The Slippery Soapbox

[ctaulbee]

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.

Release date: September 30, 2016 (USA)
Director: Tim Burton
Stars: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell, Samuel L. Jackson, Judi Dench
Box office: 277.7 million USD
Budget: 110 million USD
Novel: Ransom Riggs

The latest from Tim Burton would seem a tailor-made fit based on his tastes but one would have thought the same thing about "Dark Shadows," and we recall how that turned out. I think it was too uninspired and convoluted to qualify as artsy while at the same time, lacking mass appeal due to dull mythology and excessive explanatory dialogue, sans any real thrills. Ultimately it falls somewhere in the middle, the yuck factor is fairly high but the humor is wry and misplaced and the old-school effects combined with CGI battles just can't bring it all together inside a plot line riddled with holes and a marked shortage of backstory. Overall it felt rushed and condensed and while some of Burton's peculiar genius shines through at times, for the most part I was left wanting it to be far better --think Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands.

[VincentLupo]

I'm guessing I'll probably like this since I liked Dark Shadows, Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands.

[ctaulbee]

It wasn't horrid Vince, just a little slow and lacking in substance

[ctaulbee]

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is a math savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Behind the cover of a small-town CPA office, he works as a freelance accountant for some of the world's most dangerous criminal organizations. With the Treasury Department's Crime Enforcement Division, run by Ray King (J.K. Simmons), starting to close in, Christian takes on a legitimate client: a state-of-the-art robotics company where an accounting clerk (Anna Kendrick) has discovered a discrepancy involving millions of dollars. But as Christian uncooks the books and gets closer to the truth, it is the body count that starts to rise.

Rating:    R (for strong violence and language throughout)
Genre:    Drama
Directed By:    Gavin O'Connor
Written By:    Bill Dubuque
Stars: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, John Lithgow, Jean Smart
In Theaters:    Oct 14, 2016  wide
On DVD:    Jan 10, 2017
Box Office:    $85,320,070.00
Runtime:    128 minutes
Studio:    Warner Bros. Pictures


One or two elements fall short and a few plot-twists may seem obvious, but (this) is something of a surprise in a box office dominated of late with animated/fantasy family flicks and superhero blockbusters.

[ctaulbee]

The incredible untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson - brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation's confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big. Director: Theodore Melfi Cast: Taraji P. Henson (Katherine Johnson) Octavia Spencer (Dorothy Vaughn) Janelle Monáe (Mary Jackson) Kevin Costner (Al Harrison) Kirsten Dunst (Vivian Michael) Release date: December 25, 2016 (USA)

Didn't find many faults with this, it's one of the better films of 2016 IMHO.

[RRJR84]

Deep water Horizon 8/10 great movie very fast paced

My Big Fat Greek wedding 2 7/10 pretty good follow up, not overly funny but i liked it

Moana 10/10 best Disney movie in a long time.

Justice League Dark 10/10 great animated movie but would have loved more swamp thing in it

[bankska22]

Love anything WW2 related. Just watched Red Tails. 10 stars! Best movie I have seen this year. Looks like we are getting a naval film with Tom Hanks or at least, I hope. Looking forward to that. Go Navy!!!!

[ctaulbee]

Picking up immediately after the events in Resident Evil: Retribution, Alice (Milla Jovovich) is the only survivor of what was meant to be humanity's final stand against the undead. Now, she must return to where the nightmare began - The Hive in Raccoon City, where the Umbrella Corporation is gathering its forces for a final strike against the only remaining survivors of the apocalypse. Director: Paul W.S. Anderson Cast: Milla Jovovich (Alice) Iain Glen (Dr. Isaacs) Ali Larter (Claire Redfield) Shawn Roberts (Wesker) Release date: January 27, 2017 (USA)

Pretty much what you would expect from a RE film nothing really new here.  If you like the series then you will like this.  They did tie up most of the story in this one but cleverly left it open for a "new chapter" if they were inclined to go there lol.

[Fogdude]

Thanks for the RE update, CT. Good to know.

[RRJR84]

Keeping Up with the Joneses (2016) 8/10 great comedy, reminds a little of mr & mrs smith but over all still a great comedy

[chouette]

I'm presently watching the TV Series "Notorious" and really like it! The 2 leading characters (Piper Perabo & Daniel Sunjata) are pretty darn good! I didn't really know the leading female playing the television producer but knew the leading male playing the defense attorney from another TV Series "Graceland". Both great shows!

I give a solid 3.5 out of 4 stars for Notorious!

[alienmem]

I saw the first epsiodes of some new shows yesterday:

Taboo looks amazing. Tom hardy(aka Mad Max Rokatasnki) is just the most badass actor working today

Emerald City: Tarsem Singh dirests this episode and the visual are amazing. If you're wondering this looks nothing like a disney adaptation or a family freindly adaptation. Looks very grim. look great.

[RRJR84]

Logan 9/10 overall a really good take on the character and a good send off

Power Rangers 5/10 just doesn't compare to the original , it may be less cheesy but they changed the tone too much and dragged out the back story too long.

Beauty and the Beast 9/10 i was surprised and impressed by this live action take, i thought it wouldn't hold up but it did

[Ron Zoso]

Show:

Good Morning Football

Review:

My god, the things I'd like to do with Kay Adams!!!                    

[ctaulbee]

My god, the things I'd like to do with Kay Adams!!!

[Ron Zoso]

Oh baby....  I'm your cover man!  

She's actually hotter when she's not done up with the studio make up. The only reason I'll watch the Fantasy Football show on the NFL network is they usually do a live video chat with her from home... hairs a little messy, not as much make-up... me likey!!!

[Ron Zoso]

And I have a thing for short brunettes!

[ctaulbee]

I'm a man of simple tastes, I like ditsy & sleazy.



Bet she smells like a new truck too.

[chouette]

Bet she smells like a new truck too.

[alienmem]

Legion tv show     7/10

[alienmem]

Saw Blak Narcissus again. Haven't seen it in years. Still a great movie. the technicolor is amazing.
Also watched a movie called Big Hero 6, A Disney CGI animation(lol, Fogdude, this movie isn't for you man )

Actually the movie is very good. It's the same old predictable but it's very well done.


Superhero movies always go like this. Always: There's an evil guy who wants to destroy the world and the superhero is there to rescue it and ends up rescueing it at the very end....ALWAYS!!!! If not name me one superhero movie that doesn't follow this norm?




Also I've finished Friday the last season of Walking Dead, the worst season of all of them. Nothing happnes in this season. NOTHING!!!

Started watching the final seeason of Girls. Still very early to review it. Only saw the first 2 episodes of the 10 that end today. We'll see. let's hope it ends well.really like Girls

[Fogdude]

Watched The Great Wall (2016) with Matt Damon. I usually like Matt Damon films but I was disappointed with this one. Damon was fine, but the story was thin & way too much CGI.



Then, the same night, I tried to watch Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016), but I fell asleep pretty early, so I'll have to try it again sometime. My wife said it wasn't all that, so I won't be trying too soon.



Last night, I watched The Legend of Tarzan (2016). It was quite good. There were a few slow spots, but overall it was entertaining & the story was good.



Yes, Alienmem, Big Hero 6 is like kryptonite to me. I got it for my grandkids, but wore lead impregnated gloves & a gas mask while handling it.

[chouette]

I watched DESIERTO last week just because Jeffrey Dean Morgan was part of the cast. I would probably give him alone a 5 stars, but since I need to rate the movie, I will give it 2 out of 4 stars. The movie was not bad with lots of action, but because a lot of the language was in Spanish and needed subtitles, it lost a star just for that reason as I HATE watching a movie with subtitles. I will probably remember this movie, but not sure it will be for a good reason.

[chouette]

Then, the same night, I tried to watch Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016), but I fell asleep pretty early, so I'll have to try it again sometime. My wife said it wasn't all that, so I won't be trying too soon.

Really? I'm a bit surprised!

[Fogdude]

Well, after awhile, these things all look the same & repetition just puts me out. I must have been more tired than I realized because I barely made it 5 minutes into it.