Flick Picker Discovers Redbox

Hello everybody, nice seeing you again!

I saw 2 DVD movies this week and will seek to give good advice as to whether you should watch them or not.

I have been staying out of town by myself and have had the opportunity to become better acquainted with Redbox.  What a concept!  Slide your card, get a movie.  Done with movie, push a button, watch movie go Bye-Bye!  And all for just a buck a day.

This weeks reviews are of one action flick and one drama with some action thrown in...

CLASH OF THE TITANS  circa 2010

Starring Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neison

I remember wanting to see "Clash of the Titans" when I was a kid in 1980-81.  Everybody talked about how good the effects were.  Well, for 1980, maybe the effects were good - but by the time I saw it, I thought it was so campy (20 years later) that I didn't make it through.

This version is different - Great effects - all by CG, I might add.  But, for the stars lining the screen, the actors that is, I believe the movie fell short.  If you were to take the story of the 1980's version, add some 2010 special effects, you have a movie!  No wonder this piece of crap was released to the theaters in May and was then available on DVD by August.

This movie is supposed to follow Percius (bastard son of Zuess) on his quest to save the city of Argos from the Kraken.  I had a hard time finding a reason to be interested.  I know that some of the plot line was what I had heard before as we learned Greek Mythology in the 6th grade. Was I dreaming, or did they mix a bunch of different stories together to come up with this "Hybrid"?  Anyways, just not that overly impressed.

2 1/2 Schnauzers out of 7  (And those puppy's were for the special effects.)

Next up,

INVICTUS circa 2009

Directed by Clint Eastwood

Starring Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon

Once again, I find myself critiquing a Matt Damon movie.  This time, I was far more impressed!  I must say that I am a huge Clint Eastwood fan, and until recently have really liked Morgan Freeman.  (His little car accident a few years back followed by infidelity charges are my current hang up),  At any rate, I am trying to be objective...

This story is a quick synopsis of the rise of Nelson Mandela to the position of President of South Africa and the end of apartheid.

Freeman knocked it out of the park!  I have never really know Nelson Mandela as anything other than this guy who was imprisoned for being a black leader in a white led South Africa.  I feel like I know him, his plight and his triumph now.

Upon release from prison, Mandela runs for office as president - and now that blacks are given the vote, he wins handily!  Now, he is faced with uniting his nation, and ending the color war that still kills his democracy from within.  Finding hope in the National Rugby team is his answer.  The movie showed many different sides of what it would be like to work with both sides of the political isle and also the races.  Rugby was that beacon that the country as a whole could look to for inspiration.  Through a series of unlikely wins, the South Africa Rugby team, just kept inspiring hope!

The dialog was long winded at times, the Rugby action shots were rough from time to time, but over all, I would recommend this movie to just about anybody.  The one F-bomb that was dropped was done with so much accent, you didn't really know it was used.  A great movie, overall.

I give this movie 5 Schnauzers out of 7.  (For great story and inspiration)

Until next time, plant your butt in a chair, stuff your mouth with some popcorn and enjoy a good movie!