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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Winnie the Pooh (2011) in Movies
Aug 7, 2019
Everyone’s favorite “tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff” is back in this sweet and lovable adaption of the beloved classic series written by A.A. Milnes. For those who aren’t familiar with the story of this beloved bear, young Christopher Robin and his active imagination creates the world of 100 Acre Woods along with its adorable characters, Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga and her son Roo, Eeyore and the bouncy Tigger.
As with most of the stories in the series, Winnie the Pooh is on an adventure in search of his favorite tasty treat: honey. As he begins scouring the woods for honey, he runs into his friend, the depressed donkey, Eeyore. Eeyore’s tail has gone missing and so begins the contest, to see which one of the 100 Acre Woods residents can come up with the best solution for a new tail for Eeyore. The prize, to Winnie the Pooh’s excitement, is a pot of honey! While they are on the hunt to help Eeyore find a new tail, the gang realizes that Christopher Robin has been kidnapped by a terrifying creature called the “Backson.”
With a run time of just over an hour, I was very impressed with the amount of substance this movie had. I was very glad that Disney stayed true to the way I remembered these characters from my childhood. The movie is instantly engaging with the story beginning in Christopher Robin’s bedroom and continues on by capturing the creative magic of being a child. Many people will probably write this movie off, due to its simplicity, however sometimes it’s the simple things in life that can provide such a wealth of charm, fun and beauty.
As with most of the stories in the series, Winnie the Pooh is on an adventure in search of his favorite tasty treat: honey. As he begins scouring the woods for honey, he runs into his friend, the depressed donkey, Eeyore. Eeyore’s tail has gone missing and so begins the contest, to see which one of the 100 Acre Woods residents can come up with the best solution for a new tail for Eeyore. The prize, to Winnie the Pooh’s excitement, is a pot of honey! While they are on the hunt to help Eeyore find a new tail, the gang realizes that Christopher Robin has been kidnapped by a terrifying creature called the “Backson.”
With a run time of just over an hour, I was very impressed with the amount of substance this movie had. I was very glad that Disney stayed true to the way I remembered these characters from my childhood. The movie is instantly engaging with the story beginning in Christopher Robin’s bedroom and continues on by capturing the creative magic of being a child. Many people will probably write this movie off, due to its simplicity, however sometimes it’s the simple things in life that can provide such a wealth of charm, fun and beauty.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Creed II (2018) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
Since his spectacular fight which ended in a loss at the conclusion of “Creed”, Adonis Johnson Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has won his next six bouts and then pulls off an impressive victory to become the new Heavyweight Champion.
Life is good for the new champion as he believes he has moved out of the shadow of his legendary father and is ready to settle down with Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and move ahead with life.
At the same time, former Russian Champion Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) is training his son Viktor (Florian Munteanu) in Kiev to become and even more devastating boxer than he was. Ivan has suffered much since losing to Rocky in “Rocky IV” as his wife has left him and he has been shunned and cast out of the country which once lauded him as their prize athlete. Losing to Rocky in Moscow in front of numerous dignitaries has ruined him and made his life a shell of what he was leaving him and his son cold, bitter, and driven.
When the opportunity for Viktor and Adonis to box is presented, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) advises Adonis not to take the match. Rocky recounts that not only did Ivan kill his father in the ring, but in beating him, Rocky suffered injuries which ended his boxing career and have never fully healed.
Despite the warnings, Adonis takes the match and is unprepared for the raw brutality that Viktor presents and sufferers a horrific beating but manages to hold his title due to a technicality.
The film then follows a standard redemption story of Adonis trying to recover, face his fears, train, and find a new level of strength that he has never shown before. The climatic fight is very entertaining and well-staged and had fans at our screening reacting with cheers and dismay as the punches landed.
The film does follow some very familiar territory for the series from the emotional highs and lows of the ring, battling yourself as well as an opponent, the grueling training session, and of course the big match at the end.
Stallone gives another moving and solid performance as the aging Rocky showing that his Academy Award nominated turn in the prior film was not a fluke. What was also impressive was how Dolph Lundgren returned to a role he initially had reservations about doing and gave Drago a sympathetic side even though he is a bad guy in the film. We see a man desperate to recover what he was and who is devastated by what life has dealt him but forces himself to examine the past as he guides his son’s future.
Jordan carries a lot of swagger with his character and while the story attempts to show a softer side of his character; he is not as sympathetic as he was in the past film. I noted that Rocky was much easier to get behind as he was a more sympathetic underdog at times. That is part of what makes the series so interesting in that Rocky is still there as a presence over Adonis to guide and inform him to try to make him a true champion while allowing him to have his own identity and style.
If you are a fan of the series, then you should enjoy this next offering as long as you do not mind the formula for much of the series repeated.
http://sknr.net/2018/11/20/creed-ii/
Life is good for the new champion as he believes he has moved out of the shadow of his legendary father and is ready to settle down with Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and move ahead with life.
At the same time, former Russian Champion Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) is training his son Viktor (Florian Munteanu) in Kiev to become and even more devastating boxer than he was. Ivan has suffered much since losing to Rocky in “Rocky IV” as his wife has left him and he has been shunned and cast out of the country which once lauded him as their prize athlete. Losing to Rocky in Moscow in front of numerous dignitaries has ruined him and made his life a shell of what he was leaving him and his son cold, bitter, and driven.
When the opportunity for Viktor and Adonis to box is presented, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) advises Adonis not to take the match. Rocky recounts that not only did Ivan kill his father in the ring, but in beating him, Rocky suffered injuries which ended his boxing career and have never fully healed.
Despite the warnings, Adonis takes the match and is unprepared for the raw brutality that Viktor presents and sufferers a horrific beating but manages to hold his title due to a technicality.
The film then follows a standard redemption story of Adonis trying to recover, face his fears, train, and find a new level of strength that he has never shown before. The climatic fight is very entertaining and well-staged and had fans at our screening reacting with cheers and dismay as the punches landed.
The film does follow some very familiar territory for the series from the emotional highs and lows of the ring, battling yourself as well as an opponent, the grueling training session, and of course the big match at the end.
Stallone gives another moving and solid performance as the aging Rocky showing that his Academy Award nominated turn in the prior film was not a fluke. What was also impressive was how Dolph Lundgren returned to a role he initially had reservations about doing and gave Drago a sympathetic side even though he is a bad guy in the film. We see a man desperate to recover what he was and who is devastated by what life has dealt him but forces himself to examine the past as he guides his son’s future.
Jordan carries a lot of swagger with his character and while the story attempts to show a softer side of his character; he is not as sympathetic as he was in the past film. I noted that Rocky was much easier to get behind as he was a more sympathetic underdog at times. That is part of what makes the series so interesting in that Rocky is still there as a presence over Adonis to guide and inform him to try to make him a true champion while allowing him to have his own identity and style.
If you are a fan of the series, then you should enjoy this next offering as long as you do not mind the formula for much of the series repeated.
http://sknr.net/2018/11/20/creed-ii/
Fire and Sword (Throne of the Caesars, Book 3)
Book
'Absorbing and brilliant ...Game of Thrones without the dragons' THE TIMES The third book in...
Lindsay (1760 KP) rated When Love Returns (The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy #3) in Books
Feb 15, 2018
Kim Sawyer is one talented author. If you have not read one of her books you should. Her series "The Zimmerman Restoration" has a wonderful ending. You can check out my reviews to "When Mercy Rains" and "When Grace Sings".
Well, "When Love Returns" starts out a little tension with Suzanne and Alexa. They are celebrating Christmas with all the family. Alexa wants to find her birth mother. When Alexa tells her mom Suzanne. Suzanne is a little unsure and startled by her daughter. Suzanne learns that she will be with Anna Grace for two months. It starts with the unsealing all reasons and the secret that only started it all.
Throughout the book, Suzanne Turns to Paul to talk about Anna Grace and Alexa. What will happen with Suzanne and Paul? I believe it will come full circle. Paul starts wanting to talk to Suzanne and talk about his son Danny. Will the members of the fellowship allow Suzanne back in? To find out all these answers and Alexa answers to her questions, you will need to read "When Love Returns'?
Well, "When Love Returns" starts out a little tension with Suzanne and Alexa. They are celebrating Christmas with all the family. Alexa wants to find her birth mother. When Alexa tells her mom Suzanne. Suzanne is a little unsure and startled by her daughter. Suzanne learns that she will be with Anna Grace for two months. It starts with the unsealing all reasons and the secret that only started it all.
Throughout the book, Suzanne Turns to Paul to talk about Anna Grace and Alexa. What will happen with Suzanne and Paul? I believe it will come full circle. Paul starts wanting to talk to Suzanne and talk about his son Danny. Will the members of the fellowship allow Suzanne back in? To find out all these answers and Alexa answers to her questions, you will need to read "When Love Returns'?
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2336 KP) rated Murder on Washington Square in Books
Mar 31, 2018
Another Outstanding Trip Back in Time
When midwife Sarah Brandt gets a note form Nelson Ellsworth, her neighbor’s son, she is intrigued. She agrees to their meeting only to learn that Nelson has gotten a woman pregnant, a woman who doesn’t seem to want to marry him. Nelson asks Sarah to examine the woman, but something about their encounter seems off. Sarah doesn’t give it much thought until the woman is murdered and Nelson is arrested for the crime. With the help of NYC detective Frank Malloy, she begins to investigate. What is happening?
I hadn’t realized how much I’ve come to enjoy this series until I picked up the book. I was immediately lost in the world of 1890’s New York City, and Sarah and Frank are outstanding guides. They lead a cast of strong characters, and I love watching them interact and their slow burn romance. I did figure some things out early, but I was still glued to the page as there were twists and complications I didn’t see coming.
I hadn’t realized how much I’ve come to enjoy this series until I picked up the book. I was immediately lost in the world of 1890’s New York City, and Sarah and Frank are outstanding guides. They lead a cast of strong characters, and I love watching them interact and their slow burn romance. I did figure some things out early, but I was still glued to the page as there were twists and complications I didn’t see coming.
Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated Batman: The Animated Series in TV
Nov 12, 2019 (Updated Nov 13, 2019)
Best Batman
If you are a fan of this series, as soon as you see the cover, the opening music will be playing in your head. This is the GoT of 90s animation. It is all done so well, and on a big scale, a proper score, talented voice actors, quality animation, it's all here!
The odd episode may miss the mark, but otherwise you are fully drawn in to a Bat man that is dark, has depth, but also some humour. While it is suitable for kids (Not too young, and I would advise parents take a look, just incase) it does not pander to them and is great for adults too. Some other DC animations have tryed to emulate this, and done well. But none have quite found the same beauty the original has achieved.
A Must for any Bat-fans out there, and I can not wait for my son to join me in a binge session on this classic.
The odd episode may miss the mark, but otherwise you are fully drawn in to a Bat man that is dark, has depth, but also some humour. While it is suitable for kids (Not too young, and I would advise parents take a look, just incase) it does not pander to them and is great for adults too. Some other DC animations have tryed to emulate this, and done well. But none have quite found the same beauty the original has achieved.
A Must for any Bat-fans out there, and I can not wait for my son to join me in a binge session on this classic.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Seventh Son (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
After a two-year delay, Seventh Son has finally reached the big screen, and it will leave you conflicted.
Seventh Son is brought to us by director Sergey Bodrov. Originally set for a February 2013 release, the film had complicated distribution arrangements between Legendary and Warner Brothers, which kept causing delays.
Jeff Bridges plays one of the title characters: Master John Gregory. He is the last of an order of peacekeeper knights, which once used to be a thousand strong. All of these knights are seventh sons of seventh sons, and are self-tasked with keeping the evil creatures of the world at bay.
The movie starts off with a young Gregory completing a prison cell for an unknown woman. Years later, the prisoner, a draconic beast, breaks out and attacks a nearby town, specifically targeting the aged Knight and his apprentice (Kit Harington — Jon Snow from Game of Thrones). This recently released evil is Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore), the queen of witches.
During the battle, Harington’s brief existence in this film is brought to an end, causing Gregory to seek out another apprentice. This search leads him to young Thomas Ward (Ben Barnes). After Ward goes through some sad goodbyes with his family, he and Gregory set out to take down the Witch Queen before the blood moon sets.
His training would normally take 10 years, but they only have a week.
Put simply, this movie was very fragmented. It isn’t a good movie, but it isn’t a bad one either. It has reasonable special effects and decent fight scenes.
There is plenty of star power: Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, Kit Harington, Djimon Hounsou (one of my favorites), and Jason Scott Lee.
Jeff Bridges missed the mark on his character. It’s one thing to be disgruntled and war-torn with a curious sense of humor, but it’s something quite different to be outright silly.
There were no explanations. How did the order come about? Why seventh sons of seventh sons? How did Gregory KNOW there was a seventh son at that house? How did the war start? Why is Gregory the last? Why wasn’t there more about Gregory’s relationship with Malkin? Why did the skeleton in the armor attack Tom? Why do the swords hum? Where did the stone come from? Why was it powerful? Why anything, really? The story has no depth, failing to explain the “why” of any of its lore. There were only statements of fact, which confuses viewers and prevents them from becoming emotionally anchored to the story.
I simply didn’t care about the characters. The film was disorganized and rushed. Perhaps it would have been better served as two films, or a longer film, or even a mini series.
Seventh Son had the potential to be so much more. A combination of poor writing and bad direction made the movie lackluster to me and all three of my companions.
The actors delivered many campy one-liners, and the chuckles they drew from the crowd were quite unintentional.
If you are a fan of high fantasy, it’s probably worth seeing, but wait for it to arrive on Netflix and use it as background entertainment
Seventh Son is brought to us by director Sergey Bodrov. Originally set for a February 2013 release, the film had complicated distribution arrangements between Legendary and Warner Brothers, which kept causing delays.
Jeff Bridges plays one of the title characters: Master John Gregory. He is the last of an order of peacekeeper knights, which once used to be a thousand strong. All of these knights are seventh sons of seventh sons, and are self-tasked with keeping the evil creatures of the world at bay.
The movie starts off with a young Gregory completing a prison cell for an unknown woman. Years later, the prisoner, a draconic beast, breaks out and attacks a nearby town, specifically targeting the aged Knight and his apprentice (Kit Harington — Jon Snow from Game of Thrones). This recently released evil is Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore), the queen of witches.
During the battle, Harington’s brief existence in this film is brought to an end, causing Gregory to seek out another apprentice. This search leads him to young Thomas Ward (Ben Barnes). After Ward goes through some sad goodbyes with his family, he and Gregory set out to take down the Witch Queen before the blood moon sets.
His training would normally take 10 years, but they only have a week.
Put simply, this movie was very fragmented. It isn’t a good movie, but it isn’t a bad one either. It has reasonable special effects and decent fight scenes.
There is plenty of star power: Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, Kit Harington, Djimon Hounsou (one of my favorites), and Jason Scott Lee.
Jeff Bridges missed the mark on his character. It’s one thing to be disgruntled and war-torn with a curious sense of humor, but it’s something quite different to be outright silly.
There were no explanations. How did the order come about? Why seventh sons of seventh sons? How did Gregory KNOW there was a seventh son at that house? How did the war start? Why is Gregory the last? Why wasn’t there more about Gregory’s relationship with Malkin? Why did the skeleton in the armor attack Tom? Why do the swords hum? Where did the stone come from? Why was it powerful? Why anything, really? The story has no depth, failing to explain the “why” of any of its lore. There were only statements of fact, which confuses viewers and prevents them from becoming emotionally anchored to the story.
I simply didn’t care about the characters. The film was disorganized and rushed. Perhaps it would have been better served as two films, or a longer film, or even a mini series.
Seventh Son had the potential to be so much more. A combination of poor writing and bad direction made the movie lackluster to me and all three of my companions.
The actors delivered many campy one-liners, and the chuckles they drew from the crowd were quite unintentional.
If you are a fan of high fantasy, it’s probably worth seeing, but wait for it to arrive on Netflix and use it as background entertainment
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Vacation (2015) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
It is hard to believe it has been 32 years since Chevy Chase took his family on their now infamous “Vacation” and in doing so launched a series that would eventually spawn four movies.
The well-meaning but unlucky Griswold family gave new meaning to family trips and Europe, Christmas, and Las Vegas will never be the same.
In the new version, Rusty (Ed Helms) works away as a pilot for a commuter airline which ensures he is home each evening to see his beloved wife Debbie (Christina Applegate) and their sons Kevin and James.
The family tradition has been to go to as cabin for the Memorial Day weekend but after hearing that their neighbors recently went to France and that Debbie yearns for a break from the cabin, Rusty opts to take the family on a road trip to Wally World, where he has fond memories from the trip he took as a child.
The idea of spending a long week in a car does not sit well with his family but they decide to indulge their father and hit the road.
It does not take long for the Griswold legacy to start and after a series of hysterical and outrageous encounters along the way ranging from an ill-fated Sorority reunion, an awkward father and son conversation at a pool, running afoul of a trucker, and some hysterical car problems, and more, the crew make it to Texas to see Rusty’s sister Audrey (Leslie Mann) and her husband Stone (Chris Hemsworth).
Rusty has always had a distrust of Stone as he flirts with his wife and shows off his toned physique whenever he can, and touts his success to all.
Naturally some more mishaps ensue on this visit and Rusty and his family continue their trip with stops to the Grand Canyon and Four Corners.
There are plenty of other moments but suffice it to say that challenges and mishaps are the Griswold way whenever a trip is involved and Rusty has to seek help from his parents which sets up a great finale as Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo add to the fun.
The film has plenty of nods to moments from the series but is very much its own film and not a reboot. The humor in the film is a bit raw for those used to the recent PG-13 efforts from the series, but I think returning the series to the R-Rated origins of the original film was a good idea as it allows the unexpected and outrageous to happen more often and it does many times during the film.
I went in hoping for an amusing continuation of the series and what I got was a film that had me laughing throughout and had some cringe-worthy moments where my wife alternated between laughing and hiding her eyes from the outrageous antics.
The cast did a great job of carrying on the Vacation tradition while establishing their own characters. They are not retreads of Ellen and Clark, as Rusty and Debbie are very much their own people with everyday concerns.
Here is hoping we see this group down the Holiday Road again in the future.
http://sknr.net/2015/07/29/vacation/
The well-meaning but unlucky Griswold family gave new meaning to family trips and Europe, Christmas, and Las Vegas will never be the same.
In the new version, Rusty (Ed Helms) works away as a pilot for a commuter airline which ensures he is home each evening to see his beloved wife Debbie (Christina Applegate) and their sons Kevin and James.
The family tradition has been to go to as cabin for the Memorial Day weekend but after hearing that their neighbors recently went to France and that Debbie yearns for a break from the cabin, Rusty opts to take the family on a road trip to Wally World, where he has fond memories from the trip he took as a child.
The idea of spending a long week in a car does not sit well with his family but they decide to indulge their father and hit the road.
It does not take long for the Griswold legacy to start and after a series of hysterical and outrageous encounters along the way ranging from an ill-fated Sorority reunion, an awkward father and son conversation at a pool, running afoul of a trucker, and some hysterical car problems, and more, the crew make it to Texas to see Rusty’s sister Audrey (Leslie Mann) and her husband Stone (Chris Hemsworth).
Rusty has always had a distrust of Stone as he flirts with his wife and shows off his toned physique whenever he can, and touts his success to all.
Naturally some more mishaps ensue on this visit and Rusty and his family continue their trip with stops to the Grand Canyon and Four Corners.
There are plenty of other moments but suffice it to say that challenges and mishaps are the Griswold way whenever a trip is involved and Rusty has to seek help from his parents which sets up a great finale as Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo add to the fun.
The film has plenty of nods to moments from the series but is very much its own film and not a reboot. The humor in the film is a bit raw for those used to the recent PG-13 efforts from the series, but I think returning the series to the R-Rated origins of the original film was a good idea as it allows the unexpected and outrageous to happen more often and it does many times during the film.
I went in hoping for an amusing continuation of the series and what I got was a film that had me laughing throughout and had some cringe-worthy moments where my wife alternated between laughing and hiding her eyes from the outrageous antics.
The cast did a great job of carrying on the Vacation tradition while establishing their own characters. They are not retreads of Ellen and Clark, as Rusty and Debbie are very much their own people with everyday concerns.
Here is hoping we see this group down the Holiday Road again in the future.
http://sknr.net/2015/07/29/vacation/
Zach Smith (62 KP) rated Bad Boys for Life (2020) in Movies
Jan 27, 2020
Another chapter
Contains spoilers, click to show
The bad boys series is a buddy cop movie all cultures can enjoy, unless your a skinhead and then well you can fuck off. Now what bugged me was the brutal murder of a detention officer and three ambulance workers. That shit was not necessary, you can establish you character being evil another way. They also killed off the Captain which I though was as good Will and Marten's character. So the main bad guy is turns out to be Will Smith's son and he survives having killed at least five law enforcement however in the end they set it up where he may "work off some of his time to society" supposedly setting up for the next. So they gonna let a mass murderer of the Captain and others work for the police undercover? Come on man, that's just shitty writing. Yes I am what hippies call a "boot licker" meaning I support law and order, however Id like to point out that I am not a Trump supporter.
Snore Factor 0/10 Action Packed
Snore Factor 0/10 Action Packed
Ronia, the Robber's Daughter
Book
Now a major animated TV series from Studio Ghibli! Ronia lives with her father, a robber chieftain,...