Collection ID 1483
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Studio: Universal Pictures   Release date: 2013   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: In 2077, the human Jack Harper works with his companion Victoria "Vic" on the surveillance station Tech 49. Jack repairs drones and his memory was erased as part of the security process to stay on Earth, and he knows that Earth is completely depleted after sixty years of war against the alien invaders Scavengers "Scavs". The aliens have destroyed the moon and were defeated by nuclear weapons and the earthlings have moved to Jupiter's moon Titan since the planet was completely destroyed. Now Jack has to protect the power stations that use the ocean to supply energy to Titan fixing the drones. He also has recollections of a mysterious woman at the Empire State Building when Earth was habitable. Jack and Vic receive instructions from Sally (Melissa Leo), who is located on the space station Tet, and Vic is anxious to leave Earth in two weeks to join the survivors on Titan. However, Jack has a cabin in a secret place where he likes to stay alone. When the spacecraft Odyssey crashes on Earth, Jack witnesses the drones killing the human crew but he rescues a woman, Julia, who is the woman of his recollections. Julia and Jack recover the flight recorder but they are captured by the Scavengers. Soon they learn that the Scavs are actually a group of humans, who tell Jack that the invasion was a lie. Jack does not believe them, and they release Julia and Jack into the radiation zone to find the truth.
My Rating:
My Review: Oblivion - 2013 (Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Mystery) A visually spectacular sci-fi thriller derivative of many other sci-fi movies (notably Moon). Directed by a new talent - Joseph Kosinski (Tron Legacy), starring some old talent - Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko and others. The story is interesting if a bit derivative. In the year 2077, the Earth is a scarred husk barely surviving after a long running battle with off-world invaders. Earth's irradiated landscape is home to a caretaker force of technicians tasked with the tedious job of patrolling the remaining radiation free zones and maintaining the water conversion reactors. Jack Harper (played by Tom Cruise) is a maintenance tech left behind on the earth to care for water conversion reactors and the drones that do most of the ‘hands on work’. He lives in a secure facility high above the desolate landscape of a ruined earth. His live-in companion - Victoria, is a controller and he's the troubleshooter who goes out on runs to maintain the drones that service the reactors. He's occasionally called upon to deal with the irradiated scavs (scavengers), but the alien refuse is no match for his technological edge. Everything is going smoothly until a crippled starship crashes and the lone survivor emerges from the wreckage. The CGI, photography, locations, lighting, editing and visual effects are all outstanding. The soundtrack, pacing and production superb. The acting is good, and the direction excellent. The cast does a fine job of selling the story and the execution is superb. I didn't have any trouble following the plot as it contained numerous elements derived from previous sci-fi movies/themes. While the script is tight and well written it's a bit of a let down in the lack of originality. Thankfully all the other elements exceed my expectations. I give this movie a 5 out of 5. I bought and own a blu-ray copy because of the outstanding visuals and landscapes.

Collection ID 1539
Director: Ronald Neame
Starring: Jon Voight, Maximilian Schell, Maria Schell, Mary Tamm, Derek Jacobi
Genre: Thriller
Studio: Columbia Pictures Corporation   Release date: 1974   Rated: PG   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: After reading the diary of an elderly Jewish man who committed suicide, freelance journalist Peter Miller begins to investigate the alleged sighting of a former SS-Captain who commanded a concentration camp during World War II. Miller eventually finds himself involved with the powerful organization of former SS members, called ODESSA, as well as with the Israeli secret service. Miller probes deeper and eventually discovers a link between the SS-Captain, ODESSA, and his own family.
My Rating:
My Review: Released in 1974, starring John Voight, directed by Ronald Neame. An excellent thriller. Well paced, a little long. John Voight plays a young German reporter just after WWII. He stumbles upon a secret organization who's goal it is to protect and relocate Nazis. He begins tracking a former concentration camp comandant. This thriller is well balanced between characters and plot. Lots of drama, action, and mystery. An espionage thriller with a considerable twist at the end.

Collection ID 24
Director: Ronald Neame
Starring: Jon Voight, Maximilian Schell, Maria Schell, Mary Tamm, Derek Jacobi
Genre: Thriller
Studio: Columbia Pictures Corporation   Release date: 1974   Rated: PG   
Language (Country): English (UK)
Summary: After reading the diary of an elderly Jewish man who committed suicide, freelance journalist Peter Miller begins to investigate the alleged sighting of a former SS-Captain who commanded a concentration camp during World War II. Miller eventually finds himself involved with the powerful organization of former SS members, called ODESSA, as well as with the Israeli secret service. Miller probes deeper and eventually discovers a link between the SS-Captain, ODESSA, and his own family.
My Rating:
My Review: Released in 1974, starring John Voight, directed by Ronald Neame. An excellent thriller. Well paced, a little long. John Voight plays a young German reporter just after WWII. He stumbles upon a secret organization who's goal it is to protect and relocate Nazis. He begins tracking a former concentration camp comandant. This thriller is well balanced between characters and plot. Lots of drama, action, and mystery. An espionage thriller with a considerable twist at the end.

Collection ID 110
Director: Christopher Crowe
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Gregory Hines, Fred Ward, Amanda Pays, Kay Tong Lim
Genre: Action
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation   Release date: 1988   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: McGriff and Albaby are probably doing the worst law enforcement job in the world - they are plain clothes U.S. military policemen on duty in war-time Saigon. However, their job becomes even harder when they start investigating the serial killings of local prostitutes. Their prime suspect is high ranking U.S. Army officer which brings their lives in danger.
My Rating:
My Review: Willem Dafoe (as Buck McGriff) and Gregory Hines (as Albaby Perkins) have a crappy job, but someone's gotta do it. They're plain-clothes cops (Enlisted men working for the Army's Criminal Investigations Division) in Saigon during the height of the Vietnam war (~1968). They're their to police American soldiers, but there's plenty of problems with their job. The locals that hate their guts, the 'politicals' that want them dead, the brass that wants their ass, the Vietnamese police who don't appreciate their tactics, and the GIs in the trenches who don't give a damn about their lame ass investigations. When McGriff and Perkins are put on the case to find an American serial killer, the show gets interesting. This isn't a movie about the Vietnam war. It's a gritty detective story, filled with the harsh realities of civilian life during wartime, and dripping with atmosphere. This cop thriller is fast paced, filled with excellent action, twists, turns, and some pretty good acting (The chemistry between Hines and DaFoe was excellent). The direction (debut feature for Christopher Crowe (also credited as co-writer for screenplay)) is tight and tense. The script isn't full of cliches or stereotypes, but sure is full of suspense, action and drama. The sets, locations and set work was outstanding and despite the poor quality of my VHS copy, I give this movie a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 894
Director: Christopher Crowe
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Gregory Hines, Fred Ward, Amanda Pays, Kay Tong Lim
Genre: Action
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation   Release date: 1988   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: McGriff and Albaby are probably doing the worst law enforcement job in the world - they are plain clothes U.S. military policemen on duty in war-time Saigon. However, their job becomes even harder when they start investigating the serial killings of local prostitutes. Their prime suspect is high ranking U.S. Army officer which brings their lives in danger.
My Rating:
My Review: Willem Dafoe (as Buck McGriff) and Gregory Hines (as Albaby Perkins) have a crappy job, but someone's gotta do it. They're plain-clothes cops (Enlisted men working for the Army's Criminal Investigations Division) in Saigon during the height of the Vietnam war (~1968). They're their to police American soldiers, but there's plenty of problems with their job. The locals that hate their guts, the 'politicals' that want them dead, the brass that wants their ass, the Vietnamese police who don't appreciate their tactics, and the GIs in the trenches who don't give a damn about their lame ass investigations. When McGriff and Perkins are put on the case to find an American serial killer, the show gets interesting. This isn't a movie about the Vietnam war. It's a gritty detective story, filled with the harsh realities of civilian life during wartime, and dripping with atmosphere. This cop thriller is fast paced, filled with excellent action, twists, turns, and some pretty good acting (The chemistry between Hines and DaFoe was excellent). The direction (debut feature for Christopher Crowe (also credited as co-writer for screenplay)) is tight and tense. The script isn't full of cliches or stereotypes, but sure is full of suspense, action and drama. The sets, locations and set work was outstanding and despite the poor quality of my VHS copy, I give this movie a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 363
Director: Mike Judge
Starring: Mike Judge
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox   Release date: 1999   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: Comedic tale of company workers who hate their jobs and decide to rebel against their greedy boss.
My Rating:
My Review: Based on animated short stories by the director, Mike Judge (Idiocracy, King of the Hill (tv), Beavis & Butthead (tv))- This feature length movie is a fantastic gem. Starring Ron Livingston (as Peter Gibbons), Jennifer Aniston (as Joanna), David Herman (as Michael Bolton), Ajay Naidu (as Samir Nagheenanajar), Diedrich Bader (as Lawrence), Stephen Root (as Milton Waddams), Gary Cole (as Bill Lumbergh). Life as an office worker - Working in a cubicle can get you down. This movie is full of fantastic characters (especially the boss), some great acting, the actors were the characters. The acting was truly fantastic. The movie is a funny as hell telling of revenge against the system. After a trip to an occupational hypnotist, Peter could care less about his nagging girlfriend or the stress at his job. He actually starts enjoying life. When management starts a round of layoffs at work, Peter and his homey's decide to stick it to 'The Man'. The direction, editing and music were fantastic. I've seen this movie many times, and I never grow tired of it. Despite the fact that this movie flopped at the box office, it's become a cult classic by way of mouth. If you enjoy the comic strip Dilbert, you'll connect with this movie. I give it an enthusiastic 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 1091
Director: Mike Judge
Starring: Mike Judge
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox   Release date: 1999   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: Comedic tale of company workers who hate their jobs and decide to rebel against their greedy boss.
My Rating:
My Review: Based on animated short stories by the director, Mike Judge (Idiocracy, King of the Hill (tv), Beavis & Butthead (tv))- This feature length movie is a fantastic gem. Starring Ron Livingston (as Peter Gibbons), Jennifer Aniston (as Joanna), David Herman (as Michael Bolton), Ajay Naidu (as Samir Nagheenanajar), Diedrich Bader (as Lawrence), Stephen Root (as Milton Waddams), Gary Cole (as Bill Lumbergh). Life as an office worker - Working in a cubicle can get you down. This movie is full of fantastic characters (especially the boss), some great acting, the actors were the characters. The acting was truly fantastic. The movie is a funny as hell telling of revenge against the system. After a trip to an occupational hypnotist, Peter could care less about his nagging girlfriend or the stress at his job. He actually starts enjoying life. When management starts a round of layoffs at work, Peter and his homey's decide to stick it to 'The Man'. The direction, editing and music were fantastic. I've seen this movie many times, and I never grow tired of it. Despite the fact that this movie flopped at the box office, it's become a cult classic by way of mouth. If you enjoy the comic strip Dilbert, you'll connect with this movie. I give it an enthusiastic 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 828
Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Jeremy Piven, Ellen Pompeo
Genre: Comedy
Studio: DreamWorks   Release date: 2003   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Mitch, Frank and Beanie are disillusioned with their personal lives begining when Mitch's nymphomanic girlfriend, Heidi, cheats on him, then former party animal Frank gets married, but unwilling to let go of his wild life, and Beanie is a family man seeking to reclaim his wild and crazy youth. Beanie suggests that they form their own fraternity in Mitch's new house on a college campus to re-live their glory days by bringing together a variety of misfit college students, losers, middle-aged and elderly retirees as their new friends and later try to avoid being evicted by the new Dean of Students, Pritchard, whom still holds a personal grudge against all three of them.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 386
Director: Robert Marcarelli
Starring: Casper Van Dien, Michael York, Catherine Oxenberg, Michael Ironside, Jan Triska
Genre: Adventure
Studio: Code Productions   Release date: 1999   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Ancient codes hidden within the Torah reveal the secrets of global events, past (i.e., Hitler, the Kennedy assassination, the Gulf War), present, and future. One man (York) is after the Code, seeking the power to change the world as we know it... for the worse. Another (Van Dien) seeks the truth, risking his life and everything he stands for in order to stop him.
My Rating:
My Review: The Omega Code - 1999 (Action, adventure, fantasy) Admittedly, I was sucked in by the premise (having watched pi - Faith in Chaos). An ancient code is hidden within the Torah. This code reveals secrets of global importance and apocalyptic consequence. A media mogul recruits a motivational speaker (aka televangelist) to execute a sinister one-world government take-over and apocalyptic plot. The production is poor, the second tier actors: Casper Van Dien (as the charismatic televangelist/unwitting co-conspirator Gillen Lane), Michael York (as the slimy media mogul/true villain Stone Alexander), Catherine Oxenberg (as Cassandra Barashe), Michael Ironside (as the henchman Dominic) do a mediocre job, and the direction was very rigid. The characters all feel like puppets or characters not people - A sign that they’re not being well directed, the script gives them no character, and/or they’re just not very good (at acting). There’s a lot of line-reading and bad editing (film and script), which makes the film feel somewhat amateurish. The overtly religious themes in the movie aren’t nearly as offensive as the poor direction, editing and production. The entire ‘bible code’ concept is wrapped up into this poorly executed movie. Thankfully no one is forcing me to watch it. Unfortunately, this is my third? time watching this movie. I watch movies while I’m on the tread-mill, and this was one of the movies in the stack I brought downstairs this week… Uggghh! I give it a 1 out of 5.

Collection ID 1110
Director: Robert Marcarelli
Starring: Casper Van Dien, Michael York, Catherine Oxenberg, Michael Ironside, Jan Triska
Genre: Adventure
Studio: Code Productions   Release date: 1999   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English (USA)
Summary: Ancient codes hidden within the Torah reveal the secrets of global events, past (i.e., Hitler, the Kennedy assassination, the Gulf War), present, and future. One man (York) is after the Code, seeking the power to change the world as we know it... for the worse. Another (Van Dien) seeks the truth, risking his life and everything he stands for in order to stop him.
My Rating:
My Review: The Omega Code - 1999 (Action, adventure, fantasy) Admittedly, I was sucked in by the premise (having watched pi - Faith in Chaos). An ancient code is hidden within the Torah. This code reveals secrets of global importance and apocalyptic consequence. A media mogul recruits a motivational speaker (aka televangelist) to execute a sinister one-world government take-over and apocalyptic plot. The production is poor, the second tier actors: Casper Van Dien (as the charismatic televangelist/unwitting co-conspirator Gillen Lane), Michael York (as the slimy media mogul/true villain Stone Alexander), Catherine Oxenberg (as Cassandra Barashe), Michael Ironside (as the henchman Dominic) do a mediocre job, and the direction was very rigid. The characters all feel like puppets or characters not people - A sign that they’re not being well directed, the script gives them no character, and/or they’re just not very good (at acting). There’s a lot of line-reading and bad editing (film and script), which makes the film feel somewhat amateurish. The overtly religious themes in the movie aren’t nearly as offensive as the poor direction, editing and production. The entire ‘bible code’ concept is wrapped up into this poorly executed movie. Thankfully no one is forcing me to watch it. Unfortunately, this is my third? time watching this movie. I watch movies while I’m on the tread-mill, and this was one of the movies in the stack I brought downstairs this week… Uggghh! I give it a 1 out of 5.