Goosebumps: A Movie Review

When you see movies as often as I do, sometimes you have to accept that some weeks will have dry spells in which you are forced to see movies you may not typically fancy.  The postive side of this is that it expands your movie viewing experience and  the other aspect is that you may end up seeing something you'd rather wish you hadn't.  The night I saw Goosebumps was in fact a night where nothing else was out and the movie start time worked perfectly with my schedule.  I knew Jack Black was in it so it could go either way.  I would either love it or hate it.

Zach and his mom are forced to move due to her new Vice Principal job at a high school.  Zach is less than impressed with his surroundings but tries to make the best of it.  He discovers he has a neighbor close to his age.  She seems interesting and reaches out to him within a day of moving in.  There friendship begins and consists of meeting in between their houses to talk.  She is homeschooled so this is really the only time they have to see one another.  Soon enough, Zach meets her controlling father who forbids Zach from seeing her anymore.  Luckily for Zach, Hannah has no interest in listening to her father so she continues to sneak over and eventually the two venture off into an intriguing place she disocvered in the woods.  Upon return, Hannah's father is livid and sends her inside then threatens to move.  Zach later hears screams and thinks Hannah is in trouble.  Once the police arrive and find nothing out of ther ordinary, Zach is left confused and worried as Hannah is nowhere to be found.  Her father lied to the police and explained she was out of the country with her mother.  Finally, Zach can't take it anymore so he sneaks over to find Hannah's whereabouts.  What he finds are books upon books that are locked.  With the help of his friend, curiousity gets the best of them and they open a book.  Before you know it Hannah has arrived and yells for them to close it, but before they can help it, a large and scary character literally comes out of the book.  You see, her dad is none other than R.L. Stine and his books are locked in order to keep the deep, dark characters in.  Their story gets more complex as other books are accidentally opened and all of the characters are loose and reaking havoc in town.  It is up to Zach, Hannah, and her father to get them all back.  Eventually they find out, the only way to do this is for R.L. Stine to write another book, which is hard to do when characters are setting fires and destroying the town. Zach is then given another twist in his life when he finds out Hannah is a character herself.  R.L. Stine created her and never told her or anyone else she wasn't real.  What is Zach to do now?  The characters are too difficult to capture and the girl he is falling for isn't real even though she is very real to him.

Some movies meant for children are still enjoyable for adults.  I am affraid this wasn't the case for Goosebumps.  It reminded me of a less impressive Jumanji.  The characters from the books were scary so I wouldn't recommend it for younger children, but can see 8-10 year olds enjoying it depending on their sensitivity.  I enjoyed the popcorn and that was about it. 

Bridge of Spies: Tom Hanks Does it Again: A Movie Review

You don't need me to tell you that Tom Hanks is one of the best actors of all time.  I mean come on.....Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Castaway (just to name a few)...I rest my case.  Whatever your thoughts may be, I highly recommend this movie.  Tom Hanks plays the role of an insurance lawyer selected by the government to defend a captive member of the Soviet Union due to his integrity.  However, it is his integrity that leads him down a very dangerous path.

James Donnovan takes his role as a lawyer seriously, so when asked to defend a prisoner of the court system who happens to be from the Soviet Union in order to follow due process, he gives it his all.  This is not what the government had hoped for.  Which I find ironic, because they chose him based on his good nature,yet they were surprised when he actually gave a full defense.  Donnovan even went as far as to appeal at several levels in order to protect his client.  Unfortunately for his family, this involves drive by shootings at the windows, constant glares from community members,and an outrage of how he can be so "anti- American."

This doesn't stop Donnovan though.  He is a smart guy and is able to negotiate his clients sentencing to not include the death penalty.  It is that negotiation that creates a new scenario for Donnovan to encounter.  You see, a U.S. pilot crashed and was captured in the Soviet Union and the only way to return him safely is to return their man, Donnovan's client.  So now our dedicated insurance lawyer is off to the Soviet Union to negotiate with some not so trustworthy gentlemen.  I don't want to give it all away but Donnovan's integrity and good character get him into such a complex situation that there are three prisoners involved, the Soviets, the Germans, and the CIA. The question is, who can he trust and will he be able to protect all he is fighting for?  Including his client.  You must see to find out!

This movie will have you in suspense throughout as you are constantly in awe of what this man goes through to do what he feels is right.  I highly recommend it and would see it again.

Steve Jobs:The Other Side

Do you remember the Steve Jobs movie that came out in 2013?  I remember  leaving that movie thinking that all of the negative viewpoints I had previously heard about Steve must have been misunderstood as he was just a creative genius who knew what he was doing.  Then I saw the previews for the latest movie with a different portrayal of the guy who gave us the iMac and much more.  I obviously didn't know him personally, but do think if I put both movies together, I just might have a close depiction based on those who knew him,  Needless to say, it was an enjoyable movie with raw scenes that showed the other side of Steve Jobs.

Our movie begins before a major launch where Steve is about to show the world the Macintosh.  Unfortunately, this is also where his previous mistress decides to ask for money so he can support her and the daughter he refuses to claim.  He also has a glitch that he must work out before launching and makes it happen by threatening the integrity of one of his only friends.  Several intense encounters continue before Steve is finally able to launch his computer.  Little does he know that it will fail and his path will take a different direction.

The movie continues with this pattern of showing Steve, minutes before the launch of a new product, with a litany of angry visitors.  Steve wasn't always successful but the guy would not stop until he put something valuable into the hands of consumers.  It was an interesting  as you were able to see the constant conflict Steve had with everybody else as well as himself.  This movie portrayed him as someone who thrived on control,especially when it involved what he held so close.  Fortunately, he was able to slowly see what changes to make, especially with the relationship with his daughter.

Overall it was a decent movie.  Whether you feel Steve Jobs was lacking in the treatment of others category or not, he was an innovative person who left a major impact several generations and this movie gives you one account of his life.

American Sniper: Legendary Performance by Bradley Cooper (Spoiler Alert- Ending is revealed.)

I have to apologize for ever discounting Bradley Cooper.  After He's Just Not that Into You and other movies he's been in, I had him deemed as a guy that probably just plays himself, but happens to be in a movie.  So for the record, I am taking back all said comments because the way he played the role of Chris Kyle in American Sniper- I was wrong, very wrong.

This movie entails the true story of Chris Kyle, "The Legend", who was the most accurate sniper in American history. This film doesn't need to be for the veteran, or family of veterans, as it can be for anyone who has empathy for what this man went through over the course of his time as a Navy Seal.

Chris joined the Seals because he simply wanted to defend his country.  There was no other motive.  In his mind, this was the path he had to choose to protect those he loved.  To serve and protect was his purpose.  This task can be quite difficult for anyone, especially those with a wife and children at home.  Chris eventually experienced what I am sure most do.  Coming home wasn't easy.  Serving in a tour where you see death daily then coming home, knowing that it is still continuing while you go to the mall with your wife, or have a home cooked meal, is almost impossible and was for him.  It consumed him to the point where he went on tour after tour to finish what he started.  What would it take to bring him home?

After several attempts, Chris would finally kill the one person he had been hunting for years.  A sniper from the other side.  It was in that moment, when death seemed near even for Chris, that he called his wife, crying, ready to come home.  Although, it wasn't the running into her arms you would think.  After killing so many, even children, seeing innocent people murdered by their own, friends dying, and so much devastation, he may have been physically home, but he was somewhere far away.

It took Chris finding a way to help those back in the states for him to go back to the man he was before the war turned him.  Eventually his smile would return, he would play with his kids, and love his wife the way a husband should.  Unfortunately, this wouldn't last long, because during one of those times where he was helping veterans back home, a veteran would be the one who killed Chris, not a terrorist, or enemy.  Someone from the same roots.

I encourage you to not only bring tissues, but see this movie with an open mind and heart.  We can all be divided in our stances on war.  But what we cannot do, is see this movie without feeling for this man who gave so much, his wife who raised these children on her own, and the heavy burden placed on men and women who come home from tours such as these, completely changed and forever impacted by their experiences.

Clint Eastwood did this perfectly and Bradley Cooper performed his best role yet.  A must see.

Immitation Game: The True Story of Alan Turing

Alan was always different than his peers.  He was a mathematical genius who had a hard time understanding social cues of others.  His on and only friend from school passed away, leaving Alan alone.  As time passed and Alan grew up, his skills would lead him to a special operation with the military during World War 2 in which he and fellow mathematician would work day after day to crack the German Enigma code.

Working with others was not one of Alan's strengths.  In fact, when beginning this mission, he locked himself in a separate room, not to be disturbed, to create his machine that would crack the Enigma codes.  With the military demanding a faster turn around rate and his teammates questioning his time on task with the mission, it seemed Alan was not going to succeed.

Fortunately, Alan did prove himself and what his machine was capable of when the Enigma code was cracked.  This accomplishment brought more burden than they imagined though.  You see, they soon realized they could not destroy Enigma, as this would cause the Germans to create something else and they would be back at stage 1.  They even had to determine which people to save and which not to in order to not seem obvious.  It was hard on all of them.

Alan was also going through some of his own personal dilemmas.  Alan's sexual orientation was masked through his marriage to a close friend and partner at the time.  Eventually she would find out and what transpired was both sad and heartfelt.  Life continued to get harder for Alan from here as the government found out about his secret and gave him hormones to "help him with his problem."  Alan would eventually end his own life as it all got to be to much for him.  He was alone and would always be so.

I didn't know if I was going to be engaged in this movie as I didn't know much about it.  I had never heard the Alan Turing story.  His life had so much triumph and hardship that tugged at my heart strings.  He was a genus and helped save thousands of lives, yet was contemned because he wasn't heterosexual.  The treatments given to him were infuriating.  I left feeling better off for hearing and seeing his story.  It was a well written and had wonderful performances from the cast.  Unsurprising as it is, Benedict Cumberbatch was astounding.

Big Eyes: A Movie Review

Women do not divorce their husbands, let alone work without their husbands approval.  This was the life for Margaret in the 1950's.  She made a bold move and left her husband for a better life with her daughter.  She knew it would be hard but did not realize even finding a job would be a difficult task with her whole dilemma of being a woman and all.  Luckily, she was able to start over.  She found a job  doing something she loved.  Painting.  Yes, it was painting the wood on furniture, but it was painting nonetheless.  So here was Margaret on a beautiful Sunday in the park, showcasing her talent at an art fair, when the man who would change her life forever entered the picture.  

Walter was a passionate artist who won Margaret over immediately.  She was cautious at first, but once he convinced her to be his wife, she was his forever.  Lucky her........

You see, Margaret began to see her new hubby's true colors.  This man of many talents (not really) was not talented in one area in which he claimed to be to everyone he met.  He was not a painter,  He loved paintings and if he had it his way, he would be a painter, but sadly this just wasn't the case for dear Walter.  Walter was, however, an impeccable liar.  In fact, he had the lovely people of San Francisco convinced that the beautiful imagery of his wife's paintings were in fact his.  The Keane signature on each painting was Walter Keane, surely not Margaret Keane.  

It wasn't like Walter started out this way.  He was honest at first and told Margaret someone misunderstood and thought he painted one her of beautiful works of art, but once he realized the profit to be made, the issue occurred that always occurs......money got to him.   Before Margaret knew it, her "Big Eyes" were being sold in every gallery, winning awards, being offered to politicians, actors, world leaders, and even a compilation of first drafts and finished products.  What nobody realized was that Margaret did all of this.  Yes, poor Margaret who sat in her attic all day for long hours, painted every last picture while Walter took the credit.  I think her lowest point was when she had to lie to her daughter who basically called her out on what was happening.  I think every feminist out there would have had a fit.  I certainly wanted to punch her a few times for not sticking up for herself. (Kidding......)  Please do not fret though, Margaret did get her revenge and it was oh so sweet.

This true account was directed by Tim Burton and definitely had his flair throughout.  It was cheesy in a comical way and creatively done.  I need to see Christoph Waltz in something where he plays a good guy because of how well he played the most annoying character ever.  But in all seriousness it was a perfect Sunday afternoon movie that would be wonderful for the creative movie goers who like to see something a little different.

Unbroken: A Movie Review

Louis Zamperini was a kid who knew just where to find trouble.  Whether he was smoking, drinking, or getting caught fighting, he was falling and falling fast.  That is, until his brother got him interested in the sport that would give him winning records and Olympic status.  If only this was the only obstacle he had to overcome in life.

After he was drafted during WW2, Louis and his fellow crew were sent on a mission to rescue a team not yet found.  Unfortunately, it was this crew that would need rescuing.  Louis' plane not only crashed after malfunctioning, but only 3 men survived, and they were stranded in shark infested waters for weeks.  The men were eventually found, but only 2 would leave the sea.

You'd think being rescued would be a good thing, but this is questionable as it was the Japanese who were doing the rescuing.  Louis and his friend were taken to a camp for American prisoners of war.  This new chapter Louis was about to embark on would change his life forever, more than any shark infested sea.

You see, Louis was now at the camp run by "The Bird."  The Bird was known for his evil conduct with prisoners and when he met Louis, he was fixated.  The Bird's mission was to break Louis down until he was nothing.  Whether it was severe beatings, being punched in the face as hard as possible by all of the prisoners at the camp (by order of the Bird), working in harsh conditions with injured limbs, and starvation, he would not stop until Louis faltered.

Here was Louis, one of the fastest runners in history who couldn't be beat, and he was being tested.  Tested on just how much someone can go through before just letting go of life itself.  Louis kept fighting though.  he kept pushing, because that was all any of them could do to get back at the Japanese.  They just had to survive until the war was over.

This true story was one of those movies I delayed seeing.  I knew what it entailed as I read the book, and I just didn't know if I could see it.  I am glad I did.  Angelina did a wonderful job capturing the spirit of this man, this fighter.  It will make you feel grateful for those who put themselves through the worst conditions for others.  It will also remind you that even in circumstances when others hurt you more than imaginable, whether it be physically, emotionally, or both, forgiveness is possible.