List of Netflix Movie Reviews - 2011 Index

Changes for 2011: Because we seem to be going to a theater more often these days to see a movie, it appears that there are less good movies to choose from on Netflix; resulting in the fact that we have less movies to review here. Occasionally we find something that we either missed at the theater or waited until it came out on DVD that surprises us. Even though most of the movies we order are worth watching, I will only be taking the time to provide a full review to those that we feel are in the 5-Star range. These movies will have a hyperlink that you can click on that will take you to a full review and synopsis; all others will be listed here with a simple numerical rating based upon the chart below. If you would like a good site to look for upcoming DVD releases to add to your own movie queue, go to Moviefone.com. 

    

2011 Movies

Home of The Brave [on order]
The Social Network [4.25-Stars]
The Other Guys [1.5-Stars - "we didn't even finish it"]
You Don't Know Jack [4-Stars]
The Thin Red Line [4-Stars]]
The Boondock Saints [3.0-Stars]


2010 Movies

Rescue Dawn [3.5-Stars]
Mr. Brooks [4-Stars]
The Detonator [2.75-Stars]
Memory [2.5-Stars]
The Spy Next Door [2.5-Stars]
Dead Man Running [1.5-Stars]
Lies & Illusions [3.0-Stars]
Harry Brown [2.0-Stars]
Streets of Blood [2.0-Stars]

Push [2.0-Stars]

Angel of Death [2.5-Stars]

The Cooler [3-Stars]

Taxi Driver [5-Stars]

What Dreams May Come [3.25-Stars]

The Lovely Bones [3.75-Stars]
Munich [3-Stars]
People I Know [3-Stars]
Way of War [1.5-Stars]
Last Chance Harvey [3-Stars]
Revolver [2.0-Stars]
Pistol Whipped [2.5-Stars]
Black Book [4-Stars]
Mama Mia! [3.0-Stars]
Reservation Road [3-Stars]
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans [4.25-Stars]
The Garden [4-Stars]
Conspiracy [3.25-Stars]
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio [3.25-Stars]
Finding Neverland [4.25 Stars]
Beyond the Sea [3.5-Stars]
Everybody's Fine [2.5-Stars]
Ninja Assassin [1-Star]
Touching The Void [5-Stars]
New Police Story 2 [2.5]
Reservation Road [2.5]
Donnie Brasco [4.5 Stars]
The Ugly Truth [3.0 Stars]
The Punisher [3.5 Stars]
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen [2 Stars]
Star Trek [4.5 Stars]
Lakeview Terrace [2.5-Stars]
Martian Child [3-Stars]
X-Men Origins: Wolverine [3-Stars]
Step Into Liquid - [4-Stars]
Flash of Genius [4-Stars]
The Hurt Locker [5-Stars]
The Human Stain [3-Stars]
Driven to Kill [3-Stars]
Marine 2 [3-1/2-Stars]
Monster In Law [3-Stars]
Must Love Dogs [3-Stars]
North Country [3-1/2-Stars]
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story [4-Stars]
The International [2.5-Stars]

     2009 Movies
We Were Soldiers [5-Stars]
The Contract [3.5-Stars]
Direct Contact
The Haunting in Connecticut [3-Stars]
Zodiac [3.5-Stars]
The Code [3-Stars]
The Soloist [4-Stars]
Miracle at St. Anna [3.5-Stars]
The Maiden Heist [3-Stars]
Race to Witch Mountain [1-Star] Didn't Finish Watching
Taking Chance [4-1/2 Stars]
Civic Duty
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li [4-Stars]
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Two Lovers
Five Fingers
The Marine
12 Rounds [4 Stars]
Knowing
Just Cause
Boarder Town
Revolutionary Road
Pavement
Bottle Shock
The Wrestler
Marley & Me [4-Stars]
Slumdog Millionaire [4-Stars]
In the Electric Mist
Recount [5-Stars]
Changling [5-Stars]
The International
Milk [5-Stars]
In the Shadow of the Moon
The Counterfeiters [3-Stars]
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Transsiberian [3-1/2-Stars]
Tropic Thunder [1-1/2-Stars]
Kate & Leopold
Charlie Wilson's War

Mongol
Gone Baby Gone
Birds of America
Oldboy
Priceless

Netflix Queue as of JAN 02

Netflix Movie Review–“Mr. Brooks”

RELEASE: 2007; GENERE: Mystery, Suspense, Drama; RUN-TIME: 2 hrs; RATED: R for for strong bloody violence, some graphic sexual content, nudity and language; STARRING: Kevin Costner, Demi Moore and William Hurt; DIRECTED BY: Bruce Evans;

REVIEW: Even though we saw this movie three years ago when it came out, we enjoyed watching it again even more. Costner's double-act with Hurt as his alter ego is a wicked pleasure, like The Odd Couple with a psychopathic twist. With a terrific cast and a superb script, this is a hugely enjoyable suspense thriller. There's more to every character than meets the eye and all the relationships have a twist of their own. Although flawed in places, the movie remains a blackly funny noir treat thanks to Costner and Hurt's double-act. Though some critics thought there was too much going on, we felt that is part of what made it so good. We give it [4-Stars].

SYNOPSIS: Consider Mr. Brooks, a successful businessman, a generous philanthropist, a loving father and devoted husband. Seemingly, he's perfect. But, Mr. Brooks has one big secret. He's an insatiable serial killer, so lethally clever that no one has ever suspected him - until he makes one simple mistake. Torn between his killing and wanting to stop, he learns that his daughter may have inherited his "killing gene" and must now decide what to do.

Netflix Movie Review - “What Dreams May Come”

RELEASE: 1998; GENERE: Drams, Romance, Science-Fiction and Fantasy; RUN-TIME: 1 hr, 53 mins RATED: PG-13 for thematic elements involving death, some disturbing images and language:

SYNOPSIS: After suffering the loss of their two children, Chris played by Robin Williams, and his wife Annie, played by Annabella Sciorra, barely survive. When Chris also passes away Annie's grief is unbearable. Although Chris is reborn in Heaven, without his Annie there is no Heaven. Annie's attempts to go on fail and she ends up taking her own life. For committing suicide she goes to Hell. However, not even death can keep Chris from his soul mate as he goes beyond Heaven and Hell to rescue his immortal love.

REVIEW: One could argue that this film lurches toward the edge of greatness, dazzling the viewer with a spectacular view of heaven that is not only beautiful but also profoundly moving. I thought the special effects were marvelous, which is probably why they were nominated for an Academy Award. I wish I had seen it on a large screen. That being said, for all its fabulous imagery and occasional dab-your-eyes moments, What Dreams May Come never rises to the wonderment of its own irresistible conviction -- that love can live beyond the grave. Perhaps this is what happens when you try to make a philosophical movie about spirituality without making anybody uncomfortable, which may be why it garnered such mixed reviews. Connie felt it was a little dark and disturbing. I, on the other hand, rather enjoyed it. Adding our to reviews together we give it [3.25-Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “Taxi Driver”

RELEASE: 1976; GENERE: Drama, Mystery, Suspense; RUN-TIME: 1 hr, 53 mins RATED: R Violence, Language:

SYNOPSIS:Martin Scorsese crafts a violently prophetic, gripping vision of urban decay and insanity in which mentally unstable Vietnam vet Travis Bickle, played by Robert De Niro, drives a cab through the sleaziest streets of pregentrified New York City and befriends a child hooker (Jodie Foster). The groundbreaking film earned four Oscar nominations, including nods for Best Picture, Best Score, and for De Niro and Foster's haunting performances.

REVIEW:The blend of Schrader's script, Scorsese's direction and De Niro's performance is both riveting and unnerving. This nightmare ride of Vietnam vet Travis Bickle's fight to win the woman of his dreams in the seedy Big Apple may be Scorsese's best picture. I don't know how we missed this when it came out, however this gripping film about everyday life in the streets of America's inner cities will stay with you forever. We give it [5-Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “The Lovely Bones”

RELEASE: 2009; GENERE: Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Drama, Horror; RUN-TIME: 2 hrs, 15 mins RATED: Rated: PG-13 for mature thematic material involving disturbing violent content and images, and some language:

SYNOPSIS: On her way home from school on a snowy December day in 1973, young 14-year-old Susie Salmon is lured into a makeshift underground den in a cornfield and brutally raped and murdered, the latest victim of a serial killer--the man she knew as her neighbor, Mr. Harvey. From a gorgeously landscaped limbo state outside heaven’s gate, Susie keeps watch over her grieving family and friends, as well as her brazen killer and the sad detective working on her case.

REVIEW: We viewed this movie with neighbors and all concluded that artistically and technically, this film was superb. The special effects of the "Heaven" scenes provided some wondrous visuals and compelling ideas. We also thought that it provided some rich performances. However, for all its brilliance, The Lovely Bones remains elusive. The film doesn't quite cohere because it is awash in ideas and themes and subplots and characters. However, in spite of this, it is nevertheless compelling. Suzie's afterlife takes place in a dreamscape that is half Salvador Dali and half Norman Rockwell. The visual effects in these sequences never seem like visual effects, but rather "float" across the screen like as seamless threads of a dream, switching back and forth between the real world. The 1970's period detail in and of itself is so good that it almost creates a counter dream for those who grew up in that era. Not having read the novel, one would have to assume it was much more detailed and complex than the actural movie. We all agreed that it was good that the producer saw fit not to show the "bloody" details of the rape and murder. In the end however, even assuming that the family eventually learned of the killers death, we were all a little disappointed that the family was never really able to obtain closure from having the body of Susie found. Though most reviewer never gave this movie much more than slightly above average rating, we liked it and thought it was very entertaining. We give it [3.75-Stars]

Netflix Movie Review - “Conspiracy”

RELEASE: 2008; GENERE: Action/Adventure; RUN-TIME: 1 hr, 30 mins RATED: Rated: R: 

SYNOPSIS: Val Kilmer stars opposite Jennifer Esposito in this psychological thriller as a senior special operations officer for the U.S. Marines. After being wounded in Iraq, MacPherson returns the the states and retires. Once home, he decides to visit a friend who's living on a ranch out west. But when he arrives, his friend is nowhere to be found. And with no one acknowleding he ever even lived there, all signs point to conspiracy or worse. When he discovers that a shady corporation known for harassing illegal aliens is intimately involved with the disappearance of his best friend, retired special ops Marine William MacPherson (Val Kilmer) decides to take matters into his own hands. Soon, MacPherson uncovers a crooked scheme that grips the entire town. Jennifer Esposito and Gary Cole co-star in this topic thriller.

REVIEW: Considering the bad reviews this movie received, we actually enjoyed it. It was a believable story line and even though it didn't meet the criteria of a more highly budgeted movie, it was certainly above average. We gave it [3.25 Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “The Garden”

RELEASE: 2009; GENERE: Documentary/Educational; RUN-TIME: 2 hrs; RATED: Rated: No-rating:

SYNOPSIS: This documentary type film is about a fourteen-acre community garden at 41st and Alameda in South Central Los Angeles. Started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992, the South Central Farmers created a miracle in one of the country's most blighted neighborhoods. Growing their own food. Feeding their families. Creating a community. It was the largest community garden of its kind in the United States ... but then, bulldozers are poised to level their 14-acre oasis. The Garden follows the plight of the farmers, from the tilled soil of this urban farm to the polished marble of City Hall. Mostly immigrants from Latin America, from countries where they feared for their lives if they were to speak out, we watch them organize, fight back, and demand answers: Why was the land sold to a wealthy developer for millions less than fair-market value? Why was the transaction done in a closed-door session of the LA City Council? Why has it never been made public? And the politicians and powers-that-be have the same response: The garden is wonderful, but there is nothing more we can do.

REVIEW: A truly classic story of the little guy taking on "The Establishment" with both thrilling and frustrating results. This intricate and compelling documentary paints a saddening portrait of American politics. It' a sad commentary on America. A moving, inspiring documentary. We gave it [4-Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans”

RELEASE: 2009; GENERE: Action/Adventure; RUN-TIME: 2 hrs, 1 min RATED: R for drug use and language throughout, some violence and sexuality:

SYNOPSIS: Nicolas Cage plays a rogue detective who is as devoted to his job as he is at scoring drugs -- while playing fast and loose with the law. He wields his badge as often as he wields his gun in order to get his way, and some more drugs for his habit. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he becomes a high-functioning addict who is a deeply intuitive, fearless detective reigning over the beautiful ruins of New Orleans with authority and abandon. Complicating his tumultuous life is the prostitute he loves (played by Eva Mendes). Together they descend into their own world marked by desire, compulsion, and conscience. The result is a singular masterpiece of filmmaking: equally sad and manically humorous.

REVIEW: I don't know how we missed this at the theater. We like almost anything done b Nickelous Cage. In this boarder line insane film Cage provides us with one of his finest performances. It starts off over the top and continues from there. The film is a work of insane genius. Cage does bad so good it’s scary. As bad as the character he plays is, the movie somehow becomes fun and the ending is a joy. We both enjoyed it very much and give it [4.25-Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “Black Book”

RELEASE: 2007; GENERE: Science-Fiction/Fantasy; RUN-TIME: 2 hrs, 26 mins RATED: Rated: R:

SYNOPSIS: Based upon true events, the story is set during the final days of World War II in Holland, and follows a Jewish singer named Rachel Stein (played by Carice Van Houten). Rachel attempts to avoid the Nazis and remains in quiet hiding until her family is brutally slain, causing her to join up with a resistance movement. On a subsequent undercover mission, Rachel crosses paths with a smitten German general named Ludwig Muntze (Sebastian Koch), with whom Rachel begins a relationship in order to feed vital information back to her colleagues in the resistance. But as the action and bloodshed escalate, Rachel realizes that she has genuine feelings for Muntze, and soon she is in enormous danger. Filled with intrigue and betrayal, it makes for an intense and believable story.

REVIEW: I generally dislike movies with subtitles, however I must admit that this was probably the best movie I ever seen with subtitles. I was impressed by both the overall quality of the film photography as well as how easy it was to read the subtitles. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, who also produced ROBOCOP, BASIC INSTINCT, and STARSHIP TROOPERS, this film takes many intriguing twists and turns during its 145 minutes. It should be noted that BLACK BOOK commanded the largest budget of any film to be produced in Holland, and it shows. Explosions litter the screen, plenty of car chases ensue, and wince-inducing injuries and deaths propel the action. In addition, he isn't afraid to criticize his fellow countrymen and inserts a fascinating subtext about the actions of the resistance fighters, asking some uncomfortable questions about the similarities between their behavior and that of the Nazis. Van Houten (as Rachel Stein, the lead charactor) lights up the screen throughout and is surely destined for bigger things. Verhoeven has pointed out in subsequent interviews that Rachel is a composite character who encompasses the merged experiences of many real people from the era. We both gave it [4-Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio”

RELEASE: 2005; GENERE: Drama; RUN-TIME: 1hr, 39 mins RATED: Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements, some disturbing images and language.

SYNOPSIS: Taken from the pages of Terry Ryan's memoir of the same name, it's about a 1950s housewife Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore), who struggles to raise 10 kids while dealing with an alcoholic husband. Evelyn's husband, Kelly (Woody Harrelson), works at the local factory but has sunk the family into financial trouble with his dangerously boozy habits. Struggling with her husband's drinking and the stress of raising so many children, Evelyn tries her luck in some jingle-writing contests. Writing rhyming couplets for companies like Dr. Pepper and Maidenform bras, the beleaguered housewife is surprisingly successful, and manages to tip the family's finances back into good health. But Kelly can't accept his wife's position as the major breadwinner of the family, and his violent, alcohol-fueled outbursts put an enormous strain on their relationship.

REVIEW: Julianne Moore provides a moving performance, even if it seems hard to believe that one could be such a forgiving and positive person living in the face of such a drunken and sometimes violent atmosphere. I thought Harrelson's performace as the drunken husband was suburb. It is certainly a film that tugs heavily at one's heart strings as you root for her survival. In the end, it is surprisingly uplifting and proves to be kind of a timeless, genderless feel-good story. We gave it [3.25-Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “Finding Neverland”

RELEASE: 2004; GENERE: Drama; RUN-TIME: 1 hr, 46 mins RATED: Rated: PG-13 for Sci-Fi Action and Violence

SYNOPSIS: The boundless imagination of the man behind "Peter Pan" and the poignancy of his journey combine in this emotional tale inspired by events in the life of Scottish author James Mathew Barrie. It is a fictional look at the creation of "Peter Pan," the classic of children's literature that speaks directly to the child in all of us. A literary genius of his times but bored by the same old themes, Barrie is clearly in need of some serious inspiration. Unexpectedly, he finds it one day during his daily walk with his St. Bernard Porthos in London's Kensington Gardens where he encounters the Llewelyn Davies family: four fatherless boys and their beautiful, recently widowed mother (Kate Winslet). His relationship with the Llewelyn Davies boys revives his imaginative genius and turns them into "The Lost Boys of Neverland." From the sheer thrills and adventurousness of childhood will come Barrie's most daring and renowned masterwork, "Peter Pan." At first, his theatrical company is skeptical. While his loyal producer Charles Frohman (Dustin Hoffman) worries he'll lose his shirt on this children's fantasy, Barrie begins rehearsals only to shock his actors with such unprecedented requests as asking them to fly across the stage, talk to fairies made out of light and don dog and crocodile costumes. Then, just as Barrie is ready to introduce the world to "Peter Pan," a tragic twist of fate will make the writer and those he loves most understand just what it means to really believe.

REVIEW: We both found this to be a heartfelt, beautiful film, and one of the best dramas we've seen in years. You might find it a little slow in the beginning, but you need to stick with it. This film will remind you that life can be what we dream; all we have to do is believe. We found the journey to be both touching and emotional. It was hard to hold back a tear of emotion at the end. We give it a strong [4.25-Stars].

Netflix Movie Review – “Beyond The Sea”

RELEASE: 2004; GENERE: Drama; RUN-TIME: 2 hrs, 1 mins RATED: Rated: PG-13 for Strong Language

SYNOPSIS: Kevin Spacey wrote, directed and stars in this film biography of singer Bobby Darin, a hipster in the Frank Sintra tradition and singer of pop hits such as "Splish Splash" and the films title, "Beyond the Sea". At age seven, Bobby got rheumatic fever that severly damaged his heart forever. The doctor told his mother POLLY (Brenda Blethyn) that he would be lucky to live to the age of fifteen. Modern medicine and determination kept him alive and by 20, with the help of his best friend turned manager Steve Blauner (John Goodman) and musical director Dick Behrke (Peter Cincotti), he worked his way up from tacky clubs to performing in Vegas. Finally scoring a hit with 'Splish Splash', Bobby wanted more. He told Life Magazine that he wanted to be a legend by 25. Darin eventually moved on to performing jazz standards that culminated in his signature gigantic hit, "Mack the Knife". The hits kept coming and his life kept evolving, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in CAPTAIN NEWMAN MD. Never satisfied with success, Bobby continued to reinvent himself and moved from rock and roll into pop, gospel, country & western and folk music. By the end of his brief 14-year career Bobby Darin had more hits in more genres of music than any recording artist except Elvis Presley and Ray Charles. After his marriage to popular actress Sandra Dee, they were probably one of the most talked about movie couples of their time. Unfortunately, her acting career and his touring put a huge strain on their marriage.

REVIEW: A labor of love from Kevin Spacey, this movie was reportedly more than 10-years in the making and is obviously a showcase for his singing ability. We both thought Kate Bosworth was superb in her rols as Darin's charming wife Sandra Dee. Many people under 40 probably don't even know who Bobby Darin was, let alone know about his remarkable life story. This movie rectifies that and stands as a wonderful tribute to an amazing talent who died far too young. Even though this movie only had a somewhat limited release and only got minimal reviews, Kevin Spacey's dedication is clear, both in his performance as Darin and in his wonderful direction. We enjoyed it immensely and give it [3.5 Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “Touching The Void”

RELEASE: 2004; GENERE: Sports/Recreation (Documentary); RUN-TIME: 1 hr, 47 mins RATED: None

SYNOPSIS: Crippled and frostbitten, Joe Simpson was left to die in the Peruvian Andes. How he survived is the harrowing subject of Touching the Void. In 1985, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates set out to climb the 21,000 feet Siula Grande mountain in the Peruvian Andes—the only mountain in the Peruvian range that hadn't yet been conquered. They were... In 1985, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates set out to climb the 21,000 feet Siula Grande mountain in the Peruvian Andes—the only mountain in the Peruvian range that hadn't yet been conquered. They were young, fit, skilled climbers and were confident that they would succeed where others would fail. Their story has become part of mountaineering legend. Simpson and Yates' method of climbing was Alpine Style—moving quickly up a mountain with the barest of supplies and no series of base camps. This approach left absolutely no room for error. Any problem they might encounter along the way would have extremely grave consequences. Following a successful three and a half day ascent, disaster struck. Simpson fell and broke several bones in his right leg. His lower leg pushed through his knee joint, crippling him. At that altitude and in those remote conditions, this was effectively a death sentence. With no food or water, severe dehydration and the ugly spectre of hypothermia before them, the climbers knew they had to get off the mountain—and fast. Yates was determined to find a way to get his friend home. They each had 150 feet of rope, which tied together so that Yates could lower Simpson down the mountain 300 feet at a time. The only complication was that Yates had to stop after each 150 feet and signal for Simpson to give him enough slack so that he could get the knot past his harness. Each drop down the mountain was agonizing for Simpson, but Yates had no choice but to ignore his partner's cries. Both of their lives were at stake. Things were progressing unexpectedly well when Simpson failed to respond to Yates' signal. Unable to move any further and having no idea why Simpson was not pulling at the rope, Yates positioned himself against the mountain face and waited in the blinding storm. He held onto the rope with all of his strength, but was all too aware that eventually his muscles would fail him and both would plummet down the incline. What Yates couldn't know was that he had unknowingly lowered the injured Simpson over the edge of a crevasse. Simpson was hanging over the sheer vertical face of the mountain. Joe remained suspended, unable to climb back up the rope with frostbitten fingers and unable to communicate with Simon above him. Simon hung onto the rope for an hour, with his strength ebbing away and Joe's weight on the rope slowly pulling him towards the edge of the cliff. Eventually Simon realized he was faced with an unthinkable dilemma: he could hang on to the rope until they were both pulled off the mountain. Logic would say that it would be better for only one man to die rather than both. But the biggest taboo that any climber can commit is to cut the rope that binds you to your partner. For a climber, it is unthinkable. Certain they would both soon be pulled to their deaths, Yates cut the rope. Shattered, frostbitten, Simpson managed to extricate himself from the icy vaults he had fallen into and make his agonized crawl back to base camp.

REVIEW: Besides being a fantastic story of human grit, was the director's (Kevin Macdonald) ability to painstakingly reproduce their climb and decent. First, he employed two actors (Brendan Mackey as Simpson and Nicholas Aaron as Yates—Macdonald) who are also experienced cimbers. Second, he reproduced the climb by using the Alps as the location to shoot this harrowing event. During filming, the actors and crew actually endured twenty-below conditions during the worst snowstorm in ten years. Making it even more surreal is the fact that while showing the realism of the events as they occurred on the mountain, he used the real Simpson and Yates in a series of periodic interviews to provide background and detail as to the actual thinking of each during the ordeal. I do have to admit that there were several times when I said that they were "nuts" to have made the decision to make the climb in the first place, and that this conscious decision somewhat tempered my admiration for what they accomplished. We both thought it was the most amazing, realistic documentary recreation we have ever seen. We give it [5-Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “Donnie Brasco”

RELEASE: 1997; GENERE: Drama; RUN-TIME: 2 hrs, 27 mins RATED: Not Rated: Violence & Language;

SYNOPSIS: Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp) is an FBI mole who integrates himself into the Mafia pecking order by posing as "jewel man" Donnie Brasco. He finds his loyalties divided when Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino), a jaded hit man, takes him on as a protégé and places real trust in him. The two men form a friendship--and a criminal partnership--that jeopardizes Brasco's mission and obscures the boundaries between the law and the underworld. The film is a true story based on the autobiography DONNIE BRASCO, MY UNDERCOVER LIFE IN THE MAFIA by former undercover agent Joseph D. Pistone.

REVIEW: Even though we recorded this off of the Showtime Channel, I decided place under this category. We saw this movie many years ago when it first came out and liked it then. I think we enjoyed it more watching it again.  The somewhat reserved performance of Al Pacino as a grumpy old man was one of his best. Coupled with Depp’s raw performance of a person who feels empathy for this person who had taken him in and mentored him, and knowing that he will be the cause his eventual death,  make the movie real.  If you're looking for a good movie to watch over again, they don't get much better. We give it [4.5 Stars]

Netflix Movie Review - “The Punisher”

RELEASE: 2004; GENERE: Action/Adventure; RUN-TIME: 2hrs, 20 mins RATED: Rated: R for pervasive brutal violence, language and brief nudity.

SYNOPSIS: Tom Jane stars as Frank Castle, the Punisher, squaring off against superstar John Travolta as the story's formidable villain, Howard Saint. Frank Castle is a man who has seen much death in his life both as a Delta Force Op and FBI special agent. He is ready to start a normal life with his wife and son. However, on his final assignment, the operation spins out of control and a young man, Bobby Saint, the son of Howard Saint (John Travolta), is inadvertently killed. Behind their wealth and social profile, the Saints have violent underworld ties and a chilling capacity for brutality. Inflamed by the death of their son, the Saints are willing to risk their newfound legitimacy on a wholesale mission of blood-vengeance. Drawing upon all he has learned in 20 years, Castle sets in motion a plan to punish the murderers.

REVIEW:One of our neighbors gave us this to watch. Even though we had seen it a many years ago, we liked it and decided to watch it again. Even though it never garnered very good reviews whenit first came out, we thought that it provided a pretty good story and some great action scenes. John Travolta was excellent as the villain of the movie. There were several scenes that actually provided a few laughs. In spite of the critics, we gave it [3.5 Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

RELEASE: 2009; GENERE: Action/Adventure; RUN-TIME: 2hrs, 29 mins RATED: Rated: PG-13 for Sci-Fi Action and Violence

SYNOPSIS: Two years after saving the world with the Autobots, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) away at college when an ancient Decepticon named The Fallen returns to Earth on a mission of vengeance. With the Allspark destroyed, the Autobots lose all hope of returning to their home planet of Cybertron, and begin working with an elite military known as NEST to hunt down any remaining Decepticons. Meanwhile, Sam contends with an overly-cocky college roommate, and attempts to remain faithful to Mikaela (Megan Fox) by fending off advances from pretty - and persistent - co-ed Alice (Isabel Lucas). Just as Sam begins adjusting to the quirks of campus life, a series of inexplicable visions leave him convinced that the struggle between good and evil is far from over. The Decepticons discover that Sam is the one human who possesses the ability to tip the balance of power to the Autobots' advantage, and they're determined to gain the upper hand by dispensing with him once and for all. Now, as Sam and Mikaela unearth a secret about the Transformers that alters the entire course of human history, the Decepticon known as The Fallen prepares to return, and reclaim the plant once and for all.

REVIEW: This movie was in no way as good as the first. The action was too fast and difficult to follow. Way overdone. Many times it was difficult to determine who was the "good guy" and who was the "bad guy". Dialogue was often lost making it difficult to understand what was going on at times. After the first half-hour we just wanted the movie to end. Great special effects, but it was exhausting. I don't normally review movies this bad, but in this case I had to make an exception. We only give it [2-Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “Star Trek”

RELEASE: 2009; GENERE: Science-Fiction/Fantasy; RUN-TIME: 2hrs, 7mins RATED: Rated: PG-13 for Sci-Fi Action and Violence

SYNOPSIS: The movie begins with an attack by an impossibly advanced Romulan ship captained by the tattooed Nero (Eric Bana). Among the survivors is the infant version of James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), who grows up to wreak havoc on the Iowa countryside. When Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) meets an adult Kirk, he encourages him to join Starfleet, giving him the opportunity to meet Spock (Zachary Quinto), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), and the rest of the characters audiences have loved for decades. Eventually, they all go after Nero and his Romulan ship, once again saving the planet earth and the solar system from destruction. 

REVIEW: Having been released nearly a year ago, we are probably the last ones to have seen this movie. Abrams, the director, filled this movie with elements that have often made his movies mind-bending entertainment. In this case he manages to keep the soul of the original saga intact. It will please any hardcore fans with plenty of in-jokes and references, including an appearance by the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy. The supporting players appeared to capture the essence the series’ original players.  The action and effects were great. We both thought that the photography and the CGI actions scenes were incredibly realistic.  All we could think of was that if this were shot in 3D (like Avitar) it would be an over the top experience. We give it [4.5 Stars].

Netflix Movie Review - “Step Into Liquid”

SYNOPSIS: If you've ever wondered what it would be like to ride at Pipeline, flirting on the edge of some of the ocean's most powerful and dangerous waves, then you're ready to Step Into Liquid.  In this new documentary, director Dana Brown finds that "the stoke" - the passion and elation that keeps surfers paddling back for more - can be found in some pretty unlikely places. Son of Bruce Brown, whose The Endless Summer and its sequel are the best known and most widely seen surfing films ever, Dana's perspective on surfing is a wholly unique one, and he has seen it go from flaky fad to international phenomenon. Moving far beyond the beaches of sunny Southern California, surfing now criss-crosses the globe, from Texas to Wisconsin, Ireland to Vietnam. Traveling to some of the hottest surfing spots in the world, Dana finds the real search isn't for the biggest tube or most radical ride, but instead uncovers and examines what it is about surfing that hooks people's souls, becoming integral to their lives in ways that far exceed a simple pastime. There are as many surfer stories to be found as there are surfers, such as the guy who hasn't missed a day in the water for over 27 years. Or the one eager to get back on his board even after a crippling accident. The film also pays notice to the rise of women in the sport, checks in on the subjects from The Endless Summer films, and follows one group of fearless surfers who head 100 miles from shore to ride some 60-foot-plus, once-every-ten-years waves.

REVIEW: The photography in this film is stunningly amazing It places you, the viewer, right in the water with many of the best surfers of today, for rides you will never forget. It's almost like being there. The only thing that's missing is having someone pour water over your head as you watch. Without a doubt the best movie on surfing ever made. We gave it a strong [4-Stars]. Step Into Liquid - Catch a wave and get stoked.

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Netflix Movie Review - “Flash of Genius”

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SYNOPSIS: FLASH OF GENIUS is based on a John Seabrook article that appeared in The New Yorker in 1993, and his later book of the same name. Set in Detroit and spanning multiple decades, it is based on the true story of Dr. Robert Kearns (Greg Kinnear), sho in 1967 built the intermittent windshield wiper, dubbing it "Kearns' Blinking Eye," and ultimately shared his patented specs with Ford Motor Company so that he could manufacture the wipers for them. Then he spends his life trying to get Ford to admit that they stole his idea when he spots his invention on Ford cars after they bail out of the deal with him. Kearns isn't after money. In taking on one of the most powerful corporations in America, if not the world, Kearns wants Ford to tell the truth and give credit where credit is due. At the same time, he wants to protect the patent process for every inventor. Alan Alda also does a fine job playing a justice-seeking lawyer who may or not be able to live up to Kearns's high expectations.

REVIEW: Kinnear gives a nuanced performance as Kearns, a quirky, church-going family man and professor who slowly descends into paranoia and obsession with reaching his goals. We thought this movie was extremely well done for a "documentary" type movie. That mixed with the fact that it is always a pleasure to see to underdog triumph, this is a win-win movie. We gave it [4 Stars].