When The Game Stands Tall (2014) --- “It's Not About How Hard You Fall But It's How You Get Back Up.”

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In 2003, high-school football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) and his De La Salle Spartans have just completed an incredible 151 consecutive victories and 12-straight state championships. While the team's seniors receive offers from colleges all over the country, the advancing juniors look forward to making their mark. However, beloved "Coach Lad" has a brush with calamity, while the Spartans face their most-challenging, most unpredictable season yet. (1)

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     Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) is the football coach for the De La Salle High School football team and under his tutelage, De La Salle has developed a 151 winning streak. But what happens when the streak is broken? When the Game Stands Tall (2014) is inspired on the true story of how the coach, the team, and the town handle the loss of their beloved streak and learn that winning is not everything.

Paddington 2 (2017) --- “A New Adventure Begins And This Time It Takes A Bear To Catch A Thief.”

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Settled in with the Brown family, Paddington the bear is a popular member of the community who spreads joy and marmalade wherever he goes. One fine day, he spots a pop-up book in an antique shop -- the perfect present for his beloved aunt's 100th birthday. When a thief steals the prized book, Paddington embarks on an epic quest to unmask the culprit before Aunt Lucy's big celebration. (1)

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     Paddington (2014) was an incredible family film for all ages and director Paul King returns to improve on that success with the sequel film, Paddington 2 (2017). Paddington 2 continues the story with more heart, more humor, and an even greater adventure.

Paddington (2014) --- “This Little Bear Will Make A Big Splash And Start An Even Bigger Adventure.”

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After a deadly earthquake destroys his home in the Peruvian rainforest, a young bear (Ben Whishaw) makes his way to England in search of a new home. The bear, dubbed "Paddington" for the London train station, finds shelter with the family of Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins). Although Paddington's amazement at urban living soon endears him to the Browns, someone else has her eye on him: Taxidermist Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman) has designs on the rare bear and his hide. (1)

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     After years of TV show adaptations, writer and director Paul King (Paddington 2) and co-writer Hamish McColl (Johnny English Reborn) bring Michael Bond’s creation to the big screen. Paddington (2014) is an inventive and masterpiece family film that maintains its innocence, charm, and child-like atmosphere. Most films that attempt at live-action animation tend to mess up in combining the two mediums because there is either not enough realism or not enough make-believe. However, director King and writer McColl have created a film that is magical and carries a sort of whimsy charm that allows you to take things seriously.

     Paddington follows the adventures of a very clumsy and lovable bear, of the same name, as he lives with his new human family in London. With humorous jokes and a heartwarming story, Paddington can relate to anyone. This is the film you can watch with your kids and they will laugh at the jokes and silly bear. When your kids are teenagers and you watch this film again, they will start to understand the family dynamic and the love within that family. But when your kids are adults and you sit down to watch this film, they will see it as a nostalgic piece of entertainment from their childhood. Much like Winnie the Pooh (2011), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and Mary Poppins (1964), Paddington is an upbeat, funny, touching, and a very British film made to last for generations.

     The production values are excellent. From the moment Paddington arrives in England, the story establishes that while a talking bear may not be an everyday occurrence, it no less absurd idea. By establishing this early on, the filmmakers allow the audience to admire the vivid and colorful visuals, costumes, and special effects used throughout the film. The true test for the filmmakers lied in their ability to bring Paddington to life.

     The special effects team created a CGI Paddington that was able to interact with the humans and the real world around him; which sets him apart from most CGI characters. However, the true life behind Paddington is his voice.

     Ben Whishaw (The Lobster; Skyfall) replaced Colin Firth (Mamma Mia) as the voice of Paddington after Firth and the filmmakers decided that his (Firth) voice did not suit the character. This makes sense considering that Firth’s voice is more mature sounding and would not have suited the youthful bear. However, Whishaw has a youthful tone to his voice that gives Paddington an innocent and naïve tone. The rest of the cast deliver good performances. Sally Hawkins (Shape of Water) delivers an energetic and fun performance as Mrs. Mary Brown, while Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abby) delivers a sympathetic and stuffy performance as Mr. Henry Brown that downright hilarious considering the world he lives in. It is nice to see Hawkins and Booneville portray a married couple that is polar opposites of each other but they also complement each other as well. Mary encourages Henry to lighten up and enjoy life to its fullest, while Henry teaches Mary how to also be safe whilst having fun. Nicole Kidman (The Golden Compass) was funny as the villain who does a hilarious reenactment of Tom Cruise’s silent spy scene in Mission Impossible (1996).

     Overall, Paddington (2014) is a film that will entertain for generations and all ages; adults included. The humor is almost side-splitting and the story is heartwarming. It teaches us to be cautious, that not everyone has good intentions, but to also embrace life to its fullest. Have fun and go on adventures even if they turn out to be crazy and out of control. Make memories and tell your loved ones you care.

     I highly recommend this film, its warm and surprisingly mature with youthful antics and humor.

"Mrs. Brown says that in London everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in. I think she must be right - because although I don't look like anyone else, I really do feel at home. I'll never be like other people, but that's alright because I'm a bear. A bear called Paddington."

- Paddington

Final Vote

Worth Seeing:  9 of 10 star

Worth Buying:  9 of 10 stars

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Movies Similar 

Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
Babe (1995)
Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
Chicken Run (2000)
Christopher Robin (2018)
Flushed Away (2006)
G-Force (2009)
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006)
Garfield: The Movie (2004)
Hop (2011)
Hotel for Dogs (2009)
Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011)
Nanny McPhee (2006)
Nanny McPhee Returns (2010)
The Nut Job (2014)
Paddington 2 (2018)
Peter Rabbit (2018)
Snow Dogs (2002)
Stuart Little (1999)
Stuart Little 2 (2002)
Winnie the Pooh (2011)

Predator (2018) --- "The Hunter Has Evolved And You'll Never See Him Coming."

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     Directed by Shane Black (The Nice Guys) and written Fred Dekker (Star Trek: Enterprise) and Black, The Predator (2018) is an awesome and exciting sequel filled with humor and action all around. Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) is an American sniper on a mission in Mexico when he comes across a crashed ship with a Predator on the loose. In an effort to keep him quiet the government sends Quinn away by putting him on a bus along with some otherwise mentally unstable vets like Nebraska (Trevante Rhodes), Coyle (Keegan-Michael Key), Baxley (Thomas Jane), Nettles (Augusto Aguilera), and Lynch (Alfie Allen). Meanwhile, Dr. Casey Bracket (Olivia Munn), an evolutionary biologist, is brought to a secret government organization led by Traeger (Sterling K. Brown), who is hoping Bracket can help them answer some puzzling questions. Why is it here? What is it after? And why does it have human DNA? When Quinn’s genius son Rory (Jacob Tremblay) accidentally triggers their return to Earth only Quinn, Casey and their ragtag team of ex-soldiers can help them prevent the extinction of the human race.

     The Predator (2018) is not the most traditional film in the series. Of course, the story is basic enough to understand and it carries some of the same components we know and love about the series. But the story diverges from its usual straightforward kills for thrills by attempting a new story arc that is a bit thought-provoking. The series could utilize a new story arc like this as it will add a new element to the series and give it depth as a whole. There are some nicely timed, clever jokes and nostalgic references from previous films that go along way for audiences in relieving gory and tension. The action and special effects are impressive and did not disappoint. The action is gory and brutal, while the evolution of the special effects is impressive with more detailed graphics and bigger explosions. And finally, the cast gave superb performances all around.

     The only issues that I found with the film are the over excessive cursing and the unnecessary extravagant speeches. F-bombs were used haphazardly and while it was not unexpected for this film it does show that the writing still has some maturing to do. And the extravagant speeches were either timed inappropriately or the passion was missing or unclear.

     Overall, The Predator (2018) is an exciting and entertaining action-packed film that appeals to both new and old fans. The comedy is clever, the special effects are impressive, the action is intense, and the characters are great. The story is basic but there are some new elements improve the series overall and the ending leaves things open for another installment. If you are an old fan of the series or you have yet to see any of the films, then I highly recommend that see The Predator.

"I think they're attempting hybridization. They're upgrading on every planet they visit."

- Casey Bracket

Final Vote

Worth Seeing:  7.8 of 10 star

Worth Buying:  7.8 of 10 stars

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Movies Similar

Alien (1979)
Aliens (1986)
Alien 3 (1992)
Alien Resurrection (1997)
Alien Vs. Predator (2004)
Alien Vs. Predator - Requiem (2007)
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Blade Runner (1982)
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Predators (2010)
Prometheus (2012)
Solaris (2002)
Super 8 (2011)

Peppermint (2018) --- "The System Failed Her, But She Won't."

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     Directed by Pierre Morel (The Gunman) and written by Chad St. John (London Has Fallen), Peppermint (2018) is an action-packed vigilante film about revenge and justice. The film follows Riley North (Jennifer Garner) after she survives a drive-by shooting that killed her husband and daughter. But when the judge lets the murders go free and tries to send her to a mental hospital, Riley takes matters into her own hands. After disappearing 5 years earlier, Riley is back with a special skill set that neither the cops nor the cartel were anticipating, and she will stop at nothing until justice has been served.