Blu-Ray disc movie review of Marley and Me

I was kind of surprised at some of the bad reviews of Marley and Me. A lot of the critics have penned this film as overly syrupy fluff not worth the ticket price. And, from a jaded perspective, it might be true. After watching the film, I can whole heartily recommend this film to anyone. The film has its sweet moments. But, it is only part larger picture that includes some touching and sad moments.

The movie is based on the book written by John Grogan, a journalist. It’s a true story about his family’s relationship with the dog named Marley. More importantly, it is the relationship between John and his Dog. Marley, called world’s worst dog, causes a lot of trouble from the start for John and his wife Jenny. The events in their lives are marked with hilarious mishaps caused by Marley. This not another buddy film between a dog and a man. I think it’s an honest portrayal of deep connection between Marley and John. Any dog owners who have ultimately buried their dog can sympathize with this movie.

John Grogan chronicled Marley’s mishaps in the newspaper in Miami and in Philadelphia. Upon Marley’s death, John wrote eulogy that was read by many readers. This prompted John to write the best seller dedicated to his beloved dog. This film might deserve some of the flaks. But, as someone who has owned dogs and various other pets, it’s really easy to love this film. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston do terrific job. But, it’s the dog that takes the central role and center stage. The scene where the dog ultimately dies should put tears on most movie goers.

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Blu-Ray dvd movie review of The Road Warrior

The Road Warrior still remains to be an action film worthy of emulation. So many movies have copied and recopied this classic action thriller starring Mel Gibson. Even today, the car chase scenes are as great as any movies released today. The sequel to the Mad Max lives up to the first one and even surpassing it in my opinion.

The film picks up few years after the end of the first movie where the world has been laid waste by the last great war. This post apocalypse world is where we once again meet Max, Mel Gibson, who is still wandering around in Australian wasteland. He is in search of gasoline when he runs into someone who tells him that there is a place where gas is being produced. He and this informant heads out to find the compound only to realize band thugs have been attacking them to steal the gasoline. Max makes a deal with to deliver the fuel from refinery in exchange for some fuel. This sets up the thrill ride with bunch of deaths and mayhem.

Mad Max put Mel Gibson on the map as a great actor. The car chase scenes remain the hall mark of this great franchise. The final chase scene is particularly exciting and one of the greatest car chase scenes in the cinema. It’s fitting that Mel Gibson has attained a great success as actor just like Harrison Ford after the Star Wars saga. This was one of his best performances as actor. Mad Max remains one of the most entertaining films ever produced.

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Blu-Ray movie review of Quantum of Solace

The second Bond movie by Daniel Craig seems too veered off from the great start by the Casino Royale. It isn’t a bad movie by any measure. It just seems to try little too hard to emulate the Casino Royale’s success. The great action sequences are all present. The foot chase, the car chase, and some all out shootouts. All the great elements of a great action film are present in the Quantum of Solace. But, incoherent plot that is thin on central focus takes away from a great movie.

The plot picks up where Casino Royale left off. That is, with Vesper dead and James Bond stinging from the loss. One thing leads to another and Bond is on the trail of the people responsible for her death. The movie jumps from location to location with inevitable car chase and shoot em ups in between. At each location, Bond uncovers little more of the menace. However, M is unconvinced that there is menace and Bond is after revenge. Eventually, Bond and the obligatory female character, Olga Kurylenko, arrive in South America dealing with the bad guys.

This isn’t the best Bond film nor is it the worst. After the Casino Royale set the bar high, it was expected that this effort wouldn’t be as good. Regardless, it certainly is not a big disappointment. All the action sequences are top of the line. The opening car chase sets the tone for the entire movie and the subsequent action sequences don’t disappoint. The female characters were on the weak side but that was to be expected after the death of Vesper. Overall, it is an enjoyable action flick if you don’t have big expectation from the Casino Royale.

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Blu-Ray dvd movie review of Australia

Australia is a hard film to figure out. Is it a camp comedy like city slickers? Is it a romantic action film like Romancing the Stone? Is it a World War II epic like Pearl Harbor? It could be all of those or none. Baz Luhrmann crams in a lot of genres into one film. The film is certainly epic in nature but it seems to miss a coherent central theme or plot. For most parts, the film is entertaining due to Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

The plot is about an English noblewoman who heads to Australia to take stock of her ranch, which is managed by her husband. Upon arriving, she finds her husband dead the ranch manager pressing her to sell the ranch to King Carney. Of course, she refuses and enlists help from “the drover” played by Hugh Jackman. There’s also the social commentary that goes with Nullah, a boy with mixed heritage that includes aborigine. Kidman’s character comes to care deeply for Nullah and wants to become a mother figure to him. She achieves this while taking the herd of cattle across the Australia for delivery. And, for no apparent reason, the movie turns into some sort of war movie.

The only reason movie works on any level is the two leading actors. To me, Nullah was annoying character that wouldn’t have been missed if he died. The story jumps from City Slickers, Romancing the Stone, to Pearl Harbor. It’s a pity because it was pretty solid for most part. The setting and the period could have been exploited further. Instead, we are left with a hodgepodge mix that doesn’t quite work.

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Blu-Ray movie review of Kramer Vs. Kramer

Released in the same years as the Apocalypse Now, Kramer vs. Kramer won the Oscar for the best picture of the year. A lot have argued that Apocalypse now should have won the best picture instead of Kramer vs. Kramer. Both films are worthy of the award. But, I think it’s unfair to criticize the movie for winning the award ahead of the Apocalypse Now. The 70s have produce number of war films and this drama was breath of fresh air to close out the decade. This was time when divorce became more prevalent than the previous generations. This movie deals with the topic in frank and sincere manner.

There are ton of movies that deal with the divorce and custody issue. Few can match the intelligence and the great script of Kramer vs. Kramer. Dustin Hoffman plays a man having to juggle his professional and personal life. He is a loving father who has to devote his time at work more than at home. Meryl Streep plays the wife that leaves the husband and the son. Ted somehow manages to juggle his career and taking care of his son. Later, Joanna comes back to contend for the child custody. This sets off the court wrangling between the two.

The movie is relevant as ever even after 20 years. With so many couples divorcing and putting strain on the children, this movie shows the tribulation of that entire process. The movie doesn’t force any happy ending or some dramatic conclusion. It shows what happens when a marriage falls apart with kid in the middle. The director and the actors all contributed to the great success of this film. The Blu-ray version includes a digital copy on top of the physical disc.

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Blu-Ray hd movie review of Groundhog Day

Bill Murray earned himself Oscar nomination for Lost in Translation. He should have been nominated and won the Oscar for Groundhog Day. Had it not gone up against Schindler’s List and Tom Hanks in Philadelphia, I think Bill Murray and the Groundhog Day could have garnered Oscar nominations. This quirky science fiction/fantasy film had great script, great direction, and great acting. The movie gets better with time and it is still enjoyable.

The movie revolves around Phil the weatherman. For some strange reason, he has relived the same day over and over again while on assignment to cover the Groundhog. Along for the ride are his producer, Rita played by Andie MacDowell, and the cameraman named Larry. As you can imagine, there are some funny and interesting situation that go along with this dilemma. At first, Phil is confused, followed by him taking advantage of the situation in various ways like robbing the bank and hooking up with some stranger. But, as days go by, he can’t have what he truly wants, Rita. The ultimate question is whether he can end the endless cycle of same day.

The film could have been tiring if Phil did same thing every day. On the contrary, Phil grows as human being and matures in one day, the same day. He goes from shallow selfish person to someone everyone wants to be friends with. The film doesn’t seem forced or unnatural. The progression of story flows naturally to the convincing and gratifying ending. Bill Murray manages to infuse a great humor into a movie that sends a great overall message. It manages to be relevant today as it was in 1993. And, just as funny.

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Blu-Ray dvd movie review of The Princess Bride

Written by William Goldman, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, and Robin Wright Penn star in this classic fairy tale satire/spoof called Princess Bride. It is easy to see why Princess Bride is loved by so many people all across the age group. It is an intelligent spoof film that takes aim at several genres including fairy tales, swashbuckling, love story, and an adventure. Director Rob Reiner deftly brings weaves good performance and even better script into a winning film.

The story opens with a grandfather reading a story for a boy. The story takes place in Florin, an imaginary kingdom inhabited with heroes and mythical creatures. The story revolves around a beautiful young woman named Buttercup who falls in love with her farmhand named Westley. Westley runs off to find fame and fortune only to run into the Dread Pirate Roberts. Years later, Buttercup is engaged to wed the prince. However, she is kidnapped by three miscreants. They trio are chased by mysterious masked man. This begins the hilarious fairy tale fantasy.

The Princess Bride is a classic film that stands the test of time. The famous lines are unforgettable and as funny today as they were when the movie was released. The great acting and equally amazing story is priceless. How can we forget the “As you wish” or “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, You killed my father, prepare to die.”

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Blu-Ray disc movie review of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

It’s easy to see why some consider Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid one of the greatest western movie. Paul Newman and Robert Redford play two of the most iconic characters in the history cinema. The movie is not so much plot driven as it is character driven. And, this will appeal to almost everybody including non western fans. The movie does not fall into one genre. Instead, it is a comedy, action, and a great drama rolled into one movie.

The story starts off in the Midwest where Newman and Redford lead “The Hole in the Wall Gang.” They rob trains and banks. The Pacific railroad hires the best trackers and lawmen to capture or kill Butch and Sundance. The rest of the movie is about Newman and Redford evading the capture or outright murder. The story is not so much about the pursuit. It is about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The examination of the two criminals. They are as likeable as any two criminals can be liked. You hate to see it end.

The acting is as good as it gets with Newman and Redford. They deliver funny and very sincere performance. They probably should have been nominated for the Oscar. The two actors make this movie entirely on their own.

This is simply a solid entertainment from start to finish. The director George Roy Hill surrounds two characters with decent story and chase scenes. He did great job of just staying out of the way of two great actors. No one should miss this great film.

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Blu-Ray movie review of The Truman Show

The Truman Show is one of the first “serious” movie by Jim Carey. He moved out of the Ace Ventura movies and made a nice leap to a more serious role. Jim Carey brings right amount of comedic performance to this somewhat serious role. The Truman Show was a right movie at the right time. Released back in 1998, the movie resonates well with the reality show craze that was starting to take root.

Truman Burbank, played by Jim Carey, is an average Joe living in an island town called Seahaven. He leads a seemingly normal life. Little does he know that he is a star of a reality show where everyone knows it’s a show except him. He begins to question the oddities that he notices around the town. The odd way his wife acts. Someone resembling his dead father. Strange light falling from the sky. He senses there is something going on and begins to investigate these mysteries. The audiences in the movies and the actual audiences follow the Truman through the mishaps. Ultimately, Truman has to decide where he wants to be.

This was a really well tailored movie for Jim Carey. The drama is not too serious but serious enough to challenge Carey in dramatic role. Jim Carey adds nice comedic touch to the somewhat serious situation faced by the character. The story itself is really timely as it focuses on the explosion of voyeurism in today’s entertainment. Even today, the movie stays relevant and very poignant. It’s thoroughly enjoyable film.

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Blu-Ray disc movie review of Body of Lies

Ridley Scott has built his solid reputation with blockbusters like Alien, Bladrunner, and Gladiator. This time around, he tackles the spy business in the latest movie. Unlike Spy Game from Tony Scott, Ridley Scott emphasizes the current tension in the Middle East. Strip down the plot and time, both Spy Game and Body of Lies feel similar in the story telling of spy business. Whereas Spy Game had more likeable boss in Robert Redford, Body of Lies has equally great character in Russell Crowe. Both movies deal with spy master and his protégé in the field.
The overall plot is too convoluted to go over in detail. Roger Farris, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is field spy who is on the trail of Al-Saleem, terrorist leader. The usual cat and mouse stuff happens between the two. A trail leads Farris to Jordan and chance to work with Hani Salaam, head of Jordanian intelligence agency. Of course there is tension between
Ed Hoffman, the CIA boss of Roger, and Hani Salaam. There are many conflicts between the terrorists, CIA, and Hani Salaam. You don’t quite know who is up to what until the final sequence of the movie.
There’s really not much to say about the director or the actors. They are all Oscar caliber professionals. The movie’s plot is pretty convoluted but that does not take away from the entertainment value. Ridley Scott knows how to put together a great movie. Russell Crowe was especially great as the “end justify the mean” character that will stop at nothing to get the job done. He really should have received Oscar nomination for this role. In the end, this is a great spy thriller with great acting and tight direction.

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