Fast Five

To say I was anxiously awaiting this film would be an overstatement. To say I wasn't happy to see it would be an understatement. Did I expect to like it? Well, Yeah, It is a movie after all. I was more excited about seeing what the director Justin Lin would do. I paid extra close attention to this since he has been confirmed to direct Terminator 5 with Arnie. I don't think if I would call myself a fanboy of this franchise, but I do love cars and action. My sister in law is the real reason we went to this as I think these are her favorite films ever. Keep in mind she is 33. If her whole life kept in line with this single obsession, she would probably be the coolest chick ever. Unfortunately this is really strange to everyone who knows her, as this franchise really doesn't "fit" the parameters of her day to day life. The aspect I was most looking forward to in this film was the addition of a "real" actor. That being said, the actor I speak of is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who is actually a wrestler. Funny. He brings an intensity to the screen that Vin Diesel could only dream of. The story is a minute for minute continuation from the previous film. We know Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster) and Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker) and a couple others went to break Dom (Diesel) out of his prison transport bus. They pick up with that scene and don't stop until the final credits roll. Vince from the first film is back and he is living in Rio de Janero. He has Brian and Mia and Dom meet him there. He commissions them for a job. A not so simple boost, but these guys are on the run and need the money. The job goes awry and then the real plot begins. The actual opening scene is the bus, but the real opening scene is awesome. The boost. Great action and I was a sweaty nervous wreck halfway into it. The job goes bad as I said which gives us the title baddie, Reyes. He controls everything down there including the cops. Those were suppose to be his cars. As if that is not bad enough, 3 DEA agents were killed in the process of the job. Toretto and O'Connor are directly blamed and now they are at the top of the most wanted list. The man hired to bring em back is Hobbs (The Rock). Within 5 seconds of him being on screen the tempo is boosted. He even drops the F Bomb in his opening monologue. He was the absolute perfect cast for that part. What I really noticed was how big the two stars got since we last saw them. The Rock got huge with muscles, and Diesel got huge with fatty tissue. He has a bit of a gut and a double chin. The wife beaters don't do him any favors, whereas the Under Armour Hobbs where's makes me want to go buy some in hopes that it will make me look like that. He is right on their butt, and the crew and firepower he brings along are unmatched, not to mention his bulletproof tactical vehicle which is quite similar to the new one commissioned by the US Army built by Boeing. With all the stuff happening Toretto and O'Connor decide to take down Reyes. They need a crew so what I really enjoyed was all the members that came in. They pulled members from all the previous films and united them into a solid machine. Tej (Ludacris) and Roman (Tyrese) have the comic relief banter that really feels real. Almost like it's unscripted. It's a non stop action movie that is insanely awesome with brilliantly thought out stunts and choreography. The fight scene between Dom and Hobbs is awesome, the cars are insane, and story is really strong. I was surprised at how funny the movie is. It's not one of those movies that is ridiculous which makes it laughable. It's the humorous dialogue and scenes that were written to perfection. What Fast Five brought to the franchise was firepower. Drug runners, tactical teams, and testosterone = Good Times. I only paid $5 to go see this which is a full $2 less than matinee price. At this price, it should absolutely be seen in the theater. At $10 a ticket I may be a little more hard pressed, but I was glad to have seen it. Everyone is waiting till next week for Thor to kick off the summer season of Big Blockbuster films. It actually kicked off last night with Fast Five.

**P.S. - Stay through the credits!!!! 

NBM rates Fast Five - Phenomenal...and I'll tell you why. It is the best film of the franchise thus far.

King Ralph

With the royal wedding upon us, I thought I would delve into a film about the Royal Family. Sure I could do The Queen, or Elizabeth : The Golden Age, but I thought I would go with a more less known King to talk about. Ralph. That's right. King Ralph (John Goodman) is anointed  King of England when ancestry lines are studies and he is in fact the only living heir to the throne. What makes this so good is he is American. I mean, I'm American, but Ralph is AMERICAN American. He bowls, smokes cigars, drinks heavily, swears, is uncouth, overweight and unattractive. He says what he means and doesn't hold back. He finds out he is to be king and thinks it's a gag. Sir Cedric Charles Willingham (Peter O'Toole) is in charge of bringing him back and grooming him into the future King. As for young William, he has been bred for 29 years for the throne. I think it probably would take that long to know how to act, along with knowing the rules of what to do and not to do. William's bride, Kate Middleton, is probably feeling a lot like Ralph, in the sense that she is a commoner. She must learn how she must act. I'm sure she is a lovely person, but we wouldn't want to get on the Queen's bad side. Ralph has a very hard time adapting to his new power and responsibilities. You see, he welcomed the power and fame, but had no idea about the responsibility of it all. Don't you sometimes wish there were classic sayings that would help one understand? Ooooh!! I got one. Ready? "With great power, comes great responsibility." I just came up with that, and I think it could change lives. Ralph soon realizes, being Kings sucks, which is funny, because Tom Petty made us all think "it's good to be King." He does his best, but every man has a breaking point. He goes out and gets trashed which looks bad, because Royalty does not act in that manner. He don't care, "Honey Badger don't give a S***." He revolutionizes the game of cricket, almost lops off a man's ear in a knighting ceremony, and meets the love of his life. This is such a fun film. I have to admit, I got a little glued to the coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton walking down the isle this morning, while my wife intentionally recorded 6 hours of television coverage. I usually don't care for British Royalty, but if Ralph Hampton Gainsworth Jones were King, I may care a little bit more.


NBM rates King Ralph - Awesome

The Last Kiss

This movie is strange to me. It is up front with what it is, and where it is most definitely gonna go. What gets me is the content. Infidelity. Is it still infidelity if the couple in question are unmarried? I think it may just be cheating, but nonetheless, betrayal is involved. So, Michael (Zach Braff) is perfectly happy with his life. He has a lovely girlfriend of three years, and their intentions are all laid out. They do want to get married. They do want children. What they don't want is what everyone else has. Problems. PLURAL!! They don't know anyone without problems. Their closest friends to family members. None of them have the secret to awesome marriage. This bothers Michael and thrusts him into the fear. He wonders if this is all to life. You get married, have kids, resent each other, and end up in a bitter situation affecting the lives of your kids. This gets him a bit sidetracked with the "plan". He has one friend that has a controlling wife that is just hard to watch. Then  he has one friend who just messes around. He is not either of those and his chick is awesome. While at a wedding, he meets a young HOT college girl (Rachel Bilson) that seems to be into him. He doesn't care. A little playful banter, and some harmless flirting turns into something that should not be. The title may make you think it is as innocent as a kiss, but in fact it is an all out one night affair...That he immediatley regrets. The worse part of his indescretion? His Fiance is pregnant. He comes clean, but she is having none of it, hence the porch picture above. The interesting thing to me is how much we pull for this jackass to get his life back. He is the nicest guy minus his EF up that is. He then has to spend the remainder of his time groveling while apologizing and keeping psycho college girl away from him. The speech her Father (Tom Wilkinson) gives him on her front porch is absolutely brilliant. You may think he would be pissed Michael could hurt his little girl. That's not what we get at all. It's more of a man to man with loads of understanding. I really enjoy this film even though I don't condone the actions of our leading man. We as an audience pull for Michael. As strange as it sounds, we want him to win...in a way. Not in the way of "have your cake and eat it too", but you truly feel his remorse. We want a happy ending, but being an indi film, anything is possible. I also want to add that Zach Braff should be a leading man in the industry. He has really only been cast in Indi films, which is great, I mean, Look at Joseph Gordon Levitt. He started that way, and now with Inception and The Dark Knight Rises he made it. I just wish that Braff could add to his Garden State (Brilliant) and The Last Kiss resume'.

NBM rates The Last Kiss - Awesome

Enduring Love

So, when I saw Road to Perdition, I was immediately intrigued by Daniel Craig. He was sort of new and different. Then I saw Layer Cake (Don't get me started), then Munich, so by this point I was on his wagon. I went back a couple years to a movie I vaguely remembered. It looked creepy, and independent which puts it right in my cross hairs. This should be short and sweet and if I do my job really well, there may be a total of 3 of my readers who actually will want to see it. Joe (Craig) and his lady Claire are having a picnic - which is lovely- when something strange happens. They are hanging out in a park with a handful of other people, all of which are minding their own business, when a hot air balloon, of all things, is abruptly strewn into the sky. I mean, really, a hot air balloon? Apparently in open fields in the UK, hot air balloons are equivalent to what we call squirrels here. None of these picnickers find it strange at all. Anyway, when it takes off the ground with a young boy in the basket and the Captain (Are they considered Captains?) tangled in the ropes, Joe and the other strapping males on the scene go after it to try and secure the situation. They almost have it when a gust of wind, much like the wind we had here this morning - check local listings- gets the balloon really going. All of the do-gooders manage to let go before getting to high except one stupid man. They all watch as he is carried away only to fall to his death some distance away. They all chase it down to check on the man, but resuscitation was not an option. I know in the movies, mouth to mouth can bring someone back from a bullet wound, a stab directly to the heart or the "thinker", drowning, and zombies. Unfortunately for this poor fella, they have not perfected this method if your insides are no longer inside. To me it was one of the most real visuals ever. It just seems that this is what a body would look like from a fall that high. He looked a lot like the final graboid that COULD NOT FLY after all. When it's all over, statements are taken and everyone goes about their lives. Joe is struggling with the incident a lot. It's about to get worse...and weird. Another one of the surviving Samaritans (Biblical reference) Jed (Rhys Ifans - The Welsh place kicker in The Replacements) calls Joe up to "talk" about it and get closure. Joe agrees since this guy probably has the same issues he does. He thinks it will help. A support group of 2 if you will. Jed is way more Loco en cabeza than Joe expects. He ends up having this strange obsession with Joe and his life. His job, girl, groceries - everything that makes up a person. Jed thinks they are "connected". Either spiritually or mentally or some other cosmic thing. He now feels that he and Joe are soul mates of sort. They are the only one's who can relate to each other and what they feel from the situation. The Male/Male stalking turns from uncomfortable to creepy. There is a fine line between "Obsessively Shadowing" and "Stalking." He not only crosses it, but leaps beyond that line. I think after a while Joe wonders to himself if Jed is onto something. He doesn't tell anyone, because frankly, that would be something you would want to keep to yourself. After fighting it and fighting him while threatening him, he seems to be coming around, but like all great thrillers it misses it's turn and goes straight off the cliff and crashes into the side of a mountain. I actually enjoyed this movie, but my wife hated it. HATED IT. It's a good thing this is not her website or you would never have heard of it.

NBM rates Enduring Love - Awesome

Watch It!!!

Something The Lord Made

This is a "Made for HBO" movie that is absolutely brilliant. It could have been a big screen movie, but for the fact that no one knows who Alfred Blalock is. This is a Bio-pic of his professional career, and the developments he was able to engineer in the medical field. Alan Rickman plays the good Doctor, but more than that, the story actually revolves around his young assistant. Vivien Thomas (Mos Def) is an uneducated black man during the 1930's. Their relationship began at Vanderbilt University (Holla) where Vivien turns out to be quite the helper to Blalock's genius. Being black and in the south and in the 1930's this relationship is more than frowned upon. He is snuck into the back door, so not to be seen in the lab. His relevance in the matter is astounding. Blalock trusts himself with an authority unmatched, but quickly begins to trust what Vivien thinks even more. Blalock soon takes a job at the prestigious Johns Hopkins ( I know Johnny Hopkins and he blazes that S*** up everyday). He takes the job, but must have his helper at his side, because he realizes he is better when Vivien is there. Vivien follows him and they begin research on "blue baby syndrome" which is when babies don't get enough blood to the heart. Blalock soon develops a theory backed up by Vivien. A heart valve is missing and needs to be added to the equation. He and Vivien start working out the kinks on dogs. They do transplants, or new surgeries, and will soon invent what we know as Bypass heart surgery. The failures are almost to much to handle, but hey must strive on. Vivien is still not known for going through the front, but he is ok with it. He knows his place in this world and he embraces it. When it comes time for Blalock to do his first blue baby operation he clams up. What does he do? He throws pride aside, and rund to the nearest loud speaker intercom system. He belts out "Vivien Thomas to the ER", and he is confused as anyone else. He knows he is the man behind the curtain, and when the nurses have trouble grasping the fact that he needs to be scrubbed up, Blalock lets them know what up. Vivien shines and the new procedure is a miracle that will save many lives, and he gets 100% of the recognition even though they both fixed the system. This is when Vivien starts to get perturbed,      but he knows what he signed up for. Their relationship spanned 3+ decades, and this film will move you. i had seen it 3 times, when one day my wife walked in and asked what it was. I was sure she had seen. I was wrong. I had always been by myself. That was the fourth time I watched it in it's entirety, and she understood why had seen it so much. She really dug it. When casting Vivien, I was a little lost they would go with a rapper turned actor, as opposed to a Cuba Gooding, or Anthony Mackie. This just proves that Mr. Def belongs in Hollywood, and if he did it full time he could have a shot at Oscar gold eventually. Look at this film, along with 16 blocks and tell me I'm wrong.

NBM rates Something the Lord Made - Phenomenal

Buy it!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Proof that I will watch anything. I was handed a rather large box last Thursday. The contents? Harry Potter 1-7. As a grown man who never saw any of these films, not to mention the tiny desire to do so upon original release, I was given an opportunity and a promise that these are good, Really good films. I trust you Dean-O, I mean, we don't call you D-Know for nothing. After pondering where to begin, I decided to start with #1 on Saturday. Seems like a good jumping off point. Figuring I was in for about a 2 hour long kids movie, I was immediately enthralled with the adult like theme of abandonment and abuse. Then film starts with the dropping of newborn Potter at his Aunt and Uncle's home on plain ole normal Earth. He is treated like the red headed step child his entire life, until he turns 11. This is when he is to be brought home. Home as in where he belongs. Hogwarts school of wizardry. He is welcomes with open arms and his reputation precedes him. He is the powerful baby that stopped a ruthless evil man named Voldermort. He is just excited to be able to start living his own life. Seem strange for a boy of 11 to be that anxious to leave everything he knows, but the way it is depicted, I understood. Once there he is such a natural at the wizard thing he gets a bigger rep than even his name carried before he arrived. He is respected, and he quickly has a confidence unmatched by most. From here it really follows three young wizards. Harry, Hermoine, and Ron. They are on a mission to stop something from being stolen for some reason they don't understand, by someone they think they can't trust. It all turns into a big mess, and sort of a young Sherlock Holmes type of story. They are against the clock, and they know. Each clue gets them closer, but the adults don't listen, or they do, but they want it to be "hush hush". The visuals are good, but seeing it for the first time now, the CG is a little Eh. Not so much that it's distracting, but I am actually kind of geared up for the second film. There really is no telling how long it will take me to watch 17 hours of Potter, but I will endure as I always do. All in all it's a decent beginning to the most successful franchise in cinema history. I have heard it is actually one of the least liked so that gives me a lot of hope and angst to get the others watched soon.

NBM rates Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Awesome

The 'Burbs

My fillings are hot.

Easily in my Top 10 comedies category of all time. Very quotable, super campy, and it stars 2 time Oscar winner Tom Hanks. I have seen this film over 50 times, and will watch it 50 more times within the next 10 days. (Yeah, that's probably not really going to happen, but I do love it and you should get the point.) The 'Burbs is just like any neighborhood one would live in, except in this particular 'hood the neighbors are unnaturally close with each other. Ray (Hanks) is sort of the Leader of the bunch, whereas Art (Ducommun) is sort of the wild one with several theories of the activities in the area. Lt. Rumsfield (Bruce Dern) is retires military, who every morning, salutes the flag in his front yard. Then we have Ricky (Feldman), who is the high school kid who loves the show, but doesn't get involved. He and Rumsfield are the comic relief along with Ray and Art. Let's face it, it's a comedy, and a damn good one. When a mysterious family named the Klopeks move in on their street, some questions arise. Like, what happened to the Knapps? (The original owners of the house.) While Ray is on vacation, and his family out of town, his good buddy Art wants to dig deeper. Along with the strange Klopeks, the grumpy old man on the block, Walter has also disappeared. Art thinks he has been murdered and the hilarity ensues. It all starts with a Femur bone, which happens to be a human thigh bone. The several feeble attempts to find evidence leaves the crew looking stupid and embarrassed. At this point they give up, well, Ray does anyway. Art and Rumsfield want to pursue, but Ray feels he has wronged these people, and wants it to stop. Then everything changes and Ray is back on board. Now he won't be stopped. Not by the cops, or the Klopeks, or his wife who happens to be Princess Leia. He and the whole lot of them get into some serious trouble, but will they succeed, or go down in a ball of flames? I can't believe how much I enjoy this film, but that enjoyment has been magnified exponentially since A-Bomb and I realized we are The 'Burbs. I am Art, he is Ray, Next to me is Ricky, and next to A-Bomb is Rumsfield. It's all too perfect, and that makes this movie so much more fun. 

"Stop!! There's these people in parents house and they are eating all their food!" - Ricky impeding the police.

NBM rates The 'Burbs - A Cinematic Work of Art

Buy It!!!

The Prestige

I will be the first to tell you, I don't care for period pieces. They are always so drab and blah. The Prestige on the other hand is the complete opposite. It has everything a great action, suspenseful drama should have. It is Directed by the Brilliant Christopher Nolan and it stars Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johannson, and a brief appearance by Piper Perabo. If that cast doesn't make you want to go get and watch it immediately then obviously your not a movie person. I mean, Batman and the Wolverine, along with Black Widow? Sweetness. The film is set in London at the end of the 19th century when entertainment is next to nil. Magicians, however, are wooing audiences the world over and it seems to be quite the lucrative business. Alfred (Bale) and Robert (Jackman) are assistants to a magician. They set up the props and help with the show. Roadies, if you will. When Robert's wife dies during a show (she's also part of the act), Robert directly blames Alfred and the feud begins. Alfred and Robert have become very good Magicians in their own right. It is not enough that they are both mildly successful, they are constantly in each others business trying to divulge the other's secrets and tricks. The one-upmanship is really what the film is all about. Each has moved on, but then Robert meets a man named Tesla (David Bowie) and his entire act gets reformed into something the world has never seen. He is now pushing the boundaries of god like illusions and the wealth and fame that come along with it could not make him happier. Alfred is a perfectionist when it comes to his show, and if he can't have the trick his competition is using he must create a bigger one, which he will do, but at what cost. This film is made up with some fantastic brain teasers. It also does a great job of getting the audience involved to figure out what exactly is happening. It turns quickly into a movie based on ethics and revenge and so many twists it's hard to keep up. To be honest, I am not sure why I don't own this film. One day I will. 

"Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige". - Cutter (Michael Caine)

NBM rates The Prestige - Phenomenal

Splice

Let's start by saying that I may be one of the few people that will watch anything with Adrien Brody attached. His performance in "Angels in the Outfield" eclipsed even that of Matthew McConaughey. Splice did a really good job of making it's trailers desirable. It made me want to see it, but not enough to go out and see it. I have 62 movie channels and I knew eventually it would show up. Last night it did, and I enjoyed the first hour of it anyway. I watched the first half then joined a "Anchorman" party complete with Scotch and all. I was absolutely anxious to watch the last hour and today I did. The first hour does a great job of building up this story and leading us down a path that gets us wondering. The second hour kind of tails off for a bit with more of the same, but it still very interesting. Then what we were all waiting for finally happens. Alien half breed grown in a lab specimen nudity in all it's creepy yet glorious fashion. These two scientist who dabble in the "I wanna play God" mentality create an organism that has an insane growth rate, but is a bit unstable. Clive (Brody), and Elsa (Sarah Polley) are actually involved and they mutually decide to create this thing without telling the higher ups. They use the facilities resources to do it, so the punishment would be beyond a slap on the wrist. Clive is the voice of reason once the organism hatches, but Elsa has a strange attachment to this thing. Well, Dren as Elsa names her, begins to learn. Elsa spends countless days trying to teach her anything to see if she could associate. Clive wanted to destroy her before she developed because it just felt wrong to him, yet Elsa won't allow it. Before they know it Dren is a mature (physically anyway) woman of sorts. She is strangely sexy for a bald chick with a tail that can't speak. The entire middle of the film is her learning and it is very intriguing as she develops her own attitude and way about things. She is getting to big to keep in the basement of the lab, so they move her to Elsa old family farm, and from there she is off. She wants to explore and be outside, because at this point I'd say she looks 20 years old but she is probably only 6 months old. Elsa sees Dren as her child and Clive is having trouble with their relationship, but everything quickly changes when Clive notices something that really upsets him. That last 20  minutes are awesome, and the final scene is a little creepy, but really kinda perfect. I suggest that you watch this film if you watch the 2 minute trailer and think "That looks decent". It is better than decent.

NBM rates Splice - Awesome

Buy It

Foo Fighters : Back and Forth

So as a self proclaimed "Foo Fan" I was stoked to see this new 2 hour documentary about my favorite band and how the recording process of their most recent album "Wasting Light" went. Boy was I wrong about the content. I'm glad I was wrong, because it turns out it was an entire film documenting the entire history of the Foo. The first 20 minutes or so was strictly about Nirvana which I found very compelling. I guess the film focused more on Dave Grohl, and his journey through the Rock scene over the last 20 years, which makes sense, since Foo wouldn't exist without him. The footage of Nirvana was absolutely euphoric to me. It made me think about where they would be if Kurt hadn't...you know. Dave is famous for not talking about Kurt, but he opens up more than I've ever seen, and even 17 years later he still struggled talking about it. After this segment we get into how the Foo were started. It was really more of an accident than a purpose. Dave had to free his mind for life after Nirvana, so he laid down a few tracks, played all the instruments, and printed the cassette. He didn't know what he wanted to do with these new demo's, but after being invited to play with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, he realized he did want his own band, so he turned down his idol for the unknown. Turns out he chose the hard path. He quickly put together the rest of his band and then they went. Its funny because Dave had Cred and $$ from the label due to Nirvana, but his new band mates hadn't had the same luck, so this turned out to be winning the music lottery to them. They went from playing shows for a few hundred to people to a few thousand. Dave really struggles with the fans in the beginning. They were mad at him and he didn't know why, but eventually he just stopped listening. It follows the trials and tribulations of each album and all the drama involved with said album. Their second album, "The Colour and the Shape", (their best album) almost didn't get made. Dave was struggling with his drummer, who he liked as a person, but he couldn't meet Dave's demand for what the drum tracks should sound like. How do you perform in front of the best drummer of all time and not feel the pressure? Either way, band members came and went because Dave couldn't get the formula right. He eventually does find what he's looking for, but with any long term relationship there will be bumps in the road. The band have had the best of times, but more worst of times and this film is a really honest look at the whole she-bang. What is scary for me with a film like this is the content. My favorite band of all time along with Dave, who I idolize could show me something that could possibly change my outlook on the whole thing. I have always heard the Mr. Grohl is the nicest man in rock and Roll, but I bet there are a few ex members that wouldn't agree. I think at times he would disagree as well. The one on one interview segments of the Documentary really shows Dave as open book filled with regret and even more remorse to the musicians he may have wronged in the name of perfection. The last 30 minutes really brings it home. It is about the newest album and how they decided to record it in analog on tape, which just seems tedious. It also shows the 40 year old "Fighters" with their families and kids which just cracks me up. Especially the scene when Dave is layin down a guitar riff and his daughter comes up to him poking him in the back. Its so real, and so funny. I appreciate the effort they constantly give to improving on their craft. I can also tell how much more loud and ragged the new album sounds compared to the previous ones. I love every second of every track. It also solidified my jealousy for my younger brothers for his back stage encounter where he met Dave and shook his hand. I would love to have a beer with that guy (Dave, not my brother...I hate that guy). I also had to listen to most of the albums today. It just got me in the "Foo Mood".


NBM rates Back and Forth - A Work of Cinematic Art
Buy it & the CD too!!!


  

The Big Lebowski

With today's date being 4/20 I felt it necessary to write about America's favorite slacker/pothead. The Dude....Oh, where to begin? Maybe by saying that I feel very firm that this film holds a concreted position in my TOP 10 of all time. I remember the first time I saw this, I thought, "Why did this not get any press?, and why was it only at the local theater for 1 week? This is easily one of the most quotable films to date. I also had a tough time picking a visual that really shows what the Dude is all about. I went with the limo scene, because I am sure this was the first and last time he ever rode in one, and as you can see, his limo etiquette is less than great. Jeffrey Lebowski aka. "The Dude" is roped into a kidnapping ransom mix up all because his rug got peed on, and the fact that his best friend Walter gives him mostly horrible advice, that The Dude follows to the T. It's a big mistake. The other Jeffrey Lebowski, the millionaire, was the actual intended target of the rug pee-ers. The Dude wants his rug replaced, as he should, but The Big Lebowski as he is later referred has none of it. The Dude, beyond all expectations, actually dupes the big Lebowski in a glorious fashion. This connects the two for the remainder of the film. When the Big Lebowski's trophy wife is kidnapped the ransom is for One Meeeelion dollars. The Dude is hired as courier, but Walter has other plans. Things go horribly wrong and the Dude's car gets a bit dinged up. The hand off does not happen and the Dude is feeling the regret because "her life was in his hands". It's a twisted plot that is absolutely brilliant, and it really makes you believe that what we witness during the span of the film is more than the Dude has done in the previous 6 months. He is beat up, gets to be with Maude Lebowski (The Big's daughter), he nails an absolutely pointless 2X4 to his apartment floor, gets his junk attacked by a marmot, his car is stolen, and is friend dies. This all happens in the span of a few days. Like I said, it is the most brilliant comedy, and the fact that it has started it's own fan based and operated Lebowski festival should tell you everything of this phenomenal film. The Coen's can do no wrong, and neither can Jeff Bridges. Thanks to the Dude, I got the most sick I have ever been because me and my Brother decided it was a good night to watch the movie and drink LOADS of White Russians. Bad move. I put this movie in when a need a laugh or to feel better about my life, and for that I thank you. There is entirely to much to talk about with this movie, so I'm gonna end it before I waste entirely too much time and space telling you what you already know. The Dude Abides and so does The Jester. 

**Write your favorite quote in the comment section**

NBM rates The Big Lebowski - A Work of Cinematic Art

Buy It!!!!

Country Strong

Guest post by Lisa

I wanted to start this post by saying this movie was not quite what I expected. I don't think it was advertised well. All I ever heard or saw was Gwyneth Paltrow strumming a guitar, and doing her worst best country accent. On a side note, take it from someone raised in the South, you shouldn't have to try so hard to have a southern drawl. That's kind of the point. With that said, I was completely prepared for a cheesy and inaccurate movie about country living and music. What I got was something a lot more serious. The story follows a fallen country star Kelly Canter (Paltrow), and a singer song writer Beau Hutton (Garrett Hedlund) while they embark on a comeback tour. The tour had it's problems from the beginning, with Kelly's inability to control her alcoholism, and other demons from her past. Not to mention her infatuation with Beau, which her husband/Manager James (Tim McGraw) ignores, along with her drinking. James took her out of rehab before she was ready, because he felt that if she gets back to performing she will get better. He had good intentions, but was still remembering who she was, instead of realizing who she is now, and how to deal with that. Thrown in the middle of all the madness was an ex beauty queen Chiles Stanton (Leighton Meester). She is a young and naive singer songwriter who wanted nothing more than to be just like her idol Kelly. What she learns is that being like Kelly is not all that it's cracked up to be. All in all this movie had some ups and a lot of downs, but was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. It was advertised as an up beat comeback tour of a country star, but was much more in depth and darker than that. Maybe if they would have advertised it differently I would have made my way to the theater, but now we will never know.

NBM rates Country Strong- Good





The Saint

By reading a Facebook post today of how astonishingly good this film was without getting it's proper due, I have decided to delve into the matter even more. I agreed with the rant I read, and I was taken back to the time and place and person I saw this film with. I was a Freshman and my current girlfriend (as I had dozens in my youth) and I went to watch this film. Being only 15, we use to use the movies as a 2 hour break from our families since neither of us could drive. We would use this time basically to make out. I mean, ticket prices were like $4 and we apparently could not contain ourselves. The Saint, however, was a different scenario. Even though I liked the ladies, I still really had an appreciation for film, and within 20 minutes of this beginning, I had to put a kibosh on her plans, because this film was A: going to AWESOME; and B: going to need our full attention in order to keep up with the premise. Val Kilmer plays Simon Templar which turns out to be an alias. He is the world's most renowned thief. You pay, he steals...it's that simple. He is in and out of brilliant disguises, so he never looks the same. Whether he is doing recon, or actually stealing the item he needs, he never looks like himself, and he never breaks character. Then one normal day he gets a call from the Russian mafia. They hire him to steal a cold fusion science that a brilliant young American scientist named Dr. Emma Russell (Elisabeth Shue) has been working on. It's not a complete method, but it does not lack much. This is not a smash and grab type of job. It's more like a trust gainer, turned south...for her , not him. He's a pro, and she gets duped...it's not her fault. He is so dreamy with that long flowing hair. The problem that arises are his feeling s for her. He unintentionally falls for her. I can see why, She is Elisabeth Shue. Once he steals it, she wants it back, and she is not afraid of him, so she confronts him and they get into it. Now it goes from mission accomplished to a complete pooch screw. She causes trouble for him to say the least. Now he is being torn in 3 direction. She wants it back, the Russians want it, and he wants to do the right thing. All in all it's a pretty basic spy/thief thriller, but what I feel sets it apart is his fascination with the Catholic Saints. All of his alias's are named after Saints, and the rules to becoming a Saint is well documented throughout the film. There are 3 things one do in order to become a saint, and he plans on completing these three "miracles" before he is killed either by his girlfriend of the Ruskies. He is able to set the stage and all the players are in place. He has planned a win/win/win situation. If all three don't win, there will be only one loser, Him. He needs this to work, because he has finally found purpose in this life, and if he doesn't succeed his home country USA will forever be crippled by the Russians new technology, plus he wants Emma. This movie is very James Bond-ish, but with a really well thought out scientific appeal. It's smart and fun and sexy.



NBM rates The Saint - Awesome

The Ghost and the Darkness

Upon seeing this playing yesterday on one of my movie channels, I asked my wifey if she liked it. She had never seen or heard of it. After explaining it to her, it made me wanna watch, and even though I didn't watch it yet I cannot stop thinking about it. It is a brilliant film with a great story and even better actors. What I really like about it and hate about it is the fact that it is a true story. I like it because it is cool to watch films that actually happened in history. I hate it because a lot of people died. Set in 1898, British Army engineer Lt. Col. John Paterson (Val Kilmer) is put in East Africa to build a bridge. He is under a strict timeline, but he is awesome at what he does. He is not worried at all. That will quickly change. He has unlimited resources and an unlimited supply of Indian and African employees, but one night a lion kills a worker and the other workers are now afraid. They have no idea how afraid they should be. John heads right out and kills the lion responsible which gives the villagers peace of mind, and also gives them faith in the good bridge builder. Unfortunately for him and his task at hand villagers start disappearing one by one. The numbers of death are rising so fast no one thinks of it as lion attacks. Well, they were right. Not lion attacks, but lions attacks, that's right lions - PLURAL. The lions are named by the villagers as "Ghost" and "Darkness". These lions apparently didn't get the lion manual about the fact that they don't hunt and kill and eat humans that don't threaten them. This is where the astoundingly brilliant big game hunter Charles Remington (Michael Douglas) enters the equation. He is sent in by the people that need the bridge finished on time. He and John must work together to stop these killings, and after several failed plans they finally get one right, but they miss their chance. By now the villagers are all on the exodus from the land of fear of being next. It is an intense film, where humans get hunted, try and outsmart these furry felines, and finish that damn bridge. Supposedly over 130 people were killed by Ghost and Darkness in a 9 month period. That's insane. I can see why they wanted to leave. The heroism of the Brit and the American is phenomenal and for that...

NBM rates The Ghost and the Darkness - Phenomenal

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Scream 4

Scream 4 doesn't disappoint. With that said, if you are not a fan of the original 3 or 2 or even 1, you won't appreciate it for what it is. It is not horror at all. It's more like slasher comedy, that doesn't try to be funny. What Scream has always done well is the opening scene to kick off the film. This one disappointed me...wait, no it didn't. I love the new direction it took and though my initial impression was "Eh", my final analysis was glee. A lot of people who knew I was going to see this film at the theater were left aghast. I had to explain why this franchise meant so much to people my age when it came out in 1996. It just puts me back to that time, and the franchise has never apologized or tried to re-invent itself. It is what it is. A film that focuses on a killing spree, which follow rules of movies, and how to survive. It's another guessing game as to who is Ghostface this time around and why? I feel that if this was first film in the franchise and I was watching it at the age I am, I would hate every second of it. Instead, when it was over, my wife and I locked eyes and said, "That's a Scream film." Honestly I was expecting way more blood and guts. The 3rd film came out ten years ago, and Hollywood has gotten much more lax on what is considered "OK" for an R rated movie. I actually think the first film was more gory than this one. This one only has one visual that comes to mind as being grotesque. I like all the call backs to the original, and once again I love the "rules" of survival. I previously talked about my love for movie references inside of movies. This one goes even further. Stab is a franchise (fictional) that spawned from the exploits of Sidney from the first three films. Stab has now had 7 films. What Scream 4 does is reference real films along with this fictional series that was made because of what happened in another fictional series. It's like six degrees, but with film. It awesome. You know the story behind Ghostface and if you expect something more from this installment, don't. Sidney is on her book tour which lands her in Woodsboro, her hometown, on the anniversary of the original killings. Once she arrives the copycat Ghostface has begun another spree. She tries to protect what family she has left, but also wants it to end. I love that I finally got to see Shaun of the Dead on the big screen. At least a couple scenes anyway. A couple of casting gems showed up I didn't know were in the film. Anthony Anderson and Adam Brody are cops - partners, on night watch, and they expound on the rules even more so. They have rules about cops in films. Cops always die, unless your Bruce Willis is stated. LMAO. Their rules are hilarious and well worth the screen time they were given. Is this the film that finally kills Sidney? Will Gale still be a bitch? Will Dewey ever figure it out? Will we get some nudity? (A disappointing NO to the last one) The youngest Culkin brother finally makes it into the family business, and I gotta say, he knocks it out of the park. The cast is strong, the movie feels familiar, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. the only thing I couldn't grasp was Sidney's lack of gun power. This chick has been stalked and almost murdered for 15 years and she doesn't carry? Whaaaaat?

***I'd also like to add that the trailers for "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" , and a full trailer for "Super 8" precede this film and that was a great starter for my evening. Both movies look really cool.***

NBM rates Scream 4 - Awesome with flashes of Phenomenal

Scream

Hello Sydney. Those words single handedly booted the name Sydney from the list of possibles for my unborn daughter. I just can't say it without thinking of the Ghostface killer. With Scream 4 out today (I am EXCITED!! No Sarcasm here) I wanted to revisit the film that started it all. This film revolutionized Horror. It made the genre more mainstream with better stories behind pointless brutal killings. This film has one of the best, most intense opening sequences of all time, not to mention it features the lovely Drew Barrymore in what has to be her shortest role in a film to date. She is called by a weirdo. She thinks she is being punked, then we see it. The creepiest identity hider ever. Ghostface. Even creepier than Michael Myers in my opinion. Ghostface stalks her then brutally kills her, disembowels her, and hangs her carcass from a tree. Then the brilliant next scene is a sunny day at the high school with red Right Hand playing in the theaters surround sound. Awesome time to be a teenager who spends all his time in a theater, because this would turn out to be a real treat. I am always harping on the fact that I love movies that reference other movies throughout. This does exactly that. It closely follows a tight knit group of friends helmed by the virgin Sydney Prescott. Her boyfriend is Billy (Skeet Ulrich), and their BFF's are Tatum (Rose McGowen) and Stu (Matthew Lillard) who are also dating. The fifth wheel to this entourage is Randy (Jamie Kennedy). He is my favorite character, because he is the movie guy. He has his rules on how to survive a horror movie, and if you apply these rules, you too can actually survive a serial killer in your own town. This is a great aspect to this great film. So, Sydney's mother was killed some years back and the everyone in the small town all know the story. Her boyfriend at the time, Cotton Weary (A young Liev Schreiber-Love him) was tried and convicted of the murder, and is put behind bars. The real story behind the film is a guessing game. Who is the killer. Why is he killing? Will we be given the answers? Wes Craven always does a great job of showing something that makes you think one way, then disproving it less than 10 minutes later. If you were in High School when this came out, you watched, probably even multiple times as I did. I still thoroughly enjoy this first installment. I am going to watch Scream 4 tonight and am thrilled. Also this was the meeting place of Courtney Cox and her future husband David Arquette. He plays the Brother of Tatum and the local Deputy goofus named Dewey. He wants to keep everyone safe, but with Sydney being the main target of Ghostface's mission, he works double time. Gale (Cox) is a local news woman looking to break the next big story. She has a career to make and will let no one stand in her way. She has no shame, less than no shame actually. It's is a great thrill ride, and I think Wes Craven and Writer, Kevin Williamson wanted to write an ending that no one would see coming. Fooled me. Great all around. Much like this never ending franchise, I am positive the Cox-Arquette marriage will last forever and ever, Amen. If this movie hadn't been dragged down by two inferior sequels I would probably rate it higher, but for now.. 

NBM rates Scream - Phenomenal

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Constantine

No one can deny that Keanu has taken on the role as Sci-Fi go to guy ever since he was Neo. He has been in more science fiction films than anyone else, but no one can also deny he does it well. This is not necessarily Sci-Fi, but the category it falls under depends on what stance you take on religion. For some it could be fantasy, for others, a hard truth and a realistic look at the demons we hear about on Sunday morning. No matter your stance, this is a brilliant film. As for Keanu, maybe he feels more comfy in front of a green screen as opposed to a phone booth. He just fits these roles perfectly. Constantine looked great in the 2.5 minutes we were fed the months before it came out, and unfortunately I chose not to see it in the theater. I really should have. The depictions in the film are unlike any I have ever seen in any film. John Constantine (Reeves) had a near death attempt as a child and from that point he tried to use the abilities that were given to him, even though they are the reason he technically died. He is hired by Det. Angela Dodson to investigate the suicide of her twin sister Isabel. Angela (Weiss) is distraught over her sister's death, but more by the fact, that as a Catholic Isabel will go straight to Hell with no chance of redemption because she committed suicide. With Constantine's unique gift he takes a token of Isabel's in order to cross over directly to Hell. When he does get into Hell, it is one of the most intense visuals I have ever seen. I am versed with the Bible and the way Hell is depicted here is as close as I could possibly imagine, and it is scary, as I'm sure it would be. The dagger that stabbed Christ's side on the cross has been found in Mexico, and this is Lucifer's way to end mankind, so we think. As if Constantine doesn't have enough to deal with, Lung Cancer, a first class ticket to Hades upon his death, helping out the Detective, and constantly exterminating half breed demons, he now has to save everyone. I don't know how the film compares to the graphic novel, but in my mind, it has to be close. It is absolutely mind altering. The way he battles Heaven and Earth knowing their is no redemption for himself, he still fights the wind mills trying to buy his ticket to heaven. Peter Stormaire shows up as Lucifer who has been waiting for the demise of John. He wants him to be his newest tenant down stairs, and he wants to throw him in with all the half breeds he sent back. Tilda Swinton plays the Angel Gabriel who plays Devil's Advocate of sorts with John to get what she wants. There are so many angles, and they are all played to perfection. A young Shia LeBeouf is John's helper Chas. He provides the unnecessary comic relief, but his character is awesome. It comes down to John battling with not only half breeds but full on Demon's that have found out how to cross over themselves. This is a whole new ballgame for him, and he knows he has nothing to lose. The ending is where I just gasped in awe of what I was seeing. If you have not seen this and you like films of a paranormal or religious angle, you will love this film. It never gets old to me, and after having seen it 10 times, I finally let the credits roll for a whole new aspect to the film. A final 10 second scene that brings it more home than it already was. I haven't watched it in about a year now, so it's time. There are so many cool aspects to this film that I cannot even tap into through written word. All I can do is Urge any and all movie lovers to watch if if you haven't already.

NBM rates Constantine - Phenomenal

Leon : The Professional

Dean-O is out of commission right now and he asked me if I had reviewed this brilliant film. Since I haven't and I have sympathy for him, and his snout, I will oblige him. I think this is a superb story, plus it gave us Natalie Portman in a first timer role most would dream of. Thing is, she was only 12, within a few scenes we stop even seeing that young kid. We just get enthralled in those powerful scenes and wait to see what is next. Leon (pronounced Lee-own) is played by one of only 2 good French actors to make it here in the USA, and it's not the guy from Bad Boys. It is Jean Reno who is phenomenal in every aspect of the word. He is a professional assassin who is excellent at what he does, hence, he is till breathing. When Mathilda's (Portman) entire family is slaughtered by a dirty cop named Stansfield (Gary Oldman) she gets lucky in one of the longest most intense scenes of all time. She was at the store when they are killed, so she walks past her apartment to her neighbor's place and quietly knocks on the door, as if she lives there. Leon does not want to answer the door, but he weighs the lesser of two evils with this one. Let in an innocent 12 year old, or don't and therefore have dirty cops probing his life later and figuring out what he does. After letting the girl in and giving her refuge, they unintentionally become a family. She is annoying to him, but he is accidentally a father figure to her. He can't keep his profession a secret for long, so he teaches her the way of the gun. In return she must teach him to read. Fair trade. Me and A-Bomb taught Dean-O how to shoot and reload a couple weeks ago, and I still can't read. (This very post is being ghost written). Mathilda wants revenge on Stansfield, but she needs help. At the same time Stansfield knows he messed up. He left a witness. Unacceptable. He knows who she is and he has a good idea where to find her. He is on a new mission to get her and Leon, but Leon has learned to love. Mathilda taught him to care for a plant, and he doesn't mind her so much anymore either. Their relationship is something special. He wants to help her with her revenge thing, but at the same time, her safety is priority 1. What a brilliant film about loss, redemption and sacrifice. One of Oldman's best performances, and an absolute perfect ending.

NBM rates Leon : The Professional - Phenomenal


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Catch Me If You Can

I have loved this film since the day I saw it in the theater. It's so clever and it just has that "feel" to it. You know I mean? Like, How awesome would it be to jet set the world for free when you are 17? Frank Abignale, Jr (DiCaprio) is the most notorious  fraud case in US History. This is his story. He was an upset teenager when he floated his first check to get some cash he didn't have. It was the 1960's, so banks were a lot more trusting of the US citizens. Frank just realized he got money for nothing, and eventually he does get chicks for free. In the film Christopher Walken plays his Father and their relationship is special. The impending split of his parents is what sends Frank into a spiral. I was a little upset by the fact that in real life Frank's Father wasn't really around all that much. Their on screen story is written so well, I wanted it to be true. Frank has been jetting around the world as an airline pilot, though he never went to flight school. He merely shows an unnatural amount of confidence and everyone believes he is who he says he is. This is not necessarily what gets him in trouble. It's the fact that he forges check from Pan Am airline, so he has become a thief. It was a learning curve for him, but eventually he was perfect. When he realized the amount of respect he received when wearing that uniform, he never wanted to take it off. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks in one of my favorite roles) is the FBI agent in charge of the check fraud division. Frank gets to the top of his "to arrest" list rather quickly. The amount he steals puts him on the radar, but it's tough for the FBI because, A: They don't know his name; B: They don't know what he looks like; and C: he flies wherever he wants to at any given time. Frank drags Carl along for a while in an intense game of cat and mouse. Frank is one of the smartest kids ever. This goes from being another case for Carl, to being a career maker. Priority #1. Things get hot for Frank, so he lays low. He has enough money, so he needs a change of pace. Doctor, he thinks, I'll be a Doctor. I'm 18, how hard could it be? Well, for a professional forger, not that hard at all. He forges his degrees, and credentials that he is hired on the spot as the attending night supervisor for the ER. A glorifies babysitter if you will, but for someone will no formal training, I don't think he would have wanted to dig right into setting a broken bone. That's where he meets his soon to be fiance'. Played by an extremely young Amy Adams, she is the daughter of an extremely wealthy attorney played by Martin Sheen. Frank tries to make a good impression, so he acts like he is also an attorney. He asks Roger (Sheen) where he can take the BAR exam in Louisiana, and somehow he passes the test and officially becomes assistant district attorney. What is most impressive of his story is he did all this stuff, plus cashed almost 4 million dollars in fraudulent checks all before he even turned 19 years of age. Carl will not stop, but neither will Frank. If you missed this Bio Pic, you have missed out. This is on that short list of films I cannot pass up if I see it on. I have tried to get A-Bomb to watch this for years, to which he states, "I have NO desire!!!" Such animosity. Look at all those exclamation points. If for no other reason to watch it, it has one of the funniest jokes ever. Carl Hanratty says it, and it starts like this: KNOCK, KNOCK.

NBM rates Catch Me If You Can - Phenomenal 

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Piranha

Easily the bloodiest movie I have ever seen. If you don't like blood, real or fake, don't watch this film. The opening credits provided the audience with two things. A very special cameo by Matt Hooper (real fan boys will get that reference), followed by the absolute worst CG scenery I have ever seen. It was even bad for a TV movie, let alone a movie that went first run, did well, and had star power. It follows the same page as Jaws, with the whole, "don't go in the water", but where Jaws was taken seriously, Piranha (2D as we watched it) was laughable. Did I enjoy it? Fo Sho. What wasn't to like? The director and writers found all new ways to kill spring breakers trying to escape the tiny yet brutal teeth of a prehistoric Piranha pack that were released through an underwater earthquake. They are instinctive hunters who live on the flesh of hot twenty somethings trying to have a drunken good time. Elisabeth Shue comes out of retirement for this little gem of a movie, while Ving Rhames was just glad to get a call back. They play the local law enforcement who try and contain the amount of death once they have a clear understanding of what's happening. Adam Scott shows up to investigate the underwater quake and he and his team of divers are the ones that discover first hand the Piranha infestation, unfortunately these fish are hungry and the bright yellow suits are easy to track in the murky water. Jerry O'Connell is a dick film producer who makes a "Girls Gone Wild" type of series and he hires Elisabeth Shue's son to show them around the local hot spots for him to shoot his nudie film. The visuals of body parts and extremities wiggling about with no skin or muscle is something I have never seen, and the film did a good job of making me realize by seeing those images how badly that would probably hurt. Way worse than a paper cut I would think. I have often heard the term "blood bath", well I can tell you nothing has ever been accurately described as a blood bath unless it was this film being talked about. It's short at only an hour 22 minutes, but it's a fun watch. It's got both graphic death scenes and graphic nudity, so viewer beware. I also really liked seeing Christopher Lloyd back on screen. He did make a great 1 episode cameo for the TV series Fringe, and seeing him in Piranha really makes me wish he would take more roles.


NBM rates Piranha - Great

Match Point

Never having been a fan of Woody Allen for whatever reason, this movie changed everything for me. It made me re-evaluate what I had possibly been missing. Apparently I had been missing a lot. I went back an tried to absorb as much Woody Allen as I could. His writing is so brilliant, and his direction...well, Phenomenal comes to mind. Johnathan Rhys Meyers plays Chris who is a former tennis player who is now the club pro as a swanky London Tennis club. There he meets a brother and sister and becomes friends with them. They happen to belong to quite the wealthy family and Chris wants to be a part of that. Chloe and Chris don't take long to get friendly and they become engaged. Life is going very well. Chris has everything he never had. A family that loves him. A girl that loves him, and all the money he could ever need. He is set up with a kush job by his Father in law and could not possibly want anything more than what he has. Right? Well, I guess he just wanted that green grass he couldn't have. One day, his brother in law Tom (Matthew Goode) brings home his current girlfriend Nola (Johansson), and Chris just sees something there that he doesn't get with Chloe. He may just be bored, but either way he and Nola hook up. Nola wants Chris to leave everything and run away with her, but how can he possibly leave? His biggest issue is the money. It's in his head how comfortable it makes him in life, but he doesn't want to end it with Nola either. He wants to have his cake and eat it too. Chris eventually does choose money over lust,but his lustful sin soon come back to bite him in the ass. So, he settles back in to his normal life, all the while trying not to out himself with Chloe. He figures he did right, so why lose it now. Unfortunately it is not his guilt that catches up with him, it's his seed. He and Chloe have had loads of problems getting pregnant, but apparently he is not the problem as Nola comes up preggers only to use it against him. She doesn't want to ruin his life, but she does want him to leave Chloe still. The opening narration really sets up the rest of the film. Pay attention to what he says, and just hang on to that throughout. Chris has to make a decision, and I would think it would be easier than what he decides. This has one of the greatest endings of any film I have EVER seen, and I've seen a lot. I highly urge you to watch this if you have not already. It is dramatic, sexy, and above all else, my favorite, Suspenseful.

**Note: Surprisingly enough, there is very little tennis involved**

NBM rates Match Point - Phenomenal

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King Arthur

Easily the best story (non-comedic) told of King Arthur and his Knights. With the new series on the Starz network "Camelot" recently out, it got me in the King Arthur mood. I like the darkness of this movie as opposed to the happy go lucky King we have come to know. This is a mature Arthur, unlike the boy we all grew up knowing. This is a boy who is orphaned early on and is sent to the school for fighting to learn how to be able to protect the Roman Empire. He and his men are a unit and will always be together until death parts them or 15 years, whichever comes first. He is not the King at all, but a guardian of the land and a protector of the people. When he and his team are to enter retirement and start normal lives they are commissioned one last time. To protect a person who needs to be alive. Some very disturbing revelations come before his eyes on this mission. He must continue forward. He and his men must keep the Saxons from advancing and pillaging everything they know. The Saxons are a Viking type group that will stop at nothing to be in control over everything. On his journey he runs into Merlin, which is written as sort of a mountain man as opposed to a full on sorcerer. He helps Arthur on his journey because of Arthur's will to protect the innocent, one of which is Guinevere (Keira Knightley) who was a prisoner because of her beliefs. Guinevere and Merlin are allies, so Arthur becomes an ally. His knights are the bravest and most loyal of people. Their loyalty is not necessarily to the Roman Empire, but to each other actually. One scene in particular shows the brotherhood and all its glory. It when they must stop the Saxon army from crossing the frozen river. Great battle scene that I love to watch again and again. I also love the characters. Lancelot is not as brave as previously depicted, and the Lancelot/Guinevere affair didn't necessarily happen. The battle scenes are second to none, but the relationships that the story follows is what really makes King Arthur's substance outstanding. This is by far the best adaptation I have seen, and I try to watch them all. This really launched quite a few leading men in Hollywood. Ray Winstone plays Bors, Ioan Gruffud plays Lancelot, Mads Mikkelson as Tristram, and of course Clive Owen as Arthur. This really made me want to see him cast as the new James Bond when Daniel Craig got the job. Craig did a phenomenal job, but I still think Clive has the look to pull off 007. 

NBM rates King Arthur - Phenomenal

Total Recall

Please excuse the picture, but this is a tribute post. Our very own Dean-O is having a similar nostril procedure done today, so we thought it would be funny to give you all a look into what's happening. Here, Quaid (Arnold) is actually removing a tracking device from his nose. I have only seen this movie twice before last night, and I didn't remember much about it. It is actually one of the more clever films laid down. Quaid is bored with his life, he wants to move to mars, or at least vacation there, but he can't convince his wife (Sharon Stone) to go. He decides to visit a company called Recall. They place the memories in one's brain to make them feel like they did something they didn't actually do. He is pretty stoked when he gets to take a trip to Mars as a secret agent without actually ever going anywhere. Cool concept. Unfortunately before the memories are implanted he goes berserk. He is talking and screaming out of his head about his "mission" and his "blown cover". Apparently he has had his memory wiped, and the memories from the past 8 years were implanted to make him forget what he was actually doing. He has only been Quaid for 6 weeks. This awesome part of all this is his mentality. What's real? What's a dream? Where do you belong? The mind is a very powerful organ, and if it's true in there, what makes it false in reality? Nothing. Quaid must piece it all together, since he is now a target. He is being hunted down by the company that erased his memory. They need to get rid of him once and for all. He travels to Mars to figure out what his happening to him. Cohaagen is in charge of the red planet and Quaid is out to shut him down. The people of Mars are oppressed and a resistant team led by a mutant named Kuato are trying to overthrow the current leaders. Quaid is now there to help. Twist after twist, this movie is really intriguing to me. How hard would it be to continually be in an argument with your brain? That would be unimaginable. This movie is definitely smart and impressive, especially for 1990. Total Recall is getting another movie. I'm not sure if it is a sequel or a re-boot, but either way it looks like Colin Farrell is attached in the leading role. I think it could be just as good with today's technology, as long as the story holds up and they don't try and copy the first film word for word.

NBM rates Total Recall - Awesome