Superman July 8, 2025 Director: James Gunn Starring: David Corenswet; Rachel Brosnahan; Nicholas Hoult; Edi Gathegi; Anthony Carrigan; Nathan Fillion; Isabela Merced MPAA rating: PG-13 Running time: 2h 10m Distributed by: Warner Bros. When Superman gets
drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned,
giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor the opportunity to get the Man of
Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane and
Superman's four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him before
it's too late? The latest edition to the Superman universe starts out with a bang, almost too much of a bang. It kind of feels like the movie starts at the halfway point. I thought maybe I had missed something. But as it goes on, some of the holes are filled in. But not all of them!
The movie is written well, but kind of oddly. Once you get used to it, it makes things a little easier to just sit back and relax. Maybe the movie follows comic book lore, or maybe I'm just out of touch with Superman.
Toward the middle of the film, I started to really enjoy it. At some point, there must have been enough info to keep me interested and invested. Plus, I loved his metadog and all the weird and odd side characters. Mom and Dad, back in Kansas, were so freaking cute. The Lois character, however, was annoyingly just a tad too bossy or pushy. But aside from that, everyone else really helps keep things moving along.
By the end, I felt like the greatest Superman, Mr. Christopher Reeve, would have liked this latest edition. The super suit looked classic original, the icy super cave was awesome, and Lex was back to being a slimy bad guy bully.
Overall, it was funny at times and action-packed, entertaining with an extra cast of Meta folks who helped keep things interesting. A summer adventure for sure, with heart and surprisingly entertaining.
Godzilla vs. Kong Release Date Mar 31, 2021 Director: Adam Wingard Producer: Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Eric McLeod, Jon Jashni, Thomas Tull, Brian Rogers Writer: Eric Pearson, Max Borenstein Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González Runtime: 1h 53m Production Co: Warner Bros., Legendary Entertainment Rating: PG-13 (Destruction|Brief Language|Intense Creature Violence) Genre: Adventure, Sci Fi, Action Legends collide in "Godzilla vs. Kong" as these mythic adversaries meet in a spectacular battle for the ages, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey to find his true home, and with them is Jia, a young orphaned girl with whom he has formed a unique and powerful bond. But they unexpectedly find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla, cutting a swath of destruction across the globe. The epic clash between the two titans--instigated by unseen forces--is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the core of the Earth.
Reviewer: SharonS
4 1/2 "villain hair" Sheep
My husband and I have been waiting for this! I'll cut to the chase...it was worth it! The writers and director knew what we wanted, EPIC BATTLES! There are people running around to give a flimsy reason for the EPIC BATTLES.
The actors did their job, especially little Jia. That kid is awesome and her connection with Kong tugs at your heartstrings. If you are looking for the sci-fi part to make sense, don't. I mean...Godzilla makes a massive hole through the earth to Hollow Earth!
My husband and I both give it 4 1/2 sheep based on the entertainment value. We will watch it again. And I will make fun of all the plot holes again.
Reviewer: Pamela Kinney
The pandemic has been a time where theaters closed in 2020 with some opening end of the year or 2021, and Regal reopening finally on April 1, 2021. Most of us have been binging on television, and movie production companies finally realized putting movies forward might cause many films to be forgotten, so they turned to streaming. Even Disney Plus is releasing its big films not just in theaters but on their streaming service. And Warner Bros. made a deal with HBO Max. Godzilla Vs. Kong not only premiered in theaters, but it also premiered on HBO Max (a better deal in my opinion as you have it for 30 days and can rewatch it as many times you want, unlike one time seeing on the movie screen.
Godzilla Vs Kong is not a film you watch to think or for social commentary—there are art house films for that. So, this movie will not be your cup of tea. But if you enjoyed those giant dinosaur movies as a kid and watch all the Godzilla and other monsters of Toho movies, then this movie is for you.
I was a kid when my parents dropped me off at the movie theater to see Toho’s King Kong vs. Godzilla. I sat up front and met two other kids and we had a blast. No, Toho’s King Kong was cheesy and not the more superior King Kong from 1933, but still, it’s a giant gorilla taking on a dinosaur because sorry, people, Godzilla began as a dinosaur who due to radiation, got the breath that way—I suggest not seeing the original Godzilla redone for America, but the original Japanese version which was darker.
In this latest rendition of the atomic-breath monster, Godzilla has attacked Florida, in particular, Apex Corporation. So, now it appears Godzilla no longer leaves humans alone but is out to get them.
Back on Skull Island, it appears only Kong and a mute girl, Jia (played by Kaylee Hottle) who communicates with Kong by sign language, but also psychically, is all that is left, and the island is now a containment for Kong, where a scientist, Rebecca Hall (played by Ilene Andrews), studies him and has care of Jia. When Nathan Lind (played by Alexander Skarsgård) approaches her with an idea to take Kong to Antarctica to the entrance that leads to the Hollow Earth, she is not sure at first, but in the end, they do it, by transporting Kong by ship and guarded by Navy ships. Sadly, they must go through Godzilla’s territory and the alpha attacks. Let us just say you get your first taste of the battle we have seen some of in the trailers here. I won’t go on and spoil it for you, so you can go see it for yourself, but there are more fights, monsters, and of course, there is a bad guy (Isn’t there always?).
Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven of Stranger Things fame) returns as Madison Russell from Godzilla King of the Monsters along with Kyle Chandler as Madison’s father, Mark Russell, now working for Monarch. Kaylee Hottle as Jia is a breakout star for me as Kong’s deaf friend. It was interesting to find she comes from an all-deaf family, spanning four generations of deaf relatives on her father's side. Her native fluency in American Sign Language has provided her with opportunities to perform in commercials and Mother’s Day.
Like I said earlier if you are looking for a movie to challenge your mind, search for art house films. Or read a book. But if you want a movie to forget the pandemic and just relax, cheer for your favorite, Godzilla Vs. Kong fits the bill. It is better than the first two films in my opinion, and even triumphs over Kong: Skull Island. Forget the humans, except for Jia, they are there to help the monsters or cause their demise, the monsters are the stars and that was what I wanted to see. Besides, you can always find some art house films on Netflix, Prime, or elsewhere if that is what you want. But I think this will be a winner, even for movie theaters. Let the clash of the century commence!
Directed By: Jon Turteltaub Written By: Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber Cast: Jason Statham, Bingbing Li, Winston Chao, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Page Kennedy
Runtime: 114 minutes
Rating: PG-13 (for action/peril, bloody images and some language) Genre: Action & Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
A deep-sea submersible--part of an international undersea observation program--has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct, and now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific... with its crew trapped inside. With time running out, expert deep sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) is recruited by a visionary Chinese oceanographer (Winston Chao), against the wishes of his daughter Suyin (Li Bingbing), to save the crew--and the ocean itself--from this unstoppable threat: a pre-historic 75-foot-long shark known as the Megalodon. What no one could have imagined is that, years before, Taylor had encountered this same terrifying creature. Now, teamed with Suyin, he must confront his fears and risk his own life to save everyone trapped below. Now that's a shark movie! If you go to a killer shark movie you are going to get exactly what you expect. The movie should judged based on that...it isn't meant to win an Oscar, it is meant to make you laugh...cause really, riding on the back of a Megalodon? That's some funny sh**. It is meant to make you cringe and possibly jump. And if Jason Statham is in it, there is going to be action hero feats of epic proportions. I saw The Meg with my 17-year-old daughter and a friend of mine. We all loved it. It has every shark movie cliche (except one...which I am so disappointed they didn't do it but I can't tell you cause possible spoiler) Anyway... if you think they didn't do that on purpose then you got no business seeing The Meg. This movie is not for you. There isn't much else to tell...what you see in the trailer is what you get...Yay! And if you are one of those "Does the dog die?" people (you know there is a website where you can go and find out if the animal dies in any movie.) Here is the answer (Highlight): *******No, the dog lives**** All three of us give it 4 "Megalosheep"
**“Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.”**
Jinkies! The smart and resourceful women of the iconic Scooby-Doo franchise, come to life in an all-new mystery with the release of Daphne & Velma from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
Daphne and Velma is out on Blu-ray as well as Digital and DVD on May 22, 2018.
But… Daphne and Velma, need your help! Use the embeddable Mystery Video Decryptor & Soundboard blog app to decrypt exclusive clips from the new hit film!
PLUS! Watch the Daphne & Velma Slime Lab Video and learn how to make four different kinds of Daphne & Velma slimes featuring Velma herself, Sarah Gilman! Kids of all ages will love the gooey slime fun!
Daphne & Velma Mystery Video Decryptor & Soundboard Blog App:l • Help Daphne & Velma solve their latest case by helping them decrypt the footage! Dial the knob and meters to just the right position to unlock the footage and move to the next challenge. • Trigger fun & spooky sounds right from the movie in this fun soundboard
About Daphne and Velma
Releases: May 22, 2018
Jinkies! Your favorite mystery-solving teenagers are back in an all-new, live-action feature-length movie!
State of the art robots and high-tech gadgets are common sights at Ridge Valley High, an innovative center of learning for some of the brightest minds in the country, including new transfer student, the bright & optimistic Daphne Blake (Sarah Jeffery) who is excited to finally go to school with her online bestie, the whip-smart & analytical Velma Dinkley (Sarah Gilman). But not everything is as innocent as it seems as mysterious disappearances begin to plague the top-performing students on campus. Once cheery and full of life, kids now appear in a “zombiefied” state - lifeless and shells of themselves. Can Daphne and Velma learn to work together and save the students or will they become the next victims?
Get ready for thrills and laughs as we follow the first
adventures of Mystery Inc.’s fierce female duo.
Produced by Ashley Tisdale and Jennifer Tisdale’s Blondie Girl Productions.
Daphne & Velma will carry a suggested retail price of $19.98 for the DVD and $24.98 for the Blu-ray. GIVEAWAY a copy of Daphne and Velma on Blu-ray
Written By: Ryan Engle, Carlton Cuse, Ryan Condal, Adam Sztykiel
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jake Lacy, Joe Manganiello
Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of violence, action and destruction, brief language, and crude gestures)
Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Primatologist Davis Okoye (Johnson), a man who keeps people at a distance, shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla who has been in his care since birth. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size. To make matters worse, it's soon discovered there are other similarly altered animals. As these newly created alpha predators tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend. I'm just gonna say this up front...a gigantic mutant sheep would have been an awesome addition...just saying. Went to see Rampage with my husband. It is pretty much what you think it will be. Generic and predictable action movie writing. But how can you not want to watch a gigantic mutant alligator, a gigantic mutant wolf (part flying squirrel and porcupine) and a gigantic albino gorilla with a sick sense of humor fight it out in Chicago? The writers didn't even try to make the science fiction plausible. Basically they Jurrasic Park some animals, but thanks to gene editing and some fancy science stuff they made a virus that can make these animals turn into gigantic hybrids in 24 hours. If you are going because of Joe Manganiello, don't blink. If you don't have anything else to do and just love the movie-going experience, then grab a matinee. The first two scenes in the movie are fantastic...there are a few other scenes sprinkled throughout that rocked. There are lots of special effects that look good on the big screen. But you can probably just catch this one on TV. My husband I both give it 3 1/2 "Us Sheep got to stick together"
Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
I remember going to the movie theater in San Diego, California with my husband to see Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford, in 1982. We had both enjoyed the science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. This time, 35 years later, my husband and I returned to a movie theater in Midlothian, Virginia to see a film set 30 years later. Since the original film, a new, more obedient type of replicant has been developed by a corporation led by a tech visionary (Jared Leto). The blade runner (police who go after errant replicants--synthetic humans) K, finds a long-buried secret, plus some memories have been resurfacing which make him question if are they implanted or the real thing. K sets out on a quest to find former blade runner (who is human) Rick Deckard (still played by Harrison Ford) who hasn’t been seen in 30 years. He may hold a key to those secrets and even his memories. There is a possibility of a child, who may bring on a revolution led by replicants. Visually stunning and its narrative satisfying, it answers the question of what happened to blade runner Deckard since he flew away with replicant Rachel at the end of the original, classic film Blade Runner, while still being an impressive filmmaking achievement in its own right. It proves a sequel can be just as good as the original. And though there are no spaceship battle special effects or fast-paced excitement, this is still one of the best films I’ve seen this year. It keeps you interested until the end. The world building and its effects are super. You can believe in the smoky neon-noir dystopian atmosphere of Los Angeles and California in 2049. There is some great action, not every moment of the movie, but when it happens, it is a heart pounder. Ryan Gosling does well as K, at first tough and robot-like with one smile, then growing more human as he searches for the truth. Harrison Ford still works for me as Deckard, gruff and loveable, though less of the touch of Deckard we remember in Blade Runner and more like Indiana Jones to me. But he shines well in his role, revealing that maybe age and love of Rachel has softened him. Jared Leto is creepy as genius-industrialist Niander Wallace, but it is Wallace's assistant Sylvia Hoeks, who steals the show as the vicious replicant Luv. Even Ana de Armas as K's AI companion, Joi, has the film’s poignant role. This is not a film like The Avengers or Star Wars, instead, this will make you think and ponder of the role of the replicants in this future and who or what is truly human. Most of all, it is an enjoyable film, a carefully engineered narrative puzzle, and its power dissipates as the pieces snap into place. Though its predecessor is a classic, I think this one holds up well and is worth a look while it is on the big screen. I give Blade Runner 2049 4 ½ replicant sheep.
Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive content) Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy Directed By: Patty Jenkins Written By: Allan Heinberg, Zack Snyder, Jason Fuchs Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis
An Amazon princess (Gal Gadot) finds her idyllic life on an island occupied only by female warriors interrupted when a pilot (Chris Pine) crash-lands nearby. After rescuing him, she learns that World War I is engulfing the planet, and vows to use her superpowers to restore peace. Directed by Patty Jenkins (Monster).
Well, that was awesome! DC has a winner with this one and those few that think a female superhero can't be a lead...there is the door. Went to see this with my 16-year-old daughter (she actually turned 16 during the movie) and a school friend of hers. We all agreed the movie was worth seeing. I was a little skeptical of DC's casting choice for Wonder Woman. Gal Gadot is absolutely beautiful, but not very Amazonian looking. She does an amazing job and I have no problem seeing her as the new Wonder Woman. Going into the movie, the only things I knew about Wonder Woman's origin story I got from the Linda Carter TV days. I've never read a Wonder Woman comic. So I went in without any expectations, plot-wise. I love the mythos and the way it was presented. The little girl who played the young Diana was freaking adorable! And you really can't go wrong with Chris Pine. The subject matter (Nazis) is pretty heavy stuff and they don't shy away from showing the horrors of war, but it is handled well and there is well-written humor...much like the Marvel movies. The special effects are fun and the movie is action packed and then some. There were some CGI fight scenes that could have been done better...it looked too much like a video game. This is a must see for superhero movie fans. P.S. The Justice League trailer has me foaming at the mouth! Just saying...Aquaman *drool* All three of use give it 4 1/2 "Terrified and aroused" Sheep
Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of violence and action, some suggestive content and brief strong language) Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama Directed By: Guy Ritchie Written By: Joby Harold, Guy Ritchie, Lionel Wigram Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Jude Law, Djimon Hounsou, Eric Bana
Acclaimed filmmaker Guy Ritchie brings his dynamic style to the epic fantasy action adventure "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword." Starring Charlie Hunnam in the title role, the film is an iconoclastic take on the classic Excalibur myth, tracing Arthur's journey from the streets to the throne. When the child Arthur's father is murdered, Vortigern (Jude Law), Arthur's uncle, seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy...whether he likes it or not. Went to see King Arthur: Legend of the Sword with my husband and 16-year-old daughter. We all enjoyed it. They put a new spin on the King Arthur legend. So you had swords, magic, Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law...kind of hard to go wrong. It would be easy to pick it a part, like the "critics" must have, but it was an entertaining action movie. I liked the way they used quick flashbacks to add humor. The magic special effects were top quality and there was a lot of fighting action. I was a little confused by the directors choice to put a Camera Go Pro pointed at a bunch of the actors during a chase scene... Holly felt the story-telling was a little confusing, but still enjoyed it. I thought it was longer than it needed to be. If you love fantasy movies and a shirtless Charlie Hunnam breathing loudly, this is worth a matinee price. Don 4 sheep Holly 3 1/2 sheep SharonS 3 1/2"heavy breathing" Sheep
Directed By: Gavin O'Connor Written By: Bill Dubuque In theaters: Oct 14, 2016 On DVD: Jan 10, 2017 Runtime: 128 minutes R (for strong violence and language throughout) Genre: Drama
Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is a math savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Behind the cover of a small-town CPA office, he works as a freelance accountant for some of the world's most dangerous criminal organizations. With the Treasury Department's Crime Enforcement Division, run by Ray King (J.K. Simmons), starting to close in, Christian takes on a legitimate client: a state-of-the-art robotics company where an accounting clerk (Anna Kendrick) has discovered a discrepancy involving millions of dollars. But as Christian uncooks the books and gets closer to the truth, it is the body count that starts to rise.
Wow! I'd heard this was a good movie and meant to see it in the theaters, but with this, that and the other, I didn't get to. Now it is out on DVD. My husband and I both enjoyed the hell out of The Accountant. It is part Jack Reacher, part John Wick.
It starts out a little slow, I could see my husband giving me the "what did I let you talk me into seeing" look. Then the sheep got real. Total action movie. The last thirty minutes blew my mind! Plot twists!
I thought Ben Affleck did a great job and Jon Bernthal was looking hot! They kept it real when it came to the "romance" aspect...there wasn't one, well, not in the normal sense.
This would have been worth full price at the theater and definitely worth a rental. It is violent: lots of head shots. There is the right amount of humor and a happy for now ending with the possibility for a sequel.
Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton The magic of Harry Potter lives on in this Warner Bros. spin-off penned by {J.K. Rowling}, and intended as the first chapter in a whole new fantasy film franchise. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi I've read the Harry Potter books and seen all the movies, but I haven't read the Fantastic Beasts book. So I went into this movie without expectations. I went with my husband, 15 year old daughter (never read the books or seen the movies! I know, right?!) and her boyfriend (big Potter fan). It started slow...lots of CGI and crazy looking creatures. I felt like they tried to hard, but then it went dark...quick and things got interesting. By the end of the movie I was ready for the next one and invested in the characters. The movie will make you cheer and tear up. The acting was excellent and there is a surprise actor revealed in the end who I assume wil be in the next film. Maybe you've already heard who this is, but I'm not giving it away. This film is one that is worth seeing in the theater. We saw it in IMAX, but not 3D. You don't have to be a Harry Potter fan to enjoy the story and characters.
Our ratings: Holly & Hunter: 5 sheep Don: 4 sheep (because of the slow start) SharonS: 4.5 "fantastic" Sheep
Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of violence and action throughout, disturbing behavior, suggestive content and language) Cast: Will Smith, Jay Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis Genre: Action & Adventure Directed By: David Ayer Written By: David Ayer Aug 5, 2016 wide Runtime: 123 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. PicturesIt feels good to be bad... Assemble a team of the world's most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government's disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren't picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it's every man for himself?
First off, Rotten Tomatoes, you be tripping. Holly (15 year-old daughter) and I saw Suicide Squad in IMAX 3D. Neither of us knew anything about the characters of story going in (we be Marvel people). We had a blast. It is everything a big action superhero movie should be. Was it as good as Civil War? Naw...but Suicide Squad showed better in 3D, if that is your thing.
It had its flaws...they tried to get in too much backstory for each squad member, so things we a little choppy in the beginning. Don't know if different editing decisions could have fixed that issue.
I liked Leto's Joker...dude took old school Joker and brought out the psycho aspect. The Enchantress is bad ass, but a little over dramatic like all super-villains end up being. I thought Margot Robbie (Harley) and Will Smith (Deadshot) did the best job of portraying their characters.
All in all, it is worth seeing if you enjoy superhero movies. Be sure to stay for the extra scene...there is only one :)
Holly gives it 4.5 "Just getting you there" Sheep or "Pudding" Sheep (she couldn't decide)
Directed By: Peter Atencio Written By: Alex Rubens, Jordan Peele Apr 29, 2016 Wide Runtime: 1 hr. 40 min. Rating: R (for violence, language throughout, drug use and sexuality/nudity) Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy
Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele star in this comedy as two friends posing as drug dealers to get back a stolen cat. Peter Atencio directed. When I saw the red band trailer (rated R version) I thought that it was a joke trailer. There is no way they would make this awesome into a real movie! Well, they did...only they forgot the awesome part.
I saw Keanu with my husband and 15 year old daughter. We laughed at some parts, but mostly we looked at one another wondering how much longer this was going to take. ALL the funny parts are in the trailer and only funny because they are taken out of context. In the movie, the humor fell flat. Maybe because they tried to pass it off as a serious movie. They should have gone campy instead of violent action adventure.
The peeps over at Rotten Tomatoes are loving it. So maybe it's just my family...but we felt like we wasted our money and time. But watch the trailer! It is hilarious... then grab this one on DVD if you can get it for $1 or maybe you can watch it on Netflix eventually.
2 "Here kitty, kitty" Sheep
SharonS
WARNING: This is an R-rated trailer NSFW, but funny as sh**!
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies December 17, 2014. Directed by Peter Jackson
Producers: Carolynne Cunningham, Peter Jackson, and Fran Walsh. Produced by: Warner Brothers Pictures (New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), and WingNut Films) Writers: Fran Walsh (screenplay), Philippa Boyens (screenplay), Peter Jackson (screenplay), and Guillermo del Toro (screenplay). Music composed by: Howard Shore Rating: PG-13 (for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images). Genre: High Fantasy, and Action and Adventure, too. Length of film: 2 hours and 24 minutes. Official Movie Site: http://www.thehobbit.com/ Bilbo and Company are forced to engage in a war against an array of combatants and keep the terrifying Smaug from acquiring a kingdom of treasure and obliterating all of Middle-Earth.
"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," is the third in a trilogy of films, based off The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" picks up where the second film, “The Desolation of Smaug” ended and brings to conclusion, the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield, and the Company of Dwarves. The Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world after reclaiming their homeland from the Dragon Smaug. Because of this, Smaug rains his fiery wrath upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town.
Meanwhile, only the Wizard Gandalf has foreseen the rise of a great enemy. This enemy sends an army upon the Lonely Mountain. The races of Dwarves, Elves, and Men must decide to unite or be destroyed. And Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic battle.
I have read The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien, though it has been a few years, even I could see what did not belong in the film and what has been changed from the novel. To make three movies out of one book—a book that was Young Adult back in the Thirties, while Lord of the Rings was the adult book made into three books as it was too big—and yet, I did get caught up in the battle (not as intensely as I did in the final two battles of “Return of the King”), I enjoyed Legolas being the swashbuckling hero he will become more so of in the “Lord the Rings” trilogy, and the real hero of “The Hobbit” films, Bilbo Baggins was made more of a lesser entity, then in the first two films. Also I felt that the lighthearted charm of the book was lost in the film. So for me, this film was a mixed bag. An impressive achievement when taken as the bridge in a six-film series, “Battle of the Five Armies” is a somewhat less successful as a stand-alone feature, with the best material either having gone before, or yet to come.
Do I tell you not to go see it? Absolutely, go see it. It has the epic battle, romance, and Ian McKellan is always wonderful as Gandalf and Martin Freeman has Bilbo down to a science, even though his character hasn’t had as much time in this film as the first two, his Bilbo fitted my idea of the book’s character. Another favorite of mine is Ryan Gage as Alfrid. He played this villainous character as appropriately slimy as the character should be, but made to make you laugh at him, unlike another slimy toady in the “Lord of the Rings” films, Wormtongue—a much darker character. I also enjoyed Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman. Richard Armitage out-broods his performance in the first two films. Evangeline Lily, Cate Blanchett, Lee Pace, Hugo Weaving and Christopher Lee all make one final appearance to close out Peter Jackson’s epic six films.
My favorite sentence spoken in the movie is “Not every man is brave enough to wear a corset,” spoken by Alfrid (Ryan Gage), when Bard the Bowman catches him dressed as a woman, trying to escape with hordes of gold coins stuffed in his corset. My husband, Bill, who attended with me, and I looked at each other and laughed, after he said that and stuffed the coins back in the bra portion of his corset. The song, The Last Goodbye, sung by Billy Boyd brought tears to my eyes as the credits rolled. As for composer Howard Shore, he has maintained the “Lord of the Rings” vibe throughout this final film in “The Hobbit” trilogy, as he did for the “Lord of the Rings”.
I give “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” 4 sheep.
PG-13, 2 hr. 11 min. Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy Directed By: Guillermo del Toro Written By: Travis Beacham In Theaters: Jul 12, 2013 Wide Warner Bros. Pictures - Official Site
When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes-a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)-who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse. (c) Warner Bros
I'm going against popular opinion on this, but I was disappointed with Pacific Rim. Maybe because everyone has been talking about how incredible it was so I went in with pretty high expectations and usually I don’t for this type of movie. From a CGI and robot on monster action stand point it did rock. It was a visually kick ass experience. But it also had recycled cookie cutter characters and a script that seemed like an afterthought. I kept thinking “hey! That was in Independence Day”... a lot. The only time I felt something for any of the characters was in the prologue that set up the movie. I did enjoy Ron Pearlman’s character as a black market Kaiju parts dealer.
Here is how I think this movie was made:
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Creator: Hey! I have a great idea for a movie. Big ass robots battling big ass alien monsters that come out of the ocean!
Producer: I love it! We can make big ass robot and monster toys. Let’s do it!
Intern: Um… don’t you need some characters and a script?
Producer: Oh, crap… you’re right. Someone write a script! I want emotion like the movie Armageddon, and I want the crowd to cheer for it like Independence Day and don’t forget to add the Rocky moment! Give me some kooky nerd scientists for comic relief cause all that apocalyptic crap is pretty depressing.
Writer: *scribble, scribble*
*30 minutes later*
Producer: Looks good, but we need more crying! Especially the heroine. Make her cry in her flash backs too! And get me Ron Pearlman! He rocks!
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Just saying…
I am not sure what to tell you about seeing this at the theater or renting it. It is definitely a big screen movie from an action stand point. You won’t get the same intensity if you wait for the DVD. But it’s a lot of money to pay at the theater. The crazy thing is I adore action movies and all the over the top cheesy goodness. But when I walked out of the theater with my husband and 12 year old daughter not a word was said about the movie, we discussed where to go eat.
