LIFTED

What could have been a very good film is unfortunately spoiled by a totally overboard tribute to the US armed forces. I found the ending particularly corny. Actually, this movie would have been a bit of a flop if it wasn't for the tour de force performance of young Uriah Shelton. He overshadowed the rest of the cast completely.

He plays Henry, a thirteen year old, who's father is called to active duty in Afghanistan. Shortly after his dad departed the boy's life starts to fall apart. The rest of the story tells of his efforts to try and put it back together again amidst lots of adversity.

Like I stated above, this is more of a propaganda film for the USA and its involvement in world conflicts than anything else. However, despite all of this I enjoyed watching this multi-talented young actor at work and I am sure we will see quite a bit more of him in future.

As far as the movie itself is concerned, I am sorry to say that I could not give it more than 3 out of 5 stars...

Trailer link:   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N12j6lH92HI

   The multi-talented Uriah Shelton in action...

PACIFIC RIM

I first learn about this movie on Leonard Maltin's TV-program, Maltin on Movies. At the time he praised it as one of the better ones in the sci-fi genre. Therefor when I bought the DVD it was with much anticipation. But, I am afraid to say, on this one I do not agree with Mr Maltin.

Although the special effects are good, I found it a bit overboard; more like a video game. The story line is thin and I struggled to connect with any of the characters so that at no point was there any emotional bond.

To me it was just yet another version of the now so familiar story of humans battling invading animal/insect-like aliens. And to be honest, I find the whole premiss of insects and reptiles ludicrous. Usually these creatures barely have enough intelligence to make supposedly frightening squaks and hisses. So how they manage to travel amongst the stars is totally beyond me. Maybe today's writers of this genre should again take a look at the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises to get an idea of what intelligent alien beings are like!

Thus, and as I didn't particularly liked this DVD, I rated it 2 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5guMumPFBag

   Alien monster machines rise from the deep...

THE ROAD

This is an excellent movie but a word of warning: do not watch it if or when you are depressed. It will definitely do nothing to improve your mood!

In a post apocalyptic world, a father and his son is fleeing the devastation in search of a better place and life. Along the way they encounter numerous dangers and hardships. But it is the utter love and devotion between the pair of them that does not only sustain them for most part of the journey but also make for some of the most tender and moving moments ever captured on the big screen. No wonder it is scored so high by viewers on IMDB (7.3/10).

Although Viggo Mortensen has been on the scene for many years, he only rose to real stardom in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, his portrayal as the father in The Road is outstanding and so is the performance by Kodi Smit-McPhee as the boy. At present, the latter must be one of the best child actors around. I just wonder why the young actor seems to go for "weird" rolls - Let Me In (2010) and Dead Europe (2012) come to mind amongst others.

This movie is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Cormac McCarthy, who also wrote No Country for Old Men. If you are not too squeamish I can highly recommend this DVD and rated it 4 out of 5 stars for my collection. 

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94KcI0gLq1A

    Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee

THE WIZARD OF OZ

I also have quite a few 'classics' in my DVD collection of which this is one of them. The original film, released by Warner in 1939, was not quite as successful as was originally anticipated. Legend has it that it was made in response to Disney's hugely successful Snow White that was released only a few years before.

However, since its re-release in 1956 it became the smash hit it is today. Ironically enough, this time around Disney tried to copy the new found success of The Wizard of Oz by making and releasing Babes in Toyland in 1964 but, alas, it was a total box office flop. So much so that very few people today are even aware of its existence!

This particular version of The Wizard of Oz is still regarded as the best one ever made, despite several other subsequent attempts, none of which even comes close!

Although I have seen it many times over the years, I still enjoy watching it every time I see it again. For my collection, I rated it 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_3T4DGw10U

Tin Man (Jack Haley), Dorothy (Judy Garland), Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) and Lion (Bert Lahr)