Prime Reel Estate

Deliver Us From Evil IMDB: 6.3  Rotten Tomatoes 28% A series of strange violent encounters leads NYPD Sergeant Ralph Sarchie to partner with an ex-herion addict priest to bring down a demon possessed killer. "Based on a true story" Lets get this out of the way right now, this is not based on a true story, the events in the film were inspired by multiple events in Sarchie's memoir but the events themselves as well as the people, other than Ralph Sarchie, are a complete fabrication and that's okay. The dramatic scenes fall flat, the comedic scenes thud the floor rather hard, which is a shame considering Joel Mchale plays Eric Bana's partner. The action scenes are pretty good, Mchale plays a cop that is an adrenaline junkie to the point that he prefers to face off with criminals with two knives instead of pulling his gun where this film shines though is in the horror scenes, they are tense and the effects are solid. There are jump scares that deliver,

Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors IMDB: 6.5  Rotten Tomatoes: 74% I continue to ruin my oldest child by getting him to watch movies and do write ups for your enjoyment.  Plot: Freddy is back this time targeting the last of the Elm Street kids who are all together in a hospital being treated for mental disorders. My Thoughts: I think this movie is funny but scary. It was creepy when every time someone kills Freddy he is still alive. It was really hard to know if they were awake or asleep. The part where Freddy grabbed a kid's veins and made him walk like a puppet. Can you imagine if that happened to you? I wished the adults in the hospital believed in Freddy. I think other people should watch the movie it was good.

3 Days to Kill IMDB: 6.2  Rotten Tomatoes: 29% It is that time of year where we like to stay home and ingorge ourselves on food, drink, family and entertainment. Here is the first of a series of what to watch right now streaming on Netflix. Plot: A dying CIA agent retires to reconnect with his estranged wife and daughter, he is brought in on one last job in exchange for an experimental drug that might save his life. As he helps to hunt down a mysterious terrorist he is also tasked with taking care of his teenage daughter while his wife is out of town. Why You Should Stream This One: In a word it is fun. Costner shines as a blue collar guy in a spy world, he is not the suave spy so often portrayed in film, he is an average joe that happens to kill people instead of being a construction worker or farmer. The family dynamic is never made clear and the film never gives clear answers about what will happen after the credits roll but for the time that it plays this film de

Draft Day IMDB: 6.8  Rotten Tomatoes: 60% Plot: Sonny Weaver Jr. (Kevin Costner) is the GM of The Cleveland Browns. Today is Draft Day and he has alot on his plate, his father, a well loved coach for the team until Sonny Jr fired him, died a week ago and he just found out he is going to be a father himself. Add to that an owner that doubts him and a coach that thinks he is a moron plus a team with a losing streak and it adds up to more trouble than it might be worth. He manuevers a trade to get the first Draft Pick and the question is, will he choose the star QB or pick up a different prospect and what will it cost him. Review: Honestly I know next to nothing about football, but I do know movies and this one has heart. Kevin Costner is his standard every man self, don't read that as a slight against him because that is a character he does better than most anyone else. Director Ivan Reitman draws out the suspense of the pick masterfully, teasing the audience about w

Interstellar IMDB: 9  Rotten Tomatoes: 74% NO SPOILERS HERE NOT EVEN A PLOT SUMMARY Go see this movie. This is Nolan's Masterpiece. Don't read reviews (other than this one of course) stay away from the trailer even, the less you know the better.  McConaughey continues to be incredible, Anne Hathaway is great as is the rest of the supporting cast. The visuals are unbelievable, the story is tight despite its nearly three hour run time. This is my favorite movie of the year and maybe my favorite Nolan film. 

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3D (IN 2D) IMDB: 4.8  Rotten Tomatoes: 19% Plot: A college girl inherits a house from her, up to this point unknown, grandmother. She goes to Texas or New Orleans they claim both destinations and I can never figure out which one they settle on with her boyfriend, her best friend and some other guy that may be is dating the best friend this is not clear. They pick up a hitch hiker along the way, they get to her house and the hitch hiker robs the place while the others are in town only to stumble across Leatherface who is hiding in the basement, this does not go well for our would be robber. Turns out the town officials knew about the chainsaw massacres and took justice into their own hands but as luck would have it Leatherface escaped now the mayor and several police officers want to finish the job and kill the girl as well because she knws too much.  My Thoughts: What an awful piece of shit this movie is. The gore is plentiful but subpar, the actin

Flash Gordon (1936) IMDB: 7.4  Plot: The planet Mongo is on a collision course with Earth so Flash Gordon, his girl pal Dale Arden and scientist Dr. Zarkov travel in a rocket to Mongo to try to change the planet's trajectory. On Mongo they run afoul of Ming the Merciless Emperor of the Universe and ruler of Mongo along with his daughter Princess Aura who plots to have Flash Gordon to herself. While on the planet they team with Prince Thun (leader of the Lion Men) and King Vultan of the Hawkmen. They battle Sharkmen, Octopuss monsters, dragons, gorillas and Mings guards, even turning invincible at one point to thwart Ming's plans to marry Dale. My thoughts: This is one is a little boring when viewed in its entirity, I would recommend tracking down an edited version. The acting is par for the course for a serial and the effects are actually how you would imagine them to be. The take away for me is that Flash has three superpowers, he is charming, handsome and straigh

You're Next IMDB: 6.5  Rotten Tomatoes: 74% Plot: A family get together at their spacious cabin in the woods is made horrific by a group of animal masked invaders who murder the family one by one in  a variety of ways. My Thoughts: This film was trumpeted by critics and audiences, including some friends whose taste I do not question as it tends to line up with mine, as the best horror film of the year and to that I can only say Meh. Overall it is a slightly above par film, the film looks good but doesn't stand out, the acting is for the most part fine, I don't find them particularly convincing or compelling with the exception of Barbara Crampton who plays the mother Aubrey to a heartbreaking perfection. I also want to point out director Ti West as "Artiste filmmaker" Tariq in a humorous role. The problem I have with this film is that it can't seem to decide what type of film it wants to be. At times it plays as a hip, funny post modern horror

Oculus IMDB: 6.5 Rotten Tomatoes: 74% Plot: After being released from a mental institution a young man and his sister return to their family home to find answers to the tragedy that happened there 10 years earlier that resulted in him being institutionalized. Written and directed by Mike Flanagan. Starring Brenton Thwaites, Garrett Russell, Annalise Basso, and Doctor Who's Karen Gillan. My Thoughts: All compliments to Mike Flanagan, this movie is well shot, beautifully directed and well written. The actors do a great job especially Brenton Thwaites and Karen Gillan who carry majority of the movie together in abandoned rooms. While not particularly scary it has some good thrills and some intense moments. This movie is smart and it is a joy to watch it come together as it weaves past and present into a layered story. Highly recommended.

Sacrament  Rotten Tomatoes; 62% IMDB: 6.2 Plot: A VICE reporter and his cameraman join a friend looking for his sister who has joined a cult called Eden Parish led by Father. Directed by Ti West and starring Joe Swanberg, Amy Seimetz, AJ Bowen and Gene Jones as Father. My Thoughts: Ever since House of the Devil I have been waiting for Ti West to make a movie I would love, I watched Sacrament hoping it would be the one, sadly I am still waiting but I feel he gets closer every time. From the start of the film you know something awful is in the pipeline and you are not sure what it will be, as the film moves along West builds the tension and dread expertly as the crew interviews the cult members and eventually sit down to interview the unassuming but charismatic Father. The biggest compliment I have for this film, and I have a few I'll get into later but the biggest one I have is for actor Gene Jones as Father. Jones is known as a character actor in small roles, the

Purple People Eater (1988) IMDB: 4.5 A long time ago in a department store far, far away a six year old me was browsing through the display of Halloween titles on video tape the store had set up, and there amongst the Jasons and Freddies was a movie based on a song starring TV's Doogie Howser, I walked out of that store without purchasing this film a mistake that has hung over my life for decades, a mistake that thanks to the glory that is youtube has now been rectified. Dear readers I give to you Purple People Eater starring Ned Beatty, Shelley Winters, Neil Patrick Harris, Dustin Diamonds, Thora Birch and Sheb Wooley. Billy Winters (Neil Patrick Harris) has been left at home with his older sister whom we never see again and his younger sister Molly (Thora Birch) in the care of their Grandpa (Ned Beatty). Grandpa enlists Billy's help repainting his apartment, planting flowers and laughing...laughing at everything no matter how funny it may or may not be in that bi

Top 5 Favorite Films of the 90's Jessica and I are back with our top 5 films from the 1990's.

Who Should Play As The Joker in The Justice League Movie? Welcome to the first video post for Prime Reel Estate. I am joined by my wonderful wife Jessica as we discuss who could take on the role of the Clown Prince of Crime.

The Phantom 1943 (Serial) IMDB: 7.3   Plot: When the Phantom is struck by a poison dart by a jealous tribe leader he calls upon his son to return home and take over the mantle of The Phantom. The new Ghost Who Walks must help Professor Davidson find the lost city of Zoloz while foiling the plot of Doctor Bremmer who wants to use the lost city as an airbase for his country to use during war. Along the way Phantom must wrestle alligators, stop gun smuggling, deal with a warlord, wrestle a gorilla and defeat a doppleganger. My Thoughts: Not great but not bad either. I believe that someone with good editing skills could shorten this down to an entertaining 90 minuet film that I could recommend viewing as it is a two and a half hour serial now though I don't think it's worth your time to seek this one out unless you are a fan of The Phantom

RottenTomatoes : 41%   IMDB: 6.5 Plot: While King Leonidas is fighting Xerxes at the Hot Gates, Greek general Themistokles leads a navy fleet against Artemisia a persian navy commander bent on revenge. My Thoughts:  What a boring affair this is. Rise of an Empire is another in the long sad line of 300 imitators, proving once again that while you can copy Zach Snyder's style you can't duplicate his results. No character development, no plot no thrills. Pass on this one my friends.

Batman 1943 IMDB: 6.7 PLOT: A 15 chapter serial sees Batman on the screen for the first time, being portrayed here by Lewis Wilson. Douglas Croft plays Robin, William Austin is Alfred and together they face off against J. Carroll Naish's nefarious Japanese agent Dr. Daka and his pseudo zombie making machine. My Thoughts: Ugh. There is some good stuff here, some important stuff. This serial is the first appearance of The Batcave and it's secret grandfather clock entrance. It also changed the look of Alfred, up to this point Alfred of the comics was overweight but the success of this serial changed him to the thin gentleman we know and love today because of William Austin's portrayal. Lewis Wilson is awesome as Batman, he manages to be tough in the cloth costume and convincing as the aloof buffoonish Bruce Wayne, I dare say he is one of the best in that aspect. But it's hard to get past the poor pacing that comes with most serials and the overall raci

Buffalo Girls (2013) IMDB: 7.2  Rotten Tomatoes: 33% Plot: Documentary follows two 8 year old girls that compete in an underground Muay Thai boxing circuit to help support their families. My thoughts: Coming in at a scant 64 minuets this is a fascinating look into the lives of two young girls living a life I could not imagine having to live. The handheld camera work is a bit rough but fits the subject. I appreciate the fact that the film makers do not take a side they neither condone or condemn the girls, their families or their sport choosing instead to allow things to play out and allow the audience to make their own decisions as they interview the girls, their families, referees and bookies. I recommend this one.

Lone Survivor (2013) IMDB: 7.7   Rotten Tomatoes: 75% Plot: Based on the true story of a group of Navy Seals sent on a mission to capture of kill Taliban leader Ahmed Shah, the mission is compromised and they are attacked by a group of Taliban(?) fighters leaving only Marcus Luttrell, spoiler is in the title. My Thoughts: To be clear this is only a review of the film as a film, I have not read the book on which it is based and I have only done a small amount of research about the real life events depicted in the film. Furthermore I have only the utmost respect for our men and women in uniform any critique I make is not a critique on the actual soldiers but again on Lone Survivor the film, this is a movie review blog. To say this film is flawed is a huge understatement. Drama is not Mark Wahlberg's strong point, he shines in comedies but as a dramatic actor he comes off as flat and wooden as a plywood sign. He is not however the worst part of this two hour travest

*This post is by my 11 year old son having just watched 2001 for the first time 2001: A Space Odyssey Imdb: 8.3  Rotten Tomatoes: 95% Plot: ? My Thoughts: Well at the beginning, I thought that there won't be anyone talking after the ''dawn of man" scene. Then when I saw people walk on walls, I wished that I lived in zero gravity. Then when I saw the Zero gravity toilet, dad told me that someone paused that, read that, and posted that online, and I said that I wanted to try that. And then after a couple of minutes, dad told me that every single sci-fi movies borrowed a part of this movie. And then when I saw Dave go through that vortex, my 2-year old sister, Sophia, came and saw the movie and asked " Is that the Tardis?". And while I was watching the stream, my mind was making pictures with it. Then when Dave landed at that place, it reminded me of a Phineas and Ferb cartoon that had that part. And when I saw the star baby, I also sa

Inside Llewyn Davis IMDB: 7.6   Rotten Tomatoes: 95% Plot: A week in the life of Llewyn Davis, played by Oscar Isaac, a struggling folk singer in 1961 Greenwich Village New York.  Review: A rather disappointing experience, like sleeping with a stripper it's pretty but hollow. The film follows a mildly likable character that is surrounded by idiots, assholes and bitches. There is no story there is very little joy. This was one of the films I was most looking forward to, I love the Cohen brothers but this had very little that felt like them. If you are into the early 1960's folk scene you might like this if not I think you will be bored as me. Still well shot, great acting and wonderful music I'd buy the soundtrack but not watch this again. 

Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941) Plot: Young Billy Batson travels to Siam with an archeological expedition and because of his good heart is endowed with the powers of Captain Marvel when he says the magical word Shazaam! He must use his powers and his smarts to uncover the plot of The Scorpion and save his friends. Review: This is the very first film adaption of a comic book hero, and it is pretty good. The stunts and effects look good for a movie made in the 40's the pacing is good the acting is good. The story is nothing special but keeps an exciting pace throughout. As a start to watching every superhero comic book film this bodes well. If you enjoy adventure and have a tolerance for old films you will enjoy this film.

I want to say upfront that Robocop is my second favorite action film, the only one I put above is Die Hard. So it was with a mix of excitement and dread that I faced the reboot. There will be a later post that goes into detail on the film series and will contain spoilers this one however is just a thumbs up or down quick post. Robocop 1987 Robocop stars Peter Weller as Alex Murphy a cop in Detriot who dies in the line of duty and is turned into Robocop to patrol the streets and stop crime.  As I said in the intro this is one of my favorite movies, I recommend you watch it several times. There is such a sadistic glee in the violence in this film and the humor is as dark as it gets. Watch it again and again.  Robocop 2 (1990) Robocop 2 stars Peter Weller as Robocop who continues to patrol the streets of Detroit and has to go up against OCP's drug addled Robocop 2. This movie is not as violent and not as funny as the first one but it does have alot of good stuff