MovieEnthusiast's stats
- Review count238
- Helpfulness votes57
- First reviewMay 10, 2009
- Last reviewAugust 17, 2013
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.2
Overall rating
4
/
5
Zero Dark Thirty
PostedJanuary 11, 2013
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
5
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
Finally!! "Zero Dark Thirty" opened in wide-release. I have known about this movie for over 7 months. It opened in limited release (NY & LA) in December 2012.
The movie needs no introduction. It's about the events that led up to Osama Bin Laden's ultimate demise. The movie is intense, chilling, brutal and mind boggling. There is no sugar-coating here. The actions and events are as real as it gets. The movie shows excellent timelines and is very well executed. Jessica Chastain is superb!! Two hours and thirty seven minutes go by quickly.
My only complaint is I wish the ending had been a few minutes longer.
Bravo to Director Kathryn Bigelow for giving us the real deal. The movie was worth the wait, hype and all of the Oscar nominations it received. If it does not win any Oscars I will be angry.
If you have a weak stomach, do not go see "Zero Dark Thirty".
If you like Action, Suspense and Thrills this is YOUR movie.
Pros well paced, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Promised Land
PostedJanuary 5, 2013
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
The economic decline gives way to a big natural gas company who is trying to secure drilling rights in a small farm town. They send in their corporate sales partners Steve Butler (Matt Damon) and Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand) to sway each farmer to sell their land and move. But in swoops what is believed to be an environmentalist to try to sway the town's folks from selling. The story unfolds from there...
The paid critics were “Luke-warm” about this movie, but I don't think it's bad at all. Matt Damon is an excellent actor. He will make you believe in his character. The movie is a bit slow, but all of the pieces do come together in a surprise ending.
If you are a Matt Damon fan "Promised Land" is worth a look.
The paid critics were “Luke-warm” about this movie, but I don't think it's bad at all. Matt Damon is an excellent actor. He will make you believe in his character. The movie is a bit slow, but all of the pieces do come together in a surprise ending.
If you are a Matt Damon fan "Promised Land" is worth a look.
Pros great actors
Cons slow
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Django Unchained
PostedDecember 27, 2012
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
In the "Deep South" 2 years before the Civil War, Django (Jamie Foxx) is a slave with a brutal history. Along comes German born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz who purchases Django and then frees him. Dr. King Schultz teaches Django how to be a "Bounty Hunter" because he needs Django to lead him to the Brittle Brothers; Django's former slave owners who happen to be Dr. Schultz’s Bounty. They travel cross country to nab wanted murderers "Dead or Alive". All the while Django is honing his skills because he wants to get revenge on who ever has his wife Broomhilda.
Django tells Dr. Schultz about his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) who he lost to the slave trade long ago. They find out that Broomhilda is currently living on a very rich slave owner’s plantation. Dr. Schultz devises a plan to purchase her and free her. The story unfolds from there...
Well paced Story, but at times will make you angry. The movie is very intense, brutal and contains lots of action.
"Django Unchained" will keep you on the edge of your seat. Additionally the movie is very bloody and contains a lot of foul language. "Django Unchained" is probably the most "Brutal" movie that I have ever seen from Director Quentin Tarantino, but is worth the price of admission.
Django tells Dr. Schultz about his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) who he lost to the slave trade long ago. They find out that Broomhilda is currently living on a very rich slave owner’s plantation. Dr. Schultz devises a plan to purchase her and free her. The story unfolds from there...
Well paced Story, but at times will make you angry. The movie is very intense, brutal and contains lots of action.
"Django Unchained" will keep you on the edge of your seat. Additionally the movie is very bloody and contains a lot of foul language. "Django Unchained" is probably the most "Brutal" movie that I have ever seen from Director Quentin Tarantino, but is worth the price of admission.
Pros well paced, great actors
Cons brutal, lots of foul language
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Jack Reacher
PostedDecember 21, 2012
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
In a Pennsylvania city on a quiet day, 5 random people are shot dead. The would-be sniper is quickly apprehended and only utters one name during his interrogation, "Jack Reacher". Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) is an enigmatic ex-Army Investigator who is very good at what he does. As Jack teams up with the would-be Sniper's defense attorney (Rosamund Pike). As Jack starts to lay the foundation and put the pieces together it smells and looks like someone was framed and corruption involving a big-time construction company with a lot to lose. The story unfolds from there...
Tom Cruise plays a very good tough guy and will remind you of a younger Clint Eastwood in his "Hey Days".
The movie is brisk with plenty of action, suspense and intrigue. It's one of those "You think you have it Figured Out" type of movies, but you will find out you are wrong. Tom Cruise looks good, he definitely worked out in preparation for this movie.
"Jack Reacher" is worth the price of admission.
Tom Cruise plays a very good tough guy and will remind you of a younger Clint Eastwood in his "Hey Days".
The movie is brisk with plenty of action, suspense and intrigue. It's one of those "You think you have it Figured Out" type of movies, but you will find out you are wrong. Tom Cruise looks good, he definitely worked out in preparation for this movie.
"Jack Reacher" is worth the price of admission.
Pros well paced, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
1
/
5
Playing for Keeps
PostedDecember 7, 2012
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
3
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
1
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
The paid critics were brutal to say the least regarding "Playing for Keeps", giving it a zero out of 100 on Rotten Tomatoes and basically a 32 out of 100 everywhere else, but I went to see it anyway hoping they were wrong.
Gerard Butler plays an out of work former professional Soccer star. He returns to his home town to try and put his life back together, be a father to his young son and find gainful employment. Problems arise along the way and the feelings he has for his ex (Jessica Biel) that he thought were buried rise to the surface, while she is about to marry someone else. The story unfolds from there...
Severely disjointed and only mildly entertaining, "Playing for Keeps" is nothing more then an over done story that we have seen many many times before. It's a predictable 95 minutes and definitely not worth the money.
Wait for "Playing for Keeps" to surface on DVD or Blueray.
Gerard Butler plays an out of work former professional Soccer star. He returns to his home town to try and put his life back together, be a father to his young son and find gainful employment. Problems arise along the way and the feelings he has for his ex (Jessica Biel) that he thought were buried rise to the surface, while she is about to marry someone else. The story unfolds from there...
Severely disjointed and only mildly entertaining, "Playing for Keeps" is nothing more then an over done story that we have seen many many times before. It's a predictable 95 minutes and definitely not worth the money.
Wait for "Playing for Keeps" to surface on DVD or Blueray.
Cons disjointed
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-1point
1of 3voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Killing Them Softly
PostedNovember 30, 2012
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
Have you ever gone to an amusement park, gotten on a ride and then wished you could get off the ride after is started, but once it was going it didn't seem so bad. This is how "Killing Them Softly" seemed to me. During the first 35 minutes I wanted to leave the theater, but something made me stay and I am sort of glad I did.
"Killing Them Softly" is about a high stakes poker game involving 16 people who are robbed by some amateur thugs. Unfortunately the thugs rob the wrong people. One of the poker players calls in a cool, calm killer-for-hire (Brad Pitt) to take care of all who were involved with planning and executing the robbery. The story unfolds from there.
"Killing Them Softly" is brutal, intense and dark. There is nothing "Soft" about the movie. "Killing Them Softly"; appears to have been shot on a small budget, but has some really nice special effects and camera angles.
"Killing Them Softly" is about a high stakes poker game involving 16 people who are robbed by some amateur thugs. Unfortunately the thugs rob the wrong people. One of the poker players calls in a cool, calm killer-for-hire (Brad Pitt) to take care of all who were involved with planning and executing the robbery. The story unfolds from there.
"Killing Them Softly" is brutal, intense and dark. There is nothing "Soft" about the movie. "Killing Them Softly"; appears to have been shot on a small budget, but has some really nice special effects and camera angles.
Pros great actors
Cons slow
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Lincoln
PostedNovember 17, 2012
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
5
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
"Lincoln" is a HUGH ambitious undertaking for Steven Spielberg, but he pulls it off nicely.
"Lincoln" focuses on the last few months of our nation’s 16th president and his trials and tribulations at getting the Emancipation Proclamation passed and ending the war.
"Lincoln" is a great story nicely done. Two-time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis as "Lincoln" will make you believe. The cast of this movie is very talented and deep.
"Lincoln" is definitely worth the price of admission.
"Lincoln" focuses on the last few months of our nation’s 16th president and his trials and tribulations at getting the Emancipation Proclamation passed and ending the war.
"Lincoln" is a great story nicely done. Two-time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis as "Lincoln" will make you believe. The cast of this movie is very talented and deep.
"Lincoln" is definitely worth the price of admission.
Pros well paced, great story, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Skyfall
PostedNovember 14, 2012
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
Sean Connery will always be James Bond to me. He set the standard for all other Bond impersonators who came after him. Although in this latest installment of the Bond Franchise, Daniel Craig runs a very close second to Sean Connery. The James Bond you see in "Skyfall" is "Shaken not Stirred". He has such a cool facade you wonder if anything gets to him.
In this installment of the Bond Franchise, James Bond and M (Judi Dench) find themselves the targets of a sadistic killer who will stop at nothing to get to "M". Additionally James Bond's current assignment goes terribly wrong and all of the real identities of the undercover agents for Her Majesty's Service have been compromised. Bond must stop the person from leaking all of the identities before the agents are harmed and keep "M" safe. The story unfolds from there...
Lots of action and violence, the movie at times is dark and sensual. Although there are some slow parts, the movie will easily hold your attention. New faces appear for "Money Penny" and "Q".
"Skyfall" is probably Daniel Craig's best work as 007. Definitely worth the ticket if you are a 007 fan.
In this installment of the Bond Franchise, James Bond and M (Judi Dench) find themselves the targets of a sadistic killer who will stop at nothing to get to "M". Additionally James Bond's current assignment goes terribly wrong and all of the real identities of the undercover agents for Her Majesty's Service have been compromised. Bond must stop the person from leaking all of the identities before the agents are harmed and keep "M" safe. The story unfolds from there...
Lots of action and violence, the movie at times is dark and sensual. Although there are some slow parts, the movie will easily hold your attention. New faces appear for "Money Penny" and "Q".
"Skyfall" is probably Daniel Craig's best work as 007. Definitely worth the ticket if you are a 007 fan.
Pros well paced, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Flight
PostedNovember 3, 2012
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
Mr. Washington was masterfully brilliant in his portrayal of "Whip Whitaker a commercial airline pilot. Whip has an addiction to alcohol and drugs, but so far he's managed to complete his flights without incident.
Whip's luck runs out when a horrific mechanical malfunction of some of the planes hydraulics sends his place hurling through the sky toward the ground.
Shocked and shaken Whip decides to give up the alcohol, but when the NTSB starts to investigate the crash and the events that led up to the crash, Whip finds himself out of control. The story unfolds from there...
“Flight” has excellent acting and a great cast. This is Denzel Washington's movie from start to finish.
My only problem is that the plane crash sort of takes a back seat to the addiction that Whip has. Not enough attention was given to the other survivors of the plane crash.
To sum things up, "Flight" is about Heroism, Addiction, Recovery and Forgiveness.
Whip's luck runs out when a horrific mechanical malfunction of some of the planes hydraulics sends his place hurling through the sky toward the ground.
Shocked and shaken Whip decides to give up the alcohol, but when the NTSB starts to investigate the crash and the events that led up to the crash, Whip finds himself out of control. The story unfolds from there...
“Flight” has excellent acting and a great cast. This is Denzel Washington's movie from start to finish.
My only problem is that the plane crash sort of takes a back seat to the addiction that Whip has. Not enough attention was given to the other survivors of the plane crash.
To sum things up, "Flight" is about Heroism, Addiction, Recovery and Forgiveness.
Pros well paced, great story, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Alex Crosss
PostedOctober 20, 2012
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
3
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
2
/
5
Story
1
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
Based on a James Patterson novel series, Alex Cross (Tyler Perry) a detective/psychologist for the Detroit Police Dept finds himself and his team which consists of his long time friend Tommy Kane (Edward Burns) and police detective Monica Ashe (Rachel Nichols) trying to catch a ruthless, sadist serial killer who goes by the name of Picasso.
They play a deadly game of cat and mouse trying to stop what is to be believed as an assassination attempt on a European industrialist who resides in the suburbs of Detroit. Alex Cross must find a way to get inside Picasso's head so he can get one step ahead of him because that is the only way Picasso is going to be stopped. The story unfolds from there...
The plot and story are choppy. There is no cohesiveness. Tyler Perry does not make a good transition from comedy to suspense thriller. The Character Alex Cross does not come across as ruthless as his character is in the James Patterson novels. This is what makes the movie just ok.
The movie is not as bad as the paid critics indicated although it's definitely not as good as the previews made it look. Tyler Perry should stick to the "Madea" character. He is very good at that and not so good when there is a need to be ruthless and cunning.
They play a deadly game of cat and mouse trying to stop what is to be believed as an assassination attempt on a European industrialist who resides in the suburbs of Detroit. Alex Cross must find a way to get inside Picasso's head so he can get one step ahead of him because that is the only way Picasso is going to be stopped. The story unfolds from there...
The plot and story are choppy. There is no cohesiveness. Tyler Perry does not make a good transition from comedy to suspense thriller. The Character Alex Cross does not come across as ruthless as his character is in the James Patterson novels. This is what makes the movie just ok.
The movie is not as bad as the paid critics indicated although it's definitely not as good as the previews made it look. Tyler Perry should stick to the "Madea" character. He is very good at that and not so good when there is a need to be ruthless and cunning.
Cons fuzzy plot, no cohesiveness, weak acting
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.