Friday Fun Review "Apollo 18"

 Apollo 18

2011   86 minutes

Starring:

Gonzalo Lopez, Brian Miller, Timur Bekmambetov  

Synopsis
NASA's cancelled trip to the moon in the 1970s is the basis for this found-footage-style picture exploring if the urban legend were true that the mission actually did occur and the proof of extraterrestrial life exists on film.

My grade:
"A" for content
"A" for acting
"Yes" for would I watch it again. In fact, I've watched it 3 times so far.

 My eclectic tastes are showing because this movie is science fiction, conspiracy theory, and a thriller all rolled into one. The film maker would have you believe that the movie was spliced together footage of a secret Apollo mission. Having had watched the news of all televised segments of the Apollo missions in real life this movie comes pretty darn close.

The tension is felt as is the fear. Exploring a Russian capsule on the moon was riveting filmed by headlamps so you only get tiny glimpses of what is going on so it up the watcher in the astronaut's point of view. Everything was true to the 1970s because I can remember back that far.

Filmed in black  and white adds to the "authenticity" of the footage shown. It is believable. The action sequences are true to life. The website they show at the end...don't bother going to it...it's a ploy. I was gullible enough to try. The movie has enough action and scares enough to jerk by paralyzed arm up. A reflex reaction like when I sneeze not positive/active movement.

My recommendation- See it and believe it or not.

Speaking of the Apollo missions did you know Neil Armstrong is often misquoted for his famous line?

He actually said, "This is one small step for a man. One giant leap for mankind."

Just a bit of trivia from a person who actually met him.

Friday Fun~ Review of "Stake Land"

Stake Land
 2010  98 minutes

Cast:

Danielle Harris, Kelly McGillis, Connor Paolo, Michael Cerveris, Bonnie Dennison, Chance Kelly, Sean Nelson, Nick Damici, Adam Scarimbolo, Marianne Hagan

Genre:

Vampires, Horror 

 

Synopsis

This genre-bending thriller combines vampires, religious fanatics and post-apocalyptic horrors with a coming-of-age tale that finds drifter Mister (Nick Damici) training young Martin (Connor Paolo) to survive the nightmare that has become America as they journey to New Eden. While they combat the mutated bloodsuckers and vicious humans seeking to rule the land, Mister and Martin rescue other wanderers and become a tightly knit family of warriors.

 

My grade:

"B" for content

"A" for the acting

"Maybe" for watching it again

 

Okay, I'm back into horror this week. I know I',m way behind the times this movie has been out for a few years. I actually misread the title when I first looked at it. I was wondering what does skating have to do with vampires? LOL Anyhow, what drew me in was the post-apocalyptic premise more than actual vampires. I don't necessarily consider myself a vampire fan. I'm more into zombies. After all, that's what I write.

For a vampire movie it wasn't half bad. Enough gore to hold my interest. No real make-me-want-to-pee-my-pants shocks. Good action sequences. The story line was interesting. I loved the unexpected changes of attitude in the character of Mister. All the characters were believable. I became invested in what happened within the family group. The mysterious Mister appeared in the beginning and disappeared in the same  way at the end leaving the watcher to wonder what happened to him.

 

All in all, a decent movie for vampire fans or not. But it's one of those movies, if you've seen it once...it's enough.

 

Friday Fun~ Review of "The Genesis Code"

The Genesis Code

2010  137 minutes

Starring:

Logan Bartholomew, Kelsey Sanders

Directors:

C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Read Johnson

Synopsis

 When a journalism student interviews a college hockey star, she learns that he doesn't believe science is compatible with religion.

I'd give this movie:

"A" for content.

"B" for acting with exception of Ernest Borgnine who was superb as the boy's grandfather.

"Definitely" in watch again category.

I was drawn in by the title when I was looking for something to watch the other evening. I wasn't in the mood for  horror, an overly played romance, or a sit on the edge of my seat thriller. I get in one of my moods and just want to watch something different. So I clicked "play" and was pleasantly surprised.

As you know, if you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know I'm a minister as well as an author. One of the greatest conjecture points between Nonchristians and even Christians is the beginning of Genesis. How God created the Earth in six days. Science can clearly show that it took millions of years to create Earth, right?

I don't mean to get on a preacher's soap box here. It's just of fact.The movie marries science and the Bible, and does it beautifully. Taking a bunch of physics geeks, hockey players, an anthropology professor, and a minister. The minister's kids are one of the physics geeks and the other a journalist. Although, I personally believed that God's time and ours is a difference of perspective I couldn't have explained it half as well as this movie did. It was a real eye opener.

If you get a chance, rent it. Or if you have NetFlix, watch it. It will be well worth your time.