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A Quiet Place (2018)


A Quiet Place (2018)

Before seeing this film, I thought right away that it looked like an M. Night Shyamalan movie.  Perhaps it would be reminiscent of Signs (2002).  I assumed that Shyamalan was the director until I saw that it was directed by, produced by, and stars John Krasinski.

I am really picky when it comes to horror movies that I get excited about.  This one sparked my interest.  I saw this on opening night, but I did not get to review it until now.

A Quiet Place takes place in the not so distant future where people are being hunted by vicious creatures that attack when they hear sound.  The film follows one particular family that is trying to survive.

The movie was directed by John Krasinski and the noteworthy cast includes John Krasinski, Emily Blunt (Krasinski’s wife), Millicent Simmons, Noah Jupe, and Cade Woodward.

Krasinski has come a long way from his days of selling paper in The Office (2005).  I really only started taking him seriously after seeing 13 Hours (2016).  I think that he has successfully transitioned from comedy to more serious acting and this movie is further proof.

A Quiet Place was way better than Signs.

The chemistry between Blunt and Krasinski felt very genuine.  Such a simple thing like that is easy when it is a real life couple onscreen.  However, that connection can make all of the difference.

This is not a bloodbath horror movie.  That is what I especially enjoyed about A Quiet Place.  The film keeps you in suspense throughout basically the entire movie.  It is edge-of-your seat excitement with enough jumpy scenes to make it worth your while.

The film is unique because it really does not contain a lot of dialogue.  I feel like this adds to the suspense.  The theater that I was in was eerily a quiet place.  Our eyes were glued to the screen, and the hair on the back of our necks stood up as we were desperately wanting to know what was going to happen next.

A Quiet Place was a breath of fresh air for the horror genre.  It is a reminder that a good spooky story meticulously executed is all that it takes to be a quality scary movie.  It seems like such a simple concept, but most horror movies these days have trouble achieving this.  There really was nothing wrong with this film.  It was chilling from start to finish.  Alfred Hitchcock would be proud.

I rate this movie a 9 on a scale of 1-10.

 

If you liked this film then you might also enjoy:

 

The Conjuring (2013)

High Tension (2003)

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

The Purge (2013)

Sinister (2012)

The Others (2001)

Signs (2002)

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Looper (2012)

13 Hours (2016)

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The Best Movies of 2012


The Best Movies of 2012

 

Below is my list of the best movies that I have seen that were released in 2012 (even if some were made in 2011).  I have included trailers for each movie.  Click on the highlighted titles for my full reviews of each of those films.  The movies that are not highlighted, I have not reviewed yet, but I still highly recommend them.  I will continue to add to this list if I see any more movies from 2012 that are worthy of this list.

 

The Impossible (2012)

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

End of Watch (2012)

The Raid: Redemption (2011)

Django Unchained (2012)

Jack Reacher (2012)

Contraband (2012)

The Grey (2011)

21 Jump Street (2012)

The Hunger Games (2012)

Dark Shadows (2012)

Ted (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Lawless (2012)

Looper (2012)

Sinister (2012)

Frankenweenie (2012)

Argo (2012)

Lincoln (2012)

Skyfall (2012)

Hitchcock (2012)

 

Movies that were good, but did not quite make the list are:

The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Total Recall (2012)

The Expendables 2 (2012)

Death Wish (2018)


Death Wish (2018)

Why do we like vigilante justice?  I think that it is because someone does exactly what we are thinking should be done or we would like to do, ourselves.  Also, vigilante justice in the movies is often portrayed as sticking up for ones that cannot stick up for themselves.  If you are like me, then you enjoy rooting for the underdog.

Death Wish is about a doctor who decides to take matters into his own hands after an attack on his family.  He decides to find the men responsible and serve up his own form of vigilante justice.

The movie was directed by Eli Roth and the noteworthy cast includes Bruce Willlis, Vincent D’Onofrio, Elisabeth Shue, Dean Norris, Camila Morrone, Beau Knapp, Kimberly Elise, Len Cariou, Jack Kesy, and Ronnie Gene Blevins.

I am not usually one to be into remakes.  It seems like Hollywood remakes or reboots just about everything these days.  Often, I say leave well enough alone, but sometimes the right remake idea comes along and the right actor is cast in the lead role.

In this case, Willis was very fitting for the role in Death Wish.  It was his best performance since Looper (2012).  He has been making a lot of B-rated straight to DVD movies lately, so it is nice to see him return to his former glory.  I am glad to see that he has not gone the way of Nicolas Cage (spitting out one piece of trash after the next).  Death Wish is a one-man-show and Bruce was clearly up for the task.

This movie is a scary concept because of how realistic it is.  What I mean by that is that it shows just how worthless the police department and justice system can be sometimes.  Too often, it is the people that deserve to see justice be done, that are the ones stuck without any justice at all.  It also goes to show just how vulnerable we all are.

The likable Dean Norris has quickly been typecast as the police or detective type thanks to the success of the television series Breaking Bad.  His part in this movie is good, but it does quickly make you think of Breaking Bad.

There are a few noticeable gruesome scenes in this movie that had Roth’s signature all over it.  So far, I believe that this film is Roth’s best work as a director.  He did a terrific job setting the tone of Death Wish and sticking with it throughout.

It has been a very long time since I have seen the original Death Wish (1974), but watching this version has made me want to go back and watch the original sometime soon.  The new film is a quality remake done with today’s technology.  The original movie is now 44 years old and it shows its age.

This movie is a murky suspense/thriller with good old fashioned popcorn-popping action.  Willis as the protagonist doing bad for good reasons will keep you on the edge of your seat hoping that justice gets done.

I rate this movie an 8 on a scale of 1-10.

 

If you liked this film then you might also enjoy:

Death Wish (1974)

Death Sentence (2007)

The Brave One (2007)

The Boondock Saints (1999)

Man on Fire (2004)

The Equalizer (2014)

The Punisher (2004)

Sin City (2005)

Harry Brown (2009)

RED (2010)

RED 2 (2013)

John Wick (2014)

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

Prisoners (2013)

Defendor (2009)

Don Jon (2013)


Don Jon Poster

Don Jon (2013)

 

I have always been a fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  I grew up watching his films and television shows.  When I was a little kid, I liked him in the films Angels in the Outfield (1994), Beethoven (1992), A River Runs Through It (1992), and the television shows Family Ties, Murder, She Wrote, and Roseanne.

As I grew older, I watched Gordon-Levitt grow up and his roles slowly mature.  When I was a teenager I enjoyed his part in the movie 10 Things I Hate About You(1999), and I liked him in the television shows That ‘70s Show, and 3rd Rock from the Sun.

Shortly after 3rd Rock from the Sun ended in 2001, Gordon-Levitt started accepting edgier roles.  For the most part, he stuck with low-budget independent films until the blockbuster Inception (2010) boosted him to superstardom.

Ever since Inception, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been on fire.  He was excellent in the film 50/50 (2011), The Dark Knight Rises (2012) speaks for itself, he made Premium Rush (2012) watch-able, Looper (2012) was awesome, Lincoln (2012) was a film of epic proportions, and he has returned to his roots of independent, edgy filmmaking with Don Jon.

Don Jon marks an impressive new milestone for Gordon-Levitt.  It is the first film that he has written, directed, and starred in.  Also, he bulked up a lot for the movie.

Don Jon Scarlett Joseph

Don Jon is an atypical dysfunctional drama that hits on a touchy topic, porn addiction.  Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a New Jersey man who seems to have all of his priorities straight except that he is a total ladies man and he is addicted to pornography.  When Jon meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), the most beautiful woman that he has ever seen, she changes him.  He is forced to confront his porn addiction and how he treats women.

The rest of the noteworthy cast includes Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Glenne Headly, Brie Larson, Rob Brown, and Jeremy Luke.

Don Jon Family

The movie is definitely an adult drama.  It tackles the subjects of pornography, masturbation, and addiction.  There is a lot of nudity and language.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a very solid track record when it comes to acting and I was very excited to see Don Jon because of his writing, directing, and starring credits.  He does not disappoint.  The film was delightfully different from the norm.  It touches on topics that people tend to shy away from and it throws them in your face.  Although it will be considered a controversial movie and it proves that Gordon-Levitt likes to takes risks, Don Jon has a lot of heart.

I saw Don Jon two nights ago and I have been thinking about it ever since.  It stuck with me.  The more I think about it, the more that I like it.  It’s a good date movie if you have an open mind.

Don Jon Gordon-Levitt Johansson

The cast is awesome!  Gordon-Levitt was a rockstar both on and off camera.  The chemistry between Johansson and Gordon-Levitt was perfect.  They also had their accents down wonderfully.  Moore was a great addition to the movie and it was fun to see Danza and Headly acting again.

Don Jon deserves a few Oscar nods, in my opinion.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt should be recognized with a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor or Best Director, or both, and the film should be nominated for Best Picture.  Johansson and Moore also gave Oscar worthy performances.

Don Jon Moore Gordon-Levitt

Don Jon is one of the best, if not the best movie that I have seen all year.  Prisoners (2013) and The Iceman (2012) are my other favorite films of 2013.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has proved himself to be a very capable filmmaker.  I’m excited to see what he will do next.

I rate this movie a 9 on a scale of 1-10.

Buy, rent, or run?  Buy.

Don Jon Danza Gordon-Levitt

Note: The first movie that I remember seeing Joseph Gordon-Levitt in was Angels in the Outfield (1994).  That film was also the first movie that I remember seeing Tony Danza in.  It’s interesting to me how almost 20 years later Gordon-Levitt has gone on to be a superstar and Danza’s career has tanked.  If this movie does not revive Danza’s career, then nothing will.  If Danza suddenly pops up in everything, it will be because of his comeback in Don Jon.

 

Top 13 Current Redbox Movies Vol. 4


redbox box

Top 13 Current Redbox Movies Vol. 4

If you are thinking about renting a movie from the Redbox, you might want to read this list to help you decide exactly which movie to rent.

Here is another edition of my top 13 current Redbox movies, back by popular demand.

Click on this link to read Vol. 1 from 2/10/13.

Click on this link to read Vol. 2 from 3/14/13.

Click on this link to read Vol. 3 from 4/21/13.

Click on this link to read Current Redbox Movie Reviews July 2013 from 6/30/13.

Current Redbox Movie Reviews August 2013

Current Redbox Movie Reviews September 2013

I have updated the list based on all the movies that are currently available to rent at the Redbox as of 5/9/13. They will change some of the titles weekly, but the list should still be pretty accurate for a while and hopefully be able to help you find a good movie to rent. I have included the DVD covers and previews. If a movie doesn’t have a cover or preview above it, simply click on the title for my full review of the movie along with the poster artwork and preview.

I do not claim to have seen all of the movies that are currently available at the Redbox, but I have seen 82 of them. Of those 82 movies, here is the list of my top 13 Current Redbox movies:

1.  Django Unchained (2012)

What's Eating Gilbert Grape cover

2.  What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) My Rating: 9

3.  Ted (2012)

4.  Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

5.  The Impossible (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises cover

6.  The Dark Knight Rises (2012)            My Rating: 9

7.  Jack Reacher (2012)

8.  Hitchcock (2012)

9.  Skyfall (2012)

10.  End of Watch (2012)

looper levitt willis cover

11.  Looper (2012)                                       My Rating: 8.5

titanic blu ray cover

12.  Titanic (1997)                                      My Rating: 8.5

13.  Frankenweenie (2012)

These movies in my opinion, are the best movies that are currently available at the Redbox.

Newcomers Silver Linings Playbook, The Impossible, and Jack Reacher have knocked Flight (2012), Sinister (2012), and Lincoln (2012) off of the list.  The other movies continue to hold strong.

Now that you have seen my Top 13 Current Redbox movies, click on this link to check out my Top 13 Disappointing Current Redbox Movies from 3/27/13.

Feel free to check out the rest of www.brockingmovies.com

Next time that you are in the mood to watch a movie, I hope that you will return to my site to see what’s good and what’s not.  Should you buy it, rent it, or run away from it?  I can help you decide.  On the home screen www.brockingmovies.com click on the follow button if you would like to stay up to date on all of my new posts through email.

Netflix Clouds

Are you a fan of Netflix?  Click on the following links below for Netflix related material:

Netflix Watch Instantly Movie Reviews September 2013

20 Best Drama Movies Based on Real Life Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

20 Best Classics Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

13 Best Mind-bending Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

13 Best Comedy Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

13 Best Romantic Comedy Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

13 Best War/Military Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

13 Best Gritty Action/Thriller Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

Thanks for stopping by and happy movie watching!

Top 13 Current Redbox Movies Vol. 3


redbox box

Top 13 Current Redbox Movies Vol. 3

If you are thinking about renting a movie from the Redbox, you might want to read this list to help you decide exactly which movie to rent.

Here is another edition of my top 13 current Redbox movies, back by popular demand.

Click on this link to read Vol. 1 from 2/10/13.

Click on this link to read Vol. 2 from 3/14/13.

Click on this link to read Vol. 4 from 5/9/13.

Click on this link to read Current Redbox Movie Reviews July 2013.

Click on this link to read Current Redbox Movie Reviews August 2013.

Click on this link to read Current Redbox Movies Reviews September 2013.

I have updated the list based on all the movies that are currently available to rent at the Redbox as of 4/21/13.  They will change some of the titles weekly, but the list should still be pretty accurate for a while and hopefully be able to help you find a good movie to rent.  I have included the DVD covers and previews.  If a movie doesn’t have a cover or preview above it, simply click on the title for my full review of the movie along with the poster artwork and preview.

I do not claim to have seen all of the movies that are currently available at the Redbox, but I have seen 77 of them.  Of those 77 movies, here is the list of my top 13 Current Redbox movies:

1.  Django Unchained (2012)                      My Rating: 10

What's Eating Gilbert Grape cover

2.  What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)    My Rating: 10

3.  Ted (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises cover

4.  The Dark Knight Rises (2012)               My Rating: 9

5.  Hitchcock (2012)

6.  Skyfall (2012)

7.  End of Watch (2012)

looper levitt willis cover

8.  Looper (2012)                                           My Rating: 8.5

titanic blu ray cover

9.  Titanic (1997)                                           My Rating: 8.5

10.  Frankenweenie (2012)

11.  Flight (2012)

12.  Sinister (2012)

13.  Lincoln (2012)

These movies in my opinion, are the best movies that are currently available at the Redbox.

Django Unchained has taken over the number 1 spot.  Both The Machinist (2004) and The Raid: Redemption (2011) are no longer available to rent at the Redbox and therefore they have vanished from the list.  Newcomers Hitchcock and Lincoln have knocked Moneyball (2011) out of the park and off of the list.  The other movies continue to hold strong.

Now that you have seen my Top 13 Current Redbox movies, click on this link to check out my Top 13 Disappointing Current Redbox Movies from 3/27/13.

Netflix Clouds

Are you a fan of Netflix?  Click on the following links below for Netflix related material:

Netflix Watch Instantly Movie Reviews September 2013

20 Best Drama Movies Based on Real Life Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

20 Best Classics Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

13 Best Mind-bending Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

13 Best Comedy Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

13 Best Romantic Comedy Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

13 Best War/Military Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

13 Best Gritty Action/Thriller Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly

Happy Movie Watching!

Top 10 (err…13) Movies that I saw in Theatres in 2012


Top 10 (err…13) Movies that I saw in Theatres in 2012

My ratings are on a scale of 1-10.

 

 

1.  Ted (2012).  My rating: 9

         

2.  The Dark Knight Rises (2012).  My rating: 9

3Jack Reacher (2012).  My rating: 9

4.  Skyfall (2012).  My rating: 8.5

 

5.  Contraband (2012).  My rating: 8.5

 

6.  End of Watch (2012).  My rating: 8.5

 

7.  Looper (2012). My rating: 8.5

 

8.  Lincoln (2012).  My rating: 8

 

9.  Men in Black 3 (2012).  My rating: 8

 

10.  Total Recall (2012).  My rating: 8

 

11.  Lawless (2012).  My rating: 8

 

12.  21 Jump Street (2012).  My rating: 8

 

13.  The Dictator (2012).  My rating: 8

Note: Hugo (2011), and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) would have both been on this list, but I didn’t count them because they were filmed in 2011.  That being said, 21 Jump Street and The Dictator would have been knocked off of the list.

I also saw the Dark Knight Trilogy in the theatre on the same night of the tragic theatre shooting.  I was not about to count Batman Begins (2005) or The Dark Knight (2008) as a part of my 2012 list.