21-movie-review

21 Movie Review: No BlackJack but It’s Not a Bad Hand

21-movie-reviewIf you’re a fan of gambling (and seeing people bring down the house), you’ll enjoy the movie 21. I certainly did…here is my review of the movie 21!

I was anxious to see the movie 21 as I had read the book Bringing Down the House, the book on which the movie is based.  However, aside from the idea of a bunch of MIT kids taking on Vegas, there are few similarities between the book and the movie.

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Richard Cummings21 Movie Review: No BlackJack but It’s Not a Bad Hand
gran-torino-review

Gran Torino: Movie Review

Gran Torino is the best movie that I have seen in 2009.

And though the year is only 24 days old, I am not sure another movie will come along this year to best it.

I wonder why.

The plot can be explained in a few of sentences:  A recently widowed, hard-nosed, prejudice, ex-military, solitary, old man finds himself newly alone in a poorish neighborhood now filled with ethics and gang violence.  Though he tries to remain isolated on his premises, circumstance and proximity lead him to interactions with his neighbors with whom he gradually develops true friendships.   After the gang violence tragically affects his new-found friends, he seeks retribution in his final act.

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Richard CummingsGran Torino: Movie Review
avatar review

Avatar Review: The Discontent of Humanity?

avatar reviewAt the end of my viewing of Avatar, the audience all clapped.  They clapped because the human race fell to a society of extraterrestrials.

Why is this?  Are humans beings discontent with the world they inhabit, with themselves?

In Avatar, human beings set out to obtain a precious commodity called unobtainium that exists on another planet named Pandora.  Unfortunately, this prized material is found in great abundance directly on the land that the Na’Vi (the indigenous peoples of Pandora) inhabit.  Thus, after perfunctory attempts to befriend the Na’Vi, the human beings attempt to destroy the Na’Vi people and claim their fortunes.

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Richard CummingsAvatar Review: The Discontent of Humanity?
this-is-it-movie-review

This Is It Movie Review: This Is It Wasn’t It!

this-is-it-movie-reviewLast week, I sat through the Michael Jackson movie This Is It and it was one of those rare movies that made me want to…walk out.

This Is It basically contains footage of the concert that never was, the concert that was to begin shortly after his sudden death this summer.

In Reaction to Michael Jackson’s Death, I wrote about the untimely death of Michael Jackson and the ambivalent feelings I had.

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Richard CummingsThis Is It Movie Review: This Is It Wasn’t It!
the-american-george-clooney-review

The American with George Clooney: Movie Review

the-american-george-clooney-reviewThe American, starring George Clooney, had the appearance of a great thriller.  They marketed this picture as a Bourne Identity type of movie.  Substitute George Clooney for Matt Damon and watch the thriller unfold.  Right?  Wrong!

Imagine that Jason Bourne has to lay low for awhile and is instructed to head up to a small village and talk to nobody.  Now, you have to watch him do basically nothing for two hours.  Kicking ass and taking names in this small village?  No.  Just sitting there in an apartment making a gun.

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Richard CummingsThe American with George Clooney: Movie Review
chistian-bale-the-machinist-review

The Machinist Starring Chistian Bale

the machinist movie reviewTake a look at the picture to your left.  Do you know who that is?  Yes, it’s Christian Bale, the actor who saved the Batman franchise.  In the movie The Machinist, Christian Bale plays an extremely gaunt individual who has not slept in over a year.

In the beginning of The Machinist, we do not know why he has not slept in over a year; in the end, we do.

The question then is this:  Is it worth the time finding out?

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Richard CummingsThe Machinist Starring Chistian Bale
Matt Damon Not Playing Jason Bourne

The Bourne Legacy: Where Is Matt Damon?

Matt Damon Not Playing Jason Bourne

Matt Damon Will Not Star In The Bourne Legacy

I just saw a preview yesterday for the new Jason Bourne movie and noticed one glaring thing: There is no Matt Damon!

Now, I loved all the Jason Bourne movies, especially 1 and 3.  Two was a bit of a dud, but #2 often carries a stench, so we’ll pardon the initial sequel.  Any Jason Bourne movie is like sex:  it’s even good when it’s bad.

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Richard CummingsThe Bourne Legacy: Where Is Matt Damon?
the-bourne-ultimatum-movie-review

The Bourne Ultimatum: Movie Review

the-bourne-ultimatum-movie-reviewSarah Silverman sings on You Tube about f*cking Matt Damon.  We know why she did this:  she had just seen The Bourne Ultimatum.

Seriously, you’d leave Jimmy Kimmel for Matt Damon even before The Bourne Ultimatum.  After all, he was also good Will Hunting.  But after The Bourne Ultimatum?  Funny’s good-go Jimmy Kimmel.  But being able to kick anyone’s ass, speak any language, and be an apologetic assassin.  It’s a no-brainer.

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Richard CummingsThe Bourne Ultimatum: Movie Review
a review of unbroken

Unbroken Review: A Torturous Movie That May Leave You Broken.

a review of unbroken

A Torturous Movie?

In this Unbroken review, I’ll  tell you why this is a torturous movie that may leave you broken.

There are various predispositions and expectations one has when they enter a movie. Have you seen lots of previews? Do you adore or respect one or many of the actors? Do know what the movie is about before walking in the theater? These pre-sentiments can have a vital impact on what you will think of the final result.

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Richard CummingsUnbroken Review: A Torturous Movie That May Leave You Broken.

What You Can Learn From Hugo

In Martin Martin Scorsese’s new film Hugo, you can learn a lot about life from Hugo in one simple, yet profound, quote:

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Richard CummingsWhat You Can Learn From Hugo