Kev's Reviews

Official statements say that the last American mission to the moon was that of the astronauts of Apollo 17. Recently found footage suggests otherwise. How do we separate fiction from fact? In this footage, viewers will see and hear the unexplainable, which could be easily covered up by the U. S. government, yet viewers will wonder. It's the perfect documentary that can be framed as a hoax. ***** (FIVE stars).

The brilliant Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downy Jr.) is back with his partner Watson (Jude law), who is annoyed with Holmes as ever. In this cunningly done sequel of the '09 suspenseful flick, Holmes resorts to occult theories to battle his nemesis Moriarty (Jared Harris). This sequel totally outdoes the 2009 film unanimously. Better acting, smarter, funnier and just more entertaining. Guy Richie check-mated himself and set the bar high for other directors! **** (four stars).

Directed by Ron Howard, this Oscar-nominated drama pin-points a time during America's darker days under the presidency of Richard M. Nixon is reflected upon by Nixon (Frank Langella) as he faces off with British playboy talk show host David Frost (Michael Sheen). Along with Tony Award-Winning Frank Langella, Sam Rockwell, Kevin Bacon and Rebecca Hall (The Town and The Prestige) excel in their performances! They all should have been nominated for Academy Awards. ***** (FIVE stars). This is the only Ron Howard film I could watch over and over again.

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), an IMF agent, ventures on a mission with computer genius Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) by his side and an astonishingly stunning thief (Thandie Newton) in his thoughts, racing threw Australia and Spain hunting down a rogue IMF agent before the agent unleashes a genetically engineered weapon. This film has a great plot, but the cinematography and the basic aspects movie-makers should leave alone are over the top in this film. They took the audiences' attention away from the plot and made the action scenes the body of the film. ** (two stars). 

In this hilarious holiday classic, nine-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) is desperately wishing for a Red Ryder carbine-action air rifle and pleas to his parents (and Santa) to him one. While Ralph campaigns on to convince Mom and Dad (Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin) the toy is harmless, Dad wins a major award he displays on a table near the living room window. This movie set the standards high for younger Christmas flicks! *** (three stars). The music was a little bit much.

Based on the novel "Skipping Chistmas", Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis star in the rolls of Luther and Nora Krank, a couple who decide to skip Christmas and book an island cruise instead of enduring a blue Chistmas without their beloved daughter, Blair. Between stiffing the neighborhood boy scout on the annual tree purchase and their Scrooge-like holiday spirit, the Kranks send the neighborhood in an uproar. As the Kranks walk out the door to embark on the trip, they receive a call from Blair, telling them that she is coming home. Now, the Kranks have twelve hours to pull together the best Christmas party ever! This film is packed with a comedic cast that will fill households with laughs. *** (three stars). It's over-acted, but in a good way.

This slow-moving novel begins with a bus ride, on which elderly people happily ride. In the ocean of weathered faces is the younger face of Jack Reacher, a lone hitcher who the bus driver offered a ride to. When the bus crashes in a wicked snowstorm, Reacher is launched in the midst of a confrontation between an elderly woman and life-threatening forces. Apparently, a killer is making his way to Bolton to supposedly murder the woman. When I picked out this book I expected a non-stop, action-packed thrill-ride. That is not what i got. ** (two stars). It sort of just rambled on and on. Very disappointing.

When CIA Agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), member of a crack espionage team whose mission has taken an unexpected turn for the worst, discovers that a mole has breached the CIA, he finds himself running from the agency. Determined to clear his name, Hunt sets out to find the real mole and, during the process, even the score. I give this well-done film *** (three stars).

The ultra-rich and glamorous Tony Stark (Robert Downy Jr.), also known as Iron Man, is ignoring the begs from the U. S. government to hand over his suit. Meanwhile, the insane Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) is constructing a weapon (like the armor suit) of his own, a miniaturized arc reactor, causing a number of problems for Iron Man. I give this smartly made film **** (four stars).

When kids' television star Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) is fired over a bribery scandal, the psychotic ex-host is replaced by the lovable, purple rhinoceros called Smoochy (Edward Norton). When Rainbow Randolph finds out that his successor is sleeping with his ex-lover, Nora (Catherine Keener), a programing executive for the show, he designs his revenge. Directed by Danny DeVito, this comedy serves a tongue-in-cheek plot that will just make audiences laugh. *** (three stars).

Former Mossad Intelligence agent Rachael Singer (Helen Mirren) has haunting memories of a 1965 pursuit of a Nazi war criminal when, nearly 30 years after an attempted killing of the diabolical doctor. Singer receives word that the Nazi has emerged from hiding, in the Ukraine, and is prepared to finish the mission and rid herself of her horrible nightmares. Directed by John Madden, this phenomenal remake of Assaf Bernstein's Israeli thriller gives viewers a power-punch of adrenaline! **** (four stars). It's a little confusing in the beginning.

Academy Award-nominee Joaquin Phoenix wins the award in this biopic acting the roll of the famous country singer star Johnny Cash. From his hard-knock days on an Arkansas farm to his few moments in Sun Studios in Tennessee, where Cash found his unmistakable style of music, Joaquin Phoenix depicts Cash perfectly. From there, Cash goes on tours and meets the love of his life, June (Reese Witherspoon in her Oscar-worthy performance). This is a film that should be viewed by every movie-lover. ***** (FIVE stars).