John Wayne Movie Review: ****^The Shootist (1976)

 In this movie John Wayne plays a gun man, J.B. Books who is at the end of his days due to cancer.  His doctor (James Stewart) gives him something for pain, but lets him know the end is near.  He comes to town and takes room and board from Bond Rogers (Lauren Becall).  Her son is an impressionable teen, Gillom Rogers (Ron Howard) who is greatly influenced by the thought of being a gun fighter.  Books is looking for a way out rather than a slow agonizing death.  He finds that in three shady characters in town (Richard Boone, Hugh O'Brian and Bill McKinney, and invites them to meet him at the bar for a final gunfight.  

The theme of this movie seems to convince Gillom that the life of a gunfighter is not all heroics and glamour.  There is good in being a regular person.  

This movie is John Wayne's last.  He died of cancer in 1979. 

Nicole Kidman Movies

 Nicole is a very goo and prolific actress.  This list does not include "R" rated fare.  Some years she has four or five movies.  I have enjoyed watching her in fil,

Days of Thunder (1990)

***^Far and Away (1992) with Tom Cruise

My Life (1993)

Batman Forever (1995)

The Portrait of a Lady (1996)

****Practical Magic (1998). With Sandra Bullock as her sister. Halloween

Molin Rogue (2001)

The Hours (2002)

****The Others (2004). Very creepy ghost story.  Halloween

The Stepford Wives (2004)

Bewitched (2005)

The Interpreter (2005)

Happy Feet (2006)

Golden Compass (2007)

The Invasion (2007)

***^Australia (2008) 

Nine (2009)

Rabbit Hole (2010)

Just Go for It (2011)

Paddington (2014)

Grace of Monaco (2014)

Secret in their Eyes (2015)

Queen of the Desert (2015)

Lion (2016)

Genius (2016)

****Aquaman (2018) Aquaman's mother with Jason Mamoa

****Upside (2019) with Kevin Hart

The Prom (2020)

Being the Ricardos (2021)

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)

*** Spellbound (2024) animated

A Family Affair (2024)

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in ***^Far and Away (1992)

 An Irish couple posing as brother and sister Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman) immigrate to America; she from an aristocratic crowd and he from a poorer family, losing their farm.  They hope to start over in Oklahoma territory.  She loses her money--silver she took from her mother to a swindler.  So it turns out he is more apt to earn money in the new world.  He becomes a boxer and does well.  But they are both put out on the street when he loses a fight, mostly because is manager (Colm Meany) makes advances on his "sister."

They are cold and hungry, and eventually break into an empty house.  She is shot when the owner discovers them.  He takes her to her ex suitor (Thomas Gibson) who has followed them to America. 

Somehow they both end up ant the day the Oklahoma territory is opening.  Her parents (Robert Prosky and Barbara Babcock) are also there.

I enjoyed this movie.  I have a inkling that much of the history is off however.

James Bond Movie: ****Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

 Sean Connery uis back and this Bond movie is very good.  Conner is called upon to solve a diamond stealing ring.  Mr. Kidd and Mr. Wint (Putter Smith and Bruce Glover) are devious killing those who oppose their diamond business.  Bond inserts himself Peter Franks, who smuggles diamonds.  But the diamonds he smuggles turn out to be fake.  Bond of course is trying to gt to the top of the trade.  He does meet Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) who is a go between.  But the trail takes them to Mr. Whyte (James Dean) but turns out to be Blofeld (Charles Gray)--but there are two of them.  He does kill one, after killing another earlier,  taking the total to one.  Of course Blofeld captures him but he is able to get away.  They track him down again, but this time the real Mr. Whyte.  Turns out he wasn't aware how his company has been used.

Blofeld was able to use the diamonds to make a lazer weapon which he uses to blow up some missiles and holds the world hostage.  However using whyte's knowledge they are able to determine where Blofeld's base is located.  

This movie takes us to Las Vegas.  This is a great Bond movie with the traditional formula, including the intro and the music.  This also includes M, Q and Moneypenny.

Movie Review: ***^Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

This is the alien war that the aliens are winning.  Tom Cruise stars as Cage, a captain who has been Shanghaied to the front lines.  He kills a particular alien that givs him the power to relive that day over and over.  Sergeant Rita (Emily Blunt) had the same ability but lost it when she did not die one day.  They team together to figure how to kill the Omega, the life force that is at the center of the aliens, as they all use the same nervous system.  Being one body with many parts.  So we live one day after another with Rita making sure Cage is dead at the end of the day; and slowly they get closer and closer.  When they day finally comes to attack the Omega, Cage recruits his old unit to help. 

Great fun, especially the ending which I had to watch twice to make sur i understood it.

• 

  Tom Cruise

  Cage
• 

  Emily Blunt

  Rita
• 

  Brendan Gleeson

  General Brigham
• 

  Bill Paxton

  Master Sergeant Farell
• 

  Jonas Armstrong

  Skinner
• 

  Tony Way

  Kimmel
• 

  Kick Gurry

  Griff
• 

  Franz Drameh

  Ford
• 

  Dragomir Mrsic

  Kuntz
• 

  Charlotte Riley

  Nance
• 

  Masayoshi Haneda

  Takeda

At the Movies: ***^Senior (2023/2025)

 This movie is based on the true story of Mike Flynt (Michael Chiklis) who missed his senior year of college football because he fought too much.  aHe decides to come back to school 35 years later to play out his senior year at 59.  He does not get to his first game as he is injured in practice.  However he works through his injury, and rejoins the team with a couple games left.  Coach (Rob Corddry) finally decides to let him play the last game on the field goal unit.  His team has had trouble with allowing blocked kicks.  

However his estranged son (Brandon Flynn) doesn't understand his need to be part of a team.  He, and many others, think he is crazy to be laying at such an age.  His wife (Mary Stuart Masterson) has also struggled, but comes to understand her husband more.  He makes good friends with the players, and he is part of something special.  The final game is very exciting.  This is a feel good movie.  It seems like the local theater has mostly rated R movies so it is good to have a choice you can actually go to.

James Bond Movie Review: ***^On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

This movie entailed lots of  changes in the Bond franchise.  First we have a different actor playing James Bond, George Lazenby.  We also have a different actor as Blofeld/Number One, Telly Savalas.  However the other regulars are the same.  Money Penny (Lois Maxwell) is especially emotional as Bond beomes engaged to someone else, Tracy (Diana Rigg).  Sraco (Gabriele Ferzetti) portrays Tracy's father and helps Bond with information as well as muscle when it is needed.  Helping Number One is Irma Bunt (Ilse Steppat).  She is helping train young women to become assassins.  They then propose to hold the world hostage with their assassins and are asking for a high ransom.  They have already been sent out into the world. We have skiing chases, and even a bob sled race for new things.  The Bond theme music is oly played towards the end and is missed.  This film also had a different opening motif, without the Bond animation with a gun.  And of course thee is a different romantic Bond, who is more concerned about morals and true love.  But with Bond that can never last.  

Tom Hanks Movie Review: ****^Turner and Hooch (1989)

 This movie shows Tom Hank's versatility as he plays opposite a disobedient dog.  He portrays a police investigator, Turner, with OCD.  This makes the story difficult for him.  The dog belonged to his friend, Amos (John McIntire) who is murdered and witnessed by the dog.  Turner takes the dog in to help him find the culprit.  In the meantime he meets the vet, Emily Carson (Mare Whitingham) and becomes enamored with her.  The dog recognizing the murder at a wedding and the chase is on.  However the chase leads farther than anyone assumed.  This is a very good police film, with intrigue and action.  Hooch plays a very big part in the action as he is a large dog, with a big bite.  I highly recommend this movie.  The other detective helping Turner is Detective David Sutton (Reginald VelJohnson).  The Chief of Police is Chief Howard Hyde (Craig T. Nelson).

Music Review: Chicago Greatest Hits 1982-1989

 Chicago is a band that formed in 1967.  First called The Big Thing, and then Chicago Transit Authority and then Chicago.  They self describe as a rock band with brass.  They have sold over 100,000,000 records.  

This album starts with "Its Hard to Say I'm Sorry" which is one of my favorite.  I always though it was an Air supply song but now I know.  written and sung by bassist Peter Cetera.  This is a slower song that explores a relationship ending.  Peter left the band in 1985 so only played in about half the songs of the album.  "Stay the Night has a harder rock feel."  I fins "Will You Still Love Me" also very nice; not too hard and not too soft.  The lyrics are a bit fatalistic.  I can't go on."  That is not a tru statement.  "Love Me Tomorrow" is also very nice.  You love me, that's all I need to know."  "You're the Inspiration" again is softer and catchier.   This song along with "Its Hard to Say I'm Sorry" I think are their best.  "Hard Habit to Break" again sings of love for a woman.  This is a common theme.  

This is a very special album.  It includes songs from Chicago 16, 17 and 18.  Chicago has their own sound with the horns added.  The also have good drums and guitars.  

James Bond Movie: ***^You Only Live Twice (1967)

 In this Bond rendition we get both ninjas and the space program from Russia and the U.S.  Spectre is kidnapping space men in an effort to promote war between the U.S. and Russia.  Bond and Japanese secret service (lead by Tiger Tanaka, Tetsuro Tamba) are assigned to recover them.  They also need to stop anymore space vehicles from being captures and the U.S. and Russia blame each other.  We see number eleven killed by number one for failing to kill James Bond.  Number three also gets it in the end.  Q delivers a mini, but powerful helicopter.  It appears a toy but packs a punch. 

 Sceptre has their own space vehicle, which is capturing the smaller government vehicles.  It is Bond, and his supposed wife who come upon the Spectre base.  He is able to help the ninjas attack.  We finally see number one, more than just hid cat.  Number one is Blofeld (Donald Pleasence).  

Bond is married to Kissy (Mie Hama), for his cover but does finally get his honeymoon.  This is en par with the other Bond movies.  Lots of action and intrigue.  Bond seems to live through just about anything.  

Movie Review: ****Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)

 Zathura is basically Jumanji in space.  Two brothers are playing the game, Walter and Danny (Josh Hutcherson and Jonah Bobo)  The space part adds some elements which are unique.  We have a meteor shower, Zorgons who like to eat people, an astronaut (Dax Shepard) floating by, a robot that is broken.  They are floating in space in their house, which keeps getting destroyed.  Their older sister (Kristen Sewart) is upstairs frozen in the bathroom.  The three are home with sister in charge, who sleeps or is frozen through most of it.  Their father (Tim Robbins) had to go to work.  

The three siblings are really in a dysfunctional family.  Parents are recently divorced.  Walter blames his younger brother for this.  Danny and Walter do not get along.  walter is actually very mean to him, and calls him names.  The older sister has checked out and really isn't involved with her brothers at all.  This story serves as a jolt to them to get their relationships back where they need to be.

 Jon Favreau directed.

Movie Review: *****A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

 This is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.  It should have won the Oscar for best picture. Tom Hanks is great as Mr. Rogers.  No, Tom Hanks is not exactly like Mr. Rogers, but he is close.  He does capture the essence and the humanity of Mr. Rogers.  The story is about a magazine writer, Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) assigned to do a story on Mr. Rogers.   The writer comes with his own flaws, estranged from his father (Chris Cooper) who is dying.  This estrangement leads to some problems between he and his wife (Susan Kelechi Watson).  They have a baby.   And Mr. Rogers helps him to deal with his anger, stop living in the past and be there for people.  Mr. Rogers wife is played by Tammy Blanchard and his manager by Enrico Colantoni.  They all do a very good job showing who Mr. Rogers was created.  They also play on the fame of Mr. Rogers, and his facility with giving complements.  His wife says that he actually practices this skill.  The manager is to help him not over extend, and also to help him get away from people.  

Such men as Fred Rogers are a treasure, and Tom Hanks captures that special trait.  

James Bond Movie: ****^Thunderfall (1965)

This is the basic spy vs spy formula but it adds some special things that makes this one better.  Sean Connery again stars as James Bond with same support staff of M and Moneypenny and Q (Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell and Desmond Llewelyn).  The villain is Number Two, Largo (Adolfo Celi).  Then his henchwoman, Fiona (Luciana Paluzzi), who says she would kill Bond, but gets shot by one of her own men.  The fly in the ointment for SPECTRE is Largo's niece, Domino (Claudine Auger).  She discovers that Largo has killed her brother.  Then she is determined to do everything she can to bring him down.  

The plot of this movie revolvrs around recovering a couple nuclear bombs that have been stolen from NATO.  Bond is trying to recover them.  He uses the help of CIA agent Felix Leiter (Rik Van Nutter).  

The thing that makes this movie different and better than other Bond movies is the underwater battle between forces of NATO and forces of SPECTRE.  Pretty exciting stuff.  And Largo does get his in the end.

Tom Cruise Movies: In Theaters: ****Mission Impossible Final Reckoning (2025)

 The entire movie I was waiting for the wing walking which I had heard about.  It came in the final 20 minutes.  

This movie has a formidable villain in Gabriel (Esai Morales) who seems unstoppable at the first of the show.  He has set up a trap in which he has Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) in a trap, either save yourself and many people die, or disarm the bomb and only you die.  He chooses to save the any people and is killed.  Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is again all over the place doing impossible things.  It seems Gabriel is always a step ahead.  They are battling over a key which would give control of the AI which is taking over the world.  

One mistake that Gabriel makes is to betray his side kick, Paris (Pom Klementieff) who then becomes an asset knowing inside doings of Gabriel's network.  Grace (Hayley Aywell) continues as Hunt's love interest and spy.  Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) is a more active part of the team and is in harm's way.  

The plane walking comes in when it appears that all is lost, and Hunt jumps from his plane to that of Gabriel, and has to walk the wing to continue the fight.  

Plenty of action and lots of fun.  I think this may be the final Mission Impossible.

Movie Review: ***^Da Vinci Code (2006)

 This movie plays on themes of conspiracy within the Catholic Church.  A murder is committed at the first and Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), a specialist in symbols, is recruited to help in the investigation.  He is drawn into a plot to find the holy grail, and thereby prove that Jesus was not divine butt mortal and sired an heir through Mary Magdalene.  Sophie Neceu is his side kick who recruits him.  Sir Leigh Teabing financed the murderer.  Captain Bezu with with the police.  Silas is the assassin who also likes to beat himself in self penance; and Bishop Manuel works with him.  Directed by Ron Howard.

written by Dan Brown.  He must have had some vendetta against the Catholic Church.  Of course none of this is proved in the end.  This movie is a bit difficult to follow.  Even after it seemed to end it kept going.

• 

  Tom Hanks

  Robert Langdon
• 

  Audrey Tautou

  Sophie Neveu
• 

  Ian McKellen

  Sir Leigh Teabing
• 

  Jean Reno

  Captain Bezu Fache
• 

  Paul Bettany

  Silas
• 

  Alfred Molina

  Bishop Manuel Aringarosa