Jack Reacher

I was expecting a big blockbuster from this movie and all I got was your run of the mill movie.  The movie is based on Lee Child’s books about his character Jack Reacher.  Not having read any of them – I had no expectations going in except to enjoy seeing Tom do his stuff - and he did.  There is no argument that he and the other casts members gave it their best shot as far as acting goes.  It's a crime movie and Jack Reacher is the guy you go to for the tough answers and the tough whoppings!  It had some nice plot twists but to me, it never felt like the movie delivered anything new.   But it was ok to watch.

History of the Eagles

First off, I will admit that I am a huge fan of the Eagles, so I might be a little biased.  Saying that, I thought this set was incredible!  I thought I’d already heard everything there was to hear about the group and seen everything there was to see – I was wrong!  This was filled with new footage and interviews, mixed with talks all the way back to the ‘70s along with concert and studio footage from all through the years and discussions with artists they learned from and had helped them get their start.  It was raw.  It was honest.  It was everything you could ever want to know about the Eagles!  And besides how great all of that was, there was also a bonus disc with 8 tracks performed live from a 1977 concert!  I felt like I was taken back in time to see a concert I’d only heard about and had maybe seen “clips” from during the last 35 years!  The original music video for “Hotel California” seems like it had been taken from this concert, but I had never seen the rest, so that might have actually been my favorite part of this set – and that’s saying a lot!!!

Silver Linings Playbook

I was really looking forward to this movie, but wasn’t quite sure what to think about it while I was actually watching it.  But the longer it’s been since I’ve seen it, the more it seems to be affecting me!  I thought Bradley Cooper did a very good job as Pat, a man with bipolar disorder just getting out after a stay in a mental institution.  He’s trying to get his life back together after losing his job, his house, and his wife.  I absolutely LOVED Jennifer Lawrence in her role – a woman named Tiffany trying to get over her husband having been killed.  I also thought Robert De Niro was good as Pat’s dad.  I’m not sure why this one has affected me so much – maybe just that there were a lot of scenes and “issues” they had that were very relatable if you’ve ever dealt with those types of things or people.  I could feel how much Pat was trying to make his life work and the walls that Tiffany had put up trying not to get hurt and just how vulnerable she really was - it all just felt very real to me!  Maybe it’s a good reminder that everyone has things to deal with and some may be having a rougher time than others and that there is just so much more than meets the eye with most people.  Maybe we're all a little damaged inside.

Silver Linings Playbook

I must’ve missed the boat on this movie.  Not to say I didn’t like it - I just didn’t think it was “all that.”  Bradley Cooper was enjoyable to watch and I think he did a good job of extending past his pretty boy face and portraying Pat who is bipolar.  I thought Jennifer Lawrence might have “over acted” a little bit as Tiffany and Robert De Niro was fine as the OCD, Eagles loving dad.  The whole movie was about a dysfunctional family and how each person is affected by another person’s travels in life whether we want to be or not. I wasn’t quite sure at times where the story lines were going and when they got there I was like . . .really?  It seemed liked at times it just rambled. It wasn’t what I was expecting but it did have all the aspects of a good movie - drama, romance, ballroom dancing and football fanatics.  It was ok - I liked it – it just didn’t tug an emotional string for me which I think was the purpose of this show.

The Impossible

The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 took close to 230,000 lives.  It happened the day after Christmas while families were vacationing and people were enjoying the beauty.  It’s a miracle that anyone survived the massive waves that destroyed everything and everyone in its path.  This is one family’s account where they did the impossible-they survived.  The Belon family, played by Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor play the parents and Tom Holland plays their oldest son, Lucas, and 2 other newcomers play their 2 younger sons.  I have to give it to the children – they were exceptional!!  The movie centers around the oldest son, Lucas, who manages to find his mom in the wave and they cling together till they are rescued.  He is the heart and soul of this film – the acting in this film is so well done that it captures the fear, the torture, the pain, the love and the will to live no matter what the cost.  The Spanish director did a great job in recreating the tsunami and there was a moment in the film – where Lucas is shown under water.  He is struggling to reach the surface in the torrid water that is swirling around him.  The film goes silent – you know he is losing - I must’ve been holding my breath with him because when he finally surfaces – I could breathe again.  A well done movie about a terrible event that took so many lives but one that still gives hope that miracles do happen and the good of humankind still exists in the midst of tragedy.

The Impossible

After watching this movie, I almost felt like I’d been through the tsunami with the family!  I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have my world swept away in the blink of an eye with almost no warning – but this film definitely gives you a glimpse of how it might feel from the moment it happens.  I liked the story, I liked the actors, and I liked the visual effects of the tsunami, too!  They all did such a good job, you could feel their pain and struggle as they tried to find their way out of the nightmare that had been thrust upon them.  The most basic things we all take for granted are now out of reach and they must dig deep inside themselves and muster every ounce of energy and courage they have to survive such a catastrophic event.  This was definitely a very powerful and emotional movie to watch!