The Karate Kid

This movie does not have a tagline. An updated remake of the the 80's film of the same name. A young boy is relocated from Detroit in the United States of America to the country of China due to his mothers latest career move. He almost immediately falls for his classmate who has mutual feelings, but cultural differences make the success of their friendship highly unlikely. To make matters worse the friendship incurs the wrath of the neighborhood bully. The young boy's only hope is to get the maintenance man of the apartment building he lives in to teach him the martial art of Kung Fu.

Dre Parker is a young kid who could have been the most popular kid at his school in Detroit but must now learn a whole new set of social rules and language in another country when he moves to China with his mother. Sherry Parker is Dre's mother who wants nothing more than to offer he son the best she can provide for him and that can only be done by moving to another country that offers her advancement in her career. Mr. Han is the maintenance man at Dre's apartment who is also a Kung Fu expert with a past that has kept him introverted, but finds it within himself to help Dre when he is asked by him to become his teacher. Meiying is a young violinist at Dre's school who takes a liking to him, but soon finds that for them to continue their friendship they will have to fin the courage stand up to all who may disapprove.

This movie earns the title the Karate Kid even though there is no Karate showcased or even mentioned in the film.

The A-Team

The tagline for this movie: There Is No Plan B. The big screen movie version of the 80's television series of the same name. A group of Iraq War veterans looks to clear their name with the U.S. military. They suspected of a crime for which they were framed and must break out of prison to find the people responsible. The four fugitives are being chased by the military and on the hit list of a privately contracted security organization of mercenaries.

John "Hannibal" Smith is the groups main strategist with a belief that everything happens for a reason and if you watch for the signs in front of you then a plan can together that will guarantee success of any mission. Templeton "Faceman" Peck is ladies man of the team who can use his charm to procure any and all materials that may be required for the execution of one of Hannibal's clearly detailed plots. Bosco Albert "B.A." (Bad Attitude) Baracus is the heavy artillery man of the team and the man explosives expert who is able to make anything go 'boom' with a fear of flying thanks to the team's first unofficial mission together. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock is the man on the team that can pilot anything that flies and is an inspired cook with the major drawback being that he is clinically insane by modern psychological standards.

This movie definitely captures the spirit of the television show and the look of the show with a modern twist, but in certain aspects it is missing the heart. The movie is a fun ride with flashy explosions and witty dialogue at times and fast edits to get the action scenes going, but not much else. It could be said to be a perfect Summer blockbuster and it is a sight to see with a solid story, but there are parts of it that makes you long to see it on the small screen again. I rate this movie a Rated B

P.S.
Stay after the end credits for cameos from 2 of the surviving 3 original members of the A-Team television show.   

Splice

One of the taglines for this movie: Science's Newest Miracle... Is A Mistake. Two rebellious young genetic engineers have become the superstars of the scientific community thanks to their technique of splicing together different animal DNA to create incredible new hybrids. They wish to take their splicing to the next level and use human DNA in a hybrid, but the pharmaceutical company that funds their research forbids  it. They decide to defy legal and ethical boundaries and forge ahead in secret with their revolutionary experiment. The creature they create togheter exceeds their wildest dream, but all too soon threatens to become their worst nightmare.

Clive Nicoli is one of the the two scientist given the job of running a genetic laboratory at a large corporation to develop a protein using animal gene splicing from several different species.  Elsa Kast is in a relationship with Clive and also his partner in running the genetic laboratory, but after their success with the animal hybrid she uses their technique to create a human hybrid which is a decision she eventually lives to regret. Dren is the experiment that rapidly develops from and obedient malformed female child into an oddly beautiful and dangerous winged human-chimera with a mind of its own. William Barlow is the liaison for the large corporation to the genetic laboratory who wants nothing more than to make sure the scientists are aware of the timetable set for the unveiling of their protein discovery and the profit it will produce for them and the company.

The themes touched on in this film are not easily forgotten after you have left your theater seat and that is the mark of excellent storytelling. I expect nothing but the best in thought provoking science fiction from director Vincenzo Natali who gave us the movie Cube back in 1997. Some may think that the plot was not left gestating for as long as it should, but the direction the movie takes toward the end justifies it. The acting is solid and the chemistry between Sarah Polley & Adrien Brody adds to the movie's believability in ways that make the stranger aspects in the film a bit easier to digest. Science run amok has not been this entertaining in a while. I rate this movie a Rated T.

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry

The tagline for this movie: What He Teaches You... Will Last Forever. During a Summer in the 70's a a 75 year old man takes it upon himself to mentoring 3 boys in the way of the Lord. By showing them in the real world  that the concepts he is teaching them can have positive out comes. Three boys take the lessons they have learned through bible study and apply them to their own lives. 

Jonathan Sperry is a old man who lives alone after the death of his wife to a drunk driver and decides to help three young boys learn about Christianity a few days during the Summer. Dustin is a young boy dealing with his first crush and desperate to find a way to let the object of his affection know how he feels about her in hopes that she feels the same way. Albert is Dustin's straightforward friend who usually says exactly what is on his mind until he meets someones who helps him to see that not all thougts have to be broadcasted for the world to hear. Mark is the level headed friend who sees the merit of the message but contains the analytical reasoning of a skeptic.

Christian films tend to be by the numbers stories with an evangelistic message that is pedantic. I am happy to report that this movie is well crafted and  shows that there is hope for the Christian movie genre. Everyone involved in this production worked hard to make this a film with a a message instead of a message with a film. I'm happy to report that I enjoyed the film despite the slight twist at the end which did nothing to help the help the movie. I rate this movie a Rated B.