What ever happened to Baby Jane? - 1962

Sorry Bette Davis and Joan Crawford- I could only take 70 min of this movie and had to turn it off.  I just didn't like it at all.

"In a tale that almost redefines sibling rivalry, faded actresses Blanche and 'Baby' Jane Hudson live together. Jane was by far the most famous when she performed with their father in vaudeville but as they got older, it was Blanche who became the finer actress, which Jane still resents. Blanche is now confined to a wheelchair - Jane ran her over with the car while drunk, even though she has no memory of it - and Jane is firmly in control. As time goes by, Jane exercises greater and greater control over her sister, intercepting her letters and ensuring that few if anyone from the outside has any contact with her. As Jane slowly loses her mind, she torments her sister going to ever greater extremes."

The Bells of St Mary's - 1945

The sequel to Going My Way, although it was actually shot before the original movie was shot.  Crosby plays Father O'Malley again, this time opposite Ingrid Bergman, who plays the head nun at a child's parochial school.  This movie didn't work for me like the original, I would skip it.  2.5 stars.

3:10 to Yuma

If you have not done so already, skip this movie.  It is slow, formulaic, and boring.  I have not watched the remake, but it looks a lot more interesting than this one was.  I turned it off about half way through.

Tuesdays with Morrie - 1999 - Winner of 4 Emmy's

When I was at VistaCare our bereavement coordinator Julia told me to read this book, and I loved it.  I have always wanted to see the made for TV movie starring Jack Lemmon, and I finally got it at the library.  Jack died two years after filming this movie, and I feel he was the right person for the character of Morrie.  I liked the book better but the film was good but not spectacular.  3 stars.

Going My Way - 1944 - Winner of 7 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor!

If you haven't seen this movie then you should.  I don't want to say a lot about it, I just want you to experience it without knowing a lot about it beforehand.  There are some great life lessons in this movie- how to treat the aging person, how to enjoy your work when your talent or heart belongs somewhere else, and how to make religion an enjoyable part of your life.  Excellent Music.  Excellent Acting.  I loved this movie!  5 stars.

42 (2013)

This is the "true" story of Jackie Robinson and his role in breaking down the racial walls in professional baseball.  Go into this with a grain of salt because it is filmed with a lot of Hollywood imagining.  That being said, this is still a true story, and this movie tells a tense story in a great way.  The only reason this movie is rated PG-13 is because of all of the racial dialogue that is throughout this entire show.  The performances by Chadwick Boseman (Jackie Robinson), and Nichole Beharie (Jackie's wife Raechel) were strong and well portrayed, but I think the show belonged to Harrison Ford who portrayed Branch Rickey, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Ford played an elderly gentleman almost to perfection, he actually played it in a way that you almost forgot that it was Hans Solo and Indiana Jones.  The only time I caught a glimpse of these past roles was when he gave his quintessential grin.  This movie has intense moments of racial conflict and language, but it is smoothed over by calm moments to help you as a viewer get through the emotional roller coaster that you will be on.  I cannot comprehend this kind of behavior by God fearing Christians but it was just natural for them, I guess.  If you are a baseball fan this is a must watch, even if you are not a fan, it is a must watch.  This will find a place on my list.  Be careful watching this with your kids if you have not had the racial discrimination conversation with them yet. 

Mildred Pierce - 1945 - Oscar for Best Actress

I read that this film was Joan Crawford's best work, so I had to give it a try.  The film was remade in 2011 on HBO with Kate Winslet and Guy Pearce.

Joan Crawford will do anything for her daughter, and in the end she realizes that she wasted her life with that approach.  Joan's acting is great, but the rest of the crew just does okay.  3.5 stars.

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The Grand Hotel - 1932 (Academy Award winner for Best Picture)

I realize that 81 years ago there were maybe 5% of the movies made per year compared to what we see nowadays, but still this shouldn't have won best picture.

My guess is they had 3-4 stuidos back then and all films were shot on location on those studios.  They didn't have the camera's, technology, money, travel arrangements that are easy to set up, etc.  I get all that but really this movie is a dissapoints.  I wonder if winning the Oscar back then was all about the line up in the movie more than the movie itself- in this case Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, John Barrymore, and Lionel Barrymore all teamed up as big time movie stars of that time for this movie.

The story is about a bunch of individuals staying in the same hotel and how their lives interact. I was hoping for a twist at the end, something to guess, some drama... nothing.  What a snoozer.  1 star.

Reefer Madness (1936)

I am not recommending that you actually watch this entire movie (it is only like 65 minutes long) but it is a funny public service announcement on the dangers of the new Public Enemy #1, Marihuana.  This movie was put out to warn parents of the dangers that this new drug will cause for their children and society.  The way it is depicted is interesting, because even as the kids are high, they still are well dress and mannered.  It was an interesting watch simply because of when it was made and how it was presented.

Skyfall (2012)

I must admit that Daniel Craig is my favorite Bond, simply because he is weathered and tired and presents as a good agent.  He is not goofy like the rest.  This story begins with another agent accidentally "killing" Bond.  To spoil the story for you, he does not die, but finds this as an excuse to go into seclusion.  While in retirement, he sees that someone is trying to off and expose the rest of the agents of MI6.  Ego pulls him out of retirement and he begins to track down the individuals who are responsible for this mess.  To make a long story short the bad guy is M's very own son.  This movie culminates in the destruction of Bond's childhood home and Aston Martin.  Violent!!
It felt as though this movie should have been the first Bond Movie because it ends with him walking into M's office like it is his first time there???!!??

A View To a Kill

James Bond, what more need I say?  Bond gets in trouble, sleeps with a girl, girl gets killed, Bond gets out of trouble, sleeps with another girl, she ends up saving him in the end.  This one seemed a little desperate for a storyline though.  MI6 sends out their top agent to track down a ring of horse breeders who are drugging their horses to give them the advantage during a race?  LAME, what more can I say though, I must see all James Bond movies no matter how stupid they are.

Red 2

Bruce Willis reprises his role in this DC comic adaptation of RED (Retired and Extremely Dangerous).  It is not often that you see a sequel and enjoy it better than the first one, but this show did it.  John Malcovik and Mary Loise Parker have larger roles, but they given plenty of screen time to Helen Mirren as well.  Bruce is off to track down a bomb that was placed by Anthony Hopkins in the middle of Russia during the Cold War.  Along the way he has to protect himself from the CIA that is still trying to kill him.

Half way through the first show the lite comic book story took a very serious turn and became too dramatic for the feeling of the entire show.  This one on the other hand maintained a lite flow through out.  There were intense fight scenes, but they did not take themselves too seriously.  The screen writing for this movie was true to the comic book writing and one liners.  I enjoy all comic book movies, but really can't give too many of them raving reviews.  I did like this show as a good popcorn movie, but not much more.