Battleship

My View:  Battleship (2012): When a distant planet is discovered to have the same conditions for life as Earth, the government begins a project to contact the planet.  Five years later, Alien ships arrive.  One crashes into downtown Hong Kong, and the other four land just outside the Hawaiian Islands.  Now it’s up to the U.S. Navy, commanded by Admiral Shane (Liam Neeson), to stop the Alien invasion. Taylor Kitsch plays Lieutenant Alex Hopper, a headstrong, always in trouble, junior officer who just happens to be dating the Admiral’s daughter (Brooklyn Decker). You know you have a film that just isn’t going to work when a former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model (Decker) has more screen time than your biggest star (Neeson).  I did enjoy Rihanna as a kick ass Petty Officer who likes blowing up things, but the film made it look like she was the only female serving in the Navy.  This film’s plot is so full of holes and asks you to believe so many unbelievable things that the audience whom I saw the film with was laughing at almost every twist and turn. It's a big mess of film that thinks it can just put some cool looking alien spacecraft in front of you, and you will be happy with it.   If you do make it to the end of the film, and I am not sure you will, there is a bonus scene at the end of the final credits.  And, by the way, no one ever says, “You Sunk My Battleship,” but maybe they should have.    My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   Battleship Website

My View: The Dictator (2012): Sacha Baron Cohen stars as Admiral General Aladeen in this film about a ruthless dictator of a fictional North African country. On a visit to New York City, his life takes an unexpected turn, and he has to survive on his own in the Big Apple. This is a film that you are either going to love or hate. As with all the Sacha Baron Cohen movies, he goes too far with almost all his jokes. I did not like this film mostly because his character is an extreme racist who makes derogatory comments about everything and everybody, and I became almost numb to them.  I felt that, too often, he went for the easy joke - the easy pratfall.   And, poor Anna Faris, who plays his love interest in the film, is just wasted in this role as an environmental, loving, hippy manager of a health food store.  While I didn’t find this movie offensive (though some people will), I just thought it wasn’t very funny.  
My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   The Dictator Website

Indiefest:  Darling Companion (2012): On her way back from taking her youngest daughter and grandchild to the airport, Beth (Diane Keaton) finds a dog by the highway.  Against the objections of her husband. Joseph (Kevin Kline), she adopts the dog. While out on a walk at their mountain vacation home, Joseph loses the dog and possibly loses his wife’s love and respect. Though I didn’t love this film, I did enjoy the way that the story-line developed with its very witty writing and strong characters. This is a dog lovers movie and shows the importance of the bond between people and man’s best friend.   It's also a film about relationships - new and long term.   My Rating: Full Price    Darling Companion Webiste

Indiefest:  Mansome (2012): This Morgan Spurlock (Super-Size Me, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) documentary is about what it's like to be a man in today’s metrosexual, manscaping, modern day world.  Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, in a sort of bumper between segments of the film, are hilarious as they spend a day at a spa discussing all the trials and tribulations of what it means to be an man in today’s society...while they are getting facials and manicures.   Judd Aptow, Adam Carolla and Zach Galifianakis are all interviewed on various subjects like the pros and cons of beards /mustaches and if grooming products are for men.  It's not one of Spurlocks best, it’s still a fun ride through the world of manliness.   My Rating : Bargain Matinee    Mansome Website

Indiefest: First Position (2012): This documentary film follows six young ballet dancers (ages 9 -16) as they train and compete at the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious ballet competitions and a competition that draws thousands of dancers from across the world. This is an interesting look at the dedication it takes from the young dancers and their families.  All the dancers are worth rooting for, but it’s especially true for Michaela, who was adopted from the war-torn country of Sierra Leone when she was five, and Joan, a teenage boy who is training in New York thousands of miles away from his family in Columbia.  This is a marvelous film that celebrates the joy of dance but lets you see the tears and hard work that make it possible.  My Rating: Full Price    First Position Website

Forgotten Film:  Our Man Flint (1966) When this film was released, four films about the British spy, 007 James Bond, starring Sean Connery, had already been released, so it was decided that America needed an answer to the super spy, and thus Derek Flint was created. Flint (played by the charismatic James Coburn) comes out of retirement to stop a group of mad scientists who use a climate-control apparatus to cause earthquakes, volcanoes and storms. This film is shot with its tongue firmly in cheek as Flint would rather spend time with his “playmates” than break a sweat, but he is willing to save the world if it doesn’t take too much time. Coburn is perfect in the role as the suave, ever cool Flint, and the film pokes fun several times at the 007 franchise. This is a film that never takes itself too seriously.  Flint just wants to have a good time while saving the world.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Our Man Flint Info


Weird Credits: From the credits of The Dictator: Physical Comedy Consultant 


Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Prometheus (2012) A Sci-Fi film about a team of explorers who journey to the outer limits of the universe only to discover that they may be facing the end of mankind.  Hey, any Sci-Fi film directed by Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator) and staring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron has got to be interesting, if not great.   Prometheus Website

Until Next Time!