MovieEnthusiast's stats
- Review count238
- Helpfulness votes57
- First reviewMay 10, 2009
- Last reviewAugust 17, 2013
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.2
Overall rating
4
/
5
Argo
PostedOctober 13, 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
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
Remember when Iranian Revolutionaries stormed the American Embassy in November 1979? "Argo" is about the situations that led up to, during and after this awful event.
During the rioting and chaos 6 Americans were able to escape and find refuge with the Canadian Ambassador. However it was discovered by the revolutionaries that some of the Embassy staff was unaccounted for. Worried that they may be found and executed, the US Government calls extractor Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) to get the refugees out.
Tony's plan is to pose as a Hollywood producer who is scouting the location to film a movie and plans to use the refugees as his crew. The story unfolds from there...
"Argo" is based on a true story. The movie is executed brilliantly!! The attention to detail is astounding. It's "Dark, Intense and Sometimes Comical".
For those of you who do not like a lot of profanity in your movies, BEWARE, the "F" word is used constantly. Sometimes it's funny, but most of the time not so much.
During the rioting and chaos 6 Americans were able to escape and find refuge with the Canadian Ambassador. However it was discovered by the revolutionaries that some of the Embassy staff was unaccounted for. Worried that they may be found and executed, the US Government calls extractor Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) to get the refugees out.
Tony's plan is to pose as a Hollywood producer who is scouting the location to film a movie and plans to use the refugees as his crew. The story unfolds from there...
"Argo" is based on a true story. The movie is executed brilliantly!! The attention to detail is astounding. It's "Dark, Intense and Sometimes Comical".
For those of you who do not like a lot of profanity in your movies, BEWARE, the "F" word is used constantly. Sometimes it's funny, but most of the time not so much.
Pros well paced, great story, great actors, intense, dark, comical at times
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Taken 2
PostedOctober 6, 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
4
/
5
Story
2
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
Liam Neeson reprises his role as Bryan Mills the retired CIA operative. Bryan takes a small assignment in Istanbul Turkey. He wraps up the assignment and is ready to return to the USA, but his daughter (Maggie Grace) and her mother Bryan's ex-wife (Famke Janssen) show up to surprise him. Little does anyone know that the father of one of the kidnappers from the first installment is plotting revenge against Brian. The story unfolds from there...
I really enjoyed the first installment. It's very difficult to carry over the intrigue and excitement that the 2009 hit "Taken" had. I have to say that while the paid critics were luke-warm about this second installment, they are only half right. The movie has plenty of intrigue and suspense, but the story is weak at best. It lacks the "torture and interrogation scenes that made "Taken" so good.
There isn't as much action as the first installment, but Liam Neeson is awesome!! He still has the skills of "Jason Borne and MacGyver".
There is some great cinematography of Istanbul Turkey. I say if you really liked the first installment "Taken" then you should see "Taken 2".
Pros lots of intrigue, suspenseful
Cons weak story
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Looper
PostedSeptember 29, 2012
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
"Looper" is a Suspense/Thriller that starts a bit slow, but like a locomotive picking up steam it speeds up to give you a thrilling ride. You must pay close attention because there are so many twists and turns that you will get lost. The movie keeps you guessing and waiting to see what happens next.
"Looper" is about Time Travel that is illegal except on the Black Market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone they send them back 30 years to the past where a "Looper" takes care of the target.
At some point a "Looper" becomes a target and knowing how the system works a "Looper" tries to avoid their fate. The story unfolds from there...
Very "Mind Bending, Intriguing, Intense and Suspenseful" with a moderate amount of action. The movie does get a bit bloody at times. This is one of the best Suspense Thrillers since the movie "Inception". The way the movie ended was a bit weird.
If you like "Intense" and can stand the "Bloodiness" then "Looper" is your movie.
"Looper" is about Time Travel that is illegal except on the Black Market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone they send them back 30 years to the past where a "Looper" takes care of the target.
At some point a "Looper" becomes a target and knowing how the system works a "Looper" tries to avoid their fate. The story unfolds from there...
Very "Mind Bending, Intriguing, Intense and Suspenseful" with a moderate amount of action. The movie does get a bit bloody at times. This is one of the best Suspense Thrillers since the movie "Inception". The way the movie ended was a bit weird.
If you like "Intense" and can stand the "Bloodiness" then "Looper" is your movie.
Pros well paced, suspenseful, mind bending, intruging
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
End of Watch
PostedSeptember 22, 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
"End of Watch" is a very gruesome and realistic view of what two LA police officers deal with on a daily basis. Patrolling the mean streets of Los Angeles is no joke and the LAPD put their lives on the line every single day to try and keep the good citizens of Los Angeles safe.
The movie is so realistic that at times I covered my face because what was being shown would make me ill.
"End of Watch" is very bloody, realistic, and gruesome and in its own way awesome because it's not sugar- coated. It's the real deal.
The on-screen chemistry between Gyllenhall and Pena is really good. The scenes with them in their squad car really gives you a great understanding of what police officers deal with while cruising the streets. With everything that goes on in "End of Watch" the movie is really good, but it loses steam at the end and that's what will keep it from being a great movie.
If you can stand the bloodiness and the gruesome factor, "End of Watch" is worth seeing.
The movie is so realistic that at times I covered my face because what was being shown would make me ill.
"End of Watch" is very bloody, realistic, and gruesome and in its own way awesome because it's not sugar- coated. It's the real deal.
The on-screen chemistry between Gyllenhall and Pena is really good. The scenes with them in their squad car really gives you a great understanding of what police officers deal with while cruising the streets. With everything that goes on in "End of Watch" the movie is really good, but it loses steam at the end and that's what will keep it from being a great movie.
If you can stand the bloodiness and the gruesome factor, "End of Watch" is worth seeing.
Pros well paced, great actors
Cons bloody, gruesome
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Trouble With the Curve
PostedSeptember 21, 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
5
/
5
Story
3
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
“Trouble With the Curve” is not Clint Eastwood’s best movie, but it’s not his worst. The movie is slow and a bit dry. If you are expecting a movie solely about Baseball, forget it!!
Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of Baseball’s best scouts for many years. He has aged and his eye sight has deteriorated to the point that he can hardly see a pitcher pitching. Even when his bosses question his judgment, Gus refuses to quit.
Gus’s daughter (Amy Adams) is a high powered workaholic attorney living in another city. One of Gus’s bosses contacts her and asks her to come and see about her Dad. The story unfolds from there…
Often times slow and quiet, you are not sure where the movie is headed. There is more than one story going on in the movie. Gus Lobel’s (Clint Eastwood) grumpiness will wear you down, but there is a Father/Daughter story in this movie just trying to break free.
The acting and on screen chemistry between Eastwood and Adams is great and that is what makes the movie plausible.
“Trouble With the Curve” is passable as movie entertainment
Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of Baseball’s best scouts for many years. He has aged and his eye sight has deteriorated to the point that he can hardly see a pitcher pitching. Even when his bosses question his judgment, Gus refuses to quit.
Gus’s daughter (Amy Adams) is a high powered workaholic attorney living in another city. One of Gus’s bosses contacts her and asks her to come and see about her Dad. The story unfolds from there…
Often times slow and quiet, you are not sure where the movie is headed. There is more than one story going on in the movie. Gus Lobel’s (Clint Eastwood) grumpiness will wear you down, but there is a Father/Daughter story in this movie just trying to break free.
The acting and on screen chemistry between Eastwood and Adams is great and that is what makes the movie plausible.
“Trouble With the Curve” is passable as movie entertainment
Pros great actors
Cons slow, a bit dry
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
1
/
5
The Words
PostedSeptember 7, 2012
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
2
/
5
Special Effects
2
/
5
Art Direction
3
/
5
Acting
3
/
5
Story
3
/
5
Camerawork
3
/
5
Bradley Cooper plays Rory Jensen who perpetrates a writer. While on his honeymoon in Paris, his new bride (Zoe Saldana) purchases an old leather satchel for Rory as a gift. Hidden in one of the pockets of the satchel is an old manuscript.
Rory finds this manuscript and reworks the story a bit. It is then published and becomes a best seller. The original writer (Jeremy Irons) of the manuscript recognizes his tragedic story. He finds Rory and tells him the details of his story and Rory then realizes he made a HUGH mistake in publishing the manuscript as his own work. The story unfolds from there...
"The Words" is a very boring movie. There are a lot of heavy hitters in the movie, but none of them resconate on the big screen. The movie is disjointed and contains a lot of holes.
I found "The Words" to be a complete waste of money.
Cons slow, boring
No, I do not recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Lawless
PostedAugust 29, 2012
MovieEnthusiast
from Herndon, VA
Age:45 to 54
Gender:Female
Goes to the movies:weekly
Dialogue
2
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
3
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
Set in the 1930's in Franklin County Virginia, "LawLess" is about the Bondurant Brothers (Forrest, Howard and Jack) who run a backwoods restaurant/general store. This backwoods store is a front for their real business which is bootlegging. They package up their booze and make their deliveries in the wee hours of the night.
The local sheriff and his men have take bribes and left the brother to their own devices. When a Chicago lawman (Guy Pearce) comes to town and tries to put the brothers out of business a war erupts. The story unfolds from there...
The local sheriff and his men have take bribes and left the brother to their own devices. When a Chicago lawman (Guy Pearce) comes to town and tries to put the brothers out of business a war erupts. The story unfolds from there...
"Lawless" starts off boring and slow. The first 30 minutes will lull you to sleep, but all of a sudden the movie picks up and is like a run away freight train flying down a dirty track. The violence is gruesome and bloody. The movie is just "Ok". It's not as interesting as I had hoped given the cast. The dialog of the movie leaves something to be desired. At times it's difficult to understand what is being said.
The paid critics were "luke warm" about "Lawless", so am I!!!
Cons slow, bad dialog
No, I do not recommend this movie.
Share:
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Premium Rush
PostedAugust 25, 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
5
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
Bike Messenger Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) spends his day dodging pedestrians, cars, open car doors, buses, taxis and delivery trucks throughout New York City's roadways as he makes "Premium Rush" deliveries. His last delivery of the day seems to be no big deal, just deliver an envelope to an address in China Town. What appears to be routine is anything but.
As part of Wilee's job he is not to release his delivery until he gives it to the recipient. Wilee finds himself being chased by a NYPD Detective who wants the contents of the envelope that Wilee is carrying and he will do anything to get it. The story unfolds from there...
Kudos to "Premium Rush"! It's a HUGH adrenaline rush, non-stop action and dare devil speeding bicycles traveling thru New York City!! You will get a "Rush" just watching the movie. The bikes in the movie appear to have no brakes. "Premium Rush" is a decent end-of-the-summer escapism. The movie was well put together and there is some intrigue, a bit of suspense and some surprises.
It's definitely worth a look.
Pros well paced, adrenaline rush, lots of action, fast-paced
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
The Expendables 2
PostedAugust 18, 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
The testostrone loaded, intense, action-packed mercenaries known as "The Expendables" are back!! They have increased the size of their group thus allowing them to take on assignments that require more of their special skills.
Mr Church (Bruce Willis) enlists Barney (Sylvester Stallone) and his crew "The Expendables" to take on what seems to be a very easy job of recovering a computer device that is locked in a safe aboard a plane that has crashed somewhere in China. "The Expendables" easily retrieve the computer device and were on their way to leaving the area, but unbeknownst to them they were followed to the plane crash site by a group known as the "Huns". The story unfolds from there..
"The Expendables 2" is a blast!! It's "Action Packed", "In your face Bloody Violence" and "High Energy". The movie opens with an involved action scene, followed by another and another until you get to the end where they saved the best for last.
Of Course the entire story is perposterous, but it's fun anyway. There are some holes in the story and a few unfinished scenes. There is a lot of jumping around, but I am sure because of time this was necessary.
If you saw the first installment "The Expendables" in 2010, you will understand the jumping around. Sylvester Stallone is the screen writer on "The Expendables" movies he makes you assume some things to save time.
Pros well paced, high energy, action packed
Cons very bloody
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Sparkle
PostedAugust 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
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
"Sparkle" can be thought of as the ending of a brillant career for actress/singer (Whitney Houston) and the beautiful beginning for another (Jordin Sparks).
American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks makes her acting debut in this adaptation of "Sparkle". "Sparkle" is a singing prodigy who writes music constantly, but is afraid to sing solo in public. She resides in an affluent neighborhood in Detroit, raised by a single mother (Whitney Houston) along with her two sisters.
Sparkle tries to balance a budding romance with her music manager Stix (Derek Luke) while trying to adjust to the changes that come with her and her sisters (Carmen Ejogo, Tika Sumpter) as they embark on what could be a potential singing career and also trying to keep her mother happy. The story unfolds from there...
The camera loves Jordin Sparks. She looked great throughout the movie. Her acting is pretty good. It doesn't hurt that she can sing. Whitney Houston has a very nice Gospel solo that will bring you to tears.
The paid critics were a bit luke-warm about "Sparkle", but over all I thought the movie was pretty good, though there are a few holes and several loose ends were not tied up at the end.
If you are a Whitney Houston or Jordin Sparks fan then you should see "Sparkle"
Pros well paced, great singing, good music
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.