1) 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR (1975) R
Synopsis:
Joe Turner, a CIA analyst who spends his days reading books, magazines, anything, spends his days looking for possible links between what he reads and relevant international situations, CIA activities, etc. When he comes across a book that was not commercially successful, but has been translated into an unusual combination of languages, he sends his findings up the chain of command for further consideration. A few days later, it's Joe's turn to go pick up lunch for himself and everyone else, but when he returns he discovers that everyone in the entire unit is dead - murdered. He calls it in, but gets spooked because he doesn't know who to trust, and he goes on the run. Scared and alone, he kidnaps a woman at random because he needs a place to lay low while he tries to figure out what is going on.
Thoughts:
RT rates this movie 89% fresh, and they are right. Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway headline this story of murder, spies and intrigue. This movie was released in 1975 and was given an R-rating. The primary reason for this is that it includes three f-bombs, more than the one f-bomb allowed for a PG-13 rating. There is also some graphic violence involving people getting shot and a vicious fight scene. IMDB rates this movie moderate for violence and gore, profanity and for frightening scenes. Everything else is mild.
2) GOAL II: LIVING THE DREAM (2007) PG-13
Synopsis:
Young Santiago Munez, having found success in Goal I with the British Premier League's Newcastle United, he gains global attention and is poised to play on the world's most prestigious team when he and his teammate are acquired by Real Madrid. Of course, this move comes with a whole new set of opportunities and challenges, and he tested in many ways, both on and off of the pitch.
Thoughts:
RT rates this movie 39% fresh...i.e., rotten. RT isn't wrong, but if you enjoy football (soccer) then this is a movie for you. Others appearing in the movie include Hans Becker and Rutger Hauer, among others in cameos. I wish that there was more action on the pitch and less off of it, but that's the movie business, I guess.
3) THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) G
Synopsis:
A meteorite hits near a small California town, and with people looking on, a strange flying machine rises from the rubble, bringing with it terrible destructive power that apparently neither the military nor the scientific community can stop. Before long, these ships are being discovered all over the globe, and this could be the end of humanity and domination of Earth by the Martians.
Thoughts:
H.G. Well's classic 1898 tale of terror and destruction is told in this 1953 sci-fi classic that RT rates as 89% fresh - and it is. However, everyone who has read the original book knows that the Martian's massive vehicles of destruction don't fly, they walk on three legs. For whatever reason, the Martians fly around in this version. Even so, the rest of the story, other than being set mainly in 1950s California instead of in Victorian England.
I remember seeing this movie on TV when I was very young, and parts of it terrified me. I think that one of the things that terrified me the most was that the Martians were never really shown on screen, which left it up to my imagination to decide what they might look like. Oh, and this movie was filmed in TECHNICOLOR, when many other sci-fi movies of the day were still black and white.
I remember seeing this movie on TV when I was very young, and parts of it terrified me. I think that one of the things that terrified me the most was that the Martians were never really shown on screen, which left it up to my imagination to decide what they might look like. Oh, and this movie was filmed in TECHNICOLOR, when many other sci-fi movies of the day were still black and white.
I'm happy to add this title to my movie library.
