REVIEW OF FURY STARRING BRAD PITT

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpEV3ZUPgM3Jue-VwxYKmaDBwKpW0NXhlhqFvrFghyphenhyphenMo6EVLz3ic4VzA_Lde6xtNjrl1wYsctXKs0Inh-iM3k45ypTUD78jHJiyPS0qUO8psNThUJCo3wenXdTPCd1aAS1qLZSyQo_Xk/s1600/fury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpEV3ZUPgM3Jue-VwxYKmaDBwKpW0NXhlhqFvrFghyphenhyphenMo6EVLz3ic4VzA_Lde6xtNjrl1wYsctXKs0Inh-iM3k45ypTUD78jHJiyPS0qUO8psNThUJCo3wenXdTPCd1aAS1qLZSyQo_Xk/s1600/fury.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 2014 rating: ***</td></tr> </tbody></table> “He was one of those guys that had that weird light around him... You just knew he wasn't going to get so much as a scratch here.”<br /> <br /> That was from APOCALYPSE NOW about Robert Duvall’s gung-ho Colonel, and not a quote and/or spoiler for FURY starring Brad Pitt as the gritty, hard-nosed tank commander Don 'Wardaddy' Collier during World War II… Yet there is a similar light around Collier and his grungy crew: They’ve been through the ringer, from Africa all the way into the final stretches of Germany during the Big One's rowdy 11th hour, and it doesn't seem anything can scratch 'em.  <br /> <br /> Collier’s soldiers are an eclectic lot that, although bordering on clichés, have their own distinct flavor... <br /> <br /> Shia LaBeouf is Boyd 'Bible' Swan. With a verse for just about every situation, he's equally hardened and battle-weary as grittier "heathens" Michael Peña as the tank driving Trini 'Gordo' Garcia, providing comic relief without being obvious, and Jon Bernthal’s extra-grouchy redneck, Grady 'Coon-Ass' Travis (imagine his WALKING DEAD Shane combined with Merle Dixon). If there’s an antagonist other than Germans, he’s the man.  <br /> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ouUkd21gG8tPo89IlsSH28zO5mthzme08zPe_lj0RdCu1ms-wzpj9HqEgNFiLr_hiBIDuCTXjfYGlK-6jnLGXso2wW91iYJdISB7BY9Ft6EBo6t090iZDhH2xcPb0ZRNXz2zKeobO7w/s1600/tumblr_n54gvu6ONe1r89z1to1_r1_1280.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ouUkd21gG8tPo89IlsSH28zO5mthzme08zPe_lj0RdCu1ms-wzpj9HqEgNFiLr_hiBIDuCTXjfYGlK-6jnLGXso2wW91iYJdISB7BY9Ft6EBo6t090iZDhH2xcPb0ZRNXz2zKeobO7w/s1600/tumblr_n54gvu6ONe1r89z1to1_r1_1280.jpg" width="123" /></a>Since the story begins with the troop already having experienced hell on earth, there’s not much development beyond their edgy banter and sporadic reflections. So it takes a fresh new guy to make the seasoned characters more interesting, and relevant… <br /> <br /> During the first half, bright-eyed Logan Lerman, as the extremely boyish replacement Norman Ellison, seems too naïve and mismatched to be involved at all. One overlong scene, where Pitt’s Collier takes the kid to a room with two German ladies, hinders the necessary build-up. Leading to an all-out open field battle where the action is limited to the tank’s trudging pace... <br /> <br /> But what makes FURY ultimately worthwhile is the last act: a gloriously gut-wrenching standoff these guys deserved all along, and a chance for the movie to truly live up to its title. Better late than never! 

2014, brad pitt, ensemble, jon bernthal, logan lerman, shia labeouf, war, world war II

REVIEW OF FURY STARRING BRAD PITT

year: 2014 rating: *** “He was one of those guys that had that weird light around him... You just knew he wasn't going to get so muc...

PERCY JACKSON AND THE SEA OF MONSTERS

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7uvZTCnZShi6l5tEIv-kZoLBw3VkpxtEdNat7lFNf_0AtCt85dgndJAnHNmrkHk3E1KqEmGthz99xrcvBmgmuBymK4R-ykm4nqKjFsTXGNNeDuGn3AI3wmr2SpvaClIpAxEPjnYVWoN9/s1600/percy-jackson-sea-of-monsters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7uvZTCnZShi6l5tEIv-kZoLBw3VkpxtEdNat7lFNf_0AtCt85dgndJAnHNmrkHk3E1KqEmGthz99xrcvBmgmuBymK4R-ykm4nqKjFsTXGNNeDuGn3AI3wmr2SpvaClIpAxEPjnYVWoN9/s640/percy-jackson-sea-of-monsters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 2013 cast: Logan Lerman, Douglas Smith, Alexandra Daddario rating: **1/2</td></tr> </tbody></table> With the Harry Potter films behind us, and more Middle Earth Hobbit adventures on deck, the maligned PERCY JACKSON franchise has become a cinematic underdog. The first film, PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THEIF, centers on a group of young, misunderstood demi-gods… half human, half gods… at a wilderness camp protected from nefarious outside elements and, like Hogwarts in the Potter series, is a place to learn their trade… Although THIEF (according to rabid fans) strayed from its source material, the movie was, for conventional viewers, breezily entertaining.<br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Now we have a second adventure where the basic journey gets right under way… But not so fast… The best sequences occur in the first twenty minutes as a metallic bull invades camp and, after a terrific looking battle with sublime 3D special effects, we’re introduced to a new character, a young Cyclops claiming to be Percy’s brother, and a mission to find a Golden Fleece within an extremely dangerous ocean.  </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> The main problem with SEA OF MONSTERS is the modern terms and/or vocabulary invading the timeless element concerning Mythological characters. Certain phrases and jokes take the escapist factor away from the story, feeling more like a bad high school comedy than fantasy at times. And there are some really lame side-characters on board, like three blind witches straight from MACBETH driving a speeding taxi cab, trying way too hard to be fun and funky, or tiny smack-talking snakes loosely embedded on an ancient weapon, befitting a Nickelodeon kid’s show or a really bad cartoon.  </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> The core of the movie occurs at sea – the title will tell you that much. There are a few slick action scenes and intriguing oceanic creatures, but the story hits a wall once the collection of heroes face off on island harboring a closed down amusement park, pitting Percy and friends against the original Lightning Thief, who again wants to rule things his way, and an angry Cyclops and eventually, The Devil (Hades) himself.</div> <div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> While non-stop action abounds within this final thirty minutes, at this point the characters mean very little compared to the desperate need for a prolonged big budget climax. Too bad more time wasn’t spent on the build-up, which seemed to rush right by... </div>

2013, adventure, fantasy, franchise, logan lerman, sequel

PERCY JACKSON AND THE SEA OF MONSTERS

year: 2013 cast: Logan Lerman, Douglas Smith, Alexandra Daddario rating: **1/2 With the Harry Potter films behind us, and more Middle Ea...

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoy8B4LxLoz0PB4NR94SUhHHRQz2p4S1yVc7i5Nt1lnZowXELtEmiJUXthCqomZOGy_fJunX2kSPEQhg251Fv1r7__dxwtZ-6ZT4PKkK_gXXNwlfHpziyxZBVOBJpARCm0zJq5-ARY0Mp/s1600/HD-Movie-Wallpapers-of-The-Perks-of-Being-a-Wallflower.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoy8B4LxLoz0PB4NR94SUhHHRQz2p4S1yVc7i5Nt1lnZowXELtEmiJUXthCqomZOGy_fJunX2kSPEQhg251Fv1r7__dxwtZ-6ZT4PKkK_gXXNwlfHpziyxZBVOBJpARCm0zJq5-ARY0Mp/s16000/HD-Movie-Wallpapers-of-The-Perks-of-Being-a-Wallflower.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 2012 cast: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson rating: **1/2</td></tr> </tbody></table> Since when are Wallflowers… those who don’t take part in social activities and stand back while others dance the night away… the best looking kids in school? Well they are here – a melodrama about three particular students that just can’t fit in… Or perhaps they simply refuse to.<br /> <br /> Beginning with the main protagonist, narrating his life from day one as a freshman in a campus that seems to harbor only boisterous and experienced seniors: Logan Lerman is Charlie, the reclusive little brother of popular siblings yet he hasn’t a friend in the world, or in this case, the entire high school. Thankfully there’s Patrick, a confident gay student and his stepsister Sam, played by HARRY POTTER actress Emma Watson, who had a reputation and now lurks in the shadows with her other ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW-loving friends.<br /> <br /> The kids are likeable and it would be hard not to connect with at least one of them, but the problem lies on genre: WALLFLOWER doesn’t know whether to be serious, funny, or, by the overlong conclusion, completely tragic. Like the characters, this adaptation of the popular novel suffers a big identity crisis, although by the end you’ll feel moved – or at least thankful you survived a painful year that, shown on the expression of Logan Lerman’s face, is on full display. If anything else, he alone carries the burden of a troubled soul who eventually finds his place. And with friends like Patrick and Sam, providing a safety net a bit too easily, what’s not to like about teenage suffering? Then again, this is about the perks, not the jerks...<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>

2012, emma watson, high school, logan lerman, teen

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

year: 2012 cast: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson rating: **1/2 Since when are Wallflowers… those who don’t take part in social activities and ...

3:10 TO YUMA

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00H8DQNzyiHqqJ7W9mBqQeAI10Af2ZBIFu20y-lSnJkuqiIC83F0bhuEbYkP2LXtx13KfFV1qlprQ3er2jduwU8UePf5jBG1qOftfNfXdiS8aJH1Oe8KlHtNfudLdqFX-D79abdDr3vZW/s1600/310_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00H8DQNzyiHqqJ7W9mBqQeAI10Af2ZBIFu20y-lSnJkuqiIC83F0bhuEbYkP2LXtx13KfFV1qlprQ3er2jduwU8UePf5jBG1qOftfNfXdiS8aJH1Oe8KlHtNfudLdqFX-D79abdDr3vZW/s1600/310_l.jpg" /></a></div><b>title: </b>3:10 TO YUMA<br /> <b>year:</b> 2007<br /> <b>cast: </b>Russell Crowe, Christian Bale<br /> <b>rating: </b>***1/2<br /> <br /> Hurray, they got a modern Western right while treating an Elmore Leonard cowboy flick with the grim gusto of his source novel. Full of twists and bloody gunfights, this is a suspenseful tale of an injured debt-burdened rancher Dan Evans who witnesses a massacre involving an outlaw, Ben Wade, and his gang of seedy, stage coach robbing thugs. Christian Bale as Evans exudes the right amount slowburn pathos for a burdened protagonist, allowing Russell Crowe’s Wade, a cross between Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Hannibal Lector, to steal the show. While in transit to a small town where a 3:10 train will take the captured Wade to Yuma prison, the lawmen have to keep the Bible-reciting villain out of their heads. He can play with any mind if you let him, and cut throats too. Crowe displays a cool murky charm, especially in conversations with Stevens and his young son, who aren’t sure if a heart resides beneath that iron skin. There’s a constant feeling that anything can happen, and the best scenes occur before arriving at the town where, holed up in a hotel, Wade’s men (including an ultraviolent Ben Foster) arrive to free their boss in a somewhat typical showdown. But it’s all pretty great "Neo Noir Western" stuff from start to finish.

christian bale, elmore leonard, logan lerman, luke wilson, peter fonda, russell crowe, western, zeroes

3:10 TO YUMA

title: 3:10 TO YUMA year: 2007 cast: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale rating: ***1/2 Hurray, they got a modern Western right while treati...

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (2011)

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoJRkBbRczsYrTBWiUuhxEnDFsE09rJiqFclLc99nso2kyaDI27Le3GVLs6ikNhPQoMHRfh6x5ujd8HCwlQ5IjD2BqCjWG9Y2bdbey4G8F_HJU1kMIlb1XC2Azo0pn-eywhIbi0nAKlw/s1600/three-musketeers-movie-photos-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoJRkBbRczsYrTBWiUuhxEnDFsE09rJiqFclLc99nso2kyaDI27Le3GVLs6ikNhPQoMHRfh6x5ujd8HCwlQ5IjD2BqCjWG9Y2bdbey4G8F_HJU1kMIlb1XC2Azo0pn-eywhIbi0nAKlw/s640/three-musketeers-movie-photos-03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>year:</b> 2011 <b>cast:</b> Logan Lerman, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans <b>rating:</b> ***</td></tr> </tbody></table> Sure it’s a modernized mockery of the Dumas classic, and could have been titled after the young sex symbol joining forces with the titular heroes… the trio remaining a backdrop to most of the heroic deeds… but it all works for a fun ride.<br /> <br /> We begin with The Three Musketeers on a mission inside a castle, and get to know each for their separate skills: Athos the leader, Armamis the daring, and Porthos the badass. Tagging along is sexy vixen Milady DeWinter (Milla Jovovich), stealing the show as she fights in slow-motion straight outta THE MATRIX. In fact most of the fight scenes are so glossy it doesn't feel like the 1700s at all. Although the scenery and settings are beautiful and genuine enough to thrust the viewer into a vintage otherworld of sword-clashing soldiers, double-crossing villains, and flawed, intrepid heroes.<br /> <br /> The main character is young D’Artagnan, played by Logan Lerman, looking more like a kid who’d hang at a skateboard shop than an agile swordsman, but his acting is pretty good. The daring youngster proves his worth to the Musketeers, and these are the best scenes: the four battling their way through town till a prancing young king gives them their mission.<br /> <br /> Midway through there’s too much dialog describing what’s about to happen: a plan involving stolen jewels, which could escalate into war. But this sets up for some more cool battles (within flying pirate ships), all paying off in silver dollars that may be counterfeit, but it doesn't matter somehow.

action, logan lerman, tens

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (2011)

year: 2011 cast: Logan Lerman, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans rating: *** Sure it’s a modernized mockery of the Dumas classic, and could h...