Category Archives: Corny at times

2014, Acceptable for children, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Action Film, Action Hero, Clever Plot, Corny at times, Good digital effects, Mayhem, Military, Nasty Aliens, Violent, War

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

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From Netflix:

As Earth fights an alien invasion, Lt. Col. Bill Cage is killed in action, and a time loop forces him to continually relive his last day. With each iteration, Cage’s skill grows, as does his understanding of the enemy and how it operates.

Are you ready for 113 minutes of Tom Cruise fighting invading aliens? Those 113 minutes might seem long because he keeps getting killed and then repeating his life from his entry into the war against the aliens. He does this at least 300 times. But fear not, only the first rebirth seems repetitious and the film moves briskly, albeit with some unexpected failures along the way. Needless to say this is a violent film consisting mostly of shooting aliens with really big machine guns.

Cruise’s character Cage is accompanied by another re-liver Rita (played by Emily Blunt of “The Devil Wears Prada” fame). Don’t expect a great love affair from old stone face. In all fairness this is Cruise’s kind of film: lots of action, no need to emote.

Acceptable for children who can take the violence. Clever eye candy suitable for an idle moment.

2014, Acceptable for children, Based on a Book, Corny at times, Digital Effects, Fantasy, Feel Good For All, Horse story, Love Story, Magic Realism, Religious Theme, Ridiculous plot, Sex Scenes, Supernatural, Unusual, Use of Irish Brogue, Violent

Winter’s Tale (2014)

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From Netflix;

Mark Helprin’s novel provides the basis for this film starring Colin Farrell as a thief who breaks into an ill girl’s home and then falls for her. As the action shifts between past and present, the burglar also acquires a flying-horse guardian angel.

Possibly because we had just returned from our daughter’s castle wedding in Ireland, the Irish brogues spoken in this film were music to my ears. We are used to hearing Colin Farrell (as Peter Laks) speaking brogue but this is the first time I have heard Russell Crowe (as the daemon Pearly Soames) also using an Irish brogue. Crowe makes a convincing villain.

Herein is a fantasy fairy-tale for adults. Just when things are going badly, up pops yet another miracle. Sometimes this magic realism seems comical without intending to be funny. Expect some corny dialog.

Will Smith is an unconvincing Lucifer.

Among older actors we find William Hurt. But the biggest such surprise was the “Adult Willa” played by none other than Eva Marie Saint (Edie Doyle in “On the Waterfront”) who is now 90 years old.

Would someone please tell Colin Farrell to get and keep a decent hair cut?

Remember now – it’s all a bit silly.

2006, Acceptable Trash, B-movie, Corny at times, Crude Talk, Love Story, Nudity, Revenge, Ridiculous plot, Sex Scenes, Slapstick

My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)

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From Netflix:

Fed up with his manipulative girlfriend, Jenny Johnson (Uma Thurman), New Yorker Matt Saunders (Luke Wilson) gives her the heave-ho and moves on with his life, leaving the heartbroken Jenny — aka G-girl — to do everything within her superpowers to humiliate Matt. Anna Faris, Rainn Wilson and Eddie Izzard co-star in director Ivan Reitman’s slapstick fantasy comedy about a bitter superwoman scorned.

In a moment of TV Wasteland desperation, Kathy and I happened upon this comedy on one of our many HBO channels. Kathy sniffed in disdain and then joined me in laughing at some of the great sight gags. To be sure, this is a B-film which can be silly, vulgar, corny, and still funny enough to be worth the watch.

Much of the humor centers around sex (shocking, right?). Sex with a powerful super hero woman anyone ? Sex while flying in the sky anyone ? What’s not to like ?

Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, and Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute of “The Office”) are featured in the cast.

Have some off-color fun!

2000, Acceptable for children, B-movie, Based on true facts, Black History, Corny at times, Deep Sea Diving, Feel Good For All, Human spirit, Mediocre, Military, Navy, Navy Diver, Sea Rescue, True Story

Men of Honor (2000)

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From Netflix:

Against formidable odds — and an old-school diving instructor embittered by the U.S. Navy’s new, less prejudicial policies — Carl Brashear sets his sights on becoming the Navy’s first African-American master diver in this uplifting true story.

HBO recently showed this 14-year old film. As with most films about real-life heroes (military and other), the story is compelling while the film can be a bit corny, as in “wearing your emotions on your sleeve”. Nonetheless, Carl Brashear was brave, persistent, and an admirable role-model.

Spoiler: this old-fashioned film has a happy ending. Give the film a B and enjoy it.

2014, Acceptable for children, Art Treasures, Based on true facts, Corny at times, Docudrama, Military, Nazis, Suspense, War

The Monuments Men (2014)

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From Netflix:

In a race against time, a crew of art historians and museum curators unite to recover renowned works of art stolen by Nazis before Hitler destroys them. Written, directed and starring George Clooney.

As you can read in the Wikipedia article, the critics can boo and the historians can tsk-tsk, but that did not stop Kathy and me from enjoying this film.

At the very least the film made me appreciate that all those art works were worth the danger, the lost lives, and the effort. You and I may be forgotten but for a while at least our civilization is recorded in part in those pieces of art. According to another Wikipedia article, we have art works dating from the Paleolithic period (25 000-8000 BCE). Do you think the world should forget Hitler?

Hats off to George Clooney for telling a good story. There were even moments of suspense, for example, racing to retrieve the Ghent altar piece and Michelangelo’s Madonna before the Russians could steal them.

For awhile I did not recognize Cate Blanchette cleverly disguised as an art librarian and French Resistance fighter. But you will probably recognize Matt Damon, Bill Murray, and John Goodman.

If you are up for a not very violent and just a bit corny story about art works, you might enjoy this film based on true events (but DO check that Wikipedia article for fact fanatics.)