Wallander: An Event in Autumn 2012

     Wallander has moved into a house with his girlfriend Vanja and her son.  Their dog digs in the yard and uncovers the skeleton of a woman that has been buried for 10 years.  The team starts investigating previous tenants of the house, one is a violent man whose daughter has been missing for a decade.  Also, a pregnant girl either jumped or was pushed off a ferry, later her girlfriend is also found killed.

     This seems stale and a compilation of other cases put together even though this is new.  It doesn’t take long for Vanja to see that once Wallander is on a case, everything else disappears in his life.  3* (This movie is OK)

90 min, Crime directed by Toby Haynes with Kenneth Branagh, Daniel Cerqueira, Laura Dos Santos, Claire Hackett, Marki Hadfield, Matthew Hickey, Joanna Ignaczewska, Barnaby Kay, Harry Kershaw, Albert Maris.   

Note:  Imdb 7.3 out of 10.

Sherlock Holmes: The Reichenbach Fall 2012

      Professor Moriarty comes close to stealing the Crown Jewels to prove it might be done but allows himself to be caught.  Moriarty gets off on the charge, he has scared the jury into acquitting him.  Sherlock rescues two abducted children but Moriarty leads the police to believe that Sherlock may have been an accomplice in the kidnapping?

     I did not like this film, Sherlock is played in the same style as done by Robert Downey, Jr.  He talks as fast as he can and has 10 ideas to spout about everyone he encounters.  2* (I didn’t like this movie) 

 

90 min, Crime directed by Toby Haynes with Benedict Cumnberbatch, Mark Gatiss, Martin Freeman, Una Stubbs, Rupert Graves, Andrew Scott.

Note:  Imdb 9.2 out of 10. 

Inspector Lewis: The Soul of Genius 2012

 

     Botanist Liz Nash accidently unearths a buried body during a work period digging up undesirable plants.  Professor Murray Hawes is the victim and he had been in a life long rivalry with his brother.  Their latest project was solving the legendary riddle hidden in a Lewis Carroll poem.

     OK, you think you have this case solved, it must be the brother, he was too worried about being bested by his brother.   When the brother is also murdered, who can be behind this now?  This is good.  4* (I really liked this movie)

120 min, Crime directed by Brian Kelly with Daisy May, Oliver Johnstone, Anabel Mullion, James Fleet, Nadine Lewington, Clare Holman, Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox, Rebecca Front, Barry Aird.

Note:  Imdb 7.9 out of 10.

Chimpanzee 2012

     Oscar is a baby chimpanzee living with his mother in the jungle of the Ivory Coast.  There is a rival gang of chimpanzee’s trying to take over the territory inhabited by Oscar and his group.  This rival gang doesn’t have enough food to sustain themselves in their own territory and there is not enough food in Oscar’s area for both groups.  Oscar loses his mother to one of the raids and he’s left to fend for himself.

     I had to look up some of the details before watching this film, if there was too much for me to take, I wouldn’t be able to watch it.  Oscar tries to survive on his own but he’s too young to have the skills he needs but he’s helped out by an unlikely member of his group.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

78 min, Doc directed by Alastari Fothergill, Mark Linfield, narrated by Tim Allen.

Note: Blockbuster 4*, imdb 6.9 out of 10, 74% critic 77% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Inspector Lewis: A Generation of Vipers 201

     Miranda Thornton makes a video for a dating agency but it’s made public on another web site and she becomes the victim of vicious ridicule.  She’s found dead in her apartment and the coroner is not sure if it is suicide or murder.  Inspector Lewis and Detective Sergeant Hathaway believe the case is murder since her answer machine has been wiped clean of fingerprints and the  tape has been removed.  Their investigation shows that two people hated her and were involved in the posting of the video.

     This is good, you don’t know if this is murder or suicide and who is behind the crime if it's murder?  A lot of people are suspects with motives.  4* (I really liked this movie)

120 min, Mystery directed by David O’Neill with Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox, Jason Durr, Julie Cox, Royce Pierreson, Freddie Fox, Roxanne McKee, Jack Holden, Josh O’Connor, Toby Stephens.

Note:  Imdb 7.9 out of 10.

Hercule Poirot: Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan 1993

      Poirot has gone to stay at the Metropolitan Hotel in the seaside resort of Brighton.  His doctor has ordered him to go for a rest.  Unfortunately, Hercule is immediately and frequently mistaken for Lucky Len.  Lucky gives out money on behalf of a newspaper to people who recognize him.  How is Hercule going to get any peace or rest with everyone asking him for money?  There is a play being performed at the Grand Metropolitan Hotel where Hercule is staying with Captain Hastings.  The play features a very valuable and old pearl necklace that is stolen in the script for the play. Will Hercule take the case when the necklace is really stolen?

     This is good, Hercule never does what he’s supposed to just like Captain Hastings doesn’t “get” any clues and Inspector Japp always arrests the wrong person.  4* (I really liked this movie) 

51 min, Mystery directed by Ken Grieve with David Suchet, Phillip Jackson, Hugh Fraser, Pauline Moran, Trevor Cooper, Sorcha Cusack, Karl Johnson, Elizabeth Rider, Simon Shepherd, Hermione Norris.

Note:  Blockbuster 4 ½*, imdb 7.5 out of 10, not listed on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Think Like a Man 2012

      This is an adaptation of Steve Harvey’s relationship advice book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.  Six male friends regularly get together to play basketball and commiserate about issues with women.  One man is married, one is getting a divorce and the other four are single.  The four men meet and start dating women who have read and are putting into practice the advice in this relationship book.

     There is a lot of good advice on relationships woven through the plot of this film.  The women aren’t sure this will work, the men all fit certain types of profiles.  I thought this was both interesting and funny too.  Reminds me of He's Just Not That Into You.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

122 min, Comedy directed by Eurika Pratts with Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Jenkins, Jenifer Lewis, Romany Malco, Gary Owen, Gabrielle Union. 

Note:  Blockbuster 3½*, imdb 5.8 out of 10, 54% critic 86% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.  

Bernie 2011

     This is a docudrama based on a true story.  Bernie Tiede is an Assistant Funeral Director and he’s well liked in his community of Carthage Texas.  When Marjorie Nugent’s husband passes away, Bernie goes out of his way to show her kindness.  Every person in Carthage does not like Marjorie so this is really different for her.  She begins to take over Bernie’s life until he barely has room to breathe.

     I didn’t know until the end of this film that this was based on a true story.  This is a completely different role for Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey is almost unrecognizable as the local District Attorney.  This is good and you keep wondering how this is going to turn out.  4* (I really liked this movie)

99min, directed by Richard Linklater with Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Rick Dial, Sonny Carl Davis, Ira Bounds, Patty Allieri.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 6.8 out of 10, 92% critic 78% audience on Rotten Tomatoes. 

The Hunger Games 2012

     Based on a novel from a series by Suzanne Collins.  In North America of the future, each of twelve districts selects by lottery two teenagers to fight in the Hunger Games.  Some of the teenagers have trained their entire lives for these games and they volunteer from their district.  Primrose Everdeen has her name drawn but her sister Katniss volunteers to take her place.  Katniss is skilled in hunting and is older, she has a better chance of survival.

     This is like Survivor but the winner is the only one left alive.  There will be three more parts to this series, Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2 from 2013-2015.  More time in the editing room would have made this better, how many times do you need to flashback to the same memory?  I have a feeling the book allows more “suspension of disbelief?”  Some of the characters are ridiculous!  3* (This movie is OK)  

142 min, Sci-Fi directed by Gary Ross with Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, Wes Bently, Elizabeth Banks, Willow Shields.

Note:  Blockbuster 4*,  imdb 7.4 out of 10, 84% critic 85% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hercule Poirot: Dead Man’s Mirror 1993

     Poirot and Hastings attend an auction, Poirot wants to bid on a mirror for his foyer.  Another man purchases the mirror with a higher bid much to the chagrin of Hercule.  As they are leaving, the buyer Gervais Chevenix, asks Poirot to come to his country house.  He believes he is being defrauded by a business associate.  At first, Poirot’s feathers are very ruffled but he decides to take up the offer of the mirror for investigating the charges.

     Chevenix’s wife Vanda is very “strange.”  She believes she is receiving messages from a long dead Egyptian woman and she wears a necklace once owned by this woman.  Some of the background music is very strange, like séance music.  4* (I really liked this movie)

100 min, Mystery directed by Brian Farnham with David Suchet, Phillip Jackson, Hugh Fraser, Iain Cuthbertson, Emma Fielding, Fiona Walker, Zena Walker, Richard Lintern, Jeremy Northam, Tushka Bergen.   

Note:  Blockbuster 4 ½*, imdb 7.7 out of 10, not listed on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows 2011

      Professor Moriarty has devised a diabolical plot to destabilize the entire Western world.  Instead of using his incredible intellect for good he has chosen to use it for evil.  Dr. Watson has just gotten married and the couple are targets only because they are involved with Sherlock Holmes.  Holmes must use all his wits to battle Professor Moriarty.

      I did not care for the first Sherlock Holmes in this series and this second installment is almost unwatchable.  You keep hoping it will get better and things will fall into place but they never seem to come together.  What is supposed to be funny is not, just tiresome.  2 ½* (This movie is so-so)

129 min, Action directed by Guy Ritchie with Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Rachel McAdams, Jared Harris, Stephen Fry, Paul Anderson, Kelly Reilly, Geraldine James, Eddie Marsan.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 ½*, imd 7.5 out of 10 , 61% critic 78% audience on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Oz and James’ Big Wine Adventure 2007 & 2011

      Oz Clarke and James May make a trip to California to educate May about the wines of this area.  Clarke is a wine connoisseur and May is a difficult student, he's also on the BBC Program Top Gear.  May likes to drink wine and he doesn’t want to spit it out so that leads to him getting drunk from too much wine tasting.  Clarke is not immune to an occasional hangover and they both demonstrate their favorite hangover cures.  This can include Captain Crunch and Spam?

     There are eight episodes featuring different regions and wine makers from small shed operations to prestigious producers.  This is very funny, because James May is from Top Gear, cars and racing must be included too.  Clarke states that only a “simpleton” would enjoy a high speed drag race, the camera moves to May who is thoroughly enjoying his ride!!  4* (I really liked this movie)

232 min, Doc directed by Simon Kerfoot with Oz Clarke and James May.

Note:  Imdb 7.6 out of 10.

Moscow, Belgium 2008

     Matty is a 41 year old homemaker in Belgium.  She goes to the supermarket with her two younger children, Fien and Peter.  She loads the groceries into the trunk of her car and just as she is about to drive away, she is hit in the back by a large truck.  The driver is Johnny, he is a professional driver and is the owner of his own truck.  There is a shouting match between Matty and Johnny until the police come to handle the accident.  Matty is having a difficult time because her teacher husband has recently left her for one of his students.  Johnny feels terrible that he was the cause of more problems for Matty.

     This is good, Johnny goes out of his way to help Matty and she really needs someone in her corner.  Her husband starts to notice Matty is alive after another man is interested in his wife.  Filmed in Moscou which is a neighborhood of Ghent, Belgium.   3 ½* (I liked this movie)

106 min, Rom Com directed by Christophe Van Rompaey with Barbara Sarafian, Jurgen Delnaet, Johan Heldenbergh, Anemone Valcke, Sofia Ferri, Julian Borsani.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 7.2 out of 10,  93% critic 78% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Paradine Case 1949

     Mrs. Paradine is married to an older man who is also blind.  Her husband has Andre Latour as his valet, they served together in the military.  Mr. Paradine is found dead from poisoning and Mrs. Paradine is accused of causing his death.  Anthony Keane agrees to represent her at her trial.  He becomes clouded in his judgment of how to proceed with her defense by his immediate love for her.

     This movie has so much depth and there is so much meaning in the manner of the photography.  One viewing may not be enough to take in all the subtle nuances of music and lighting.  It’s very interesting to see the play of light and shadow plus the use of furnishings in scenes.  I’m surprised by the low reviews?  4* (I really liked this movie)

 

125 min, Crime directed by Alfred Hitchcock with Gregory Peck, Ann Todd, Charles Laughton, Charles Coburn, Ethel Barrymore, Louis Jourdan, Alida Valli, Leo G. Carroll.

Note:  Imdb 6.5, 75% critic 46% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

A Separation 2011

     The setting is Iran, a couple have obtained a visa which expires in 40 days to leave the country with their daughter.  The husband doesn’t want to leave his elderly father who has Alzheimer’s.  They both do not want to be away from their daughter, she is in the sixth grade.  They go before a judge but he determines they must settle this between themselves.  The wife moves in with her parents, the husband hires a woman to take care of his father and then the problems start.

     This is a tough movie with a lot of dialogue and subtitles.  There is so much arguing throughout the film, you want to just give up, stop watching and reading.  The arguing is constant, it just takes too much effort!!  Will there be any payoff to finish the film?  There is some resolution of the major problems.  3* (This movie is OK)

123 min, Drama directed by Asghar Farhadi with Lelia Hatami, Peyman Moadi, Shahab Hosseini, Sareh Bayat, Sarina Farhadi, Babak Karimi, Merila Zarei.

Note:  Blockbuster 4*, imdb 8.6 out of 10, 99% critic 93% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hercule Poirot: The Chocolate Box 1993

     Inspector Japp is traveling to Brussels to receive an award from the Belgian government.  Thinking Hercule would like to accompany him on this trip, Japp invites him to travel with him.  Hercule begins discussing a case from 20 years ago in 1893, the death of a rising young politician that was ruled to be a heart attack.  Hercule believed he had been poisoned but he chose not to make the facts public.

     This is good, Hercule is shown as a young policeman.  He challenges his superior officer over the verdict which does not go well.  A lot of ceremony in the presentation of the award to Inspector Japp.  4* (I really liked this movie) 

 

100 min, Mystery directed by Ken Grieve with David Suchet, Phillip Jackson, Rosalie Crutchley, Anna Chancellor, David de Keyser, Johanthan Hackett, Geoffrey Whitehead, Mark Eden, Jonathan Barlow, James Coombes.

Note:  Blockbuster 4 ½*, imdb 7.9 out of 10, not listed on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Virginia 2010

     Virginia is a single mom in a small town near Virginia Beach, VA.  She has been seeing a married Mormon sheriff and she thinks she’s having his baby.  She isn’t, she went to the doctor and she has either tuberculosis or lung cancer.  She doesn’t want to know what's wrong, she won’t go back and she continues smoking.  Sheriff Richard Tipton is eager to advance his career by running for public office and he can’t afford to have any scandal.  Virginia is just barely able to handle every-day-life, she was in a mental hospital after the death of her parents.

     You feel sorry for Virginia, she just does not get it that she’s not having a baby and that she’s really physically sick.  Connelly and Harris are both good in their roles but there is something basic that’s off about this film.  You have no sympathy for Harris and would like to kick him more than a few times?  Connelly’s character needs more sympathy than you have to give?   3* (This movie is OK)

   

112 min, Drama directed by Dustin Lance Black with Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Harrison Gilbertson, Emma Roberts, Toby Jones, Carrie Preston, Lucas Grabeel.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 5.2 out of 10, 4% critic 50% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Project Nim 2011

     Nim is a chimpanzee, he became the focus in the 1970's of an experiment to learn if he would be able to communicate through sign language.  Since apes do not have the physical ability to form some of the sounds required for human speech, it was already known that he would not be able to speak in our language.  He was taken from his mother at the age of 2 weeks and raised in a home with other human children and like a human child.  He received intense instruction in sign language from different teachers.
      Science, it's a big word to hide behind when your funding runs out and you are able to just turn your back and walk away.  No responsibility needs to be taken personally, it's all for science.  Nim should never have been taken from his mother, she had 6 babies removed from her.  He was living a certain life, in between being an ape and being human.  Suddenly his entire world changes in one plane flight.  I was very disturbed by this film and had to place it on pause until I could look up to see how this would end.  If it ended too badly, I could turn it off.  Fortunately, you can continue watching.  3 ½*  (I liked this movie)

    
93 min, Documentary directed by James Marsh with Garry Harris, Stephanie Lafarge, Jenny Lee Wright, Laura An Petitto, Joyce Butler, Bill Tynan, Herbert Terrace, Tenne Falitz, Bob Ingersoll.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 7.5 out of 10, 98% critic 83% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hercule Poirot: The Italian Nobleman

     Captain Hastings can’t make up his mind about buying a new car, it’s an Italian vehicle from a dealership.  He finally sets a deadline to decide and writes a check for the car.  Miss Lemon has been dating Mr. Graves, he’s interested in meeting Hercule Poirot and thinks her job must be amazing.  Miss Lemon discovers that Mr. Graves is a valet (this is not what her told her) when Poirot and Hastings are called to investigate the murder of Count Foscatini.  The police believe the Count was being blackmailed.

     It never works out when Captain Hastings sets out to make purchases.  His cattle ranch which folded in Argentina is a perfect example.  I found it hard to remain interested in this episode.  Too many Italians visiting other Italians, too hard to keep track of them and what they are doing.  3* (This movie is OK)

100 min, Mystery directed by Brian Farnham with David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Pauline Moran, Phillip Jackson, Leonard Preston, Anna Mazzotti, David Neal, Vincent Riotta, Sidney Kean, Alberto Janelli, Arthur Cox.

Note:  Blockbuster 4 ½* , imdb 7.5 out of 10, not listed on Rotten Tomatoes

Lake Effects 2012

     Sara left Smith Mountain Lake Virginia for Los Angeles to pursue her dreams of becoming a high-powered attorney.  She received unexpected news from her sister that her father died in an accident.  She's too busy, she doesn't want to return home, a lot of excuses but she knows she has no choice but to go.  There had been bad feelings between Sara and her father, she had not wanted to go home for a long time.  Her mother Vivian and her sister Lily really need her even though she wants to catch the next flight back to LA.
     Interesting but like a Hallmark or Lifetime movie.  I thought this would be better with Jane Seymour in the cast, it's just too predictable?  How many people really go out in a boat wearing a skirt and very high heels?  3* (This movie is OK)

90 min, Drama directed by Michael McKay with Jane Seymour, Scottie Thompson, Madeline Zima, Jeff Fahey, Sean Patrick Flanery, Casper Van Dien, Ben Savage, Eyal Podell, Richard Moll.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imbd 4.2 out of 10, no critic review 0% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hercule Poirot: The Case of the Missing Will 1993

      Hercule Poirot is invited to stay with his old friend Andrew March at his estate in Cambridge.  March wrote a will in 1926 providing generous bequests to friends, associates and their children.  He is leaving the bulk of his estate to a medical foundation.  It’s 10 years later and he’s had a change of heart regarding his advance preparations.  He has not left anything to his young ward Violet Wilson, he felt she would marry and be provided for by her husband.  March confides to Poirot that he will write a new will assigning Hercule as the administrator and leaving his estate to Violet.

     Don’t announce to everyone that you are changing your will, the beneficiaries may not agree with your new plans!!  Maybe you will need to be silenced before you can make any changes?  4* (I really liked this movie)

51 min, Mystery directed by John Bruce with David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Pauline Moran, Beth Goddard, Rowena Cooper, Richard Durden, Mark Kingston, Susan Tracy, Gillian Hanna, Terrence Hardiman, Jon Laurimore, Edward Atterton.

Note:  Blockbuster 4 ½*, imdb 7.7 out of 10, not listed on Rotten Tomatoes.




 

The Secret World of Arriety 2010

     Based on The Borrowers novel by Mary Norton.  Shawn is a twelve year old boy who goes to live with his great aunt and the housekeeper, he is ill and has a bad heart.  There is a family of miniature people who are only a few inches tall living in a small home nearby.  Shawn thinks he saw one of them outside and he catches them in his bedroom during the night.  They are doing their "borrowing."  They survive by taking only what they need from the "beings."  The borrowers are very afraid of the "beings" and they avoid all contact with them.

     Usually I don't enjoy animated movies but this one is very good and interesting.  Shawn really wants to help the borrowers, Arriety wants to accept his help but her parents warn her not to ever trust a being.  The water colored backgrounds are beautiful.  4* (I really liked this movie)  

95 min, Animated directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Gary Rydstrom, Atsushi Okui, voiced by Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Carol Burnett, David Henrie, Moises Arias.

Note:  Blockbuster 4*, imdb 7.7 out of 10, 94% critic 86% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hercule Poirot: Yellow Iris 1993

     Surprisingly, Hercule Poirot had one case that he was unable to solve.  He stopped in Buenos Aires on his way to visit Captain Hastings.   While dining, Iris Russell died of poisoning, it seemed to be suicide but her husband could not believe this to be true.  Poirot was set to investigate the case but was suddenly deported by the police.  Iris’ husband is hosting a dinner two years later on the anniversary of his wife’s death.  Everyone from the original dinner is invited to the opening of a new restaurant with the same name as the one in Buenos Aires.

     The same song is being sung during the dinner and there is a sudden surprise during this dinner too.  Will Hercule be given a second chance at solving this case or has this all gone too far?  4* (I really liked this movie)

100 min, Mystery directed by Peter Barber-Fleming with David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Pauline Moran, David Troughton, Dorian Healy, Geraldine Somerville, Yolanda Vazquez, Robin McCaffrey, Hugh Ross, Joseph Long, Stefn Gryff, Arturo Venegas.

Note:  Blockbuster 4 ½*, imdb 7.9 out of 10, not listed on Rotten Tomatoes.

Dying to Have Known 2006

     There is a long-suppressed form of cancer treatment known as Gerson Therapy.  Cancer survivors claim in testimonies that this therapy saved their lives while conventional treatments allowed others to die.  Medical specialists and health experts claim this treatment has never cured even one patient.  There are other scientists, nutritionists, surgeons across the US, Japan, Holland and Mexico who have witnessed firsthand the effects and cure rate of Gerson Therapy.

     This film was made in 2006 but another film by Steve Kroschel's son, The Beautiful Truth was made in 2008?  Both films have a lot of the same interviews and comments,  I'm not sure why they made two films?  It does seem in the final analysis that Gerson Therapy works to cure cancer and it is not supported by the drug companies, insurance companies and hospitals because it does not benefit their bottom line.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

80 min, Documentary directed by Steve Kroschel with Stephen Barret, Colin Campbell, Carolyn Dean, Dean Edell, Caldwell Esselstyn Jr., Charlotte Gerson, Paul Hepperly, Yoshihiko Hoshing.

Note:  Blockbuster 4*, imdb 6.9 out of 10, no critic review 80% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hercule Poirot: The Underdog 1993

     Poirot is very interested in viewing a collection of Belgian miniatures at the home of Rueben Astwell.  Hercule is very disappointed to find Mr. Astwell is universally disliked and he has no appreciation for the miniatures.  Hercule learns Astwell is also the CEO of a chemical company that has developed a formula for synthetic rubber.  Someone has broken into the lab trying to steal the file, Astwell wanted to sell this valuable information to the highest bidder, even to the Nazi’s.

     This is good, everyone wants to profit from the windfall that synthetic rubber will bring.  The formula can’t get in the hands of the Nazi’s and Astwell has no respect for people or country.   4* (I really liked this movie) 

   

100 min, Mystery directed by John Bruce with David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Pauline Moran, Ann Bell, Adie Allen, Denis Lill, Jonny Phillips, Bill Wallis, Ian Gelder.

Note:  Blockbuster 4 ½*, imdb 7.3 out of 10, not listed on Rotten Tomatoes.

Perfect Sense 2011

     Susan is an expert in epidemics, she sees a patient who has lost the ability to smell anything after he had an unexpected crying jag.  The man is in isolation and he has gotten over the crying jag but still cannot smell, plus he's not very happy after being held for about 11 hours.  Susan and her colleagues begin to research this condition and they discover that other people across the world are having are having the same symptoms.  Smell is just the beginning of whatever is affecting the people, next comes taste.  Something must be done to stop this before more senses are lost but there aren't any clues?

     There is more missing from this movie than senses, it just does not draw you in to the problem, I don't know if it's the plot or the characters.  Everything seems superficial like it's covered in plastic wrap to keep it fresh but it also keeps out the audience too.  3* (This movie is OK)

92 min, Drama directed by David Mackenzie with Eva Green, Ewan McGregor, Connie Nielsen, Ewen Bremner, Stephen Dillane, Denis Lawson, Lauren Tempany, Caroline Paterson, Richard Mack.

Note:  Blockbuster 2 1/2*, imdb 7.0 out of 10, 52% critic 60% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hercule Poirot: Death in the Clouds 1992

     A woman money lender is murdered in the middle of an airline flight, there are legitimate suspects and innocent bystanders.  All passengers are asked to wait until they all can be interviewed by Inspector Japp.  Lady Aubrey is impossible to deal with and is causing a fuss for having to wait.  She is one of the suspects since she owned a lot of gambling debt money to the money lender.  She also benefited greatly by not having to pay back the money.  On top of this, she is not a very pleasant person, quite a sour disposition and very disrespectful to everyone.

     It's very funny when Hercule tries out different possibilities of how the murder was accomplished on another flight.  Inspector Japp feels Hercule made a spectacle of himself since the passengers watched his every move.  At least he knows his attempts were not how the murder was committed.  4* (I really liked this movie)

103 min, Mystery directed by Stephen Whittaker with David Suchet, Philip Jackson, Sarah Woodward, Shaun Scott, Cathryn Harrison, David Firth, Amanda Royle, Richard Ireson, Eve Pearce.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 7.9 out of 10, not listed on Rotten Tomatoes.

 

Set Up 2011

     Three friends plan to steal a briefcase of diamonds, one betrays the other two.  Vincent thinks both of his friends are dead but one received a bullet wound near his shoulder blade and he survives.  He's really out to get Vincent for their friend's death and for taking off with the diamonds.  Sonny teams up with the most dangerous mob boss in town to get his share of the goods and give Vincent what he deserves.  Sonny isn't the only one after Vincent, the owners of the diamonds what their property back.

     I don't know why Bruce Willis and Ryan Phillippe took their roles in his film?  It's just nothing, the only one with anything going for them in their role is Curtis Jackson (50 Cent).  Rewarmed plot, small amount of action.  2 1/2* (This movie is so-so)

85 min, Drama directed by Mike Gunther with Bruce Willis, Ryan Phillippe, Curtis Jackson (50 Cent), Jenna Dewan, Randy Couture, James Remar, Susie Abromeit, Ambyr Childers, Jay Karnes.

Note:  Blockbuster 2 1/2*, imdb 4.4 out of 10, no critic review 17% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hercule Poirot: The ABC Murders 1992

     Poirot is receiving typed letters from someone announcing when and where they will commit murders.  It seems as if the people targeted are selected at random but the first person has a first and last name starting with A, the name of the town also starts with A.  The second person has a first and last name starting with B, the name of the town also starts with B.  How long will this go on through the alphabet before these crimes can be stopped.

     Poirot doesn't understand why he was chosen to receive these letters?  Another puzzle is one letter is sent to the wrong address with the two previous letters sent to the correct address?  Poirot believes the person may be looking for notoriety and he doesn't want the crime information published in the newspapers.  Inspector Japp has different ideas as usual.  This is good, keeps your mind going trying to figure out who is doing this and why.  4* (I really liked this movie)

103 min, Mystery directed by Andrew Grieve with David Suchet, Philip Jackson, Hugh Frasier, Donald Sumpter, Donald Douglas, Nicholas Farrell, Pippa Guard, Cathryn Bradshaw, Nina Marc.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 1/2*, imdb 8.3 out of 10, not listed on Rotten Tomatoes.