Archive for the 'Movie Reviews' Category
February 20th, 2013 by David Freedman
Just Seen It is now on National PBS! Check your local listings or PBS website for day and time and if they don’t carry us, ask them nicely if they can!
What’s coming up on our next episode of JUST SEEN IT that will be airing starting Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013. CHECK YOUR LOCAL PBS LISTING FOR DAY AND TIME!
WATCH US ON PBS SOCAL Saturdays at 6PM or pbssocal.org/justseenit
Continue reading ‘Public Television National Episode SIX Preview – Feb. 21- Feb. 24, 2013 – JUST SEEN IT’
February 20th, 2013 by David Freedman
Just Seen It is now on National PBS! Check your local listings or PBS website for day and time and if they don’t carry us, ask them nicely if they can!
On this episode, we review the black and white drama from Portugal – Tabu; give you our top entertainment picks of 2012; and review the french language – Amour – nominated for best foreign language film.
WATCH US ON PBS SOCAL Saturdays at 6PM or pbssocal.org/justseenit
Continue reading ‘Public Television National Episode FOUR – Just Seen It’
February 16th, 2013 by Jami Ferguson
Horrible Bosses’ Jason Bateman and Bridesmaids’ Melissa McCarthy lead the cast of Identity Thief, an all-star comedy in which a regular guy is forced to extreme measures to clear his name. With everything to lose after his identity is stolen, he’ll find out how crazed you can get trying to settle a bad credit score. Unlimited funds have allowed Diana (McCarthy) to live it up on the outskirts of Miami, where the queen of retail buys whatever strikes her fancy. There’s only one glitch: The ID she’s using to finance these sprees reads “Sandy Bigelow Patterson”… and it belongs to an accounts rep (Bateman) who lives halfway across the U.S. With only one week to hunt down the con artist before his world implodes, the real Sandy Bigelow Patterson heads south to confront the woman with an all-access pass to his life. And as he attempts to bribe, coax and wrangle her the 2,000 miles to Denver, one easy target will discover just how tough it is to get your name back. Continue reading ‘Identity Thief (Movie Review)’
February 15th, 2013 by David Freedman
To escape a mysterious past, Katie moves to a small Southern town. There she falls for Alex, a widower raising two children. But their love is threatened when Katie’s secret come back to haunt her in.
WATCH US ON PBS SOCAL Saturdays at 6PM or pbssocal.org/justseenit
Continue reading ‘Safe Haven Movie Review – Just Seen It’
February 15th, 2013 by David Freedman
Liz, Sean and Brenna review this fascinating documentary about the heads of the Israeli Secret Service.
As Israel’s secret service, SHIN BET is charged with the fight against terror. In this documentary, director Dror Moreh interviews six former heads of the revered agency. Together, they look back at decades of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Continue reading ‘The Gatekeepers Movie Review – Just Seen It’
February 14th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
If Twilight has paved the way for movies like Warm Bodies and Beautiful Creatures to be made, then I am all for it at this point. I am not actively seeking out paranormal teen romance movies, but the fallout from one self-serious franchise has led to a couple, more accessible and enjoyable features that I have quite liked. Beautiful Features is a mix of melodramatic narrative beats and campy, witch-related supernatural drama, all set in a Southern Gothic horror location, but the film is a lot of fun. The young leads are very likable and have great chemistry, therefore making the key romance work overall. The adult actors are all having a ball chewing up the scenery, making the movie practically aware of itself, short of winking at the camera. A good majority of this film is really effective, as the charisma of this cast, the strength of the dialogue, the moments of humor, and the great visuals do plenty to keep it entertaining. It is only when the film forces the exposition and attempts to link it to the rest of a presumed franchise that the story suffers overall. It comes with the territory, but the film better than just another Twilight clone.
Continue reading ‘Beautiful Creatures Is Campy, Melodramatic, And Fun (Movie Review)’
February 13th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
Imagine you are watching a generically plotted action film, with a pretty bland hero, and all of the sudden that hero’s goofy dad, who has a knack for killing terrorists, shows up to tag along and do some bonding, while terrorizing Moscow. This is what A Good Day to Die Hard boils down to; as it removes itself even further from what the franchise once meant. Die Hard has certainly never been shy about going bigger with its sequels, but this time around the series really does feel like a shadow of its former self, with problems that people may have had with the last film, Live Free or Die Hard, feeling even more amplified this time around. As a result, there is some decent action and a lot of explosions, but I would be hard-pressed to call this a Die Hard film, rather than just an action film with Bruce Willis. Continue reading ‘‘A Good Day To Die Hard’, A Bad Day To Visit Russia (Movie Review)’
February 12th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
It seems to be the most irritating to write about films like this. I do not have anything against the idea of a romantic drama that is timed to come out around Valentine’s Day, because it is of course the type of film certain people would want to see around then, let alone by those who enjoy this genre in general. My issue is the fact that the majority of these films, which as of late have been adaptations of Nicholas Sparks novels, barely rise above being the same level of quality as movies on the Lifetime channel. Safe Haven is a predictable romance story, which cuts away real drama and character investment in favor of various mushy and drama moments that would provide the same instant reaction as something in a horror movie popping up and saying boo. It is also a film that benefits from decent performances and nice visuals, making it a film that certainly doesn’t deserve hate, just one that leaves me having to only recommend it to a select group of people, rather than being able to directly say yay or nay. Continue reading ‘‘Safe Haven’ Is A Romantic Pit Stop From Better Films (Movie Review)’
February 11th, 2013 by David Freedman
Kevin, Liz and Sean discuss their picks and predictions for Best Actor and Best Actress for the 2013 Academy Awards and pick who SHOULD win and predict who WILL win.
Continue reading ‘OSCARS 2013 Best Actor and Actress Predictions – Just Seen It’
February 11th, 2013 by David Freedman
Sean, Liz and Aaron discuss their picks and predictions for Best Picture for the 2013 Academy Awards and pick who SHOULD win and predict who WILL win.
Continue reading ‘OSCAR 2013 Best Picture Predictions – Just Seen It’
February 11th, 2013 by David Freedman
Leah, Kevin and Brenna discuss their picks and predictions for Best Director for the 2013 Academy Awards and pick who SHOULD win and predict who WILL win.
Continue reading ‘OSCARS 2013 Best Director Picks and Predictions – Just Seen It’
February 11th, 2013 by David Freedman
A hit man and a cop have their partners viciously murdered. So they team up to find out who ordered both hits. But seeking revenge is never easy.
WATCH US ON PBS SOCAL Saturdays at 6PM or pbssocal.org/justseenit
Continue reading ‘Bullet To The Head Movie Review – Just Seen It’
February 11th, 2013 by David Freedman
Liz, Sean and Aaron Neuwirth do a quick review on Arnold’s return to action. Starring Liz Manashil, Sean Wright and Aaron Nuewirth. Directed by Jude Perrin.
Synopsis: The leader of a drug cartel busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff and his inexperienced staff.
Continue reading ‘The Last Stand Movie Review – Just Seen It’
February 11th, 2013 by David Freedman
Leah, Liz and Sean review this new action movie starring with Jason Statham.
Continue reading ‘Parker Movie Review – Just Seen It’
February 8th, 2013 by David Freedman
Rachel, Salim and David review this new comedy starring Jason Bateman, and Melissa McCarthy.
Sandy’s life is ruined after Diana steal his identity. To save his job, Sandy must travels to Florida to apprehend her. But the journey back to justice is fraught with roadblocks. Continue reading ‘Identity Thief Movie Review – Just Seen It’
February 8th, 2013 by David Freedman
Aaron, Brenna and Guest Reviewer Aaron Neuwirth take on this highly unusual romantic comedy.
After a zombie epidemic, R recues Julie from a zombie attack. Seeing he is different, they become unlikely friends. But falling in love appears to transform R.
Continue reading ‘Warm Bodies Movie Review – Just Seen It’
February 6th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
The tricky thing about discussing Steven Soderbergh’s latest and reportedly last directorial feature, Side Effects, is that the film is most effective if the viewer goes in knowing nothing about it. The marketing campaign (or at least the initial trailers) can be commended for being fairly ambiguous in presenting what is actually going on in this film. Saying that the film is a neo-noir is the closest I can come in a very brief description, but that could still possible be looked at as a spoiler. Regardless, Side Effects is an effective adult drama/thriller, with a very deliberate first act that paves the way for the rest of the film to unfold. One it gets going though, there is a lot to consider and it is amplified by some of these lead performances and Soderbergh’s cold, yet precise and stylish visuals.
Continue reading ‘‘Side Effects’ May Include Twists, Turns, And Some Deliberate Pacing (Movie Review)’
January 31st, 2013 by David Freedman
Brenna, Liz and guest reviewer Aaron Neuwirth each reveal their favorite hidden movie gems of 2012 – movies you may not have seen but should be at the top of your watch-at-home list! Starring Aaron Neuwirth, Liz Manashi and Brenna Smith. Directed by Sean Wright.
Whether it’s the end of the world as we know it, making friends with a robot, or seeking a partner for time-travel, check out the movies we call our hidden gems of 2012.
Continue reading ‘Hidden Movies Gems for 2012 – Just Seen It’
