Dr. Mitzi's Media Musings

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Dr. Mitzi's Media Musings Notes on forgotten, old, obscure or underrated movies and TV shows of the last century.

This one was recommended by Red.  A tiny window into Afghani life (albeit a few years ago), The Kite Runner follows the ...
15/08/2021

This one was recommended by Red. A tiny window into Afghani life (albeit a few years ago), The Kite Runner follows the friendship of 2 young boys of different social status just before the Russian invasion of 1979 and continues into the near present. We all watch the news and the Afghan people during this terrible time (and for the last 30 years) and it is easy to lump them into a homogenous mass of faceless foreigners, but their culture is rich and detailed with loving families, celebrations and predudices just like most others. At first, I thought it to be an art house docudrama, but it is a first rate action thriller. Watch it and learn a little more about the people who are being obliterated right now. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419887/

Flyga drake: Directed by Marc Forster. With Khalid Abdalla, Atossa Leoni, Shaun Toub, Sayed Jafar Masihullah Gharibzada. After spending years in California, Amir returns to his homeland in Afghanistan to help his old friend Hassan, whose son is in trouble.

"The Graham Norton Show"; my rating=3.8 I have never been much of a fan of talk shows, although I do watch Stephen Colbe...
18/10/2020

"The Graham Norton Show"; my rating=3.8 I have never been much of a fan of talk shows, although I do watch Stephen Colbert the next day. That all changed with the GN Show. This British talk show upends what you think a talk show will be. While most talk shows feature sequential guests talking one on one, Graham brings together an amazing mixture (usually 5 or 6 at a time) of British and American TV/film stars, comedians, writer and pundits, most of whom are flacking their latest project. The resulting fusion is always hilarious as is his commentary. There is always a musical guest and the infamous "big red chair" stories at the end are worth the wait. The new season has started with a very sparse and masked audience and only 3 guests in the studio, all sitting way apart plus a couple of Zoom guests added. Airs on BBC American Friday nights late. Always makes me laugh and who doesn't need that these days?
https://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/the-graham-norton-show--14414

Watch The Graham Norton Show online. Stream the latest full episodes for free online with your TV provider.

"I Know This Much is True"; my rating 3.5.  I usually avoid psychodramas because I prefer to be entertained, rather than...
10/10/2020

"I Know This Much is True"; my rating 3.5. I usually avoid psychodramas because I prefer to be entertained, rather than necessarily enriched. I saw Mark Ruffalo (The Incredible Hulk) on a talk show and was curious about the technology of this production. In this 6-part HBO mini-series, Ruffalo plays 2 identical brothers; one is a everyman house painter and the other one is a paranoid schizophrenic with suicidal ideation. The housepainter has taken on the task of caring for his mentally ill brother, pretty much as his life's work. First they shot the entire series with Ruffalo having gained 30 pounds as he played the mentally ill brother and used a stand-in for the other brother. Then he lost the weight and they reshot all the scenes where the brothers were together with another stand-in. Finally, they somehow melded the 2 sets of performances seamlessly. A technically tremendously successful effort yielded a touching story of brotherly love and care. The sacrifices and challenges of living with a mentally ill loved one are presented without undue soppiness. I really enjoyed the story, even if it was a sad one.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425118/

With Mark Ruffalo, John Procaccino, Rob Huebel, Gabe Fazio. Middle-aged Dominick Birdsey recounts his troubled relationship with Thomas, his paranoid schizophrenic twin brother, and his efforts to get him released from an asylum.

"Life on Earth"; my rating=4.0.  In honor of David Attenborough's newest series, A Life on Earth, dropping on Netflix to...
04/10/2020

"Life on Earth"; my rating=4.0.
In honor of David Attenborough's newest series, A Life on Earth, dropping on Netflix today, I give you perhaps the original "isn't nature amazing??" series. With no disrespect to Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins from the 1960's, I have always felt Life on Earth to be one of the best nature series ever made, especially given what the limits on photography were 40 years ago compared to today. There is something special about his patient, melodious narration that focuses the viewer's attention on the tiniest details. After making nature films for so many years, he has not lost his enthusiasm or intensity. I look forward to the new work, but will also revisit the original.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0135095/

With David Attenborough. David Attenborough's groundbreaking study of the evolution of life on our planet.

"Wild World", Yusuf Cat Stevens.  my rating=4.0. Stephen Colbert's musical guest this last Wednesday was Yusuf Cat Steve...
25/09/2020

"Wild World", Yusuf Cat Stevens. my rating=4.0. Stephen Colbert's musical guest this last Wednesday was Yusuf Cat Stevens debuting his rerelease of the Tea for the Tillerman album on its 50th anniversary. Wow. It's hard to believe it has been 50 years since I first heard this wonderful album. This arrangement is so perfect for today. It is much more melancholy with a lot of minor sharps (I don't know enough about music theory to know if that is the correct terminology, but it captures my thoughts) and a distinctive slowed pace. His voice is still rich, clear and plaintive and the arrangement includes some interesting harmonica as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBoln1TKQ8U

Legendary songwriter and performer Yusuf / Cat Stevens joins A Late Show for this performance of "Wild World" off his incredibly unique new album "Tea For Th...

"A Cry in the Dark"; my rating=3.0.  Meryl Streep earned one of her 21 Oscar nominations for her portrayal of a mother w...
22/09/2020

"A Cry in the Dark"; my rating=3.0. Meryl Streep earned one of her 21 Oscar nominations for her portrayal of a mother wrongly accused and convicted of killing her young child while on a camping trip. A tortured Sam Neill plays her pastor husband. This case is still probably the most infamous one in Australian history. What is most notable about this story is that apparently it was the media frenzy surrounding this case that got her convicted as there was only circumstantial evidence of a crime that was quite thin and later found to be completely in error. An ordinary holiday camping trip suddenly becomes a nightmare when their child is taken. But the real tragedy is how they were treated by the press and the police as the case progresses.
After several years in prison, she was cleared, but the lesson here is how much the media can destroy lives that are innocent. As usual, Streep is fantastic, right down her Aussie/NZ accent. Sam Neill's religious and self doubt form a memorable performance as well. While this is a great movie, I selected it mostly because of all the undue influence we are experiencing today as a result of a media industry determined to keep the public's attention at all costs. We should try to let rational, cooler minds prevail.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094924/

Directed by Fred Schepisi. With Meryl Streep, Sam Neill, Dale Reeves, David Hoflin. A mother whose child was killed in a dingo attack in the Australian Outback fights to prove her innocence when she is accused of murder.

"Come Inside My Mind"; my rating=3.2.  It has taken some time and determination for me to watch this recent Robin Willia...
21/09/2020

"Come Inside My Mind"; my rating=3.2. It has taken some time and determination for me to watch this recent Robin Williams biopic. It has been 6 years since he took his own life after a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease after a long diagnostic road. What was not determined until after his death was that he actually had Lewy Body Dementia, a disease whose pathology is similar to Parkinson's, but attacks a different part of the brain. My mother died of Lewy Body Dementia and I often worry that I'll follow that same sad path. So I finally got up the nerve to watch this movie and was richly rewarded. It includes lots of outtakes from his many movies and TV series that would never air on non-cable TV and they are so very funny. There are many performance clips and the parts showing his early work are particularly wonderful. Many people were not familiar with him until Mork and MIndy came on the air, but he had a very successful career as a stand up comedian long before he made it big in Hollywood. This movie shows his struggle with his own talent, his battles with drugs and womanizing and his attempts to be a better father than he had without romanticizing or getting soppy. So many of the great comedic minds of the last 50 years knew and respected Robin and their tributes and stories add and additional dimension to the story. This movie is moving and hilarious all at the same time and will allow you to remember the great talent while acknowledging his flaws.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7689966/

Directed by Marina Zenovich. With Robin Williams, Steve Allen, Robert Altman, Roseanne Barr. An intimate look into the life and work of the revered master comedian and actor, Robin Williams.

"Gaslight"; my rating=3.7.  Ever wonder where the expression "to gaslight" someone comes from?  It means to manipulate t...
20/09/2020

"Gaslight"; my rating=3.7. Ever wonder where the expression "to gaslight" someone comes from? It means to manipulate the environment with enough originality, consistency and brutality that the person being gaslighted begins to doubt their perception of reality. (Sound familiar to anyone we know???) The original reference is from the 1938 play of this name, and there was a 1940 movie made from the play. I will confine my review to the 1944 George Cukor film noir remake of the same name as I haven't seen the 1940 movie. Set in the 1880's, Ingrid Bergman plays a mousy heiress with little self confidence. She is swept off her feet by a charming fortune hunter, ominously played by Charles Boyer, who marries her. After returning to her ancestral home in London, he works in the shadows to make her think she is going insane, so he can banish her to an insane asylum and control her wealth. He does this by constantly denying he said something, moving things around or implied that she has forgotten something. But the cherry on top is when he breaks into the attic next door and messes with the gas lines to make the gaslights in the house flicker--hence the term "gaslighting". Joseph Cotton plays a supporting role later in the movie as does a very young Angela Landsbury.
The movie is well paced and Bergman is magnificent in the role as her self doubts slowly erode her sanity. Boyer plays the conniving husband with sinister perfection and Joseph Cotton rides to the rescue.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036855/

Directed by George Cukor. With Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, May Whitty. Years after her aunt was murdered in her home, a young woman moves back into the house with her new husband. However, he has a secret that he will do anything to protect, even if it means driving his wife insane...

"On the Basis of S*x"; my rating=3.8.  This 2018 docudrama follows the early career of Ruth Bader Ginsberg as she strugg...
19/09/2020

"On the Basis of S*x"; my rating=3.8. This 2018 docudrama follows the early career of Ruth Bader Ginsberg as she struggles first with being a brilliant, Jewish, female law student (with all the attendant challenges of that period) to juggling being a mother, a lawyer, a crusader for woman's rights and a wife. Most of us just think of her as she is/was in recent years: A supporter of women and the liberal soul of the Supreme Court. But her journey to that hallowed place is a fascinating study in determination and courage. Felicity Jones does a good job of trying to capture a true icon and Armie Hammer is great at the often forgotten husband. The supporting case includes Sam Waterson, Kathy Bates, Justin Theroux and Wendy Crewson. Watching this movie will help soothe your pain at our loss of her.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4669788/

Directed by Mimi Leder. With Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Sam Waterston. The true story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her struggles for equal rights, and the early cases of a historic career that lead to her nomination and confirmation as U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice.

"The Expendables" my rating=2.8  Set your DVR because Franchise Friday on BBC American tonight is airing all 3 of the Ex...
18/09/2020

"The Expendables" my rating=2.8 Set your DVR because Franchise Friday on BBC American tonight is airing all 3 of the Expandables movies. I'm not going to argue that this is great cinema, but it is great fun to watch. The common plot of good guys (actually older mercenaries that still have it) fighting against bad guys for justice and cash runs through all 3. The twisted plot lines are worthy of a 007 movie. Although basically Syl Stallone vehicles, the producers have managed to round up nearly every other action star from the last 50 years including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis, Weslie Snipes, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Antonio Banderas, Ronda Rousey, Kelsey Grammer, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke, and Steve Austin in some or all of the movies for supporting or cameo roles. Okay, Kelsey Grammer is not an action star, but makes a great bad guy. For the critical 18-35 year old demographic, Liam Hemsworth appears in #2. The plots are well developed with plenty of action and special effects (mostly blowing things up). Stallone's character flies his vintage Grumman Albatross across the franchise, so there are plenty of great flying scenes. The Expendables team also manages to create some awesome vehicles for missions that could star on Top Gear. Feeling the need for some big booms and American wins from stars you've loved for decades this weekend? Here you go.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320253/

Directed by Sylvester Stallone. With Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren. A CIA operative hires a team of mercenaries to eliminate a Latin dictator and a renegade CIA agent.

"Sum of All Fears"; my rating=3.2.  Feeling nostalgic for the good old days of the Cold War when all we had to worry abo...
17/09/2020

"Sum of All Fears"; my rating=3.2. Feeling nostalgic for the good old days of the Cold War when all we had to worry about was nuclear proliferation and mutually assured destruction? Well, here is your escapism movie: The 2002 film starring Ben Affleck is based on the 1991 Tom Clancy novel of the same name. The name is a derivation of a Winston Churchill quote referring to multiple powers (or in the quote 3 different warriors) facing off and dealing with the threat of mutual destruction. Ben Affleck slides into the young Jack Ryan character pretty well, but without the gravitas of Harrison Ford. Supported by the ever-present and talented Morgan Freeman and the very picture of gravitas, James Cromwell, as the President, Affleck carries the movie relatively well. A very young Bridget Moynahan (Blue Bloods) plays Ryan's girlfriend. Leiv Schreiber plays the CIA operative who actually gets things done with competence and calm (at lest compared to those around him.) The action is fast with unexpected plot twists and good special effects. It will keep you on the edge of your seat as the game of brinksmanship progresses to the very edge of disaster. My only negative is that the president's cabinet and advisors are portrayed to be more disorganized and divided than I would hope for in such a scenario, but given our current administration, I guess that is not too implausible. If you want to forget about the election for 2 hours, here you go.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164184/

Directed by Phil Alden Robinson. With Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Ian Mongrain, Russell Bobbitt. C.I.A. analyst Jack Ryan must stop the plans of a Neo-Nazi faction that threatens to induce a catastrophic conflict between the United States and Russia's newly elected President by detonating a nuclear...

"Top Gear"; my rating 3.8.  Some of my friends watch this, so I thought I'd give it a try.  Not that I am anything of a ...
16/09/2020

"Top Gear"; my rating 3.8. Some of my friends watch this, so I thought I'd give it a try. Not that I am anything of a car aficionado--I think of my 2006 Toyota Highlander (named Duncan) as a giant purse with 4 wheel drive. It is a pretty hilarious show. The hosts review cars of all types and engage in crazy competitions with each other that fascinating to watch. They build insane vehicles and then put them to the test. Last week they raced a McLaren against a new F-35 fighter jet. Last week they bungee-jumped a car off the top of a bridge. Lots of good fun and kidding around. You can't help but laugh at these crazy guys living out a motorhead's fantasy.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1628033/

With Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May, Ben Collins. The hosts talk about everything car-related. From new cars to how they're fueled, this show has it all.

"My Octopus Teacher"; my rating=4.0. I saw a positive review of this new movie in The Week and then happened upon it on ...
15/09/2020

"My Octopus Teacher"; my rating=4.0. I saw a positive review of this new movie in The Week and then happened upon it on Netflix. Not my usual wheelhouse, but I am so glad I tried it. It is possibly the best underwater photography I have ever seen. But it is the story that is the real star. A professional photographer becomes burnt out, exhausted and in despair of his modern life. He decides to try to reconnect with nature by snorkeling in the ocean kelp forests off South Africa, where the water is mostly in the low 60's, without a wet suit. As he explores the pristine ecosystem, he meets a small octopus and they develop an unusually close relationship over the course of almost a year. As he watches and participates in her life, he gains insight into his own challenges. There are amazing moments of octopus intelligence that have been rarely documented before. That he was able to capture most of her major life events is truly remarkable, especially as he did the whole thing free-diving. Like most wildlife movies, there are dangerous predators and tense moments, but overall, life is celebrated. While small children might be frightened of the sharks, most older children can appreciate this story. Most highly recommended. In these hard times, we all feel some despair and hopelessness. This movie will renew your faith in our own ability to adapt and survive. You won't be disappointed.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12888462/

Directed by Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed. With Craig Foster. A filmmaker forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, learning as the animal shares the mysteries of her world.

"The Black Stallion";  my rating=4.0.  The last living room TV we bought was in 2002, so I figured out it was time for a...
14/09/2020

"The Black Stallion"; my rating=4.0. The last living room TV we bought was in 2002, so I figured out it was time for a pandemic upgrade. The new 2020 77" Sony Master Series A9H OLED is a monster that barely fits on the wall, but oh, what a beauty. So what favorite movie to watch first? Based on the beloved 1941 YA book by Walter Farley, the 1979 Francis Ford Coppola epic is a cinematic marvel. Sweeping vistas with a gorgeous black horse and a moving sound track by FFC's father, Carmine make this movie worthy of the new TV. The plot follows the adventures of young Alex Ramsy (11 year old Kelly Reno) and the gorgeous black Arabian stallion who befriends him as they face almost certain death. Reno had no acting experience but was an accomplished rider and wanted to learn to swim. The movie opens with young Alex and his gambler father are aboard a steamer in the Mediterranean in 1944 when a wild black stallion is forcibly loaded onboard. A massive storm and fire scuttle the ship and Alex and The Black fight for survival. They are eventually found and return to Flushing NY where life takes some interesting turns. One of the things I love most about this movie is that it perfectly captures those long-lost childhood moments of time almost standing still. When you had no worries, deadlines or demands on you and you could just be in a state of perfect grace. The amazing supporting cast includes Terri Garr as a very permissive mother, Andy Rooney as a retired jockey/trainer, Clarence Muse in his last movie role, and Hoyt Axton as Alex's father. This story is of course a fantasy, so don't try to find logic where there is none. Just sit back and watch the amazing effects and heart warming story of a boy and his horse. The equine star of the movie was Cass-Ole, a Texan bred Arabian stallion who won over 50 championships as a show horse before his movie debut. He was about 10 years old when he was trained by the legendary Corky Randall and played the part. Many scenes are completely at liberty and the horse is just mesmerizing to watch at play. Four other horses were used in some of the dangerous stunts and the final horse race scene as the owners of Cass-Ole did not want to risk injury to the champion. Although any experienced horseman could spot the doubles, FFC dis a great job of seamlessly integrating the shots. Kelly Reno did virtually all the riding in the film except the distance shots of the final race. Even thinking about this gorgeous movie chokes me up because I love the story and it is just so darn beautiful to watch. This film is a must see for anyone who has ever loved horses.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078872/

Directed by Carroll Ballard. With Kelly Reno, Mickey Rooney, Teri Garr, Clarence Muse. While traveling with his father, young Alec becomes fascinated by a mysterious Arabian stallion who is brought on board and stabled in the ship he is sailing on. When it tragically sinks both he and the horse surv...

Nikita, Nikita, Nikita.  Today I’ll explore the franchise based on the 1990 action film, “La Femme Nikita”, which spawne...
12/09/2020

Nikita, Nikita, Nikita. Today I’ll explore the franchise based on the 1990 action film, “La Femme Nikita”, which spawned a movie remake and two TV shows over some 20+ years. Different actors pursue similar plot lines in each. In all three iterations, we watch as this damaged young woman fights for her freedom and humanity against the forces of evil.

The 1990 French film (my rating=3.5) stars Anne Parillaud in the title role playing a delinquent street teenager who gets in with a bad crowd, eventually gets arrested for a serious crime and is sentenced to life in prison. Because of her beauty, cunning and lack of family ties, a shadowy organization, referred to as the Centre, fakes her death and offers her a choice: train and work as an assassin for them or take up residence in her fake grave. She choses the former and is trained and groomed to become a femme fatale secret agent. There are several missions and she falls in love with a civilian while living in Paris. In the end, she becomes disenchanted with her life and disappears. This is a solid film with good dubbing that is not distracting in the least.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100263/

In 1993, Luc Besson, who directed the 1990 film, wrote a remake called Point of No Return. Bridget Fonda plays the title. If I ever saw that movie, I don't remember it much, so I can’t comment on it.

The 1997 TV series “La Femme Nikita” (my rating=3.9) ran for 5 seasons and starred blonde, Australian actress Peta Wilson in the title role. It was a highly rated drama and the cancellation was due to Wilson wanting to be released early to play Jean Gray in the X-men. When the producers refused, she then refused to renew her contract for the series. The initial story line is similar to that of the original movie, except the organization is now called Section One and they frame her for murder in order to recruit her. So she starts her life as an assassin having never committed murder before. Again, she is groomed for her work and sent on many missions. She has a complicated relationship with her handler, Michael and this relationship is a key and complex thread throughout this series and the next. Episodes are well written and acted with great attention to detail and personal growth of the characters. The main characters are supported by great ancillary figures including Madeline, a sophisticated mentor of female wiles and Seymour Birkoff, a communications and computer genius. There is lots of action and martial arts, complex story lines and good special effects. While the Centre in the original movie seemed to be somewhat nefarious, this Section One seems to have more good-guy vibes, but is still ruthless.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118379/

In 2010, the series was reprised as just “Nikita” with Maggie Q in the title role (my rating=4.0) The action picks up here with Nikita having been in hiding for the last 3 years after escaping from the US government program called Division. Now Nitika has returned and fights to expose this covert operation and save the agents forced to work for nefarious ends. Along the way, she manages to go on exciting, edge-of-your-chair missions for good causes. All the main characters return as well as some new ones. This is my favorite iteration, maybe because I am a big Maggie Q fan, but also the 4 seasons feature a strong, overarching, coherent plot line with a great ending. It still has plenty of action, good scripts and lots of plot twists.

If you like empowered, gorgeous women in action dramas, you can’t go wrong with any of these.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1592154/

Created by Joel Surnow. With Peta Wilson, Don Francks, Eugene Robert Glazer, Roy Dupuis. Aclandestine anti-terrorist organization fakes the death of a convicted murderer and trains her in the fighting skills necessary to succeed in her new job.

"Monk"; my rating=4.0.  Tony Shalhoub plays a brilliant San Francisco homicide detective who suffers a mental breakdown,...
12/09/2020

"Monk"; my rating=4.0. Tony Shalhoub plays a brilliant San Francisco homicide detective who suffers a mental breakdown, then develops nearly debilitating OCD after his beloved wife is killed in a car bomb. During 8 seasons he fought his way back to mental health while working as a consultant for his former police department, solving over 120 crimes with the aid of his personal assistants (aka his keepers). His disability was treated with kindness and understanding by those around him, despite him frequently causing them extreme exasperation. It also demonstrates that mentally challenged people can be productive members of society and form close friendships. Not a bad lesson for all of us. His brilliant deductions (ala Sherlock Holmes) liven up an otherwise standard police procedural. I also like that the 3 episode ending ties up all the loose ends and sends us off on a happy note. The only downside is that you will have trouble getting the Randy Newman theme song out of your head.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0312172/

Created by Andy Breckman. With Tony Shalhoub, Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine, Traylor Howard. The series follows Adrian Monk, a brilliant former San Francisco detective, who now consults the police as a private consultant who battles with an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

"I, Robot";my rating=3.7.  This 2004 Will Smith robot apocalypse movie is much more thoughtful that the usual Terminator...
10/09/2020

"I, Robot";my rating=3.7. This 2004 Will Smith robot apocalypse movie is much more thoughtful that the usual Terminator-style movie and asks the question of how much technology do we really want or need in our everyday lives. Supported by a great cast, including Bridget Moynahan (Blue Bloods) as the robot/human psychiatrist and Chi McBride (Hawaii 5-0), as the exasperated police boss, Smith plays complicated homicide detective with serious misgivings about the robot revolution in 2035 Chicago.

The big question is what happens to the "3 laws of robotics", first expounded by science fiction writer Isaac Asimov in 1942, when humans become self-destructive? What rights are sentient machines entitled to, if any? The pacing and action sequences are superb and the CGI of the robots, flawless. This action movie kept me on my seat the entire 2 hours. There is one hole in the plot: All robots are made and controlled by one company and it is a bit hard to see any monopoly of that kind developing in the USA. It is interesting to see what creators in 2004 thought the self-driving cars of 2035 will look like. If you worry about these cars being hacked, you will not be reassured. Action and violence, but rated PG-13.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/

Directed by Alex Proyas. With Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, Alan Tudyk. In 2035, a technophobic cop investigates a crime that may have been perpetrated by a robot, which leads to a larger threat to humanity.

"Magnificent Seven"; = my rating 4.0.  My favorite Western of all time, this 1960 classic may be most remembered by the ...
09/09/2020

"Magnificent Seven"; = my rating 4.0. My favorite Western of all time, this 1960 classic may be most remembered by the iconic musical score by Elmer Bernstein featured in Marlboro cigarette commercials. But with the truly all-star cast led by Yul Brenner and Steve McQueen, director John Sturges did more than justice in his homage to the Akira Kurosawa classic "The Sever Samuri". Try as I might, and I have tried 3 times, I cannot sit through the Kurosawa classic with subtitles. Sturges' vision of the story is more my style. A poor village near the border is beset by thieving outlaws led by Eli Wallach. The townsfolk decide to pool everything they have of value and hire some mercenary gunslingers to drive off the bandits. The little army includes a typically taciturn, lanky beyond belief, James Coburn who is an expert with knives, a dandy-dressed, super-twitchy Robert Vaughn who has lost his nerve, a quiet, strongman in Charles Bronson, a greed-inspired Brad Dexter and introduced Horst Buchholz to American cinema. The interactions among the gunslingers develop each character into a rich tapestry of life for those whose world is changing faster than they can. The empathy they develop for the townspeople they are trying to protect etches away at their hard tough-guy exteriors. The dialog, pacing and cinematography are flawless and the Berstein score just adds to the drama. Do not confuse this with the 2016 remake with Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke and Chris Pine. That is an OK movie with a rather different plot. Go for the original. Or at least the first remake.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054047/

Directed by John Sturges. With Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Eli Wallach. Seven gunfighters are hired by Mexican peasants to liberate their village from oppressive bandits.

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