Bright Lights, Big City Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Michael J. Fox - Jamie Conway
Phoebe Cates - Amanda
Kiefer Sutherland - Tad Allagash
Dianne Wiest - Mother

Director: James Bridges
Writer: Jay McInerney  (novel & screenplay)
Release Date: April 1, 1988
Genre: Drama
Rated R

Bright Lights, Big City is one of Michael J. Fox's lesser praised movie credits.

Jamie Conway (Michael J. Fox) is a young writer living in New York City who turns to drugs and alcohol to block out the memories of his dead mother, played by Dianne Wiest, and estranged wife, Amanda (Phoebe Cates).

He also works in the fact checking department of a very popular magazine. Unfortunately, his boss is a very shrewd woman who insists that there be absolutely no errors or typos in any of the articles. With each new assignment, Jamie finds it more and more difficult to please her.

Of course, staying out all night at the clubs with his privileged friend, Tad Allagash  (Kiefer Sutherland), also doesn't help his work situation. Eventually, Jamie realizes that he needs to slow down or else run the risk of burning out way too soon.

This movie is really good at pointing out all the greed and individual decadence that was prevalent during the 1980s. I also feel the role of Jamie Conway is one of Michael J. Fox's best lead performances.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give Bright Lights, Big City 7 tamales!

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

:-)

Jennifer Lawrence & Nicholas Hoult Make Out in New Rogue Cut Scene

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/455347-jennifer-lawrence-nicholas-hoult-make-out-in-new-rogue-cut-scene

Soaked in Bleach Trailer (Kurt Cobain Murdered?)

http://www.cinemablend.com/m/new/Soaked-Bleach-Trailer-Examines-Whether-Kurt-Cobain-Was-Actually-Murdered-71411.html

Click the link to watch the trailer for Soaked in Bleach.

Batman Vs Superman: What You Need to Know

http://movieweb.com/batman-vs-superman-what-you-need-to-know/

Batman Solo Film Coming in 2019?

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/119719-batman-solo-film-coming-in-2019#/slide/1

Star Trek Beyond Title Confirmed

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/455099-star-trek-beyond-title-confirmed-first-set-photo-teased

The Giver Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Brenton Thwaites - Jonas
Jeff Bridges - The Giver
Meryl Streep - Chief Elder
Katie Holmes - Jonas's mother
Odeya Rush - Fiona
Alexander Skarsgard - Jonas's father
Cameron Monaghan - Asher

Director: Phillip Noyce
Release Date: August 15, 2014
Genre: Action / Fantasy / Drama
Rated PG-13

The Giver could be likened to movies like The Hunger Games and Divergent but that would be an over simplification.

Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) appears to be an ordinary teenager living in a somewhat dystopian community set sometime in the distant future. His friends, Fiona (Odeya Rush) and Asher (Cameron Monaghan), look just as ordinary as him.

In fact, everyone in his community looks pretty ordinary. They all dress in the same drab clothing and are completely devoid of all emotion. By which I mean they were all genetically engineered and modified to the point of no longer being able to feel any discernible emotions.

The sole purpose for doing this is to ensure the propagation of a completely gullible and non-rebellious race of people. Oh and in addition to not feeling emotions they also cannot see colors. They only see in black and white, even though they have no concept of black and white.

Then the day comes for Jonas and his friends to graduate and be assigned their lifetime careers. Asher is assigned the position of pilot, Fiona is assigned the position of nurturer and Jonas is assigned the position of Receiver. As in receiver of memories. The collective memories of all mankind throughout all of history.

Luckily, Jonas is trained to receive these ancient memories by the current Receiver (Jeff Bridges) who can now go by the title The Giver.

The Giver shares many wonderful memories with Jonas but he also shares some very hateful and violent memories with him. Jonas finds it hard to stomach them all but he is still grateful for being shown a forgotten yet important aspect of being human.

The more memories he receives the more he evolves into a distinct individual. Of course, this is considered to be very wrong by the elders of the community. The Chief Elder (Meryl Streep) eventually notices Jonas becoming individualistic but the only thing she can do to try to get him to stop is threaten his friends and family with uncertainty.

This movie has a great story, great performances by each actor, great special effects and great cinematography.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give The Giver 8 tamales!

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

:-)

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First Trailer for Chris Farley Movie

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7689156

Loera Reviews Podcast Coming Soon!!!

Hello, readers of my blog! I just thought I should let you know that I have decided to start a LOERA REVIEWS PODCAST on which I will be talking about movies and other movie related stuff. I'll still be posting regularly on this blog. The podcast will just allow me to expand on my reviews a little more and connect with my readers on a slightly more personal level. So, stay tuned.

I thank you for your continued readership! :-)

You can also keep up to date by following me on Twitter. My twitter handle is @buddhkist

Lucy 2 & Colombiana 2 Planned

http://movieweb.com/lucy-2-colombiana-2-johansson-saldana-return/

Fantastic Four

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/454621-fantastic-four-photo-get-a-new-look-at-the-team

Batman: Assault on Arkham Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Kevin Conroy - Batman
Neal McDonough - Deadshot
Hynden Walch - Harley Quinn
Matthew Gray Gubler - The Riddler
Troy Baker - The Joker
John DiMaggio - King Shark
Greg Ellis - Captain Boomerang
Giancarlo Esposito - Black Spider
Jennifer Hale - Killer Frost
Martin Jarvis - Alfred Pennyworth
CCH Pounder - Amanda Waller

Directors: Jay Oliva, Ethan Spaulding
Writers: Heath Corson, Bob Kane (characters)
Genre: Action/Animation
Rated PG-13

I  was genuinely surprised by this movie! It's chock-full of DC Comics action!

Deadshot, Harley Quinn, King Shark, Captain Boomerang, Black Spider and Killer Frost make up Amanda Waller's group of villains known as the Suicide Squad.

They are tasked with breaking into Arkham Asylum to recover vital information stolen by the Riddler. To ensure they do as they're told, Waller has small explosive chips implanted in their necks. At the slightest hint of rebelliousness she can activate their chips remotely and blow their heads into a million pieces.

While they break into Arkham, Batman is preoccupied with trying to locate a dirty bomb that the Joker hid before being sent to Arkham.

You would think that having so many villains work together would be a terrible idea but for the most part they work well together. I guess the threat of death can be a very powerful motivator.

Once they get inside Arkham and locate the Riddler, they realize Amanda Waller has set them up to take the fall for something far more sinister.

The action sequences are really intricate and well thought out. I also like how accurately each villain is portrayed. I give a big thumbs up to each voice actor! They really gave it their all.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give Batman: Assault on Arkham 7.7 tamales!
(I wonder if Batman likes tamales.)

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

:-)

Will Ferrell Quote

Bat Kid Begins

http://www.comingsoon.net/movie/batkid-begins-2015#/slide/1

Jessica Lucas Joins Gotham As Tigress

http://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/454389-jessica-lucas-joins-gotham-season-two-as-tigress

The Men Who Stare at Goats Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
George Clooney - Lyn Cassady
Ewan McGregor - Bob Wilton
Jeff Bridges - Bill Django
Kevin Spacey - Larry Hooper

Director: Grant Heslov
Release Date: November 6, 2009
Adapted from book: The Men Who Stare at Goats
Genre: Comedy/Film adaptation
Rated R

The Men Who Stare at Goats is a seriously underrated movie!

Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is a journalist for a small town newspaper who inadvertently stumbles upon the history of an elite group of psychic soldiers. It begins when he interviews a man who claims to be one of those soldiers. He tells Bob that they were trained to stop the hearts of goats using nothing but their minds.

Of course, Bob doesn't believe him right away but he can tell there's definitely some kind of truth to his story.

Soon after, a coworker of Bob's dies from a heart attack and his wife leaves him for another coworker. A one armed coworker.

Bob then tries to think of a way to win her back. That’s when George W. Bush decides to invade Iraq and Bob decides to enlist as a war correspondent.

Once in Iraq, Bob sees very little action. Then he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) on the patio of the hotel. Lyn claims to be the owner of a waste management company looking to get a military contract.

But Bob quickly remembers that Lyn was named as another psychic soldier by that first guy he interviewed. Bob tells Lyn he knows who he really is and Lyn immediately runs away.

Bob catches up to him near the kitchen area of the hotel. Lyn asks him if he was sent by anyone. Bob says no and tells him he's just a small town journalist looking for a good story. Lyn believes him and invites him up to his room to tell him everything he knows about the psychic soldier program.

He says it was started by a Vietnam veteran named Bill Django (Jeff Bridges) who had a very spiritually enlightening vision after almost dying from a gunshot wound. Bill was then motivated to seek out alternatives to war and senseless violence. He participated in many different spiritual movements until he finally allowed himself to become more of a compassionate and joyful being.

Bill then got approval from the army to start recruiting and training psychic soldiers for what he called the New Earth Army. They practiced things like yoga, meditation, dance and remote viewing.

Unfortunately, like all good things, it came to an end when new recruit Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey) quickly grew jealous of the close bond that Lyn had developed with Bill. So, he deliberately sabotaged and discredited Bill Django's training methods. Thus, having Bill removed as head of the New Earth Army and forever flung into obscurity.

What makes this movie even more intriguing is that it's based on a true story. All the names have been changed and some of the details altered but at one point there definitely was a top secret elite group of psychic soldiers carrying out all kinds of covert work for the military.

For all I know they could still exist but it's probably best that we don't know too much about them.

I recommend watching this movie with an open mind and a broad sense of humor.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give The Men Who Stare at Goats a delicious 8 tamales!

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

:-)

The Way Mini Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

2010
PG-13
Drama/Adventure
Screenplay: Emilio Estevez
Stars:
Martin Sheen - Tom
Emilio Estevez - Daniel

Martin Sheen gives a great performance as Tom, a man who decides to complete a long pilgrimage that his son, Daniel, couldn't due to his untimely demise in a boating accident.

Tom meets many interesting people along the way and learns something about himself as well. The beautiful scenery and well written story compliment each other nicely.

I highly recommend watching this movie!

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give The Way 7.5 tamales.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

:-)

Download My Novel For Free!

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/411686

Click the link to download my novel, Aperture, for Free!

Street Poet Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Jeff Stearns - Jake
Tara D'Agostino - Marni
C. Thomas Howell - David Settles

Director: E. Paul Edwards
Release Date: March 2, 2010
Genre: Drama
Rated R

The life of a poet is not an easy one. It's filled with many hardships and struggles. But there are moments of great creative expression as well.

Jake (Jeff Stearns) is your typical angst ridden poet struggling to get his poetry heard and read by the masses.
Enter Marni (Tara D'Agostino) a talent scout for a major publisher who is very interested in getting Jake's work published. She takes Jake to a well known poet's, David Settles (C. Thomas Howell), book signing/reading with the hope of inspiring him to become more marketable.

Jake is reluctant to conform but he eventually realizes this could be his only shot at being a nationally recognized published poet. So, with some vigorous training and coaching from Marni, he becomes a lean mean poetry machine.

Marni also signs him up for something called a Poetron Slam. Which is just one big spoken word contest in which hundreds of poets compete for prize money.

In between all the training, Jake and Marni become intimate with one another. By which I mean they get it on!
You know what I mean. Eh? Eh? Ha, ha, ha, ha!!

But seriously… Jake learns of Marni's life threatening illness and freaks out a little bit but eventually looks past it.

There's a lot of really well written original poems in this movie. Unfortunately, most of the actors have a hard time conveying the raw emotional attributes of each poem. But they deserve applause for trying.

I really like Tara D'Agostino's portrayal of Marni. When I did a Google search I was bummed to see that Street Poet is her only acting credit. Apparently, she's now involved in selling Aflac insurance.

Tara D'Agostino! If you're reading this… PLEASE return to acting! PLEASE!

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give Street Poet 6.8 tamales.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

:-)

Movie Quote: Napoleon Dynamite

Movie Quote: Superbad

Tiny Furniture Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Lena Dunham - Aura
Grace Dunham - Nadine
Jemima Kirke - Charlotte
Alex Karpovsky - Jed
Laurie Simmons - Siri

Director: Lena Dunham
Writer: Lena Dunham
Release Date: November 12, 2010
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Not Rated

Tiny Furniture is one of those movies you kind of want to hate but don't because there is something very relatable about it.

Aura (Lena Dunham) is a recent college graduate returning home with a degree in film theory. Though she's not exactly thrilled about moving back in with her artist mother, Siri (Laurie Simmons), and over achieving sister, Nadine (Grace Dunham), she knows she has very few options.

She's also still getting over being dumped by her college boyfriend. Nevertheless, she remains somewhat hopeful about the future.

It doesn't take long for her mother and sister to start getting on her nerves. Luckily, she reconnects with childhood friend Charlotte (Jemima Kirke) at a party. Charlotte is really good at being spontaneous and helps Aura temporarily forget about her troubles.

Aura also meets Jed (Alex Karpovsky) at the same party. Jed is known for making philosophical/comedic sketch videos and posting them on YouTube.

Aura becomes somewhat interested in Jed and attempts to date him but then backs off once Jed makes it clear that he is interested in having an open relationship.

The bulk of the movie goes on and on in a similar fashion. Lena Dunham has said in interviews that Tiny Furniture is semi-autobiographical. That's an accurate categorization for it.

Personally, I believe the world needs more female writer/directors like Lena Dunham.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give Tiny Furniture 7.5 tamales.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

:-)

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Here's some confirmed info for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Release Date: March 25, 2016
(3D/2D theaters and IMAX)
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: Zack Snyder
Screenwriters: Chris Terrio, David S. Goyer
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenburg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Gal Gadot
Genre: Action, Adventure
Official Website:
BatmanvSupermanDawnofJustice.com

Plot Summary:
Fearing the actions of a god-like super hero left unchecked, Gotham City's own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis's most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it's ever known before.

(Source: comingsoon.net)

( Like Comic Books? Click here to browse mycomicshop.com )

Star Wars The Force Awakens

Here's some confirmed info for the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Release Date: December 18, 2015
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures, Lucasfilm
Director: J.J. Abrams
Screenwriters: J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan
Starring: Harrison Ford, Andy Serkis, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, Max von Sydow, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Lupita Nyong'o, Crystal Clarke, Pip Anderson, Christina Chong, Miltos Yerolemou
Genre: Action, Sci-fi, Adventure
Official website: StarWars.com

(Source: comingsoon.net)

Independence Day 2

Here's some confirmed info for the upcoming Independence Day sequel!

Title: Independence Day Resurgence
Release Date: June 24, 2016
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Director: Roland Emmerich
Screenwriters: Carter Blanchard, Roland Emmerich, Dean Devlin
Starring: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox, Brent Spiner, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe, Sela Ward.
Genre: Action, Sci-fi, Adventure

Plot Summary:
We always knew they were coming back. After "Independence Day" redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens' advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.

(Source: comingsoon.net)

World's Greatest Dad Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Robin Williams - Lance Clayton
Daryl Sabara - Kyle Clayton
Alexie Gilmore - Claire

Director: Bobcat Goldthwait
Release Date: August 21, 2009
Genre: Indie film/Drama
Rated R

Lance Clayton  (Robin Williams) is a struggling writer who teaches poetry at a private school. He's written five unpublished novels and amassed piles of rejection letters from various publishers. Add to that having to raise a troublesome teenage son and you have the makings of a pretty frustrated guy.

Troublesome is really just a polite way of describing Kyle (Daryl Sabara). He's a straight up perverted asshole who doesn't appreciate everything his Dad has done for him. Although, his behavior does appear to be nothing more than a defense mechanism designed to keep him from getting too close to people, he's still quite vexing.

One morning, Lance walks into Kyle's room only to find him in the middle of choking himself while masturbating. Lance then tries to talk to him about masturbation but drops the subject upon seeing how uncomfortable it makes Kyle feel.

Luckily, Lance's flaky girlfriend, Claire (Alexie Gilmore), provides him with some minor relief from his frustrations. Of course, the fact that she's also a teacher at the same school means they have to keep their relationship a secret. This too frustrates Lance to no end.

Unfortunately, just when Lance is starting to find some kind of middle ground with his son, Kyle accidentally chokes himself to death. Lance becomes visibly distraught. This scene alone is very emotional and portrayed quite well.

In an effort to make his son's death seem less humiliating, Lance repositions Kyle's body in the closet and types out a deeply poetic suicide note.

After some time has passed, Lance returns to his teaching position only to discover that Kyle's suicide note was downloaded and printed in the school newspaper. Every student who reads it immediately feels some kind of connection to Kyle. The same goes for the faculty.

Lance then decides to write and publish Kyle's journal. Of course, Kyle could barely string two sentences together; let alone write an entire journal filled with thought provoking entries.

Still, Kyle's journal quickly becomes the number one book to read throughout the school. In fact, it becomes so popular that it grabs the attention of big name publishers and nationally syndicated talk shows.

I won't spoil the end but eventually all of Kyle's "fans" are revealed for the hypocrites they truly are.

Robin Williams' performance throughout this movie is stellar. He was a great comedic actor and an even greater dramatic actor. I believe most people tend to overlook that fact.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give World's Greatest Dad 8.5 tamales.

(Rest in peace Robin Williams.)

Movie Quote: Dumb and Dumber

Movie Quote: Too Stupid

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all Fathers today! :-)

Movie Quotes: Love

Avengers Age of Ultron Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Robert Downey Jr. - Tony Stark/Iron Man
Chris Hemsworth - Thor
Mark Ruffalo - Bruce Banner/Hulk
Chris Evans - Captain America
Scarlett Johansson - Black Widow
Jeremy Renner - Hawkeye
James Spader - Ultron
Aaron Taylor-Johnson - Quicksilver
Elizabeth Olsen - Scarlet Witch
Paul Bettany - Jarvis

Director: Joss Whedon
Release Date: May 1, 2015
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Rated PG-13

This movie is way better than the first one. It follows a much more elaborate storyline and contains double the amount of action.

The very first scene is so action packed that I almost dropped my bag of over priced popcorn!

In Avengers: Age of Ultron the Avengers do battle with an artificial intelligence that goes by the name Ultron. Ultron was originally designed to be a peace keeping program but was decommissioned before being implemented by any branch of military.

Tony Stark then gets his hands on the Ultron program and with the aid of Bruce Banner decides to reactivate it. Of course, this just opens up a huge can of worms.

Upon being reactivated, Ultron scans all the information available on the internet. He quickly comes to the conclusion that the only way to ensure mankind's safety is by initiating an extinction event of global proportions.

The Avengers are then called into action and all the typical super hero type stuff begins.

One scene I really liked is when Hulk becomes so confused and enraged that he begins destroying everything and everyone in sight. Luckily, Iron Man intervenes but it takes him several attempts before finally getting Hulk under control. The entire scene is pure CGI awesomeness!

Some of the scenes in between the action scenes don't do much to help the story along. But they ultimately segue back into more action scenes.

I also thoroughly enjoyed their final showdown with Ultron. So many things were going on with each character at once. It made me feel like I was watching a comic book come to life. I know that's what these Marvel movies should invoke but this was the first one that did it for me.

I believe all future Marvel movies should adhere to the same format. It would at least get more diehard fans aboard the Marvel movie franchise experience.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give Avengers: Age of Ultron 8 delicious tamales!

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

:-)

( Like Comic Books? Click here to browse mycomicshop.com )

Sixth Sense Meme

Channing Tatum Ready to Be Gambit (X-Men)

Channing Tatum has confirmed via an AMA on Reddit that he will be taking on the role of X-Men character Gambit.

The Gambit solo film is set to be released on October 7, 2016. It will be directed by Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes).

"We finally found someone that I really do believe wants to make Gambit." Tatum said of Wyatt.

With a screenplay by Josh Zetumer  (RoboCop), Gambit will be produced by Tatum and his creative partner Reid Carolin.

Gambit will NOT appear in X-Men: Apocalypse, opening May 27, 2016.

What do you think? Do you think Channing Tatum can play a convincing enough Gambit?

I think he's got a 50/50 chance of pulling it off. We shall wait and see.

(Source: comingsoon.net)

Sideways Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Paul Giamatti - Miles
Thomas Haden Church - Jack
Virginia Madsen - Maya
Sandra Oh - Stephanie

Director: Alexander Payne
Story by: Rex Pickett
Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Awards: Academy Award for Best Writing
Adapted Screenplay
Release Date: October 12, 2004
Genre: Comedy-drama
Rated R

Take two near middle aged men, send them to Santa Barbara Wine Country and have them drink copious amounts of wine. That’s the foundation of Sideways.

Miles (Paul Giamatti) is a struggling writer who teaches English to 8th graders when he's not writing. When his friend, Jack (Thomas Haden Church), announces his engagement Miles plans a week long bachelor's vacation in Santa Barbara Wine Country.

Jack sees it as an opportunity to sleep with as many women as possible before getting married. Miles just sees it as a bonding experience and a chance to teach Jack a little bit about wine.

Along the way, they drink many glasses of wine and meet two interesting ladies.

Maya (Virginia Madsen) waitresses at a restaurant called The Hitching Post. Miles has had a bit of a crush on her since first meeting her the year before. Jack tries to get Miles to ask her out but Miles hates being forced into doing something.

Later, they meet Stephanie (Sandra Oh) at a local vineyard. Her and Jack immediately hit it off. It turns out Stephanie and Maya are best friends and completely open to going on a double date with Jack and Miles. Miles is reluctant at first but loosens up after a couple of glasses of wine. Maya is definitely attracted to him but she respects his personal space.

Jack and Stephanie throw caution to the wind and dive head first into a passionate relationship. By passionate I mean they do it like rabbits every chance they get.

Eventually, Miles let's it slip to Maya that Jack is getting married. Maya then tells Stephanie who then beats Jack's nose to a bloody pulp.

There's lots of vineyard lingo used throughout the movie but it's not too difficult to follow.

Each actors' performance really stands out. Their characters are easy to relate to. I would say I identify with Miles the most. I know what it’s like to be a struggling writer.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give Sideways 8.5 spicy tamales.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

:-)

Movie Quote: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

The Science of Sleep Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Gael Garcia Bernal - Stephane Miroux
Charlotte Gainsbourg - Stephanie
Emma de Caunes - Zoe

Director: Michel Gondry
Screenplay: Michel Gondry
Release Date: September 22, 2006
Genre: Fantasy/Drama
Rated R

Dreams and reality become one in The Science of Sleep.

Stephane Miroux (Gael Garcia Bernal) reluctantly moves back into his mother's French apartment while she is away on business. He is promised a job as an illustrator at a calendar producing company. Of course, the job turns out to be more monotonous than he was led to believe.

Upon returning from his first day at work, he notices some movers moving a piano up to the apartment of a new tenant. They struggle to lift the piano up the curved staircase.

Stephane then attempts to help them but as soon as he grabs one end of the piano one of the movers loses his grip. Stephane's hand is then crushed by the piano.

His new neighbor, Stephanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg), then appears and scolds the movers for losing their grip. Luckily, Stephane's hand is not broken. But it is bruised.

Stephanie then invites him into her apartment so she can render first aid. She also introduces him to her friend Zoe (Emma de Caunes). Stephane is immediately attracted to Zoe and attempts to impress her with one of his "inventions".

In addition to being an illustrator he considers himself to be an inventor. His inventions include, but are not limited to, 3D reality glasses, a mind reading helmet and a time travel device that only allows the user to travel back one second into the past.

He eventually gives up on pursuing Zoe but he also struggles to accept the notion of having any kind of romantic relationship with Stephanie.

In between all of this, Stephane frequently retreats into his own dream world. These are the scenes that are the most vivid and elaborately designed.
Stephane's dreams have a very child-like quality to them.

Unfortunately, he often has trouble differentiating his dreams from reality. It seems to be the main source of his frustration and inspiration.

I've yet to see another movie with the same look and feel as The Science of Sleep.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give The Science of Sleep 8 delicious tamales!

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

(I post mini reviews and pearls of wisdom on Twitter.)

:-)

Lars and the Real Girl Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Ryan Gosling - Lars Lindstrom
Emily Mortimer - Karin
Paul Schneider - Gus
Kelli Garner - Margo
Patricia Clarkson - Dagmar

Director: Craig Gillespie
Screenplay: Nancy Oliver
Release Date: October 12, 2007
Genre: Comedy-drama/Indie film
Rated PG-13

Lars and the Real Girl is an interesting movie, to say the least.

Lars Lindstrom  (Ryan Gosling) is an extremely shy guy who finds it difficult to socialize and make friends. Even talking to his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer) can be a very daunting task to him.

Then, one night, Lars tells Gus and Karin that he's met someone via the internet. They are surprised and pleased to hear that he is finally opening up enough to start dating.

Moments later, Gus and Karin are shocked beyond belief when Lars introduces them to Bianca the life sized love doll. They immediately jump to conclusions and believe that Lars has lost his mind.

Lars remains completely calm and relaxed as he explains where Bianca came from. He tells them she's from Brazil and did missionary work for a number of years until she decided on a change of scenery. She was also stricken with a terrible disease at a young age which caused her to be confined to a wheelchair from then on. Her wheelchair and luggage were of course stolen upon her arrival in the United States.

Gus and Karin then decide to get Lars some psychiatric help. So, they convince Lars to take Bianca to see their local physician Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson).

While Lars and Bianca wait in the waiting room, Gus and Karin speak with Dagmar in her private office. Dagmar has both an MD and a PhD. She quickly comes to the conclusion that Lars' recent lapse in sanity is not due to depression or any other kind of chemical imbalance.

Lars has adopted a delusion. If for no other reason than to help him work through his social anxieties.

Gus and Karin then inform their community of neighbors to ensure they'll be able to tolerate it. Unfortunately, most of their neighbors have trouble tolerating it at first but they eventually do.

One person who never really shows any signs of intolerance is Lars' coworker Margo (Kelli Garner). Although, Margo's crush on Lars no doubt helps her see past the possibility of Lars being clinically insane.

This movie doesn't have tons of fancy CGI effects or intense action sequences but it doesn't need them. Instead, it relies on a great original story and a very skilled cast.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give Lars and the Real Girl 8.5 tamales.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

(I post mini movie reviews and pearls of wisdom on Twitter.)

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Movie Quote: Jack Sparrow

About Last Night Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Kevin Hart - Bernie Litgo
Michael Ealy - Danny Martin
Regina Hall - Joan
Joy Bryant - Debbie Sullivan

Director: Steve Pink
Release Date: February 14, 2014
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rated R

About Last Night is loosely based on a 1986 movie with the same title. In fact, it's so loosely based that it's an entirely different story.

Bernie Litgo  (Kevin Hart) hooks up with Joan (Regina Hall) upon meeting her at a bar. After a night of raucous sex, Bernie brags about it the next night to his friend Danny Martin (Michael Ealy).

Joan (Regina Hall) also talks about it with her friend Debbie Sullivan  (Joy Bryant).

Bernie and Joan then get the bright idea of introducing Danny and Debbie to each other. With the hope that they'll hit it off. Which they do for a while but then ultimately just end up causing each other needless stress.

Personally, I was less interested in Danny and Debbie's relationship and more interested in Bernie and Joan's relationship. But not for its romantic quality, for its comedic quality. Kevin Hart and Regina Hall make a great comedy duo. Their back and forth joking never seemed forced or belabored. I'd like to see more of that from them in future movies.

The rest of the story I found to be hastily written and carelessly stitched together. Maybe huge chunks of it were edited out to keep the running time under two hours. I don't know for certain but that's what it seems like.

I suppose it's an okay movie to watch when there's really nothing else to watch.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give About Last Night 4.5 tamales.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

Jurassic World Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Chris Pratt - Owen
Bryce Dallas Howard - Claire
Vincent D'onofrio - Hoskins
Ty Simpkins - Gray
Nick Robinson - Zach
BD Wong - Dr. Henry Wu
Judy Greer - Karen
Andy Buckley - Scott
Katie McGrath - Zara

Genre: Science fiction/Thriller
Director: Colin Trevorrow
Release Date: June 12, 2015
Rated PG-13

I'd like to start this review with… Wow! Jurassic World really blew my mind!

Yes, there are many predictable scenes and the story line is still the same but the dinosaurs are bigger and better than ever!

The movie begins with brothers Gray (Ty Simpkins) and Zach (Nick Robinson) being driven to the airport by their parents Karen (Judy Greer) and Scott (Andy Buckley). After a semi-heartfelt goodbye they board the plane and begin their journey to Jurassic World, where their Aunt Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) works as Operations Manager.

Upon first sight, Jurassic World looks like every other amusement park. With the exception of being set on a tropical island and populated by genetically engineered dinosaurs.

Gray and Zach are first greeted by their Aunt Claire's assistant, Zara (Katie McGrath), who has been tasked with looking after them. That doesn't last long because they eventually sneak away and get into some trouble.

The first half of the movie does drag on but that's mostly to allow enough time for each character to be introduced. Chris Pratt gives a good performance as Owen the Velociraptor Trainer. His abilities extend beyond those of a typical trainer. He actually develops some kind of mutual relationship based on trust with them. He's also an all around badass.

Vincent D'onofrio does an excellent job of portraying Hoskins, the quintessential bad guy with his own agenda.

The only returning actor in Jurassic World is BD Wong as Dr. Henry Wu. If you don't know who he is then Google him.

But the real star of the movie is Indominus Rex, the hybrid dinosaur mutation, created solely for the purpose of drawing in more people to Jurassic World and raking in more money.

Indominus Rex is not your average genetically engineered dinosaur. She's super intelligent and super aggressive.

Once she breaks free from her holding pen, all havoc ensues and the real action begins. Many people are injured and many people die. It may seem tragic but that should be expected at a theme park with live dinosaurs.
The sooner you accept that fact the sooner it becomes easy to enjoy the magnificently detailed CGI effects.

And I do mean magnificent!

For me, the absolute best scene is the final fight scene. I wish I could describe it without ruining the surprise but I really can't.

Just trust me… it's insanely awesome and well worth shelling out the extra bucks for the 3D version.

I do wish people would stop comparing it to the original but I suppose that is unavoidable.

Jurassic Park was about people encountering live dinosaurs for the first time. Jurassic World is about dinosaurs becoming fed up with people and exacting revenge for being held in captivity.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give Jurassic World 9 tamales!

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

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Question of the Day : Favorite Dinosaur?

Which dinosaur is your favorite dinosaur?

Please leave your answer in the comments section below! :-)

Movie Trivia Question of the Day - Back to the Future

What is the name of Doc Brown's dog?

Please leave your answer in the comments section below. Thanks! :-)

Thumbsucker Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Lou Taylor Pucci - Justin Cobb
Keanu Reeves - Perry Lyman
Kelli Garner - Rebecca
Tilda Swinton - Audrey Cobb
Vincent D'onofrio - Mike Cobb
Vince Vaughn - Mr. Geary

Director: Mike Mills
Release Date: January 23, 2005
Genre: Coming of age/Comedy-drama
Rated R

Thumbsucker is a movie about a teenage boy who can't stop sucking his thumb. Well… it's about a little more than that.

Justin Cobb (Lou Taylor Pucci) is your typical awkward teenager with high hopes for the future. Unfortunately, his inability to focus and thumbsucking affliction hold him back.

His Dad, Mike Cobb (Vincent D'onofrio), eventually becomes so fed up with his thumbsucking that he resorts to weird methods. Such as writing his initials on Justin's thumbs.

Justin's Mom, Audrey Cobb (Tilda Swinton), believes nothing is really wrong with Justin. She chalks it up to normal teenage awkwardness. Which, from her point of view, makes sense considering she's seen far worse addictions at the drug rehab center where she works as a nurse.

Perry Lyman (Keanu Reeves), Justin's orthodontist and unofficial spiritual advisor, attempts to halt Justin's thumbsucking via hypnosis. The effects of which force Justin into a temporary downward spiral of withdrawal.

Luckily, Justin quickly befriends his debate team partner and long time crush Rebecca (Kelli Garner). They flirt with the notion of becoming more than friends but Rebecca quickly puts a stop to it when Justin refuses to be completely open and honest with her.

A few days later, he has a panic attack of sorts while preparing for a debate at school. His teacher Mr. Geary (Vince Vaughn) develops a real interest in his well being and, with the expertise of the school counselor, suggests the use of medication to Justin's parents.

They are against it at first but then become open to it once Justin tells them he feels he could really benefit from the psychoactive effects that only medication can provide.

The medication does help Justin focus more and become the star of the debate team. However, he ultimately realizes that all he did was trade one addiction for another.

Thumbsucker has many heartwarming scenes and many comedic scenes. The ending isn't what one would expect but it leaves much to the imagination.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give Thumbsucker a delicious 7 tamales.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist



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Question of the Day: Superhero?

If you could be any superhero who would you be?

Please leave your answer in the comments section below. Thanks! :-)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

Stars:
Megan Fox - April O'Neil
Will Arnett - Vernon Fenwick
Alan Ritchson - Raphael
Noel Fisher - Michelangelo
Johnny Knoxville - Leonardo
Jeremy Howard - Donatello
Tony Shalhoub - Splinter
Tohoru Masamune - Shredder

Genre: Fantasy/Action
Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Release Date: August 8, 2014
Rated: PG-13

I've been a TMNT fan since the age of 9. I owned several dozen TMNT action figures, posters, boxes of trading cards, tshirts, pajamas, sweaters, pencils, stickers, bath products and so much more. I also owned the first official board game and the first videogame cartridge for the original Game Boy.

Naturally, I had my doubts when I first heard about a TMNT movie reboot. The original 1990 movie was done well, considering the technological limits back then.

But I must admit… I like the reboot! Specifically, I like all the scenes with the turtles. Now, I know Megan Fox has a certain amount of sex appeal but that's not really a necessity in a TMNT movie. That’s just my opinion.

If Megan Fox had portrayed April O'Neil with a little more fervor then maybe I would've liked her performance.

All the scenes with the turtles are awesome! Especially the scene in which they are sliding down a snow covered mountain/hill atop a semi-truck. That one is pure CGI gold.

The only other qualm I have with the movie is the fact that their origin story was changed. Though, I suppose it makes more sense since there have been so many technological advancements since 1990.

The final fight scene with Shredder is also pretty good. The entire movie is full of great CGI eye candy.

I can only hope the sequel, due to be released June 3, 2016, will include twice as many action packed scenes with the heroes in a half shell.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give this reboot 7 tamales.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! My twitter handle is @buddhkist

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Question of the Day: Favorite Genre?

What is your favorite movie genre?

Please leave your answer in the comments section below. Thanks! :-)

The Extra Man Movie Review by Ryan A. Loera

The Extra Man 

Stars:
Paul Dano - Louis Ives
Marian Seldes - Vivian Cudlip
Patti D'arbanville - Katherine Hart
John C. Reilly - Gershon Gruen
Kevin Kline - Henry Harrison
Katie Holmes - Mary Powell

Directors: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Release date: July 30, 2010
Rating: R
Based on a novel by Jonathan Ames.

Louis Ives (Paul Dano) is a teacher of English literature with a penchant for cross dressing. One afternoon, after trying on a female colleague's brazier, he is told that due to budget constraints he is being let go. Louis takes the news with a grain of salt then decides to move to Manhattan to try his luck at becoming a writer.

Months pass before he finally works up the nerve to look in the classifieds for available lodgings in Manhattan. He then happens upon an ad that reads: Gentleman Seeks Same. The rent seems pretty cheap. So, he dials the number and schedules a date to stop by. The man on the other end recites the address rather hastily but Louis is able to jot it down. The very next day, Louis drives into Manhattan and visits the apartment and his soon to be roommate Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline). Henry wastes no time in showing Louis around the apartment and asking all the important questions. From the get go he proves to be quite eccentric and very misogynistic. When Henry reveals that he teaches English composition and is primarily a playwright Louis asks if he might have seen some of his work. Henry replies with: "Sadly no. The only copy of my greatest work was stolen by a Swiss hunchback!" Louis is reluctant to move in but then Harry convinces him by telling him he can help advance him socially. Louis then agrees and moves in the following month. From then on Louis has a hard time figuring out exactly what kind of person Henry Harrison is. Most people write off Henry's bluntness as plain rudeness. Louis, however, recognizes Henry's overbearing confidence as being nothing more than a suit of armor protecting a fragile artist. Within a few days, Louis finds employment with an environmental journal. When he is hired and introduced to Mary Powell (Katie Holmes) he immediately becomes infatuated with her. She almost appears to be the Zelda to his F. Scott Fitzgerald. Almost but not quite. In an attempt to explore his fascination with cross dressing, Louis enlists the aid of a recession priced Spankologist. She goes by the name Katherine Hart (Patti D'arbanville). Ms. Hart does everything she can for Louis but is unable to find any deeper meaning behind his yearning for women's undergarments. Then Louis finds out that Henry has been escorting a billionairess by the name of Vivian Cudlip (Marian Seldes) for some time. Louis assumes Henry is a gigolo but Henry then explains further. He is not paid in money but in pleasure. Vivian Cudlip enjoys lavishing Henry and her other escorts in gifts and good meals at five star restaurants. Eventually, Louis meets Henry's burly friend Gershon Gruen (John C. Reilly). Gershon is even more eccentric than Henry but also much more affable.

I'd like to go into greater detail about the story but doing so would mean spoiling the entire movie. The Extra Man is filled with quirky characters, head scratching humor and brilliantly shot scenes of New York City.

On a scale of 1 tamale to 10 tamales I give it 8 tamales.