Alone In the Dark Movie
On Friday I saw the movie “Alone In The Dark”, which starred: Christian Slater, Stephen Dorff, Tara Reid, Elan Mastai, Michael Roesch and Peter Scheerer.
The storyline involved the following: “An otherworldly investigator learns of a secret which could mean the end of civilization as we know it in this thriller based on the popular video game Alone in the Dark. Edward Carnby (Christian Slater) is a detective with Bureau 713, a secret investigative team affiliated with the United States government that explores supernatural and paranormal events. One of Carnby's assignments leads him to discover the secrets of the Abskani, an ancient tribe that worshiped demonic forces which gave them incredible powers. Carnby's findings suggest that the Abskani are poised to return to take over the world, and only one person has the knowledge to stop them -- archeologist Aline Cedrac (Tara Reid), who happens to be Carnby's former girlfriend. But Carnby's psyche has been tainted by his encounter with the Abskani demons, and he must now fight against their attempts to take over his mind as well as their attempts to conquer the Earth. Alone in the Dark also stars Stephen Dorff, Will Sanderson, and Franççoise Yip. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide.”
I would rate the movie a “B”, and it is the worth of an admission ticket, a medium popcorn and a medium soft drink. The movie was a good action-horror film, but Tara Reid could not save it from the critics. It was more of ab action film than a horror movie.
In Good Company Movie
On Thursday I saw the movie “In Good Company”, which starred: Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson, Selma Blair and Clark Gregg.
The storyline involved the following: “Just when 51-year-old Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) should be enjoying the fruits of his labor, the successful ad sales exec's life suddenly takes a detour. First, he is demoted from his long-term job when the magazine he works at is gobbled up by a multinational conglomerate. Then, to add insult to injury, Dan must answer to a new boss, Carter Duryea (Topher Grace), a whiz kid half his age with no experience in ad sales. Carter may seem like your garden-type variety corporate climber, but he is dealing with his own personal problems after being dumped by his wife (Selma Blair) of seven months. Dan's home life is equally topsy-turvy. Just as his oldest daughter, Alex (Scarlett Johansson), leaves the nest to start her first year of college, Dan is shocked when his wife tells him she's pregnant. Somehow, the two men find some common ground and form an uneasy friendship, trying to keep the magazine--and its employees--from becoming victims of a corporate takeover. But their burgeoning relationship is put into jeopardy when Carter begins dating Alex. Uh-oh.”
I would rate the movie a “B”, and it is the worth of an admission ticket, a medium popcorn and a medium soft drink. I thought it was good movie about corporate takeovers and the aftermath of such takeovers. Dennis Quaid’s character was far too serious and not very likeable.
Coach Carter Movie
Yesterday I saw the movie “Coach Carter”, which starred: Samuel L Jackson, 'Ashanti' Douglas, Rob Brown, Robert Ri'chard and Nana Gbewonyo.
The storyline involved the following: “Coach Carter is the true story of a basketball coach, Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson), who gained national attention by benching his undefeated team for poor grades. Signing up to be the Richmond Oilers High School basketball coach, Carter's first action as coach is to have the unruly players sign a contract that requires them to perform in the classroom as well as on court. Carter then enforces his tough love approach on the boys, especially on his son Damien (Robert Ri'chard), who transfers from his private school to Richmond against his father's wishes. The discipline and hard work pays off as the team comes together in an undefeated streak which puts the team on track for a run at the state championship. But the success on the court is threatened by the players' poor grades. Carter forces the team to study together instead of practice, and cancels all games until the team's grades are up to snuff. This action leads to media attention and the wrath of the school's principal as well as the parents of the benched players. Of course, Carter's tactics work, and the players succeed in class and on the court.”
I give the movie a “B”, and the movie is worth the price of an admission ticket, a large popcorn and a small soft drink. The movie was inspirational and exciting. It had plenty of drama, but the role for Samuel L. Jackson was a straitjacket.
Are We There Yet? Movie
Yesterday I saw the movie “Are We There Yet?”, which starred: Ice Cube, Nia Long, Philip Bolden, Aleisha Allen and Henry Simmons.
The storyline involved the following: “Smooth-talking operator Nick Persons (Ice Cube) is trying to land a date with Suzanne Kingston (Nia Long), a young, attractive single mom. We know he's smooth from the moment he strides onto the screen, flashing his cocky smile, his blingage, and his playa' attitude. Although Nick has sworn to never date a woman with children, Suzanne is special. We know she's special because she gets Nick to stop his car in the rain for her. That's true love right there because Nick loves his car more than anything else. But when Suzanne, miserable on a business trip in Vancouver, wants her kids to visit her, Nick gamely offers to make her wish come true (and his own in the process) by driving the children himself from Oregon to Canada. What Nick doesn't know is that 7-year old Kevin (Philip Daniel Bolden) and his sister, 11-year old Lindsey (Aleisha Allen) think that no man is good enough for their mom and they will do everything they can to make the trip a nightmare for him. In spite of their best efforts to sabotage their journey, wreck Nick's car, and send him packing, both Lindsey and Kevin realize that Nick just may be the father they've been hoping for. And Nick realizes that maybe, just maybe, he could be a family man after all. But you saw that one coming, right?”
I would rate the movie a “B”, and it is the worth of an admission ticket, a medium popcorn and a medium soft drink. It was a fun movie to watch, and Ice Cube did a great acting job.
Racing Stripes Movie
Last Friday I saw the movie “Racing Stripes”, which starred and featured the voices of: Hayden Panettiere, Bruce Greenwood, Wendie Malick, Frankie Muniz and Mandy Moore.
The storyline involved the following: “Nolan Walsh (Bruce Greenwood), once a champion thoroughbred trainer and now mild-mannered Kentucky farmer, rescues an abandoned baby zebra and takes him home to his young daughter Channing (Hayden Panettiere). Stripes (voiced by Frankie Muniz), as the adoring Channing calls him, grows up on the farm with its misfit troupe of barnyard residents. They include the cantankerous but wise Tucker (voiced by Dustin Hoffman), a Shetland pony; Franny (voiced by Whoopi Goldberg), a motherly old goat who keeps the farm in line; Goose (voiced by Joe Pantoliano), a skittish hit pelican who's hiding out from Jersey thugs after taking out the wrong bird; and Buzz (voiced by Steve Harvey) and Scuzz (voiced by David Spade), two horseflies with attitude--and an affinity for poop. But Stripes isn't cut out for farm life. Instead, he has his sights set on the neighboring racetrack with hopes of running in the race himself--even if he isn't exactly a horse. With a little help from his human and farm animal friends, he finally gets his chance. And loses! Oh, I'm just kidding.”
I would rate the movie a “B”, and it is the worth of an admission ticket, a medium popcorn and a medium soft drink. The film was entertaining and fascinating.
Assault On Precinct 13 Movie
Yesterday I saw the movie “Assault On Precinct 13”, which starred: Austin Stoker, Darwin Joston, Laurie Zimmer, Martin West and Nancy Loomis.
The movie story involved the following: “Director John Carpenter's second film is a brutal, realistic story about the siege of a small police precinct by a violent and well-armed gang. The gang is seeking the man who killed some of their members in revenge for the accidental shooting of his daughter. After the father enacts his revenge, he wanders to the police precinct in a distraught state. The poorly manned precinct is being phased out of use, and is unprepared for the relentless assult which ensues. The violence in ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 was shocking for its time and has remained so over the years since its release, mainly due to the stark, unaffected direction of a young John Carpenter. Insipired by the cowboy and indian movies Carpenter watched as a boy, the film is more than just an action movie, as it shows the desperation and courage of people living in a violent society. Produced with a modest budget and without Hollywood backing, ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 is a fine example of how a powerful film can be made with limited resources.”
I give this movie a “C+”, and it is the worth of an admission ticket, a small popcorn and a small soft drink. It was highly entertaining action movie, and the movie was very violent. At times the movie did not make sense.
Elektra Movie
Yesterday I saw the movie “Elektra”, which starred: Jennifer Garner, Goran Visnjic, Terence Stamp, Jason Isaacs and Will Yun Lee.
The movie story involved the following: “What there is of it goes like this: Elektra (Garner) is an assassin, plagued by personal doubt --you know, that breed of film characters with whom we can all readily identify. She's so good that in an intriguing opening sequence, we see a powerful man literally sitting and waiting for her to come kill him. Then it's on to her next assignment--to take out a man and his teenage daughter, staying at a house on a tranquil lake. Instead of dispatching them immediately, Elektra finds herself drawn in by the warm-hearted Mark Miller (Goran Visnjic) and the spunky Abby (Kirsten Prout)--so much so that when it comes time to off them by bow and arrow some time later, she can't bring herself to let loose the arrow. But turning down the job means others will take her place, so she takes it upon herself to protect them. She shields them first from skilled ninja attackers, and then from the heavier guns. They include Typhoid Mary (Natassia Malthe), who literally breathes death on to her victims; Stone (Bob Sapp), a big, tough black guy who brushes buckshot off him like it's rubble; Tattoo (Chris Ackerman), who's eagle and snake tattoos spring to life; and Kiriji (Will Yun Lee), whose deadly martial arts skills rival Elektra's. They're all dispatched by The Hand, a sinister agency that soon sets their sites on Elektra herself. Aware that they're outgunned, she and her charges seek refuge with Stick (Terence Stamp), the master who trained her years ago.”
I give this movie a “C+”, and it is the worth of an admission ticket, a small popcorn and a small soft drink. The movie was a good action movie with excellent special effects. But the use of the supernatural distracted from the film.
I'm making steady progress re writing my manuscript: The Omak Lake Monster. I still need to pick up pace.
I'm making some progress on my manuscript: The Omak Lake Monster. Yesterday I was working on the final scene of the manuscript. I need to spend more time on writing and planning.
Hotel Rwanda Movie
Yesterday I saw the movie “Hotel Rwanda”, which starred: Don Cheadle, Djimon Hounsou, Nick Nolte, Sophie Okonedo and Desmond Dube.
The storyline involved the following: “Ten years ago, some of the worst atrocities in the history of mankind took place in the country of Rwanda; and in an era of high-speed communication and round-the-clock news, the events went almost unnoticed by the rest of the world. In only three months, almost 1 million people were brutally murdered. In the face of these unspeakable actions, inspired by his love for his family, an ordinary man summons extraordinary courage to save the lives of over a thousand helpless refugees by granting them shelter in the hotel he manages.”
I give the movie a “B+”, and the movie is worth the price of an admission ticket, a large popcorn and a medium soft drink. The movie was very intense and brutal, but the story of survival and sacrifice was outstanding.
The Machinist Movie
On Thursday, I saw the movie “The Machinist”, which starred: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, John Sharian and Michael Ironside.
The storyline involved the following: “Does hell exist or do we create our own? This is the larger question screenwriter Scott Kosar asks as we watch machinist Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale) stumble through his disintegrating world in this psychological thriller inspired by introspective mindbenders like Roman Polanski's The Tenant and Wim Wenders's The American Friend. From the moment we glimpse Trevor's freakishly emaciated frame, it's obvious that something is eating him away from the inside, the same thing responsible for his chronic insomnia. With apparently no Nytol or sleep aids available in his zip code, a strung-out Trevor continues working at a dangerous industrial facility until he causes an accident that costs a coworker his arm. When no one recalls the imposing bald man whom Trevor claims distracted him during the incident, he is ostracized by his coworkers and ultimately fired. He tries to find comfort in a sympathetic hooker (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who has fallen in love with him, and a kind waitress and single mom (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon), who works at his favorite all-night diner, but even they offer little solace as his paranoia mounts. What is real, what is memory, and what is imagined? Trevor clings to the last shreds of his sanity before he finally faces the truth about the only demon that matters--the one with the tortured face staring back at him in the mirror.”
I give the movie a “B”, and the movie is worth the price of an admission ticket, a large popcorn and a small soft drink. The movie was an excellent mystery-psychological thriller, but it was little too dark for me.
Beyond The Sea Movie
On Wednesday I saw the movie “Beyond The Sea”, which starred: Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, John Goodman, Bob Hoskins and Brenda Blethyn.
The story line involved the following: “Kevin Spacey directs and stars in this film biography of singer Bobby Darin, singer of pop hits like "Splish Splash," then moved on to performing jazz standards with the gigantic hit "Mack the Knife." Kate Bosworth plays his wife, the movie star Sandra Dee.”
I give the movie a “B+”, and the movie is worth the price of an admission ticket, a large popcorn and a medium soft drink. It was a very pleasing movie with a lot of nostalgia. I liked the sound track, but the introduction of Bobby Darin as a child character was a distraction.
Phantom of the Opera
Yesterday I saw the movie “Phantom of the Opera”, which starred: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Minnie Driver and Miranda Richardson.
The storyline involved the following: “This romantic musical epic is about a mysterious masked figure, Erik (Gerard Butler), who roams the undergrounds of 19th century Paris, centering his activity around (or under) the Opera Populaire, where he tutors a beautiful young soprano, Christine (Emmy Rossum), who goes on to upstage the city's most famous opera singer, Carlotta (Minnie Driver). The Phantom thinks he's found love, until Christine's childhood boyfriend, Vicomte de Chagny (Patrick Wilson) shows up.”
I give the movie a “B+”, and the movie is worth the price of an admission ticket, a large popcorn and a medium soft drink. The movie is a musical, which makes it hard to review. You got the feeling that the film was strictly designed to be presented on the stage.
Writing Projects
The New Year begins with many writing expectations. I’m working on a manuscript entitled: The Omak Lake Monster. It’s a manuscript about a mystical-legendary lake monster who dwells at the bottom. Of course, he will stirred to actions by human events, and the outcome is shocking and a warning to other human beings who question his existence.
I’m also working on a science fiction manuscript about outer space aliens who invade the World. In this manuscript the Earth is facing alien conquest through fierce and intense war ware. The manuscript takes place mostly in Eastern Washington state and Washington, D.C. The Earth Defense forces are totally at war against the aliens.
