Movie Review Monday: Star Trek - Generations

The film this week is the seventh iteration in the Star Trek film franchise; Star Trek: Generations (1994), starring two Enterprise captains, William Shatner as Captain Kirk and Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. I'm going to just start off by saying I wasn't a huge fan of this film. I'm trying to watch, at least, all of the Star Trek films, having just wrapped up The Next Generation's (TNG) TV run recently. I've seen a few of The Original Series' (TOS) films also, having enjoyed Wrath of Khan especially. I had high hopes for this movie but it fell apart quickly for me. There were many sub-plot threads that seemed needless, the stakes weren't that high, the action was lackluster, and it just overall seemed like an overinflated episode of the show. If this movie was a typical episode of the show, shortened down and focused, it would be great, but with a roughly two-hour run time, it just was a bit of a bore.

Star Trek at its best is when it is able to have stories about ethics, morality, loyalty, values, friendship, and diversity. This movie had none of the above. It does seem that all of the Star Trek movies I've seen tend to just default to sci-fi action movies, which can be fun, but never really capture what makes the television show so special and beloved, and that's saying a lot from a diehard Star Wars fan.

This is a rare negative review so I recommend you pass on Star Trek: Generations. Just go watch Star Trek Into Darkness on Netflix if you want a better Trek flick that's streaming right now.

Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: Much Ado About Nothing

This week's movie is the 2012 adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play, Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Joss Whedon and starring Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof. First off, this movie took a little catching up for me since it is literally adapted from the Shakespearean text. It is simply in a modern setting. All the characters speak the play as it was written so I was taken aback at first but I eventually caught up. The movie is also shot in black & white, which adds a nice artistic flair to the film (why, I don't know, it just does). Pretty much all the actors are from some sort of "Whedonverse" property or at least something Whedon has been associated with in the past. It has a very simple elegance to it, where the focus is on the timeless story of Benedick and Beatrice's will they or won't they romance.

I will admit, since I'm not a huge theater buff or reader, I hadn't been exposed to the story before so I came in fresh and it was a very fun ride. The bickering between Benedick and Beatrice as well as the scheming by the other characters to get them together was brilliant. All the actors really bought into the dialogue and gave great performances.

For any fans of Shakespeare, romance, Joss Whedon, or just well crafted film, check out Much Ado About Nothing, streaming now on Netflix!

Movie Review Monthly: May 2014

Greetings movie fans! In an ongoing effort to serve up my delicious content to you, here is a monthly wrap-up of my reviews from the past month, all available to stream on Netflix! Enjoy!

• Don Jon
• Done the Impossible
• Trek Nation
• Olympus Has Fallen

If you have any recommendations for movies I should watch that are available on Netflix, please let me know, just leave a comment here or tweet me! Thanks!

Movie Review Monday: Stuck in Love

This week's movie is Stuck in Love (2012), starring Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, and Lily Collins. And, pardoning the pun, I just have to say I loved this movie. Stuck in Love is essentially Crazy, Stupid, Love with more drama and heart. I enjoyed CSL very much as well (and own it) but I enjoyed this movie for totally different reasons. The story revolves around different members of a family dealing with the complex nuances of love. Where CSL succeeded with comedic moments, I feel like it lost when it came to connecting more with the characters and story on a deep, personal level. I can admit I got emotional when watching Stuck in Love at times. I didn't know what to expect from this movie, so I was very pleasantly surprised.

All of the folks in this film do a great job with their characters. Each of them is going through something unique and everyone has a very real personality that deals with the conflicts in the film. I was engaged throughout the film, wanting to know what happened next to these characters I was invested in.

I highly recommend this film as a solid romantic drama that has a lot of heart. It is streaming now on Netflix!

Enjoy!

Movie Review Monday: Olympus Has Fallen

Welcome everyone to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

Our film this week is Olympus Has Fallen, the 2013 action film starring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, and Morgan Freeman.

* A quick caveat before we begin, this isn't going to be as much of a hard recommendation as I usually give, but in an attempt to keep a diversity of reviews coming, I checked out this movie this past week. It is a fine film but it is certainly not great. That is all.

Last year, two White House centric action movies came out that were very identical in their premise; White House + Die Hard = White House Down & Olympus Has Fallen. I saw the former as well, and it is a PG-13 comedic action romp with Channing Tatum and Jaime Foxx, while the latter is a hard R, with as much blood, explosions, death, and expletives as they can fit in the course of the movie. This is the only major difference between the two films. Otherwise, their plots are the same; dude gets stuck in the White House and has to save the day from terrorists and betters himself in the process. Neither are going to stimulate the noggin but they are fun rides.

So speaking mainly about Olympus Has Fallen, since it is the one available to stream on Netflix, the movie isn't bad but it isn't great either. I guessed the plot turns before they happened so I wasn't surprised and everything just seemed cliche in the wake of five Die Hard films. I feel like I'd rather just watch the original Die Hard (which is a modern classic if you ask me). I can't say much bad specifically about Olympus other than it seems unoriginal and redudant, which as someone who watches a lot of movies and television, is a major turnoff for me. With that being said, it is something good to put on and have some simple fun with. Gerard Butler is a capable action lead (which I feel like he needs to do more often and he seems to be listening based on his IMDB page) and the rest of cast does adequate jobs. The action scenes are well done, but there are some spotty special effects. The pacing is good enough, and the movie definitely doesn't hold back punches (a lot of nameless soldiers, guards, etc. die in this movie). It is just crazy enough to work and won't challenge any notions you have, so take it as you will.

With a sequel in the works (really?) for next October, check out Olympus Has Fallen for some simple, fun, action on Netflix ready to stream into your eyeholes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: Trek Nation

This week's movie is the 2010 documentary, Trek Nation.

Echoing the spirit of last week's movie, Trek Nation is a love letter to the geek community. It chronicles Gene Roddenberry's son, Eugene Roddenberry, on his journey to connect with his late father and the universe he created, and why people connect with it so much.

Eugene goes to conventions, speaks with the stars from all of the series and films, and even interviews George Lucas about the effect Star Trek had on Star Wars, which I greatly appreciated. I also just never get enough of seeing how a simple piece of entertainment can help people on a personal level, and help people connect to each other. Star Trek or any geeky thing can bring friends, families, and a world together in a tight bond of the unifying message behind it. Star Trek has an optimistic view of the future, and I enjoy it for that.

In the end, there is an immense beauty in Eugene's exploration as it culminates with him connecting with his famous father more after Gene's death than they ever did while he was alive. It reinforces the importance of being thankful for the time we have with those we care about and making sure we tell them how much we care.

Trek Nation is available to stream now on Netflix! Check out their site for some additional information.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

Movie Review Monday: Done the Impossible

Howdy!

This week's movie is Done the Impossible (2006) about the renewal of the beloved series Firefly for the one-off movie Serenity, all due to the fervent fan support to get some resolution for the show.

This documentary chronicles the story of how Firefly came to be cancelled and the beginnings of the Browncoat fan movement that ultimately resulted in Serenity being made, unprecedented at that time for the entertainment industry. Seeing such an awesome community of fans and my geeky brethren is something I never get tired of. It reinforces my belief that when we all come together, we can do amazing things!

The show Firefly is a personal favorite of mine; a unique sci-fi adventure with awesome characters and story. If you haven't watched it or Serenity, check them out, they're both on Netflix, and then watch this behind-the-scenes documentary to see how it all happened. You'll have a full day of awesome Joss Whedon entertainment to enjoy.

Check out their site for additional information & stream this movie today!

Come back next week for another movie to enjoy.

Enjoy your week and thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monthly: April 2014

Hey movie fans! April was another great month for movie reviews. I tried to provide a wide breadth of films for you all to enjoy. Check them all out below!

• Flight
• How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
• Terminator 2: Judgement Day
• The Kitchen

Live long and prosper my friends!

Movie Review Monday: Don Jon

Greetings! This week, we're talking about the recent movie Don Jon (2013), which is the brainchild of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who wrote, directs, and stars in this fresh, unique, and original romantic comedy. Starring alongside Levitt is Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore. All of the actors in this movie do a splendid job with the material, which showcases a more realistic love story for the main characters, which we have come to expect from JGL in such movies as 500 Days of Summer and 50/50 (both of which I highly recommend). Part of the unique aspect of this movie is the main character's obsession with pornography and how that affects his relationships with women, which I think is a very interesting avenue to explore for a romantic comedy.

The cinematography of this movie and the pacing is kinetic, keeping you engaged throughout. It ends in an unexpected fashion and defies all the typical rom-com stereotypes, which I enjoyed greatly. I admit that I was initially drawn to this movie for the creative influence of JGL (who I respect greatly), but I am happy to have seen it in theaters when it was released and am glad to see it streaming for more to enjoy.

*Fair warning, however, since much of the plot surrounds JGL's character's obsession with porn, you'll see a lot of flashes and sounds from him caving into his addiction. Just know this going in!

So, if you want an original romantic comedy to stream that will keep you engaged (and don't mind the aforementioned glimpses of porn) check this movie out and come back next week for another great movie available on Netflix!

Take care!

Movie Review Monday: The Kitchen

This week, I'm reviewing a hidden gem that has been lurking on my "recommended" swath of films from Netflix, The Kitchen (2012), which stars Laura Prepon (now of Orange is the New Black fame) and fine ensemble of actors who all help create a unique, originally crafted film that I very much enjoyed.

This unexpected cinematic joy centers around, you guessed it, a kitchen on the day of Prepon's 30th birthday. The movie takes place over the course of that single day but the viewpoint we take stands centered on the kitchen, never leaving this setting, while only peering out toward other rooms in the house. It's a neat way to shoot a movie and allows for us to see "private" conversations between characters about other characters, see people just passing through and there is just a feel like you're actually just hanging out in the kitchen all day, witnessing whatever happens to pass by. There is a kinetic feel as well that is well captured once the birthday party begins.

All the actors, while all unknown to me for the most part (I've seen Dreama Walker from Don't Trust the B**** in Apt. 23), all do a great job in their roles, showcasing three-dimensional characters, creating a cool group of people who are all hanging out for the day. This movie is great for the sole fact of it's originality. It's a simple story told in a unique fashion so I enjoyed it for this accomplishment; that it didn't try to do too much but seemed to do just enough.

Check out The Kitchen, streaming now on Netflix!

Come back next week for another great film to watch! Take care and thanks for stopping by!