movie review

Saturday Posts . . .

Today I’m going to share something different.  It’s about a movie . . . you can consider it a movie review if you like.

My wife and I started using Netflix just shortly after it launched in the St. Louis area – a very long time ago, it seems.  In all of that time, to the best of my knowledge, the rating system has always had 5 stars as the highest rating.  To me – and this is my own evaluation – 5 stars would be a rating of “perfect, nothing to improve”.  I’ve almost never given such a rating, because we humans very rarely approach perfection at anything we make.  To narrow my criteria even further – most of the Netflix listings that I have rated at 5 stars were either a documentary or a drama that was based on real-life events.

So, imagine my surprise at recently rating a comic-book movie with 5 stars.  Yes, every review I’ve seen for the movie said it was awesome, but with my view that still only gets 4 stars.

What movie could have nabbed such a rare feat?   WONDER WOMAN

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Movie Review – Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

It has been a long time since I have reviewed a movie.  There are so many people out there doing it that I just didn’t feel compelled to join the cacophony.

However, I was specifically asked to do this one, so it is my pleasure to share my thoughts.

First – to address the specific question I was asked.  “Does the disc have subtitles?”

Answer:  Yes, the disc I got does have subtitles, and the option for them to be in English or Mexican Spanish.

Story –  I don’t want to throw out a lot of spoilers, but this one focuses mostly on the theme of “Apes shall not kill apes” – and what happens when one does, and how similar humans and apes are in their emotions and motives.

Acting –  Gary Oldman is in fine form, as always.  He is one character actor who has never (to my knowledge) “phoned in” a performance.  Andy Serkis did another wonderful turn as Caesar.  Most supporting actors and actresses held up their ends very satisfactorily.

Finally – as a huge fan of the original franchise (that started in 1968 with Charlton Heston) – I would compare this to the original series, except for the fact that they have effectively re-imagined enough plot beats of the series that they don’t directly compare.  The action is vivid, the story is engaging, the CGI and other effects are nearly seamless, and the music moves the story forward without calling attention to itself – except for one scene where it is actually the star, and that scene is priceless!

Must-see TV . . .

PAPER CLIPS

Tom Bosley

Linda Hooper

Sandra Roberts

David Smith

Peter Schroeder

Dagmar Schroeder-Hildebrand

Unlike most of the shows I have posted a review of, this is a documentary. Because it is a documentary, I’d rather let it tell the story it was made to tell. Instead, I’ll tell you that it is one of the most emotionally powerful journeys I’ve ever taken via a DVD.

If you don’t watch another movie all year, before this week is over you need to find a copy of this DVD and watch it. I do not exagerate when I say that this can almost single-handedly restore your hope in the future of mankind!

I give “Paper Clips” 10 stars out of 10!