When The Game Stands Tall (2014) --- “It's Not About How Hard You Fall But It's How You Get Back Up.”

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Plot Summary

In 2003, high-school football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) and his De La Salle Spartans have just completed an incredible 151 consecutive victories and 12-straight state championships. While the team's seniors receive offers from colleges all over the country, the advancing juniors look forward to making their mark. However, beloved "Coach Lad" has a brush with calamity, while the Spartans face their most-challenging, most unpredictable season yet. (1)

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     Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) is the football coach for the De La Salle High School football team and under his tutelage, De La Salle has developed a 151 winning streak. But what happens when the streak is broken? When the Game Stands Tall (2014) is inspired on the true story of how the coach, the team, and the town handle the loss of their beloved streak and learn that winning is not everything.

Paddington 2 (2017) --- “A New Adventure Begins And This Time It Takes A Bear To Catch A Thief.”

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Settled in with the Brown family, Paddington the bear is a popular member of the community who spreads joy and marmalade wherever he goes. One fine day, he spots a pop-up book in an antique shop -- the perfect present for his beloved aunt's 100th birthday. When a thief steals the prized book, Paddington embarks on an epic quest to unmask the culprit before Aunt Lucy's big celebration. (1)

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     Paddington (2014) was an incredible family film for all ages and director Paul King returns to improve on that success with the sequel film, Paddington 2 (2017). Paddington 2 continues the story with more heart, more humor, and an even greater adventure.

Paddington (2014) --- “This Little Bear Will Make A Big Splash And Start An Even Bigger Adventure.”

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Plot Summary

After a deadly earthquake destroys his home in the Peruvian rainforest, a young bear (Ben Whishaw) makes his way to England in search of a new home. The bear, dubbed "Paddington" for the London train station, finds shelter with the family of Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins). Although Paddington's amazement at urban living soon endears him to the Browns, someone else has her eye on him: Taxidermist Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman) has designs on the rare bear and his hide. (1)

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     After years of TV show adaptations, writer and director Paul King (Paddington 2) and co-writer Hamish McColl (Johnny English Reborn) bring Michael Bond’s creation to the big screen. Paddington (2014) is an inventive and masterpiece family film that maintains its innocence, charm, and child-like atmosphere. Most films that attempt at live-action animation tend to mess up in combining the two mediums because there is either not enough realism or not enough make-believe. However, director King and writer McColl have created a film that is magical and carries a sort of whimsy charm that allows you to take things seriously.

     Paddington follows the adventures of a very clumsy and lovable bear, of the same name, as he lives with his new human family in London. With humorous jokes and a heartwarming story, Paddington can relate to anyone. This is the film you can watch with your kids and they will laugh at the jokes and silly bear. When your kids are teenagers and you watch this film again, they will start to understand the family dynamic and the love within that family. But when your kids are adults and you sit down to watch this film, they will see it as a nostalgic piece of entertainment from their childhood. Much like Winnie the Pooh (2011), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and Mary Poppins (1964), Paddington is an upbeat, funny, touching, and a very British film made to last for generations.

     The production values are excellent. From the moment Paddington arrives in England, the story establishes that while a talking bear may not be an everyday occurrence, it no less absurd idea. By establishing this early on, the filmmakers allow the audience to admire the vivid and colorful visuals, costumes, and special effects used throughout the film. The true test for the filmmakers lied in their ability to bring Paddington to life.

     The special effects team created a CGI Paddington that was able to interact with the humans and the real world around him; which sets him apart from most CGI characters. However, the true life behind Paddington is his voice.

     Ben Whishaw (The Lobster; Skyfall) replaced Colin Firth (Mamma Mia) as the voice of Paddington after Firth and the filmmakers decided that his (Firth) voice did not suit the character. This makes sense considering that Firth’s voice is more mature sounding and would not have suited the youthful bear. However, Whishaw has a youthful tone to his voice that gives Paddington an innocent and naïve tone. The rest of the cast deliver good performances. Sally Hawkins (Shape of Water) delivers an energetic and fun performance as Mrs. Mary Brown, while Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abby) delivers a sympathetic and stuffy performance as Mr. Henry Brown that downright hilarious considering the world he lives in. It is nice to see Hawkins and Booneville portray a married couple that is polar opposites of each other but they also complement each other as well. Mary encourages Henry to lighten up and enjoy life to its fullest, while Henry teaches Mary how to also be safe whilst having fun. Nicole Kidman (The Golden Compass) was funny as the villain who does a hilarious reenactment of Tom Cruise’s silent spy scene in Mission Impossible (1996).

     Overall, Paddington (2014) is a film that will entertain for generations and all ages; adults included. The humor is almost side-splitting and the story is heartwarming. It teaches us to be cautious, that not everyone has good intentions, but to also embrace life to its fullest. Have fun and go on adventures even if they turn out to be crazy and out of control. Make memories and tell your loved ones you care.

     I highly recommend this film, its warm and surprisingly mature with youthful antics and humor.

"Mrs. Brown says that in London everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in. I think she must be right - because although I don't look like anyone else, I really do feel at home. I'll never be like other people, but that's alright because I'm a bear. A bear called Paddington."

- Paddington

Final Vote

Worth Seeing:  9 of 10 star

Worth Buying:  9 of 10 stars

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Movies Similar 

Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
Babe (1995)
Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
Chicken Run (2000)
Christopher Robin (2018)
Flushed Away (2006)
G-Force (2009)
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006)
Garfield: The Movie (2004)
Hop (2011)
Hotel for Dogs (2009)
Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011)
Nanny McPhee (2006)
Nanny McPhee Returns (2010)
The Nut Job (2014)
Paddington 2 (2018)
Peter Rabbit (2018)
Snow Dogs (2002)
Stuart Little (1999)
Stuart Little 2 (2002)
Winnie the Pooh (2011)

Predator (2018) --- "The Hunter Has Evolved And You'll Never See Him Coming."

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     Directed by Shane Black (The Nice Guys) and written Fred Dekker (Star Trek: Enterprise) and Black, The Predator (2018) is an awesome and exciting sequel filled with humor and action all around. Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) is an American sniper on a mission in Mexico when he comes across a crashed ship with a Predator on the loose. In an effort to keep him quiet the government sends Quinn away by putting him on a bus along with some otherwise mentally unstable vets like Nebraska (Trevante Rhodes), Coyle (Keegan-Michael Key), Baxley (Thomas Jane), Nettles (Augusto Aguilera), and Lynch (Alfie Allen). Meanwhile, Dr. Casey Bracket (Olivia Munn), an evolutionary biologist, is brought to a secret government organization led by Traeger (Sterling K. Brown), who is hoping Bracket can help them answer some puzzling questions. Why is it here? What is it after? And why does it have human DNA? When Quinn’s genius son Rory (Jacob Tremblay) accidentally triggers their return to Earth only Quinn, Casey and their ragtag team of ex-soldiers can help them prevent the extinction of the human race.

     The Predator (2018) is not the most traditional film in the series. Of course, the story is basic enough to understand and it carries some of the same components we know and love about the series. But the story diverges from its usual straightforward kills for thrills by attempting a new story arc that is a bit thought-provoking. The series could utilize a new story arc like this as it will add a new element to the series and give it depth as a whole. There are some nicely timed, clever jokes and nostalgic references from previous films that go along way for audiences in relieving gory and tension. The action and special effects are impressive and did not disappoint. The action is gory and brutal, while the evolution of the special effects is impressive with more detailed graphics and bigger explosions. And finally, the cast gave superb performances all around.

     The only issues that I found with the film are the over excessive cursing and the unnecessary extravagant speeches. F-bombs were used haphazardly and while it was not unexpected for this film it does show that the writing still has some maturing to do. And the extravagant speeches were either timed inappropriately or the passion was missing or unclear.

     Overall, The Predator (2018) is an exciting and entertaining action-packed film that appeals to both new and old fans. The comedy is clever, the special effects are impressive, the action is intense, and the characters are great. The story is basic but there are some new elements improve the series overall and the ending leaves things open for another installment. If you are an old fan of the series or you have yet to see any of the films, then I highly recommend that see The Predator.

"I think they're attempting hybridization. They're upgrading on every planet they visit."

- Casey Bracket

Final Vote

Worth Seeing:  7.8 of 10 star

Worth Buying:  7.8 of 10 stars

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Movies Similar

Alien (1979)
Aliens (1986)
Alien 3 (1992)
Alien Resurrection (1997)
Alien Vs. Predator (2004)
Alien Vs. Predator - Requiem (2007)
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Blade Runner (1982)
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Predators (2010)
Prometheus (2012)
Solaris (2002)
Super 8 (2011)

Peppermint (2018) --- "The System Failed Her, But She Won't."

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     Directed by Pierre Morel (The Gunman) and written by Chad St. John (London Has Fallen), Peppermint (2018) is an action-packed vigilante film about revenge and justice. The film follows Riley North (Jennifer Garner) after she survives a drive-by shooting that killed her husband and daughter. But when the judge lets the murders go free and tries to send her to a mental hospital, Riley takes matters into her own hands. After disappearing 5 years earlier, Riley is back with a special skill set that neither the cops nor the cartel were anticipating, and she will stop at nothing until justice has been served.

Tag (2018) --- "Based on a True Story. We're Not Kidding."

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     Childhood games and traditions may seem silly to carry on into our adult life but with them comes a friendship that stands the tests of time. Directed by Jeff Tomsic (Idiotsitter and The Detour) and starring Hannibal Buress, Jon Hamm, Ed Helms, Jake Johnson and Jeremy Renner, Tag (2018) is based on the true story about a group of friends who have been playing the same game of Tag for over 30 years. Every year for the entire month of May they continued this time-honored childhood tradition and the goal is to not be the last person “it,” the only problem is that Jerry (Renner) has never been tagged. Ever. By sheer luck or chance, USA Today stumbled across the real-life game and then ESPN did a special segment about the group’s story, and now its been made into a motion picture.

Game Night (2018) --- "This Is Not A Game. Seriously."

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Max and Annie's weekly game night gets kicked up a notch when Max's brother Brooks arranges a murder mystery party -- complete with fake thugs and federal agents. So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it's all supposed to be part of the game. As the competitors set out to solve the case, they start to learn that neither the game nor Brooks are what they seem to be. The friends soon find themselves in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn over the course of one chaotic night. (1)

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     Directed by John Francis Daley (Vacation) and Jonathan Goldstein (Vacation), Game Night (2018) is a hilarious action-packed film that will leave you the edge of your seat with cringe-worthy moments and unpredictable twists. You never really know when the film ends; sometimes you think you’ve reached it and then they throw you a curveball. This is all thanks to the brilliant and original script by Mark Perez (Accepted). It’s strange to think that this is the same guy who wrote family films such as, The Country Bears (2002) and Herbie Fully Loaded (2005).

Death Wish (2018) --- “They Came For His Family And Now He’s Coming For Them. How Far Would You Go?”

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Dr. Paul Kersey is a surgeon who often sees the consequences of the city's violence in the emergency room. When home intruders brutally attack his wife and young daughter, Kersey becomes obsessed with delivering vigilante justice to the perpetrators. As the anonymous slayings grab the media's attention, the public begins to wonder if the deadly avenger is a guardian angel -- or the Grim Reaper itself. (1)

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     Directed by Eli Roth (Knock Knock), written by Joe Carnahan (The Raid), and based off the 1974 film starring Charles Bronson, Death Wish (2018) is an Equalizer meets Kick-Ass type of film with great pacing, memorable dialogue, and intense action and thrill.

Act of Violence (2018) --- “They Took The Wrong Sister, And Nothing Will Stand In Their Way To Get Her Back.”

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     On the streets of Cleveland, the MacGregor brothers – Deklan (Hauser), Roman (Holmes), and Brandon (Ashmore) – world turns into a war zone when Mia, Roman’s fiancée, gets kidnapped by a nefarious crime syndicate specializing in drugs and human trafficking. Rather than wait around for the police to do something, Deklan, an Army vet struggling with PTSD, enlists the help of his two brothers to go on a paramilitary operation to rescue Mia. They will do whatever it takes to get her back, consequences be damned.

7 Days in Entebbe (2018) --- "For 7 Days 248 Passengers Were Held Hostage. Their Rescue Would Change The Course Of History Forever."

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In July 1976, four terrorists hijack an Air France flight from Tel-Aviv to Paris and force the flight crew to land in Entebbe, Uganda. There, the Jewish passengers are held hostage, with their safety contingent on the release of dozens of terrorists jailed in Israel, Germany, and Sweden. After considerable debate, the Israeli government employs the Israeli Defense Forces to execute a daring rescue. (1)

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     Pre-9/11 groups like Black September – responsible for the 1972 Munich Olympics tragedy – or the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – responsible for Entebbe – seem to pale in comparison with post-9/11 groups like Al-Qaeda or ISIS. Although 7 Days in Entebbe (2018) took place in 1976, it is no less a compelling and relevant political drama about the rescue of the 7 day Air France hostage situation in Entebbe.

     Even after the action and tension starts to build the film still manages to give a neutral perspective to the story as well as explains the personal motivations for both sides rather than putting labels on everything. The story illustrates how terrorism worked in the 1970’s, how young radicals took to it, and how the people/governments handled it. The purposefully slow pace helps with character development and allows for every detail to be explained easily.

     Rosamund Pike (Beirut) and Daniel Brühl (The Zookeepers Wife) play German Freedom Fighters - Brigitte Kuhlmann and Wilfried Böse - who are ashamed of the Nazi oppression over the Jews. And yet Pike’s character has no qualms with using a selection process similar to Nazi Germany to separate the Jewish hostages from the rest, while Brühl’s character is so deeply disturbed by it that you almost begin to pity him. We also see how the previous failures of Israeli operations impact the military operation of the Israeli Defense Force. In fact, neither Prime Minister Rabin (Lior Ashkenazi - Esau) nor Shimon Peres (Eddie Marsan - Mowgli) are 100% sure that the military operation could really work until the planes carrying the Israeli Defense Force are already in the air.

     Overall, 7 Days in Entebbe (2018) is relevant and compelling political drama that shows both sides of the story and still remains neutral in its perspective. The story illustrates what pre-9/11 terrorism was like and how people/governments handled it, which was refreshing considering how its depicted today. The pace was slow and at times it felt boring but it also allowed for great character development. The acting was great and it was interesting to seek Pike and Brühl play different characters from their normal roles. Although this is not a big blockbuster film, in fact, it is the fourth retelling of the story, director Jose Padilha (RoboCop) and writer Gregory Burke (‘71) did a great job with this film. If you enjoyed 6 Days (2017) then you will enjoy this one, it may even cause you to want to know more about the Israeli-Palestine relationship.

“If Israel continued to refuse to negotiate with its adversaries merely out of national pride, nothing would get solved.”

- Shimon Peres [to Prime Minister Rabin]

Final Vote

Worth Seeing:  7.5 of 10 stars

Worth Buying:  7.5 of 10 stars

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Movies Similar 

6 Days (2017)
Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard2: Die Harder (1990)
Die Hard with a Vengence (1995)
A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)
Hostage (2005)
In the Line of Fire (1993)
Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
Live Free Die Hard (2007)
Lockout (2012)
London Has Fallen (2016)
Non-Stop (2014)
Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
Shooter (2007)
Speed (1994)
Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)
Vantage Point (2008)
White House Down (2013)

6 Days (2017) --- "A Nation Will Show Its Strength And The World Witnessed A New Way To Tackle Terrorism."

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Plot Summary

In April of 1980, the Iranian embassy was stormed by six armed men demanding the release of hostages in Iran over the mistreatment of their tribe by the Persians in Iran. However, the UK had poor relations with Iran at the time and Iran was not going to give them anything. As a result, the UK was on its own and for the first time in Television history, the actions of the largely anonymous Special Air Service (SAS), would be seen live for all to see.

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     Directed by Toa Fraser, written by Glenn Standring, and starring Jamie Bell, Mark Strong, Abbie Cornish, and Ben Turner, 6 Days (2017) is a biographical action drama about the 1980 siege on the Iranian Embassy in London and how the heroic efforts of the SAS soldiers ended the 6-day siege. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and I found it to be an interesting and thrilling lesson about a moment in history that, until now, was not aware had transpired.

Mile 22 (2018) --- "Option 1: Diplomacy. Option 2: Military. Meet Option 3: This Is The Only Option."

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CIA operative James Silva leads a small but lethal paramilitary team on an urgent and dangerous mission. They must transport a foreign intelligence asset from an American embassy in Southeast Asia to an airfield for extraction -- a distance of 22 miles. Silva and the soldiers soon find themselves in a race against time as the city's military, police and street gangs close in to reclaim the asset. (1)

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     Directed by Peter Berg (Deepwater Horizon and Patriots Day) and starring an amazing cast, Mile 22 (2018) is an adrenaline filled action thriller with quick editing cuts in every action scene that makes Jason Bourne and Michael Bay (13 Hours and Transformers The Last Knight) films look almost stagnant.

16 Blocks (2006) --- "1 Witness...16 Blocks…118 Minutes...Anything Can Happen."

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Boozy and world-weary, NYPD Detective Jack Mosley (Bruce Willis) draws a routine assignment to transport trial witness Eddie Bunker (Mos Def) to the courthouse by 10 a.m. The task quickly becomes a deadly game of cat-and-mouse when some of Jack's fellow officers arrive to kill Eddie so that he cannot testify against them. Jack sees a way to redeem his wasted life by protecting the affable Eddie from the would-be assassins. (1)

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     Directed by Richard Donner (Timeline and Lethal Weapon 4) and starring Bruce Willis (Death Wish and Glass), Yasiin Bey AKA Mos Def (The Italian Job and Begin Again), and David Morse (The Hurt Locker), 16 Blocks is an enjoyable fast-paced action film that explores the world of what a cop, a deadbeat alcoholic one at that, would do when faced with protecting a criminal who is due to testify against the cops trying to kill them. Director Donner did a great job in putting this film together.