The Bourne Legacy 2012

     This is the 4^th installment of the Bourne series based on novels by Robert Ludlum.  Jason Bourne is set-aside in this film to focus on Aaron Cross, he's another member of the Department of Defense special operations groups.  The events take place at the same time of The Bourne Ultimatum (released in 2007).  Bourne gave a top-secret file to CIA Deputy Director Pamela Landy.  She leaked information from this file about two of the special ops groups to the press. The FBI is investigating Landy and also Operation supervisor Noah Vosen.  All of this has everyone in the background on edge about all the groups.  The decision is made to take out all the people in all the ops.

     This goes really fast and I was confused from the beginning about a lot of information.  There are a lot of special operations groups and also groups that other groups don’t know about along the way.  The one thing I know for sure is that in real life if you are an employee of the some of these government agencies, they will throw you under the bus!!  4* (I really liked this movie)

135 min, Action directed by Tony Gilroy and Paul Greengrass with Jeremy Renner, Edward Norton, Rachel Weiz Joan Allen, Scott Glenn, Albert Finney.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 6.7 out of 10, 56% critic 56% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Special Note:  I think it was wrong of the developers of this franchise to let Matt Damon find out from the grapevine that he was not included in this film.  Couldn’t they show him the courtesy after three films with them to tell him in person?

Killer Joe 2012

     Chris lives in Texas and he’s a drug dealer.  He finds himself in debt to a man who will kill him if he doesn’t pay back what he owes.  He decides the only solution is to have someone kill his mother so he can collect on her insurance policy.  Chris and his father decide to hire Joe Cooper, he is a police detective and contract killer.  Joe wants a retainer before he will do the job and they don’t have any money.  Joe decides he will start dating Chris’ sister Dotty as his retainer.

     This film was originally released in theaters with an NC-17 rating but it was edited for an R rated for the DVD release.  The NC rating was for graphic aberrant content involving violence, sexuality and a scene of brutality.  The R rating is for strong and disturbing violence, sexuality, graphic nudity, drug use and language.  I don’t think very much editing was done to change the rating and this may be the WORST movie that I’ve ever seen!!!  I not only hated this movie, I loathed and abhorred it!!!  ½* (I really hated this movie)

102 min, Crime directed by William Friedkin with Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church, Gina Gershon.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 ½*, imdb 6.9 out of 10, 77% critic 69% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Beasts of the Southern Wild 2012

     Wink and Hushpuppy live in the Bathtub, it's a southern Delta bayou community off-shore of New Orleans cut off by a levee.  Wink is sick with a mysterious illness and Bathtub is his six-year-old daughter.  Wink goes to the hospital but he comes home and it’s a struggle for him to take care of Bathtub.  He starts to prepare her for the time when he won’t be around to protect her.  Nature begins to dramatically change, temperatures rise and ice caps start to melt.  A race of prehistoric creatures called aurochs begin to march across the land.

     This film has been nominated and also won a lot of awards but I have to admit, I do not understand this film.  I don’t know what’s real and what is imagined.  I have a feeling that since it is centered on a six-year-old that at least the aurochs must not be real?  I almost gave up, this was a struggle to finish.  2* (I didn’t like this movie)

93 min, Drama directed by Benh Zeitlin with Quvenzhane Wallis, Dwight Henry, Levy Easterly, Lowell Landes, Pamela Harper, Gina Montana, Amber Henry, Nicolas Clark.    

Note:  Blockbuster 4*, imdb 7.6 out of 10, 85% critic 81% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Lawless 2012

     This film takes place in 1930’s Franklin County, Virginia.  It's during the depression, Bondurant brothers are in the bootlegging business.  They have their stills hidden deep in the mountains.  A new Special Deputy comes to town and he’s after a share of their profits.  He’s a very, corrupt,  twisted and evil man.  Forrest is the oldest brother, he meets every suggestion from the Special Deputy with defiance.  There is also pressure on the Bondurant’s from the gangster Floyd Banners and his mob. 

     The Bondurant brothers are supposed to be very tough but they are always doing dumb things.  They seem unprepared, don't plan ahead and are not determined enough to win against their adversaries.  The physical violence between the forces is very ugly.  A Bonnie and Clyde want-to-be but it falls short.  2* (I didn’t like this movie)

116 min, Crime directed by John Hillcoat with Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Dane DeHaan, Chris McGarry.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 ½*, imdb 7.3, 67% critic 78% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green 2012

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     Cindy and Jim Green have wanted a child for a long time.  Their doctor says everything has been tried and is no hope.  Cindy decides in order to move forward, she must give up all her hope.  Jim cannot let go of his hope yet.  They spend the night writing down the qualities they would like in their child.  They take the papers and bury them in the garden.  That night there is a lot of rain, lightening and thunder.  In the morning there is a surprise.

     This film has a lot of sweetness and melodrama but with good intentions and a good heart.  This is almost a Hallmark movie but produced by Disney.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

105 min, Fantasy directed by Peter Hedges, with Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, CJ Adams, Dianne Wiest, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 6.5 out of 10, 38% critic 71% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.  

Total Recall 1990

     Doug Quaid is a construction worker, he’s happy with his life and his marriage of eight years.  He’s very fascinated by Mars and he would like to travel to a colony there with his wife.  She doesn’t want to go, he learns about a company that can give you a dream vacation of your choice.  The dream doesn’t go as planned and his entire world changes.

     Some of the details about Quaid’s life are the same as in Total Recall 2012 but everything else is very different except for the same large amount of broken glass.  He was married seven years in Recall 2012.  I’m surprised this movie was remade since the original is so laughable.  It’s really a comedy now with hokey special effects and dialogue.  Some of the scenes, car and spaceship models and ideas are ridiculous.  

113 min, SciFi directed by Paul Verhoeven with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Michael Ironside, Marshall Bell, Mel Johnson.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 ½*, imdb 7.5 out of 10, 84% critic 71% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.  

Special Notes:  At least Schwarzenegger is much younger and you're able to get it out of your mind that he was the Governor of California for two terms.  Sharon Stone looks very young also.  Her clothes and all the women’s hairstyles are funny.  Interesting that he’s called Doug in 1990 and Douglas in 2012?

Total Recall 2012

     Douglas Quaid is a factory worker in a futuristic Earth.  He’s trying to get a promotion off line work but the position is given to someone on the outside with more education and contacts.  He seems to have the “almost” perfect life with his hardworking wife of seven years but he’s heard about an experience called Total Recall.  There is a shop you go to and they give you different memories.  You can take your choice of different selections, it just cannot be a real memory.  He’s been having the same dream over-and-over, he thinks Total Recall may be able to give him different memories to make this dream go away.

     OK, Quaid wants to go to a shop where they are going to mess with your mind, is that a good idea?  Your wife and your best friend have warned you not to go there. Everything changes drastically as soon as he’s hooked up in the chair.  LOTS of action, the only complaint I have about this type of movie is the backgrounds are always dark.  The purpose is to keep the computer animation from looking bogus but it just makes it less clear.  I would like to watch the 1990 original version for comparison.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

118 min, Action directed by Len Wiseman with Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine, Bryan Cranston, Kate Bekinsale, Jessica Biel, Bill Nighy, John Cho, Will Yun Lee.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 6.3 out of 10, 31% critic 46% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.