End of the Spear - Movie Review

Nate Saint is a pilot and Christian missionary who, with his family, lives and works in the jungles of South America near the Amazon. Nate is fascinated by tales he's heard of the Waodani, a violent and aggressive tribe living nearby, and with a group of fellow Christians takes it upon himself to teach them the importance of compassion and forgiveness. However, the leader of the Waodanis, Mincayani, does not trust the white visitors, and believes they may have had something to do with the disappearance of a young girl from his tribe years ago. A meeting between Nate and Mincayani goes terribly wrong thanks to Nate's inability to understand the Waodani language, and Nate and four of his fellow missionaries are savagely murdered by the tribesmen. However, in the final moments of his life, Nate is able to impart a message in Mincayani that bears fruit years later when Steve Saint, Nate's son returns to continue the work his father started.

If this wasn't based on a true story, it would have been an OK plot, but since these events actually happened, it was an incredible story. The thought of finding a tribe of people who haven't had contact with "civilization" is far-fetched, but actually happened. Then add into the mix the fact that these missionaries had contact with them and ended up living with them makes for an amazing story that proves the old saying, "Truth is stranger than fiction." Having said all that, the movie could have been better since it had all of that material to work with. Instead, it focused a bit too much on the missionaries and the tribe separately instead of showing more of their lives together once they met, fought, made up and decided to co-exist. There had to have been some interesting conversations and interactions as the two sides shared their customs and methods of survival. Bottom line, it would have been better if it was a documentary. I'm in luck since there is a documentary about these events called Beyond the Gates of Splendor. I can't wait to see it.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Chad Allen, Louie Leonardo

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Tsotsi - ACE Train Movie Review

Tsotsi is the street name used by a young Johannesburg delinquent who has taken to a life of crime in order to support himself. Tsotsi comes from a blighted upbringing - his mother died slowly from AIDS-related illnesses, and his father was torturously abusive - and he has developed a talent for violence borne of necessity as well as taking strange pleasure in hurting other people. One evening, Tsotsi shoots a woman while stealing her car, and only later discovers that her infant son is in the back seat. Uncertain of what to do with the baby, Tsotsi takes the boy home and tries to care for it - going so far as to force Miriam, a single mother living nearby, to nurse the baby. With time, Tsotsi learns the basics of child care, and the presence of the baby awakens a sense of humanity in him that life on the street had stripped away.

For a foreign film, this was a high quality flick. Of course, you have to get over the fact that they speak Afrikaans with English subtitles, but it really doesn't take anything away from the movie. The acting is excellent and the cinematography is Hollywood quality. The plot is dark and disturbing, but also contains glimmers of promise and hope. I was sucked into the story, but my only complaint is that it's too short and doesn't fully explore all of the topics that are raised. However, you can use your imagination to complete the picture, but it ended so quickly and left me wanting more. I suppose that's the sign of a good movie.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Presley Chweneyagae

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Something the Lord Made - ACE Train Movie Review

Alfred Blalock is chief surgeon at Johns Hopkins University, where he is pioneering new techniques in heart surgery. Blalock makes the acquaintance of Vivien Thomas, a carpenter hired to work at the University, and to his surprise discovers a man of keen intelligence who has a great interest in medicine. However, as a poor black man in the Jim Crow South, Thomas lacks the financial resources to obtain a medical degree, though he certainly has the knowledge and the desire. Blalock takes Thomas on as his lab assistant, and together they develop a technique that allows them to correct a common congenital heart defect in children. However, while they work side by side in the lab and in the operating room, Blalock and Thomas do not walk the same paths in society, and Thomas develops a deep resentment that he has been given little credit for his contribution to a medical innovation that makes Blalock famous.

This film is based on a true story which always boosts my rating. The story is straightforward and heartwarming, but complicated and cold at the same time. It is deep and tackles many different issues - race, animal testing, human experimenting, society "norms" and gender roles. Some of the topics are more subtle than others and it is executed very well and follows a logical path. I'm amazed that Mos Def (the rapper) was so good and he worked well with Alan Rickman's character. They carried the movie and laid the framework for a great true story of a pair of very different individuals who triumphed over adversity.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Alan Rickman, Mos Def, Kyra Sedgwick

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Thank You for Smoking - ACE Train Movie Review

Nick is a man who has turned spinning news and information into a successful career for the tobacco lobby. He plots strategies with his colleagues on how to make other dangerous products more appealing to the American public. Nick ends up going to Hollywood with his young son in order to get a movie producer to include characters smoking in his newest film. Nick is kidnapped by a vigilante group concerned about the harmful nature of his product.

This is a great piece of satire that is funny, shocking and most importantly, captivating. It had the feel of a behind-the-scenes documentary exposing things that the public wasn't supposed to know. The fact that the topic was controversial added to the intrigue as well. All of the actors did a great job and were totally believable in their roles. This is a very smart film and a must see for anyone who would like some insight into the kinds of conversations that go on behind the scenes which result in the positive spin of dangerous products (i.e. tobacco companies paying for ads that warn against smoking).

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, William H. Macy, Rob Lowe, Robert Duvall, Katie Holmes

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Wild - ACE Train Movie Review

Sampson is the king of a make-believe jungle far from the African plains - he's a lion on display at a zoo in New York City's Central Park, and he lords it over the other animals, including Nigel, a testy koala bear; Larry, a dumb but well-meaning snake; Bridget, a bright but cynical giraffe; and Benny, a very New York-ish squirrel who is good friends with Sampson and is trying to romance Bridget without much success. The pride and joy of Sampson's life is his son, Ryan, and he's devastated when one day Ryan is crated up and shipped back to Africa. Sampson is desperate to find his boy, and with the help of his pals he escapes the zoo and sets out on a daring mission to rescue Ryan, battling the unfamiliar terrain and Kazar, a wildebeest with a will to power and a passion for choreography along the way.

This film was cute and had some funny parts, but it wasn't very original. Madagascar was much funnier and had roughly the same plot, so if you want to see a movie with talking animals, see that instead - the music was better as well. However, this movie is definitely kid-friendly, so I suppose that's a plus for all the parents out there. It's only 1 hour 15 minutes long, so you can check it out yourself without wasting much time.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Jim Belushi, Eddie Izzard, Janeane Garofalo, William Shatner, Richard Kind

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Akeelah and the Bee - ACE Train Movie Review

Akeelah Anderson is an 11-year-old being raised by her mother, Tanya, who was left on her own after the death of her husband. While Akeelah is a very bright girl, she's hardly a star student and seems afraid of acting like a bookworm around her friends and classmates. However, Akeelah's teacher sees genuine potential in her student and encourages her to enter the school's spelling bee, convinced Akeelah has the brains and the talent to win. Akeelah applies herself and emerges victorious in the local competition, but discovers the going gets tougher when she goes to a statewide bee, studying for the regionals under the aegis of strict English teacher Dr. Larabee, who consents to act as her coach. Meanwhile, Tanya feels intimidated when she finds the contests are dominated by children from wealthy families and privileged backgrounds, and argues that the competition may not be in Akeelah's best interest, believing instead that homework should be the one and only priority in Akeelah's life. It soon becomes apparent that if Akeelah has any intention of entering the national spelling bee championships in Washington, D.C., she will not do so with Tanya's permission or blessing.

I never thought I would have ever watched a movie about a spelling bee, much less like it. However, I was completely surprised by this film and am glad I took the time to watch it. I'll admit that I was sucked in and was rooting for the little girl to go all the way and win the spelling bee championship. Keke Palmer was excellent in this role and Laurence Fishburne brought a sense of elegance an authority to the film. The lessons learned through this movie are excellent for any kid growing up who feels different and holds their talent back so they "fit in." Even for parents, there's plenty to learn from this film including the need to support your kids and encourage their interests. Don't be turned off by the lame-sounding plot, this is one to watch.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Keke Palmer, Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

SJ Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues - 10/5/06

Shawnna and I went to this game which was opening night. After some grub at the Old Spaghetti Factory, it was game on at the tank. The give-away was a poster featuring Jonathan Cheechoo (winner of the Maurice Richard Trophy as top goal scorer) and Joe Thornton (winner of the Art Ross Trophy as top point scorer and the Hart Trophy as league MVP). The trophies were on display in the arena as well. The biggest changes from last season seamed to be an increased ability to project images on the ice during the build-up to the opening faceoff and the change in the song that is played when the Sharks score - it's "Holiday" from Green Day.

Opening night got off on the wrong foot as Dan Hinote scored 36 seconds into the game to give the Blues a 1-0 lead. Matt Carle tied it with a goal 2 minutes later, but that was short lived as Jamal Mayers struck back 1 minute later. Things settled down after that initial flurry and the period ended with the Blues up 2-1.

The 2nd period saw the Blues spending a lot of time in the penalty box and the Sharks took advantage with Milan Michalek storing 2 goals 46 seconds apart - both on 5-on-3 power plays. That put the Sharks up 3-2, but the Blues tied it up when Lee Stempniak deflected a Bill Guerin shot past Vesa Toskala.

The 3rd period featured a lot more than goals as a referee had to leave the game after being hit in the eye by a shot from Milan Michalek. Also, the game was delayed for 20 minutes while the maintenance crew repaired a hole in the boards caused when Jonathan Cheechoo crashed into them. Amongst all that, Mark Bell scored his first goal as a Shark to give them a 1 goal lead with 5 minutes to play. Just when it seemed the Sharks had it in the bag, Bill Guerin scored with 6 seconds to play in the game after the Blues pulled their goalie, sending the game to overtime.

The overtime period was owned by the Sharks. They held the Blues without a shot and Curtis Brown scored on a deflection halfway through the period to ensure the Sharks started the season off on the right foot with a 5-4 victory. Hockey's back!

Score: W 5-4 OT
1st Period
Blues - Dan Hinote (Jamal Mayers, Dallas Drake)
SJ - Matt Carle (Mark Smith, Marcel Goc)
Blues - Jamal Mayers (Dan Hinote)
2nd Period
SJ - Milan Michalek(PP) (Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo)
SJ - Milan Michalek(PP) (Joe Thornton, Steve Bernier)
Blues - Lee Stempniak (Bill Guerin, Eric Brewer)
3rd Period
SJ - Mark Bell (Jonathan Cheechoo, Joe Thornton)
Blues - Bill Guerin (Keith Tkachuk, Martin Rucinsky)
Overtime
SJ - Curtis Brown (Matt Carle, Steve Bernier)

SJ SOG: 35
Blues SOG: 35
Winning Goalie: Vesa Toskala
Losing Goalie: Manny Legace

Tickets: Section 205 Row 12

A Clockwork Orange - Book Review

A Clockwork Orange takes place in a futuristic city governed by a repressive, totalitarian super-State. In this society, ordinary citizens have fallen into a passive stupor of complacency, blind to the insidious growth of a rampant, violent youth culture. The protagonist of the story is Alex, a fifteen-year-old boy who narrates in a made-up teenage slang. Alex leads a small gang of teenage criminals through the streets, robbing and beating men and raping women.

After a particularly violent attack on an old woman, Alex is arrested and learns that the woman has died. He is sentenced to fourteen years in prison. After a few years, Alex is selected as the first candidate for an experimental treatment called Ludovico's Technique, a form of brainwashing that incorporates associative learning. After being injected with a substance that makes him dreadfully sick, the doctors force Alex to watch exceedingly violent movies. In this way, Alex comes to associate violence with the nausea and headaches he experiences from the shot. The process takes two weeks to complete, after which the mere thought of violence has the power to make Alex ill. He is released from prison and finds that not only is he incapable of vicious acts, but he's defenseless as his earlier victims begin to take revenge on him. If Alex is to survive, it will take a drastic action on his part.

This book is very deep and packed full of fundamental struggles between opposing forces: good vs. evil, man vs. government, commitment vs. neutrality, youth vs. maturity, intellect vs. intuition. The problem is that this level of depth could be lost if you aren't able to look past all of the violence and strange vernacular. The use of a made-up language was a bit troubling at first and I wasn't sure I'd be able to really understand the events taking place, but it got easier as the book progressed - you can guess the meaning of the words based on context most of the time. Anyway, without this quirk, I'm not sure the book would have been asintriguingg and captivating. It's definitely an original literary work that should be read at least once - the book has an extra chapter that the movie doesn't address, so don't try to take the easy way out :-)


Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I read it again: No

A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess
Paperback: 192 pages
Released: 1962

Down in the Valley - ACE Train Movie Review

Tobe is a pretty 18-year-old whose father, Wade, is the sheriff of a town in California's San Fernando Valley. Tobe is driving to the beach with some friends when she stops at a filling station and meets gas jockey Harlan, who dresses like a cowpoke and claims to have recently relocated to Los Angeles from South Dakota. Harlan is immediately and obviously taken with Tobe, and when she asks him to tag along for the day, he impulsively quits his job to follow her. Tobe and Harlan soon become a couple, but Wade is convinced Harlan is not all he claims to be, and Tobe begins to wonder if her father might be right when Harlan takes her horseback riding and their date is cut short after police inform them the horses were reported stolen by Harlan's pal Charlie. Tobe's suspicions grow when Harlan offers to teach her little brother, Lonnie, how to shoot using a pair of real .45 revolvers, as his actions become less charming and more worrisome.

Snooze... This film was pretty boring and disturbing on a couple of levels. The relationship between Edward Norton's character and the young woman was bizarre as was his relationship with the woman's younger brother. It was slow moving and I couldn't figure out what the point of the plot really was. It ended without answering the biggest question I had - who is this guy and what's his play? More than once, the movie reminded me of Brokeback Mountain. Maybe it was the horses and cowboy getup, but I fully expected a gay cowboy love scene - not that there's anything wrong with that :-) It definitely had the "independent" vibe, but it didn't hit the mark as a feature film.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Edward Norton, David Morse, Evan Rachel Wood, Rory Culkin

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Stay Alive - ACE Train Movie Review

In the days following the mysterious death of an old friend, a young group of gaming enthusiasts comes into possession of a chillingly realistic game based on the exploits of a 17th century noblewoman who earned the name "The Blood Countess" for her murderous exploits. Their curiosity piqued by the fact that they were obviously not supposed to come into possession of the grisly game, the teens soon give in to temptation and begin doing battle for high score. When the chilling events of the game begin to bleed over into the real world and the real-life deaths of the players begin to mirror the deaths of their in-game characters, the race is on to defeat the murderous Blood Countess and ensure that other curious gamers don't fall into the same deadly trap that they did.

The premise of this film was very original - events that transpire in a video game start happening in real life. The fact that is was eerie and creepy made it an even better plot. However, it got old pretty quick and the believability factor wasn't there, so it should have been even more over the top with more blood, gore and better special effects. Instead, it got a little corny and predictable toward the end. There are definitely better horror films out there, but I'll give this one credit for putting a different spin on things.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Frankie Muniz, Jon Foster, Samaire Armstrong

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow - Movie Review

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow revolves around the mysterious disappearance of some of the world's most revered scientists. When an investigation is launched, Polly Perkins, reporter for the prestigious Chronicle, and Sky Captain, resident flying ace, are at the forefront of the case. Though the mission's perks include traveling around the world, the stout-hearted duo are nonetheless risking their lives with each passing moment, as the culprit is none other than the nefarious Dr. Totenkopf, and his goal, from what they can gather, is to destroying the earth in its entirety. Luckily, Sky Captain and Polly are not alone - Franky Cook, the commander of an all-female amphibious squadron, and Dex, an unparalleled technical genius, have joined them in hopes of saving the planet before it's too late.

This competes for the worst film I have ever seen. I can't believe 3 "major" Hollywood starts signed up to make this piece of junk. I have never turned off a film without watching it all the way through, but I was very close with this one. Everything that took place in this film was cheezy (the action, the dialog, the special effects). There were several scenes that seemed to be stolen directly from other movies - Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, Star Wars. So, not only was it unoriginal, but it was painful to watch and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are heavily sedated.

Rating: 1 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Red Eye - Movie Review

Lisa Reisert is a young woman with more than her share of anxieties about flying. However, when circumstances demand she go to Miami, she gathers her nerves and books a seat on a late-night flight. Sitting next to her is a handsome and charming man named Jackson, whom she already met in the airport, but once their jet is safely in the air, Lisa discovers he's not the pleasant traveling companion she imagined. Jackson is part of a terrorist cell plotting to kill the head of Homeland Security, and he's decided to draft Lisa into helping him. While Lisa has no interest in abetting Jackson's plan, he soon reveals he's holding a trump card - his compatriots are holding Lisa's father hostage, and will kill him if she doesn't cooperate.

For a "Mystery & Suspense" film, there sure wasn't much mystery or suspense. From the beginning, there didn't even seem to be an attempt to throw you off the trail of what you think is going to happen. It's all laid out before you and just follows the track all the way to the end without derailing your expectations one bit. The fact that the terrorists never even mention why they are plotting to kill the head of Homeland Security makes it even more of a shallow film. The best part of the film is the "pen in the neck" scene. Other than that, it's a forgettable movie and a waste of 90 minutes - the fact that Colby from "Survivor: Australia" is main security guard for the head of Homeland Security speaks volumes.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Colby Donaldson

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Loverboy - ACE Train Movie Review

If loving too much were a crime, well-meaning but overbearing mother Emily would be spending life behind bars with no hope of parole. When Emily was a child, her parents were deeply in love with one another but tragically indifferent to their affection-starved daughter. Now a grown adult with a deep-rooted desire to bear a child, Emily goes to desperate lengths to conceive before eventually giving birth to an exceptionally gifted boy whom she names Paul. Emily's devotion to Paul burns brighter than a thousand suns as she creates a wondrous world of books, music, art, and games to share with her growing child, but her ever more desperate attempts to preserve the purity of their relationship reach a frantic fever pitch as a kindhearted local man opens his life to the pair and Paul prepares for his first year of school.

This is a very slow moving and boring film. There are several big named actors whose talents are wasted in this methodical and monotonous movie. It seemed as though the entire film was one big dream sequence where everything was fuzzy and slow moving. There were also a couple of strange and questionable relationships that were never fully developed or explained (like Sandra Bullock's character and her friendship with the little girl). This movie was an adaptation of a best-selling novel, so I assume the book is better, but the film certainly is not worth watching - unless you're having trouble sleeping.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Kyra Sedgwick, Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, Marisa Tomei, Sandra Bullock

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Running Scared - ACE Train Movie Review

Joey Gazelle is a low-level "mechanic" in the Mafia who hopes to rise through the ranks by doing whatever is needed. One night, a drug deal goes very wrong when police show up and try to close down the operation; shots break out and a battle ensues, with a pair of cops meeting a particularly violent fate at bad end of a gun barrel. Joey is given the gun that killed the policemen and is told to make it disappear so it can't be used as evidence; however, before he can do that, the weapon is stolen by Oleg, a friend of Joey's young son, who takes the pistol and uses it to shoot his abusive stepfather. Now that the gun is implicated in high profile crimes, it's vitally important that Joey find it as soon as possible, but his search for the firearm is complicated by the fact that Oleg's stepdad is affiliated with a rival gang of Russian mobsters, and that Rydell, a seriously corrupt police detective, is hot on Joey's trail. Joey's search for the gun takes him through the grim criminal netherworld of the city, where he must face off against nearly every sort of crook, con artist, and deviate that has ever walked the earth.

This film is action-packed and kept me interested throughout. There are several twists and turns which keep you on your toes, but the number of sub-plots gets to be too much at times. There is even an entire sequence of events that seemed completely unnecessary and could have been removed while not affecting the film at all (the disturbing scenes with the man and woman who had a thing for filming kids). Overall, it was a good movie, but it seemed like they tried a little to hard to keep up the intensity which resulted in some over-acting. It also relied on a few too many coincidences for my taste and the final big twist made the ending way too cliche.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Paul Walker, Cameron Bright, Chazz Palminteri

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Hard Candy - ACE Train Movie Review

Hayley is a 14-year-old teen whose emotional maturity seems to betray her tender age. Jeff is a potential child predator whose intentions toward his young chat buddy seem less than honorable. After meeting in a coffeehouse and getting to know each other briefly in person, Jeff invites Haley back to his place, and it's not long before Jeff's underage guest is pouring drinks and posing provocatively for an impromptu photo shoot. As the evening's questionable activities take a decidedly sordid slant and the raptorial Jeff appears poised to strike, a sudden turn of events finds that his apparent victim has had a plan of her own from the very beginning.

Very dark and disturbing movie that keeps you confused during much of it. There are some very sick things that happen and it raises some controversial issues that make you think about what side you are on - either side you choose can be considered creepy and disturbing. Being an independent feature, it ends without answering all of the unanswered questions which means you have to create your own conclusions. Sometimes, I think this type of ending is lazy, but it seems to work for this film and might not be as good if the ending ties up all of the loose ends. This film is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Clerks - ACE Train Movie Review

When Dante Hicks is reluctantly put in charge of the Quick Stop market on his day off, he tries, though half-heartedly, to perform his minimum-wage duties as efficiently as possible. This gets tough amidst the on-going fight with his girlfriend, Veronica, and his attempt to get back together with his ex-girlfriend, Caitlyn Bree. Meanwhile, his friend and alter ego Randall is working behind the counter of the adjacent video store - at least when he feels like it. Randall's unabashed disdain of his place of employment, a long with his self-admitted hatred towards its customers is a sharp contrast to Dante's feeble attempts at the niceties of customer service. Much of the film consists of Randall and Dante's criticism of their customers, their lives, and the world in general.

This is a cult classic which was originally released in 1994. It's so amateurish and low budget that you can't help but like it. The fact that it was filmed on a $27,000 budget and began the career of writer/director Kevin Smith makes it a must see for anyone who has an appreciation for independent films. It should also be appealing to anyone who worked in retail and can relate to the quirky customers who inevitably enter the store and provide fodder for funny bar stories. In this day and age of multi-million dollar films with huge special effects, it's refreshing to watch a movie like this that relies solely on the script and actors to create the entertainment.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Best in Show - ACE Train Movie Review

A television crew is on hand to document the prestigious Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, and competition is fierce among the canine devotees vying for top honors. Salesman Gerry Fleck, who is cursed with two left feet (literally), and his wife Cookie have entered their Norwich terrier "Winky" in competition. Wealthy and neurotic Meg Swan and her husband Hamilton are on hand with their Weimaraner "Beatrice," who they fear may have been traumatized by watching them have sex. Scott Donlan and his life partner Stefan Vanderhoof have brought their beloved Shih Tzu, "Miss Agnes." Trophy wife Sheri Ann Cabot and her close friend and trainer Christy Cummings are hoping for a repeat victory for Sheri's poodle, "Rhapsody In White." And Harlan Pepper, who operates a store specializing in fly-fishing gear, has decided to stack his bloodhound "Hubert" up against the competition.

The worst thing a comedy can be is unfunny and that's exactly what the majority of this film is. I suppose if you're really into dogs and dog shows, you can probably find humor in the over-the-top dog breeders and trainers that are portrayed in this mockumentary. However, if you're like me and have never seen a dog show, I doubt find this movie enjoyable. The humor is very dry and the semi-improvised comedy style doesn't work most of the time. There are several recognizable actors in this film, but unfortunately they aren't utilized to their potential. This is one experimental comedy that failed.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins, Parker Posey

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Lucky Number Slevin - ACE Train Movie Review

Upon arriving at the empty apartment of his old friend Nick, the unassuming Slevin is troubled to hear the voice of his missing friend's next door neighbor Lindsay expressing concern as to Nick's safety and whereabouts. When Slevin ventures into Lindsay's apartment only to be greeted by the uninviting fist of a thuggish mob henchman, he quickly realizes that Nick is indeed in grave danger. Soon summoned by the big boss and accused of being the deeply indebted Nick, Slevin's attempts to prove his identity are foiled by the fact that his wallet had been stolen upon arrival in the city. With time running out and a complex plot to assassinate one of the city's most powerful crime bosses slowly coming into focus, the arrival of a notorious hit-man named Mr. Goodkat forces Slevin to step up his desperate search and reclaim his identity before he's forced to pay a debt that could cost him his life.

After the first hour of this film, I didn't think it was very good. The actions of Slevin didn't match the situations he was put in. He seemed too loose and carefree as he was being threatened with violence and death. I thought it was trying to be a funny film where it should have been scary and dramatic. However, the last 30 minutes changed everything. In that time, all of the stories, characters and mannerisms came together and I realized how genius the plot had been. Everything made sense and now I have to watch the movie again to look for clues throughout the film. Awesome!

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, Lucy Liu, Bruce Willis

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Donnie Brasco - ACE Train Movie Review

Joe Pistone is an FBI agent who is given an assignment to infiltrate the Mafia; calling himself Donnie Brasco, he befriends Lefty Ruggiero, a low-level mob hit man whose personal life is in tatters. Lefty's marriage is falling apart, his son is a junkie, and his health is failing, which only adds to his growing disillusionment about having spent 30 years with the Mafia with little to show for it. But in Donnie, Lefty sees someone who can succeed where he failed; he takes the young man under his wing, and under Lefty's tutelage Donnie quickly rises through the ranks of organized crime; however, the longer he plays the role of the gangster, the more Joe Pistone finds himself becoming Donnie Brasco in his increasingly rare off hours; it drives a wedge between himself and his wife and children, and Joe realizes that a break in character among the hoodlums he's come to know could mean a death sentence for himself and his family. Just as importantly, Joe has come to regard Lefty as a close and trusted friend, and Joe realizes that when the day comes where he has to turn in his Mob associates, he'll be ending Lefty's life as surely as if he put a slug in his head himself.

This is a great film in the same vein as The Godfather. The difference is that this film is told in the perspective of an undercover FBI agent who infiltrates the mob in order to bring it down. The fact that it was based on true events made it that much better and the special feature section even has an interview with the real Joe Pistone who talks about which parts of the movie were true to life and which were embellishments. The saying, "truth is stranger than fiction" definitely holds up for this film as it would have been a good film if it was fiction, but it's a great film since this stuff really happened. You have to give Joe Pistone credit for devoting several years of his life to bringing down the mob at the expense of his personal life. It's crazy to see how much he became one of "them" before the FBI finally ended the operation. This is a must see.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Michael Madsen, Anne Heche

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - ACE Train Movie Review

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen takes place in an alternate universe where the characters of several literary classics exist in reality. As if that weren't enough, they've been assembled together in 1900 by Queen Victoria as a team of evil-fighting heroes. Among them are Allan Quatermain from H. Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines; Mina Harker from Bram Stoker's Dracula; Tom Sawyer from several works by Mark Twain; Dorian Gray from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray; Captain Nemo from Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; The Invisible Man from H.G. Wells book of the same name; and several others. Working together, the odd assortment of characters must combine their powers to defeat a mysterious villain and save the world from certain destruction.

I really expected more from a Sean Connery film. The premise seemed interesting and should have translated well into an action packed, blockbuster film. Instead, it turned out that the plot was a little cheesy and I never felt any type of emotion about what the League was trying to accomplish which meant I was indifferent and wasn't rooting for them. This made for a rather ho-hum experience. The special effects could have been way better as well, which doesn't say much for a film that relied heavily on them. The ending left it open for a sequel, but I don't think it's nearly good enough to subject anyone to another film unless they get a better director and maybe a larger budget for special effects. Not worth the time to watch it.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Sean Connery, Shane West, Stuart Townsend, Richard Roxburgh

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.