Anne of the Thousand Days - Movie Review

"Anne of the Thousand Days" is the story of Anne Boleyn and how she was pursued by Henry VIII at the cost of his marriage and the fate of England's understanding with the Catholic church. It tells the story of Anne and Mary Boleyn a bit differently, but much like, the more recent movie "The Other Boleyn Girl". Again, I can't vouch for it's historical accuracy, but the movie is well done and the actors and actresses do a very good job. I liked the ending the best when Anne, refuses to renounce her marriage to the King and thereby refuses to renounce their daughter, Elizabeth's, rightful position as the successor to King Henry's throne - even though he's going to have Anne beheaded to make his way clear to pursue a new love interest who might give him a boy heir. Her final speech is great!

This movie is out with a companion movie called Mary, Queen of Scots.

This double feature can be purchased through Debbie's Movie House link.

The Other Boleyn Girl - Movie Review

I liked this movie. I can't vouch for it's historical correctness, but it is very entertaining. It is based on the novel The Other Boleyn Girl. It is a tale of intrigue, romance, and betrayal. Two sisters, Anne and Mary are driven by their ambitious family to seduce the king of England in order to advance their position in court. What starts as an opportunity for the girls to increase the family fortune becomes a deadly rivalry. The movie depicts Mary as the "nice" sister and Anne as the "ambitious bitch". Anne ends up married to the King and nearly destroying the country and ultimately loses her head - literally.

It lasts about 115 minutes and is rated PG-13.

I've read several reviews about this movie that state that the movie is "a waste of time" and an "hysterical drama more than a historical drama" but, the fact remains, it is a well done movie with good actors and actresses. I liked it.

You can buy this movie through the Debbies Movie House link.

The MIsts of Avalon - Movie Review

I thought this movie was awesome! It is an adaptation of Marion Zimmer Bradley's book that retells the Arthurian legends. There is mysticism, family surprises and intrigue, and lots of fighting. The three main actresses, Angelica Huston, Julianna Margulies, and Joan Allen are superb in their roles as Viviane, the Lady of the Lake; Avalon priestess Morgaine; and the scheming Morgause, respectively. Morgaine is a heroine who's journey is overcoming tragedies, injustice, and all manner of obstacles in her duty to both "the goddess" and her younger brother, King Arthur. Morgause, is an evil one who conspires to her own ends. Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, endeavors to perpetuate the old religion as pagan Britain comes into contact with Christianity. The movie doesn't lack in action and is very entertaining.

This movie says it is "Not Rated". I would guess it would get an "R" for sex and violence.

You can buy it through Debbies Movie House in the links section.

Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise - Movie Review

This movie is one of four that are based on the novels of Robert B. Parker about a small town sheriff (Jesse Stone) who tackles the mysterious murder of a teenage girl and the case of a battered wife while struggling with his alcoholism, his love for his ex-wife, and his disastrous love life. The teenage girl's murder leads him to a sex trafficking ring and into the higher society of Boston.

Tom Selleck does a good job as the Sheriff, and the movie is pretty good. Overall, I liked it okay, but doubt I would buy the other two of the 4 movies. It lasts about 87 minutes. It says it's "Not Rated". I would guess it would get an R rating.

You can buy the movie through Debbie's Movie House in the links section.

Snow Buddies - movie review

Snow Buddies is a really cute movie put out by Disney. The stars are dogs and they talk (to each other in English). Although the tale is pretty predictable about whats going to happen, it's still worth watching. Since it's rated G, the whole family can enjoy it! Five Golden Retriever puppies (Buddha, Mudbud, Rosebud, Budderball, and B-Dawg, who are siblings) take a trip to Alaska that they never intended to do and end up meeting an Alaskan Husky puppy named Shasta. The puppies band together and with the help of an older sled dog, train to be in a dogsled race across Alaska to help Shasta's master and help the puppies find their way back to Washington. Apparently, these same puppies were the stars of Air Buddies which I haven't seen but most likely will now. And, from what I've read, these two movies are sequels or spinoffs of the Air Bud

movies. which I will also make the effort to watch. This is a good movie, mostly for kids or kids at heart, and has some comedy and touching scenes. I would give it an 9 out of 10 for entertainment!

We Own The Night - movie review

Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg do an excellent job of acting in their respective roles. There is a lot of vulgarity, violence, and sexual content in the movie. The sexual content doesn't really seem to add much to the actual story line and perhaps they were just trying to take up a few extra minutes of screen time. Considering that the movie is a cop vs drug dealer event, the vulgarity and violence are to be expected. Phoenix and Wahlberg are brothers in the movie, Wahlberg is a cop and Phoenix is a nightclub owner who allows drug deals to run rampant in his club. The club gets raided by the cops (did ya see that coming?) and Phoenix has to decide if he's going to be a good guy or a bad guy. The movie has a couple good twists to it that, although not believable in the real world, make an interesting story. I liked the movie. It is rated R.

You can buy this movie from the Debbie's Movie House link

Air Buddies - Movie Review

Air Buddies is a very cute movie, how can you not like 5 mischievous talking puppies and their parents? When it comes time for the puppies to go to new families, they run away. The parent dogs, Air Bud and Molly, go looking for their babies. In the meantime, a spoiled rich kid wants Air Bud for his birthday present and his father arranges with a dim witted cousin and an idiot thug to dognap Air Bud. So, the puppies who had run away, got captured and used for bait to get Air Bud, the parents find the puppies and rescue them, but unfortunately Air Bud and Molly get dognapped and held captive, the puppies then start their search to find and rescue their parents. They befriend several other talking animals like a goat, a pig and her piglets, and a wolf all of whom help Rosebud, Mudbud, Buddha, B-dawg, and Budderball get to their parents. In the mean time, the parents have already escaped their capture and have to return to find their puppies. The two young boys who own Air Bud and Molly get involved in finding the puppies and the parents, the old (very old) Sheriff and his old hound dog get in on it and, of course, it all turns out well and everyone is happy. It's really a cute movie and acceptable for family viewing. It's rated PG.

You can buy this movie using the Debbie's Movies box

Crank - Movie Review

Crank, starring Jason Statham and Amy Smart, is a fast action movie full of vulgarity and some sexual content. The sexual content, however, considering the need of Chev Chelios (Statham) to keep is adrenaline up, is really rather funny! Chelios, a hitman, needs to stay alive long enough to settle a score, say goodbye to his girl and go out in style and he only has an hour to get all that accomplished. The movie is full of action, violence, and vulgarity but I thought it was a good flick, I enjoyed watching it and it is rated R. You can order this movie through my movie house link below.

War - Movie Review

War, starring Jason Statham and Jet Li was an action-packed, R rated movie. In this movie Statham is FBI agent Jack Crawford who's partner and family is brutally murdered by an assassin because of a case they were working in the Asian community. Crawford spends the next few years tracking down the assassin to personally avenge his partner's death. The movie is full of action, suspense, violence - some very graphic, and vulgarity. I thought it was a good movie, not particularly believable, but definitely a good watch. The movie takes a couple unexpected turns, the ending is a surprise, and I always like it when those things happen! As always, you can buy the movie through my Movie House in the links section.

The Golden Compass - Movie Review

Ok, I admit I got the movie ONLY because of all the hoo haw and controversy that surrounded it! Other than that, I had no interest in seeing, much less buying the movie. But I had to find out why it has so many people upset. I'm not much into that sort of "fantasy" type stuff I guess. There was clearly a good against evil element that seemed to be what it was all about. Demons, who were with pretty much everyone, were not necessarily bad demons and could change form at will (some were downright adorable!). The process of removing a demon from a child seemed to have detrimental effects on the child. Witches were good guys. I loved the Ice Bear who had his soul stolen (his armor) and became a whiskey swilling drunk. I loved him most when the star, Lyra, helped him find his soul and he became a loyal friend and helper to Lyra and eventually regained his kingdom. The thing I liked most about the movie was that it had Sam Elliot in it, not a huge part but he was a good guy and I like him a lot. Do I think it deserved the awards it got? Well, honestly, no. Do I think the hoopla created by the religious sectors catapulted this movie to getting an award and boosting it's sales? Very much so. Do I think it is a statement against God or religion? Nope, can't say that either. I don't think the Atheist writer was trying to launch any conspiracy to turn all children against God or "the authority"... only against BAD authority - or a bad/false God, if you will. It wasn't a bad movie, it wasn't a good movie... it was just sort of there and didn't deserve all the hype and attention it got. It is rated PG13.

Stone Cold - movie review

Stone Cold, starring Tom Selleck, is about an Los Angeles homicide detective who leaves Los Angeles and becomes the Sheriff of a Massachusetts fishing town named Paradise. An alcoholic and womanizer, Selleck is enjoying the quiet of the small town life until a series of murders takes place and he has to actually do cop work. Selleck does a great job of acting and the movie had it's tense and creepy moments. Overall I liked it and liked the ending. It's rated R for its violent content, some sex content, nudity and drug use. You can buy it through the Debbie's Movies link.

Syriana - Movie Review

Syriana, starring George Clooney (Best Supporting Actor) is a pretty good movie, but it has a lot of subtitles, which I hate. It was sort of complex so you have to pay attention (and read the subtitles) if you're going to understand what's going on or who's doing what. Clooney is a CIA agent who get involved with blowing the whistle on corruption in big oil business from Washington DC to the Middle East. It did have it's violent moments and vulgar language, but one would expect when dealing with big money, oil in the Middle East, terrorists, politics, spies and all that! People are victimized, blown-up, tortured, and murdered in the movie. I did close my eyes when "Massawi" was pulling off Clooney's fingernails to make him talk. I have to admit it was a bit of a confusing movie and who knows how actually accurate it might be. I've never been involved in that sort of thing so I have nothing to base it's veracity on. It is rated R for violence and language. You can buy it through the link below!

Snow Buddies - movie review

Snow Buddies is a really cute movie put out by Disney. The stars are dogs and they talk (to each other in English). Although the tale is pretty predictable about whats going to happen, it's still worth watching. Since it's rated G, the whole family can enjoy it! Five Golden Retriever puppies (Buddha, Mudbud, Rosebud, Budderball, and B-Dawg, who are siblings) take a trip to Alaska that they never intended to do and end up meeting an Alaskan Husky puppy named Shasta. The puppies band together and with the help of an older sled dog, train to be in a dogsled race across Alaska to help Shasta's master and help the puppies find their way back to Washington. Apparently, these same puppies were the stars of Air Buddies which I haven't seen but most likely will now. And, from what I've read, these two movies are sequels or spinoffs of the Air Bud movies. which I will also make the effort to watch. This is a good movie, mostly for kids or kids at heart, and has some comedy and touching scenes. I would give it an 9 out of 10 for entertainment!

The Invasion - Review

I watched The Invasion expecting to find it mildly exciting at best and was happily surprised that I liked this movie! It is a remake of the old Invasion of the Body Snatchers but there are no "pods" involved that were the trademark of the previous versions. Nicole Kidman does well as the lead, although it was kind of "slow" in the beginning. It did have my heart pounding a few times, which surprised and delighted me as she was saving her son from the Aliens. The ending was also a surprise twist and I enjoyed that too. If you are one who likes to find some deep, thought-evoking, intellectually challenging tale you will be disappointed in this film. But, after a long week in the salt mines, if you just want to be entertained for a bit, this is a pretty good flick. I actually saw part of the movie being produced when I was in Baltimore and that was why I bought the movie to begin with, I'm not a huge Sci-Fi type fan. The chase scenes are pretty interesting, if not unbelievable for a real life chase, but hey, it's the movies! I thought it had good interaction considering the "invaded bodies" exhibit no emotion so it's not like you should expect a lot of facial expression and animation from almost everyone! Overall I'd give it a 7 out of 10 on my scale.