World War Z

World War Z

Rated PG-13 and released in Grand Rapids 6/21/13

Reviewed 6/27/13 at Cine Star in Frankfurt, Germany

with Gary

3 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Cine Star - Frankfurt,  Germany

Elevators to the theatre

Going to a movie somewhere in another city, state or country is always a unique experience. The theatres always look modern and cool, but we are set in our ways at Celebration Theatres with buttering our own popcorn and filling our own drinks. And Europeans are not fans of ice! When you go out to eat in Europe and and ask for ice, you get a cube or two. And if you ask for lots of ice, you still get a cube or two. I don't get it.

Gary in line for tickets at the busy theatre

Theatre cafe where you can buy beer, wine, or have a nice lunch

We were in Frankfurt, Germany, and after a full day of other tourism "stuff", we decided to get in our favorite pastime. We found the only English speaking theatre in the city, but thought maybe we were mistaken when we nervously watched the dubbed over English previews. Remember the old Japanese Godzilla films? That's what these trailers were like! But come movie time all of the crazed zombies were gnawing away in English. Phew!

Stocking up on snacks!

Brad Pitt needed this one. With him starring and producing the most expensive zombie movie ever made (ballpark $200 million), he had a lot hanging on this. Gary and I loved it. We were on the edge of our seats from the first scene. Very intense, we especially thought the special effects added to the lively scenes. Yes it had all of the ridiculousness, but come on...we're talking zombies.

Pitt plays Gerry Lane, a former UN officer, who is abruptly pulled back into action when a global force is behind an unexplained pandemic that is quickly sucking the life out of the world. Gerry and his family are swept out of Philadelphia via helicopter to a waiting aircraft carrier. Then just as quickly, Lane is being sent out to lead the mission to find ground zero. Globetrotting from South Korea, to Israel, to India, he unravles rather quickly that the killers consuming the humans are actually zombies and it appears to be up to him to save the world. Let's hope other countries have their own team out working the planet also. With the undead brutally consuming almost everything in their path, Gerry barely escapes the fast moving killers. He lands in India and teams up with scientists holing up at the World Health Organization. They are on to something and finally some believable intelligence steps in backing the awkward Gerry Lane. It is not the perfect solution to eradicating, and even more of a band aid, which seems to leave an open door to a second film. This could be titled What's Left of the World - Not Much, because the zombies have sure made a mess of things. If Pitt makes his money back then maybe we will see another. We will definitely be in for that!

QUIET Rating system: 3 1/2Js

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJJJj

Entertainment:  JJJJ

Time:  JJJj

This is the End

This is the End

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 6/7/13

Reviewed 6/13/13 at Celebration North Theatre

with Mark, Karen and Gary

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

The outrageousness and some of the super "R" moments knock it down for me, but with insanely funny scenes it almost makes it worth seeing. We all laughed hard at times, so we all thought the film was worth the trip to the theatre.

Full disclosure. We met for dinner close by at Licari's (next to the Crushed Grape) for a nice quickie dinner. It was looking a little dark outside, but that's a common occurrence in West Michigan these days. But then we lost power at the theatre before the ending! We probably had 20 or so minutes left, but...that was probably the weakest part of the film. Not like they were going to wrap up a clever plot!

Seth Rogen co-wrote and directed this movie starring himself, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Michael Cerra, Jay Baruchel, and James Franco. They all play themselves and are basically spoofing their own characters. After a series of events, they all end up at the party house of James Franco, which is going strong. Suddenly Apocalyptic events start spewing around LA, a cross between what seems to be an alien invasion and catastrophic meteor effects. That doesn't stop the dim witted, partied up guests from fleeing the house, all the while getting impaled by objects and fire balled on. And the jokes keep rolling. This is the End is really making fun of the actors and their stardom and if they are the persons that the public sees or just bogus personalities, it's not much of a stretch. After all, they are actors. Get ready to crack up, but also wear a bag over your head when you leave so no one sees you leaving this very R movie.

QUIET Rating system: 2 1/2Js

Quality: Jj

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJJ

Hangover III

Hangover III

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 5/31/13

Reviewed 6/6/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Brandon

2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Number I was clever and amusing, II bombed and Hangover III was somewhere in between. The first two were pretty raunchy, but surprisingly this film had minimal raunch. I guess they were trying to clean it up quite a bit. Brandon and I thought it was worth seeing, but I advise you wait to see it in the cheapie theatre or OnDemand.

Phil (Bradley Cooper), Alan (Zach Galifianakis), and Stu (Ed Helms) are still headlining the story with Doug (Justin Bartha) taking a backseat again. This time the group is escorting crazy Alan to a much needed detox facility in Arizona. Along the way the unfortunate Doug is kidnapped by a gangster drug  dealer named Marshall, played by funny man John Goodman. Goodman has played this role in recent movies Argo and Flight and it seems to work for him.

Of course this would not be Hangover without Chow (Ken Jeong), who is at the root of the kidnapping. Marshall will let Doug go if the trio recoups the $21 million in gold from Chow. Thus, the bumbling retrieval launches full speed ahead which lands them (where else!?) in Vegas. From here on, it is pretty much Alan and Chow. While both have some funny moments, the story just seems desperate with the same ole same ole. Time to retire the franchise! I hope they don't go for 6 like Fast and Furious; three of these are enough.

QUIET Rating system: 2  Js

Quality: Jj

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJ

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJj

Now You See Me

Now You See Me

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 5/31/13

Reviewed 6/2/13 at Celebration North Theatre

with Aaron and Danelle

3 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Yes - Now You See Me is unrealistic, and unbelievable, but so are pretty much all movies. But I find the film entertaining and original. I can't help it, I really liked it...a lot. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes out of the 116 minute reel was somewhat diminished in spite of the creative lofty plot and it's too bad because it could have been the ultimate plot ruse. Aaron liked it and give it a 3J, which is a little more than Danelle, as she is the ever skeptic.

Jesse Eisenberg (J. Daniel Atlas) in the right role can be dazzling, like in The Social Network, and Now You See Me is another for him. He shines. And Woody Harrelson as the mentalist Merritt McKinley? Who doesn't like his crypt, dry humor!? Sometimes these stars are enough and...this...almost is.

The final two of dubbed group "The Four Horseman" are Henley and Jack (Isla Fisher and Dave Franco) completing the magical team. Some unknown is calling in all the "cards" for the magician quartet - answering the same call, at the same location, while getting some spell binding directive they jump on board with. After receiving their marching orders, the story leap frogs ahead one year in Las Vegas to jump start their stunts. Robin Hood here we come: steal from whomever and drop it on whomever for the taking!

Mark Ruffelo, playing Detective Dylan Rhodes, in hot pursuit leads the bumbling team of investigators. It's a pretty stereotypically lame portrayal of the NYPD. We do have more competent law enforcement, right? Throw in a little Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman and we are in the blender for a hodge podge mix that blends these characters into really stellar performances. Twists are supposed to catch us off guard, but having them is not really any surprise, but what they choose for the twists is where the film drops a bit. But stick with it to the end, keeping all this in mind, and you'll enjoy being magically entranced with Now You See Me!

QUIET Rating system: 3 1/2  Js

1. Quality: JJJj

2. Understood story:  JJj

3. Interest: JJJJ

4. Entertainment:  JJJJ

5. Time:  JJJ

After Earth

After Earth

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 5/30/13

Reviewed 6/1/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Denny

2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

This flick reminds me of the overblown Tom Cruise flop Oblivion: light on characters with little action, and being nothing like we anticipated. It is accurately described as an Adventure, although it appears there is going to be some Sci-fi mixed in...but not so much. The premise has potential and we were waiting for some "wow" that we never really felt.

The Smith father-son combo team up and father Will Smith plays emotionless veteran space officer Cyper Raige and his son Jaden Smith as cadet aspiring son Kitai. Not much development or back story, the movie jumps right into the strenuous relationship that they slowly divulge throughout the film. In the future and living on another planet due to Earth's abandonment 1000 years prior, they embark on an unexplained mission together in space. Finding themselves back on Earth alone, which is dire enough, they need to rely on Kitai to save them both.

The story here on is pretty much Kitai with a little dad thrown in. After Earth needs Will Smith, with his lofty humor and special entertainment skills. Jaden would be better off (and we would be better off) sticking to the remakes of Karate Kid II and III, father and son teaming up no more.

QUIET Rating system: 2  Js

1. Quality: JJ

2. Understood story:  JJj

3. Interest: Jj

4. Entertainment:  Jj

5. Time:  JJJ

Fast and Furious 6

Fast and Furious 6 

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 5/24/13

Reviewed 5/30/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Generally with half-witted movies like the Fast and Furious (FF) franchise, you can catch up fast and don't necessarily have to see the previous ones to grasp the plot. Following racing cars around doesn't strain the mind too much. Although there were some snippets from the previous movie that were interwoven, Gary and I felt a little lost. Ehh...did it really matter? Not too much. Fast-paced like its namesake, this was fun but I really liked the the last one best of all the FF movies. Frivolous to the max, just accept it and enjoy it for the high energy that speeds out of the screen. That is, if you are watching the 3D version.

Paul Walker (Brian) has taken a backseat to some other characters, Vin Diesel (Dom) and now The Rock (Hobbs), in the last few movies. It's too bad because Walker is pretty pleasant on screen. Big mistake as far as I'm concerned. There's not much to say about this movie. There's fast cars and chase scenes over and over and over throughout the DC landscape. A few hot girls thrown in fighting now and then and the usual dubious characters, but without help from a possible "snitch" it just wouldn't go down the same.

Same ole, same ole, but we still see these Fast and Furious movies apparently, as #6 skidded off the track with its strong opening weekend. Big money. Guys like these movies, what can I say!? They have had enough seeing the chickie movies and it's their time to strain their brains for the strong acting, over the top thickened plot, and thought-provoking dialogue...haha. Entertaining with not much character building, but we expected that. I have to say...it might be time to retire the franchise and recycle these guys into something else. Whatever that may be.

QUIET Rating system: 2 1/2 Js

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  Jj

Star Trek Into Darkness

Star Trek Into Darkness 

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 5/17/13

Reviewed 5/17/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

BY GUEST REVIEWER GARY

with Jen, Leigh, Denny and Reilly

3 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

The latest edition of a Star Trek movie did not disappoint me at all. As a good summer thrill ride should have, Into Darkness had more than its share of chase scenes, fight scenes, blow 'em up scenes, and save the world scenes. This is what I like most about modern incarnations of the old stuff. It's simply done better, at least when it comes to the exciting stuff. Thinking back to the original Star Trek series with all the cheesy fight scenes and lame special effects, it's a wonder so many trekkies ever fell in love with the series. I was one of those trekkies. All I can say to explain the attraction and appeal of that original series, is that it was the best thing going at the time in the world of sci fi. I suppose it had a lot to do with the characters and their relationship with each other and the inspired plots and situations the Enterprise's crew got themselves into. But today's updated versions are more rewarding, because they seem so much more real. There's nothing like a jiggling paper maché rock to ruin the scene for you. Given all of today's computer assisted graphics, you can put on the screen pretty much whatever you can imagine.

Into Darkness has some of the unexplained inconsistencies as some of the old series and movies, and for that matter seem to crop up in a lot of outer space movies. But who cares, this is the movies! If we thought it was real we wouldn't have to gravitate to reality shows like Survivor to get some pure unadulterated reality on the screen, right?

Into Darkness is a prequel with a young Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) and the rest of the gang engaged in some of the same sort of personal relationships that made the original series special. Much of the movie reminds us of the love affair going on between Spock and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) which, while probably appealing to some, I found not so interesting or critical and rather annoying. Uhura is quite peeved with Spock for not really considering her feelings and their relationship when he decides it's better to die and save a planet, and of course abide by the "Prime Directive". Hello, he's a Vulcan! No emotions, remember!? If you're gonna fall in love with a Vulcan you gotta remember that part! Of course he's half human and the movie makers can use that fact when they get to a super emotional and pivotal scene, but not most of the time because he's a VULCAN! Okay? Someone needs to explain to Uhura that Vulcans are going to be a major pain in the butt especially when there are big picture issues at play like the Prime Directive!

Like the series and some of the Star Trek movies, they love to dust off the Prime Directive (explained in the movie if you are so deprived as to not know what it is) when it's time to make a big point about following the rules at all costs and putting the good of the underdeveloped over those of people who are  advanced and get to fly around in star ships and use really cool weapons. There's gotta be at least one rule, after all, that the Enterprise gang can agree with because all of the rest of the star fleet rules, at least for Kirk, are up for grabs. He has no problem breaking them all (never has) and simply asking forgiveness rather than permission when the crap hits the fan. Of course he always gets his ship back and flies away to break more rules to save the universe again. So what the heck? A mere tongue lashing from some over the hill star fleet admiral is not really a deterrent. Rules are for sissies any way.

So I've not really told you what the movie is about. It has an evil guy who wants to destroy Earth, and who knows what else, but he's starting with Star Fleet Command. It has the whole Enterprise crew and excellent special effects and lots of fight scenes and at least one really decent chase scene. It has a love story that I can always do without in any sci fi movie. It has, of course, the tried and true interplay between the various crew members that has survived since day one of the series. Yes, there is still McCoy (Karl Urban) yelling stupid things that would otherwise get him cuffed a good one if they weren't in the middle of taking care of some do or die situation. That's what you get for letting the doctor on the bridge, I guess. And yes, Kirk continues to score his share of tail. In this movie his tail even have tails! The unforgettable green babes from the original series have consistently been outdone over time but I gotta say, the tails were a nice touch!

If you like a good sci fi action adventure flick, this is a good one for you. Are there some holes? Yes, the sci fi kind where things like the vacuum of space and gravity are ignored when convenient. There are other Star Trek holes, but not so bad and no real need to worry about them. All in all you should have a very enjoyable time with this one!

QUIET Rating system: 3 1/2 Js

1. Quality: JJJj

2. Understood story:  JJJ

3. Interest: JJJJ

4. Entertainment:  JJJJ

5. Time:  JJj