Well everyone, we’re back with the James Bond marathon once again. Tonight, we review what happened to be the very last 007 film, in which Pierce Brosnan starred as James Bond. Not to mention that this particular James Bond movie is turning twenty years old, come two years from now. Man, does time really fly fast! Anyway, let’s spend time with Pierce Brosnan, as he had one last hurrah with James Bond before Daniel Craig would take over a few years later. The one and only 007 film, 2002’s Die Another Day!

Plot: After getting betrayed by someone in the British government, while on a mission in North Korea, James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) spends the next fourteen months in a North Korean prison. After getting released, can James Bond now track down the people who screwed him over, as well as prevent a British terrorist (Toby Stephens) from creating world domination on North, and South Korea, and the rest of the world?

You all may have heard me mention before that I hadn’t watched a whole lot of stuff relating to James Bond growing up, yes? Well, all the more reason that you all may be glad for me to confess that 007: Die Another Day was one of the rare films of this franchise that I watched when I was younger. I remember really enjoying it, especially this one scene, where one character makes some rather shocking remarks to another one. I can’t say how that scene went, but let’s just say that I was both shocked by it, and cracked up about it at the same time, if I recall correctly. Watching it again, is this film, overall, as good as I remembered? Well, not quite. Yes, yes, it’s still good. However, there were some areas where this film could have been better. First off, if any of you saw last 007 film, 007: The World Is Not Enough, you know how James Bond seemed to be a much more critical thinker, and could sense when something was not right, or even knew when to trust, or not trust certain people? Well, this time around, some of that seems to be thrown out the window. In fact, James Bond seems to act rather naive when it comes to certain situations this time around. While rewatching this film, part of me had wondered if maybe James Bond should have maybe had a crossover with say Jack Bauer from 24 (as Bauer spent around twenty months in a Chinese prison anyway). Why? Well, because Jack Bauer might have reminded James Bond what being an agent is all about, and that there are going to be moles along the way (moles, as in people who turn out to be untrustworthy, that is). Anyway, there were areas around the middle, where some of the writing seemed to act strange, and possibly unrealistic at times. There were times in that area if the film, where you might find yourself thinking that even those moments caused one to say that this film had some potential in some parts that seemed to get squandered in the end. Finally, there were one, or two sexual innuendo moments that were unnecessary in the end.

In spite of these few flaws, 007: Die Another Day does make up for many redeeming qualities that make this film very watchable. To begin, there are the special effects. Now, many of us can probably agree that when it especially comes to action movies that have especially been released nowadays, special effects end up being a major highlight for many of us, yes? Well, let me tell you guys something, there ends up being something about the special effects that appear to make them more special, and more magical this time around. So much so that if you she enjoyed the Disney World, or even Disney Land theme parks, you might find yourself wishing that there was a ride at somewhere like MGM Studios that involved James Bond, and his crew, 3D glasses, and effects, and yes, us as the audience too. Don’t believe me. Just imagine it, and you’ll likely know what I mean. In addition to all of this, there are some of the villains. Going along with what I said earlier about how some of the writing was weird, and could have improved, while most of the villains were developed well, there were one, or two that should have been written up a little differently than they were in the end. Oh well! Oh, but I should mention that one of the villains had diabolical schemes, as well as had a very skewed view on specific areas of life. Hard to explain? Well, again, watch this film, and you’ll know what I mean. The script is also very good as well, including some moments that could be rather hilarious. As for the character development overall, it surprising to find how well the characters stand out, for the most part, this time around. There are even one, or two, that maybe aren’t exactly bad guys, but possibly just good guys, who might just feel conflicted, and/or sympathetic on the inside. As for the theme song, while it could feel outdated by today’s standards, it is still a very catchy song. Finally, 007: Die Another Day can teach some very valuable lessons about how, first off, we need to be careful to not always trust certain people that may come into our lives temporarily, or even longer than that. Second, there’s the lesson about how we shouldn’t always trust what others say. That is especially since it might be too good to be true.

And that’s my review for 007: Die Another Day. Well, 007: Die Another Day May not have been the best 007 film to go out with a bang. However, even if 007: The World Is Not Enough was better, 007: Die Another Day had a great many qualities that make this film worth seeing even today. If you’re looking for a James Bond film that’s the best of the best, you won’t find that here. On the other hand, if you’re okay with a 007 film that’s still fun to watch from time to time, then all the more reason to see this film. Since this was Pierce Brosnan’s grand finale as James Bond, and this movie had a lot of good things in it, this is one that you need to check out, if you haven’t, and see what you think!

Final Grade: B+

Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to yet another movie review! Tonight, even though I still have yet to review a few more James Bond films, we are not going to do that tonight. Instead, we are taking a short intermission from that, and diving into a film that was made by Sony, and Tristar. The film was released almost a decade ago, and revolves around a teen surfer, who, after a tragic accident, had to fight all odds to overcome all struggles afterwards. Released on April 8th, 2011, the movie is Soul Surfer.

Plot: Based on a true story, the film revolves around a teenage female surfer by the name of Bethany Hamilton (played by AnnaSophia Robb in the film), who, along with best friend Alana Blanchard (Lorraine Nicholson), developed a great passion for surfing. However, in 2003, after Bethany loses her arm in a shark attack, Bethany wonders if she can continue surfing after that. So the question remains, “Did Bethany ever retain her passion for surfing again?”

Now, I remember first seeing this film in theaters back in April 2011 for my cousin’s birthday. No doubt did I find myself enjoying it even back then. However, after a few rewatches, including watching it again last night, I must confess that I have come to appreciate it as much, maybe even more than I probably did back then. Why? The reason being is because even after seeing it once, you might find yourself really enjoying more things about it after each watch. Also, it’s likely safe to say that Soul Surfer was most likely revolutionary for the the movie industry, most notably when it came to movies that would be released on the big screen (aka theatrically). How so, you may be wondering? Well, let’s think about it! Before the 2010s, and onward rolled around, as far as I can remember, none of us can recall a time when major studios were releasing Christian Faith-based films in theaters all that much, especially not around the 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s. Now yes, we did have some lesser-known Christian films being released in the 2000s, like 2001’s Left Behind, or evening in the mid to late 2000s, when the Sherwood Brothers from Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia, were on the rise with movies like 2006’s Facing The Giants, 2008’s Fireproof, or 2011’s Courageous, for instance. However, if I’m not mistaken, it really wasn’t until years like 2011, when Christian movies like Soul Surfer were released, for instance, that putting out Christian movies in movie theaters seemed to become much more common than before. And what a miracle it was too. There’s so much to like about Soul Surfer. First of all, there are the performances from people who gave their all for this film, including AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid, Lorraine Nicholson, Kevin Sorbo, and Carrie Underwood to name a few. After watching I Can Only Imagine (which was released several years after this film), I was pleased to hear that Dennis Quaid is a Christian. Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if most, if not all of the actors, and actresses who were involved in this film are also Christians. Additionally, the characters are just well-developed in every way that you can imagine. Each one stands out uniquely in this film. In addition to Bethany, you can most definitely sympathize with the other characters, in one way, or another. They are genuine, sincere, and likely the some of the best characters that people could see in a movie. The movie is also greatly paced. When the pacing needs to speed up, it’ll do so. However, when the film needs to take time to have more slow, and quiet moments, it will do that too. Yeah, how often do we hear if movies mixing it up in that regards. In addition to all of this, there are some phenomenal messages to take away from Soul Surfer. First off, there’s the message about learning to see things from a different lenses than one might be currently seeing through. Many times in our lives, we seem to get angry, and/or bitter about difficult circumstances occurring in our lives. Guilty as charged! However, this movie helps show that God does allow us to go through certain hardships for reasons that we may not understand at the time, and/or maybe even ever. Still, it’s ultimately all about trusting God in both the good, and the bad times in our lives. What a powerful message that this movie portrays with that! Next, there’s the message about how we shouldn’t wish that we could change certain aspects of our past. Okay, maybe when we’ve screwed up really bad, we should wish that, and learn from that. However, when it comes to times when we might wish that, say, we didn’t go to a certain place at this point, or that one, we should rather acknowledge that there are lessons to learn from those types of experiences. Finally, the film also relays the message about how love, particularly God’s love, is more important than surfing, biking, and or anything else that this world has to offer. Well hey, there may yet be other messages to take away from this film as well.

And that’s my review for 2011’s Soul Surfer. Wow, what a great movie that has so much to offer! It has amazing messages, wonderful thought out characters, and many more things to offer. Not to mention the awesome cinematography of Hawaii. It’s also great to know that mainstream studios began to come out with more Christian films after this, including God’s Not Dead, War Room, I Can Only Imagine, Overcomer, and quite a few others. What a miracle! Anyway, if you haven’t seen Soul Surfer, YOU NEED TO ASAP. Seriously, there’s so much to take away from this film. I was surprised how much I liked it this time around, maybe even more so than previous viewings. Chances are, you may likely be surprised with the outcome after watching So Surfer either again, or for the very first time ever.

Final Grade: A+

P.S. Happy 10th anniversary to Soul Surfer, come April 8th, 2021!

Good afternoon ladies & gentlemen! First off, I hope you all had really great Labor Day on Monday, as well as a fun Labor Day weekend overall. Second, today we are going to review the nineteenth entry in the 007 movie series that was made by MGM, and Eon Productions. Interestingly enough, this movie came out during the same year that Star Wars came out with it’s first film of it’s prequel trilogy, Tarzan was the last animated film to be part of the Disney Renaissance Era, and Disney/Pixar came out with the second installment of the Toy Story franchise. Presenting the one and only 007: The World Is Not Enough.

Plot: When a British oil tycoon named Sir Robert King (David Calder) is assassinated by some high-tech terrorists, James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is assigned to help protect King’s daughter, Elektra King (Sophie Marceau). While doing so, will Bond be able to track down the very people who killed Sir Robert King, and bring them to justice once and for all?

Holy cow! I may have mentioned that some of the James Bond movies of the past have been in either the A range, or the B range, more often than not. Of course, there was also 007: The Man With The Golden Gun, which I have a C+ a while back. So, how was 1999’s 008: The World Is Not Enough? Well everyone, I have to be honest, I was really, really stunned by how great this 007 film ended up being in the end. Honestly, if you’re not a professional critic, you may yet be surprised as well. How this film only got a 52% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is beyond me. Anyway, what makes 007: The World Is Not Enough yet another winner in the series, you may ask? Well, for one, the story is impressive, likely even more so than the first two 007 films that Pierce Brosnan played James Bond in, 007: Goldeneye (1995), and 007: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), respectively. Yes, those two were mostly good too. However, 007: The World Is Not Enough ends up improving greatly in some areas that you may find yourself wishing that it had in previous 007 movies of the past. For one, not only are most of the supporting characters so well developed this time around, but even James Bond himself stands out this time around. Oh yes! James Bond does still act like his typical self like he has in the other eighteen 007 films before this one. However, in 007: The World Is Not Enough, there are situations where James Bond acts more noble, is much more humble, and attempts to give certain people a chance to turn to the good side, whether they deserve that chance, or not. If any of you can recall any other times before, or after this film, where Bond has this much better character development, please feel free to share! As for the villains, wow, thus far, these characters may be unlike any other villains that we have seen in this movie series. I won’t say who the villains are, but one of them is just really, fleshed out. So much so that this villain becomes really complex, and you know why this villain starts doing some villainous things. Okay, no sin is justified by any means. Still, at least the audience will know where this villain is coming from. Additionally, this film can teach some very valuable lessons. One of these lessons includes how taking revenge against those who have wrong you, or have supposedly wronged you, is NEVER the right course of action. Another lesson to take away from watching this film is how it is better to not repay evil for evil, but rather good for evil. Considering that this is not a faith-based movie, but a mainstream movie that is made by a major studio like MGM, that was most certainly a bold move to incorporate some really good messages like that. In addition to all of this, we should take a moment to talk about how this was the last 007 in which Desmond Llewelyn played the memorable Agent Q. Apparently, the actor who played him passed away shortly after this film’s release. RIP Desmond! You certainly played one of the best characters that this film series could have ever had! Anyway, the movie seems to know how to balance out the action with having a really good storyline at the same time. Yeah, seeing as most, if not all of these movies before this one seemed to try to focus on one more than the other, this was a great change for this time around. Finally, it’s great how we can sympathize with most of the good guys, and maybe even the villains as well. There is really great heart, and emotions with the characters, and the story overall.

And that concludes my review for 007: The World Is Not Enough. It just goes without saying that either the studio knew how to make a good film this time around, or they were just trying their luck once again. Who knows? Maybe the makers of this film learned from their mistakes in some of their previous films, and improved for this film. With all of that said, if you want a 007 film that has a great story, fantastic characters that stand out in one way, or another, and some really good messages that seem to often be missing in mainstream media as if nowadays, then all the more reason to check this film out ASAP. True, there were some scenes that had sexual innuendos. Still, since this was rated PG-13, that’s likely expected. Truth be told, I’m just sorry that I didn’t take time to see this film either back in 1999, or shortly after. This is one that I may watch multiple times in the future, and I’m sure that a lot of other people who see this film may say the same. Still, feel free to let me know your thoughts if you’ve seen it! Again, take time to see 007: The World Is Not Enough, if you haven’t, and see what you think!

Final Grade: A+

Happy Labor Day everyone! Hope you all are enjoying it thus far. Today, we are going to be reviewing the second 007 film that starred Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. Glad to know that he was in more of the films than say Timothy Dalton, even if not that many more. Well, presenting 1997’s 007: Tomorrow Never Dies.

Plot: When a mass media terrorist named Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce), and his army begin to bring destruction on ships in the South China Sea, and other areas in the world, can James Bond (Pierce Brosnan), and a new partner of his named Colonel Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh) stop him from his plans, as well as orevent a potential World War III?

Wow! Okay! If it weren’t for there being one, or two downsides to this 1997 007 movie (which I will get to momentarily), this could have been another one of the more perfect James Bond movies. In fact, if this movie wasn’t a continuation of Bond’s adventures of stopping certain terrorist attacks, 007: Tomorrow Never Dies could have easily been a good story all on it’s own. The reason being is because the story is overall really well done. First of all, the all the characters, old, and newer ones, are really done once again. Granted, there were one, or two that could have maybe had more screen. However since those certain characters didn’t seem to play that much of an integral part to the story, then it doesn’t seem to dock down the good quality of the film. Also, Pierce Brosnan does a splendid job of of putting charisma into Bond’s character. The rest of the acting is also really, really good. In addition to Pierce Brosnan, you also have Desmond Llewelyn as Agent Q, Samantha Bond as Miss Moneypenny, Teri Hatcher as Paris Carver, & Jonathan Pryce as the main antagonist if this film, Elliot Carver. Oh, and did I forget to mention Judi Dench as Agent M? Like Pierce Brosnan, 007: Goldeneye was was also her first debut. The only difference is that while James Bond was played by a few others actors before Goldeneye, and this film, Goldeneye ended being the very first debut in this series for Judi Dench. Let me tell you, not even she disappoints. She’s even gotten to be in the more recent James Bond movies, in which Daniel Craig starred as James Bond. Not to mention that she really does seem to have a British accent. Oh, and people can learn some very important social skills from this film, like how different individuals are going to either agree, or even disagree with each other on how to handle certain situations. As for the music, I know I don’t recall mentioning the scores of music within any of the more recent James Bond movies. Well, all the more reason to mention that the score that he composes for this film is phenomenal. In fact it might come close to ranking up there with the other really good scores that this film has had up to this point. I definitely am curious, now, to see how the score is in the remain James Bond movies. I’m sure the rest of the audience would say the same. As for the action, one word to say to you all, wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Yeah, even that is great too. While watching this movie, if it’s in fact true that no one was hurt during the making of this film, then you will most certainly find yourself wondering how the filmmakers pulled off certain action scenes without harming any of the actors, or actresses, and/or any of the other crew members for that matter. One other thing that one should say is that there should be a ride either at MGM Studios, or someplace like that, just to show how intense, and awesome the action is in the end.

Still, like I said before, there are one, or two flaws to this particular 007 film. First off, there was a scene, where someone was basically having an affair with another person. Okay, I get that it was one scene, and that the target audience was mostly teens, and adults. Still, is it the best idea to either consciously, or unconsciously show even teens that adultery might be an okay thing? Maybe I might be reading too much into it in this case, but still. Also, James Bond seems to move on even after losing someone who was the love of his life, or formerly the love of his life? Not only that, but he seems to love on so quickly like nothing ever happened? Honestly, something like this may have been better handled in a show like around the middle of the 24 TV series, where the main character there took some time to go through a grieving process. Sure 24 was a TV, while this James Bond film is just a movie, but still. Finally, 007: Tomorrow Never Dies could have maybe not gone through certain cliches that this film series has seemed to repeat several times.

And that’s my review for for 007: Tomorrow Never Dies. Even if this is another one of those James Bond films that has it’s issues, the things that make this film recommendable overshadow those couple flaws that downgrade this film by a little bit. Still, it’s good to know that people still did see it, and likely would watching it more than once. Definitely see 007: Tomorrow Never Dies! You won’t be disappointed.

Final Grade: B+

Good morning everyone! Hope you all are enjoying your Labor weekend thus far, whether you are on vacation, or not. Anyway, today, for the 007 marathon, we are entering into the 1990s, when special effects seemed to improve greatly at this point, the musical scores would improve, and things like that. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Pierce Brosnan is the actor playing James Bond at this point? So how about that? Anyway, let’s dive into the very first PG-13 rated 007 film. The one and only 1995’s Goldeneye!

Plot: When it is discovered that an organization by the name of Goldeneye has missiles scattered throughout Earth’s orbit that can be powerful enough to destroy nations, can Bond (Pierce Brosnan) stop Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean), the leader of Goldeneye, and his lackeys from carrying out their mission and/or creating war on the world?

Okay, once again, we have yet one of the better folks in this series. Apparently so much so that a 007 video was spawned, if not more than one. First off, Pierce Brosnan does a really great job with playing James Bond. Okay, Brosnan may not be Sean Connery by any means. However, he does have his own unique sense of humor that seemed to be more absent when Bond was played by Roger Moore, and Timothy Dalton. Seeing as that was the case, people can appreciate that aspect, seeing as Bond’s sense of humor had, to a degree, decreased for a while after Sean Connery finished up his time as James Bond. There are also some fantastic lines in the script. In fact, even Bond himself knows how to deliver some of those really good lines? Could he keep this up in the remaining few films that he starred in for this film series? We shall soon see. Speaking of brilliant scripts, and humor, Agent Q is back once again. Much like with any of the other James Bond movies that he’s been in, he knows how to bring in the light-hearted side to this film. Most of the other main characters stand out as well, from Natalia Simonova, Alec Trevelyan, Xenia Onatopp, and others as well. Let’s also talk about how this is the very first film to be rated PG-13. Yeah, with the direction that this film went, 007: Goldeneye most definitely was appropriately rated this time around. The reason being is because this this film seemed to be more violent than the other 007 prior to this one. Okay, that’s not to say that the previous James Bond films weren’t also violent to one degree, or another as well. However, when it comes to 007: Goldeneye, there were some scenes that were much more violent than other scenes in the other films before. Because of this, one can easily understand why the other 007 films before this were only rated PG. Plus, there was more sensuality in this film than some of the implied sensuality that was in the other films before. Honestly, part of me was curious to see if it would have been okay for 7 year-old me to see this film, like how I saw the PG-13 rated First Knight earlier that year. While First Knight might have been an okay one even for young kids to see, I’m not so sure that the same can also be said about a film like 007: Goldeneye as well. In addition to these positives, 007: Goldeneye teaches a couple very valuable lessons. First off, there’s the lesson about how we should not always trust everyone that we come in contact with, or develop a close relationship with. Seeing as many of us have a tendency to do that even when we shouldn’t trust certain people, it is a very good lesson to be reminded of. Additionally, the movie also teaches a great lesson about not being arrogant, or cocky enough to think how we invincible, and or exempt from death. Man, talk about how pride comes before fall.

But is this an A+ 007 film? Definitely not! As a matter of fact, there are a couple areas where this film falls short. First of all, there were points in the beginning, where the film seemed to drag a little too much. Yes, some of the beginning was cool to watch. However, if you shortened certain parts of the beginning, or cut them out, it would have made the movie a little better. Also, there’s the deal with Sean Bean being cast as the villain. Now, allow me to explain! Sean Bean did a great job playing the villain, Alec Trevelyan. However, it seemed as if this was the beginning of Sean Bean playing villains in almost every action movie that he was in. Come on! Why not mix it up, and have Sean Bean play the hero half, of not three quarters of the time, and have him play the villain around a quarter to half the time, you know? I wouldn’t be surprised if Bean himself felt the same way somewhere along the way, along with some of the audience as well, you know?

And that’s my review for 007: Goldeneye. For being Pierce Brosnan’s first debut as James Bond, this film is very impressive. It has great action, some really well-thought our characters, and an overall good story. It was also best that this film was rated PG-13 for there being more violence, and more sensuality this time around. If you’re old enough to see this film, definitely do so, and see what you think!

Final Grade: A-

Well friends, today, we come to an end of yet another era of James Bond, one that was short-lived, I will add. That’s right! Today, we are talking about the end of the short-lived Timothy Dalton era, where 007: Licence To Kill is the end of Timothy Dalton’s time with playing James Bond, followed by Pierce Brosnan taking up the baton for that role six years later. Imagine that! Oh, and can we just take a moment to think about the fact that this 007 movie was released during the same year that movies like Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, and the Disney film, The Little Mermaid were released? Is that crazy, or what? Anyway, let’s talk about 007: Licence To Kill, which just reached it’s 30th anniversary last year.

Plot: After James Bond’s new archenemy (Robert Davi) gets released from being imprisoned by the DEA, Bond (Timothy Dalton) must stop him, and a group of Latin American drug lords from selling certain drugs to different nations. Can he accomplish this mission?

Well, what can one say? 007: Licence To Kill May not quite be one of the best of the James Bond films (more on that soon). However, there is still plenty to enjoy about this film. First off, one should appreciate some of the newer material that is in this film that one may not have heard of much in some of the previous 007 films. I’m not going to say what kinds of things, but let’s just say that you may like some of the new kind of writing that seems to be unlike that of the other films in this series. Additionally, some of the comic relief is very good, and spot on too. This seems to be especially true with some of the supporting cast like Agent Q. I apologize for not mentioning him in some of my reviews for this series thus far. Well, better late than never! Well, let me just say that nearly every Bond film that he’s been in, Q ends up having some of the most brilliant one-liners in these movies. 007: Licence To Kill is no exception. Truth be told, if Agent Q was not in this film series for too much longer after this movie, or at least the actor who has played him, then let’s be grateful for the movies that he is in. In addition to all of this, Franz Sanchez ends up being one of the most well-developed villains in this series. One could honestly say that Sanchez may be up there, if not be on top of some of the other villains in this series, or any action movie period. One other thing that should be noted is that some of the action is extremely phenomenal throughout this film. This is especially true when it comes to the climax of this film. Okay, I won’t say what all happens during that portion of the film. However, let’s just say that the way that the climax is well orchestrated is so creative. It would be hard for someone to not like it. Finally, it was cool to learn some very interesting information from this film, most notably with how certain machines work, as well as how certain vehicles function.

So, all of these things sound great so far, right? Well, like I mentioned around the beginning of this review, there are quite a few downsides to this film as well. First off, there were some scenes, particularly in the beginning, that were a little strange. So much so that some of those scenes might make some people feel a little weirded out. Second, there were some points where, even when someone did something really nice, and helpful for Bond, he seemed to act rather cocky, arrogant, and downright ungrateful. Maybe that was not his intention. Still, it seemed to come off that way. Another flaw to this film was that there were some points that were rather sad, and most likely unnecessary. Okay, going off of that, it’s understandable that some of those points might have been to remind people that not everything works out in the way that one might want it to. Still, since we learned that lesson in another 007 film by the name of “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” years before this film was released, was it really necessary to revisit that message again? I’m just saying. Finally, there were certain aspects of the ending that could have been handled, and/or written better.

And that’s my review for 007: Licence To Kill. Yes, it’s safe to say that this film is one of the more flawed films in this series. Still, at least one is more likely to get enjoyment from this film than with 007: The Man With The Golden Gun, or some mediocre 007 film like that, you know? That is, especially since this film seems to add a more unique spin this time around. Once again, if you haven’t seen 007: Licence To Kill, definitely see it! You may be in for yet another surprise. Well, here’s to Timothy Dalton’s last hurrah in the 007 film series. You shall be missed, even if you were in this film series for only a couple movies. So, may I, and the audience say goodbye to you, Timothy Dalton! Now, we shall welcome Pierce Brosnan in this marathon, followed by Daniel Craig sometime after that.

Final Grade: B

Hello everyone! Hope you all have been enjoying your week so far! Anyway, today, we are once again taking a short break from the 007 films. This time around, we are talking about the second movie that I saw in theaters recently, since movie theaters reopened a couple weeks ago. The film that we are talking about today is based on a novel by the name of David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens. Presenting th e one and only movie version of the story, The Personal History Of David Copperfield.

Plot: An adult David Copperfield (Dev Patel) redoubts to some people some of his life story, consisting of suffering from child abuse after his birth father dies, going to boarding school, to even reuniting with his family as an adult after a tragic event occurs in his family.

Wow, for a movie that was set around the mid-1800s, and for all the difficult things that our main character goes through, this film knows how to still be really good anyway. First off, The Personal History Of David Copperfield reaches people a really great lesson on how to be willing to endure difficult circumstances, no matter what. Not to mention that there’s also the lesson about finding joy even when having to go through certain hardships. Yes, a lesson like this was taught in fairy tales like Cinderella. Even so, the lesson is taught from a newer angle this time around. That would likely help make the lesson less cliche, wouldn’t you say? The movie also does a great job of showing what life was like in places like Yarmouth, Massachusetts, during this time period, well known as the Victorian Era. In addition to this, the movie shows another important lesson about being willing to forgive others, no matter how badly they may have screwed up their lives. Additionally, The Personal History Of David Copperfield does a superb job of portraying the fact that life can be full of many twists, and turns along the way. Believe me when I say that you may yet be surprised by the moments where this proves to be true in the film. That’s definitely an additional reason to appreciate this film. If one has forgotten that in life people will not always get the happy things that they want, then that’s another reason to watch this film, or any other film that would teach a lesson like that. Another thing that makes this film well done is that each of the characters are really, really well-thought out. I mean it is surprising how much you love to really love these characters, or even hate them in the case of the villains, you know? Going off of that as well, the relationships are also very well handled. Honestly, after seeing that aspect of this film, I found myself wishing that there were more movies out there that had more complicated types of relationships. Granted, maybe there are fewer of those films. It’s just that people could find themselves thinking of more films that could have had the potential to write in relationships like that, you know? That is especially since complicated relationships, be it romantic ones, or just friendships period, actually exist in the real world, you know? Also, some of you have read the Charles Dickens novel that this film was based on, have you not? Well, I have never read the entire novel. However, I did read the Spark Notes version of this story. After reading either that, or the novel, and seeing this film, you may be glad to find how close this film sticks to it’s original source material. Now yes, there were some changes here and there that were made for the film. However, the movie still ends up having the same spirit of the David Copperfield novel. It’s just like how Joseph: King Of Dreams being really close to the Joseph event in Genesis, or the 2019 remake of The Lion King sticking closely to the original 1994 animated Lion King, but with sone changes here and there. All in all, the same can be said about The Personal History Of David Copperfield stocking closely to it’s novel. However, the one thing that could have made this film possibly better is that the way that the story was structured, particularly in the beginning, could have most likely been restructured in a way that may not have made the rest of the film more predictable, you know? Of course this movie is really good, regardless, but still.

And that’s my review of The Personal History Of David Copperfield. The story is really well done, the characters are spectacular (same with the actors, and actresses who play them), really good cinematography, and anything else that one could ask for in a really good film. If movie theaters are open near you, and/or you haven’t seen this film yet, this is one of those films that you need to go to the movie theater to see. It is that good. Oh, and just a side note, make sure that you wear your face mask if you see this film in theaters, along with any other future theatrical releases for however long we Americans need to.

Final Grade: A

Alright, we’re back on the Bond train again. I still have yet to also review a movie that I saw in theaters recently. Still, for the most part, we shall be back to talking about Bond, and his adventures! Not only that, but we now dive into the apparently short-lived era, known as the Timothy Dalton one, when he played Bond at least for the next couple films in this series. With that said, let’s talk about the fifteenth installment in the 007 series, The Living Daylights.

Plot: When a Czech arms dealer (Jerome Krabbe) attempts to use opium from Afghanistan to give to Soviet leaders, can Bond (Timothy Dalton), with the help of new friends such as General Leonid Pushkin (John Rhys-Davies), Kara Milovy (Maryam d’Abo), and an army of Afghan civilians stop him from screwing over the country of Afghanistan?

Okay, in addition to this franchise getting yet a new good actor for Bond, who, once again, seems to know how to fill in that role. There are plenty of other good things to enjoy about this film. First off, with the special effects, while still not quite the best for the 1980s, you can likely tell that technology seemed to get progressively better for the film industry at this point in time. This seems to be especially true in the area of the special effects. Again, those may not have been entirely great by today’s standards. Nevertheless, one can say that they end up being very good, considering how just okay they were back in the 1960s, 1970s, or even earlier. Next, there are the characters. Oh man, I’m not sure if this would be the case for the future Bond films, but this one sure seemed to know how to put in the right amount, without adding in any unnecessary characters in the process. Even the villains ended being a very entertaining part of this film. Not to mention that the antagonists, along with some of the other characters, are as fleshed out as can be. Quite honestly, it helps make this film even more better. Also, just a side note, how could you not be more excited to go to the cinemas later on to see Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, or something film like that? Plus, we even got John Rhys-Davies to play a character in this film, General Leonid Pushkin in this case. Even back when this film was released, this guy has seemed to have the gift of an actor. Nearly ever film that he has played in, be it films like Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, Escape, Lord Of The Rings, or evening in voice roles in animated movies such as Aladdin & The King Of Thieves, John Rhys-Davies is basically solid gold when it comes to playing in movies. Additionally, people should give this movie credit for good for newer angles this time around. What I mean by that is how this film seemed to make some story points that one didn’t seem to hear of much in some of the other 007 films before this one. So that’s yet another reason to like this film. And wow, how about some of the music in this film? I’m not going to lie, after you hear some of the Czechoslovakian music in this film, or some of true other type of judicial throughout this film, you may yet find yourself more interested in theater, opera music, or something like that. You might also find yourself interested in Middle Eastern culture as well, specifically Afghan culture.

And that’s my review for 007: The Living Daylights. No doubt is it one of the better films in the franchise. It accomplishes some tasks that the ones before this film didn’t seem to do. It has very well-thought out characters, as well as knows how to make good dining for this film. Curious to know how this film ends? Why not rent it On Demand, and see what you think!

Final Grade: A+

Ladies and gentlemen, this morning, I have some exciting news for you all. In a good majority of the states, minus at least California, and New York, it sounds like, movie theaters have started to reopen across most of the US. With that said, we are going to review one of the first films to hit theaters since they reopened. Presenting to you, the one and only film that got plenty of release schedules since 2017, and didn’t come out until this past Friday! With that said, let’s talk about one of the newer films, by the name of New Mutants.

Plot: When tragic circumstances cause a young Native American girl (Blu Hunt) to be transferred to a facility, consisting of a doctor, and some teenagers with special powers, she then discovers that she may have special mutant powers herself. The problem is, they are surrounded by a dome, and can’t go anywhere. Will they be able to find the positives in their strengths, and escape their prison in the end?

First off, I’d like to admit that I wasn’t quite as excited as some other friends of mine were for this film. However, after hearing that this was one of the first films to come out when theaters were announced to reopen soon, I may have gotten a little more hyped for this film. The trailers made it look really cool too.

So was it worth the short hype in the end? Well, New Mutants might not exactly be one of the best Marvel films, or action films period. However, there are some good things to take away from this film. But let’s talk about the negatives first. First of all, New Mutants May act a little too dark, and gloomy at times. Okay, I understand that maybe it was supposed to be very depressing to learn about being positive. However, was there not any way to make this film more lighthearted in the end? Also, some of the characters might not have the best of personalities, minus maybe Danielle Moonstar, who is the main character of this movie. In fact, some of them may act a little stereotypical. There may be a little bit of a character arc for some of them, but those could have maybe been written up better. The villain may have been fleshed out to a degree, but still. The story also seems to drag on at points. Also, not to be judgmental towards certain people, or something like that, but did we really need an LGBTQ element in this film? Why not just have the man and girl romantic relationships, as well as just some really good friendships, you know? Is Hollywood, and the media period really that hell bent on trying to institute homosexuality in the US, and in the world period? Tragic, if that’s the case.

But what are the good things in this film? Well, to begin, some of the monsters that appear in this film seem to be rather cool. Not only that, but some of those monsters that appear throughout this film seem to be very symbolic of certain fears that some of the teens have throughout the course of this film. Which leads to the next thing that needs to be mentioned. The whole theme about learning to overcome your fears is a good lesson to learn in this film. Of course, the whole lesson of overcoming your fears is always great to learn. However, this film is an additional great reminder. You also may find yourself surprised to learn from this movie that Native Americans, and Christians seem to have similar spiritual viewpoints, except different deities, sadly. This seems to be obvious with the whole deal of the two bears in human beings (or so the Native Americans believed): one with good qualities like love, compassion, and trust, and the other evil qualities like fear, hate, and self-destruction.

And that’s my review for the new film, New Mutants. It may not be one of the best films, but it’s decent to say the least. It certainly has some good messages with the whole deal of overcoming your fears, and things like that. Still, you may find yourself wanting to rewatch films like the Mummy trilogy from 1999, 2001, & 2008 respectively, or some film like that. Still, there some good things to enjoy in this film. However, if you’re a person who is a new Christian, I’d say wait until you’re more mature in your walk with God, as well as a strong foundation in Him, to see a movie like this. So there you have it!

Final Grade: C+

Now, based on the title of this upcoming review, you may be thinking that I’m done reviewing the James Bond movies at this point, right? If you are thinking that, then know that is not the case. We are just taking a short break from that, as I watched something else with a couple friends of mine earlier tonight as a substitute. But not to worry! More Bond films will be posted sometime next week, and onwards for the remainder of that marathon. Anyway, tonight, we are going to talk about a film that a familiar actor by the name of Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in. Man, feels great to talk about a movie that starred an actor that I haven’t talked about yet while reviewing movies on this blog, or just on Facebook. Anyway, released in 1990, the film is Kindergarten Cop.

Plot: While trying to bring down a thug named Crisp (Richard Tyson), and his mother (Carroll Baker), officer John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenegger), and his new partner Phoebe (Pamela Reed) are assigned to find the criminal’s wife, Joyce (Penelope Ann Miller), and child, and put them in witness protection, and testify against Crisp. Kimble must also go undercover as a Kindergarten teacher in order to get the job done. Can Kimble and Phoebe convince Joyce to testify against Crisp, and have him thrown in jail for good?

Friends, I have a confession to make before making an all out review on this film. I surprisingly had never heard of Kindergarten Cop until around 2013, if I recall correctly. And yes, there is a bit of a story to that. Back around early to mid-2013, I was watching a video review of the 2003 Disney film, Brother Bear, which the review was divided into two parts on YouTube. In the second part of the video, the reviewer, whom he refers to himself as Animated Atrocity/Big Man X talked about how, after Kenai and Koda had hung out, and gotten to know each other for quite some time, Kenai learns to accept Koda as a friend in his life. Not only that, but there’s also the fact that Kenai learns that Koda never stops talking. Anyhow, the reviewer then put in parts where Koda kept talking, and talking for a bit, followed by inserting the clip from Kindergarten Cop, where John Kimble yells his famous line, “SHUT UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!” I then asked what movie that clip was found. Low and behold, that’s how I came to find out about Kindergarten Cop. Strangely enough, however, I didn’t see the film until around the fall 2013.

So now, I have rewatched it again seven years later. Does it hold up? As a matter of fact, this film does from beginning to end. First of all, one has to appreciate how Schwarzenegger comes out to show his softer side in Kindergarten Cop. Considering that he’s mostly a kick your “a” constantly type of character in films like Eraser, True Lies, the Terminator movies, that’s saying a lot. In addition to this, Schwarzenegger also knows how to bring out some of the most hilarious lines in this film. Yes, many of the other characters in this movie do an excellent job with that too. However, it’s really Schwarzenegger’s character, Kimble, that does the best job with that. What’s more is that there is a great plenty of character growth, first off, with John Kimble. As he carries out his tasks in the way that he needs to, you can tell that Kimble learns some really valuable lessons along the way. There’s growth with not only John Kimble, but many of the characters as well, whether it be Joyce, Joyce’s son Dominic, Phoebe, and heck, even the villains Eleanor and Crisp. Man, if there was any chance that there could be a live show where adult good guys have to deal with all bad guys in adult movies in one sitting, like a Fantasmic type of show, Eleanor Crisp, and her son should be part of that. It’s also nice to travel to Astoria, Oregon, and see what life is like there, even if you aren’t actually there in person. Additionally, it’s also good that if kids were to watch the parts of this film that has the kids in it, kids can learn some very good lessons, like how not all kids have perfect lives. I mean a young kid may think that kids lead really good lives when, in reality, they don’t always do so. Which this begs the question, “Should kids be allowed to watch Kindergarten Cop at a young age?” Well, let me put it to you all this way! If a parent were to decide to show their children the scenes with the kindergarten kids, then that might be okay, minus parts where the kids in the movie say some really inappropriate things. However, to show the movie in it’s entirety, that may not be the best idea. That is especially since there is lots of foul language, and some really dark, and violent moments that might be a little too intense for children.

And that’s my review for Kindergarten Cop. If you want to see a comedy, and action film where Schwarzenegger not only shows his action side, but also some newer softer sides of himself, then you should check this film out. Kids should not watch the film in it’s entirety until they’re older. However, adults are really bound to be engaged by this film’s story from beginning to end. The script is fantastic, the story is really good, and a good majority of the characters are relatable to one extent, or another. Definitely see Kindergarten Cop if you haven’t yet! You’d be surprised by how fun this movie is.

Final Grade: A+

P.S. Happy 30th anniversary to Kindergarten Cop!