Now You See Me (1:57) 2013

Now You See Me is an excellent movie about the ultimate con. Four illusionists team up to rob banks in this Robin Hood theme movie as they battle to stay one step ahead of the FBI. The cast of young actors are all excellent - Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson as two of the illusionists and Mark Ruffalo as the befuddled FBI agent. There are many twists and turns in this fact paced action packed movie. My friend and I saw the Now You See Me at the beginning of the summer and it was the perfect way to start the summer movie going season.  I don't want to reveal too much of the movie because it is like being on a thrilling roller coaster ride. Take time to see this highly recommended film for the ride of your life!

The Lone Ranger (2:29) 2013

The Lone Ranger is getting terrible reviews, and while I  agree with some of the criticisms, it really is an entertaining movie. Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer as The Lone Ranger are good as the crime fighting duo. Johnny Depp is an excellent Tonto as the story unfolds through his eyes. The main drawback was the gory violence that Cavendish commits. The movie is long - two and a half hours - but covers a lot of ground including how John Reid became the Lone Ranger and Tonto's previous unknown boyhood story. I wasn't crazy with the opening scene which takes place in 1936. I was absolutely thrilled with the ending when William Tell's Overture was played - it took me back to my childhood watching Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels on the 1950s weekly television show. Hi Ho Silver, and Away.

The Great Gatsby (2:23) 2013

I was anxious to see  Luhrmann's  version of a Fitzgerald's book which I had read in college many years ago. I had seen the Robert Redford - Mia Farrow version in the 1970s and just loved it - especially Redford in the famous pink suit. My friend and I went to the movies knowing that  Luhrmann's version had mixed reviews. Ten minutes into the film I understood the mixed reviews but the end of the movie, I really enjoyed

the movie going experience. The costumes, the set, and the party scenes were just excellent, The music was performed by modern day and popular performers Jay-Z and Kanye West.  The music was good but took a little bit to get use to. Carey Mulligan was excellent as Daisy and so was DeCaprio. My preference was Redford as a better fit as Jay Gatsby. As much as Joel Edgerton is one of my favorite actors, I wasn't thrilled with his performance as Tom Buchanan but did like Tobey McGuire as the writer Nick Carraway. The film seemed to follow the book closely, as least as I can remember and for that reason, I recommend the movie. It is fun taking a long look at the Roaring 20s. Although the movie is long, two and a half hours, the time does go back very quickly.

The Heat (1:57) 2013

The Heat is a very crude and vulgar movie loaded with f bombs but the jammed packed audience laughed continuously throughout the movie. Sandra Bullock is a straight laced FBI detective assigned to Boston and Melissa McCarthy is a gutter mouthed local detective with the same assignement - apprehend a drug czar. Different as night and day, they do have one thing in common, neither are liked by their colleagues. The detectives start investigating. and after spending a night drinking in a bar, start warming up to each other and begin working  as a team.. I am usually put off by movies containing unnecessary vulgarity but my friends and I were so busy laughing, really laughing that we walked out after the movie having enjoyed the film. The critics really panned The Heat but it is easy to see this is going to be the hit of the summer, all through word of mouth. It is fun!

The Company You Keep (2:05) 2013

There are six good reasons to see this movie: Redford, Christie, LaBeouf, Nolte, Sarandon and Cooper. When Ben Shephard (LaBeouf), a journalist, unearths a long kept secret, Jim Grant (Redford) must start evading the law. Redford enlists his brother (Cooper) to take care of his motherless preteen daughter. Grant, a lawyer, has a previous life as a member of the Weather Underground, a radical group active during the Vietnam War. A cat and mouse chase ensues, with Shepard trying desperately to get ahead of  Grant. There are twists and turns all through the movie causing the viewer to root for Grant, then LaBeouf in a seesaw type action. As a teenager during the Vietnam War, I found this movie enthralling. well written and very believable. A gem of an independent movie - a must see!

Kon Tiki (1:41) 2013

Kon Tiki is a story from my childhood. Students were enthralled with the story of Thor Heyerdahl and his small crew sailing on a balsa wood raft across the Pacific. Heyerdahl wanted to prove his theory that Peruvians were the first to settle Polynesia. After World War II, Heyerdahl raised money and a crew, mostly fellow Norwegians, and set sail for a hundred and one days. The crew was alone, really alone when their radio failed to work. Well, not exactly alone, there were whales and sharks with the sharks getting  up close and personal. The crew spent quiet days and nights at sea, except when hanging on for dear life during storms. This is a movie for the big screen and for the family. My daughter and I really liked this movie for the simplicity of the journey, this was not a hyped up big adventure. Kon Tiki held our interest without being  bogged down with details The characters battled the elements but not each other, for the most part. It was also nice to have the experience of a movie that lacked vulgar, crude language and violent acts. I certainly recommend this movie, I hope it activates young people to continue to  imagine the "what ifs".