Blog Archives
Ready Player One (2018)
Ready Player One (2018)
Some aspects of this film intrigued me prior to seeing it, while other things about the movie worried me.
It interested me that a lot of characters and parts from famous films would be scattered throughout Ready Player One. However, I was concerned that every aspect of the movie would be overdone.
Why would I worry that a big budget film might be overcooked and therefore tasteless?
Hollywood has become obsessed with gathering together big budget group movies. It started with superhero movies and those superhero movies had to keep getting bigger and fuller. It is no longer just Batman or Superman, or even just Spiderman anymore. Batman vs. Superman also was not even good enough (of course, we knew it wouldn’t be). It is now The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Justice League, Suicide Squad, and X-Men, to name a few. Hollywood will take a concept that worked once and bleed it dry for everything that it is worth. It will be purged of all entertainment value. All that will be left behind is an overdone, and overblown metastasized mess that should be cut off because it is destroying the host that is the superhero genre.
What does this have to do with Ready Player One?
Because Hollywood has to keep trying to outdo itself, it keeps adding too many ingredients, and we no longer recognize what we are being fed. The trailer for Ready Player One had me worried that the movie would just be too much.
Ready Player One is about a future where a virtual reality videogame world called “The Oasis” is better than the real world. The creator of “The Oasis” has hidden secrets inside of his game. The world has become obsessed with finding those secrets and taking control of “The Oasis” and the trillions of dollars that it is worth.
The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg and the noteworthy cast includes Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance, Simon Pegg, Lena Waithe, Ralph Ineson, Susan Lynch, Clare Higgins, and Laurence Spellman.
I got to enjoy this film in 3D and I believe that greatly improved my movie watching experience. The special effects are firing on all cylinders in this one.
To say that I was pleasantly surprised by this movie would be an understatement. Were things overdone at times? Yes. But, let’s say they were tastefully overdone.
If you grew up playing videogames, then you will likely enjoy this movie more than someone who did not play video games, as a child. In other words, if you are in your fifties or older, you might not get much out of this movie.
Some of the characters and places that were recreated from other films in this movie were nothing short of incredible.
Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, and Ben Mendelsohn all did a great job in this movie.
I enjoyed how Spielberg walked the line of videogame and reality in Ready Player One. The videogame world created inside of the film feels just like the real world inside of the movie. In a lot of ways, Ready Player One is like nothing we have ever seen on screen. However, you can bet that the concept in this film will return again soon to a theater near you.
Overall, Ready Player One was peppered with nostalgia. Characters and icons from our childhoods were brought back to life with a vengeance. It was an exciting and epic Steven Spielberg story of good vs. evil in a fight to save the fictional world.
I rate this movie a 9 on a scale of 1-10.
If you liked this film then you might also enjoy:
Back to the Future (1985)
The Shining (1980)
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
I had never even heard of A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints until I rented Charlie Countryman (2013) at the Redbox. When you rent Charlie Countryman, you get A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints as a bonus movie. They give you a two-for-one, a double sided disc for the price of one movie. It’s a Shia LaBeouf double feature. They are both indie films. This was all the more intriguing to me, so I watched each movie the other night. You can guess what one of my next reviews will be.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints was based on the book with the same title. Surprisingly enough, the man who wrote the book, Dito Montiel, also directed the movie. The movie is a film adaptation of Dito Montiel’s life growing up in Astoria, New York in the 1980s. The story is a look into a messed up childhood in a rough part of the city. It follows the struggles of inner city teenagers, Dito (Shia LaBeouf plays young Dito, and Robert Downey Jr. plays grown up Dito) and his friends as they are becoming adults. The circle of friends are pitted against drugs, violence, sex, love, hate, loss, and hardship. All the while, Dito wants to escape New York and try to make a better life for himself somewhere else.
The rest of the noteworthy cast includes Channing Tatum, Chazz Palminteri, Dianne Wiest, Rosario Dawson, Melonie Diaz, Martin Compston, Scott Michael Campbell, Anthony DeSando, Adam Scarimbolo, Peter Anthony Tambakis, Laila Liliana Garro, and Eric Roberts.
I’m surprised that this movie got past me 8 years ago, because the cast is excellent. I should have been aware of this film earlier. It’s another low-budget independent film that slipped through the cracks.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints was hard to watch, at times, but it was also hard to stop watching. The film was an excellent depiction of how rundown certain areas of the country can be and how it affects the people living there. It’s indeed unfortunate, but it’s in-your-face honesty. Some people won’t be able to handle the honesty of this movie. The trashy characters, obscene language and other vulgarity, along with the sex, nudity, and mindless violence, among other things, will be too much for some.
But, you have to take the sweet from the sour. There is indeed a silver lining in this story. The headlining actors in this film are exceptional. The movie makes you feel like you are in the slums with the characters experiencing it all. The actors portray a remarkable friendship and camaraderie that helps you come back to the reality that people often try to be good even if they are bad.
The story is rigid and rocky, but the writing and acting make it all worthwhile. Here is an unknown gem for those who are willing to give it a chance.
I rate this movie an 8 on a scale of 1-10.
Buy, rent, or run? Buy.
If you liked A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, you might also enjoy the following movies:
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Redbox Movie Reviews January 2014
Redbox Movie Reviews January 2014
I have seen 94 of the movies that are currently available at the Redbox. Of those 94 films, I have written a review for 61 of them. My reviews will let you know what I think are the best movies currently available at the Redbox and what are the worst movies currently available at the Redbox.
I like a wide variety of movies. My list consists of comedy movies, horror movies, action movies, drama movies, western movies, science fiction movies, foreign movies, comic book movies, family movies, war movies, etc. I’ve reviewed almost every genre you can think of, so hopefully it will suit whatever mood you are in.
Note: I will continue to update this list throughout the month of January. Each month I will keep updating a new list that will have more and more movies on it. If you like what you see, I hope that you will come back for more in the future.
Click on each title below for a trailer, pictures, cast list, my rating, and my review of that movie.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013)
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
If you like what you see then click on this link: www.brockingmovies.com to check out the rest of my site. Movies are what I do.
Redbox Movie Reviews December 2013
Redbox Movie Reviews December 2013
I have seen 95 of the movies that are currently available at the Redbox. Of those 95 films, I have written a review for 60 of them. My reviews will let you know what I think are the best movies currently available at the Redbox and what are the worst movies currently available at the Redbox.
I like a wide variety of movies. My list consists of comedy movies, horror movies, action movies, drama movies, western movies, science fiction movies, foreign movies, comic book movies, family movies, war movies, etc. I’ve reviewed almost every genre you can think of, so hopefully it will suit whatever mood you are in.
Note: I will continue to update this list throughout the month of December. Each month I will keep updating a new list that will have more and more movies on it. If you like what you see, I hope that you will come back for more in the future.
Click on each title below for a trailer, pictures, cast list, my rating, and my review of that movie.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
If you like what you see then click on this link: www.brockingmovies.com to check out the rest of my site. Movies are what I do.
Current Redbox Movie Reviews November 2013
Current Redbox Movie Reviews November 2013
I have seen 91 of the movies that are currently available at the Redbox. Of those 91 films, I have written a review for 58 of them. My reviews will let you know what I think are the best movies currently available at the Redbox and what are the worst movies currently available at the Redbox.
I like a wide variety of movies. My list consists of comedy movies, horror movies, action movies, drama movies, western movies, science fiction movies, foreign movies, comic book movies, family movies, war movies, etc. I’ve reviewed almost every genre you can think of, so hopefully it will suit whatever mood you are in.
Note: I will continue to update this list throughout the month of November. Each month I will keep updating a new list that will have more and more movies on it. If you like what you see, I hope that you will come back for more in the future.
Click on each title below for a trailer, pictures, cast list, my rating, and my review of that movie.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
If you like what you see then click on this link: www.brockingmovies.com to check out the rest of my site. Movies are what I do.
Current Redbox Movie Reviews October 2013
Current Redbox Movie Reviews October 2013
I have seen 87 of the movies that are currently available at the Redbox. Of those 87 films, I have written a review for 50 of them. My reviews will let you know what I think are the best movies currently available at the Redbox and what are the worst movies currently available at the Redbox.
Note: I will continue to update this list throughout the month of October. Each month I will keep updating a new list that will have more and more movies on it. If you like what you see, I hope that you will come back for more in the future.
Click on each title below for a trailer, pictures, cast list, my rating, and my review of that movie.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
If you like what you see then click on this link: www.brockingmovies.com to check out the rest of my site. Movies are what I do.
Now In Theatres Movie Reviews August 30th – September 5th
Now In Theatres Movie Reviews August 30th – September 5th
I have seen and reviewed 27 movies that are currently in theatres. Some of the films have been in theatres for a while now and others are newer releases. If you are having trouble deciding what movie to see in theatres, I hope that you will consult my list for help. Movie ticket prices are pretty expensive these days, and I might be able to help save you some of your hard earned cash. My ratings will help you decide what are the best movies currently in theatres and what are the worst movies currently in theatres. Also, at the bottom of the list I have provided you with previews of movies that are out that I have not seen yet.
Click on each title below for a trailer, poster artwork, and my full review of that movie:
Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013)
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Oz The Great and Powerful (2013)
The Place Beyond the Pines (2013)
Click on each title below for a preview and poster artwork of that movie along with my opinion of whether or not I think that film will be any good:
I hope that you find my reviews helpful. I will continue to update this list when I have seen more movies, so feel free to check back regularly. Also, I plan on making a new list each week as more films are released. Happy movie watching from www.brockingmovies.com
Current Redbox Movie Reviews September 2013
Current Redbox Movie Reviews September 2013
I have seen 94 of the movies that are currently available at the Redbox. Of those 94 films, I have written a review for 52 of them. My reviews will let you know what I think are the best movies currently available at the Redbox and what are the worst movies currently available at the Redbox.
Note: I will continue to update this list throughout the month of September. Each month I will keep updating a new list that will have more and more movies on it. If you like what you see, I hope that you will come back for more in the future.
Click on each title below for a trailer, pictures, cast list, my rating, and my review of that movie.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
If you like what you see then click on this link: www.brockingmovies.com to check out the rest of my site. Movies are what I do.
For more Redbox related material click on the following links below
Top 13 Current Redbox Movies Vol. 4
Top 13 Current Redbox Movies Vol. 3
Top 13 Current Redbox Movies Vol. 2
Top 13 Disappointing Current Redbox Movies
Are you thinking about seeing a movie that is currently in theatres?
Click here for Now In Theatres Movie Reviews August 30th – September 5th. You will find previews, poster artwork, and my full review of all of the movies that I have seen that are currently in theatres. You’ll be able to see which movies are out right now and it might just help you decide which movies are worth seeing.
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 Gritty Action/Thriller Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly
13 Best War/Military Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly
Happy movie watching!
Now In Theatres Movie Review August 23rd – 29th
Now In Theatres Movie Reviews August 23rd – 29th
Click on this link for Now In Theatres Movie Reviews August 30th – September 5th
I have seen and reviewed 29 movies that are currently in theatres. Some of the films have been in theatres for a while now and others are newer releases. If you are having trouble deciding what movie to see in theatres, I hope that you will consult my list for help. Movie ticket prices are pretty expensive these days, and I might be able to help save you some of your hard earned cash. My ratings will help you decide what are the best movies currently in theatres and what are the worst movies currently in theatres. Also, at the bottom of the list I have provided you with previews of movies that are out that I have not seen yet.
Click on each title below for a trailer, poster artwork, and my full review of that movie:
Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013)
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Oz The Great and Powerful (2013)
The Place Beyond the Pines (2013)
Click on each title below for a preview and poster artwork of that movie along with my opinion of whether or not I think that film will be any good:
I hope that you find my reviews helpful. I will continue to update this list when I have seen more movies, so feel free to check back regularly. Also, I plan on making a new list each week as more films are released. Happy movie watching from www.brockingmovies.com
brockingmovies 