Two East German families make a daring escape to the West via a homemade hot-air balloon. Based on a true story. [ Balloon credits: Dir: Michael Herbig/ Friedrich Mücke, Karoline Schuch, David Kross/ 125 min/ Action-Adventure, Drama, Family, Foreign, Thriller/ Escape From Socialism/ Germany/ 2020] Now available on Amazon streaming. External Reviews "Balloon revels in … [Read more...]
Shin Godzilla (2016)
Godzilla returns to attack Japan, but this time with an unlikely ally: a sclerotic Japanese government that is disastrously slow to respond. [ Shin Godzilla credits: Dir: Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi/ Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara/ 120 min/ Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi/ Incompetent Government, Individualism/ a.k.a. Godzilla Resurgence/ Japan] Mary … [Read more...]
Die Hard (1988)
When robbers seize hostages in an LA high-rise, an off-duty cop fights alone to save them, including among the hostages…his wife. [ Die Hard credits: Dir: John McTiernan/ Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia/ 131 min/ Action-Adventure, Thriller/ Individualism] Two lines in this film sum up its theme. When bad-guy Hans Gruber says to John McClane, the hero at the … [Read more...]
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)
When a U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi is overwhelmed by Islamic militants, six security contractors risk all against impossible odds to save 31 Americans. Based on a true story. [ 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi credits: Dir: Michael Bay/ John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, James Badge Dale/ 144 min/ Action, Thriller/ Incompetent Government] 13 Hours is not … [Read more...]
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
#1 HIGHEST-GROSSING FILM OF 2016 When political pressure mounts for the Avengers to submit themselves to UN control, Captain America refuses, leading to a violent split among the superheroes. [ Captain America: Civil War credits: Dir: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo/ Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson/ 147 min/ Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi/ Individualism, … [Read more...]
Free State of Jones (2016)
A poor white farmer refuses to defend slave-owners, and leads an armed rebellion against the Confederacy. Based on a true story. [ Free State of Jones credits: Dir: Gary Ross/ Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali/ 139 min/ Action-Adventure, Biography/ Anti-Draft, Anti-War, Second Amendment] External Reviews "Libertarian ode to the free state that exists … [Read more...]
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
A run-away orphan is pursued in a nationwide manhunt by Child Services. [ Hunt for the Wilderpeople credits: Dir: Taika Waititi/ Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House / 101 min/ Comedy, Adventure/ Individualism, Abuse of power] As the film opens, an orphan boy is just being delivered to his quirky new foster family -- a down-to-earth couple eking out a … [Read more...]
Sons of Liberty (2015)
A group of young men–Sam Adams, John Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock and Dr. Joseph Warren–secretly join together to oppose British domination, and end up sparking the American Revolution. [ Sons of Liberty credits: Dir: Kari Skogland/ Ben Barnes, Marton Csokas, Ryan Eggold/ 87 min/ Drama, History/ American Revolution, Resistance to Tyranny] For history to be kept … [Read more...]
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
A WWII veteran, transformed into a superhero by an experimental serum, discovers that the counter-terrorism unit for which he works has been corrupted and that its plans to preemptively eliminate threats through global surveillance may be a cover for something more insidious. [ Captain America: The Winter Soldier credits: Dir: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo/ Chris Evans, Samuel L. … [Read more...]
Red Dawn (1984 & 2012) | Movie Review
The classic and enduring 1984 action flick Red Dawn was remade in 2012, with updated special effects and a new storyline. Both films pack a patriotic punch and will appeal to Second Amendment fans. Review of Red Dawn (2012) Teenage heroes save their hometown from North Korean invasion, helping to turn the tide in WWIII. [Dir: Paul Feine/ Chris Hemsworth, Isabel Lucas, … [Read more...]