johnironbear Reviews

False Freedom (2014)

This was a stunning movie

[8/10 · 28 October 2023]

From the beginning the story line was great. Many Germans left their country as it was collapsing, and for a variety of reasons. Some wanted freedom from the tyranny of the Third Reich, and others to carry on their agenda. But who was our protagonist Dr. Viktor (aka Mr. Meinhardt)?

All I can say without giving away too much is that Duken was exceptionally good in the role of the mysterious German doctor. Was he who he said he was? That is up to the viewer to decide. One thing I can say for sure is if you like period mysteries, and especially historical ones, this movie will have you as captivated as it did me.

Jadesoturi (2006)

An amazing movie

[8/10 · 9 October 2023]

For those who understand how we reincarnate from life to life and how our thoughts, hopes and desires create our reality this is a wonderful movie. For those who do not however I think the low rating speaks to that.

Personally I found it refreshing and truthful in it's mystical, yet very real depiction of how we create our lives, and how we affect our lives to come. One of the most compelling aspects for me was the ending, and how we may without ever knowing or understanding, get in the way of God's plan out of our own desire to have, be or do what we should not, and if we do it must be resolved in an ensuing incarnation.

This is a movie for deep thinkers or esoteric spiritual students, and for either I think it will be greeted with understanding and appreciation. To me it deserves that much and more, which is why I give it eight stars.

Good Life (2021)

What a lovely movie!

[10/10 · 16 April 2022]

Bonnie Rodini did a wonderful job with this move, especially considering she filmed it during the first wave of Covid. Our protagonist Olive is a young dental hygienist with what appears to be yet another broken heart who is still yearning for her father, and she decides to go to Greece to find out what really happened to his house, which her mother does not want to discuss, and upon arriving she discovers an entire village is against her. But through the friendship of a young boy and her own tenacity and goodness, she overcomes adversity and heals the past for all of those involved. This is one of the best movies I've seen in years.. it has heart, and it shows not only the goodness of the human spirit, but that of the healing power to be found in facing the Truth. A lovely movie indeed.

Le loup et le lion (2021)

If you love animals you will love this film

[7/10 · 11 February 2022]

In spite of the critical reviews this film has a lot of heart, friendship and healing. The acting was less than stellar in some areas, but had the script been better the acting would have been as well. Graham Green as always played his part well, and he continues to be one of my favorite actors.

This is the story of a real friendship between a wolf and a lion, thrown together because of man, and it you're like me their stupidity will make you angry at times. The juxtaposition between the ways of man who desire to use animals and fears them and the girl who loves and cares for them provides a powerful contrast, and to my mind is one of the strongest points of the film. Worldwide it grossed over $14 million so I think a lot of people would agree with me. It's worth a watch, and it deserves better than the 6 rating that it has at this point.

The Matrix Resurrections (I) (2021)

An enigma wrapped in an anomaly

[9/10 · 25 December 2021]

Let's define enigma for the moment to mean a movie script rather than a person of puzzling nature and a movie which seems to lack consistency, because that is precisely what this movie appears to be, but it is not. If it were understood for what it actually is, it would have a rating closer to 8 than 5.9.

Why? Because the average viewer is looking for an escapist story but is not able to follow it unless they're able to connect the script to what's happening in the world today.

The writers dropped some critical "in your face" clues to tell us how we're being controlled, the first being "Face Zucker". I won't tell you what it's about, because if you're even a little awake you'll know, but if you're not you need to take the red pill and research what's going on in the country today (with Duck Duck Go). Think Zuckerberg.

Another enormous point being made was at the end and it is regarding the control of the "sheeple". This one is absolutely HUGE because it is precisely what has been happening. The media is controlling the news we receive, and they're brainwashing us with lies. Again, research it. There is much truth in this movie but it's being told as a metaphor. Compare it to the reality of life in the US right now and you will understand.

Red Dirt Rising (2011)

A story of an early example of the love or racing

[8/10 · 4 October 2021]

I grew up in the generation following this story, but it appealed to me for several reasons. First of all, I have loved dirt track racing since my father took me to them as a kid back in the day in south Texas, so for me, this movie is real. It isn't the typical Hollywood fare these days, not by a long shot, but it is a real story of love of struggle, of persistence, and of following one's dreams. It's slow in the beginning, but that beginning also lays the foundation for the rest of the film as there are both story and character development happening, and the result is a lovely story of what love, and dedication and following our dreams will bring so long as we don't give up.

East of the Mountains (2021)

A movie with heart

[8/10 · 27 September 2021]

I've been where the protagonist of this movie is at.. from loosing his wife to having terminal cancer (which thanks to the grace of God I was healed from), so I understand better than most what his path was like and what he was thinking.

I also understand the low reviews because most of us do not, or cannot relate to this kind of story because they're not old enough to have experienced loss or to have had a disease that may claim your life, but those reviews do not reflect the beauty, or the pain of what Tom Skeritt's character was experiencing, and which was very well expressed due to his extraordinary acting.

LIfe is not easy my friends, as you will some day see, nor is it a movie, it is real, and it is to be experienced in all of it's fullness and beauty, which ironically includes the pain and suffering, and this beautiful film expresses that with wonderful acting and lovely cinematography that I think anyone with a heart and compassion will love.

Cry Macho (2021)

A lovely movie

[22 September 2021]

I wasn't sure what to expect with this going in considering in part that Clint is now 91 years old, but it didn't disappoint. It does start out slowly, and to my mind some of the acting in the beginning seemed to be somewhat strained, but as time goes on it develops into a lovely film with a great deal of heart. This is a story of healing old wounds, of finding value in yourself again, and of finding a new life. Within every human being exists a tender heart and kindness, and this movie sees that realized, and in my estimation it is a beautiful thing to behold.

Delaware Shore (2018)

A very sweet movie

[8/10 · 22 July 2021]

This story was both heartbreaking and endearing at the same time. The script writing in my opinion could have been better, in that it reflected the writer's inexperience in life and in human communication and interaction, and the acting was less than stellar, but nonetheless it appeals to the heart, and to nearly every person's understanding of hardship and trauma in life.

I would however have liked to have had a deeper, more detailed understanding of what granny experienced in her life. The holocaust was a horrible time in human history which left marks on every survivor without a doubt, and which I pray to God will never happen again, but the ending left me wanting to understand more of what she experienced, and for her to be able to come to a point or acceptance and resolution with it.

Kardec (2019)

A very powerful movie for our times

[9/10 · 1 September 2019]

Having been involved in metaphysics for most of my life I'd never heard of Kardec, but I'm delighted to have stumbled across this movie. The dialog and acting left a bit to be desired at times compared to American films, but er should not let that take away from the message, or from the value of the film. There are in fact spirits among us, that I have known for over 40 years, and not all of them are from the deceased. And as the Spirit Of Truth set forth, the description of God was exactly as I have known to be true for most of my life. Infinite Intelligence created this universe, and It is as loving and compassionate as the film set forth. This is, in spite of it's drawbacks, a valuable and important film for our time.

A Champion Heart (2018)

The best Christian movie yet

[10/10 · 4 July 2019]

This is a heartwarming and very well done story of a young girl who is struggling with grief and the horse that helped her to overcome it and find a new lease on life. The acting is superb, the directing is excellent and the script is real life and emotionally engaging.

From the beginning I connected with the actors and the story, through the ups and downs and the difficulties. It reminds me of movies that were once made but now are rarely seen coming out of Hollywood, or anywhere else for that matter.

To my mind it's the best Christian movie I've seen yet.. it's not preachy as some are, nor is it cheap feeling with poor acting or scripting. From beginning to end it shows that with love, support and trust we can face the life issues we all must face at one time or another, and in that find the courage to stand up with trust and faith and continue on in spite of whatever might come our way in life.