Justice League Films (2017–Present)

Justice League (2017)

C – 120m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Justice League Of America, Justice League Mortal
Exec. Prod.s: Ben Affleck and Christopher Nolan
Producer: Deborah Snyder
Co–Story Writer – Dir.: Zack Snyder
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, J.K. Simmons, Amber Heard, David Thewlis, Jesse Eisenberg and Robin Wright.
Music By: Danny Elfman

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. One cannot do much better than this film for a superhero film. Affleck is, once again, almost miscast as Bruce Wayne / Batman, though he carries it off mildly well. Everyone else is in fine form. This moves along with no real slow / dull periods in the film and the action – humor ratio is satisfactory. Adams, Irons, Lane and Simmons are always welcome!   

Trivia: Zack and Deborah Snyder stepped away from this film after their daughter’s suicide in March 2017. Joss Whedon finished the film. Danny Elfman took over for Junkie XL, who had replaced Hans Zimmer. Laurence Fishburne was asked to reprise his role as Perry White in a cameo. Due to scheduling conflicts he was unavailable to do so on the day that scene was set to film. Ben Affleck was considered to direct this film. This was Zack Snyder’s first film to be shot in the 1.85:1 – Widescreen aspect ratio. 

Rated: [PG–13] – Sequences Of Sci–Fi Violence & Action
Available on 3D and 2D Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Wonder Woman (2017)

Wonder Woman (2017)

C – 141m
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 – Widescreen – 3D & 2D
Wonder Woman Created By: William Moulton Marston (Credited), Harry G. Peter (Uncredited)
Story By: Zack Snyder, Allan Heinberg and Jason Fuchs
Screenplay By: Allan Heinberg
Producers: Deborah Snyder and Zack Snyder
Dir.: Patty Jenkins
Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Said Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner, Lucy Davis, Danielle Lewis, Zack Snyder, and Robert M. Stafford.

When a pilot crashes and tells of the conflict in the outside world, Diana, a Amazonian Warrior in training, leaves home to fight a war, discover her full powers and true destiny. Well done but slightly under–paced (slow paced), for this reviewer’s tastes, female superhero film. CGI may be obvious at times and remarkably subtle at others. This is the way the Wonder Woman story should be told though!

Trivia: Gal Gadot had to do reshoots for this film, including stunts, while she was five months pregnant. The crew created a costume with a green screen around her stomach and her stomach was edited out during the CGI process. The discussions about, “the pleasures of the flesh,” was reportedly improvised. Cate Blanchett was offered a role but turned it down so that she could make Thor: Ragnarok (2017). This was the first film that director Patty Jenkins directed since Monster (2003), with Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci.

Rated: [PG–13] – Sequences Of Violence And Action, & Some Suggestive Content
Available in 3D and 2D on 4K and regular Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Nicholas Sparks Films Volume I

Message In A Bottle (1999)

C. – 126m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
Producer: Kevin Costner. Novel By: Nicholas Sparks
Starring: Kevin Costner, Robin Wright, Paul Newman, John Savage, Illeana Douglas and Robbie Coltrane

A woman discovers a tragic love letter in a bottle on a beach and decides to track down the author of the letter. This reviewer is not entirely sure what went wrong in the adaption of the Sparks novel but this is a near misfire. The cast saves it mildly. Noteworthy as the first film to be adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel, and for the record, the novel is much better. 

Rated: [PG–13] – A Scene Of Sexuality
Available on DVD & Digital Copy.  

A Walk To Remember (2002)

C. – 101m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
Novel By: Nicholas Sparks
Starring: Shane West, Mandy Moore, Peter Coyote, Daryl Hannah and Clayne Crawford.

A dying teen daughter of a pastor captures the heart of a troublesome teen in their tight-knit community. A step up from Message In A Bottle (1998), this one is aimed at teens. Like its 2010 counterpart, The Last Song, this one is well done in terms of performances. However, this one has some slow points that show more to adults than to teens. Then again when most of it works, why complain? Mandy Moore stands out here!

Trivia: The first of two Nicholas Sparks films to be rated: [PG]. The other was: The Last Song (2010). In the book, A Walk To Remember, Mandy Moore’s character is a blonde. And finally, many of the sets, especially: The Hospital, The School and Landon’s Home were from the television show: Dawson’s Creek (1998 – 2003).

Rated: [PG] – Thematic Elements, Language & Some Sensual Material.
Available on DVD & Digital Copy.

The Notebook (2004)

C. – 123m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen / 2.40:1 – (Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy)
Novel By: Nicholas Sparks
Dir.: Nick Cassavetes
Starring: Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Sam Shepard, Joan Allen and James Marsden.

When cinephiles hear that Cassavetes is directing a romance film they may expect something like Love Streams (1984). What is shown here is something resembling a pretty trainwreck. All the parts are beautiful (acting, writing, cinematography) but the final result is awful. The pacing is slow and the only saving grace for this film are Gena Rowlands, the director’s mother, and James Garner who are fine and welcome as always. Credit should also be given to Rachel McAdams for a valiant stab at the material.    

Trivia: Director Nick Cassavetes (son of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands) staged and intervention with Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. The results can be seen in the film and in the news of them dating for a while in real life after the making of the film. Ryan Gosling made the kitchen table used in the film in his pre-production character development work.

Rated: [PG–13] – Some Sexuality.
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.

Nights In Rodanthe (2008)

C. – 97m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen / 2.40:1 – Widescreen (Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy)
Novel By: Nicholas Sparks
Starring: Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Christopher Meloni, Viola Davis and Scott Glenn.

A woman whose life is in chaos retreats to a small beach town and spends time during a storm with a busy doctor who is staying there for a spell. Romance ensues and so do the usual complications. Likable enough. Aimed squarely at the sexagenarian set of folks, who, as the Abba song (from Mamma Mia! (2008)) put it, “aren’t too old for sex.” And if you’ll pardon the additional pun, Gere and Lane put that over well, “…when all is said and done.” 

Trivia: As of 2013 the house, featured in the film, has been renamed: “The Inn At Rodanthe” and has been refurbished to more closely resemble the interior movies scenes, which were actually shot elsewhere. The house is a rental property and now functions as an attraction after being washed into the surf around 2010.

Rated:  [PG–13] – Some Sensuality.
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.