And now, sometime before I see Jurassic World: Dominion, and I review that one, we shall now talk about Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Plot: Three years following the events of Jurassic World, a volcanic eruption is about to occur on Isla Nublar, jeopardizing the lives of the dinosaurs that live there. Because the U.S. rules that the dinosaurs should perish after Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) says that it’s an act of God to punish dinosaurs getting cloned in the first place, Dr. Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) gets a team together, including Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to go, and rescue the dinosaurs themselves from the volcanic eruption that is about to occur very soon. But what they don’t realize is that the team they hired is a group of army mercenaries that plan to sell the dinosaurs at an action in California, instead of taking them to a dinosaur sanctuary, as originally planned. So now, can the heroes find a way to save the dinosaurs from this new captivity that they now find themselves in?

Now, for those of you who are friends with me on Facebook, and saw me review this film just there back in 2018, you may recall that I gave the film a B+, if I recall correctly. So, do I still stand by that grade even four years later? Well, let me put it to you all this way. First of all, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom seems to feel a little too fast-paced. Thankfully not quite as much as The Lost World: Jurassic Park. No, Fallen Kingdom seemed to do a somewhat better job of telling a more compelling story. Anyway, some of the problems in this film include there being some rather tragic scenes that probably weren’t necessary. Okay, I understand that some movies need to have some tragic moments to either add drama, or show that life sucks sometimes, or things like that. Still, the sad moments that were included in this film might have made this film more sad than it maybe needed to be in the end. There were also some aspects of the ending that didn’t seem to feel quite as satisfying as one would have liked. Oh, and the movie felt a little much like a horror film. Okay, I understand that there needed to be tense moments. Still, did we really need some of those moments to look like potential horror moments when the Jurassic Park franchise is not supposed to go a horror route? Just a thought!

Still, like in Jurassic World, it was definitely nice to see some newer, and more advanced species of dinosaurs in this film. Not to mention how cool it was to see not only predatory dinosaurs like T-Rexes, and velociraptors, but also carnotaurs this time around as well. Yeah, seeing as we haven’t seen that type of carnivorous dinosaur since the 2000 Disney film, Dinosaur (at least that we can recall), that was definitely a breath of fresh air too. And once again, Michael Giacchino’s score, enough said in that aspect of the film! Additionally, how could we not like some of the newer characters that were introduced this time around? And the villains, they were well executed. The rest of the characters were also really likable as a whole. As for the story itself, it was very well compelling, despite not being executed entirely well. As for the CGI, that was also very good. Finally, how could we not how creative some of the scenes in this Jurassic World film were?

And that’s my review for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Though not quite one of the best in the series, it was still fairly good. Still, with the next installment, Jurassic World: Dominion, supposedly being their last film, here’s hoping that one will prove to be an improvement from this previous film. We shall see! Regardless, still see Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and see what you think!

Final Grade: B

Good afternoon everyone! Today, I have a surprise for you all. This time, we will be reviewing a film that I only reviewed back on Facebook just four years ago, shortly before it’s sequel got released back in 2018. Not sure if this is cheating or not, but you what, I know of one, or two other movie reviewers on YouTube who also reviewed it once on YouTube, and then reviewed it again once or twice, if not more. Also, seeing as I only reviewed Jurassic World, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom we’re just reviewed on Facebook back then, I figured why not review them again for this blog after all, you know? I may do this for at least some other movies that I only reviewed on Facebook before this blog came about a while back. We shall see. Well, let’s now talk about Jurassic World.

Plot: Shortly after two kids (Nick Robinson, and Ty Simpson) visit their aunt Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) at a dinosaur theme park called Jurassic World on Isla Nublar, trouble ensues when a genetically enhanced T-Rex breaks out of it’s cage, and begins to cause trouble for other humans, and dinosaur creatures on the island. Now, with the help of Navy veteran Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), will Claire, and kids Zach, and Gray Mitchell be able to track this predator down, and either imprison it, or put the beast to an end before things get way out of hand?

Okay, so, as I’m sure we know, this had been the first time in fourteen years since we had a Jurassic Park/World be released. Now, as time passed, did the movie makers come up with a better story than what the second, and third films at least had to offer? Well, while not quite a perfect film, Jurassic World still ended up being a great example of what makes a good sequel, or film period. Not to mention that that Jurassic World was one of the better films since, well, 1993’s Jurassic Park itself. To begin, though the film can feel slightly fast-paced at times, it does a better job of telling a much more compelling story, which is more than one can say about at least the second, and third films of this franchise. Additionally, the world building especially of Jurassic World is really good. I mean we get to know the world of the dinosaurs there, for the most part, and let’s just say that, if one could feel safe touring the place, one might want to go back there again, and again. The movie also has some fantastic CGI, both with the effects, and with the newer dinosaur creatures that we’re introduced to. I mean you look at the CGI dinosaurs from the first three films, and then look at the CGI in this movie, it comes to show how far advanced technology has come with movies. A film like Jurassic World is no exception. Oh, and the score by Michael Giacchino, wow, first off, this guy is a genius at making musical scores, be it films like these newer Jurassic Park/World movies, or even family films like Inside Out (2015), Zootopia (2016), and Coco (2017) for instance. True, Giacchino may not have been the one composing the score in the other previous three films. Still, he does somehow seem to understand that music was part of what made the Jurassic Park movies to one extent, or another. Not only that, but he basically uses his musical score to keep the audience immersed in the story as much as possible. And of course there’s the acting for this film. Holy cow, the cast does great, particularly Bryce Dallas Howard, and Chris Pratt as Claire Dearing, and Owen Pratt respectively. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if maybe part of why Pratt was cast as the character that he was probably because of how well he did in films like Guardians Of The Galaxy the year before, you know? As for the characters themselves, despite a bit of character development lacking for at least one, or two minor characters. Oh, and could we take a moment to also appreciate how there were some carnivorous dinosaurs that were handled a little different than usual in these films? I won’t give anything away, but definitely watch how some of them are handled, and you’ll probably find yourself loving the somewhat newer direction that this film seems to go from the previous Jurassic Park movies all the more. Finally, with the action, ooh, the filmmakers really did up their game when it came to the action, most notably when it came to the climax of Jurassic World.

The only flaws for this film would be that, one, of course there does seem to be a little bit of character development lacking. But hey, thankfully it was much better than for sure in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Jurassic Park 3. The other problem would be that there’s this one scene where one character is quietly crying, and another is telling him to stop doing that. Okay, maybe the setting where that occurred might not have been the best. Still, it’s just sad that scenes like that seem to show all the more that guys seem to believe that crying is not “manly.” Really? Okay, let me just take a moment to ask, before I conclude this review, is it just me, or does it seem like the reason that a lot of guys especially in America are jerks as of nowadays is because they seem to have pain deep inside that they feel like they can’t uncover around themselves, or others? Honestly, that’s a problem that I hope will be changed, and even males WILL realize that crying IS okay. Just saying!

And that concludes my review for 2015’s Jurassic World. After fourteen years from the previous installment from this film, at least this one proved once and for all that Jurassic Park films are still capable of telling good stories, even if it might have taken around twenty-two years since the release of the first film, in 1993, to do so. Jurassic World has a great deal to offer this time around, has a fun story, mostly great characters, a phenomenal musical score, and really impressive CGI. Now, even if I recommended even the not as memorable second, and third films of this franchise, let me just say really see Jurassic World if you still have yet to. You’ll have plenty of fun with it, I’m sure.

Final Grade: A-

Well, ladies and gentlemen, today is going to be a really great day of reviewing. One of the main reasons for this is because we will be reviewing a sequel to a film that was released back in the mid to late 1980s, 1986 to be exact. Not to mention that this film, known as the popular Top Gun, helped push Tom Cruise’s career to new heights (or so the story goes). And now, we shall review Top Gun’s sequel, which was said to be in the works for over a decade, maybe more, the one, and only Top Gun: Maverick.

Plot: When circumstances occur that make Pete Mitchell (aka Maverick, and played by Tom Cruise) go back to being a flight instructor at Top Gun in the North Island area of California, he faces resilience from some of his new crew, most notably Bradley Bradshaw (aka Rooster, and played by Miles Teller), the son of Pete’s late best friend, Goose. As he goes through training with the newer recruits, will Mitchell eventually win their respect, and will Mitchell (aka Maverick) and Bradshaw (aka Rooster) be able to reconcile with each other?

Okay, let’s start things off by appreciating the fact that in the midst of movies, and TV shows having things like LGBTQ characters, and movie makers putting immoral things in movies that shouldn’t be in them in the first place, the makers of Top Gun: Maverick didn’t follow suit for the most part. I mean yeah, there was an implied sex scene just like in the original 1986 film. But you know what, since this film was rated PG-13, at least kids are less likely to see this film, and, therefore, a scene such as that, at least it’s not so worrisome, unless parents surprisingly have taken even their young kids to see this film. Of course, given that young kids saw even Marvel films like Captain America, and Iron Man, and films like those are given PG-13 ratings, that wouldn’t be too surprising at that point. Well, putting all that aside, did this film live up to it’s predecessor? Well, let’s just say that even if the first Top Gun movie is the better film of the two, Top Gun: Maverick does a splendid job of recapturing most of the same spirit of the 1986 film. I mean for those of us who either grew up with Top Gun 1, or even just saw it recently for the first time in preparation for this sequel, how could we especially not appreciate things like the theme music from the first film being brought back, or hearing the song, “Danger Zone” again, or things like that, you know? Also, having at least Tom Cruise, and Val Kilmer return for this sequel is definitely a real delight. Okay yes, it is sad that the latter actor can’t speak nowadays due to developing lung cancer, but at least dialogue could still be provided for him. Oh yeah, that was another cool thing! Despite basically not being able to speak at all, it was great that technology was used to make it look like Val Kilmer’s character, “Ice,” was speaking, even if he was just moving his lips, and someone else provided dialogue for him. Additionally, it’s awesome to know that real aircraft, and vehicles overall were used instead of CGI material for say flying planes, or whatever else, you know? In addition to all of this, much like recent sequels such as 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns, Top Gun: Maverick has an incredible amount of heart going for it. For one, both the new characters, and old ones stand out really well. This movie also does well with the relationship aspect, especially when it comes to any of the relationships that Pete “Maverick” Mitchell establishes with any of the people that he meets, be it Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, and Penny (who’s played by Jennifer Connelly). Not only that, but the does great with handling situations in the right way, be it tragic ones, conflicting situations, and of course the good ones. Additionally, how can we not mention the music, and score by Harold Faltermeyer, Hans Zimmer, Lady Gaga, and Lorne Balfe? If the score doesn’t get an Oscar for Best Original Score, then that’ll be too bad, because this score is phenomenal. Yeah, scores in other films might somehow be able to top the score that’s in this film later this year, but I personally hope that won’t be the case. Finally, the only thing that one might feel slightly iffy about, in addition to the first film being slightly superior, is that some people might have mixed feelings about the message of not thinking but just doing certain actions in any situations. Yes, maybe that could be more applicable to the military, but I’m not sure that would be as applicable outside of that, you know?

And that’s my review for Top Gun: Maverick. Even if there are one, or two things that the viewer might feel a little iffy about, Top Gun: Maverick is, without a doubt, one of the better sequels to be released. Was the sequel needed? Well, I suppose after all you all see it, you can decide that for yourselves. Regardless, Top Gun: Maverick has another great storyline, well-written characters, a great amount, and all the great ingredients that help even a sequel be as good as possible. Did part of me wish that this sequel had been released years ago? If I was honest with myself, yes. However, in the age of movies that we’re in, I’m sure that quite a few of us can agree that maybe a time like thirty-six years following it’s predecessor’s release, was maybe a better time for this particular sequel to be released. If you haven’t seen this sequel, and/or have at least seen the first film, I would highly recommend it. You’d be surprised by how excellent this movie is on the end. And yes, Top Gun: Maverick is one of those films that needs to be scene on the big screen in an actual movie theater. All that said, definitely go see Top Gun: Maverick whenever you can. It will more than likely be one of the best decisions of your life in the end.

Final Grade: A

Alright everyone, today, we review what turned out to be the last of the Jurassic Park movies for over a decade. That is until fourteen years later, when the franchise would pick back up again with 2015’s Jurassic World. So now, let’s talk about the third installment, Jurassic Park 3.

Plot: When a young boy named Eric Kirby (Trevor Morgan) goes missing on the island of Isla Sorna, his parents, a divorced couple named Paul, and Amanda Kirby (William H. Macy, and Tea Leoni respectively) enlist the help of paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill). Though reluctant at first, Dr. Grant ultimately agrees to do so. Now, will the team be able to navigate the dangers of new dinosaur creatures, both herbivorous, and carnivorous ones, and will Eric still be found alive despite having been missing for several weeks?

Now, as I’m sure many of you know, I did mention that the previous film of this franchise was a bit of a letdown. So, was Jurassic Park 3 any better? Sort of, but not by much. First off, there were a couple points in this film that didn’t seem to make all that much sense. Additionally, the story might have felt a little bit too short. Maybe not by a whole lot, but still. Oh, and there were some cliches that probably weren’t the best to include in this sequel, or even film period. Finally, the story overall, while a little stronger than The Lost World: Jurassic Park, could have maybe been a little stronger.

But now, onto the good stuff. First off, one ought to give the filmmakers credit for not recycling stuff from the first two films. Okay, yeah this third installment does recycle some things to a degree. Nevertheless, how could one not appreciate that the filmmakers were obviously trying to go in a somewhat different direction than either of the previous two movies? I mean it sort of feels like a movie like Cast Away, except maybe with dinosaurs, and more suspense mixed in. Speaking of suspense, Jurassic Park 3 really ups the game with that aspect, albeit maybe a little too much at times, but still. The acting is also really superb. It was especially great to have people like William H. Macy, and Tea Leoni coming to join this cast? Macy especially seems to have some really great lines be it in films like 2005’s Sahara, or 2007’s Wild Hogs. Jurassic Park 3 was no exception. Oh, and how could I not mention some of the really beautiful shots that are shown in this film, be it when you see pterodactyls flying in the clouds, characters parasailing, or other shots, a great many of them are enjoyable to watch, and help this movie be engaging all the more. Finally, how about the score by Don Davis? Well, he may not be John Williams by any means. Still, he does his best to remain true to the music that proves why this franchise is good to one degree, or another.

And that’s my review for Jurassic Park 3. Yeah, I’m some ways, I can sort of see why we didn’t get another Jurassic Park/World film until 14 years later, in 2015. The story, though good, and a little better than that of The Lost World: Jurassic Park, could have maybe been a little longer. Not to mention the couple points that didn’t seem to make sense, and things like that. Nevertheless, the third Jurassic Park film does fox at least a couple mistakes from the second film, and does a little better at telling a rather compelling story. Definitely still see Jurassic Park 3, if you still have yet to. Though it may not be quite as good as the first film, you’ll probably find yourself getting at least a little more enjoyment out of it than say the second film. If you’ll disagree with me on that after watching this third film, then let’s have a discussion on that. Well, again, see Jurassic Park 3, and see what you think! At least this franchise picked back up again in 2015.

Final Grade: B

Okay, well, everyone, as I’m sure some of us know, we are headed into the summer season. This summer seems to be a little different, as we have not one, but two Marvel superhero films, Doctor Strange: Into The Multiverse Of Madness, and Thor: Love & Thunder. So now, let’s talk about the sequel to the 2016 film that covered mostly another superhero with a flying cape, like Superman, Doctor Strange’s mostly solo sequel, Doctor Strange: Into The Multiverse Of Madness.

Plot: While attempting to retrieve the Book Of Vishanti, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) accidentally creates a portal that sends her, and Doctor Strange (or a version of him) to Earth in an alternate universe. Now, a different version of Doctor Strang, and Chavez must work together to find out why a demon was trying to kill her, while she tried to retrieve the Book Of Vishanti. Will they be able to find the culprit behind these new attacks?

So, we come to a follow up to the 2016 film in which Doctor Strange made his first debut. That being said, did the sequel, Doctor Strange: Into The Multiverse Of Madness end up being just as good, if not better? Well, it’s still good, but probably not as good as the original. First of all, the storyline for this second Doctor Strange installment seems to feel a little more complicated than it’s predecessor. What’s more is that the makers of this sequel most likely expected the general audience yo have watched the newer Wandavision show on Disney+ in order to understand quite a few aspects of this sequel. That sounds great, right? Well, there’s just one problem! There might be a slight chance that NOT EVERYONE HAS DISNEY+, DESPITE STILL WATCHING A GOOD MAJORITY OF THESE MARVEL SUPERHERO FILMS. I mean come on! So yeah, apparently one would either need to get Disney+, or use someone else’s account, and watch Wandavision in order to understand this newer Doctor Strange movie more. Really? Should people have to few obligated to do so? Well, whatever! That aside, the tone of the film seems to feel a little too different from the first film at times. Oh, and another thing! Did we really need to have a gay/lesbian couple in this film? Grrrrrr! Come on! Could we please have less of that in these recent, or, better yet, in future films to come? We, the audience, don’t need to have that thrown in our faces as constantly as we have been, you know?

Now, are there some good things in this film? Very much so. The twists in this film are very well done. Also, there some really great creative elements that are scattered at different points in this film. As for the acting, how could we not briefly talk about how great that is? Even Chiwetel Ejiofor, who of course played the antagonist in Doctor Strange 1, was a fantastic villain. The music by Danny Elfman is surprisingly really good too. Yeah, how cool is that that we get to hear Elfman, who composed scores for quite a few Tim Burton directed films in the past, compose for a Marvel superhero film like this one? Really cool, wouldn’t you say? Oh, and how could you not love the visuals in this film? Truth be told, I wouldn’t be surprised if one were to see this film in 3D, and the visuals were to look even more phenomenal from that standpoint, you know? Finally, the film teaches some good lessons about being willing to accomplish impossible tasks, and some other good lessons like that.

And that’s my review for Doctor Strange: Into The Multiverse Of Madness. Apparently, one needs to watch Wandavision either on Disney+, or some other way before seeing this film. Well, whether you see the show before this film, or not, you’ll certainly enjoy this film to one degree, or another. It just depends on, first of all, if you see the Wandavision show, and two, if you’re okay with the different tone, and direction that this sequel takes from the first film. I would say definitely see it regardless, especially if you for sure have been following at least the Marvel movies up until this point. And yeah, as mentioned before, you’re still bound to enjoy this film to one extent, or another. Well, go see it, and see what you think!

Final Grade: B

Well everyone, today, we for sure continue on the Jurassic Park train, as we dive into the second film of that franchise. And I do want to throw something out really quick. I already rewatched at least 2015’s Jurassic World, as well as the 2018 follow up, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and reviewed them. Having said that, I do at least plan to rewatch those two as well, but not review them, as I already did so a few years ago. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that so that you don’t end up asking me where my reviews of Jurassic World, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom are. Now, in the meantime, let’s discuss the second film of the first franchise, The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

Plot: After Dr. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) discovers that there are a group of genetically engineered dinosaurs on a nearby island called Isla Sorna, he assigns Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), Malcolm’s new girlfriend, a paleontologist named Dr. Sarah Harding (Juliane Moore), and Malcolm’s daughter (Vanessa Lee Chester) to go to the island, and check out how inhabited it is. Along the way, however, they discover that Hammond’s nephew, who is head of Hammond’s former company, Ingen, wants to capture the dinosaurs, and take them back to an unfinished Jurassic Park attraction in San Diego. With the help of an environmentalist named Nick Van Owen (Vince Vaughn), and a field equipment expert named Eddie Carr (Richard Schliff), can this small group stop Ludlow, and his thugs from carrying out their mission?

Well, to start things off, The Lost World: Jurassic Park isn’t a bad sequel. First of all, there is a great deal of suspense in this film. Not only that, but some of the sound effects were very cool to listen to. I was surprised to find that one of those sound effects was used in the 2001 Disney animated film, Atlantis: The Lost Empire (which of course was released four years after this film, along with Jurassic Park 3). As for the CGI on the dinosaurs, it looks very good, if not somewhat better this time around. Additionally, the movie does help teach about how to learn to survive some rather dangerous situations. Hopefully, not nearly as many similar situations occur in real life, regardless of whether or not there are dinosaurs involved (which of course dinosaurs don’t exist in real life anymore, so that was more rhetorical), but still. As far as the score goes, it may not be as great as it was in the first installment, but very good nonetheless. I would say that the highlight of the score was probably the end of this film. It was also good to see some of the humans that showed love and compassion for the dinosaur creatures despite there being other humans that wanted to also have those creatures for their own gain. Finally, as far as the pros go for this film, it was definitely good to see at least some of the characters from the first film return for this second movie.

Even then, The Lost World: Jurassic Park is probably not one of the best sequels to have come out over twenty years ago. First of all, some of the newer characters didn’t seem to be all that fleshed out. Honestly, unlike with the first film, you don’t get to know quite nearly as many of the characters as you would like. Part of what made Jurassic Park 1 mostly a classic was that, despite there being a couple flaws in that one, at least it knew how to pace it’s story, and flesh out as many of the characters as possible. Sadly, the same cannot be said in the sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Not to mention that some of the old characters from the first film felt rather pointless this time around. Hopefully that was fixed in the third film. We shall find out fairly soon. Overall, the story seemed to focus a little too much on action, and suspense more than story this time around. I heard one of the reviews say that, and I quote, “The Lost World demonstrates how far CGI effects have come in four years since Jurassic Park; unfortunately, it also proves how difficult it can be to put together a truly compelling sequel.” Yeah, that seems true for this sequel, one would hate to say. That’s not to say it was a bad sequel, but it could have somehow been better.

And that’s my review for The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Even if there are quite a few highlights for this particular sequel, it is one of those ones that could’ve been better. Even so, I would say still see it, since it continues the story, and it will more than likely help one to understand the storyline, and the Jurassic Park/World franchise overall.

Final Grade: C+

Alright, so today, we are going to review film that was made by Roadside Attractions , and K-Love Films. Side note, it’s really cool that K-Love now has their own movie studio, in addition to helping get Christian music out there, wouldn’t you say? Anyway, let’s discuss the new Christian-based film, Family Camp.

Plot: When a church sets up a youth camp in a place called Camp Katokwah, Tommy Ackerman (Tommy Woodard) reluctantly agrees to go with his wife, Grace (Leigh-Allen Baler), and their two kids, Hannah, and Jacob (played by Cece Kelly, and Jacob M. Wade respectively). Once they go there, with them having to deal with crazy things like an annoying family that they have to room with, and other factors, will this retreat still be life-changing for all of them?

Okay, first off, how could one not be happy about the fact that K-Love has emerged even into a movie studio, as well as being a radio station? I mean to see the new company go from making a documentary like The Jesus Music to now making this film, how incredible! So, did this film turn out well? Very much so. Yes, the film can feel a little corny, and cheesy at times. However, unlike with many other films, it seems to work rather well. That is due to how there is some symbolism represented in a very unique way. I mean the miracles that occur throughout this film, it was very creative how those were handled in this film. Also, how could one not appreciate how funny this film is at points? Even the script had some very clever jokes. I mean, seeing as Jesus Himself had, and still does have, a sense of humour, I’m sure even He would have likely had laughs at those hilarious moments. Plus, Fkr those of us that have heard of the Skit Guys, how could we not appreciate the fact that they play a couple of the main characters in this movie? Additionally, while watching this film, I found myself predicting certain situations to occur in the typical way that they do in many other films. However, seeing as they didn’t, and there ended up being a few plot twists here and there because of that, people are more than likely to enjoy Family Camp even more than they probably might have otherwise. Next, there are the characters. Yes, this movie does have people from a church going to a church camp. What seems to make this film stand out, however, is how Family Camp shows families that call themselves Christians, and yet does well with showing the human side of many of the characters. Okay, yes, I’m well aware that no human Christian is perfect, not even people like myself. Only Jesus was perfect even when He walked this Earth over two thousand years ago. Still, I suppose a better way to put it would be how it was good to see this film show some of the hypocrisy with some of the characters, as well as the characters that genuinely act Christian, despite not being perfect. Finally, the character arcs are really good in this film, along with the messages about surrendering to God continually, and not always expecting life to go the way that you might expect it to.

And that concludes my review for Family Camp. It is a very unique film both as a Christian film, and a film period. It has really good, and well-written characters, a really good story, and some really nice arcs, and messages. If you haven’t seen Family Camp, please make it a point to do so. It most definitely serves as a good example of why we need more films like it in the mainstream media.

Final Grade: A+

Okay, well, today, we are going to be journeying through the world of dinosaurs. That is in honor of Jurassic World: Dominion being released as of next month. So now, let’s start at the beginning, with the one that started both the Jurassic Park, and Jurassic World franchises, and talk about 1993’s Jurassic Park.

Plot: Doctors John Hammond, and Ian Malcolm (Richard Attenborough, and Jeff Goldblum respectively) invite two archaeologists, by the names of Doctors Alan Grant, and Ellie Sattler (Sam Neill, and Laura Dern respectively) to investigate a dinosaur park called Jurassic Park to see if the place would be safe enough to open to the public, and see all the dinosaurs that roam about there. Will this journey turn out to be safe, or will it turn out that the place is full of enough dangerous dinosaurs that the park will have to be kept off from the public?

Okay, for the most part, Jurassic Park is, without a doubt, a classic film. I mean whether you’ve seen this a few times in your life, or even watched it a bunch, there’s no doubt that one likely remembers a great deal about this movie. I still remember having a biology class during my sophomore year of high school, and the teacher of that class having us watch this film, and write a paper in regards to either the cloning topic, or one of the other topics that are discussed in this film. Still, even if Steven Spielberg was a genius in regards to how well to make this film, I’m not sure that this film was entirely perfect. First of all, having some rather atheistic comments in Jurassic Park was probably not the best idea as far as some of the script went. Also, in regards to the whole deal of finding certain genetic DNA to surprisingly create the dinosaurs, why not instead have a special lost island, or something like that where there were some dinosaurs that DID NOT go extinct back in the day? Seeing as scientists attempted to clone human beings in the early to mid-2000s, and may still be happening somewhat even today, how do we know that popular films like Jurassic Park didn’t seem to factor into scientists deciding to perform such a practice, you know? As for the whole evolution deal, yeah definitely not the best idea to insert evolution ideas into this film, you know?

Okay, okay, you’re probably now starting to think that this film is horrible, yes? Well, no, despite those potential setbacks in this film, Jurassic is still very well done. To begin, the score is amazing. I’m not sure if John Williams got an Oscar for Best Original Score for this film, or not. If he didn’t, he should have. That is especially since one, or two pieces from this film have been heard elsewhere in real life places. Yeah, when something like that’s the case, you know that you did something right. The characters are also really good. Yes, there were some that could have maybe been given their due more than they were in the end. Still, aside from that, the characters are definitely well written. Not to mention that the bondings that occur between certain characters are great. As for the script, even if there are a few lines that could potentially feel rather cringeworthy at times, the script is brilliant aside from that. Even when certain funny moments occur, the script ends up being very sharp, and brilliant. The CGI on the dinosaur also looks very good for a film that was released in the 1990s. Could it be better by today’s standards? Maybe a little, but not by much. Additionally, it was cool to have the world building of Jurassic Park be as good as it was, along with the characters being well written. Oh, and the sound effects, how could you not love those, especially for the non-talking dinosaur characters? Oh, and how about this movie teaching some good additional lessons, like how especially bad decisions can lead to the worst not just for yourself, but likely for other as well, you know? The acting is also on point. I was surprised to find that Samuel L. Jackson was in this film. Seeing him be in this before going on to be in the Marvel superhero movies, as well as Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequels is most definitely a delight. Finally, it was great to see Steven Spielberg make a film that can prove that stories can be very good such as Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, animated films like The Land Before Time, you name it?

And that’s my review for 1993’s Jurassic Park. Though this film has some tough subjects that aren’t always the best, this film is definitely very well done. Yes, there were a few flaws in it. Still, because the pros outweigh the cons by a lot, Jurassic Park is still a film that is worth seeing. I would say start on this film before you see either the remaining Jurassic Park, or even Jurassic World films. This movie most definitely will have a lot to discuss once you’re done watching it. Definitely watch Jurassic Park, and see what you think!

Final Grade: B+

Well everyone, today, we are going to be reviewing a biopic for the first time in a long while. This time, it is a movie about a person who went from being a bit as great of a person to becoming possibly one of the most influential people in American Church history. Without further ado, let’s talk about the one, and only Father Stu.

Plot: The film depicts some of the life of former boxing champion Stuart Long, who lived in Helena, Montana. It then shows how he went from boxer, and former convicted felon to becoming a priest in the Roman Catholic Church during some off the 1900s decade.

Okay, first off, I’m surprised that this film hasn’t seemed to be more popular in theatres. Why people seem to give films like the Marvel, and/or possibly even D.C. superhero films more attention than films like Father Stu, or other films that are based on real events, especially at a time when COVID is occurring, is beyond me. Anyway, Father Stu is definitely a great film. First of all, how could one not like the fact that this film is based on a true story? Second, films like Father Stu do well with speaking to the fact that God can, and DOES use even the most broken people with any type of tragic pst, to further His Kingdom. I mean we have the main character, Stuart Long, later to be known as Father Stu, making some choices that, let’s just say weren’t exactly the best, and then finding God, and eventually becoming a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. The film definitely provides a great example as to how God uses broken things, and turns them into good, especially for those individuals that love God. Oh, and of course, how could one not appreciate the fact that this film is based on events that evidently occurred in real life? Additionally, the acting is phenomenal, most notably from Mark Wahlberg, who portrays Father Stu in this film. Let me tell you, he does great in almost, if not quite everything that he’s been in. Father Stu is no exception. It’s also great to see this movie show the human side of even priests. I mean the movie Father Stu does an excellent job of teaching the audience that even human priests are not perfect. Yeah, again, of course Jesus Christ is the Perfect One to have walked this Earth. Finally, it’s very cool to hear about some of the experiences from some of the characters from this movie.

And that’s my review for Father Stu. It is a great biopic that does great at showing how God is in the miracle business even today. It does a great job of portraying life, seems to be mostly, if not fully accurate to the actual account of Father Stu’s life, and helps portray how even church leaders are human, and makes mistakes from time to time. If you haven’t seen this film yet, I highly recommend that you do. I can guarantee that you won’t be sorry that you did. So yeah, go see it if you can ASAP!

Final Grade: A+

And now, we are going to be diving into a somewhat older film that will be reaching it’s 20th anniversary, come December 2023. Today’s review stars a certain actor that has starred in movies for, apparently, quite a few decades. He starred in films like Sgt. Bilko, the Father Of The Bride films, Bringing Down The House, and Planes, Trains, & Automobiles to name a few. However, the film that he starred in, and that we are talking about today shall be one of a few films that he starred in, and were all released in 2003. In this case, it shall be the one, and only, Cheaper By The Dozen.

Plot: Tom Baker (Steve Martin) is a college football coach who lives in Midland, Illinois, with his wife, Kate (Bonnie Hunt), and their twelve kids. One day, his old buddy, Shake McGuire (Richard Jenkins) offers him a college football job in Evanston, Illinois, causing the family to make the reluctant move to that location, life begins to go haywire for the Baker family. Now, the question remains, will the Bakers still be glad to have made the move in the end, it will they come to regret not staying in Midland, Illinois?

Now, allow me to start things off by saying that I’m sure many of us can agree that a lot of films that Steve Martin’s been in, whether they be PG, or PG-13, rated, or even R-rated films have seemed to have a very adult appeal. Cheaper By The Dozen, which is rated PG, is no exception. First off, the movie does well at showing how difficult it can be to navigate through the hardships of life. Not only that, but Cheaper By The Dozen does great at showing the walks of life not only from the parent’s perspective, but also from the perspectives of the twelve Baker kids. Sure, some of the kids are more developed than others. Still, the whole family is most definitely memorable. No doubt would one want to hang out with the Baker family more than once. Not only is Steven Martin a delight, as well as brings out some of the best lines in the film, but Bonnie Hunt is great, as well as the rest of the cast. In addition to them, you have Hillary Duff (whom, I’m sure many of us may know for being in the Lizzie McGuire show, as well as The Lizzie McGuire Movie), Piper Perabo, Tom Welling, Ashton Kutcher (who, of course was more popular as an actor in the 2000s), and quite a few others. Let me tell you, when these people are acting onscreen, you can sense this feel of raw emotion from beginning to end. Oh, and not only is this film funny because of Steve Martin’s comedic lines, but also this film ends up being really funny from beginning to end. What’s even more interesting is that, much like the Christian film, Courageous (which was released eight years after this film), Cheaper By The Dozen does well with balancing out the comedy with drama. What’s more is that Christophe Beck’s score is phenomenal particularly when the dramatic moments in this film occur. Additionally, Cheaper By The Dozen does well with tackling issues like loss, happiness, sadness, being honest with oneself, truly looking out for the needs of others, and things like that. Truly, because of all this, not only do young kids need to give this film more attention, but even more teens, and adults need to watch this film as well. Basically, this is one of those PG-rated films that people of all ages will love. Finally, the messages, which I briefly touched upon a moment ago, are also amazing.

And that concludes my review for the 20th Century Fox film, Cheaper By The Dozen. Wow, without a doubt, this is a film that you’ll find yourself wanting to watch at least once, maybe even multiple times after that. The film is well paced, a good majority of the characters stand out, it’s funny, and the film does a fantastic job of portraying life. If you have never seen Cheaper By The Dozen, please make a point to do so. You’ll probably realize how much of a possible hidden gem you missed out on afterwards.

Final Grade: A+