Martin Sheen Narrates “Baseball Legends”

documentary, historical, history, legend, movies, sports, television, , , , , , , ,
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Baseball is America’s favorite pastime.  We certainly have our fair share of baseball heroes who have become legends in their own time.  Watching the four documentaries in Baseball Legends, I learned so much about four very different athletes.  All special and talented in their own way, some are Gods, and they built the foundation of what we have today.

Co-directed by Josh Oshinsky and Jeff Spaulding, Baseball Legends is narrated by Martin Sheen.  The DVDs offer epic tales of four baseball heroes. Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron and Lou Gehrig turned baseball into the National Pastime that it is presently.

Each story is inspiring while bringing a fresh historical and poignant perspective of the lives of these sports icons. Using rare and enhanced archival material and state-of-the-art production techniques, these films are perfect for anyone interested in baseball and history.

Some key points covered in the movies are Babe Ruth, his bat turned him into a household name; Ted Williams, the last player to hit .400; Lou Gehrig, who won 6 World Series before illness ended his career; and Hank Aaron, who rose from adversity to break the record of a king.

DVD Special Features include The Making of American Hercules about Babe Ruth, and his rare player interviews with historic game footage. Ted Williams Hall of Fame induction is included. Saving the best for last, there are several extended interviews with various experts and archival footage from the Major League Baseball Film and Video Archive.

All in all, I discovered information I had never known about these four legends. Babe Ruth cut his teeth as a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox. He developed into a lethal opponent with both his arm and bat, helping Boston win a couple of World Series titles. Lou Gehrig was an Ivy League student and played baseball while going to school at Columbia. Ted Williams left baseball twice in order to fight for the Marines.  He was a jet pilot during both World War II and the Korean War. Hank Aaron went unnoticed as a player for the Milwaukee Braves, yet he broke Babe Ruth’s career home run record when the team transferred to Atlanta.

Hallmark’s “Ice Sculpture Christmas”

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Sometimes it is just nice to sit down and watch a new movie that so many others enjoy in Hallmark’s “Countdown to Christmas” program.

More than raising my expectations, I had a wonderful time watching Ice Sculpture Christmas as a whimsical movie. I found viewing the original ice sculptures in the movie was the most enjoyable part.

Directed by David Mackay, the movie follows a young woman, Callie Shaw, played by Rachel Boston. Her unwavering childhood dream is to be an accomplished chef. Trying to get her foot in the door, she nabbed a lowly job at a country club washing dishes with the hope of working her way up the ladder where the real cooking happens – in the kitchen. David Manning, played by David Alpay, is a well-off childhood friend who works for his father. The two meet up again by chance, and the scene is entertaining to watch.

The movie cuts back and forth between their childhood friendship and their present budding romance, which makes it pleasurable and attractive. The well-rounded cast adds more to Callie and David’s story and shows how David lives a very different lifestyle from Callie in terms of money and success. He never abandons his feelings for Callie, even though she struggles with her own financial problems while trying to work her way into the country club kitchen.

Without her consent, David enters Callie in a two-person team competition for an ice sculpting contest. He knows she is more than capable of adding her talents. Her self-esteem is heightened, yet David is not that talented or helpful with sculpting. Callie senses there could be a problem, particularly when she finds out who her direct competition is.

Of course, the ending is predictable, but that makes Hallmark movies so much fun to watch. You can always count on a happily ever after ending.

Adventure and Fantasy “Four Warriors”

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FOUR WARRIORS 3d DVD

Directed by Phil Hawkins and written by its star, Christopher Dane, the movie looks pretty good and is shot skillfully, with clean camerawork by David Meadows. Even the sets are decent and realistic, as many of the scenes were filmed in the woods, and the locations come across convincingly. The cast did a fine job of acting, and that is about as far as the movie goes on a positive note.

The story follows four men as they embark on a journey to fight the evil forces threatening their land and loved ones. As fantasy and adventure collide, four battle-weary Crusaders set out to track down an evil predator foretold in an ancient prophecy who has abducted all the men and children from a devastated village.

The obvious problem with Four Warriors is its low-budget production value, as the movie is full of incomplete details and unbelievable makeup and costumes. The characters are supposed to be battle-weary Crusaders, yet they look nothing like medieval fighters.  The actors are clean-cut and fit, and look like a bunch of models attending a photo shoot. The weapons look truly fake, and the armor is way too clean and polished for the time period and situation.

The battles are extreme, but without the magical finesse needed to keep viewers interested throughout the story. The scenes never reach their ultimate level of danger. The choreography of the battles clearly missed their marks, and it was way too obvious. The movie had demons that were not at all scary and looked too much like humans. The movie is being touted as similar to Game of Thrones meets Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, but I don’t see the resemblance at all, and it’s a good reason to avoid this film.

Cusack, Chan and Brody in “Dragon Blade”

action, foreign films, history, movies, , , , , ,
Dragon Blade

Directed by Daniel Lee, Dragon Blade is a fine example of the materialization of the growing motion picture market in China.

The industry is so dominant in Asia that Western stars are appearing in Chinese productions.  Like Dragon Blade, the movies are cultural dramas on a grand scale of historical epics. Lee’s movie has been a moneymaker, grossing over $120 million in China.  

The storyline is unique and pleasurable with Jackie Chan, John Cusack, and Adrien Brody. Cusack and Brody appear out of place in the empire of men swinging swords and wearing sandals, whereas Chan does a fine job of martial arts and plays a familiar role.

The movie transports the story back to 48 B.C., where Huo An, played by Chan, is a well-intended and compassionate leader of the Silk Road Protection Squad. His squad comes across as a dedicated group. Huo protects and fights altruistically to maintain harmony for the sanctioned Road.

Thereupon, Huo and his men are framed for gold smuggling and are banished to Wild Goose Gate. They are required to rebuild an entire city in two weeks or be put to death. Clearly an impossible task, something miraculous happens, and they connect up with a lost Roman army. Commanded by General Lucius, played by Cusack, is a scoundrel. He immediately picks a fight with Huo. After the brawl, they became fast friends with singing, parades, and drinking. Lucius confesses he is trying to avoid capture by the Romans and that he has a sick boy, Publius, played by Joey Jozef. The boy is the lawful heir to the Roman throne, and his evil brother, Tiberius, played by Brody, is out to assassinate him. He recently murdered their father, so we know he is serious. With that in mind, Lucius’ men and other local tribes, along with Huo, turn the city into a symbol of peace. Something Huo has desired for most of his life.

The visuals are not only majestic but also ambiguous. Seeing Chan in a sword fight with Cusack is conflicting. We are in Asia, and here is a Westerner. It is intriguing but unreal for an epic. The $65 million budget funded gigantic spectacles in which Lee effectively created a war-torn China during the Han Dynasty.

This is purely fictional with no regard for historical authenticity. True. The Romans and Asians shared commerce and the Silk Road, but nothing more. The many battle scenes are exceptional, with the combination of Roman fighting techniques and traditional Chinese martial arts. The movie is invigorating to watch as a friendship develops between Huo and Lucius.

Overall, Dragon Blade is a movie worth seeing, with Chan outshining his Western co-stars.

“12 Rounds 3: Lockdown” Different From Original

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12 Rounds 3 Lockdown

Watching the movie gives no indication of the story being a sequel because it is so different from the previous 12 Rounds movies.

The story has different characters and more action.  The other movies follow a man forced to complete a series of tasks within a specific timeframe. Lockdown refers to the limited amount of bullets the main character holds in his gun in order to achieve his task of nailing the bad guys.

Directed by Stephen Reynolds, the story follows John Shaw (Dean Ambrose), a cop.  Shaw just returned from an extensive leave after undergoing a gunshot wound and the death of his rookie partner. Fellow officer Tyler Burke, played by Roger Cross, brings tension to the story because he is a dirty cop involved in a drug-dealing venture. Rookie cop Jenny Taylor, played by Sarah Smyth, discovers evidence against Burke and tells Shaw. He investigates and confronts Burke and his team’s connection to drug dealing.

Burke needs to get rid of Shaw because he knows about his dirty dealings with drugs. So, he and his team evacuated the entire police building and locked it down. They are intent on hunting down Shaw and killing him. Shaw only has and clip for his revolver, with 12 rounds, which is why the movie’s title is “12 Rounds.” That is not all. Shaw has more on his hands than just Burke and his gang chasing him down. He is being set up by Burke, who is trying to frame him. Burke is telling Captain Matthews, played by Rebecca Marshall, that Shaw is responsible for the homicides during the lockdown. Officer Taylor is also locked in the building and doesn’t know whom to trust.

This sequel is comparable to the original Die Hard, with many shootouts and fistfights.  The movie uses the same old action style, and it is worth watching if you are a huge fan of Dean Ambrose.

De Niro, Bosworth star in “Heist”

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Heist

Directed by Scott Mann, Heist follows Lucas Vaughn, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who works at the Swan Casino.

The casino is owned by Mafia boss Francis “Pope” Silva, played brilliantly by Robert De Niro. Luke’s young daughter is hospitalized and is seriously ill, in need of expensive treatment. The real problem is that Luke did not keep up with the Medical Insurance payments. His daughter may not be cared for with the correct treatments if he doesn’t pay the medical costs. Luke asks his old friend and employer for a loan. The employer says, “No Favors.”

Along comes fellow employee Cox, played by Dave Bautista, who plans to rob his employer and wants Luke’s knowledge to help pull off the heist. Cox knows Luke has worked there for many years and has the knowledge he needs. Helping Cox is the only way Luke can pay the medical costs, so he agrees to be a part of the heist to save his daughter’s life. He has his own ideas on how the heist should go, and the plan seems to work until security is alerted.

Gunfire ensues as they make a getaway in a bus with hostages. Now, they are pursued by the police. With Cox crazed and ready to kill a victim to get away, Luke tries to keep things under control. The bus is being chased by both Pope’s bodyguards and the police.  Pope is interested in getting the money back before the police make an arrest because the money belongs to the mob, which the casino laundered.

Luke strikes up a rapport with one of the police officers, Kris, played by MMA star Gina Carano. She soon understands Luke is the link to freeing the passengers on the bus without harm.

The whole situation gets very intense before it comes to an end. The movie is well worth watching because the story works well, and the acting matches its spirit. I recommend you catch it on demand or rent it.

 

Multi-Talented Irving Drives Documentary “Pelican Dreams”

animals, documentary, movies, , ,
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Directed by Sundance and Emmy award-winning director Judy Irving, Pelican Dreams tracks a willful California brown pelican.

The story begins when she is arrested on the Golden Gate Bridge. And, the story continues with her care at a wildlife rehabilitation facility, and after the movie explores the pelicans’ nesting grounds. The documentary shows a rich Pacific coast migration with unbelievable survival challenges. The movie is a visual story about wilderness and how we are encroaching on the wild.  Perhaps we should be concerned about how we are caring for the wild too much. We should just let wilderness take its course, whether tragic or not.

The poignant movie stars Gigi, the pelican named after the Golden Gate Bridge, and Morro, an urbanized pelican with an injured wing, and the wildlife professionals who care for these birds.

The movie is for those who love pelicans and birds alike.  For those who live near the coast and see the birds almost every day, consider it a wonderful introduction and education of the wildlife around you.

Pelican Dreams is not a typical big-budget documentary, but the story still shines through, with Irving also serving as cinematographer and capturing some amazing footage of pelicans in their breeding areas. The majority of the movie covers rescue and release facilities that rehabilitate sick and injured birds. The documentary shows the dedication these people have to save the pelicans.

Edited also by Irving, the movie may seem a bit slow if you are not interested in pelicans. They are such wondrous creatures that the movie is worth watching. I highly recommend the movie for anyone who loves these amazing animals, and my hat goes off to Irving for all her hard work on this brilliant story of the wilderness.

Ryan Reynolds in “Mississippi Grind”

drama, indie, movies, , , , , ,
missippgrind

Directed and written by both Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, Mississippi Grind follows two gamblers trying to hit it big.

The movie opens with Gerry, played by Ben Mendelsohn, walking into a locally owned casino in Dubuque, Iowa. He is a regular because everyone knows him. Yet, a new face is at his standard poker table. He is a younger gambler named Curtis, played by Ryan Reynolds. Gerry is thoroughly down on his luck and professes he is in real estate. Curtis reeks of charisma and self-confidence. Both gamblers hit it off and, at the spur of the moment, decide to enter the “big game” in New Orleans.  The $25 thousand buy-in is worth the drive from Iowa. The movie plays out nicely as a road movie and character-driven independent film.

The movie deals with gambling as a subject of concern, and arrives at the point of addiction to gambling. Each gambler relies on superstition to pull off a win. Gerry is a likable guy who has a long list of failures. On the road trip, he visits his ex-wife. The gut-wrenching sadness Mendelsohn portrays when he realizes she is remarried and didn’t even tell him is worth the watch. Curtis is the polar opposite of Gerry. He literally stinks of confidence. Gerry tells Curtis he is his lucky charm, and seeing them play off each other is a good moment in the movie. The soundtrack by Scott Bomar is outstanding and features many of the old blues artists and songs.

The movie is not your typical uplifting story, but it is not all that sad either. Clearly, the end is farfetched and the characters’ principles are nonexistent. The movie should have ended a bit sooner, but it went on to a happy ending, which isn’t bad. In real life, gambling is an unsuccessful venture. As a whole, people who gamble lose more than just money. They lose their dignity. Yet, I do like a Hollywood ending.

Hallmark Christmas Movie: “‘Tis the Season for Love”

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Hallmark movies usually have a holiday theme in mind when they tell a story. ‘Tis the Season for Love definitely warms up to the countdown to Christmas.

Directed by Terry Ingram, we meet a New York actress named Beth, played by Sarah Lancaster. She is vying to land a role in a David Mamet play. After the audition and not hearing anything final, she receives a perfect gift from a close friend. An airline ticket back to her small hometown she left ten years ago.

Feeling like she needs a good rest, she arrives and soon finds her mother planning all of the Christmas things that the two need to do together.  She rather not do so much stuff, but compromises and visits the town’s Santa Claus, played by Gary Chalk. This simple visit may seem unimportant, but he does have a secret that leaves Beth wondering what the mystery is.

Along comes and old friend, Dean, played by Brendan Penny. He had a crush on her in High School, but didn’t act on it because she was dating Barry, played by Andrew Francis. Dean never felt the two belonged together since they had different interests. Dean is now divorced from Melinda and has twins while working as a firefighter. Beth now finds him even more appealing. He boosts her self-confidence after she fails to nab the acting roles she desires. The town’s Santa Claus is up to something inexplicable, and situations get a little out of kilter.

Beth gets involved with a local theater production and really enjoys herself. The seed has been planted, and she is pondering whether to stay in her small hometown for good. Confusion is the end result of her indecision, and it will affect her future.

You can’t go wrong with a Hallmark movie because they follow a formula for each production. Like ‘Tis the Season for Love, each movie is simple but direct, and a love story is sure to flourish.

“The Vatican Tapes” Suspense and Horror

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the vatican tapes

Movies about exorcism are pretty standard in the horror genre since the 1973 novel by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist, came to life on the silver screen. The Vatican Tapes is another horror movie added to the list and is available on both Blu-Ray and DVD.

Directed by Mark Neveldine, the story begins when we meet Angela Holmes, played by Olivia Taylor Dudley, a young woman soon to be married. Her father, Roger, played by Dougray Scott, is in the military and on leave. He arrives on Angela’s birthday, which is a pleasant surprise. During the birthday party, she gets injured, ends up in the hospital, and starts acting strangely. Father Lozano, played by the excellent Michael Peña, is present to witness some of Angela’s behavior. Father Lozano’s curiosity or spiritual perception compels him to see more of her; after some time, he is certainly the devil who possesses her. Security footage of Angela’s strange fits is brought into the Vatican. After viewing the footage, they decide that only an exorcism can save the young woman.

The setup for the third act, where Angela receives the exorcism, is relatively slow. The build-up and suspense never really hit a high note of intensity. When the pivotal point finally arrives, the story begins to move in the right direction. The exorcism happens in a believable and suspenseful way. Sure enough, belongings and possessions make eerie noises, with furniture bouncing everywhere. Angela performs back bends in unnatural ways, similar to other movies in the same genre. A clever twist at the end is essential if you decide not to finish the film or lose interest and miss the point. The twist is worth watching at the end of the movie.

Neveldine delivered a quality film where the actors performed brilliantly. The scary scenes were okay, but nothing new for a movie about an exorcism. Hollywood may have done the story to death, but if you like the theme, you will probably enjoy the film.