Being in the right place at the right time, some people have all of the luck and are able to meet with all sorts of interesting people.  It is hard to know what you will do when the time presents itself and while it is often better to keep your cool and just go with the flow, sometimes excitement just gets the better of you.  But never forget that you can find yourself at the wrong place at the wrong time as well and these are instances where it is better just to get out as soon as possible. Not knowing what will happen can be one of the scariest things out there and you will never know until its hits you, but most of the time you don’t need to be hit.

Peyton Westlake is on the verge of unlocking synthetic skin grafts for burn victims, but he continues to run into a snag. After ninety-nine minutes, the cells break down and turn the skin into a bubbling liquid, but he will not let this get him down. His girlfriend Julie has high hopes for his project and will not take no for an answer when it comes to his work.  With Julie being his drive, Peyton will keep with his work until he is able to correct the formula and make life easier for so many people in need.

Julie is a lawyer that is working on a big case and she has found a document that could break it wide open. When presenting her findings to Louis Strack, she is threatened with force to regain the memo, but she has no idea how far the business man will go.  Before arriving at Peyton’s place, she watches as his laboratory explodes and the only evidence of her beloved boyfriend is his ear in the wreckage. Believing that Peyton is gone forever, Julie is forced to move on with her life and continues with her job and has taken a new suitor, since young Strack is a ladies man with all of the connections that anyone could ever need.

​But Peyton is not dead, in fact he is very much alive and is being operated on in the hospital.  With the injuries that he suffered in the explosion, his nerves have been cut so he will not suffer in pain for the rest of his life, but without any feeling of pain comes a tradeoff. Losing control of one’s emotions is a dangerous side effect of this operation, but there could be a benefit for his as well since now his adrenaline will flow unchecked by his mind. 
 
Escaping from the hospital and hunting down the men that did this to him, Peyton wants more than revenge, he wants his life back. Being able to recover some of his gear from the laboratory, he sets up shop in an abandoned plant. Being able to replicate the faces of anyone he has a photo of, Peyton is ready to hit them where it really hurts, but he starts to lose focus when he sees Julie morning her loss. Will Peyton be able to keep his mind on what is most important to him, or will he stop and listen to his heart, regardless, he only has ninety-nine minutes at a time to make something happen.

Just a good old-fashioned story of revenge, with a vengeance. This is one of my favorite anti-superhero movies growing up since your main character does not want to be seen after what happened to him. With a grotesque burned body, he knows that nobody can accept him for what he has become, but he finds out that he could be wrong. But having the perfect disguise making machine at his disposal, Peyton can become anyone that he wants for a short time and knows how the make the most of it. Looking back, I just liked this movie for the action, but it offers a little bit more than that when it comes to accepting what has happened to you and how to deal with it going forward. Not allowing it to change who Westlake really is seems to be the best moral to the story, but I must admit that I like the action just as much as I ever did. Happy Viewing.

You truly have to admire motion pictures that manage to capture a moment in time. Because more than likely, when the filmmakers set out to create their respective film, they weren't thinking in the slightest about how future generations would view it; they simply wanted to make a great film that entertained the audience and gave them a healthy sense of satisfaction. 

But therein lies the magic. The amount of effort and care that goes into making a good motion picture is monumental to say the least, and when you take that vast amount of love behind the scenes and create a film that is relevant to the times...you get an iconic film that is poured over for years to come and that's exactly what happened in 1983, when Director John Badham put together a film that would go on to become a relevant and powerful look at Cold War America in WarGames.

Now for those unfamiliar with this film, in it we are introduced to a high school student named David Lightman who is utterly brilliant when it comes to computers. The in and the outs of this technology are simply second nature to him and his thirst for knowledge and his desire to play the latest cutting edge games accidentally allows for him to hack into the computer system for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and accidentally simulate a Russian nuclear attack on the United States. The stunt gets him into big trouble with the Federal Government, but the consequences from David's actions don't end there. Because the computer system he hacked into is also in charge of America's nuclear arsenal and it is still running the simulation and David will need a little help from the system's original programmer to convince everyone at NORAD of this fact before the planet is plunged into World War III.

Now, having watched this film for the first time in ages, I will admit that I found it a little difficult to get into simply because holy cow, the dated technology almost seems comical at times. David's computer is a behemoth of a machine, but once he hacks NORAD...well, all bets were off and I was sucked right back into this tale because it features a damn good story. It's compelling, it's scary and it's powerful and it's anchored by a wonderful cast featuring Matthew Broderick and Dabney Coleman and their earnest performances and the panic that they exude as the world barrels toward nuclear holocaust truly helps to sell this tale...while at the same time taking us down memory lane.

Because I'm someone who grew up in the 1980's and I remember nukes and the Russians dominating the headlines when I was a kid and this film took me right back to that era since the threat of nuclear war and annihilation hangs heavy over this story, as does the paranoia of the time, and it was downright eerie to experience all of that once again, but the film does an amazing job of bringing that part of the 1980's back to life. So when you combine a thrilling story such as this, with fond memories the past, you are left with a true modern classic. One that delivers an accurate slice of American History and one that reminds us that the story is always larger than the era it's filmed in and it also takes the time to remind us that ignoring the facts, is always a dangerous decision to make.

It has often been said, that children are our future, and there’s a lot merit to that statement. After all, it is children that will eventually inherit the Earth and in turn, control its future and the future of other generations to come, and in many ways, children are also our only real means to immortality. For they carry genetic parts of us with them, and they keep our memory alive as they share stories of us with their children down the line, and all of this makes kids an invaluable resource to say the least, one that we need to invest in, in just about every single way imaginable.
 
Yet, what’s equally incredible about children in general, is the sense of comfort they provide humanity with. For even in our darkest hours, when it seems as though the world is falling to pieces, we see or hear about them doing wondrous and innocent things, or we see young adults taking the reins in an attempt to make the world a better place, something that outright gives us hope that tomorrow will be just fine in their hands. But while we enjoy the sense of stability that comes with knowing that babies are being born every minute of every day, creative minds often want to challenge the things that bring us comfort in order to keep us thinking, and it just so happens that there is a motion picture out there, that outright ponders what our world would look like and what humanity would become if there were no more children being born on Planet Earth, in Children of Men.
 
Now in this particularly disturbing and powerful film we are introduced to man named Theo who lives in London in the year 2028, and the world has undergone some chilling changes in the future. Because for reasons unknown, the fertility rate of mankind has dropped to zero, meaning that at some point, the human race will simply die off and this revelation, has brought out the worst in us. For chaos has broken out in most of the world at the prospect of a slow and quiet end to mankind, and while that chaos may eventually arrive in the United Kingdom as well, Theo simply goes about his days and works to live and enjoy what time he has left. But someone from his past has returned to ask for his help, because Theo has connections that can help a group of rebels who happen to have their hands on the most precious resource left on earth, a pregnant woman, and now Theo will risk life and limb to see this mother-to-be to safety so that she may inspire hope in mankind for the first time in decades…

​This is a film, that I find myself revisiting often, simply due to the fact that it has so much to say and so much to offer to its viewer. Because this is one of those rare films that examines just about everything one can when it comes to the human condition, and that’s why I enjoy watching it so much because you never quite know what you’ll find when you pop this one in. But while we could spend days focusing on the finer points of this film, for the sake of today’s review, I want to spend some time talking about how this movie explores the power of fear and the wonder of hope because it moves between both of those elements in seamless and powerful fashion. 
 
Obviously, the easier element to focus upon in this film is the power of fear since mankind’s cruelty is unleashed in this story now that everyday life has become a game of survival of the fittest. But there is also a beautiful sense of hope to be found in this story as well, which quite frankly is an unexpected surprise. After all, this is the end for humanity, and day by day the world is falling to pieces, yet something as simple as a single child being born, energizes people like never before and perhaps my favorite scene in the entire film, is the moment when the rebels and the British Army cease fighting and watch in wonder and awe as Theo and the baby slowly exit the building, simply because it shows how one tiny life can change everything and in that moment, the possibilities for the future are downright endless.
 
Of course, the appearance of a child doesn’t end the fighting, but that’s another analysis on man best saved for another day, and really that’s what makes this movie so important and so powerful, the fact that it gets us talking. Because there’s something special for everyone who watches this film to uncover and fawn over, and it’s led to many incredible discussions for me over the years and that’s why I highly recommend you watch this one if you haven’t seen it before. Because it really is that rare think piece that isn’t audacious or pompous, it just has a lot to say about mankind, and the world and what we leave behind and it will stay with you, long after the credits have come to an end…

Dreaming is one of the few things that we as individuals do not have a limitation on. Although we can be judged on many things in our lives, dreams are never one of them since it is our subconscious that controls these thoughts. If you are ever lucky enough to remember what happened in your dreams, it can tell you more and more about what you like, fear and despise all at once.

Dominick Cobb and his longtime partner Arthur have made a living out of becoming dream extractors. Utilizing an experimental process developed by the military, the two have formed a group that specializes in the practice and work for the highest bidder. Being used mainly for corporate espionage, the group has chosen a target that seems very calm in a shared dream, since he is testing the professionals in more of an audition setting as he has his own plans in mind. 

Not being able to extract the information needed for their client, Cobb and his crew are forced to retreat and try to find the next available mark, but Mr. Saito finds them first and will only allow them to clear their names through him by taking on his job. Saito’s company is failing, and he needs to break up Robert Fischer’s newly acquired business to keep his head above water. Wanting Fischer to sell off his father’s company, Saito wants Cobb and his group to plant that exact idea into Robert’s mind and by pulling this off, the group will get whatever they desire. Cobb is not disillusioned about this endeavor and takes his steps very carefully as this job may be able to give him is old life back.

​Recruiting a new dream architect, Ariadne, Cobb finds that this job may be more difficult than expected as she keeps prying into his past and tries to figure out why he can no longer build the dreams on his own. With his subconscious always battling him with images of his dead wife Mal, Cobb has more to worry about than being killed in the real world, as his dreams are starting to become reality. Having to plant an idea so deep in Fischer’s subconscious, the group has to be able to trust each other at every step and with an extra member being added to the group, they have to find a way to all work together as things start to go drastically wrong.  

Inception follows Dominick Cobb and his group of dream extractors as they are employed to plant an idea deeper into a mark’s mind than they have ever gone before. Going three levels deep into a dream is unheard of, but Cobb makes sure that the group knows that it can be done. Looking for a clean slate and his ticket home, Cobb has to make sure that everyone involved in the job is ready for anything, but when entering the mind of Robert Fischer, they find that they are underprepared. Having his own subconscious defenses in place, Fischer is ready for such an attack and makes even the idea of having something stolen from his dreams next to impossible. Having to battle with his own demons, Cobb convinces the group to keep going even though they do not know what to expect as they continue to go deeper into a very dangerous mind.

I was hesitant at first to see this movie when it first came out, thinking it was trying to remake Dark City, but when I finally sat down and watched it, I found I was terribly wrong. This is a fantastic look at the human mind as brain hackers try to take control of other people’s dreams. Although the technology is not there yet, it is still scary to envision a world where dreams are no longer safe when other people can use them to their own advantage. With an up to date look at how technology has advanced and the mind being the only thing that really matters, it makes you wonder what, if anything can really be done once you lose control of your own dreams. Happy Viewing.

When one thinks about action films in this day and age, our minds immediately drift to some common elements. For these are films that definitely deliver on the action, since they feature breathtaking stunts that drop our jaws and the plots are always larger than life since the hero or heroine or group of do-gooders face insurmountable odds as they square off against an epic villain who is out to cause all kinds of harm. And well, when all is said and done, these movies are fun in their own right and they definitely manage to keep the popcorn flowing because they really are incredibly entertaining.
 
But there was a time, when the action movie desired to be more than mere popcorn entertainment. They wanted to provide the audience with meaning and depth by offering up characters that felt like people we knew or could relate to, and they featured intricate plots that gave the audience plenty to chew upon. This was in essence, a golden era for the genre, one that ironically paved the way for the giant spectacles that we are treated with now, and while this era may have seemingly come to a close, the wonder of home video keeps these rare stories alive and recently, I took the time to revisit one such action film that offered more than just mere thrills and chills in 1996’s, The Rock.
 
Now, we won’t spend a lot of time on the plot of this particular film today and for good reason. Because this is a movie that we all know and love, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you need to as soon as humanly possible, simply due to the fact that this is one magnificent motion picture. And really, what I want to spend time talking about today, is what makes this action movie so memorable and wonderful and one important element that has given it longevity is its impressive action sequences. After all, this is a movie that features some breathtaking, edge of your seat moments and quite possibly, one of the coolest car chase scenes in modern cinematic history and it is in fact the action and adventure that brought so many of us to the theater when it first came out. 

​But what truly makes this motion picture stand out above the rest, is the sheer fact that it has so much more to offer. Take for example the fact that the plot here, is far more intricate than one might expect since the story here goes beyond a mere mad man looking to cause harm to other people. There’s a real cause for General Hummel to get behind, and he desperately wants to see justice for his fallen comrades and really, that grandiose plot, one that brings everyone together on Alcatraz Island is what allows for this film’s true strength to shine; its characters. Because everyone in this story has incredible depth to them, especially the General since he is in essence a hero who has lost his way and his desperation drives him to dangerous acts that inspire evil and it’s fascinating to see his arc of redemption as the story goes on.
 
However, fascinating ‘villain’ aside, let’s be honest, it’s John Mason and Stanley Goodspeed who steal the show since they are intriguing heroes to say the least. Because both men have their respective flaws since John is hellbent on enjoying his freedom regardless of the circumstances surrounding his temporary release and Stanley is in essence a fish out of water since he’s never been on a mission like this before. And really, what makes them both so special is the sheer fact that these men grow as the story progresses since John eventually comes to realize that this whole mess is bigger than his needs and of course Stanley, goes from an everyday Joe to badass hero and it’s cool to watch these two inspire one another to be more, and eventually achieve wonders by the end of the movie.
 
Yet, what’s equally more impressive is that the film still has more to offer than dynamic characters and a fascinating plot, because this motion picture is a lot of fun as well. There are some wonderfully delightful comedic moments to be found in this movie, and some seriously quotable one liners as well and truly, this is a just a modern classic. Because it’s rare to find that perfect blend of comedy and action and heart in a movie, but The Rock pulls all of that off thanks to its whip smart script and phenomenal cast and well, this is one that quite frankly needs to be in everyone’s collection and it needs to be revisited often, because with big budget spectacles dominating the box office, it will likely be a long time before we see a film like this in theaters ever again, so it’s best to enjoy this little slice of cinematic magic whenever possible.

Our imagination is a wonderful thing. It can help us conceive only the greatest of dreams and give us ideas on how to follow them. It can help us understand difficult concepts and even relate to the people in our lives by letting us picture events in our mind. It also helps keep us out of trouble. For there are days that life can be trying, and our imagination is there to let us wonder about the things we might say to someone who ticked us off.  
 
But sometimes our imagination takes us to deeper and darker scenarios depending on how bad it was, and sometimes people act on it. Yet most of us let those ideas...stay ideas, knowing full well that while it sounds awesome to say and do whatever we want, there are consequences. It is the idea of finally getting to say and do whatever you want and saying to hell with the consequences that is the central theme of the motion picture, Falling Down. 
​
William Foster is not a man you would ever notice in a crowd. He goes about his day like the rest of us.  He endures traffic jams, rude clerks and the day to day annoyances of the world. But today, a day like any other for the rest of us, is the day that William has had enough. He has had enough of letting things go and being polite.  He has had enough of the world telling him what to do. For today, William Foster is going home, and anyone who stands in his way or treats him like he doesn't matter, is going to be sorry. 

This is a film filled to the brim with angst and anger and utter brilliance, due to its dissection of what happens when you push a man too far. William Foster is a terrifying character simply because this is the kind of man you really do pass on the street. While we worry about what to make for dinner, they are seething with anger. Foster is the kind of guy we hear about on the news when he finally does snap, and the film does a wonderful job of breaking down how a nighttime news monster is a person who simply lost their way.  

Michael Douglas is in the actor behind William Foster and he is at his absolute best here. He plays Foster with an incredible cool, since clearly this is a man who has learned to channel his anger. Yet Foster is such a tragic character and that's where Douglas' years of experience comes in handy. He is able to show the regret that William is filled with over his mistakes and his anger. Yet on a moment's notice, that very fury that has kept him going for so long will come front and center to help William do what he does best, survive.  

Falling Down is a sweeping tale of tragedy and one that is absolutely worth watching because of how unique a tale this is. William Foster is a villain through and through and yet you sympathize for him. It's a brilliant move for this film.  Because despite all the anger and angst it takes you through, it leaves you filled with hope. Hope that there is a chance William can make it back into the light, and hope that a man like him can find redemption.  ​

I’ve always found it fascinating how people tend to lose themselves in their own little world. That’s not a bad thing by any means, since worrying about our own hide can in fact help us move forward in life since we are focused on our own agenda which allows for us to work harder to achieve our respective goals. However, there is a downside to this, since it does isolate us from the rest of the world and that can in turn, remove us from awesome experiences that could bring us great joy.
 
But, while we all know deep down that sometimes we need to step out of our protective bubble and explore the world and all the things it has to offer, that’s often easier said than done, especially when we are young. For a youthful mind focuses on the notion that we have plenty of time to enjoy life later on once we’ve established our respective careers and sometimes, we’re not emotionally or mentally ready to step out of that safe zone and if anything, I’m always appreciative of stories that take the time to explore the difficulties that come with leaving one’s comfort zone since such tales often teach us something pertinent about ourselves as they entertain us and recently, I took the time to revisit a film that meets one half of that criteria in, 21.
 
Now in this particular tale, we are introduced to a brilliant student at MIT named Ben, who is working hard to establish a future for himself. For Ben, wants to become a doctor, and he has done everything within his power to take the necessary steps to get into Harvard Medical School. He’s got amazing grades, and he can definitely handle the pressure, but the only obstacle toward achieving his goal is that he cannot afford the school’s staggering tuition, at least…not until a unique opportunity arrives. For one of his teachers has come to realize that Ben and his incredible brain might be able to help with an after-school group project, one that involves making boatloads of cash counting cards in Las Vegas and Jim’s decision to join up to pay his tuition, is about to make his life extremely interesting…   

So, I made mention of the fact that this particular film only meets some of the exploratory criteria regarding stepping out of one’s comfort zone and really, most of that is handled by way of Ben’s journey early on in the film since Ben quickly comes to relish the ability to lead two different lives. For on the weekends, he’s a high roller that people admire and adore in Vegas and during the week, he’s an invisible student dedicated to only his studies and it is so intriguing to watch him crave the rush and the power that comes with the ability to become two different people on a moment’s notice and this segment of the story really is a unique look at how tough it is to juggle two different worlds since Ben does struggle to keep his two lives separate at times.
 
But what truly makes this movie so incredibly fascinating, is the sheer fact that it offers little up to the audience from a philosophical standpoint on this matter because at its heart, 21 is a heist flick through and through. For Jim and his new friends work hard to grab all the cash they can from the casinos they play at, and the wonder and power of greed definitely come into play for everyone involved, immersing Ben and his friends into a strange world they don’t fully understand since where they come from, intellect is king, and treachery and double crossing and desperation are elements they simply don’t know. But they are quickly forced into learning how to deal with such matters and this fascinating duality is something that brings me back to this film time and time again.
 
For while everything in this film seems as though it is fluffy and messy, everything does tie together nicely on screen, and there’s a lot to chew upon when all is said and done. Because the world these characters inhabit is simply fascinating to say the least, and the lack of exposition on their choice and desire to be different people leaves one’s mind pondering upon their intentions long after the movie has come to a close. And really…you can’t go wrong with a Vegas heist flick and this one offers up a non-traditional robbery which makes it refreshing in its own right and if by chance you haven’t seen this one, please do. It’s simply a fun film that does a fine job of pulling you in, and while you won’t walk away with any deeper meaning, that’s okay, because this motion picture is all about entertaining you and it really does accomplish that particular mission.

One of the theories of the universe I have always believed in is that numbers are the key to its secrets. No matter what you look at or try to explain, there is always a number behind it. You count the stars, numbers, you read the reports, numbers, even check out a constellation, numbers. There is no getting away from it, yet there are some people that would like to have you believe that none of this means a thing and while they are entitled to their own beliefs, they cannot prove it otherwise.

John Koestler and his son Caleb are having a hard time getting through a very tough time. Losing his mother at such a young age, Caleb wants nothing more than to be with her again and while his father does not believe in the great beyond, Caleb wants to believe it and there is no stopping him. While John is trying to cope in his own way, he will not allow his son to get away with anything and makes sure that the boy’s focus is on the right things, especially school. While they both are trying to cope in their own way, they are in the fight together and need each other to survive.

At school, Caleb is excited to see what will happen when an old time capsule from 1959 is opened, since this was a big deal for the school to do fifty years ago. With the teacher behind the project being present to hand out all of the drawings that her class made so many years ago, Caleb gets something very strange. Instead of a drawing of what the future might look like, he gets a page filled with numbers that do make any sense to him, but being inquisitive, he wants to know what it really means. Taking the letter home to the dismay to his father, Caleb thinks that there could be a message hidden in the lines, but after he goes to bed, John mistakenly is able to find out the secrets behind the numbers. 

Setting his over flowing drink on the paper, John sees a series of numbers that looks familiar and when putting it on his board, he sees the 9/11 disaster being highlighted, complete with the number of people killed on that day. Transferring all of the numbers to his board, John decides to go to work and finds out that all of the series of numbers have some sort of meaning to them; in that they are a  specific date and body count of events that happened in history. Taking the numbers to his friend in the science department, John seems to be off of his rocker, but how could someone from fifty years ago know all of this information before it happened. With another event coming up in a couple days, John takes the day off and watches the news for any events that cause a loss of life, but nothing is reported. Being late for his carpool day for his son, John waits in traffic while the unthinkable happens as an airplane falls from the sky and barely misses him. Seeing the report on the news later that evening with the body count matching what the letter said, John knows that he is in possession of something special that just might be able to save lives, but he is only scratching the surface when it comes to the document's secrets.

This is an interesting premise when all is said and done and I like how the back story was told as it came and went quickly, so you knew that it would be revisited. John’s determination to find out the secrets of the letter and try to keep his son safe from the impending doom that is about to take place on the planet is something that you would hope any parent would do. With his search leading to making a new friend for himself and his son, it shows how lonely the two have become after being shut down by his wife’s death. The story really showed how powerful the father and son dynamic is and how neither of them are able to survive on their own, even when the world is about to end.