Hunter Killer (2018) --- "Courage Runs Deep"

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Deep under the Arctic Ocean, American submarine Captain Joe Glass is on the hunt for a U.S. sub in distress when he discovers a secret Russian coup is in the offing, threatening to dismantle the world order. With crew and country on the line, Captain Glass must now assemble an elite group of Navy SEALs to rescue the kidnapped Russian president and sneak through enemy waters to stop WWIII from beginning. (1)

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      Directed by Donovan Marsh, written by Arne Schmidt and Jamie Moss, and based on the novel Firing Point by George Wallace & Don Keith, Hunter Killer (2018) is a fairly good action thriller that takes audiences inside the battlegrounds of a submarine. Despite all the negative, low rating or deeply opinionated reviews, Hunter Killer is exactly how a war style thriller should be done, not to mention being a well-written story as well.

Adrift (2018) --- “The Incredible True Story About Love, Loss, And Survival At Sea.”

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      Directed by Baltasar Kormákur (Everest, The Deep), written by David Branson Smith (Ingrid Goes West) and Aaron & Jordan Kandell (Moana), and based on the book by Tami Ashcraft, Adrift (2018) is a true story filled with action, adventure, drama, and romance. In 1983 Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley) is a young single woman from San Diego who has been backpacking and working from place to place on a worldwide adventure of self-discovery. After arriving in Tahiti, she starts working at the dock by doing maintenance and cleaning on a variety of sea vessels. There she meets Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin), a handsome and charming young sailor who is in the process of sailing around the world in his own journey of self-discovery. The two quickly fall in love and go on numerous little exertions around Tahiti, when a wealthy older couple asks Richard and Tami to sail their yacht to San Diego, in exchange for $10,000 and two First Class tickets to Tahiti. Despite not being ready to go home yet, Tami is not ready to be parted from her new love and agrees to go for the ride. Unfortunately two weeks into their trip, Tami and Richard get caught in a violent Category 5 hurricane that severely damages the boat and each other. Their best solution is to allow the prevailing winds and current to carry them east towards Hawaii and hope that they will survive long enough to get there.

     After filming Jaws, director Spielberg stated that filmmakers should never film on the open sea because the waves and weather can easily cause chaos. However, director Kormakur did not take head to Spielberg’s advice and the end result is nothing short of a masterpiece.

The Mountain Between Us (2017) --- "Surviving Brought These Strangers Together."

Plot Summary

Stranded on a mountain after a tragic plane crash, two strangers must work together to endure the extreme elements of the remote, snow-covered terrain. Realizing that help is not on the way, they embark on a perilous journey across hundreds of miles of wilderness, pushing each other to survive and discovering their inner strength. (1) 

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     The Mountain Between Us (2017) focus on two strangers who have met under the most unusual circumstances are forced to work together in order to survive the harsh and icy terrain of the Rocky Mountains and find civilization knowing that nobody knows where they are. After seeing this film I was shocked to discover that it received a good number of negative reviews but in my opinion, this was a pretty entertaining film. There’s action, drama, adventure, romance, and some deeply emotional moments. The action scenes are heart-pounding, exciting, and very realistic to watch. ***TINY SPOILER*** The existence of the cabin – the one Alex (Kate Winslet) discovers while taking photos during a rest period – being out in the middle of nowhere is totally believable. If you have ever seen DISCOVERY’S Alaskan Bush People or HISTORY’s Mountain Men, then you would know that there are people who live full-time or live part-time out in the middle of nowhere hunting, foraging, or protecting wildlife as a way of making a living. Cabins such as the one featured in this film are supposed to be in the wilderness with no man-made access road nearby; it’s called living off the grid. ***END*** The symbolism of this film is interesting because it is not only embedded in the story but also the title, mountains. These mighty and majestic mountains are monumental displays of nature and are the premises for so many forms of expression – such as literature/poetry, music, art, the Bible, even movies. Mountains are primarily used to symbolize an obstruction that an individual has to overcome in order to learn a valuable lesson and come away a different and more mature person. This is exactly what happens to the two main characters.

Everest (2015) --- “It’s Both Stunningly Beautiful And The Most Dangerous Place On Earth. The Last Word Belongs To The Mountain.”

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     Named after Sir George Everest and standing as 29,017 ft, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Above 26,000ft it is known as the death zone but most deaths don’t occur until after summiting but that is not the only challenge the mountain presents. With varying levels of ice, a peak in the stratosphere, air-pressure a 1/3 that of sea-level, and winds that can reduce the already thinning oxygen by 14% it is no wonder why Everest is one of the hardest climbs in the world. Not even the 7-10 day window of lighter winds in the Spring and Fall make the climb easier.

     Everest (2015) is set in May of 1996 and tells the true story of rival adventure guide companies, Adventure Consultants led by Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) and Mountain Madness led by Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal), as they each organize fee-paying climbing trips for clients to Mt. Everest’s summit. Although the guides help the climbers get to the top, their primary job is to get them down safely but when a ravaging storm hits the mountain while most of the climbers reach the top the descent becomes unimaginably treacherous.

The Grey (2011) --- “Live Or Die On This Day”

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Following a grueling five-week shift at an Alaskan oil refinery, workers led by sharpshooter John Ottway (Liam Neeson) are flying home for a much-needed vacation. A brutal storm causes their plane to crash in the frozen wilderness, and only eight men (Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney), including Ottway, survive. As they trek southward toward civilization and safety, Ottway and his companions must battle mortal injuries, the icy elements, and a pack of hungry wolves. (1)

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     Directed by Joe Carnahan (The A-Team) and co-written alongside Ian Mackenzie Jeffers (Death Sentence), The Grey (2011) is a dark and gripping thriller with breathtaking landscapes, perfectly captured camera work, decent special effects, intense action, and authentic acting. Within this grey atmosphere and pessimistic look at life, there is a message of hope and faith that gives this film an almost beautiful quality.

Braven (2018) --- “They Threatened To Destroy His World, So He Will Destroy Theirs.”

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Joe Braven is a logging company owner who lives with his family in Canada. Joe's father, Linden, suffering from dementia, mistakes a woman in a bar for his wife, prompting a barroom brawl that lands Linden in the hospital. The family decides to take a break at their secluded log cabin, where they run into trouble from a drug dealer who wants to use Joe's business as a front for his cocaine operation. (1)

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     Braven (2018) is an action-thriller indie film directed by veteran stuntman Lin Oeding (The Equalizer; Blindspot) and stars Jason Momoa, Stephen Lang, Jill Wagner, Garret Dillahunt and more. The story follows Joe Braven (Mamoa), a soft-spoken logger who takes his father, Linden (Lang), who suffers from dementia to his cabin for some father-son time to talk. Not long after arriving they encounter a group of dangerous drug runners and from there the film explodes into a conflict between an outdoorsman and a killer with brutal and intense action sequences throughout.

First Man (2018) --- “The Most Dangerous Mission In History Became Mankind’s Greatest Achievement. Experience The Impossible Journey.”

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     Directed by Damien Chazelle (La La Land), written by Josh Singer (Spotlight, The Post), and based on the novel by James R. Hansen, First Man (2018) is a historical biopic film set in the 1960’s when the international space race between the USA and the Soviets is at an all-time high. At the start of the film the Soviets may have a substantial lead over the US but unwilling to be outdone, the US plans the first manned mission to the moon with astronaut Neil Armstrong as mission commander. This film does not only tell the story of Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) getting to the moon but it also shows how this one mission affected his family and those closest to them. Despite the challenges and losses that he has endured both in his professional life and his personal life, Armstrong agrees to the mission knowing full well that he may never come home. Despite already knowing the outcome, First Man will keep you on the edge of your seat with a beautiful, emotional, and somewhat distorting journey through Neil Armstrong’s most formidable years and the risks these pioneers took in the name of space exploration.

Apollo 13 (1995) --- “Houston, We Have A Problem.”

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     In April of 1970, three men – Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton), and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) – were sent into space for a “routine” second walk on the moon. Everything is going according to plan until April 13, 1970, when everything suddenly goes horribly wrong. When the oxygen tank in their service module suffers an electrical short and explodes, the men find themselves in a life and death situation that had Lovell utter those famous words, "Houston, we have a problem". With 2/3 of their fuel cells gone, their navigational systems are shot, and their life support is falling rapidly. It was bad when they discovered that their planned moonwalk was canceled, but it got worse when the likelihood of them coming home alive started to rapidly diminish. Thanks to the help from the brave men and women at Mission Control and the prayers of all those watching did Lovell, Haise, and Swigert safely land in the South Pacific on April 17^th, 1970. 

Venom (2018) --- “The World Has Enough Superheroes. It’s Time To Embrace Your Inner Anti-Hero.”

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     Directed by Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland 1 & 2) and written by Scott Rosenberg (Jumanji 2), Jeff Pinkner (Jumanji 2), and Kelly Marcel (Fifty Shades of Grey), Venom (2018)is a thrilling action film that, like Deadpool, breaks away from the safe MCU mold with its dark and violent brutality and some horror scenes, and all while maintaining its PG-13 rating. One of LIFE foundation’s space probe crashes to Earth after discovering alien life forms called Symbiots. Meanwhile, San Francisco journalist reporter, Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), is reporting and exposing current issues in today’s society. After angering the CEO of LIFE Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) and making some poor decisions, Eddie loses his job, his fiancée Anne (Michelle Williams), and his good name, Eddie finds himself alone and at the end of his rope. After a series of events and some inside help, Eddie unexpectedly gets infected with the Symbios called Venom. Now with Drake and his goons after him, Eddie learns that in order for him and Venom to get what the want they have to cooperate with each other against the bad guys.

God's Not Dead 3 (2018) --- "For Too Long The Church Has Been Known For What It’s Against, Rather Than What It’s For."

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The Rev. Dave Hill faces an unexpected setback when his beloved church burns down -- prompting the officials at the adjoining university to try and kick his congregation off campus. Battle lines are quickly drawn between the church and the community as the reverend now finds himself at odds with his longtime friend -- the president of the school. Facing a legal battle, Hill soon seeks help from his estranged brother -- a big-city lawyer and atheist -- in a fight to help rebuild the church. (1)

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     First time writer & director Michael Mason and co-writer Howard Klausner (Space Cowboys; The Grace Card) take over from the previous filmmakers to helm God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness (2018) and it starts off right where the last one ended.

God's Not Dead 2 (2016) --- "She Answered A Student's Question And She Was Put On Trial For Her Faith. Find Out The Verdict."

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     Director Harold Cronk and writers Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon return to helm God’s Not Dead 2 (2016) which follows a Grace Wesley (Melissa Joan Hart – Melissa & Joey) a high school history teacher who comes under fire for answering a student’s (Hayley Orrantia – The Goldbergs) question regarding Jesus. She is forced to stand trial in order to save her career after. When she refuses to apologize for her faith, the school board suspends and threatens to revoke her teaching certificate. Abandoned by her ‘friends’ and accused of trying to convert her students, Grace is forced to stand trial to not only save her career but to also defend her faith. Her lawyer Tom Endler (Jesse Metcalfe – Escape Plan 2: Hades) devises a powerful strategy to prove to the court the historical significance of Grace’s classroom discussion. God’s Not Dead (2014) was thought-provoking and inspiring, and God’s Not Dead 2 (2016) is even more so.

God's Not Dead (2014) --- "What Do You Believe?"

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After he refuses to disavow his faith, a devout Christian student (Shane Harper) must prove the existence of God or else his college philosophy professor (Kevin Sorbo) will fail him. (1)

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     God’s Not Dead (2014) is a wonderfully enlightening and solid Christian film that I believe everyone should watch. The film follows an intellectual debate between Professor Radisson (Kevin Sorbo) and Josh  Wheaton (Shane Harper) on the existence of God and in turn the creation of the universe. Surprisingly the philosophy class who are considered to be atheists or at the very least agnostic are depicted in a positive light. At first, they stick to the status quo and believe that Josh is insane and should be focusing his time on “more important things.” And yet despite their lack of faith, they continue to have open minds throughout the debate. They listen to the high and mighty Professor Radisson as well as the proverbial lamb to slaughter Josh and determine for themselves what they will believe instead of letting someone else decide.

Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018) --- “Their Faith Challenged An Empire But Where Sin Abounds, Grace Abounds More.”

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Risking his life, Luke ventures to Rome to visit Paul -- the apostle who's bound in chains and held captive in Nero's darkest and bleakest prison cell. Haunted by the shadows of his past misdeeds, Paul wonders if he's been forgotten as he awaits his grisly execution. Before Paul's death, Luke resolves to write another book that details the birth of what will come to be known as the church. (1)

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     Directed and co-written by Andrew Hyatt (Full of Grace), co-written by Terence Berden (Full of Grace), and from the studio that brought us Risen (2016), Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018) is an entertaining and uplifting film set in Nero’s Rome of AD 67 where the Apostle Paul has been imprisoned and is awaiting his execution by beheading.

A Simple Favor (2018) --- "Can You Keep A Secret? It All Started With A Simple Favor."

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    Directed by Paul Feig (Ghostbusters: Answer the Call), written by Jessica Sharzer (Star and Nerve), and based on the novel by Darcey Bell, A Simple Favor (2018) is a dark comedy, psycho thriller, and mystery. The film follows Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick), a passive-aggressive single mom who does Mommy DIY/hacks Vlogs, and Emily Townsend (Blake Lively), a how powered executive with more secrets then one can count. The two meet while picking their kids up from school and after an unexpected play-date between their kids, an unlikely “friendship” forms. Stephanie desperately wants to become her friend, while Emily introduces her to strong Martinis and convinces Steph to reveal some of her darkest secrets. Emily occasionally asks Stephanie to pick up her son from school but one day Emily completely vanishes. No calls, no texts, nothing. Stephanie and Emily’s husband Sean (Henry Golding ) try to uncover the mystery behind Emily’s disappearance, while also forming a bond of their own. As the story evolves strange things start to emerge, and when you think you’ve figured it all out a new plot twist emerges. And the trailer in no way prepares you for the film but what you get is an entertaining thriller.

Miracle Season (2018) --- “Every Point, Every Game, Every Win Was For Her. But This Last One Is For Them.”

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Caroline "Line" Found is the star player and captain of the volleyball team at West High School in Iowa City, Iowa. Her tragic death in an accident inspires Caroline's coach and teammates to band together to try and win the state championship. (1)

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     Directed by Sean McNamara (Soul Surfer), The Miracle Season (2018) is based off the inspiring true story of Iowa’s West High Trojans volleyball team as they seek to win the volleyball State Championship for the 2^nd time in a row. But after the sudden and tragic loss of their star player Caroline “Line” Found, the team disbands in mourning. It is only after many tears and some tough love in the form of grueling practices from the coach that the team decides to put aside their grief and work together to win State for Caroline.