Reviews

First of all, I've been an Agatha Christie fan since high school, so I absolutely love good 'whodunit' movies. This movie was very cleverly crafted and well-written from a plot and character standpoint, so for a mystery lover/fan, it was an extremely good movie. But the language was so bad throughout the movie, that it ruined the experience for me and the person who invited me -- they were disgusted. I am so disappointed that Rian Johnson would make the choice to degrade an excellent film by throwing in gratuitous word-vomit. It was completely unnecessary -- one or two words would have been sufficient, along with the theme and bloody image, to get a PG-13 rating. Because of that, I won't buy the dvd, nor will I recommend the movie to my friends. This movie would have been a '10' in my book, if the language didn't exist.

Daniel Craig's accent seemed forced through most of the movie, so it took me awhile to adjust, but I did love his role.

Lastly, I just want to say that Ana de Armas was a new face to me, and she was phenomenal in her role. Great actress -- I was extremely impressed. The fact that she is stunningly beautiful in a sweet, natural way, didn't hurt either.

I've really enjoyed the F&F franchise, for the most part, so I was excited to see how the story continued. I personally like Duane Johnson a lot, and have fond memories of chatting in baggage claim after a flight, prior to his acting career. But, I was not prepared for this movie. It was graphic overload - in your face. Way overdone foul language and crude verbal jabs (the writers seem far too enamored with male genitalia - once reference in a movie is more than plenty); they plastered it on, so disgusting, and not suitable for a PG-13. I definitely don't want my teenagers seeing this movie, but they'll want to see it because of F&F/Hobbs&Shaw -- so it's maddening that the producer/director/writers know that teenagers are going to want to go, and then they vomit filth all over them in the movie.

As far as storyline/plot - it was great -- a perfect advancement for the franchise. Acting and casting was great too. So, what could have been a nice addition to my library will never be on my shelf because of so much graphic content.

Lastly, this movie just beat out Skyscraper as the most unrealistic Duane Johnson movie ever. (But I liked Skyscraper because the values in the movie were so good) Was this supposed to be a drama or a farce? It was so unrealistic, that it was ludicrous. It seems Hollywood is so taken with special effects and the ability to make the "unimaginable possible" through film technologies, that they just want to show off, instead of providing a real story that could actually happen.

So happy with this kickoff episode of the auditions -- I wasn't even sure I was going to watch this year after last year's miserable audition episodes. It looks like "the crazy" is gone and we're back to real judging and real dancing. If the rest of the auditions go this well, it's going to be an amazing season!

This movie has all the elements that make for a really great All-American movie. The storyline is very compelling, the bond of brotherhood is moving, the acting was brilliant and pulls you immediately in with its strong believability, and never misses that beat through the entire movie. The writing is excellent, and the movie has the 'it' factor in regards to timing. Tanner rocks his role and will bring you to tears; Evan stole the show for me and shone like a star. Kelsey is just too cute for words, and ruled her role. All the casting was spot-on. If you have a heart beating in your chest, you will laugh and you will cry. This is a movie whose positive impact can stay with you for a long time. I definitely want my sons and daughters to see this movie.

I looked up this movie out of curiosity, once I discovered that Alan Powell -- a former member of Anthem Lights -- had left the group to pursue an acting career, and The Song was his first. Anthem Lights has been my favorite singing group since they debuted their first album. Making the transition from singer to actor doesn't always work, so I wanted to see this movie for myself -- which I did last night.

I had no preconceived ideas or pre-knowledge about this movie. It was interesting, stylistically, to see how the movie unfolded. Fortunately, I was familiar with the story & writings of Solomon, so I was able to track with the movie -- and found it to be creatively & masterfully woven. But someone unfamiliar with Solomon's writings might not understand or enjoy the format. The storyline itself though, is great, and everyone should be able to appreciate the realism of the drama and the life story it tells.

Personally, I was super-impressed (and surprised) by Alan's acting ability -- he is obviously a natural, and belongs on the screen. The entire film was solid -- cinematography, acting, editing, writing. If someone saying this is a "Christian" movie would scare you away, don't let it. I would not really know it was a Christian movie -- just a real movie about life and the true struggles of mankind.

This episode reminded me why I loved this show last season -- all the right elements came together to provide suspense, drama, tears, compelling storyline, etc, without gratuitous gore or sexual references.

I almost dropped this show after their last Halloween episode, it was so bad. Fortunately, the writers have found a new thread of suspense to weave that is captivating again, and I'm glad I stuck with the show.

This episode rocked!

I've always loved the cast.

The Voice has been my favorite TV show for the past several years since I got introduced to it. I would rate it a 10, except for Adam Levine. I used to like him, but as each season has come & gone, he has become increasingly irritating & whiney - and it's no longer enjoyable with him on the show. The straw that broke the camel's back happened last week when Adam threw DeAndre under the bus in such an embarrassingly-awful way, just a week after loudly promising America that he would take DeAndre all the way to the finale, if they saved him that week. That was a horrible moment, and thank God Kelly Clarkson spoke up. (Kelly and Alicia Keyes have been my two favorite coaches, by the way; Jennifer Hudson has been much better this season) I no longer trust Adam, and no one should pick him as their coach. He has displayed that he has no integrity whatsoever, and seems a little creepy the way he has fawned over Reagan and Tyke. Plus, the interchange between Adam and Blake is so - gag me - old by this point. We need fresh blood & coaching! Since Blake is essential for the country music fans -- and provides real support to their careers, and since the two rotating coaches seem to always represent the pop/soul categories, why not have a "Gospel" coach put in the mix, since a large percentage of singers who try out for the voice have that background? I was trying to think of good male candidates, and TOBY MAC seems like a perfect fit. If he couldn't do it, then how about Michael W Smith or Steven Curtis Chapman...or Amy Grant! (and bring a male back into one of the other two spots, like Pharrell) Michael Buble has a good reputation for integrity. I sure hope a decision-maker for the show reads this...

Normally I love faith-based movies -- particularly if they are based on a true story. I find them inspirational & challenging. In the case of Indivisible, I was surprised to find myself really stressed out throughout the movie, and felt like I needed counseling by the time the movie was over. I would blame it on being a 'war movie', except I loved Hacksaw Ridge.

On the positive side, Sarah Drew is always fabulous. She is so absolutely believable and draws you in. Justin Bruening was also great in his role as an actor, but I get really frustrated when movies have scripts with lame answers for tough questions. I'm guessing that Justin isn't a strong believer in real life, and thus there wasn't a real 'spark of life' that accompanied his lines.

All in all, this is a movie I wish I hadn't seen.

I've watched every episode from the beginning. Even though a couple of the later seasons made me almost stop watching, I hung in there, and this last season was really great. I didn't even realize I was watching the season finale until -- all of a sudden -- everything started wrapping up and then led to a surprise ending. I think it was the perfect ending for Nashville, so it's left me with a great feeling. This was a very special series, and the music was unparalleled in TV history, imho. I'm not even a country music fan. Charles Esten (sp?) will forever be imprinted on my mind as one of the greatest emotional male actors I've ever seen. While the whole cast was so excellent (and I've always loved Hayden P), Charles' performances were a new degree of impactive. Thank you Callie & everyone for an amazing ride. I am sad it's over, but very happy at how it all wrapped up. Incredible writing; incredible grasp of human nature and social topics. Incredible music. Incredible series.

It's funny -- reading the various negative user critiques versus watching the movie is like...hmm, darkness & light. I actually was on the fence about seeing this movie after seeing the previews. But, with it being at the end of its theatre-life, I decided to give it a shot. I'm so glad I did! The naysayers are obviously individuals who have a huge bias against faith-based films, and have no interest in thinking objectively, or promoting tolerance & unity. I think this movie was the most engaging of the trilogy, and was so well-written that I couldn't find fault with it -- which is rare. It brilliantly and tastefully explored the issues, 'both sides of the coin', and added humor in the process in the entertaining and thought-provoking mental tug-of-war between brothers. John Corbett was stunning in his role. I thought the acting was extremely on point and relatable. I had no pre-agenda to like or dislike this movie, so I can authentically say I thought it was a meaningful, relevant and worthwhile film to see -- as long as you still have a heart, a soul, and a brain.

The main ingredient of this series' "Kool-Aid" is sugar-coated propaganda. The real moral of this show should be -- "Mr Mazzu is a total jerk that you would never want as a teacher, or role model for your children". The writer(s) seem to feel an urgency to cram in every imaginable angle of human drama that involves moral decay. It definitely is reminiscent of Glee's first season, but darker, R-rated. The characters, however, remind me more of High School Musical - it's like Vanessa Hudgens hooked up with Corbin Bleu instead, while Zac's doppleganger is lovesick for the equivalent of Lucas Grabeel. They say, history repeats itself. Unfortunately, it seems to be twisting in a downward spiral.

This film should appeal to just about anyone. You barely realize it's a "Christian movie"; in fact, I would hate to judge Christianity by the way that Bart Millard is portrayed through most of the movie. This is a very-well done movie -- the story line is so relatable, gripping, gut-wrenching, tear-jerking and compelling. There are some comical moments as well that help the balance stay with a great dynamic.

The acting was so believable that it created the feeling of living along with the story. Dennis Quaid was shockingly hate-able as the father (and later love-able) - what a brilliant performance! I thought the young Bart & Shannon were just as impressive as the grown-up characters. But I think the real treasure was the discovery of J. Michael Finley's voice. It's just flat-out incredible. I literally hope he gets a record deal and cuts an album. Bart Millard, in the flesh, has a really great voice. Mr Finley -- he has a phenomenal voice. Also, for an acting debut, I think he made a great impression with his abilities.

Being that I have been involved in the fringes of the Christian music industry for most of my life, it was particularly fascinating to me to learn the backstory on the song. I definitely have a new appreciation of the song, and an even greater respect for Ms. Grant.

Don't miss this movie. Don't assume anything ahead of time. The story is woven incredibly well, and it's a super-enjoyable movie. "Feel good" is its genre.

There's no getting around it - this movie is heavy from start to finish - not a moment of comic relief. It is a very sobering film, showing the terrible toll on lives that can occur when evil tyranny is unchecked. It was a fascinating time in history, and an interesting segment of Paul's life to explore -- rather than his 30 years of ministry and 10,000 miles of travel, we get only a focused glimpse into his final days in Nero's prison, with flashbacks to his original time of conversion.

On the upside: This movie is very well done from a production, acting & cinematography aspect. It keeps you engaged; its almost like watching a mystery unfold, due to its intensity. Jim Caviezel (as Luke), Olivier Martinez (as the Roman prefect over the prison), and Joanne Whalley (as Priscilla) were all brilliant in their roles. I mean, really brilliant. (I also loved Joanne in her role of Claudia in A.D.; and Jim Caviezel became one of my favorite actors after "Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Passion". But Olivier was the real surprise - extreme talent.)

On the downside: Most of the movie feels hopeless. What ever happened to the miraculous power and intense encouragement that Paul operated in during all his years of ministry? I feel that the creators of this movie completely underplayed Paul and stripped him of all the elements that made him who he was in the kingdom of God. That was extremely frustrating, since it presented a powerless, hopeless Christianity, other than to be martyred and receive eternal life. Not very appealing. It made me dislike his character more than like it.

In conclusion, the movie is definitely worth seeing for the artistry and story, if you can handle the context, the embellished story line, and a depressing outlook through most of the movie. But if you only like "feel good" movies, you might want to avoid this one.

Wow - I just finished watching the first episode of the new American Idol. After waiting a couple years to see what butterfly would pop out of the old cocoon, it turned out to be caterpillar dung instead. What a shocking disappointment. Just when you thought judges couldn't get any worse than JLo, she was topped by all 3 of the new judges in being completely inappropriate throughout the entire show, with the most unprofessional exhibition of subjectivity and foolishness I've ever seen. It was like watching a freak show instead of a talent show. Except for one of the contestants - Alyssa Raghu -- who actually belonged with a golden ticket in her hand -- the rest of the show seemed bent on highlighting the most bizarre, creepy, crazy, odd & unqualified contestants they could come up with. I don't think a single person other than Alyssa would have had a chair turn for them on The Voice. Um...maybe Zach, if he stayed on pitch.

I certainly hope this isn't the pattern set for the whole show. It would be a deal-breaker for me.

In my prior review, the reference I made to Billy Zane was actually supposed to be Jackson Rathbone. My apologies. I confused the two roles until I saw their pictures.

As a lover of Bible stories, it pains me to say that this was the most uncomfortable movie for me to watch since "The Cold Light of Day". It was just awkwardly cheesy. I'm not sure whether to point a finger at the producing, the directing, the cinematography, or the acting. It felt more like a college play than a movie. Billy Zane was simply not believable. Taylor James as Samson was probably the bright spot of the movie, but the foxes stole the show with the best scene. On a more positive note, this film did a better job of sticking to the biblical text than some other films based on Old Testament stories. I just think trying to recreate something from the Bible that -- in real life -- contained the life and energy of the Spirit of God, has to be a most difficult task to re-create in a cast of members that have no experience of what that level of God's involvement is even remotely like.

Even though i'm not a big fan of musicals, per se, I was enthralled with this movie from start to finish. I don't think I've ever experienced such mesmerizing synchronization of film to song, and this quality was consistent throughout the movie. Breathtaking. Over-the-top impressive. The vocals were stunning & moving, the choreography visually amazing, and the songs were wonderful -- kudos to the two songwriters who were on the billing. As a songwriter myself, that was very impressive as well.

Equally intriguing to me was the cast. I haven't experienced Michelle Williams for many years, since the most tragic loss of Heath, and I was simply blown away by her talent and beauty. Her wonderful voice was an amazing surprise, as was Ms Ferguson's, and many others of the cast. I had already heard Hugh J in Les Miserables, which I thought was an aptly-named miserable remake of that wonderful story, but his voice got more & more impressive throughout this movie. I was also delighted to hear Zac Efron in a musical role again, playing a decent character, since I have avoided his more trashy movies, even though he is one of my favorite actors.

The storyline itself? Wonderful -- the kind of stuff all classics are made of. So, even if you aren't a fan of musicals, you owe it to yourself to see this movie with a friend that you can laugh & cry with... I laughed & cried by myself.

There were two main things I came away with from the first episode: 1) It was completely unfair to the first 4 chosen, because they didn't even get to do an initial performance for the audience before getting challenged. So, they were 'unknowns' and the challenger got to sing twice, whereas the audience then only heard the original member once. That stinks right off the bat. 2) This show is like the polar opposite of The Voice, which I love. The Voice is constructive, and positive, and uplifting, and honors each contestant. The Four is rude, negative, petty, non-constructive, and just plain mean. But, the fate of one individual was still on the line, going into the second episode, so I decided to watch. You know a real star when you see one. You also know a real star when you hear one. This person made the grade on both accounts. So, to have a real star knocked off because of a hyped-up crowd who, again, got to hear the challenger twice, was the final nail in the coffin of the show for me. Supposedly this show is supposed to be about finding stars, but instead they are just throwing stars away for the sensationalist mechanics of the show. I hope this show tanks right away - it's just a horrible representation for a talent search.

I have watched every episode thus far, and each one is equally edge-of-the-seat gripping, with great stories and flawless acting. Superior cast - great synergy among the team, and completely believable. You feel like you are "right there". This show is a total winner.

I loved the Pilot of this show, and I've watched 4 episodes total. On the plus side, I think Freddie deserves an Emmy nomination for his brilliant portrayal of Dr Shaun Murphy. I'm in awe of how he handles his character. Also, I really like the cast as a whole. On the negative side, after 4 episodes, I feel like I've seen all there is to see of this show, and I don't really want to see any more graphic surgeries or hospital politics, nor do I want to watch the show continue to slide into "sensualization" of the medical industry. There are other shows that do that, and I don't watch them. The other thing that continued to bug me is how very physically dissimilar the young Shaun is in flashbacks, versus the adult Shaun in the current story. I just cannot make the connection in my head.

This is one of my favorite movies of the year so far, and has that classic "Dr Zhivago" feel, but with modern production that is crisp, alive & real - like you are experiencing the story right as it happens. I love movies based on true events in history, and I'm feel so privileged to now have insight into a piece of history that I had no idea existed. The importance of this movie cannot be overstated. With a timeless message, it was also cinematic, brilliantly acted, gripping and powerful. I also loved how tastefully done it was -- no graphic exploitation. Just pure classic story-telling at its best. Do not miss this movie on the big screen!!

Just finished this episode on Hulu. Every week is blowing me away this season. Almost every episode has been gut-wrenching and a tear-jerker. The depth of raw emotion they are tapping into week after week is something I haven't felt in a show in a long time. Charles Esten is the most effective "crier" I've ever seen in an actor. In this episode, you get that understanding full-on. It's the second time this season I've been rocked by his ability (the first time was at the end of "If Tomorrow Never Comes" a couple episodes back). In this episode, there's a certain moment that is unearthly it's so good - I wanted to watch the transition in his face over and over. If he hasn't already won a "Best Supporting Actor" award, he needs to; he's brilliant at expressing emotion.

Really deep issues are being explored in this season, and woven together in a masterful way by the new set of writers. I just hope the thread of Juliette's new-found faith doesn't get lost in the upcoming episodes, because there have been so many great, touching moments as that has unfolded. This episode seems to set her back a bit into old patterns, but the latter scenes of this episode are hauntingly beautiful and supremely inspirational.