Written and directed by Kirby Dick
A harrowing look at the disturbing epidemic of rape within the U.S. military and the shocking repercussions that soldiers face when they courageously speak out.
Uncle Sam wants you
to keep silent when Uncle
Sam really wants you.
Grade: A-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Invisible War is available now on DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2120152/
Starring: Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston & Simon Russell Beale
Adapted & directed by Terence Davies
Shortly after World War II, the wife of British judge finds herself trapped between her passionless marriage and an affair with a troubled Royal Air Force pilot.
Great expectations!
Being happy’s hard when you’re
repressed and oppressed.
Grade: A-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Deep Blue Sea is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1700844/
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church & Bryan Cranston
Screenplay by Andrew Stanton & Mark Andrews and Michael Chabon
Directed by Andrew Stanton
A Civil War veteran is transported to Mars where he becomes embroiled in a violent conflict between the different native tribes.
Disney delivers
on the promise of the world’s
dullest film title.
Grade: C
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
John Carter is available on Blu-ray and DVD today.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401729/
Starring: Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Freida Pinto, John Hurt & Mickey Rourke
Written by Charles Parlapanides & Vlas Parlapanides
Directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandwar
Based on Greek mythology, the young warrior Theseus is chosen by the gods of Mount Olympus to thwart evil King Hyperion’s plan to obtain a magical bow that can release the Titans, elder gods who will bring death and destruction to heaven and earth alike.
The plot is a myth
but Rourke and the visuals
are legendary.
Grade: B-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Immortals is available on Blu-ray and DVD today.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1253864/
Directed by Danfung Dennis
This Academy Award-nominee for Best Documentary Feature follows a wounded soldier as he returns from Afghanistan and tries to readjust to his life.
I’ve seen so many
war docs, I am coming down
with PTSD.
Grade: C+
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Hell and Back Again is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1748043/
Starring: Gina Carano, Channing Tatum, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender & Bill Paxton
Written by Lem Dobbs
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
When a private military soldier is betrayed during a mission, she seeks revenge on those who wronged her.
Because getting the
innards beat out of you should
be sexy sometimes.
Grade: B+
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Haywire in now playing in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1506999/
Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson & Benedict Cumberbatch
Screenplay by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis
Directed by Steven Spielberg
After his horse is sold to the British calvary during World War I, a young man enlists as a soldier in hopes of one day being reconnected with the animal he raised.
At once, breathtaking,
yet Saving Private Pony
teeters on hokum.
Grade: B
c2011
By Daniel J. Hoag
War Horse is now playing in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568911/
Starring: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci & Toby Jones
Screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely
Directed by Joe Johnston
During World War II, scrawny patriot Steve Rogers joins a top secret military project that turns him into brawny Captain America and pits him against Nazis and the power-hungry villain known as Red Skull.
Flag-waving Evans
makes up for the flame-out that
was Fantastic Four.
Grade: B+
c2011
By Daniel J. Hoag
Captain America: The First Avenger is now playing in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458339/
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga & Jeffrey Wright
Written by Ben Ripley
Directed by Duncan Jones
A soldier involved in an experimental government program must repeatedly relive the last eight minutes of another man’s life in order to identify the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.
You’ve seen this before,
but like in Groundhog Day, some
repeats aren’t too bad.
Grade: B
c2011
By Daniel J. Hoag
Source Code is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 7/26/11.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0945513/
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland & Mark Strong
Screenplay by Jeremy Brock
Directed by Kevin Macdonald
A Roman soldier goes in search of the golden emblem that was lost by his father’s legion twenty years earlier.
Does Channing Tatum
watch this and think, “I scalded
my penis for this?”*
Grade: B-
c2011
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Eagle is available on Blu-ray and DVD on tomorrow.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034389/
*http://tinyurl.com/3h6vnzv
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