Taken: ** ½
Release Date: 2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Pierre Morel
Tense, action scenes are all too familiar to the Bourne and newer Bond movies. For a movie of just an hour and a half in length, you will be pretty exhausted by the time the credits roll. We feel for what the determined hero is going through on the outside, but not on the inside. However, the premise is mostly original, and the acting performances deserve some credit.
MPAA Rating: G
Director: Cecil de Mille
An epic Biblical movie made on a production set of grande scale. Special effects are great for it's time. The fact that it's slightly inaccurate from the Bible keeps it from being an all time great masterpiece. Probably Heston's most memorable performance.
The Terminator: *** ½
Release Date: 1984
MPAA Rating: R
Director: James Cameron
Fast paced, original, thrilling and very entertaining. The acting, screenplay and the action scenes are all executed at nearly top notch level. Never loses it's entertainment level, and spawned a whole new franchise of movies due to this film's success.
Terminator 2, Judgement Day: *** ½
Release Date: 1991
MPAA Rating: R
Director: James Cameron
A rare sequel that works just as good as the first. More emotionally riveting and just as dramatically compelling as the first installment, with the action all on the same level as previously. Incredible special effects for it's time, but by the time the credit's roll, it's an exhausting experience. Terrific sci-fi action.
Terminator 3, Rise of the Machines: **
Release Date: 2003
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Jonathon Mostow
Third, unneccessary Terminator sequel adds nothing new to the franchise; even goes as far as rehearsing lines and moments from either predecessor! Even though this one was made clearly to entertain, it is, alas, not a good film.
Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines: **
Release Date: 1965
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Ken Annakin
Comedy where competitors from all over the world join an airplane race from London to Paris at the turn of the century. It has enough ambition, but becomes muddled with a familiar romantic subplot, un amusing funny moments, and overlength.
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Terence Young
Underwater sequences are well choreographed, and Connery has mastered his role as 007. In the end it's standard Bond fare, but is also overlong, and the first act of the film drags on at a bit.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Richard Donner
Costume design is awful: all red for the English and all blue for the French, which is very unlike how it really was during the Hundred Years War. Poor editing, deplorable casting and pathetic acting bring this pic down to disaster.
To Kill a Mockingbird: *** ½
Release Date: 1962
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Robert Mulligan
A classic film based upon the classic book. A very well-made movie, even though it's ambition never really escalates to the reigning supremacy of the novel. Definitely a must see nonetheless; this is one of those treasured films that will never be forgotten.
Tombstone: ** ½
Release Date: 1993
MPAA Rating: R
Director: George P. Cosmatos
This is a stylish western that comes in with bravado. Perfectly casted, the first half of the film is an example of fine western filmmaking. Second half of the movie loses all sense of focus as we are given shootout after shootout. Changes a bit of the real history to make the actions taken by the characters seem more heroic. Splendidly entertaining nonetheless.
Tomorrow Never Dies: ** ½
Release Date: 1997
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Standard-issue Bond adventure flick where 007 is yet again saving the world by stopping World War III.
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Tony Scott
A high-flying adventure with lots of impressive flying aerial sequences. A very fun movie where most everyone will want to fly after watching this. However, the conservation and lecturing scenes on the ground struggle to stay afloat.
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Richard Fleischer, Toshio Masuda, Kinji Fukasaku
Essentially plays out like a documentary. Interesting in showing the aspects and perspectives from both the Americans and Japanese, but there is a lot of drawn out talk until the finale. Finale, climatic attack on Pearl Harbor is a fascinating highlight.
Toy Story 2: *** ½
Release Date: 1999
MPAA Rating: G
Director: John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Currently ranked among the Godfather Part II and the Empire Strikes Back as one of the greatest sequels ever made. A movie with good sense of morale value. Appropriately funny and highly entertaining.
MPAA Rating: G
Director: Lee Unkrich
The morale values, appropriate humor and engaging plotlines are what keep all of the Toy Story films strong. Toy Story 3 is one of the few, few third sequels that stays on par with all the rest of it's predecessors.
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Burt Kennedy
This is a so-so Wayne western that is hurt by it's unfunny comedy and stupid ending.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Michael Bay
One of the most definitive summer popcorn flicks in years. Lacks decent characters, but makes up for it in impressive, well put together CGI effects and excellent, thrilling entertainment.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Michael Bay
Big, loud, blasted, noisy, inappropriate and wholly obnoxious sequel. Totally a messy crappile of a movie.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Michael Bay
A scrap pile of a movie that is only a knotch better then it's immediate predecessor due to the more interesting premise. Otherwise, it's dreadful to look at, and the climatic battle takes up a good 1/3 of the film. This pic will leave you exhausted and shock shelled.
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Steven Lisberger
What plagues Tron are not the state-of-the-art for it's time special effects, but the fact that the characters are so neritic and the plot so contrived.
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Joseph Kosinski
The action sequences, sound effects and visual effects are all supremely awesome and Oscar worthy. But the filmmakers had 30 years to conceive this sequel, and they did absolutely nothing at all to correct the original film's faults.
MPAA Rating: G
Director: Henry Hathaway
Lazy directing by Hathaway is supplemented by an fresh and engaging story. The Duke won an Oscar as recognition for his acting career. This film represents the high point of Wayne's career.
True Grit: *** ½
Release Date: 2010
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: the Coen Brothers
A rare remake that outdoes the original, because everything about it is improved: acting, directing, cinematography, the pacing and the way the narrative is told. While it's unlikely that this reinvents the western genre when it needs to be recreated, this is a movie that reminds us why we go to the theaters any more.
True Lies: **
Release Date: 1994
MPAA Rating: R
Director: James Cameron
Overlong action-comedy where a wife doesn't realize that her husband is actually a super spy when he's supposed to be a typical computer salesman. Lots of fun moments, but it's the continuous usage of unbelievable actions sequences that make it exhausting for no reason.
The Truman Show: *** ½
Release Date: 1998
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Peter Weir
Original and very entertaining dramedy about a man who doesn't realize his entire life is the center of a top-rated TV show. Carrey scores in the lead role, and Weir handles everything well in the director's chair.
Turner and Hooch: **
Release Date: 1989
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
All too similar plot about a cop who reluctantly teams up with a dog to track down the bad guys. Certainly watchable, though it's all formulaic. The infamous ending is realistic but will upset a few viewers.
The Tuskegee Airmen: ***
Release Date: 1995
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Robert Markowitz
Poorly paced, but well-acted, interesting and entertaining WWII flying drama about the true story of the Tuskege airmen. Overall very well done for a made for TV movie, but again, the slow pace proves a hinderence.
Twister: ** ½
Release Date: 1996
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Jan de Bont
Absolutely incredible special effects and very convincing storm sequences. While the special and sounds effects are truly awesome, they come before the human side of the story, which is sidestepped. Still a fun movie.
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Don Siegel
A western-comedy that's a little fun. However, the two leads can banter on all they want forever, and the end battle sequence between the Mexicans and the French is a big letdown.
Release Date: 2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Pierre Morel
Tense, action scenes are all too familiar to the Bourne and newer Bond movies. For a movie of just an hour and a half in length, you will be pretty exhausted by the time the credits roll. We feel for what the determined hero is going through on the outside, but not on the inside. However, the premise is mostly original, and the acting performances deserve some credit.
The Ten Commandments: *** ½
Release Date: 1959MPAA Rating: G
Director: Cecil de Mille
An epic Biblical movie made on a production set of grande scale. Special effects are great for it's time. The fact that it's slightly inaccurate from the Bible keeps it from being an all time great masterpiece. Probably Heston's most memorable performance.
The Terminator: *** ½
Release Date: 1984
MPAA Rating: R
Director: James Cameron
Fast paced, original, thrilling and very entertaining. The acting, screenplay and the action scenes are all executed at nearly top notch level. Never loses it's entertainment level, and spawned a whole new franchise of movies due to this film's success.
Terminator 2, Judgement Day: *** ½
Release Date: 1991
MPAA Rating: R
Director: James Cameron
A rare sequel that works just as good as the first. More emotionally riveting and just as dramatically compelling as the first installment, with the action all on the same level as previously. Incredible special effects for it's time, but by the time the credit's roll, it's an exhausting experience. Terrific sci-fi action.
Terminator 3, Rise of the Machines: **
Release Date: 2003
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Jonathon Mostow
Third, unneccessary Terminator sequel adds nothing new to the franchise; even goes as far as rehearsing lines and moments from either predecessor! Even though this one was made clearly to entertain, it is, alas, not a good film.
Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines: **
Release Date: 1965
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Ken Annakin
Comedy where competitors from all over the world join an airplane race from London to Paris at the turn of the century. It has enough ambition, but becomes muddled with a familiar romantic subplot, un amusing funny moments, and overlength.
Thunderball: ** ½
Release Date: 1965MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Terence Young
Underwater sequences are well choreographed, and Connery has mastered his role as 007. In the end it's standard Bond fare, but is also overlong, and the first act of the film drags on at a bit.
Timeline: *
Release Date: 2003MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Richard Donner
Costume design is awful: all red for the English and all blue for the French, which is very unlike how it really was during the Hundred Years War. Poor editing, deplorable casting and pathetic acting bring this pic down to disaster.
To Kill a Mockingbird: *** ½
Release Date: 1962
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Robert Mulligan
A classic film based upon the classic book. A very well-made movie, even though it's ambition never really escalates to the reigning supremacy of the novel. Definitely a must see nonetheless; this is one of those treasured films that will never be forgotten.
Tombstone: ** ½
Release Date: 1993
MPAA Rating: R
Director: George P. Cosmatos
This is a stylish western that comes in with bravado. Perfectly casted, the first half of the film is an example of fine western filmmaking. Second half of the movie loses all sense of focus as we are given shootout after shootout. Changes a bit of the real history to make the actions taken by the characters seem more heroic. Splendidly entertaining nonetheless.
Release Date: 1997
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Standard-issue Bond adventure flick where 007 is yet again saving the world by stopping World War III.
Top Gun: ***
Release Date: 1986MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Tony Scott
A high-flying adventure with lots of impressive flying aerial sequences. A very fun movie where most everyone will want to fly after watching this. However, the conservation and lecturing scenes on the ground struggle to stay afloat.
Tora! Tora! Tora!: ** ½
Release Date: 1970MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Richard Fleischer, Toshio Masuda, Kinji Fukasaku
Essentially plays out like a documentary. Interesting in showing the aspects and perspectives from both the Americans and Japanese, but there is a lot of drawn out talk until the finale. Finale, climatic attack on Pearl Harbor is a fascinating highlight.
Release Date: 1999
MPAA Rating: G
Director: John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Currently ranked among the Godfather Part II and the Empire Strikes Back as one of the greatest sequels ever made. A movie with good sense of morale value. Appropriately funny and highly entertaining.
Toy Story 3: *** ½
Release Date: 2010MPAA Rating: G
Director: Lee Unkrich
The morale values, appropriate humor and engaging plotlines are what keep all of the Toy Story films strong. Toy Story 3 is one of the few, few third sequels that stays on par with all the rest of it's predecessors.
The Train Robbers: **
Release Date: 1970MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Burt Kennedy
This is a so-so Wayne western that is hurt by it's unfunny comedy and stupid ending.
Transformers: ***
Release Date: 2007MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Michael Bay
One of the most definitive summer popcorn flicks in years. Lacks decent characters, but makes up for it in impressive, well put together CGI effects and excellent, thrilling entertainment.
Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen: *
Release Date: 2009MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Michael Bay
Big, loud, blasted, noisy, inappropriate and wholly obnoxious sequel. Totally a messy crappile of a movie.
Transformers, Dark of the Moon: * ½
Release Date: 2011MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Michael Bay
A scrap pile of a movie that is only a knotch better then it's immediate predecessor due to the more interesting premise. Otherwise, it's dreadful to look at, and the climatic battle takes up a good 1/3 of the film. This pic will leave you exhausted and shock shelled.
Tron: **
Release Date: 1982MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Steven Lisberger
What plagues Tron are not the state-of-the-art for it's time special effects, but the fact that the characters are so neritic and the plot so contrived.
Tron, Legacy: ** ½
Release Date: 2010MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Joseph Kosinski
The action sequences, sound effects and visual effects are all supremely awesome and Oscar worthy. But the filmmakers had 30 years to conceive this sequel, and they did absolutely nothing at all to correct the original film's faults.
True Grit: ***
Release Date: 1969MPAA Rating: G
Director: Henry Hathaway
Lazy directing by Hathaway is supplemented by an fresh and engaging story. The Duke won an Oscar as recognition for his acting career. This film represents the high point of Wayne's career.
Release Date: 2010
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: the Coen Brothers
A rare remake that outdoes the original, because everything about it is improved: acting, directing, cinematography, the pacing and the way the narrative is told. While it's unlikely that this reinvents the western genre when it needs to be recreated, this is a movie that reminds us why we go to the theaters any more.
True Lies: **
Release Date: 1994
MPAA Rating: R
Director: James Cameron
Overlong action-comedy where a wife doesn't realize that her husband is actually a super spy when he's supposed to be a typical computer salesman. Lots of fun moments, but it's the continuous usage of unbelievable actions sequences that make it exhausting for no reason.
The Truman Show: *** ½
Release Date: 1998
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Peter Weir
Original and very entertaining dramedy about a man who doesn't realize his entire life is the center of a top-rated TV show. Carrey scores in the lead role, and Weir handles everything well in the director's chair.
Turner and Hooch: **
Release Date: 1989
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
All too similar plot about a cop who reluctantly teams up with a dog to track down the bad guys. Certainly watchable, though it's all formulaic. The infamous ending is realistic but will upset a few viewers.
The Tuskegee Airmen: ***
Release Date: 1995
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Robert Markowitz
Poorly paced, but well-acted, interesting and entertaining WWII flying drama about the true story of the Tuskege airmen. Overall very well done for a made for TV movie, but again, the slow pace proves a hinderence.
Twister: ** ½
Release Date: 1996
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Jan de Bont
Absolutely incredible special effects and very convincing storm sequences. While the special and sounds effects are truly awesome, they come before the human side of the story, which is sidestepped. Still a fun movie.
Two Mules for Sister Sara: **
Release Date: 1971MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Don Siegel
A western-comedy that's a little fun. However, the two leads can banter on all they want forever, and the end battle sequence between the Mexicans and the French is a big letdown.
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