jeffreyjets Reviews

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Did no one see Source Code?

[8/10 · 12 July 2014]

I see all these comparisons to groundhog Day, but did no one see Source Code? If you did not see Source Code, you should. More Dectective Crime story the Edge, but brilliant FX's as well. Tom Cruise is Tom Cruise...no getting around him, but his movie budget, stories and secondary characters/actors are awesome. Edge is no different.

The storyline and plot were good. At times they seem to be taking a little too long with somethings and could have been more time on others, but that could be just me. At times, surprising humor in places you are not expecting. The only draw back in the movie was the very last scene, but my son loved it.

I recommend it if you like Tom Cruise movies. If yo don't like Tom Cruise movies, see Source Code.

In Time (2011)

Good Movie. GREAT Concept!

[8/10 · 27 March 2014]

Enjoyed just about everything about this movie. I was so mesmerized by the plot and the oddities of subtle economic changes. The changes in behavior are seen as problems by others. I mean if your length of life is dependent upon what you buy, I think less people would have phones. The acting is good. Made you think about choices and felt a little preachy, but it was a decent sermon.

Justin was great and Amanda is always awesome. I imagine some of the good parts ended on the editing floor. It was really creepy how young Justin's mom appeared.

Overall I do recommend In Time, however the economic applications to current economy is limited.

American Hustle (2013)

A Very Good Movie, but not decent

[9/10 · 27 March 2014]

I'd really give it an 8.5 but closer to 9 than to 8. This isn't All The President's Men or a movie in love with itself. The statement read 'Some of the following events actually occurred' instead of Based on actual events. That should tell you what you need to know about the tone of the movie.

Apparently 1980 girls cuss like a sailor and dress like sluts. It is humorous. Someone said correctly "It was a caricature of actual events." Cooper's character is over the top which makes it more fun. I recommend if you don't mind heavy swearing.

Overall a fun movie. Everyone played their part well. The story is interesting.

Divergent (2014)

very good but issues

[8/10 · 27 March 2014]

Movie itself was good. Story, plot, directing and editing....however, a few problems for me. Everyone was cast very good and looked fine except, I didn't buy Shailene as tough for a moment. Sure she could go for fearless, tough? Take a punch tough? Not even close. A different problem but same vein, she spends 18 years of her life with no training, but in 10 weeks she rules. Guess that's the book, but lame. AND the big one, they just win. Knock out plan. People who would support them are standing around with guns, they could take control but decide to run...really?

Overall it is a very enjoyable movie if you handle a few holes.

The Frozen Ground (2013)

Harsh Language, but if you liked Zodiac, this is in the same vein.

[7/10 · 7 March 2014]

Cage and Cusack are actors I tend to like to watch on screen (along with Rahda Mitchell but her part was small.) It is not action packed, but it's based on a true story, which yes means dry to a point - think Zodiac, but not as good. It is tragically horrifying what people do/get away with. I was into it despite Vanessa Hudgens, but, at the end, they starting showing the real life victims pics and then it became really rough.

Overall, the story was good, the photography was great and the acting better than average. They did a good job representing all sides, including the troopers and system-stuck-in motion.

The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)

...and???

[5/10 · 16 February 2014]

It ended and I and not sure why it began. It meandered through a lot of decent acting and possibly good plot changes, but accomplished little or nothing and moved no where, other than I think it made money. I think relationship movies need to have warning labels that state, "This film accomplishes absolutely nothing, so make sure you are in touch with your feminine side or bring your girlfriend to watch." We did learn one thing: Ryan Gosling should not be bleach blonde, just like Angelina Jolie.

This is the directors fault. Actors did everything and more than what they were asked to do. Movies like this seem to have a so totally self involved Director that has half the story in his/her head believing that everyone is thinking the exact same thoughts in their head. Some of the reviews on IMDb appear to indicate that some were thinking that, but I am beginning to have my suspicions that many reviewers out there are friends or employees of Directors or Actors, because many make no sense whatsoever.

Bottomline...not bad acting, not bad script, if you have 2 plus hours to kill and you are a fan of somebody in this film, go for it, just don't expect an ending. The journey will have to be enough, which it wasn't for me.

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Superhero movies pale compare to Avengers, but Thor good

[8/10 · 16 November 2013]

Everything Superhero related now pales compared to the Avengers, but I thought it came close to an 8...7.75. If this movie came before Avengers, then it would be a 9, better than Iron Man 2 or 3 easily. Acting superb, story line great with just a touch of seen that already. This has exceptional action, good heart, good sad and a good bad. The humor was about 65% on, but I think the 35% that didn't hit was dry smirking humor, which is good for me. I do think the 2ndary Aasgard fighters or Thor's posse could have been used in the final battle against the other elves and that probably would have made it a 8.5 - 9.0 straight out.

The disclosure is that Thor was my 2nd fav superhero growing up behind Spiderman so it would be hard for me not to like it,

OVERALL IT WAS A VERY ENTERTAINING MOVIE.

The Lone Ranger (2013)

Great Western, critics are useless as Usuall!

[10/10 · 8 July 2013]

As a Western, it was a 10. It is so much better than what any Critic ever wrote anything about it. It seem to me that critics are a part of the media and the media likes to shape public opinion if they can. Critics fail so often when it comes to movies, because moviegoers know what's good, that they periodically like a good and decent movie just to prove they have a normal bone in their body. The critics love to praise warped and twisted movies. If the critics have praised a movies, 9 times out of 10 it is warped and twisted in someway. Anyways, off the soapbox...

The movie itself is a good traditional Western with some good smirks and laughs in it. I do like that they went in to the past and Tonto had a good reason for being off. I like the story telling, but not narrating. Armie Hammer did well as the Lone Ranger, but I do wish they would have given him a bit more oomph! but his character was interesting had some depth...(and I just realized why the media hated it...when you 1st met him, he did not believe in guns.)

The acting was fine, the sub-plots were good, writing was fine and the jokes hit well for the most part. The only thing not to like about this movie is if you do not like Westerns.

Man of Steel (2013)

It was a good movie, just not a good Superman movie

[6/10 · 29 June 2013]

I don't think that my spoilers are too much plot related, but I want to warn you just in case. OK, maybe one, but it ruin a good portion of the romance.

For me, I did not like the changes. You might. The changes take almost all the fun out of Superman. For all I know some comic book writer has written another version of Superman where Lois Lane knows that Clark Kent and Superman are one in the same. Very much ruins a good portion of the fun of Superman.

The guy who plays Superman is a dead ringer for Tom Welling, only thinner and less well-adapted Tom Welling. I guess this Superman's Parents were not able to help him grow. While I am a fan of Amy Adams, I think a poor choice for Lois Lane - blonde haired and too cute nose. Superman spent the whole movie with a furled angry brow.

Kudos to Kevin Costner for getting his best role ever...being married to Diane Lane, not being Superman's father. Diane Lane is probably the only person in a role for which she is perfect. Of course, then, Diane Lane is perfect in every way. Not a big fan of Crowe being Jarel, although he did OK and I like Crowe, just not that role.

This movie was a lot like The Dark Knight for me...I don't like Bale as Batman, Maggie Gylenhal at all and don't like want they did to the Joker, on the other hand, the story and movie was phenomenal, I just had to convince myself that it was not a Batman movie. Man of Steel was wrong in most of the same ways, unfortunately, where the Dark Knight story just kept getting better as the movie progressed, Man of Steel was too long with meaningless fighting - about 15 minutes could have been cut.(Yes, I understand that the build up was to show mercy before...you know, but it could have been handled better.)

In short (too late!), this is not your Father's Superman and that may be OK with you, but it is a decent movie, if you can get past the changes. Overall, I may have given the movie an 8.5 if it wasn't called the Man of Steel.

The Avengers (2012)

Best Superhero Movie!

[10/10 · 5 May 2012]

It pains me to say that because I was a Spiderman fan growing up and Spiderman started off this Superhero crazed movie run with what was the best movie. What made Spiderman stand apart was that it was a great movie and a great Superhero movie. Well, move over because Avengers did most everything right enough to at least have a discussion of whether Spiderman 1 or Avengers 1 was the better movie. It might have helped that I do not know the Avenger lore as well as I knew others, but everyone else is in agreement. I am reluctant about this statement, because you hear something is the best ever and then it never lives up. I read a lot of hype in these pages before I went and saw it. Now I have seen it and must agree with the hype.

One thing I was afraid of: Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk, which I am a little still out on, but I do like Mark Ruffalo, but made Bruce Banner a little too weak/effeminate. It comes together nicely though. Another was ScarJo. Yes, she is sexy enough(understatement) but was she athletic enough to carry it out and she did well enough. Another problem, the bravado/"egos" of the characters, not stars, but characters of such a movie would demand a lot of screen time for each one to make this work. That would be a problem if it was not accomplished. The movie was very good on this point. Cobie, Robin from How I met Your Mother, was a bit of a distraction for me in a secondary role, but did a competent job.

The most interesting thing for me was that Joss Whendon was Director and Writer. He created Buffy/ Angel, Firefly/Dollhouse. I wondered how he would do with such mainstream fair and he managed to bring everything together almost perfectly. I say almost because there is one bit that is missing. It is somewhat minor, but who taught Bruce Banner the secret to control his angry green side. That is the only piece missing for me.

For those that want specifics: effects were top notch, acting was excellent, story lines were compelling, the comedy was perfect 99.5% of the time and surprise there were a lot of one line typical superhero zingers that worked really well.

I think you will enjoy this movie, unless you only enjoy completely realistic movies.

Paul (2011)

So very sorry that I watched this movie

[1/10 · 4 September 2011]

I watched much of what Simon Pegg has done and found it to be very clever in an understated manner, probably the British in him. This though was a Seth Rogen movie which is curse words and fart jokes humor. This had such a chance to be funny and clever at such a high level but instead sunk to Seth Rogen's level. There seems to be a lot of people who like that and I am sure they pre-order the newest recording of Larry The Cable Guy as soon as they can, but I am not a fan. The acting was fine and the plot while overdone was OK, but there was nothing to pull it together and for most part entirly and utterly without humor 95% of the time. I can't wait to get back to when pervasive foul language was not funny and you need to actually be clever to write a script.

Hounddog (2007)

If you love Dakota Fanning then it is worthwhile

[7/10 · 9 June 2011]

The voter of 7 was mostly for Dakota and her excellent acting. The story was admittedly slow and plot fairly thin, but then it is a Chick Flick, which is all about emotions and relationships, so pace and plot is somewhat irrelevant. The acting was superb all the way around. I saw it based on Dakota being in it. Everyone else's acting was very good from David Morse, Piper Laurie and the Snake Guy. A better Southern Goth tale is Winter's Bone, but like my summary says "If you love Dakota Fanning then it is worthwhile." FYI - I did not hear about all the "controversy" about Dakota's character getting raped. It didn't influence me one way or the other. I have known that this has happened and showing it in context is not inflammatory, although if you were a victim and it still greatly messes with your mind, I don't think seeing it would help.

The A-Team (2010)

Action, action and, um, ...more action

[6/10 · 10 January 2011]

Normally, my summary statement would be plenty to make an a movie worth viewing. I don't know why but I was not enthralled with this movie. It felt more like a Steven Seagal movie, which many enjoy, but I do not. Steven Seagal movies for me are a little lower that JeanClaude van Damme and Chuck Norris movies. It could be that I was thinking it would be better because Liam Neeson, who took a very simple chase movie like Taken and made it so much more. I don't think it is Neeson's fault, but the writing and directing is most likely more at fault. The acting was fine, but there just wasn't character development. There was cheese, which maybe they decided was character development. I thought the B A guy should have been more menacing and muscle looking and the pretty boy, prettier.

It was a more mindless-than-usual action movie in the tradition of Crank, but the Cranks knew it and made it more fun rather than cheese.

My kids, by the way, thought it was amazing.

A Cosmic Christmas (1977 TV Movie)

I got it for Christmas 2010 on VHS

[9/10 · 10 January 2011]

I had been looking for Cosmic Christmas for a long time. Finally, I saw a blog on IMDb that said it was a released in 1989 as an extra on the '50's cartoon Littlest Angel VHS. I found it on Amazon and got it for Christmas. Only $7 including shipping. Funny that The Littlest Angel is less than 15 minutes long and Cosmic Christmas is about 25 minutes. While not high quality, it was still a joy to watch. It was as I remembered... a little odd, exaggerated characters and a poignant message of Christmas - Christmas loving is giving to those who are deemed undeserving.

The only thing that makes it not a 10 is that it is not on DVD, but I still highly recommend it. I think it is the off-beat funny characters and the out of this world story line that was intriguing to me as kid. I mean I have often been asked what would I do if aliens came to earth and I have said that if I wasn't too scared, I would ask them if they had heard about Jesus. This cartoon while not being evangelical in any way, shape or form - it does tell aliens the meaning of Christmas, which I thought was great as a child and still do.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Very Good

[8/10 · 17 December 2010]

Just saw this on DVD. It isn't the type of movie that I want to see on the BIG screen. The big screen to me is made for big block buster special effects movies. For movies of a more personal rom-com nature that could be really good, bland or stupid I prefer a smaller price tag. I do have to say that of I saw this in the theater, I would not have been disappointed and consider my money well spent. This movie is a creative imaginative out there kind of movie and it really hit me on most cylinders. Being that it is off-beat, not all people are going to appreciate it. I found it very funny and it was done in a comic book fashion that took a minute to get with the program. The dialogue was interesting and the plot unfolded well. The actors helped the movie in that they had the ability to make believe they were serious, even if the whole movie was not serious. It is a key ingredient to movies like these. There was only one that over played their part and that was G-man. I have only one issue with the movie and that is the ending. Afterall that it would seem Scott would be a bit more assured of himself.

August Rush (2007)

Sweetest Movie I have seen in years

[10/10 · 4 April 2010]

August Rush is quite simply one of the best movies I have seen in years. I loved that it dealt with tough subjects of life along with an endearing faith in hope and they do it without all the harsh language and cheap thrills of sex. The acting, storyline, direction and cinematography are very good with special mention for Robin Williams, Terence Howard and Keri Russell. The music, of course, is the highlight. The score is always interesting and integrating the stories of the main characters together. They did use the technique of time line jumping for a period of time, jumping back and forth in time, which does annoy some people. Young and old really enjoy this movie and the music. I have no idea how it didn't win an award for best score.

2012 (I) (2009)

Great American Cheesy Fun!

[7/10 · 9 March 2010]

I was so very glad that it wasn't a preachy global warming flick. I liked this movie for a few reasons that are not good reasons. 1.)Great graphics, mostly. Great to see California fall off into ocean..now that I am not living there. 2.) Like John Cusack and finally liked Amanda Peet in a movie and the kids were great. 3.) I did like like Oliver Platt and the way they handled the attempts to keep the secret. 4.) I want to be Charlie (Woodley Harrelson's character.) That was a good role for him and he played it perfectly. Iagree that there was an Indiana Jones Adventure feel to the stunts chases and such, but that's what made it fun for me. I think it was headed for a 5 or 6 rating until the end action moments and they picked it up to a 7, although I liked it more than a 7, I don't think the movie as a whole is better than that. The cheesiest moment came towards the end with the not open/do open door speech.

Overall, it was good cheesy fun, which may not be what you want in a world will be destroyed movie, but it tries to take itself serious at times.

The Hurt Locker (2008)

Retreaded War Plot

[3/10 · 9 March 2010]

It took me a while to find a reason that the Oscars would embarrass itself by lifting up a movie to the "highest heights" that is barely worth a footnote. This movie is nothing really new. You have seen this all before. The characters, plot and action is in every other war movie...big budget or not. OK, the acting is fine and writing was OK, but the plot was sad irresponsible for an independent movie. It was OK until the soldiers veered far away from their duties by running down allies they had no business being in. The only thing I think Hollywood was interested in was that the main character, the hero/protagonist is there not to serve or defend his country, but to serve his own adrenaline craving. In the end, there is something selfishly wrong with the hero and that has Hollywood all excited. How warped and sad that Hollywood denigrates their own award shows to lift up the liberal bias.

Premonition (I) (2007)

U have 2 think to get it..and think too much for most

[9/10 · 27 July 2009]

I liked it. I enjoyed the acting, probably Sandra's best of the non-cutesy Speed and Miss Congeniality roles. Julian Mcmahon was excellent as always. Actually all acting and dialogue were great including the children Everyone is making a fuss, because of the ending. The ending was not what I was expecting, so the big Q is why. What good was that. With some thought, I realize what was great about it. Here is a women stuck in a marriage going the way so many do. Their love is just being wrung out of them by the day to day routine grind. Then, she is given this premonition that her husband is going to die. Many women in her situation would just be relieved and couldn't wait for it to happen, especially after they find out he is planning on cheating. She does consider this in a chat with her priest. Her decision is to get enough information from the future to save her husband. This is what makes it a great loves story, that she decides not to let her husband/marriage die. She decides to love again, quite possibly because you value the important things once gone. Unfortunately, she only accomplishes to save her marriage since he dies. This is what I think is important...he died not in a loveless marriage, but in a loving marriage..kind of falls into that Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

A good Sequel

[8/10 · 21 July 2009]

The first one was great and this was a good sequel, which in my thought means that it was as good as the first. Given you have seen it before. I loved that the cast was back and in the same form. I wish they would have done more with Josh Duhamel and his crew. Could have done without Megan Fox straddling the motorcycle like white-trash. I have a teen girl and 2 pre-teen boys and not part of the story. Yes, Megan Fox is phat, but phat can be classy as well.

The story was good and had plot holes like fantasy movies always have, but it was fun, fast and exhilarating. It always amazes me when people watch a movie about things that don't exist and think it doesn't make sense.

Except for the Turturro part of the story, there was less humor and the little robots were not very funny.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

It was OK

[6/10 · 21 July 2009]

I am not a reader of the books. Might read them after the movies are through. Seems like the books just ruin all the movies.

Unfortunately for a 2.5 hour movie, "OK" is a struggle to get through. The action seemed to be in the beginning and from then it was suspenseful and sophomoric teenage goofy "romance". My boys of 11 and 12 didn't like it at all because there wasn't enough action to make it interesting. I was OK with the movie although I expected more action and it would have helped the movie a lot.

The acting and script were decent. With the books being such a hit and this movie being so so-so, it makes me think they don't choose the right events from the book to make a great movie. Such a shame.

With the mysterious secret between Snape and Dumbledore, I think I already know what is going on with the ending, which should have/could have been so much more than what it was. If you are going to introduce events not in the book (others have said so), the ending should have been much more substantial.

As coaches in pro sports seem to out coach themselves, I think that the film story people have "out-storied" themselves.

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Very well done except...

[8/10 · 29 July 2007]

Almost all aspects of Marie were pitch perfect. Directing, acting, political backdrop, costumes, sets designs and photography were spot on. The only problem, which to me is a major problem is the choice of the pervasive cheesy 80's pop music. I think the choice was made, because the music itself is viewed as superficial and plastic, which for a 14 year old queen would be a fairly representation. As for me, I do not appreciate the aspects of this music so it was completely annoying and out of place to me. Perhaps, a better technique would have been to play the popular cheesy 80's pop music in the instruments of the time period. That would have made the artful statement much more arty and effective, not to mention much less repulsive. The only other drawback is that the story stop right when historically Marie Antoinette got a stronger backbone. That would have made for a very interesting character transformation. Good as is, but could have been much more enjoyable. I should also state that Kirsten Dunst is one of my favorites, so I am a little biased since I enjoy seeing her on screen.

Apocalypto (2006)

More movies should be made like this

[9/10 · 29 July 2007]

Apocalypto had a few issues, like it is convenient that different tribes can understand each other, but overall it had an earnest approach to telling this story. Perhaps, the best thing was the return to making a making with very little CGI. The costumes and scenery displayed great details and realism. The movie gives you a feeling that you are there in the story. This can be bad news, because it is true for the more gritty, disturbing and gruesome scene, where the savagery of the Mayan Natives are viewed. And it does not hold back. Nit picking, I probably would not have called it Apocalypto, which to me is a much broader term, where this was a story about a tribe/individual. I understand that underlying themes are broader, but the main heart of the film is smaller. My guess is that this is why it was not as accepted as well as it could have been. The name Apocalypto sets certain expectations on the storyline that were not met.Overall awesome movie.

Bruce Almighty (2003)

A Good Romantic Comedy

[8/10 · 6 June 2007]

This was never designed to be more than an entertaining, sweetly uplifting movie. There have been many movies that attempt this genre and many have failed. Bruce exceeds at both the comedy and the romance, eventually. The comedy is a given since it has Jim Carey in it as long as you find him funny. I know 1 or 2 that do not. The romantic part is supplied by the one of the most gorgeous woman alive who has perfected pouting lips. (Still don't understand Brad's choice.) Bruce does go the extra effort to illicit misty eyes from most of the viewers.

It could have been better, if it had used the more than capable supporting cast more effectively. Unfortunately, the storyline does not allow for close friends, since Carey's character is self centered and self pitying.

Brick (2005)

Felt like a remake...

[8/10 · 6 June 2007]

...a very smart, hip and intelligent remake of say the Maltese Falcon. I had wanted to see Brick, because it appeared to be interesting and I like Joseph Gordon Levitt. It was much better than I anticipated. I didn't expect that every actor would be spot on, especially with the quick exchange of dialog leaves the Gilmore Girls to shame.

I almost got the hang of the gangsta teen language, but enjoyed it anyways. The plot and storyline were adapted well. There was much depth to the characters and plot. The twists and turns were great. Think I will get The Maltese Falcon and watch it again just to see how closely it does follow.