Oblivion

Oblivion

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 4/19/13

Reviewed 4/20/13 at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary, Denny, Brandon & Leigh

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

What to expect in a movie is a big part of my movie watching experience. The genre for Oblivion says action, but I feel it's better described as a drama with a love story thrown in and some action spilling out in the latter part of the movie. Progressively confusing, it doesn't hurt to pay attention early on or you may leave trying to piece it together like we were. Brandon was probably the most disappointed with this much anticipated film. We all liked it, but it didn't quite live up to the big movie Hollywood hype. The special effects and scenery were amazing. I suggest seeing it at an IMax to really appreciate it to the "max".

Tom Cruise plays Jack Harper who is the last man on Earth in the post-apocalyptic world 2077. Jack is working clean up crew with his partner, stoic conformist Victoria (Andrea Riseborough). They are dwelling in the moonless wasteland Earth, as Jack mundanely goes on missions repairing drones. Victoria stays at their Jetson-like skyline home while communicating with Sally (Melissa Leo) at the command center hovering in space above Earth. "You are a good team," Sally oddly requires Victoria to repeat over and over almost trying to convince her.

The plot begins to ramp up and you are glued to the screen waiting for some pivoting reveal which is about to happen. Kind of. Each dutifully performing their jobs, Jack and Victoria spot a vessel on their radar that crash lands on Earth. His visions that seem to be from a prior life are about to come full circle as Jack picks up a lone woman survivor named Julia played by cutie Olga Kurylenko.

The flick is a somewhat futuristic Planet of the Apes and a series of events leads them to run into a band of rogue humans commanded by Beech (Morgan Freeman). Beech steers the skeptical Jack to seek out the reality in the forbidden zone. He starts to piece together the answers after facing off with a clone-like Jack. With his reality shattered, Jack teams up with the rebels and together they take on the drones and the forces behind them save mankind. Leaving the theatre we felt it would not have really cleared up any confusion, but adding more action or fight scenes would have undoubtedly added excitement to Oblivion...and that is what is seriously needed.

QUIET Rating system: 3 Js

Quality: JJJj

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJj

The Place Beyond the Pines

The Place Beyond the Pines

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 4/12/13

Reviewed 4/16/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Denny

2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I keep repeating myself when I say I am disappointed when they make films way too long. This is another one. I only gave it one J on the time and maybe that was a bit harsh, but my dad and I both thought writers could have easily knocked a half hour off of this one. My dad said he is gratified he saw this film, but would never see it again. Revealing enough of a review?

The Place Beyond the Pines is like watching three different movies. The first third was the most exciting and interesting with Ryan Gosling as the drifter Luke Glanton.

The story shifts to Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper), the good cop bad cop that rises from rookie police officer to hero to District Attorney.

The last part of this thickened plot is 15 years later with Luke's and Avery's sons taking over the storyline. This scenario could have been removed. I know I am probably disagreeing with the critics and they are going to like this a lot more than both of us. If you are line with the critics, this one might be for you. The acting was good, but there were just too many flaws. Eva Mendes as Romina, Luke's girlfriend, and Ray Liotta as his typical well-played seedy character are actually first rate; they just aren't on screen enough.

Luke Glanton is a smutty carnival worker, but at the same time kind of likable. He knocks up Romina but goes in and out of her life like the wind. He turns to robbing banks after he partners up rather abruptly with another loner. In Luke's mind this is all for his son and to steal Romina away from her much needed stable boyfriend. These situations never end well and this is no different. Running from the cops in hot pursuit he briefly crosses paths with officer Avery Cross and the new story begins. By the end of Avery's story, there is a transformation of feeling sorry for him to almost "he gets what he deserves" which is similar to the feelings about Luke's story as well. Through circumstances Avery rises through the ranks, thanks to a hero's injury and then winning a face off with some twisted cops, one being Liotta. The third story emerges 15 years later with Avery running for public office and both sons' lives interweaving accidentally at school. Troubled and interested in drugs, neither try to do the right thing and both are easily led astray. This part of the movie is very anticlimatic after some worthy moments early on. At the point when the story intersects, it drops like a bomb and you just want it to end already, again and again. It finally concludes with a few little twists, but if they would have gotten to chase earlier it would be a mended movie and a relief for all of us watching it. Well, at least, for Denny and I.

 QUIET Rating system: 2 Js

Quality: JJJj

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: Jj

Entertainment:  Jj

Time:  J

42

42

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 4/12/13

Reviewed 4/12/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Denny

4 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I love sports movies. Although this is not the feel good, light-hearted story we might expect. 42 is heavy at times showing a lot of drama and baseball, but it had all the components: sports, history, inspiration, and a great script with the acting to go along. Seasoned Harrison Ford plays Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey and his performance was truly magnificent. Additionally, you would never know it was the first starring role for the impressive Chadwick Boseman playing Jackie Robinson.

Jackie Robinson was a four sport athlete beginning in 1939 at UCLA and baseball was not even considered his best sport. This reinforces how good of an athlete he really was. After serving as a commissioned officer in Word War II, Robinson made his way to the Negro baseball leagues playing shortstop. Branch Rickey took notice of Robinson and against the advice of his inner circle he wanted to draft the first black American to the Majors. After playing a brief stint in the Minors, Rickey brings him up to the Dodgers and Opening Day 1947 Robinson puts on the uniform bearing number 42. The depiction of how he was treated doesn't do justice of what Robinson endured on and off the field. Ostracized by just about everyone including the Dodgers' players, he relied on his mental toughness as his resource to rise above it all. Insight was nagging at owner Rickey after he heard Robinson say, "you want a player who doesn't have the guts to fight back?" Rickey retorts with "NO...I want a player who's got the GUTS NOT to fight back." He intuitively knew Robinson was that guy and he was so right. Amazing slow transformations begin to take place with some of his teammates with the highlight of the public embrace of shortstop Pee Wee Reese. Robinson was the reason the Dodgers made it to the World Series that year and although beaten by the NY Yankees that was quite a feat and a big turnaround for the team. This is pretty much where the movie ends. My dad shared with me some additional history, which is also mentioned at the end of the movie. Robinson played 10 years with the Dodgers and won the World Series in 1955, finally beating the ruling Yankees. This is an amazing movie that screams Oscar for Best Movie, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor. We have a little wait  for the nominees, but who can forget this movie for a long time?

QUIET Rating system: 4 Js

Quality: JJJJj

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJJJ

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJJj

The Host

The Host

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 3/22/13

Reviewed 4/1/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

We felt gratified seeing The Host, considering early reviews were not favorable. Gary definitely thought it was better than anticipated and I actually liked it. Stephanie Meyer, author of the Twilight series, also wrote the book on which this film is based. This movie is not in the same league as the Twilights, but it does an adequate job.

Most of the Earth's inhabitants have been taken over by aliens who use human bodies as the Hosts. An advance ameba-like life form takes over their body, so it is hard to differentiate who is who at first glance. The alien inhabited Hosts are hunting down the resisters like human Melanie (Saoirse Ronan), known as the Wanderer to the aliens or shortened by some rogue escapees to Wanda. Human Melanie is experiencing a rarity - alive and aware inside her body, while being inhabited by alien Wanda. It is like "multiple personality disorder" occurring with voices talking and arguing in your head. It sounds confusing, but if you decide to see this it will all come together, pretty much. Human Melanie will risk everything for her brother and the rest of her clan that has been hiding out from the invaders. When she escapes rehabilitation, Wanda/Melanie finds the rest of her very skeptical family living in caves while being led by her Uncle Jeb (William Hurt). The story is actually intriguing and imaginative, but it has some slow moments and the story could have been cut down 15+ minutes. Some stirring ethics and human experience might catch you off guard but gives you something to think about if you want to forget the movie. The flick is good enough, except maybe for the book readers. If you are looking for something as gripping and captivating as Twilight, I can tell you to keep searching...or wait for The Host Part 2.

QUIET Rating system: 3 Js

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJj

Olympus Has Fallen

Olympus Has Fallen

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 3/22/13

Reviewed 3/28/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary

3 out of 5 in QUIET Rating System

Gerard Butler does tough guy very well. Gary and I liked Olympus, but we just wish the movie industry would come up with a better adversary than North Korea. Not that they are a true-to-life threat, they just don't come across on the big screen as menacing tough bad guys, like Russian, German or Middle Eastern terrorists. It kind of seems like the fight is going to be quick.

Butler plays Mike Banning, a Secret Service agent reassigned from White House duty after a tragic accident, who is only a stone's throw away from the President's residence. When the North Koreans execute an absurd sneak attack they easily take over the White House and all hell breaks loose. They are now holding many key cabinet members and President Asher (Aaron Eckart) for ransom. The brilliant Morgan Freeman plays Speaker Trumball, who steps in and leads the country while the President's condition is not known. Never fear U.S. Army, Navy Seals and Secret Service! Banning is there in a snap to assist or just take over while waging a private war on the Koreans. With an inundation of rapid fire the part thriller part action movie keeps us glued to the screen. You will enjoy watching good guys, or good guy in this case, tear up the terrorists and you will leave feeling patriotic. Hooray for the good guys!

QUIET Rating system: 3 Js

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJ

GI Joe: Retaliation

GI Joe: Retaliation

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 3/22/13

Reviewed 3/31/13 at Celebration Cinema North Theatre

with Gary, Leigh and Aaron

2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Most of the time when you seek a reckless action movie sequel, you usually can go without seeing others or remembering too much and you will catch right up. I didn't quite feel this way after seeing part three of this series. We all felt a little lost; not that it mattered THAT much in our final rating. I kept turning to Aaron or Gary and asking "who was that?" or "what does he have to do with this again?", and they both thought I should be the one to know. Nope...sorry. I did see the other two, but really don't remember much and that's probably a sign.

There are some new Joes this time around as Dwayne Johnosn "The Rock" takes over as leader, by default a, as the tough man Roadblock. Then there is GI Jane played by Adrianne Palicki who adds the sexy twist with the usual clichés. Their team of Joes have been double crossed by their own side, "Team America," and everyone is not quite who they seem. Enter villains Zartan, Cobra and Firefly who reoccur from the other movies, so maybe make note of these characters ahead of time so you can know more than us, which probably doesn't take much. Snake Eyes is the ninja master fighting the same villains from across the world and the plots don't really intersect until the end. Roadblock and his remaining few call on the kick butt retired General Joe Colton (Bruce Willis), who was the original Joe, and he lends a hand to save the world. Some bad editing leapfrogs scenes around, but the action might be enough for some especially the cliff ninja fighting scene led by Snake Eyes. GI Joe is overblown and silly, but if that it what you're looking for the fluff will be enough.

QUIET Rating system: 2 Js

1. Quality: Jj

2. Understood story:  J

3. Interest: JJJ

4. Entertainment:  JJj

5. Time:  JJ

The Call

The Call

Rated R and Released in Grands Rapids 3/22/13

Reviewed 3/26/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary, Danelle, and Aaron

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I have been anticipating this movie after sitting through the previews for months. We all thought The Call was good, but not great. The movie's specialty is its frantic tense moments where Danelle and I both were practically coming out of our chairs. We had a few hushes from the squelchers, Gary and Aaron, on either side of us.

Halle Berry plays seasoned 911 operator Jordan. It was fascinating to get a sense of the inner workings of the emergency process; linking all of the calls and response teams, all while trying to beat a clock, with curve balls thrown left and right. Casey (Abigail Breslin), a victim of a kidnapper/serial killer,  winds up in a trunk of a car. Jordan realizes she has encountered this guy (Michael Eklund) some years ago through one of her calls with a tragic outcome. No way is Jordan going to let the same ending go down twice, while coaching the hysterical Casey. This kept our attention throughout as it was well crafted until the showdown. It got a little crazy when Jordan leaves her post to do some puzzle piecing of her own. Apparently the slew of detectives and responders couldn't solve the time ticking thriller. Or, at least not as fast as Jordan. You won't have any regrets seeing The Call. Just hang on to the suckers as I had a few near misses as I launched a couple over Gary's head.

QUIET Rating system: 3  Js

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJJ