Branch Out: 8 Seconds (1994)

A movie you may have missed- less than 25,000 reviews on IMDB.

 

A film based on the life of Lane Frost, 1987 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion who takes on a bull that no man should ride.

My Rating: 7/10

IMDB Ratings: 2,974

Source: IMDB

Weekly Recap: September 8- 14, 2013

A recap of the movies I watched for the first time this past week.

Featured:

 Wreck it Ralph (2012)- 8/10

I always wondered what it was like to 'live' inside a video game. As cool as it would be, I'm sure, as Ralph finds out, it would get tiresome doing the same thing over and over again. This movie is funny, clever and just down-right fun. I enjoyed all the video game references, and the DVD has the coolest pause feature I've come across. 

The Rest:

Chinatown (1974)- 8/10- I can see why it is considered a classic. Nicholson was great in this murder mystery.

Now You See Me- (2013)- 5/10- The 'magic' parts were pretty awesome, but the rest of the movie was just okay.

Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins (2009)- 5/10- Despite being a lower-budget, direct-to-DVD, it is just as good as the live-action Scooby Doo flicks that hit the big screen. 

Along Came a Spider (2001)- 4/10- Even if you didn't see it coming, the 'twist' at the end isn't enough to save it.

Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil (2011)- 4/10- A funny fairy-tale flick at times, but lacked something. Maybe it needed more Andy Dick.

Screwballs 2: Loose Screws (1985)- 3/10- A raunchy 80's comedy that just wasn't very funny.


Movies watched this week: 7
Movies watched in 2013: 139

Source: IMDB 

Trailer of the Week: Grudge Match (2013)

Rocky versus Raging Bull.... the long awaited showdown. Never mind that is about 30 years too late. The plot is very close to Rocky Balboa- a video game boxing match leads to a real-life showdown- but this time is two old rivals rather than the old champ versus the new one. I am intrigued enough to watch. I don't expect the boxing to be great with the age of the two actors, but De Niro and Stallone look like they can still throw down. Grudge Match is set to release on Christmas Day.

Source: YouTube

Branch Out: The Program (1993)

A movie you may have missed- less than 25,000 reviews on IMDB.

 

 

Players at ECU deal with the pressures of playing football at a major university. Some turn to drinking, others to drugs, and some to studying.

My Rating: 7/10

IMDB Ratings: 5, 793

Source: IMDB

Weekly Recap: September 1- 7, 2013

A recap of the movies I watched for the first time this past week. 

Featured:

Mud (2012)- 6/10

Two young boys help a fugitive escape bounty hunters and  reconnect with the woman he loves. Matthew McConaughey and the rest of the cast were quite great here, but I wasn't a big fan of the direction the movie took in the final act. It was still a pretty good movie. 

The Rest:

Noobz (2012)- 4/10- This 'gamer' movie had it's funny moments, but was just okay overall. There was a funny appearance from 'that guy in Starship Troopers.'

Movies watched this week: 2

Movies watched in 2013: 132

Source: IMDB

Top 10 Football Movies

Football season is now upon us so I give you my top 10 football movies.

10. Friday Night Lights (2004)- 7/10

It really does a nice job of capturing just how big high school football is to 'smaller' towns- especially in Texas.  I hear the TV show is better, but I have not gotten into that yet.

9. Little Giants (1994)- 7/10

A fun family flick about a group of misfits taking on a juggernaut of a peewee football team. This was the only time I cheered for the Giants over the Cowboys. 

8. Brian's Song (1971)- 7/10

A touching, and true, story about legendary running back Gayle Sayers and his friend and teammate, Brian Piccolo, who finds out he is dying from cancer. 

7. The Program (1993)- 7/10

James Caan again makes the list as the head football coach of ECU, a college football team. It deals with the pressures to win, drug use, and college life in general.

6. Varsity Blues (1999)- 7/10

Another film showcasing high school football, but this one is a bit on the lighter side. Friday night football, drinking, stripping teachers and a whipped-cream bikini.

5. Necessary Roughness (1991)- 7/10

What do you get when you have to build a college football team with no scholarships? A team full of misfits, a female kicker, and a 34 year-old quarterback.

4. Remember the Titans (2000)- 8/10

Disney has really done a good job with their recent sports movies. Titans really captures the racial turmoil of the time period, and includes some good football action along the way.

3. Any Given Sunday (1999)- 8/10

Steamin' Willie Beamen! Oliver Stone probably isn't the guy you would expect to deliver an awesome football movie, but he does here. This was a great role for Al Pachino, and has the best football scenes of any of this list.

2. Jerry MaGuire (1996)- 8/10

The movie that popularized "Show me the money!" Although football isn't the central theme here, this is a great movie. Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding, Jr. were a great team.

1. Rudy (1993)- 9/10

There is really no doubt in my mind what the best football movie is. I'm not a fan of Notre Dame, but this movie makes me one for a couple of hours. A true underdog story that gives me chills every time I watch it.








Source: IMDB

Trailer of the Week: Gravity (2013)

This one looks intense. James Cameron was quoted as saying that Gravity was the best space movie ever done- that is saying something coming from the direct of Aliens. Gravity features two top-notch actors in George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, and there appears to be some stunning visuals. The trailer has moved this movie up even higher on my most anticipated list. Gravity is set to hit theaters in October.


Source: YouTube

Branch Out: Necessary Roughness (1991)

A movie you may have missed- less than 25,000 reviews on IMDB.

 

After losing all their scholarships, the Texas State University Fightin' Armadillos are forced to build a team from actual students, a female kicker, and a 34 year old quarterback.

My Rating: 7/10

IMDB Ratings: 6,285

Source: IMDB

Weekly Recap: August 25- August 31, 2013

A recap of the movies I watched for the first time this past week. 

Featured: 

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)- 6/10

After the White House is attacked and the President is held hostage, Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is the countries last hope. Leave it to Gerard Butler to take down a terrorist organization all by himself. The effects were weak at times, but it was fun, mindless action.






The Rest: 

Never Say Never Again (1983)- 5/10- Sean Connery really should have said 'Never Again' and stayed retired as James Bond.

Throw Momma from the Train (1987)- 5/10- I kind of expected more from a Billy Crystal- Danny DeVito comedy duo, but it had it's funny moments.


Movies watched this week: 3
Movies watched in 2013: 130


Source: IMDB