Carry On (2024)

Continuing a mini-trend I started the other day, I decided I wanted to stay with a holiday theme. In searching, I saw that this one was just released by Netflix and is a Netflix original. While I’m usually not a fan, I did decide to give it a go. That is the 2024 release, Carry On. 

Plot: A mysterious traveler blackmails a young TSA agent into letting a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight.

I don’t watch or review many action thrillers, to me, the genre fell flat at the end of the 1990s and has never really recovered. This one caught my eye, so I gave it a spin and wasn’t disappointed. This movie would have fit in during that era, when the action and thriller elements outweighed the believability. The performances are solid, including Jason Bateman as a villain. The atmosphere, tension, and effects work. While the storyline and actions are nowhere near plausible, they at least make it entertaining. In the end, this is a fun movie and although it is a touch predictable, it is easy to just sit back and enjoy a mindless action flick. Check this one out, for a Netflix original, it’s worth it.

Patriots Day (2016)

After a long day with an open house at the institute followed by an extremely hard nap, I decided to kick back and watch a film that I had heard mixed things about. That movie is the 2016 account of the Boston Marathon Bombing Patriots Day.

Plot/ The story of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the aftermath, which includes the city-wide manhunt to find the terrorists responsible.

This is a movie that I had stayed away from for a while but decided to hive it a shot. While I do agree there are some moments where it feels like there is some propaganda added in the dialog, it was somewhat easy to look past and focus on the movie. One of the biggest positives that I can point out is the way the film takes on an event that is still rather fresh in a viewers mind and creates something that is both entertaining and tense. There are solid performances, the pacing is strong, and the cinematography captures as authentic feel. Yes, as I mentioned earlier there were a few moments where the dialog was agenda driven (the subtle 911 was an inside job reference was an interesting choice) and there are some holes between the opening sequences and the ending, but those are rather easy to overlook when a viewer thinks of the scope of a project such as this and the actual way the  events transpired. In the end, this one was much better that I expected and a movie that is both entertaining and interesting. Check it out.

Inferno (2016)

Dante’s Inferno is one of my favorite works of literature and any time I find something that is linked to that work, I devour it. That is why I was excited by my last trip to Family Video. That is where I found the 2016 entry Inferno.

Plot/ When Robert Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Dr. Sienna Brooks, and together they must race across Europe against the clock to foil a deadly global plot.

Let me start by saying that I did not read this book, so I have no idea how well the adaptation is. Unfortunately, in this case, I imagine that I would have been better of searching out the book instead of watching this one. While not a terrible movie, there was nothing truly memorable about it and it did not come across in a smooth and coherent manner. Yes, the performances are solid, the score amazing, and using Dante and the classic Inferno as a basis is a great choice for a mystery, but those elements cannot make up for the overall disjointed and rushed feel of the film. In the end, this is entertaining, but it is also very forgettable. Unless you are a Landon fan or totally immersed in the works of Dan Brown, there are better choices for you.

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

I have taken a few days off from the blog researching into a couple of topics (conspiracies) over the past week. While I did not find any new revelations, I did find a few tidbits that may prove interesting. During this period, I did catch a couple movies. One of the first was the 2007 entry Charlie Wilson’s War.

Plot/ A drama based on a Texas congressional representative Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.

I sat down to watch this one because I wanted to see how Hollywood portrayed this time in history. Of course, what they created was a one-sided piece of propaganda that does not provide a clear narrative on the aspects of this period that still haunts us today. The overall depiction of the Russian army is quite atrocious. While I am not saying they were great or saints, they were also not quite the bloodthirsty rapists that were depicted. Plus, the movie never truly reveals the truth about the Mujahedin (or gives even a hint that they would become al Qaeda). With the way paragraphs can be added to the visual effects, Being loosely based on a true story and book, Hollywood should have informed viewers of this fact before the end credits (but, I understand that does not meet the propaganda aspects I am sure Hollywood was going for). Yes, the acting, cast, and scripting was solid (especially Phillip Seymour Hoffman), but overall the movie fails to take advantage of those elements by creating a one-sided and inaccurate account of history and a film that should be considered demeaning to women. In the end, like many films that deal with history, the liberties taken to create a singularly focused narrative distort reality. Sure, it has its moments, but it should not be taken seriously in any way.

Jericho Season 3: Civil War

On the Internet there are stories galore published by conspiracy theorists talking about the end of days, or an impending apocalypse. Of course, many of these are deep rooted inside strange interpretations of prophecy and the rise of the antichrist, but there are some stories that are spawned from a deep-rooted fear of the government and the military industrial complex that falls under control of the New World Order.

Incredibly, many similar theories were brought to life in pop culture by the cult television sensation Jericho in 2006. While Jericho was not for everyone and was cancelled due to failed ratings, many of the storylines in this post-apocalyptic series resonated throughout the underworld of conspiracy theorists, especially those who view the military industrial complex and the government as the biggest enemy to the country’s sovereignty. 

Through this remarkable show, viewers were able to see the emotional gambit of surviving a nuclear attack on American soil, and the turmoil that arrives when the country is turned into two nations. As America discovered in the 1800s, two nations is not an optimal situation. Unfortunately, CBS pulled the plug before fans could see the completion of the impending civil war and many were left with too many unanswered questions. 

In 2009, the shows’ creators and writing staff came together with Devil’s Due Publishing to produce Jericho, Season 3: Civil War. This six issue series (and eventual IDW graphic novel) from the minds of Dan Shotz, Jason Burns, Matthew Federman, and Robert Levine and the artwork of Alejandro F. Giraldo, Matt Merhoff, and Michael Stribling gave fans everything they wanted to know about what happened after CBS shut them out. 

This series starts at the exact moment the show ended and transports the reader to the safety of Texas, where antagonists Jake Green and Robert Hawkins present evidence from the initial bombings that destroyed the United States. While there, mastermind John Smith, who needs their help, contacts Jake and Robert and they must decide how to venture into the future. 

There is at least a small flashback for those unfamiliar with the show, which will potentially open their eyes to the layered backstory from the show and the vile depths that a corrupt government would go for power. However, that also shows how comic series and the graphic novels were clearly written for the fans of the original show and filling in the gaps that remained after the cancellation. While the fan base of the classic show continues to grow, because of the material covered inside this series of books, a new reader may not be able to completely relate to what is going on unless they have digested the full backstory of the television series. 

Seeing the storyline evolve from television to comic form is powerful and thought provoking, with each issue acting as an episode of the show, even leaving off as a cliffhanger? From the ease of transitioning between issues, the influence of the shows experienced writing team is apparent. Unfortunately, because of the authentic feel and relationship to the source material, this graphic novel feels like it ended too soon, even if it was not able to truly capture the emotional feel of the show. 

The artwork throughout the series was amazing, and consistently captured the likeness of the characters throughout the season and portrayed the dismal atmosphere of the show surrounding the main antagonists in a believable way. More importantly for fans of the original show, the subtle imagery that was always present inside the town is still present. The only flaw with the artwork surrounds the new cast and characters that were sprinkled in, as they did not have the same detailed feel of the main cast members that came to life on the television. Of course, this could be the fan in me becoming overly critical and those minor elements do not hurt the overall product in any way. 

As a fan and a closet conspiracy theorist, Jericho Season 3: Civil War gave me enough answers to keep me intrigued, and leaving me to find Jericho Season 4 (released as a graphic novel in 2014) to find the answers to the cliffhanger. While this format may not truly capture the full emotional toll and detailed characterizations that helped propel Jericho into the hearts of fans, it is still a great way for the creative team of the landmark show to continue to build a following and keep those like me enthralled by the complex nature of the storyline.

Predestination (2014)

After being blown away by Nightcrawler, I figured that it would be hard to find something that I would enjoy even more in the next few weeks. Fortunately, I was wrong about that and found another movie that may be even better: 2014s Predestination.

Plot/ On his final assignment, a time traveling, Temporal Agent must come to terms with life and pursue the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time.

Sometimes, movies fly under the RADAR and are truly underappreciated. That definitely is the case with Predestination, as it was one of the best Sci-Fi films to come out in some time. This movie was not only smart; it carried a tremendous grittiness that enhanced the overall dark yet moving storyline. The characters were developed, the performances solid (especially Sarah Snook), the cinematography outstanding, and most of the entire story was detailed and thought provoking. Yes, the pacing was done with some odd time signatures that will cause some questions during the initial moments, but those questions should be answered as the movie plays out. In the end, this was an entertaining and strange journey into an interesting world and it is a movie that must be seen. If you have not seen it, find it and watch it!

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

As the days creep toward the holidays, it is fun to occasionally venture into a few blockbusters. Usually, I stay away from them, as they are often watered down and miserable. Fortunately, there are times where I roll the dice and come out surprised. In this one, the mention of Planet X or Nibiru was that moment. Next up, 2013s Star Trek Into Darkness.

Plot/ After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction.

As someone who is not a huge Star Trek fan, and one that hates reboots, I actually have intentionally stayed away from this series for some time. Now, after watching this one, I may have made a mistake. While it does stray from the intricacies of the original Gene Roddenberry platform, it does take the series into a direction that is at least interesting and action packed. Having not watched many of the original series of movies, my memories are stuck with the original series I watched in my youth, I was able to appreciate some of the modern ideals that were added. The action was solid, the plot made sense, and there was some layered character development throughout. Sure, some of it was predictable, and there were some plot holes mixed in with the clichéd moments, but this did little to offset the underlying themes put on display. In the end, I may not be a Star Trek purist and that may have allowed me a different insight, but I definitely found this one of the more Sci-Fi films in some time, and it made me want to explore this universe some more. If you have not seen it, give it a shot.

Goodbye World (2013)

With the report coming out in the New York Times earlier today that there may be a terrorist plot to detonate a nuclear devise in Chicago, thoughts of Jericho immediately popped into my mind. After watching that series last year, I still get chills when thinking about it, and the way the military industrial complex was realistically portrayed as the enemy. With the apocalypse in my mind, I decided to venture into the rabbit hole, with the post-apocalyptic themed Goodbye World (2013).

Plot/ When a mysterious terrorist attack causes chaos in the cities; a group of friends take refuge in their countryside cabin. But the challenges of living in a post-apocalyptic world soon take their toll on relationships within the group.

This flick was definitely different from my usual entries, as it is more of a character study in a post apocalyptic society, than a true apocalyptic based movie. Yes, there are mentions and allusions to the end times, but those aspects are not central to the story. What is central to the movie is the different ways this type of event will shatter lives and relationships while secluded from populous. The performances are solid, the characterizations believable and the storyline was layered; featuring the subtle intricacies in relationships that can spiral out of control when faced with isolation. Yes, the dialog is uneven, there were some clichéd moments, and some of the movie was too predictable. In the end, this is one of the better (and only) dramas that I have watched in some time. It is entertaining and educational, and a movie that should be taken seriously.

Dragon Day (2013)

With the chatter of the New World Order’s plan for destroying America gaining momentum over the past weeks with the different information/disinformation on Ebola coming out, it is always fun watching movies with an apocalyptic feel. Of course, I feel that Jericho is a more likely scenario, but that is my opinion. Next up for review is the 2013 low budget apocalyptic flick Dragon Day.

Plot/ A family getaway to a mountain town turns deadly when China launches a massive cyber attack against the USA, forcing former NSA engineer Duke Evans to fight to save his wife and daughter in the New World Order.

Teaching electronic communications everyday, I truly believe that the next wave of attacks on the country will be a cyber attack that takes out the electronic necessities in life. I have been looking for a realistic post apocalyptic movie and this one definitely falls into a case of realism. While this one has some believability and an interesting premise, for the most part it was rough in its execution, which prevents it from reaching its potential. The acting is uneven, there were some cinematic flaws, and some of it came across forced and predictable. To me though, the believability factor and the balls to go where Red Dawn would not by implicating the Chinese as the primary culprit in the NWO takeover of America made it an enjoyable watch. In the end, this one is far from perfect, but it is also an interesting take on the end of the republic. Give it a shot; there are worse films out there.

Transcendence (2014)

Sci-Fi flicks are always hard to figure out. Sometimes they present storylines that are so far out, there is no way they could be true. Other times, they tackle subject matter that could become reality (or already exists), a fact that can make for an eerie trip into its world. Next up is another Sci-Fi movie, the 2014 A.I. entry Transcendence.

Plot/ A scientist's drive for artificial intelligence, takes on dangerous implications when his consciousness is uploaded into one such program.

I remember seeing the trailer for Transcendence and hoping that it would be awesome. While I missed it in theaters, I was able to finally grab it at Family Video. Unfortunately, it did not live up to what I was hoping for. Sure, the movie was not terrible, as it did have some solid performances, decent cinematography and direction, and an interesting (yet disjointed) storyline. However, the uneven script featuring unrefined story layers draws it down and leads to uneven event pacing throughout, which suffocates the atmosphere. In the end, while this movie is far from great, it also does not rise to the potential that it contained. Yes, it had some entertaining moments, but it is in no way anything memorable.

Chariot (2013)

After a long weekend, it was nice to get back to work. Unfortunately, my knee started to hurt some before the end of the day. Hopefully, it lasts a little longer tomorrow as I have to pull the late night. Next up on the review docket is the 2013 thriller Chariot. 

Plot/ Seven strangers find themselves unwitting participants in a U.S. government evacuation program gone horribly wrong. 

This was a movie that really surprised me, especially considering the low budget used. While not perfect, the majority of the acting, the claustrophobic atmosphere and an interesting storyline kept me entertained throughout. I love the conspiracy theories being thrown about, it was definitely a high point. Sure, there are some pacing issues and some uneven moments, but those were expected with the low budget. In the end, this was an entertaining thriller that was a lot better than I expected going into it. Revolution is coming and it is not out of the realm of possibilities that a program like this could exist. Give it a shot, it was an interesting 90 minutes.

Jericho (2006 - 2008)

Everywhere you look, it seems as though the United States as you remember is disappearing. The economy is in the dirt, unemployment at an all-time high, a president more intent on pushing his radical progressive agenda that doing what is right for the country and lawlessness in the government that has left a bad taste in the mouth of many Americans. Government approval is tanking, as even the most hypnotized sheep are starting to wake. Ironically, these same overtones existed on the State Run Media in the form of Jericho, which ran from 2006 to 2008 on CBS.

Plot/ When Jake Green returns to his Kansas small-town home Jericho, where his dad Johnston is mayor, everyone is preoccupied with petty private business and family matters, but that changes drastically after a completely unexpected explosion. It soon becomes clear there has been a nuclear attack, but neither by whom nor on which scale. Suddenly life in Jericho, and as the inhabitants gradually discover all over the disintegrating USA, becomes a more primordial struggle for survival, where unexperienced dangers, primitive as well as technological, have to be weighed against pressing primal needs, such as food, fuel and self-defense against plunderers, invaders and even each-other.

While I do not usually review television series as a whole, in this case, I feel it is my continuing duties. As Veterans Day nears, I have been drawn into this series and could not get enough of it. Over this past week, I have been able to watch all 29 episodes on Netflix, and I can see exactly why it was removed from the air, as it digs into the hearts of Patriots and shows how the United States is being destroyed by rogue elements within the government and military industrial complex. It is so well done, that it addresses reality in a fictional setting better than any documentary can.

Yes, there are some unbelievable moments that take away from the story, and some of the characterizations leave a bit to be desired, but those are not many. If anything, the biggest negative was the fact that many storyline were never able to be fully developed and a lot of loose ends were left dangling. However, what was accomplished in this series is amazing and should be seen, thought about, discussed and appreciated.

The story is thought provoking, the main characters draw you in and the parallels to our society cannot be ignored. Sure, some sheeple will not ever agree that this series is anywhere near reality, and they would be wrong. The rise of the military industrial complex and their influence on America is truly devastating in reality, and they sit at the heart of all of the programs that are destroying the fabric of America. They talk a good game, taxing the rich, redistributing wealth, unified health care, but those are the hallmarks of Communism, ideologies that we military veterans fought against for generations.

Jericho has a huge following and has been transformed into a comic book series, but it deserves even more attention. There has been a push to bring Jericho back, either on CBS or on Netflix and you can count me in the group. This show must be seen, it must be thought about!

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

Last night was another day at the house and another trip into Netflix to find something for my viewing pleasure. Of course, I had wanted to watch VHS 2, as one of my students recommended it, but after some time with the daughters hanging out, I knew that would not work. After thinking about it, I decided upon Olympus Has Fallen from 2013.

Plot/ Disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped inside the White House in the wake of a terrorist attack; using his inside knowledge, Banning works with national security to rescue the President from his kidnappers.

This was definitely one of those mindless action flicks that while it had some entertaining moments, also suffered from many of the pitfalls that plague this genre. There were some solid performances, decent action scenes and the cinematography worked. Unfortunately, the characterization was uneven, the CGI hit and miss, and the plot featured a lot of huge holes that took away from the already unbelievable storyline.  On a positive note, this was much better than White House Down, as the enemy was at least tangible and not a piece of propaganda created to meet the radical progressive narrative. In the end, I enjoyed this flick and found it an interesting journey with some thought provoking moments. Sure, it is not for everyone, but no movie is. 

The Demented (2013)

Zombies are always great fun, especially when you get into the debate on whether they should be the slow, Romero mythos version or the 28 Days later, rage infused creatures. For me, I definitely fall on the Romero side, but really zombies are just awesome! Last night, I decided to kick back with some low budget rage infused zombies in the 2013 entry, The Demented.  

Plot/ Six college friends unite for a weekend getaway where they find themselves fighting for their lives after a terrorist attack turns the local residents into rage infused zombies.

After watching The Lords of Salem Friday night, my Saturday watching was destined to suffer and it did. The demented is not a terrible flick by any means, in fact, it had a lot going for it with a decent cast, some solid acting and an interesting premise. Unfortunately, it also did not offer anything new to the rage zombie genre. Yes, it did have some tense moments and some decent chases, but it was on such a small scale that it could not drive the film. To top it off, the low budget flick featured almost zero gore and most of the make-up effects did nothing to create an atmospheric zombie. The real killer was the ending can you say head scratcher? All in all, this was not a terrible low budget zombie flick, but it was not great either. For me, it was a bit too tame and could have went so much further.