The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

 

                                      Bro's night out, spending big money on soda and great buttery movie theater popcorn and all that big money spends on a great entertaining movie of 2024. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a brilliantly mix between every Guy Ritchie film you've seen to Inglorious Bastards. Which deep down is suitable considering that Guy Ritchie himself is at the directing helm. Moreover, if you're a fan of World War II films furthermore action films than this is a film for you for many reasons it's has pretty much everything you want in a movie, you have a great list of actors as well as a story, upon which you'd never though Winston Churchill was dealing with liberals and know doubt that man was dealing with the worst of the worst in terms of people who we're literally wanting to make a deal with Hitler back then. 

                                      British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a group of military officials hatch a daring plan to neutralize Hitler's fleet of German U-Boats during World War II. Made up of a motley crew of rogues and mavericks, the top-secret combat unit uses unconventional techniques to battle the Nazis and change the course of the war.

                                       There are many movies out there that sometimes to peak my interest furthermore don't feel like wanting to go see and with the rising prices of movie theater experiences from just buying a ticket as well as buying soda, popcorn or candy and then you go to a movie that doesn't feed you're expectation, and having experienced those kinds of movies that you go see and realize how crappy that film is yeah it's hard to really want to go to the movie theaters. But when a movie like this comes around and your instincts are telling you “Yes go see this", that's the most special thing, moreover, thank goodness you're able to find those movies that feed your expectation. And I'm looking forward to experiencing Dune 2, no doubt because I wanted to see where it's going especially feeling like nothing was happening and I want to see how evil Elvis can be. Though really, the Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare has the best of both worlds a great story of a group of scumbags being true to life hero's helping the U.S. realize that Hitler can be beat is just so great to watch moreover gives you a history check up on what happened during the war because there's so much stories about World War II, that you can find and turn into a movie. The most important part of any great action film is getting the right cast to bring this movie to life, and Henry Cavil does a fantastic job playing the lead role whose both maniacal and charming at the same time even though he's making a terrible choice in leaving the Witcher for other things, Alan Ritchson whose infamous for the Reacher show I have to admit is really good in the movie despite I haven't watched any of his other work besides Blue Mountain State (which is a small Football TV series) and if you haven't seen the show he plays a Brian Bosworth look alike and screams in a high pitch voice which is scared in the back of my mind. Even Cary Elwes does a great job playing this M based character who pulls off a fantastic British accent, and to be honest it's been quite a long time since I saw Cary Elwes in any movie role or TV show upon which really, Elwes did appear in Psych where he plays a British thief, so how coinvent it is now that he plays a British officer. Now I'm going to put a pin on this review because I don't want to give any details away. But bottom line this was a fantastic movie from start to finish furthermore it's a breath of fresh air, especially when their movie's that even the previews just kill the movies, although we're still in the month of April so where still in the B-Movie realm till the end of summer and fall. Though really when you find that one movie that looks good from start to finish, you just must pick a great time to go see that one movie that piques your interest. And as a man who’s seen a lot of World War II films this movie alone is up there in the top ten WWII films for me. Now, I'm sure you're not familiar with Guy Ritchie's filmography and if you are I won't tell you what films to watch and if you've never heard of him? Well, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare of course thought let’s be honest that one is free, but most importantly Ritchie's first two films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch. His 2008's comeback film RocknRolla, though I should say Sherlock Holmes, but it's been quite a long time since I've sat down and watched that film so I going to put Sherlock Holmes on the honorable mentions. And finally, the 2020 underrated film The Gentleman starring Matthew McConaughey and Hugh Grant. So, those four films along with The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare are the go-to films I would highly recommend without a doubt, and if you want to dive into Sherlock Holmes, I suggest watching the first film and skip the second film.

            

                                    

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

 

                                   So, after watching a movie like Fear Strikes Out where you can relate moreover strikes a core into your very soul. I decided to find a movie where it's dumb but harmless and entertaining. And since O.J. Simpson passed away I decided well why not watch the very first Naked Gun film where the Juice is in the movie but is abused of injuries he endures through the course of the movie but let's be honest now he deserves it furthermore somewhere in the darkest corners of Hell, Satan himself is enjoying toying with O.J. and reenacting the scenes from the first Naked Gun film and just having a blast, sorry not sorry everyone but that man did kill his wife and friends so if your that person who doesn't have a sense of humor moreover don't love the O.J. jokes despite the passing, you can kiss my a**.

                                   Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielson), a rather clueless police detective, tries to foil a plot to turn innocent people into assassins through mind control. After his partner, Norberg (O.J. Simpson), is shot, Frank sets out to find the culprit, leading him to business tycoon Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalban). However, Frank has no evidence until he meets Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley), Ludwig's assistant. She knows nothing about Ludwig's devious plan but falls for Frank and agrees to help him.

                                   One of the most interesting things I've learned when it comes to watching a variety of movies, is that you literally must blend movies like Fear Strikes Out or Dune with some of these dumb and entertaining films for which really is one of the biggest cures when it comes to watching films that takes a lot of emotion out of you. And granted I never have thought of this when doing this full time when it came to going to the movie theaters and watching the recent films for which it severely took a toll on me because I'm doing nothing but watch ton of garbage. So, if you're a fan of films and watch a lot like me, always blend your movie watching with the good, bad and the dumb but entertaining. The whole Naked Gun films have always been a mystery to me as to how this was developed and where did this idea come from, and with Wikipedia and IMBD you will always find your answers with movies like this. After the success of Airplane, both Zucker bros and Jim Abrahams wanted to do a spoof comedy with the basis of a Lee Marvin show called M Squad and the idea didn't turn around in the early 80's so the trio decided to turn this concept into a TV series titled Police Squad with Leslie Nielson at the title role and although the show lasted for six episodes they still pushed the concept forward around 1988 where they finally got the film pushed into existence. In most like Mel Brook's Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein you have the sole center of what this spoof comedy is truly based on although when you first watch these films at an older age you're un sure of where the film makers and writers are going in the story especially when there is so many comedic works that is so over the top and crazy, for which really when you watch a film like Airplane it should be normal when it comes to watching a film created by the Zucker Bros and Jim Abrahams. And really the entire cast deserves a ton of credit for giving that serious face for many reasons with a film like this I would think that it would be really hard to keep a serious face when it comes to a spoof comedy like this, and even I would always have that bewildering face through the course of the movie too, but deep down each cast member deserves a lot of credit for keeping a straight face at a movie that contains a hundred percent of ridiculousness. Moreover the first Naked Gun film is one of those comedic spoof greats that is defiantly a great and entertaining movie from start to finish, and does not need to be consider to be a transition to a remake stage, I don't know if this would be considered a Baseball film considering that MLB Network airs this constantly but I would most certainly recommend watching this even if you had a bad day moreover wanting to turn your brain off or most certainly watch the film even if your Baseball team is not doing so well this regular season. And now that O.J. Simpson has passed away, the first Naked Gun film is a perfect movie to watch on this occasion. 

      

                                          

April Recommendation: Fear Strikes Out

 

                                      Well now that Easter is behind us so now it's time to focus on to the future and well, we're in the Baseball season so why not recommend a Baseball film for all of the Baseball fans watching both baseball and movies at the same time. And to be honest this was one of those movies that I never truly thought would strike me emotionally and psychologically. Fear Strikes Out is a movie former Cardinals/Mets player Keith Hernandez mentioned as a movie that had a big impact on him while watching Once Upon a Time in Queens on ESPN's 30 for 30, moreover was the movie that even Hernandez could relate to because he was putting up with a father who could never be pleased for which is the biggest theme with this film starring Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden.

                                       Ever since Jimmy Piersall (Anthony Perkins) was a boy, his baseball-obsessed father (Karl Malden) has pushed the sport on him. Trying to live vicariously through his son, the elder Piersall makes Jimmy eat, sleep, and breathe baseball with destructive determination. But once Jimmy achieves his father's goal and makes it to the major leagues, he begins to unravel. After Jimmy suffers a breakdown, it is unclear whether he will be able to play the sport again.

                                       In all fairness I've seen those one or few movies that left like that wtf scar on myself that I was just so worked up and couldn't sleep or really do anything movies like Promising Young Woman and Don't Bother to Knock are great examples of those kinds of films. Moreover, Don't Bother to Knock is another great example of an actor or actress like Marilyn Monroe is so tremendously great in the film and yet somewhere that career just disappears, only this is Anthony Perkins we're talking about the infamous great actor whose career was shot down after the success of Psycho. Fear Strikes Out is a movie based on the book by the real-life Jimmy Piersall who suffered through bipolar disorder as well as nervous exhaustion during his MLB career. Now all though the film focus less of his brilliant career in the major leagues and focus more of his struggle of bipolar disorder as well as mental health, and surprisingly this movie really hits home with me personally for many reasons because I work at a TV job where you have to work with overbearing people who think the world revolves around them and shows little appreciation and you don't know how to handle it because you fear either HR will help you or your supervisors will have you're back at all furthermore there were actual times where I wanted to scream so badly at those people but don't want to get in trouble for it. And to anyone who’s ever felt that experience or hasn't then, trust me when I say it, that it's not a pretty place to live with and through the course of his I've been starting to take anti-depressants either way mental health is a big struggle and I pray for anyone who’s ever had to deal with it or bipolar disorder. A side from Psycho this is another great film where Anthony Perkins delivers a tremendous performance and there is something about his movie performances where you most certainly relate to him even if he plays a serial killer in one movie, but most importantly when you look at Fear Strikes Out and Psycho they each share the insecurities and parenting dynamics and Anthony Perkins does a great job in portraying that in the movie and you defiantly feel for him through the course of the movie. And Karl Malden as well does a great job playing the over bearing father who doesn't seem to get how badly he's pushing his own son to the brink of a nervous breakdown moreover doesn't show any appreciation, especially in the first scene of the movie where he's playing catch with his son and he's throwing the ball so hard that I fear that he was going to hit him in the head it was just that intense. So, look I'd love to talk more about the movie but I really don't want to spoil any details about the film because this great baseball film needs to be seen because mental health or bipolar disorder is a serious issue and I'm sure there people who suffer from it and I just want any of you to know that you’re not alone when it comes to feeling like your never appreciated or feel like you’re always depressed and I just want to say that it's never too late to find the right help to discuss your problems and if you don't feel comfortable in wanting to talk I would highly recommend talking to your local priest because I spill my issues every time now and they've always been a great help. So, Keith Hernandez if you ever stumble upon my blog and this review of Fear Strikes Out, I just wanted to say thank you for mentioning this movie because it's a great and emotional movie that strike a core with you and keeps you feeling shit till the very end of the frame.

         

                                   

Road House

 

                                 So, after my viewing of Dune part one, I decided to have an 80's film night upon which I'm not sure if this good as I remembered or haven't aged well in my old age. Patrick Swayze's Roadhouse is one of Swayze's classic's that was a hundred percent 80's trend where you have the protagonist that's always running away from something and doesn't do anything till, he's pushed to the limits which spews into this action cliché that's unintentionally funny, though goes from like five miles per hour to like sixty miles per hour. And in all honesty, that's basically every 80’s action movie throughout that whole decade and it didn't take long for filmmakers and writers now to just skip that whole bulls**t and go all-out war on the antagonist. But hey it does have Kevin Tighe who played one of the gamblers in the 1988 Baseball classic Eight Men Out.

                                 The Double Duce is the meanest, loudest, and rowdiest bar south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and Dalton (Patrick Swayze) has been hired to clean it up. He might not look much, but the PH.D.-educated bouncer proves he's more than capable -- busting the heads of troublemakers and turning the roadhouse into a jumping hot-spot. But Dalton's romance with the gorgeous Dr. Clay (Kelly Lynch) puts him on the bad side of cutthroat local big shot Brad Wesley (Ben Gazzara). 

                                 Now after my latest viewing of Dune I'd figured well maybe an 80's film can give me a good refresher and for some reason I remember that Roadhouse is being remade under the guidance of Doug Liman, whose most famous for films like The Bourne Identity, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the infamous rematch between Samuel L. Jackson and Hayden Christensen aka Jumper and Edge of Tomorrow. Though I will so get to Doug Liman's Roadhouse but it's going to be a while mainly because I must give myself a small break after experiencing Patrick Swayze's Roadhouse. And to be honest I didn't think this version of Road House was all bad, I just look at this movie as a high school reunion, and you realize that you didn't want to be here, especially when you first see classmates you've haven't seen in ten years and there's some unopened closure and all you just want to do is just sit and watch any baseball game that's on, that's what I viewed the 1989 version of Road House. I think the main problem I had with the movie personally, was the character development of Patrick Swayze's character of Dalton and he's this guy who is only committed just cleaning up the bar or Roadhouse and notices a lot of trouble that's brewing through the course of the movie especially with the confrontation between the over-the-top antagonist in the movie. And all Swayze is doing is staying out of trouble always running away from trouble but the man clearly stat's in his infamous speech "I want you to be nice, until it is time to not be nice" well if a bad guy is trashing people's places moreover pushing them out of business then it's time to take something that belongs to him moreover that's why the movie Nobody is a great movie, where the protagonist or anti-hero takes something from the antagonist no questioning his actions after something that happens to him and tells the bad guy his terms and you'd better take it or you're not going to survive, and with Dalton he just doesn't do anything until the one final straw is pulled and then we have this pretty funny action sequence but with a satisfying ending. I mean sure the movie was fine and got a little bit of amusement but again there's just so much of the movie they could have done and really what the filmmakers did do, didn't do so well. I mean sure if you’re an 80's movie junkie go knock your socks off with watching Roadhouse on Max, but for me I'd prefer to expand my horizons and see how Doug Liman's version of Roadhouse compares to the 89 version.

          

                                     

Dune

 

                               So, like I said before I'm using the year 2024 as an expanding of my horizons in terms of movie watching basically stepping out of my comfort zone when it comes to movies, I've not touched in my lifetime but know I need to see, and man I wished I didn't feel the need to watch Dune.  I decided to watch Québec sensation Denis Villeneuve's Dune for which I'm familiar with a lot of Villeneuve's films from watching films like Sicario, Prisoner's, Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 upon which I only loved one out of the three films he's done, for which I'll let you do the math. Bottom line after watching the first Dune I'm not sure whether to feel angry, confused or all the above. 

                               Paul Atreides (Timothee Chamlamet), a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their own fear will survive. 

                                As a man whose watched a tone of films moreover a variety of films I personally feel like there are things you can be corporate on film that you can't do in the book and Villeneuve's version of Dune is one of those examples where you can't do. And granted I was warned upon how weird the world of Dune is moreover I was fine with it, because I've seen a lot of weird s**t, but this was one of those things where I was bewildered and confused in terms of story structure and what really didn't need to be put on screen. Through the course of the movie I slowly began to realize that Villeneuve split the entire book of Frank Herbert's Dune, for which is fine in the storyteller's own right, but you can't squeeze the entire first half of the book into just one movie especially when it has all of the little details and all the slow stuff that doesn't pay off at the end of the movie. Furthermore, this was my first time experiencing this and my biggest problem with the movie is that ninety percent of the movie is Paul having premonitions or visions of the future to come as well as a hundred percent of the movie is him fantasizing of Zendaya's character and the payoff to that is they don't meet each other until that last TEN MINUTES OF THE MOVIE. Which brings the spoiled reasons of why I hated the movie and I'm not sorry for spoiling this movie, but the entire first movie consist of the first act of Paul's family going to the desert planet and a coup developing with Stellan Skarsgard's character then the second act is Paul's house arriving at the desert planet and discussing politics then his family's house has fallen literally destroyed then the final act consist both Paul and his mother surviving into the desert and gaining respect amongst the dessert tribe lead by Javier Bardem. So, basically the entire first part of the movie consists of nothing but the most boring parts of any book adaptation I've ever seen and no excitement at all. And the disappointing factor of the movie is David Bautista's character who’s supposed to be this main bad guy in the movie doesn't do a whole lot in the film and Aquaman aka Jason Mamoa doesn't get a deserving Boromir death which again I'm not apologizing for spoiling the entire movie. I know I'm going to have to watch the second part of Dune for which I'm dreading but the thing is, I didn't watch David Lynch's Dune mainly because I'm not ready to watch another Lynch film for many reasons the last time I watched a movie of his was Eraser head and I couldn't take that movie anymore. So, now I'm not sure if I'm really ready to watch David Lynch's Dune yet though I'm going to push myself into doing it but does bring an interesting idea (for which my brother presented me) is pit both versions together and see who did its better Villeneuve's Dune or David Lynch's Dune. As a movie all by itself this was one of the most boring two hours and thirty-five minutes, I've ever been part of moreover hated the movie mainly because of its elements we necessarily needed to have in the movie and with less excitement, for which I'm hoping Austin Butler aka Elvis is going to be the scene stealer for the sequel when it's released on Max. If you've never grew up with the Dune books then I would strongly recommend not wasting your time in watching Dune at all and if you belong to the baby boomer generation or a big fan of the Frank Herbert's book I would highly recommend not watching the movie basically there a ton of films that have much more excitement and are not long boring in terms of story that I would highly recommend watching that's not Dune and if you're mad at me for spoiling the story well I'd present my care face and strongly tell you I'm saving your very soul.

             

Free Fire

 

                                        I desperately needed to find a movie that I need to get the taste of Self Reliance out of my mouth. Free Fire was one of those movies I remember seeing back in 2016. Moreover, loved the concept of what the film is in terms of creating a unique story as well as making the whole story work, but mostly has that style of comedy that feels right. Though most importantly has a great list of actors to bring this movie to life. Also, since newly Academy Award winning actor Cillian Murphy has been granted that title, I figured well now is one of the best times ever to review a movie in the Oppenheimer cast. Since yeah when I think about as of right now, I did review Matt Damon's Good Will Hunting so "who da thunk".

                                        When the black-market arms deal goes outrageously wrong, Justine (Brie Larson) finds herself caught in the crossfire, forced to navigate through a warehouse full of trigger-happy madmen who are all hanging on for dear life.

                                        In a world where there are millions upon millions of remakes, superhero films, and enough Disney owned cartoons and live action remakes of fairy tales that will make you feel bored out of your mind, and you'd step into a deep depression. Movies like Free Fire are always one of those movies that comes along that I would most certainly watch furthermore make it my life long mission to watch it because it's those movies that make me feel that it's possible to get into the film business, moreover needs to be a category of movies that people can look and watch from start to finish and be inspired to pick up a camera and watch the movie whole, just those movies like Clerks, Robert Rodriguez's El Mariachi are one of those movies that every aspiring filmmaker needs to see so themselves alone can see it doesn't take a college degree to get into a movie business, it takes a lot of knowledge the understanding of a camera and story telling that will most certainly get you through the doors in Hollywood. And Free Fire is a great example of taking a simple idea of not so bright gangsters shooting at one another through the course of the movie but also add a great sense of humor along the way. The fact that it cost only seven million dollars is really awesome because one all writers Amy Jump and Ben Wheatley really pitched was a simple story of maniac's in the longest shootout ever upon which is also a curious thing of who is going to make it out alive and how it ends and also Martin Scorsese look at this story and found it special moreover I believe that's why he came on as an executive producer. I personally feel that movies like this need to make in appearance at the movie theaters so everyone can see at the big screen not so much overbearing crap of remakes and superhero films, and I think that if I own my own theater, I'm defiantly going to air this for everyone to see. Free Fire is most certainly one of those great simple/well-crafted movies that I would highly recommend watching for any lover of film would want to use as inspiration for their upcoming career. So, now that Free Fire is on Max I would highly recommend watching if you’re a fan of gangster films, moreover dark comedies. 

      

Self Reliance

 

                                    Couldn't sleep the night before for many reasons I was getting by a** handed to me in God of War Ragnarök, so I decided to stream a movie on Hulu that's been on my radar though I wished it was something else. You know when you felt like you've been scammed or conned into something that yourself thought "oh this might be intriguing" but later realize how dumb you felt in purchasing this item and go through a phase of what did I just purchase? Well, thankfully it was free, so I didn't lose much of my dignity but still feels like I've been betrayed into watching that's a huge lie to my own movie watching experience. 

                                    Tommy (Jake Johnson) receives an invitation to win 1 million by playing a game where he must outwit hunters attempting to kill him. He realizes the hunters can only attack him when he's alone, but none of his friends and family believe the game is real.

                                    Now when I first saw the trailer of the movie, I was thinking to myself that this might be an interesting movie to see, it has a unique idea moreover it's a regular guy whose outsmarting these killers and it's a sort of Coen Bros humor or dark humor just my kind of movie. Oh, how I was fooled, and my brother even told me he couldn't get through the movie because of how bad the movie was, and he was so angry of how he got fooled. For which brings me to literally spoiling the movie for all of you this is not a movie it was advertising, this is basically a romantic comedy and that's really the depressing factor about the whole film moreover it's written by a guy who I'm literally thinking thinks he knows comedy after appearing in a movie like Tag and thought to himself that he was ready to direct his own movie, which would make sense because I doubt he made more drafts of the script or asked anyone on their opinion, and here is a good piece of advice, if you have a good concept for a story idea that would make for a movie, for the love of the almighty pitch it to your friends or your colleagues so they can give you their honest opinions because even though they may hurt but they will help you succeed, and I strongly know deep down that Johnson didn't pitch this to any of his friends about this idea and even if they did they we're horrible friends. The other thing I hate most about the movie is that the protagonist of the movie is just a pathetic man that no one takes him serious, basically has no testicles, which is the most dumbest thing when it comes to comedy moreover is the most overrated thing and really if you’re writing a comedy whose down on his luck at least give him some f**king balls, or give him some self-respect because movies like this movie and the 40 year old Virgin are the reasons why I can't watch movies like this because why would I even want to watch this movie because it just not funny at all and I wouldn't want to watch a man suffer. I truly look at this movie as a false advertisement moreover consider this movie a huge scam to movies in general. Even though this movie is ninety minutes it's still the most boring and just flat out the worst thing ever up there with Gigli, Zoolander, A Million ways to Die in the West and any Adam Sandler film, oh I almost forgot Don't Worry Darling. So, as a man whose been suffered with tons of scams I would highly recommend not ever watching this movie and if you’re that bored in wanting to watch this piece of trash at least clean your house or apartment, so you don't have to watch all this movie through, also you most certainly won't miss anything when it comes to this crap. Though in closing when I say this in making it any clear, Self Reliance is one of the biggest scams since Freddy Got Fingered.