MARS ATTACKS! (1996)

MARS ATTACKS (1996)

Rating - PG-13 - Rottentomatoes freshness score 57% (popcornmeter 53%), IMDB rating 6.4/10

Synopsis:

A fleet of Martian spaceships appear over all the major cities of earth.  They announce that they come in peace, but have they?  A leading scientist thinks so, and the hapless US president believes him.  Everything seems to be going well, at least until Martians annihilate a joint session of the US Congress.  Then, once the Martian invasion gets rolling, nothing the world's military throws at them even slows them down.  They are unstoppable...or are they?

Thoughts:

This adventure, by Director Tim Burton, is one of those truly terrible movies that is so mesmerizing to watch, like a train wreck, that you just can't look away.  The cast is amazing, including Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Benning, Pierce Brosnan, and Danny Devito, among others.  The application of the relatively new technology at the time, CGI, adds a fun new dimension to the movie experience.  

Sure, watching this once every five years or so may be enough, but it can also come in handy during the Halloween season, especially if you don't go in for the traditional scary, gory Halloween movie fare.

What's my recommendation?  First of all, I believe that both RT and IMDB's ratings are too high.  I'd actually rate this movie at about 4/10 stars.  Even so, give it a look, and once will probably be enough for most people.

BAND OF BROTHERS (2001)

BAND OF BROTHERS (2001)

Rating TV-MA - Rottentomatoes freshness rating 94% (popcornmeter 97%), IMDB rating 9.4/10

Synopsis:

This HBO/Playtone production is the dramatization of the true story of Easy Company, 502nd Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in WWII.  The airborne soldier was a new concept in WWII, and this 10-part miniseries follows Easy Company from its formation, the training of its soldiers and of the role they played in the European Theater of Operations from D-Day through the end of the war.  

Thoughts:

The members of Easy Company came from all over, yet were melded into a cohesive fighting unit, a true band of brothers.  As you watch this show, you will develop attachments to the unit and the men in it.  The depiction of action that they saw, the emotions they felt, and the triumphs and losses they experienced are equally portrayed.  This is, simply put, one of the finest military/war shows ever produced.

Be advised that it warrants its TV-MA rating for hazardous conditions, war violence, death and scenes that are inappropriate for younger viewers.  

Highest recommendation!

PROJECT HAIL MARY (2026)

PROJECT HAIL MARY (2026)

Rating PG-13 - Rottentomatoes freshness rating 95% (popcornmeter 95%), IMDB rating 8.2/10

Synopsis:

The sun and all nearby stars, except one, are dimming. If this continues, Earth has only decades before it descends into a lethal ice age.  The nations of the world unite to support Project Hail Mary, a mission to send a crew to the star that isn't dimming to see if they can discover why, and to hopefully discover something that can save humanity.  

When Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher (and PhD molecular biologist) wakes up, he doesn't remember any of this, and has to figure out where he is and what he is supposed to do.  

Thoughts:

This is my new favorite sci-fi movie, and the competition for that slot is tough!  But, Andy Weir's book and movie are absolutely amazing.  I was already a fan of his after reading and then watching The Martian, but Project Hail Mary has solidified his status in the sci-fi genre.  

This is one of the most amazing and sweetest friendship stories I've ever seen.  And, yes, I shed a tear or two while watching it - make sure you have a tissue handy!  

The character development and story arcs are fantastic, and the storytelling is top-notch.  I also think that the reliance on physical effects instead of CGI makes it so much more realistic.  Kudos for that!

This movie also confirms Ryan Gosling among the tip top of today's Hollywood stars, and one of the very best actors to watch.  

Project Hail Mary is the first movie that I've seen three times in the theater in a long, long time, and I will certainly see it many more times in the years to come.  

All I can say about this movie is that this is one that you have to see before you die!  And, even if you aren't a fan of sci-fi, this movie will touch your heart.

Absolutely highest recommendation!!

AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)

AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)

Rated: PG - Rottentomatoes freshness score 95% (popcornmeter 84%), IMDB rating 7.4/10

Synopsis:

It's the last day of summer vacation, 1962, a time of hot rods and rock and roll, and a group of high school graduates are cruising main street and pondering what the morning will bring when they go their separate ways...to college or whatever is in their future.  

Thoughts:

This was the second full-length movie by writer/director George Lucas - his first was THX 1138 (1971).  It was also the first movie of his LucasFilms movie company.

If you've never had the chance to watch this movie, do yourself a huge favor and do it! Why? It's not rso much that this is an amazing cinematic experience, but it was either a springboard or breakout opportunity for a number of amazing young actors, some of whom became household names:

• Richard Dreyfuss
• Ron Howard
• Charles Martin Smith
• Cindy Williams
• Mackenzie Phillips
• Kathleen Quinlan
• Harrison Ford

One bit of trivia about this movie is that Harrison Ford was paid $500/week for four weeks of work.  But, George Lucas got to know him during this project and just a few years later, Lucas gave Ford the role of Han Solo in STAR WARS, starting his rise to international stardom.

THE SHEEP DETECTIVES (2026)

THE SHEEP DETECTIVES (2026

Rated PG - Rottentomatoes freshness score 95% (popcornmeter 96%), IMDB 7.4/10

Synopsis:

A kindly British shepherd loves his sheep and they love him.  He lives a solitary life, and at the end of each day he sits on the steps of his trailer and reads mystery novels to his flock.  He likes to imagine that they can understand what he's saying, but, of course, they can't.  Or, can they?  When he dies under suspicious circumstances, the sheep realize that it's up to them to solve the mystery of his death.  

Thoughts:

This movie is a very sweet and fun movie appropriate for viewers of most ages.  Oscar award winner Emma Thompson and nominee Hugh Jackman headline this fun romp, and the rest of the cast fills the story with fun and mystery.  Since this is a mystery, you should expect various twists and turns along the way, and you won't be disappointed.  It's particularly fun that the events in the story roll out much like a formulaic paperback mystery novel.  Even so, you might be as surprised as I was with the unexpected finale!

This is a movie I can see myself watching many times in the years to come.

Highly recommended!

THE AMATEUR (2025)

THE AMATEUR (2025) 

Rated PG-13 - Rottentomatoes freshness score 61% (87% popcornmeter), IMDB 6.5/10

Synopsis:

Charlie Heller is a top cybersecurity and cryptography expert at the CIA.  His wife and he have a happy life, but that shatters when she is killed during a terrorist attack in London.  With his access to classified information, he is able to locate each member of the terrorist cell who killed his wife.  When he shares this information with his superiors at the CIA, it becomes clear that they are not going to take any action to bring the terrorists to justice.  At this point, Heller finds information incriminating his superiors and he uses this information to blackmail them into training him so he can kill the terrorists himself. 

Thoughts:

I think that the Rottentomatoes rating is about right.  I would probably have gone a little higher though, to 6.5 or maybe 7/10.

Oscar award winner Rami Malek and Oscar award nominee Laurence Fishburn headline this remake of The Amateur (1981).  The storyline is quite similar, though much more high tech than the 1981 version - not hard to do.  Malek was well-cast for his role, because we are supposed to underestimate him and his capacity for personal violence.  So, why the lukewarm rating?  Maybe it's the lack of a fresh look at the material from the original. 

I found the interactions between Heller and his CIA training officer (Fishburn) to be compelling and, frankly, scary!  The final twist in the story was clever and inventive, and put a nice capper on the tale.

Though not destined to become a classic in any way, it was still engaging enough to enjoy in the theater and to add to my collection.

My Favorite Movies

My list of favorite movies is in constant flux, but, at least as of today, here are my favorite movies, listed by genre.  Enjoy!

*****************************************

ACTION: The Jason Bourne Series (Bourne Identity/Supremacy/Ultimatum/Legacy)

ADVENTURE: STAR WARS (Rogue One plus the original trilogy) / A Knight's Tale

ANIMATED: The Pirates! Band of Misfits / Wallace and Gromit - all of them

BIOGRAPHY: Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game

COMEDY: Monty Python and the Holy Grail / Galaxy Quest

CRIME: The Incident (1990 Walter Matthau) 

DRAMA: The Shawshank Redemption

FAMILY/KIDS: The Kid (Bruce Willis 2000) / Secondhand Lions

FANTASY: The Lord of the Rings (extended edition)

HORROR: JAWS

MILITARY/WAR: Enemy at the Gates

MUSIC/MUSICAL: Yesterday

MYSTERY: Knives Out / Remarkably Bright Creatures

ROMANCE: Always / Return to Me

ROMCOM: Dan in Real Life

SEASONAL: Groundhog Day / How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Carrey)

SOCIO-POLITICAL: Jojo Rabbit

SPORTS: Moneyball / Gran Turismo / A League of Their Own

SUPERHERO: Guardians of the Universe

TRUE STORY (Based on): Flyboys / The King's Speech

WESTERN: Gunless

SCI-FI: Project Hail Mary / Arrival / The Martian / Free Guy

PRESSURE (2026)

PRESSURE (2026)

Rated PG-13 - Rottentomatoes freshness score 89% (95% popcornmeter), IMDB rating 7.3/10

Synopsis:

It is 72 hours before allied forces that have been amassing on the island fortress of Great Britain are scheduled to embark on the most important invasion in military history - the invasion of France.  The invasion force includes hundreds of thousands of sailors, soldiers and airmen, and thousands of ships and aircraft.  Though Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D Eisenhower has a council of military leaders and advisors to help him, it is his decision alone to decide when they should attack.  Unfortunately, the weather of northern Europe can be highly unpredictable, so Winston Churchill recommends RAF Group Captain James Stagg, whom be believes to be the best meteorologist in Great Britain, be brought in to make the final weather prediction for D-Day.

Thoughts:

My overall impression of this movie supports the freshness ratings from Rottentomatoes.  The cast and storytelling are extremely compelling, and the way the events are portrayed seem to reflect what actually happened.  Andrew Scott knocks it out of the park as James Stagg, and though I'm not sure I would have cast Brendan Fraser as Eisenhower (the look very little alike, and has a much larger build than Ike), he does a great job portraying someone who has the weight of the world on his shoulders.  And Damien Lewis makes a good Bernard Montgomery.  

The atmosphere in the meteorology office, and conflicting attitudes and approaches of Stagg and the US chief meteorologist bring the story to its climax.  

I watched this movie in the theater, and since on disc.  

I recommend this movie, particularly if you are fan of military history.   

THE AMATEUR (1981)

THE AMATEUR (1981)

Rated R - Rottentomatoes - no freshness score (40% popcornmeter), IMBD rating - 5.9/10

Synopsis:

Charles Heller, a top CIA computer expert and cryptographer, is devastated when his fiancee is taken hostage and then executed during a terrorist attack.  When he approaches his superiors at the CIA, they express their condolences, but they refuse to take the action necessary to track down and kill those responsible.  Rather than succumb to the effects of this tragic loss, Heller takes matters into his own hands - he uses top-secret information to blackmail his superiors into training him so he can go after the terrorists himself.

Thoughts:

The R-rating.

By today's standards, this would probably earn a PG-13 rating.  The R-rating was almost certainly assigned because an unconscious woman was shown topless while medical professionals attempted to resuscitate her.  There were also multiple violent scenes in which the blood of victims was shown.  Language, drug use, etc., were mild.

The movie.

I first saw The Amateur on TV in the mid-1980s, and was able to make a VHS recording of it.  I don't remember anything about it's theatrical release, and, based on the limited number of reviews (only 5) indicated by Rotten Tomatoes, it didn't make much of a splash when it came out.  It was produced and filmed in Canada, and stars John Savage, Christopher Plummer and Marthe Keller in the lead roles.

The Amateur is a cold-war era film, when entities behind the Iron Curtain were the main sponsors of terror, and east-west tensions (at least as depicted in this movie) were a shoot-first-ask-questions-later approach to international relations.  

I acquired a DVD copy of this movie recently, and watched it last night for the first time in a long, long time.

I enjoyed the premise, and the acting and story were interesting, though not particularly fresh.  A few unexpected twists added to the experience.  The technology shown in the movie was cutting edge in the 1980s, but is woefully out of date today.  And, I have to wonder about the handgun provided to Heller by the CIA - that thing was HUGE!  

As of this writing, The Amateur (1981) is not available on any streaming platform, and physical copies of this movie are difficult to find.

If it were up to me, given its vintage, etc., I would assign it 65-70% fresh on the Rottentomatoes scale.

If you like spy thrillers, I recommend giving this a look when you get the chance.

Video library management and curation - Libib.com

There are lots of ways to curate and store a collection of physical media.  I chose to keep it simple, so all of the titles in my media library are shelved alphabetically.  I've tried other approaches over the years, but this works best for me.

I also use Libib.com, a cloud cataloging system, to keep track of my collection.  Libib provides free and upgraded (paid) versions.  For a private collection like mine, the free version works great!  

Libib includes a quick and easy way to add titles to a collection, and provides ways to edit each entry to suit your needs.  Movie summaries for most titles are already available when you add them, but if you want to edit these or write your own summaries, you can.  You can also add searchable custom tags for each movie and movie ratings as well.  For me, tags I use include the decade a movie was released, film rating, genre, etc.   

A great benefit of using Libib is that I can access my digital inventory of movies anywhere I have access to the web.  So, if I'm at a thrift store or a yard sale and I'm looking at movies, I can quickly check to see if I have already own a particular title.  This has saved me many times from buying a movie that was already in my collection.  

This is a screen capture from my Libib catalog of films

I can't say enough good things about my experience with Libib.  Before using Libib, I had to generate Word documents of my catalog, including an alphabetical list, a list that included a brief summary of each title, and a list sorted by genre.  And, I updated this list a few times a year.  Gone are the days that I do that!  

Thank you Libib!!

About movies

The last thing that the web needs is another blog about movies, but that's OK.  I've always enjoyed movies, and I became a dedicated movie fan when I experienced the birth of the modern blockbuster firsthand when I was a teenager.  I still remember seeing STAR WARS for the first time in the theater in the Fall of 1977. That was an experience that changed my life.  

I started building my video library in the 1980s, mostly by recording movies off of broadcast television onto VHS tapes.  

Some movie collectors that have massive collections of 10,000-15,000 titles on physical media.  but that's not my style.  My collection usually fluctuates between 800-900 titles that I genuinely enjoy and will watch - that's the key to my collection.  I will watch all of these from time to time. Also, I review my collection periodically and remove titles that no longer appeal to me, as I add movies at the same time.  

Here's my collection - kids' titles are housed elsewhere.

One last thing.  My wife used to roll her eyes when I'd come through the door with new (to me) discs or they'd arrive in the mail.  She'd say, "Why are you still buying DVDs when you can stream almost anything!?"  Well, over the past few years, many streaming services have opted to insert commercials into their media, and I say, "That's why!"  Plus, there is no guarantee that a title that's available to stream today will be available tomorrow.  With a library of my own favorites, those titles are always available to me.  And, when well cared for, they will last more or less indefinitely.

OK, that's enough rambling about movies for now.