Battleship Review

Although the movie ‘Battleship’ was released a few months ago, I had a chance to see it on the big screen and wanted to share why I bothered to see it. The main reason I watched this movie was to see the Mighty Mo in action. If you are not familiar with the U.S. Missouri nicknamed the Mighty Mo, It is one of four Iowa class battleships and the last battleship to be built during World War 2 to support the Pacific campaigns. The Mighty Mo was famous for the Japanese surrender was signed on September 2, 1945 on the deck of the Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay, near the city of Yokohama, Japan.                                                                                                 

Watching the movie was more a personal experience, for I had a chance to see the ship twice in my life. The first time was when I was kid. I had a chance to tour it when it was decommissioned. The second time was when the ship was reactivated during the Persian Gulf War when I was serving as a U.S. Marine. It was truly a breathtaking experience to see a historical battleship sailing the seas once again. It’s currently decommissioned in Pearl Harbor as a museum for all to visit. If you enjoy history, I recommend taking sometime to see Pearl Harbor and the Mighty Mo. We may never see such a great ship sailing the seas again for modern times no longer require such powerful ships.

Taylor Kitsch as LT. Alex Hopper

The story begins with an international naval war exercise held each year around Hawaii. During patrol, a set of destroyers encounter an alien presence in the open waters. The aliens came in response to a signal we sent in to space to identify potential life. However, the aliens didn’t come to respond directly but for another reason. And through hostile actions the aliens isolate a certain area of Hawaii with a force field dome separating the fleet, leaving only destroyers to fight an overwhelming threat. Eventually a battle escalates in the dome destroying the isolated ships and killing Stone Hopper forcing his brother LT. Alex Hopper played by Taylor Kitsch (John Carter) to take action using a decommissioned battleship ‘The Mighty Mo’.

Taylor Kitsch did a good job of making us believe he was a Navy officer. He presented a stubborn, know it all, risk taker LT. Who didn't want to be in the Navy, but had to prove something to his older brother Stone Hopper played by Alexander Skarsgard. They had a few other known actors like Rihanna who played a petty officer with a gung-ho personality. She did a decent job and presented some entertaing action moments. Brooklyn Decker who played Samantha Shane played a love interest to Alex Hoper provided great eye-candy and delivered a decent performance that extended the excitment on shore.

Overall, I didn’t expect much from the store line, especially from what I saw in the trailers regarding alien encounters. So I kept an open mind and enjoyed the CG presentations of the Mighty Mo and the creative ship to ship battle scenes which I enjoyed. This movie was mostly over the top action that provided great visual entertainment.

I give ‘Battleship’ an Imp Score of 2 out of 4 smiles.

Act of Valor Review

Having served in the armed forces as a U.S. Marine, I have a lot of admiration and respect for the men and women who serve our country. And for those who serve at the elite levels of our armed forces it takes a lot of sacrifice, pride and honor to do what they do. And the movie 'Act of Valor' tries to present that atmosphere.

It's a story about a group of elite Navy Seals, who take on a risky mission to rescue a kidnapped US agent. This type of mission isn’t your typical operations were the team is supported by an army. It's the type of job that is secretive and risky to the point it may be the final mission the team may experience which presents an emotional view of the sacrifices these few men take for the country, with their families, friends and their own will being.

Some of the Navy Seals in the movie

With real life Navy Seals acting in this movie; it presents a more realistic military presence, especially when the operations are in progress. It showcases a true sense of how an elite team would act in the field, to how these types of teams work together in the roles of leadership and support, to the struggles and risks each person undergoes when situations get ruff or when a team member are lost.

Overall the military presentation was superb to experience. Although we won’t see academy awards being presented for the acting abilities of the real life Navy Seals in the movie during non-military related scenes. They do deserve to be praised for their ability to present a strong military experience during the action scenes throughout the movie.

I give the ‘Act of Valor’ an Imp Score of 3 out of 4 smiles. Great entertainment worth watching!

Legend of the Shadowless Sword Review

Do you ever get tired of watching martial arts movies with males being the main heroes? I don't, but I do love to see more movies with female martial artists being the main heroes. And that is the presentation of the Legend of the Shadowless Sword.

The bodyguard played by So Yi Soon

Prince played by Seo-jin Lee

The story takes place in ancient times of Korea surrounding the last prince of Balhae Kingdom. Balhae was invaded by Khitan also called the Killer Blade army and executes the entire royal family to prevent further resistance, except one exiled prince still lives.

The Killer Blade army is sent to kill the last potential resistance. While a bodyguard named Yeon So-ha played by So Yi Soon is sent to find the exiled prince at all costs. Soon after a confrontation begins with the bodyguard, the local gang and the Killer army in a small village where a reluctant prince named Day Jung-hyun played by Seo-jinn Lee tries every means to avoid his destiny.

After being introduced to So Yi Soon’s martial arts talents in the TV show 'Warrior Baek Dong Soo', I expected this movie to be spectacular. And I got say her talents did not disappoint for her Martial Arts chorography, action scenes and acting was breathtaking to watch. It’s always inspiring to see women of great talent in the world of Martial Arts presenting entertainment with grace, beauty and skill leaving a final thought of never wanting to meet this lady in a back ally.

Overall, I truly enjoyed watching this movie. It had great action scenes, visuals and portrayed the setting of ancient Korea very well.  The Martials Arts chorography was awesome; that I don’t feel adding the supernatural effects to the action scenes was necessary for the movie was already entertaining. One other note,  If you are not into watching subtitles then you may not find this movie to be entertaining to watch.

I give 'The Legend of the Shadowless Sword' an Imp Score of 3 out of 4 smiles. Great entertainment worth watching.

Movie Review: The Vow

The feelings of lossing someone you dearly love is one of the hardest emotions to overcome.  Imagine what the emotional impact would be if your love one lost their memory and forgot about you. I can't even begin to understand how that must feel emotionally and that is the main topic of the movie 'The Vow'.

Based on a true story, it's about two couples who fall in love that express their vows upon marriage. One evening of fun turns in to tragedy that leads into a car acccident that causes severe head trauma to the wife 'Paige' played by Rachel McAdams. After the wife recovers, the husband 'Leo' played by Channing Tatum finds out his wife has no memory of the life they shared including who he is. She can only recall memories at a certain point in her life before they met. And with Paiges parents invovled in her recovery, it brings more tensions for Leo and Paige, leading to heart breaks, teary eyed and frustrating moments, unfolding to an outcome that was lost forever.

The match up with Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum was superb. I felt their onscreen presence showed a strong connection and drew out both their talents well. I admit this movie was a tear jerker. And yes this movie made me cry for there are scenes so emotional that it brought feelings I struggled with when I lost my love one.

Overall, this movie was a sad story and to have it be based on a true story made me wish for a happy ending. However, no matter how the movie ended, I personally don't know what would be more emotional, to have someone you love alive with no memories or to have someone no longer around in life.

I give 'The Vow' an Imp Score of 3 out of 4 smiles. Great entertainment worth watching!

Movie Review: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

Movie Review: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

What makes a what if story unique is the creativity and imagination it can present. It can take a historical figure, icon or even a fictional character and tell a different story that is totally mind-boggling, surprising or down right weird. In the movie Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, the story takes the 16th US President an adds a ‘what if’ Abraham was actually a hunter. Not just a simple hunter but a vampire hunter before he became a U.S. President.

The story starts at the time of Abraham’s child hood during a dispute between a slave owner and Lincoln’s parents. Abe try’s to help a slave which gets him into trouble resulting in his father stepping in to help him. This action spirals into chaos resulting in Abraham’s mother dying which Abe witnesses the true nature of the killer that leads to him wanting to take revenge.

A what if story can sometimes be enjoyable or down right boring and weird. To me this movie was fun and entertaining to see the iconic figure being presented in a action and fictional story in the realm of supernatural. Given the story is a what if and an action movie with vampires, I did not expect much from the story. If you go in watching this movie to learn about Lincoln or for historical accuracy then expect to be disappointed. Don’t forget this a what if story about an iconic character and vampires with a lot of action scenes, blood and gore. If you enjoy this type of presentation and keep an open mind then you may find some sort of entertainment from the movie.

The movie presented a handful of 3D scenes that was ok. Nothing ground breaking, but you can tell they made an effort to apply the 3D, so see it in 3D if you can.

The cast did a decent job of presenting their characters especially Benjamin Walker who plays Abraham Lincoln. He did great job of portraying Lincoln and performed admirably in the action scenes. The one thing I probably didn't care for was the the story about vampires wanting a country of their own that tied to the civil war. It was a bit far fetched but then again its what can typically happen in a what if universe storeline, so I accepted it for what it was and focused my enjoyment with the action scenes.

Overall, I enjoyed this movie. It’s what I expected from a what if story and for an action movie with blood and gore with vampires.

I give Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter an Imp Score of 3 out 4 smiles. Great entertainment worth watching!