Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer: movies

Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

[Review] — MY PENGUIN FRIEND is a Feel-Good Family Film

MY PENGUIN FRIEND (PG; 97 minutes) is a heartwarming tale of friendship and adventure that captivates viewers with its touching narrative. Scheduled for release on Digital and On Demand platforms by Lionsgate on October 1, this uplifting family film boasts a talented cast including the esteemed Jean Reno, known for his remarkable role in Léon: The Professional, alongside Academy Award nominee Adriana Barraza recognized for her performance in Babel, as well as rising talents Alexia Moyano from The Kingdom and Nicolás Francella from Victoria Small. Directed by David Schurmann, who brings a genuine warmth to the story, and produced by Steven P. Wegner, celebrated for his work on family films like The Garfield Movie and Dolphin Tale 2, MY PENGUIN FRIEND is available for a suggested retail price of $14.99 for Electronic Sell-Through (EST) and at $5.99 on Video On Demand (VOD).

[Review] — THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER is a Charming Family Holiday Comedy

Billy Burgess Christmas , comedy

Does anyone remember reading THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, written by the late author Barbara Robinson, in elementary school?

If I recall correctly, I read THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER twice during my childhood: once on my own and once for an elementary class assignment. I also remember a teacher reading the book to my classmates and me around the holidays, though I can't remember the exact year—either the late 1980s or early 1990s. I also believe we watched the 1983 television movie adaptation on VHS, which starred a young Fairuza Balk (known for Return to Oz, The Craft, and The Waterboy).

[Review] — THE CARPENTER is a Slightly Entertaining Biblical Action Flick

Billy Burgess movies ,

The biblical action drama THE CARPENTER (PG-13 for violence; 113 minutes), produced, co-written, and directed by Garrett Batty, is currently in theaters from Three Coin Productions and Boomtown Films.

THE CARPENTER is a powerful story of transformation and redemption. The film, set in biblical times, follows the life-changing journey of an adopted Viking orphan who becomes a carpenter's apprentice to none other than Jesus Christ. Through the timeless craft of carpentry, he finds a path to compassion and redemption.

[Review] — The Sylvester Stallone Produced LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE is an Exciting Survival Adventure Tale

Billy Burgess movies ,

LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE (99 minutes), an incredible true story based on the bestselling book, is set to be released in theaters on November 1st. The film is produced by Sylvester Stallone through his Balboa Productions in collaboration with Great Mountain and distributed in the USA by Blue Fox Entertainment.

[Review] — TWISTERS Storms onto 4K ULTRA HD

Billy Burgess 4K Ultra HD , adventure

This year's surprise summer blockbuster, TWISTERS, is now available on 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY, and DVD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The "hard-hitting disaster spectacle" (Impulse Gamer) has earned Certified Fresh & Verified Hot designations on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore, making it the best opening ever for a disaster film. TWISTERS is an adrenaline-pumping, thrilling experience that puts you in direct contact with one of nature’s most wondrous and destructive forces. Get the all-American action-packed adventure with exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus content featuring the cast and crew when you purchase from participating retailers nationwide, including Apple TV, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Microsoft Movies & TV.

[Review] — AVERAGE JOE is a Surprisingly Entertaining Sports Drama

Billy Burgess movies ,

Check out the new movie AVERAGE JOE (PG-13; 100 minutes) in theaters today, brought to us by Universal Pictures, Pinnacle Peak Pictures, Great American Pure Flix, Fathom Events, and Coach Productions.

Directed by Harold Cronk (God's Not Dead 1 & 2) and written by Stephanie Kataz (The Blind), the film stars Eric Close, Amy Acker, Austin Woods, Andrea Figliomeni, and David Jensen.

The movie tells the true story of high school football coach Joe Kennedy (played by Eric Close), a man who has faced many challenges in his personal and professional life. After getting fired for taking a knee in prayer after games, Joe and his wife Denise decide to fight for religious freedom, freedom of speech, and the rights of all Americans, regardless of the cost.

[Review] — WHITE BIRD is a Heartwarming, Emotional Coming-of-Age Drama

Billy Burgess movies ,

The movie WHITE BIRD is now showing in theaters. It is a sequel/prequel spinoff to the 2017 movie WONDER, based on the novel by R. J. Palacio. WHITE BIRD is based on the book "White Bird: A Wonder Story" by R. J. Palacio.

[Review] — TENANTS is an Anthology with Seven Stories of Terror

Billy Burgess anthology , horror

The horror anthology TENANTS (94 minutes) from Wallick Productions is available on VOD—in time for the Halloween season—presented by 13th Floor Productions in association with EXIT. Blake Reigle ("Nah"), Jonathan Louis Lewis ("Laundry Day”), Sean Mesler (“Acting Rash” & “The Photograph”), and Buz Wallick (“The Hoarder,” “Need Anything,” & “You’re Not Supposed to Be Here”) directed the anthology. It features the cast of Mary O’Neil, Christa Collins, Myles Cranford, Douglas Vermeeren, Tara Erickson, Clarke Wolfe, Fayna Sanchez, and Rib Hills.

[Blu-ray Review] — Gru and Minions Return in "DESPICABLE ME 4"

Billy Burgess animation , movies

DESPICABLE ME 4 (PG; 95 minutes), one of the summer's biggest blockbusters, is now available to own on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. This film marks the sixth installment of the Despicable Me franchise, including the two Minions prequels. It grossed over $900 million in ticket sales worldwide, making it the third highest-grossing film of 2024.

[Review] — "GOD'S NOT DEAD: IN GOD WE TRUST" is a Flawed but Meaningful Film

Billy Burgess movies ,

GOD'S NOT DEAD: IN GOD WE TRUST is the fifth film in the series from Pinnacle Peak Pictures, and it's set to hit theaters just in time for the political season in the United States.

GOD’S NOT DEAD is the most successful faith franchise. This new movie is more important than ever, especially with the upcoming presidential election. Join the debate that is stirring hearts and minds everywhere. You can purchase your tickets at www.fathomevents.com/events/gods-not-dead-in-god-we-trust/.

[Review] — "TWISTERS" is a Mindless, Entertaining Popcorn Blockbuster

Billy Burgess adventure , disaster

TWISTERS (PG-13; 122 minutes), the summer's unexpected box-office blockbuster, is now available for rent or purchase on digital platforms from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Recipient of an A- CinemaScore and a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the "hard-hitting disaster spectacle" (Impulse Gamer) has made history as the biggest opening for a disaster film ever. Exclusively available for purchase from select nationwide retailers, such as Apple TV, Fandango at Home (formerly known as Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Microsoft Movies & TV, is the all-American action-packed adventure with a never-before-seen gag reel and deleted scenes.

Directed by Lee Isaac Chung Munyurangabo and written by Mark L. Smith (The Revenant)—based on a story by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick)—TWISTERS is a standalone sequel to the classic 1996 disaster film TWISTER. Standalone means an in-name-only sequel with zero connections to the original. There are no returning characters and no name drops; only a similar plot with updated technology with a brand-new cast: Glen Powell (Anyone But You, Top Gun: Maverick), Daisy Edgar-Jones (Where The Crawdads Sing, Fresh), David Corenswet (Pearl, “The Politician”), Anthony Ramos (In The Heights, Hamilton), and Brandon Perea (Nope).

The protagonist of this quasi-reboot is Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), who gave up pursuing tornadoes across the Oklahoma prairies to safely study them on screens in New York City following a tragic tornado experience. Kate is drawn back to the field by her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) and a once-in-a-lifetime scientific chance, where she meets Tyler (Glen Powell), a charming daredevil and self-proclaimed tornado wrangler whose appetite for tornado-tracking escapades has made him a social media sensation. As the storm season increases with horrific occurrences unlike anything before, Kate and Tyler realize they must work together to tame and survive an unprecedented outbreak of destructive tornadoes.

The original TWISTER is what I would describe as a "summer blockbuster," it has a special place in my heart because I was a loner midwest teen when it hit theaters in 1996. I was unimpressed when I saw the 30-second TV spot for TWISTERS during the Super Bowl LVIII and automatically labeled the film a "flop." To my surprise—and many others—TWISTERS received generally positive reviews from mainstream critics and grossed $81.3 million during its opening weekend. It's now surpassed the $300 million mark at the worldwide box office.

TWISTERS is surprisingly better than expected, though you can see the best thrills in the trailers. The actors do their best with their two-dimensional characters. The plot is as thin as possible, but I imagine disaster movie fans want to see less story and more destruction. And there's plenty of destruction, but the CGI effects were underwhelming, only saved by the outstanding sound effects.

Overall, TWISTERS is a mindless, entertaining popcorn blockbuster. Is it flawed? Yep! Enjoyable? Sure! ╌★★★★✰

[Review] — SOMETHING TO STAND FOR

Billy Burgess movies ,

Just in time to celebrate July 4th is Mike Rowe's SOMETHING TO STAND FOR, a 99-minute film written by Rowe himself. Take a grand tour of Washington, DC, with America's favorite storyteller. This cinematic tour de force transports viewers to the front lines of the American Revolution, World War II, the Civil Rights movement, and more, drawing on his popular podcast "The Way I Heard It."

Go see SOMETHING TO STAND FOR in theaters starting June 27th. Tickets can be purchased at www.fathomevents.com/events/something-to-stand-for-with-mike-rowe/.

[Review] — "UNSUNG HERO" is a Heartwarming True Story

Billy Burgess movies ,

Today, April 26th, a powerful Christian drama called UNSUNG HERO is now showing in theaters. It tells the true story of the for King + Country family. You can purchase tickets at tickets.unsunghero.movie.

[Review] — "THE HOPEFUL" is a Mixed-Bag Religious Drama

Billy Burgess movies ,

In select theaters for two days only - April 17th and 18th - THE HOPEFUL is a 90-minute movie that tells the true story of a community in 19th-century New England whose lives were transformed as they learned what it means to truly wait for Jesus. This religious drama invites audiences of all ages to imagine how hope can change the world. Tickets can be purchased at www.fathomevents.com/events/the-hopeful/.

[Review} — "FORTY-SEVEN DAYS WITH JESUS" is a Charming Film for the Entire Family

Billy Burgess movies ,

For just three days—March 11–12, 14—Reel Big Studios, Pinnacle Peak Pictures, and Fathom Events will present the family-friendly religious musical drama FORTY-SEVEN DAYS WITH JESUS in theaters for the Lenten season. Learn more about the film at fortysevendaysfilm.com.

[Review] — "ORDINARY ANGELS" is a Touching, Tearjerker

Billy Burgess movies ,

The endearing true story Ordinary Angels, starring Academy Award winner Hilary Swank (*1999 Best Actress: Boys Don't Cry; *2004 Best Actress: Million Dollar Baby) and Alan Ritchson (Amazon Prime's Reacher), is currently playing in movie theaters via Lionsgate. Rounding out the cast are Nancy Travis (Last Man Standing), Tamala Jones (Castle), and Skywalker Hughes (Joe Pickett).

[Blu-ray Review] — "TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM"

Billy Burgess movies ,

I was one of the millions of '80s youngsters obsessed with the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, which aired from 1987 to 1996, though I tuned out about 1992 or 1993. Naturally, I also enjoyed the first three live-action films in the series—well, maybe not the third one as much as the others. The live-action Next Mutation series, which ran from 1997 to 1998, was a farce. I joined the 2003–2009 series late and felt the 2007 animated movie was unneeded. I did, however, watch the animated Nickelodeon series from 2012 to 2017, and I humbly believe it to be the best TMNT series. I disliked the animation style of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and there were too many unneeded alterations.

[Review] ‒ "THE SHIFT" is an Eccentric Religious Science Fiction Thriller ‒ {Giveaway}

Billy Burgess movies ,

Now in theaters from Angel Studios (The Chosen, Sound of Freedom) is the science fiction drama THE SHIFT, written, produced, and directed by Brock Heasley. The film features Sean Astin (The Goonies, Rudy, and The Lord of the Rings), Neal McDonough (Band of Brothers), and Elizabeth Tabish (The Chosen).

[Review] - The Real Jigsaw Returns in "SAW X"

Billy Burgess movies ,

It's hard to believe that the Saw series is almost twenty years old. The series has ten films—technically, Jigsaw and Spiral are more like spinoffs—but ten movies is a lot. In my opinion, the first three films were the greatest, and—spoiler alert—John Kramer (Jigsaw) and his apprentice Amanda met their gruesome demise at the end of Saw III—though whether Amanda died from a bullet neck wound continues to be debated among fans. Even though Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith are now twenty years older than the characters they portray, I was ecstatic to see them return to their roles as John and Amanda in Saw X, a prequel set between Saw and Saw II. As you might be wondering, no CGI de-aging was employed—just simply classic make-up techniques and, for Shawnee Smith, an unrealistic wig—more on that later.

[Blu-ray Review] — "Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning—Part One" is a Thrilling Train Ride

Billy Burgess movies ,

For those who, like me, have been living under a rock, Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning—Part One is now available on digital, *4K UHD, *Blu-ray, and *DVD (* paid link). More specifically, the Tom Cruise-starring action film was released in theaters over the summer and landed on physical media on October 31, 2023. I was handed a copy before Halloween, and due to my hectic schedule, I'm only now writing my "review."

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Friday, October 25, 2024

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Friday, October 11, 2024

Monday, October 7, 2024

Friday, September 27, 2024

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Saturday, August 17, 2024

Friday, June 28, 2024

Friday, April 26, 2024

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Sunday, March 10, 2024

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Monday, January 29, 2024

Saturday, December 2, 2023

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