RUSH

(2013) 123 Minutes, Rated R

Mike's Review:  Going into this movie I knew it was based on a true story, I just didn't know the true story was going to be more built-up then it seemed like it actually was.  When I compare this movie to other racing movies like 'Days of Thunder' (1990) or even the animated film 'Cars' (2006) there seemed to be a better back story and more heart to those back stories in these movies compared to that of the boring rivalry in 'Rush'.

In 'Rush' the rivalry seemed like an after thought that they decided to build the whole movie around, when it just didn't seem like there was much of a rivalry to begin with.  As for the 70's timeline and attention to detail in the racing world Ron Howard did a very realistic job of taking you back to that time, and the actors sold their performances as well, its just to bad the story was slow and un-entertaining.


Best Scene: There were some decent scenes but no one scene really stuck out for me.

Mike's Rating: Matinee.  Good enough to see on the big screen, just not at full price.

Bean's Review:  Another great movie from Ron Howard.  Based on a true story of two Formula-One race car drivers who needed and thrived on their competitiveness.  The acting of Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl was exceptional.   However, Daniel Bruhl really “drove” the movie.

This movie needs to be seen on a big screen to fully appreciate the racing scenes.  I would even recommend this movie to those who have no interest in car racing.

Best Scene: When Hemsworth’s character assaulted the news reporter for the questions he posed to Bruhl’s character – not for the fighting – but for the principle.
 

Bean's Rating: Full price ticket.



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THE FAMILY

(2013) 111 Minutes, Rated R

Mike's Review:  This movie was a little different than I was expecting.  It didn't follow the typical witness protection running from the mob type of movie from the protectors point of view.  It did it from the families point of view.  The humor was good and the cast played their parts well, but for the main cast it was all parts they typically play. Overall this was a good entertaining movie, that I would go see again.


Best Scene: Movie Debate and Ending.
Mike's Rating: Worth the price of the ticket. 

Bean's Review:  Basically this movie is about a Brooklyn based mob family under witness protection.  The father, played by Robert De Niro, “snitched” on one of the mob bosses who is now in “jail”, so the whole family will be “snuffed” if the mob boss can locate them.

Robert De Niro’s character is not a stretch for him and in one scene his character is actually watching the movie “Goodfellas”.  Very entertaining and also a funny movie.  It is always enjoyable watching good actors, such as Michelle Pfeiffer and Tommy Lee Jones.  The actors portraying De Niro’s children were convincing and performed well. The story line was slow at times, but I liked that the family were always looking after one another and there were really no complaints or moodiness on the family’s part despite their constant moving and being exposed to very different and sometimes inhospitable cultures, such as the French culture.

Best Scene: Belle, the daughter, beating the boy from school with a tennis racket

Bean's Rating: Worth the price of evening ticket.


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RIDDICK

(2013) 119 Minutes, Rated R

Mike's Review:  The beginning of this movie basically made 'The Chronicles of Riddick' (2004) a waste of time to watch.  Within the first 10 minutes of 'Riddick' they were able to get back to the core of who Riddick is and away from the whole Necromonger garbage story line.  I was curious how they were going to tie all the films together and the way they did actually seemed plausible.  The plot itself was a little weak but they were basically bringing Riddick back from the dead and letting him do what he does best.  On a side note the addition of Katee Sackoff as 'Dahl' has potential and I hope to see more of her in the next Riddick movie.


Best Scene: Box Boy's head in a box.
Mike's Rating: Worth the price of the ticket. And DVD worthy.

Bean's Review:   If you liked 'Pitch Black', you will like 'Riddick'.  Riddick is trying to get home and ends up in bad shape on a planet that is not home.  After recovering and befriending a “dog”, reminiscent of the dogs in 'Chronicles of Riddick', he seeks out a method to get off the planet – enter the “mercs”. 

                The use of the hated Johns’ father as a tie-in with Pitch Black, worked well.  Molla was quite good as the bad guy and he was just humorous enough to not make him totally unlikeable.  I also enjoyed the interaction of Riddick with Dahl. 

                Vin Diesel was in fine form as Riddick and did not stray from the character he portrayed in 'Pitch Black' and 'Chronicles'.

Best Scene: slicing of Santana’s head with subsequent drop into the “box”

Bean's Rating: Definitely worth full price ticket!



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R.I.P.D.

(2013)  96 Minutes,  PG-13

Dad's Review: Based on a story about Boston Police Department detectives Nick Walker and Bobby Hayes. This is a pretty strange story and not what I expected. It’s a very interesting story and it has a lot of twists and turns which keep you wondering what’s going to happen next. The 'R.I.P.D.' refers to the Rest In Peace Division. So when these fellows get killed they wind up in that division on their way to Heaven. They have their work cut out for them because they’re trying to solve several problems. I will not go into those problems because I don’t want to give away the story but they are interesting.


Dad's Rating:  It’s worth watching at least one time in the theater but I probably wouldn’t go back to see it again. It’s worth the price of a ticket for perhaps a matinee.

 

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LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER

(2013) 132 Minutes, Rated PG-13

Bean's Review:  Not what I was expecting.  Too political and too much emphasis on the civil rights movement.  Forest Whitaker performed well as did Oprah Winfrey, although she never aged until the very end of the movie.  Jane Fonda seemed to become Nancy Reagan.  Interesting story, although a bit too long.  The bits of the various Presidents’  life kept my attention.

Best Scene: When Winfrey’s character slapped her eldest son and told him get out of the house after he was disrespectful to his father.
Bean's Rating: DVD – but I would not watch it again.

Karyn's Review:   This movie was not what I was expecting.  I thought this was going to be about his life as a butler at the white house.  Even though they did show this, most of the movie was about the civil rights movement.  Forest Whitaker is not one of my favorite actors but he did a great job on this movie.

Best Scene: The end when he proudly walked into the white house.

Karyn's Rating: Matinee ticket price

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KICK-ASS 2

(2013) 103 Minutes, Rated R

Mike's Review:  Not as good as the first, but a pretty decent sequel.  The characters were older and the story progressed from where the first one left off.  The adding of the new hero's and bad guy's got to be a little boring but overall I could actually see a third kick-ass come from this if they did it right.

Best Scene: The Hit-Girl and Mother Russia fight scenes were pretty good.  But I thought the 'sick stick' in the school was a riot
Mike's Rating: Worth the price of the ticket/ Matinee.

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ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER DVD REVIEW

(2012) 105 Minutes, Rated R

Bean's Review:  Not at all what I was expecting.  This Fantastical story of Lincoln's life was quite an interesting interpretation of the continued existence of slavery up to Lincoln's presidency. Despite the believability of this movie, Benjamin Walker portrayed a very likeable Lincoln and was able to convince the audience that Lincoln was a vampire hunter.  This portrayal allowed the audience to become engrossed in the movie.  The fight scenes with the axes were riveting.

Best scene: The fight scene on the train.

Bean’s rating:  Full ticket price - Would see it again.