R.I.P.D.

Released:  2013

OVERALL RATING:  *  *  .5
(on a scale of 1 to 4 - 4 being best)

Director:  Robert Schwentkey
Writers:  Phil Hay,  Matt Manfredi
Producers:  Michael Forttrell, Mike Richardson
Main Actors:  Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker

Directing:  *  *
Acting:  *  *  *  
Entertainment Value:  *  *  *
Story:  *  *
Predictability:  *  * 

I had high hopes for this movie.  It was good, but not as good as I was hoping.  The story just had too many holes and didn't really make a lot of sense.  I mean, come on, policing the world of the half dead is so realistic I don't know how they managed to mess it up!  (insert sarcastic snarky face here)

Good Aspects:  It was entertaining and did hold my interest.  The effects were okay.  There were some very funny scenes.  The concept was engaging.

Bad Parts:  It seemed like they may have edited out some parts that were needed for the story line.  Things just didn't connect very well.  Kevin Bacon was too pretty as a Deado.  He needed more disgustingness.

If you are bored and looking for something purely entertaining to watch, I do recommend this movie. Don't waste your time though if you are looking for a great film.

Favorite Scene:  Roy (as his avatar) being flung through the mall and against buildings as people watched.  Him as a hot chick was pretty brilliant.

Now You See Me

Released:  2013

OVERALL RATING:  *  *  *
(on a scale of 1 to 4 - 4 being best)

Director:  Louis Leterrier
Writer:  Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt
Producer:  Bobby Cohan, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci
Main Actors:  Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco

Directing:  *  *  *
Acting:  *  *  *
Entertainment Value:  *  *  *  .5
Plot:  *  *  *
Predictability:  *  *  *

This movie was entertaining, but slightly... ummm... I don't know how to say it... too much?  I was engaged the entire time.  The acting was good.  The effects were well done.  I think it was just a little to 'much'.  I can suspend my disbelief just like any other movie watching drone, but there was something that was bugging me the entire time.  It had to be the over-the-topness of it.

Spoiler Alert:  The fact that they did not keep the money didn't make sense.  They were street performers before getting together.  Merritt, Woody Harrelson's character, would so have taken the money and would not have been in it just to be part of the eye.  It didn't fit the characters for them to have done what they did.  Maybe I'm just being too analytical.

I would recommend the movie.  There are some twists and turns that I didn't expect.  Some were obvious predictions, but others were nice surprises.  Plus, there were explosions and fights - always a good thing in movies.  :)

Favorite Scene:  The car chase - that was cool and you KNEW that the guy didn't die, but it was awesome anyway.

Lincoln

Released:  2012

OVERALL RATING:  *  *  *  .5
(on a scale of 1 to 4)

Director:  Steven Spielberg
Writer:  Tony Kushner
Producers:  Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg
Main Actors:  Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, James Spader

Directing:  *  *  *  * 
Acting:  *  *  *  *
Story Line:  *  *  * 
Entertainment Value:  *  *  * 
Predictability:  (not rated - true events already known)

I loved this movie.  I have no idea why I haven't seen it since now.   I love our Constitution and am studying it, so why I didn't see a movie about the 13th Amendment is beyond me.

First, I laughed in numerous places about how things do not change in government.  Accusations of abusing Executive Power, more and more state laws being overridden by federal legislation, etc... Then, I had to laugh at the "radical Republicans".  That just made my heart happy.  I knew that the Democratic party in the mid 1800s was made up of mostly slavery proponents,  but when I heard the line "radical Republicans" I just laughed.  My how the political parties have changed (or have they?  - Discuss amongst yourselves).

The acting and directing were amazing.  Not surprising though.  Tommy Lee Jones and James Spader were fabulous.

Obviously, I recommend this movie.  The only annoying part of it was the little kid - Tad Lincoln.  He was just irritating.

Favorite Scene:  Where Bilbo is lobbying for the Amendment and the Representative just pulls a gun out and shoots at him.  That was hilarious.