JFK: What the Doctors Saw (2023)

It's a dreary and rainy morning here on the eve of Thanksgiving and it was perfect for some documentary time after taking care of the pups this morning.  With it being November 22nd, I decided to tackle the new JFK documentary on Paramount +. JFK: What the Doctors Saw.

Plot: Startling medical observations about JFK's wounds when seven doctors who were in the Parkland Hospital ER reunite to discuss a day none of them can forget.

Today marks 60 years from that fateful day and yet,  our government (which many people still trust), still will not release the information they have classified and sealed away from the world.  For many,  it's just a Conspiracy,  nothing to see here, but for many it makes one of the most tragic days in history.  For me,  I have always believed that we were being led to; there was at least one other shooter and this documentary did even more to prove that.  Unlike many previous documentaries on the subject,  this one did not rely on propped up regurgitation of the facts and theories that are everywhere. Instead, this one goes right to the front lines with the doctors and first responders at Parkland and allows them to recount what thethey experienced and witnessed. In the process, it unveils testimony and observations that have been hidden from the population for far too long. It also shows some of the irregularities with the post mortem handling of  the president and how this government driven cover-up started to be crafted.  By now,  many have awoken to the fact that the story we have been fed is a lie,  and it is far past the time where the truth should be told.  If you are searching for the truth or are on the fence,  this one is a must watch.  If you a staunch believer in the company line,  it is even more of a must watch for you,  even though you will probably just laugh it off as a Conspiracy Theory. Just remember,  if the government will lie to you about killing a president,  they will lie to you about anything. 

The Shadow Effect (2017)

I know that it has been a few days since I sat down to write something up. I have tried, and even watched a couple flicks, but between picking up a daughter in Virginia, a softball tournament, and a holiday party, I have not really been on the computer. To try to get things moving in the right direction, here is my next entry. It is the 2017 action/sci-fi flick The Shadow Effect.

Plot/ A young man's life is turned upside down when his violent dreams begin to blend with reality.

I grabbed this one at Family Video because the synopsis seemed interesting and most importantly different from what I have been watching. Unfortunately, the film did not come across in the manner that would make it easy to watch and intriguing. The performances are good enough, but the scripting and pacing seemed to be lacking. In fact, the movie felt like a strung together combination of popular action and sci-fi films that have recently come out. Overall, the film just felt extremely disjointed. In the end, unless you have nothing else to watch, I would definitely stay away from this one.

Assassin's Creed (2016)

After suffering through two movies that did nothing for me, I decided to roll the dice for some action. After some debate, I decided to breakdown and check out the 2016 video game inspired Assassin's Creed. 

Plot/ When Callum Lynch explores the memories of his ancestor Aguilar and gains the skills of a Master Assassin; he discovers he is a descendant of the secret Assassins society.

Not being a gamer, I decided to give this a shot with no idea of what to expect. What I found was something that was confusing and disjointed. The character development was uneven to non-existent making it extremely difficult to relate to the characters, the scripting was difficult to understand, and for me, there was not enough of the movie taking place inside of the historical eras that drew me in from the box/trailers. Yes, the effects were solid and some of the performances worked, but those were not enough to save this one. In the end, this is a movie that I could have passed on. Maybe it was more for fans of the game, but it wasn’t for me.

The Purge: Election Year (2016)

As a primer for last night’s Vice President debates, I decided that I had to find a movie that could serve as a proper introduction. And while my selection may not have been as perfect as something like It or Killer Clowns from Outer Space after watching Tim Kaine’s clown impression, I do believe my selection was somewhat fitting. What was that? It was the 2016 action/horror flick The Purge: Election Year.

Plot/ Years after sparing the man who killed his son, former police sergeant Barnes has become head of security for Senator Charlie Roan, a Presidential candidate targeted for death on Purge night due to her vow to eliminate the Purge.

While there are issues with almost every sequel that exists, there are times where these flaws become very evident and can turn a viewer off. In this one, one of the most visible was the over use of stereotypes within the storyline that did not need to be used to get the point across. Personally, I hate seeing stereotypical behavior because it can take away from the overall message of the film. Like with the first films, the cast is decent with a couple solid performances, there is enough action, the blood and effects come across really well, and the storyline is intriguing (even if the idea and political overtones are polarizing and may not resonate with everyone). Of course, the politics in this movie will definitely turn some viewers off (even though it may skirt around our reality), as it comes across in a way that exploits many of the truths that people across this country (and the globe) want to ignore. As with many action/horror films, the performances are uneven and the dialog is all over, but those aspects do not really bring the movie down. In the end, this one will not be for everyone and it will likely fall into the love/hate spectrum that many horror flicks fall into. For me, I think it was an interesting change in the mythology of the series and a fitting movie for this overwhelmingly surreal election season. Who knows, depending on who wins the election, these movies may become survival guides.  

XIII: The Conspiracy (2008)

With my homework out of the way last night, I figured it was time to relax. After searching Netflix for something fun, I decided that I needed some action to help get my blood flowing. After some inner debate, I decided that XIII: The Conspiracy from 2008 was just what I needed.

Plot/ The first female US President Sally Sheridan is shot dead by a sniper during her Veterans Day speech. Her assassin narrowly escapes the scene with his life, national security hot on his heels - or so it seems. On the run, clinging to one desperate clue after another, XIII begins to piece back his life, fragments of his memory.

I watched this mini-series yesterday and was rather surprised by it. Based on a graphic novel, this two-part mini-series is comparable to the Bourne series, although being made for television, does not pack the same punch. The performances are solid; the storyline/plot believable, and the action sequences worked and featured some sound cinematography. Yes, there are some head scratching moments, there is some choppy editing, and the violence was toned down (remember television), but all in all it was worth watching. In the end, if you are searching for some mindless action with a conspiracy/political themed backdrop, this one should at least entertain you. Yes, it is not perfect, but I have definitely seen much worse.

John Wick (2014)

This has been a long and cold few days here in Pennsylvania and I definitely had a fun time with it being my birthday week. With that, I decided to take a few days off and kick back and relax., although, now I do have a small backlog to add to the page in the coming days. Next up for review is the 2014 action flick John Wick.

Plot/ An ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him.

Every once in a while, I need some mindless action and this one definitely hit the spot. Yes, there were a ton of clichéd moments, uneven performances, it is very unbelievable, and the characters were flat, but that was not what this movie was about. This one was about over-the-top action scenes, a crazy amount of blood and violence, and an incredibly powerful message about loss and revenge; something that many people in society should be able to easily relate to. In the end, this one is an entertaining action flick that definitely brought the best out of Keanu Reeves. If you like mindless action and can accept the inherent flaws in that type of flick, this one is for you. Give it a shot.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Over the past few days, my cold has finally subsided and I have been able to get back into some movies. While I was going to do the last horror flick I watched, yesterday, I watched something that I could not shake all day because of its message. A message that many in the world must wake up and understand as all of humanity is being attacked by a rogue globalist agenda (Agenda 21). That move was the 2014 Sci-Fi blockbuster Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

Plot/ A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.

After missing this in the theater, I had to watch it as soon as I could, and honestly, I am pissed to have missed when it came out. While there are some predictable moments and some of the pace was uneven, this movie was one of the better entries in the series I have seen. The cinematography and effects were amazing, especially the CGI, which was incredibly accurate and created something special. Everything else works as well, with solid performances, tremendous scripting, and a perfectly matched score to carry it throughout. However, what stood out to me was the true look at mankind, and the rise of hatred toward war. As the world rages around us, one could substitute the apes for another culture, and this could be a drama worthy of discussion. This could truly be a science fiction trip into our world of conflict and show humanity how fragile our societies are. In the end, this was an amazing film and a movie that must be watched by everyone.

Parkland (2013)

The Kennedy Assassination has always been one of the biggest stories I have researched. While like many others, I have no answers, I will continue my search for the truth, as the company line does not work. Even the b government understands that, ruling the Warren Report missed some details in a little known ruling from the 1970s. With this being a disappointing Super Bowl Sunday, I decided to kick back and watch the 2013 Kennedy Assassination film Parkland. 

Plot/ A recounting of the chaotic events that occurred at Dallas' Parkland Hospital on the day U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. 

There is no greater tragedy than the assassination of President Kennedy. While answers remain to be found on the events leading up to the fatal shots, and no clear answers have come to light on the reality of events, what took place in the days and moments following the killing is a story that should have been told much sooner. Not a political or conspiracy driven film, this drama has a lot to like. The acting and cast do a great job at creating a story with emotion and atmosphere. All in all, it is a tremendous film that does shed some light on some of the overlooked events and more importantly the lives of some of the players from that tragic day. In the end, 90-minutes was not long enough for this gripping character study. This is a film that all must see and even though it is not a conspiracy driven flick, it does have some moments where questions creep in. If you have not seen it, check it out.

White House Down (2013)

As anyone who has followed my blog may realize, I do not do many flicks that are in theatres. Too often, the hype that has been built can influence an opinion. I like to wait until I forgot about something and see it then. Last night, we decided to hit the drive-in for the evening, and I got to see two flicks that interested me for different reasons; the first movie up for review from the trip, White House Down from 2013.

Plot/ While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the president from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders.

Action flicks are not normally my cup of tea, but when at the drive-in, they are always a solid bet. This flick was not great but it was not terrible either. It was a typical over-the-top action flick full of implausible and impossible details. With that, it also had the somewhat disjointed plot and feel to it, almost like the multiple story lines were so far apart that they could not be brought together smoothly. The acting was OK, and none of it was believable, but it was entertaining. To me, the biggest letdown (besides the CGI and lack of any character development) was what I expected when we pulled in, the idea that right-wing extremist sponsored by a right-wing element of the military industrial complex would be to blame. Yes, the same NDAA driven propaganda that has become the calling card for training in the DHS and DOJ in recent years.  In the end, this is an entertaining action flick that makes little big picture sense, and a movie perfect for a drive-in or living room once it hits DVD. 

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

 

 

Yesterday, I went back into conspiracy mode and outlined rising HAARP readings across certain areas of the United States. While those readings are still high and I discovered another one of the signs of HAARP devastation today with the eruption of another Central American volcano, there is still no sign of what disaster awaits; although, it could be a blizzard, as a storm is bearing down upon the region with the highest readings. Who knows? To pass some time, I decided to watch something fun, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter from 2012.

 

 

Plot/ Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, discovers vampires are planning to take over the United States. He makes it his mission to eliminate them.

 

 

I intentionally put this flick off for some time, as I expected it to be another over-hyped horror flick. I was wrong, as I found an extremely entertaining, albeit over-the-top, horror flick that had an original storyline. This action-packed gem is not for everyone, as serious history buffs will have a coronary, but it is well worth the watch. The acting was solid, the action scenes fun and well made and the cinematography and pacing were spot on. Yes, the idea is ridiculous, but the title says that. Yes, there are some flaws; as some of the dialogue may be too comedic, the make-up effects were uneven with their aging and the scripting did leave some holes, but those are small flaws in the grand scheme. In the end, this action-packed horror flick was a joy to watch with vampires being slaughtered around every corner. Sure, it is not for staunch history buffs without a sense of humor, but for the rest of society, I think you should give it a chance.

 

The Lincoln Assassination (1995)

 

 

Sometimes, a person has to venture into reality to keep themselves grounded. That is about where I am. I have spent so much time on horror and conspiracies, that I was neglecting one of my first loves, history. That being said, I decided to watch a true documentary, the 1995 History Channel entry The Lincoln Assassination.

 

 

Plot/ This documentary is an examination of the conspiracy to assassinate the beloved American president, Abraham Lincoln.

 

 

History and truths are almost always stranger than fiction. In the case of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, there are moments of history where things seem a bit strange, like Lincoln’s own vision of his death in a dream.  While this is a solid documentary, there is nothing-new put forth in it. In fact, it is what it is, a straightforward documentary on the tragic death of a true American hero and what happened to the supposed perpetrators that were convicted in the crime. In the end, this is an informative documentary that does a great job a laying out the entire story, as projected, from start to finish. I love documentaries like I do, check it out.