the remaining soldiers and Munroe and Paine, Christmas then fires a M8 Flare Pistol at the dock to ignite the fuel.

The next scene I liked was when Christmas gets home he goes over to his girlfriend's house only to find that she, Lacy (Charisma Carpenter) is seeing another guy. Lacy explains that she only moved on because even when Christmas was home he wasn't really home, and that she really didn't know him. But the best scene for this little triangle is when Christmas goes to Lacy's house and discovers that her boyfriend, Paul (Hank Amos), has hit Lacy. Christmas and Lacy get on his motorcycle to go have a chat with Paul. Paul is playing basketball with a five or six other guys when Lacy and Christmas show up. Christmas takes out every single one of them, leaving them alive, but tells Paul that the next time he comes near Lacy and lays a hand on her he will deflate all of Paul's balls.

The best scene by far is the scene in which Ross and Christmas, along with the other members of their mercenary force, storm the President's Palace on Vilena. They are doing this to take out the dictator, General Garza (David Zayas), as well as Munroe and Paine. They are also trying to rescue Sandra (Giselle Itie'), General Garza's daughter. Near the end of the scene Munroe has a gun pointed at Sandra and he asks Ross why he was coming after him; Ross answers that he was coming for the girl not him, and then shoots Munroe several times before Christmas throws a knife through his chest.

Another great scene is the chase scene through the city the Expendables live in. I hate that the 1955 Ford 100 truck that Barney Ross was driving got destroyed, I like older vehicles like that one. The fight between Yin Yang (Jet Li) and Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren) at the end of this chase scene was pretty cool.

I think I named all the headliners. Oh wait! I forgot Bruce Willis as Church and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Trench, they weren't in the movie for very long, a total of about 7 or 8 minutes.

Anyway, this could have been a hell of a lot better. The graphics, especially the blood splatter from gun shot wounds, was exaggerated; probably to allow for better visual effect, but it looked fake. I guess that was the point. A lot of the weapons were pretty cool. I like the weapon that Hale Caesar (Terry Crews) used. Sorry, I forgot a headliner.

The script was OK. Tool's (Mickey Rourke) story of being in Bosnia (?) was touching, especially when he started to get choked up.

Anyway, I give this movie a 7 out of 10 stars. It could have been way better.