I, Robot

 

                                Like the Truman Show I, Robot was another one of those films that I haven't seen in quite a long time and maybe should have reviewed it sooner before Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. Though what I remember most about I, Robot was that the film was basically a robot takeover, with a lot of pretty good visual effects and Shia LaBeouf getting out of Disney furthermore breaking into films. Though either way all those Robots in the film have one thing in common with Chris Rock and that's they all didn't keep WILL SMITH'S WIFE'S NAME OUT OF THEIR DAMN MOOOUTH! Yeah, that's right I said it, we have nine more years to make fun of Will Smith so we’re going to make every year count.

                                In 2035, highly intelligent robots fill public service positions throughout the world, operating under three rules to keep humans safe. Despite his dark history with robotics, Detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) investigates the alleged suicide of U.S. Robotics founder Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell) and believes that a human-like robot (Alan Tudyk) murdered him. With the help of a robot expert (Bridget Moynahan), Spooner discovers a conspiracy that may enslave humanity.

                                All jokes a side this was hands down one of Will Smith's best movies up there with Ali and really it's one of those films that blends both the action sequences he can do and more importantly the acting he portrays on film, and what he does great in the movie is playing the outcast cop who has no trust towards machines or robots all because of a dark past he has endured and really you relate to the guy a lot because I would imagine how hard it would be to not have a lot of people close to you believe you nor having faith in you, and as a performance wise you really feel for the guy, a side from the brutality on Robots but that's a whole other story. I totally forgot that Alan Tudyk plays the man android Sonny, and I have to say that Tudyk is a great character actor when it comes to movies, I mean this is the second movie I've seen him in and ability of being able to play a racist piece of s**t in 42, to a sympathetic robot is pretty amazing and this is a guy who doesn't receive a lot of credit as in actor and to be honest I truly believe he needs a lot of credit as an actor because he a great talent to have especially when it comes to movies like this. What makes this movie great is that it's simple murder mystery of a who done it perspective and in fact the story itself was inspired by an Agatha Christie novel, moreover you have a great director out of Alex Proyas whose most famous for films like The Crow and Dark City and does a fantastic job of blending a great action film along with a story that gets you to think on where we will all be when it comes to emotions lurking in robots or cyborgs or computers as well. The movie itself is an entertaining movie from start to finish although it does get boring the first thirty minutes but still was entertaining to watch from start to finish. There's defiantly a deadline for the movie being on Amazon Prime, I'm not sure if there's a deadline on Hulu but either way it's still on there so I would highly recommend watching the film itself. But while you’re watching the film please be sure to keep Smith’s wife name out YOUR DAMN MOUTH.

     

Crank 2: High Voltage

 

                                          Sometimes when it comes to watching movies, you just need a good jumpstart. Well, thank God I decided to sit down and watch the sequel to the dumbest but entertaining movie ever. Crank 2 High Voltage is a movie that I have absolutely no idea why we needed in the first place, moreover, been thinking about that ever since I've seen the trailer. And yet they continued to make a sequel but deep down it didn't surpass a third installment, mainly it's because the producers we're probably reading the first draft of Crank 3 and just decided to shut it down after reading the first three pages, though I'm just assuming that it might be a possibility. Though I guess some mysteries are best left unsolved.

                                          After surviving an incredible plunge to near-certain death, Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) is abducted by Chinese mobsters. Waking up three months later, Chev finds that his heart nearly indestructible heart has been replaced with a battery-operated device that requires regular jolts of electricity or it will fail. Chev escapes from his captors, reunites with his lover Eve (Amy Smart), and sets out on a frantic chase through Los Angeles to get his real heart back.

                                           I will say this about the Crank films yes there extremely dumb on so many levels moreover yes, the story and direction doesn't make sense at all but, damnit when you’re in bit of a slump of watching movies or TV shows, both Crank movies are the best way to give you a jumpstart on life. Granted I never expected these movies to be excellent, in fact I don't think that anyone should expect these films to be great. And in all honesty when it comes to having everyday life of working putting up with stupid people mostly having to put up with so much crap in your average everyday life I truly believe movies like this that are so unexpected that you'd never quite expect it just refreshes the soul that's really the best way I can describe mindless action films like Crank 2, is that whenever you feel tired or not wanting to do anything, movies like this are a good reason to watch and I'm sure a lot of people have ways to turn their own brains off, like most women crave for lame drama series or guys watch any kind of sporting event furthermore we all have those type of things that we can all turn our brains off too, and really movies like Crank and its sequel have that unexpected and hilariousness you can't stop but enjoy. Now with this movie, I will not lie that this movie has some unexpected moments that even I couldn't believe moreover I learned my lesson from the first movie was to just sit down and watch the whole movie through, but deep down this movie wasn't up to par with this original mainly because this is just a same situation Chev is in with a different agenda to survive on, basically the same movie but with a new upgrade towards the insanity that he goes on, for which when I watched the trailer to High Voltage I wasn't quite sure on why they would want another movie because you can't be better than your predecessor, you just can't. Though in the end the movie is what it is along with some crazy moments for which still makes it fun and great to watch because it's unintentionally funny and that's basically what these Crank movies are about, moreover doubt they were ever trying to take themselves serious so deep down when you watch There will be Blood you're more interested in Daniel Day Lewis beating up Paul Dano then watching the movie for the first time, until you watch it again and understand it. As a movie in a nutshell, it's still amazing and crazy to watch at the same time, both movies combined. So, if you’re into bat-s**t crazy movies like Crank and High Voltage I would highly recommend watching them, though I would take your time and just watch one each, and don't forget this does have fake fire so if you’re not into lame fake fire I don't know what makes you entertained.

  

                                               

Major League: Back to the Minors

 

                                   So, it's like this binged so much on the Chosen finding my April Recommendation, basically trying to find something that's 90 minutes that I can somewhat ignore while working out. Apparently, Major League: Back to the Minors came on my radar while browsing on YouTube and the good news was that it was FREE to watch, I mean bad/mediocre movie from the late nineties trying to be a blend of both Major League and Bull Durham and it's free, hell I'm all in specially when it's free on YouTube. Moreover, if you have an account on YouTube you can defiantly find some great hidden gems on YouTube. I will say that this movie was without a doubt mediocre on so many levels but, and you may think I'm crazy when I say this, but this was much better than the sequel Major League 2.

                                   Minor league pitcher Gus Cantrell (Scott Bakula) is about to be put out to pasture when he's given an opportunity to do the next best thing: manage the South Carolina Buzz. The ailing baseball team is full of terrible players, but owner Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen) is banking on Cantrell to make a top-notch franchise out of them. While trying to work miracles on the wacky lineups, Cantrell butts’ heads with the uppity manager of the Minnesota Twins, resolving their conflict on the field. 

                                   I actually remember this movie a long time ago and really what brings my memory back is the douche bag Twins manager played by Ted McGinley, who was also in Married with Children for which I was surprised by that, though with his performance you can turn away or overlook his performance because deep down his performance is like nails on the chalk board when it comes to playing the over the top antagonist. Which is weird cause he should have been an excellent accomplice for Rachel Phelps in the Major League universe, although that's obviously never going to happen. Granted this movie has been on my radar to watch for quite some time I just never had the intention nor want to really want to re-watch it, I mean Bob Uecker said it best during a Brewers Broadcast if his partner watched the film, he replied no then Uecker said "Well don't. That movie was so bad that it opened in airplanes the week we finished it." Which is weird because I believe that's when I saw bits of the movie which was on an airport during a plane wait. Really what saves the movie, and why I think of this as a better movie than Major League 2 was that this wasn't repeating itself like Major League 2 was trying to do because in all honesty the sequel came out in 94 and so there huge gaps between the first movie and its sequel that there's really no need to make a straight forward sequel and what Back to the Minors provides is a decent story between the manager and up and coming ballplayer both played by Scott Bakula and a real young Walter Goggins furthermore the writers do a decent good job in portraying this relationship as a annoyed of each other but really need and respect one another in the end. I have to say the ability to shoot the film at the old Twins ballpark was pretty cool because the Hubert H. Humphrey Metro-dome is such an iconic ballpark second only to the Astrodome and the fact that they were able to shoot the first challenge moreover seeing a wide shot of the ballpark is awesome furthermore brings back memories growing up, even though I never seen it up close I've always remembered the movies about the Twins. Though sure I could say that Corbin Bernson and recurring actors from the second film returning but I can imagine that they we're just there for the money. A side from the decent story line, I'm still confused as to what the point it was to make this movie, for many reasons the sequel was big disappointment so why bring this movie back when you know that this wasn't going to be a great film, so there's got to be some reason as to why this movie was made in the first place because there's no story line as to why Bakula's character knows Dorn and Cerrano or how long they knew each other or what happened after the events of Major League 2, moreover I just find it pointless to make this movie in the first place. Granted the movie wasn't all bad to watch and some of the ridicules jokes like a dry ice baseball could really work when it comes to pitching, so to answer the question would I recommend this movie even if it was free to watch on YouTube or any streaming service? And to answer the question, no not really for many reasons it doesn't carry the magic of the first Major League film and I think the main reason as to why this film was made, was becuase of all the kid baseball films and it wasn't trying to take itself seriously furthermore yes the relationship between both Bakula and Goggins is decent to watch on screen, it just doesn't help to re-watch the movie all over again. Basically, it's like trying out a knew BBQ joint you get a good look at the place see some cool stuff in the background notice you feel like you’re slipping in the restrooms, try out the food say that it's pretty good, then you don't want to revisit the place ever again.

         

April Recommendation: Amazing Grace

 

                                            The past three years I've always kind of had trouble finding a theme base for April. I mean sure April's usually is Easter month, with the ascension of Jesus. But then it kind of took me a while moreover realized what it really should me a feel good or underdog story, when it comes to films. And this movie that my parents had saved a while back kind of in a strange sense reminded me that April really does need to be that theme presence. Amazing Grace is a small period piece released in 2006, when films like The Departed, Casino Royale and The Prestige where ruling the box office, damn that just brings back great memories when Hollywood wasn't releasing the same superhero movie all over again or Disney remaking classic animated movies into live action ones, hell now I want to travel back in time and prevent the disaster of Disney making movies suck. Okay, moving on the film itself is based on the song of Amazing Grace furthermore based on the abolishment of the Slave Trade during the 18th century British Empire.

                                            In 18th century England, House of Commons member William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) and his close friend and future prime minister, William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), begin a lengthy battle to abolish Great Britain's slave trade. Though Wilberforce's legislation is soundly defeated in 1791, his growing affection for Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai) inspires him to take up the fight once more.

                                            For a movie that has a great list of A-list powerhouse actors along with an up-and-coming actor Benedict Cumberbatch, I'm still kind of flabbergast that no one has been giving this movie a lot of attention nor praise that it deserves. I mean granted this was a movie that was pushed a side to like the spring or fall months and I probably understand that this movie wasn't going to grab huge bank at the box office but come on, this is a movie about one man being the biggest underdog taking down the slave trade of the British Empire the absolute worst crime ever committed since the south captured Slaves during the Civil War era, and not to compare because granted the both the worst things ever caused by humanity in the 18th and 19th century, but deep down the slave trade is probably in the top five worst things cause by humanity, though in all fairness I could be wrong and I never claim to be right. Though what really makes this film great is that it has a compelling story of one man fighting for the injustice of the world feeling like he hasn't done enough moreover can't continue the fight anymore but then gets a huge spring of hope from the unlikeliest of people and continues to fight till the very end. And that's what actor Ioan Gruffudd who a lot of people don't know is Mr. Fantastic from the first two Fantastic Four movies where they'd do anything for Jessica Alba to take off her clothes. And this movie was made after the first Fantastic Four film and he came out with this movie for which he does exceptionally well moreover does such great job playing a underdog politician who goes down in history as man who abolishes the slave trade at the cause of his own health, and to be honest after seeing the film his character really should be a great example to all up and coming politician students who want to get into politics. The other thing in what makes the film great to watch is the acting a side from Mr. Fantastic's performance, the movie itself has a great list of actors in the supporting realm as well, with actors like Albert Finney and Michael Gambon and of course Benedict Cumberbatch and even Rufus Sewell to help Gruffudd's quest, along with some great antagonist in both Ciaran Hinds and Toby Jones who are trying to make the Slave Trade stay in business, pretty much the pieces of s**t in the movie when you think about it, and the fact that we're not depending on just one star of the movie to make this film believable but they also have a great list of professional performers who've done theater before, come together and make this film believable, which to me is the coolest thing furthermore what makes this film great to watch as well. The other surprising factor that I just happen to find out while watching the movie was the fact that this was written by Steven Knight who happen to direct my favorite Tom Hardy one man band called Locke, so in all fairness when you have a guy like Steven Knight to write a period drama like Amazing Grace, you should know that this film is going to be great to see. Sadly, this film is nowhere to be found when it comes to streaming services so bottom line I can't get you all to see it, but if you want to spend money the DVD and Blu-Ray is on Amazon remarkably I'd highly recommend purchasing the movie itself, for many reasons this is one of those films that has been forgotten for nearly close to twenty years and needs to be seen by the human eye, moreover should be a good movie to watch for any students of politics or young lawyers who want to change the world, and William Wilberforce is a great example of no matter how much you try you need to get back up and continue the fight. 

                                

Ten Year Anniversary of 42

 

              

                                           Ten years ago today Hollywood made the wisest decision they could possibly make and develop a great story behind the first African-American ball player to enter the Major League Baseball organization. Ten years ago today, the film itself still stands the test of time, 42 tells the true story of Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey as both men make great changes in the game of baseball during the mid-1940's. The late Chadwick Boseman stars in the title role of Jackie Robinson and movie icon Harrison Ford plays Dodgers general manager, who decides the time is now to finally intergrade Baseball into the next generation. And re-living this film again I can honestly say this is without a doubt the most perfect adaptation to Jackie Robinson's life that you can possibly create especially when it comes to Hollywood.

                                          In 1946, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), legendary general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, defies Major League Baseball's notorious color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the team. The heroic act puts both Rickey and Robinson in the firing line of the public, the press and other players. Facing open racism from all sides, Robinson demonstrates true courage and admirable restraint by not reacting in kind and lets his undeniable talent silence critics for him.

                                          As a baseball fan myself more of a Cardinals fan I've always heard stories of Jackie Robinson, in fact I remember reading a children's book back in school years called Jackie & Me for which tells a similar story Jackie Robinson's first year in the Major Leagues. So deep down I've always known the story behind his first year in the Major Leagues and the abuse he had to endure. So ten years ago, when I first heard that Warner Bros. where finally going to bring his story to a new generation was excited, because I believed it was the right time to really tell the story right and even though there's been one movie about Jackie Robinson that was made in 1950, for which I do need to see, but in all honesty I believe movies back in the golden age they would just sugar coat it as of now you can't sugar coat his career as a great baseball player and the struggles he had to endure. You can't really tell this story right, if you don't have a great list of actors to back the story up and to be honest, I was a little concerned on the choice of Harrison Ford playing Branch Rickey but then when I watched the trailer, I felt much better moreover this was no doubt one of Ford's top five best performances as an actor in all honesty. A lot of people would say that Black Panther was the Late Chadwick Boseman's best role but I have to say his performance as Mr. 42 was his crowning achievement as an actor, mainly because he does all the right things when it comes to portraying Robinson in his struggles and his courage in not letting everyone around him beat him including some of his teammates, and the hardest scene to watch is without a doubt the game where he faces the Phillies for the first time with Alan Tudyk who plays the main antagonist Ben Chapman, it's a whole lot of emotions that does the movie well, and my favorite scene was where Boseman had to let it all how and go inside the dugout and having a huge breakdown and Ford comes in to encourage him to go through because people believe in him. And even though that scene alone never happened, writer/director Brian Helgeland said that his justifications for including the scene was that he felt "there's no way Robinson could have withstood all that abuse without cracking at least once, even if it was in private". Without a doubt both Boseman and Ford's performances in the film are what makes the movie exceptional to watch, it's also the supporting cast that are great as well, and Alan Tudyk deserves a lot of credit of being the main antagonist of the movie for many reasons the obviously he was really committed in portraying the racist Phillies Manager Ben Chapmen who indeed tried to break Robinson in that April of 1947, for which really most actors I have to believe that it would most certainly be uncomfortable to say the N word so many times to make you feel uncomfortable moreover put a lot of hate in your heart and Tudyk was always playing like lovable sidekicks furthermore he was indeed in a Knights Tale who Brian Helgeland directed Tudyk so really when you think about it both men really had conversations about the role so in all fairness to took a lot of collaboration with the director and actor. Another actor that gets a lot of praise though he had little screen time was Christopher Meloni who plays Leo Durocher, the Dodgers manager at that time and even though he shared very little screen time in the movie his one moment to shine was when he gathers up his ball club and tells him that Robinson will play no matter how much you don't approve it, and his way to just enter into that scene and silence them was just amazing furthermore I would watch that scene so many times on YouTube. Last one I'm going to mention before I close this review, was John C. McGinley who was wildly know as Dr. Cox in the TV show Scrubs (fact he's the only good thing about the show) who portrays the Godfather of baseball broadcasting Red Barber, and what he does really well is that he really pull off a tremendous impression of Red Barber moreover does a great job looking like him, and I know because I listen to a Baseball Voices narrated by Pat Hughes and he had the same voice and accent as McGinley did in the movie. One last note is the tremendous visual effects that brought old ball parks from the past back to life, ball parks like Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds because sure the baseball scenes were filmed in a lot of maybe minor league fields (and I could be wrong) but the way they can bring those parks to life where amazing to see, almost like Billy Crystal's movie in 61*. Of all baseball stories that needed to be told this was the one story that need to be brought onto the screen because it was a triumphant story about courage along with an important message about being a decent and kind man to your fellow man, no matter how different he or she looks, this was on one movie that made Chadwick Boseman household name and seeing this movie it does feel sad that it was short lived moreover I would image anyone to portray Jackie Robinson than Chadwick Boseman. Again one of and up there in his top five performances, is one of Harrison Ford's best as an actor. So, if you’re feeling sad about your Baseball team this year not doing well, much like my Cardinals I would highly recommend watching 42 and having your kids watch it as well, because it has the greatness of Remember the Titans and is a great film to watch from start to finish. 

         

Easter Sunday Recommendation: The Chosen Season 2

 

                                       Well, it's Easter Season, the week to spread the good word of our Lord Jesus, and no we're not talking about the Easter Bunny because in my eyes he's not real and if you want to debate me, I'm all ears but right now it's not the time, we got to talk about the greatest religious show of all time. That's right as of right now I've officially watched Season Two of The Chosen where now Jesus assembled his trusted apostils, to spread the word of saving us all from sin. Now before I indulged in Season 2, I had to binge watch Season 1 as well in order to get ahead. Though with its great story and great actors involved what impresses me most is the character development, and the presence of Jesus alone aka Jonathan Roumie.

                                      Season Two continues the story of Jesus and his followers spreading the word of salvation moreover along the way tension building with a lot of speculation being afraid of the truth, but along the way they begin to build a crowd of people wanting to see the miracle worker.

                                      The first season of the Chosen was no doubt a ground breaking success and really one of the greatest Christian themed show ever created, and season two carries on that success along the way, and really what makes the season two great to watch is that you continue the adventures with Jesus played by Jonathan Roumie, moreover the show itself builds more character development between the characters and you see a lot in it, with a great example is the apostle Matthew played by Paras Patel, who through the course of season 1 he like a tax collector meets Sheldon Cooper, and during the course of season 2 we see him open up more in terms of being a good person and showing his flaws, furthermore I love the fact that we first see him in episode 1 of the second season he's grown a full beard and to me it's kind of hilarious because he goes from a tax collector with autism to Ron Swanson furthermore I thought that was funny in my own sense of humor. But it isn't just Matthew. I see a lot of Simon Peter as well who both begin to trust one another even though we see more development with Mary as well in terms of struggling with past trauma. And to be honest there all great ways to tell a story about Jesus and his followers, though I still believe the real center of it all is Jesus himself played by Johnathan Roumie who continues to shine in the title role, and the way he's able to shine on screen especially in moments when the group is arguing and he comes along tired and they feel shamed or and it’s really striking and the sense of hope you feel whenever he comes on screen or his promoting something he is just fantastic whenever he's appears on screen moreover I have to rank Roumie's performance as one of the all-time greatest performers to play Jesus of Nazareth. Now, I'm going to shorten this review mainly because it's a great Catholic show, but more importantly I don't want to spoil anymore details, though this no doubt is one of the greatest if not the best catholic shows I've ever seen, which of course is The Chosen for many reasons it's one of these shows where you literally relate to these characters with their personal struggles and hard times, and really it’s easier to point out despite where living in a sh**ty government world, and Israel is living in a Roman law but deep down it's there when you watch the show. Moreover I also look back at times when I watch like mediocre catholic cartoons or movies in general I sometimes feel bored and just want to leave mainly because I don't relate to it that much, though I may have to watch Prince of Egypt one day, that's going to be on my radar for next April but another great Christian movie I loved was the 2016 version of Ben-Hur where you finally see Jesus's face furthermore it has an important message to the whole story for which I can relate to, even more than the Charlton Heston version of Ben-Hur. So, without a doubt for the Easter season I would highly recommend watching this show from season one to season two mainly because it's fantastic and has a great ensemble cast that makes you believe there the Chosen.