Movie Review-Free State of Jones

FREE STATE OF JONES, starring Matthew McConaughey, is an epic drama set during the Civil War. It tells the story of a defiant Southern farmer, Newt Knight, who comes to realize that as poor whites he, and other “non-privileged” soldiers are dying to help rich whites in the south stay rich and to keep their slaves on their plantations.

The story, based on fact, is an amazing tale about a group of Confederate deserters, along with other poor farmers and slaves, who fight against the South in an uprising that gained them their freedom in the small county of Jones, Mississippi. The Free State of Jones eventually seceded from the state of Mississippi to create a free state in Jones County.

The movie is directed by four time Oscar nominee, Gary Ross, who goes to great length to show the injustice done to African Americans during that time and the gruesomeness of war. The movie is harsh and violent, with some pretty hardcore battle scenes that are a little bit hard to watch.

As a mater of fact, the entire movie is a little bit hard to watch. It makes you mad, but more importantly it keeps alive the memories of the atrocities of the past and truly tells it like it was in the old south. I don’t think we should ever forget how many African Americans died simply because they were trying to live their lives as free men. The movie claims to be historically accurate and there is no “white washing” of this violent and cruel time in our nation’s history.

I know a lot of people question why they should support another movie about slavery. Well, Free State of Jones is also a tale of bravery and courage that was shown by former slaves. Slaves who, even after the Emancipation Proclamation, were still denied their rights to vote and denied their rights as free men.

It’s an important film that, in my opinion, is not to be missed. The movie is rated “R” for violence, cruelness and language and has a run time of well over 2 hours. On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” I rate Free State of Jones a JUMBO.

Hollywood Hernandez 

Movie Review-Cenrtal Intellegence

 Central Intelligence is a new action/comedy pairing comedian Kevin Hart with action star Dwayne Johnson. The two are hilarious together with a serious “bro-mance” going on between the two former high school classmates. Johnson plays Bob Stone, a former overweight geek in high school who’s now a lean mean fighting machine and an operative for the C.I.A.

Hart’s character, Calvin Joyner, was voted “most likely to succeed” in high school but now, 20 years later he feels like he’s stuck in a rut, going nowhere, in his job as a forensic accountant. He did marry his high school sweetheart, Maggie (Danielle Nicolet). She is now a corporate attorney and things all come to a head when their big high school reunion comes up and Calvin decides he doesn’t want to go.

The story starts to spin out of control when his old high school classmate, Bob Stone, sends him a friend request on Face Book and then immediately sends him a direct message inviting him to meet for drinks. After meeting for drinks, and seeing Bob teach a few guys in the bar a lesson for bullying his diminutive friend, the two become inseparable (literally) as Calvin unknowingly and unwillingly gets involved in a C.I.A. mission of counter terrorism and espionage.

It’s all a laugh a minute and the chemistry between the two main characters is a perfect match of opposites in the big screen. Spoiler Alert: Calvin and Bob end up saving the world and the action and fun involved in doing so is non-stop. I also enjoyed the anti-bullying message that was delivered in a fun and subtle way through out the film. The movie is a fun time with a good message that doesn’t beat you over the head.

Central Intelligence is rated PG-13 for violence and harsh language. On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” I rate it a LARGE.

Hollywood Hernandez 

Movie Review-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is a nostalgic trip back to the 90’s. The new TMNT movie really captures the feel of the old original 90’s cartoon by capturing the campiness and the “anti-hero” appeal of the Ninja Turtles. Also adding to the nostalgia are the additions of some new (old) characters like Casey Jones (Stephen Amell) and Shredder’s Henchman Be Bop and Rock Steady. Tyler Perry is also along for the ride as the mad scientist Baxter Stockman and try as I may I cannot get the image of Madea out of my head for any of the time he is on the screen.

In “Out of the Shadows” the turtles have to face an alien named Krang (voiced by Brad Garrett) who wants to build a machine that can travel through different dimensions and assemble a weapon that can destroy the world. Shredder joins the evil Krang to help him assemble the weapon and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are the only ones who stand in their way.

Kids will like “Out of the Shadows” (my grandson loved it) and, if you grew up a turtles fan, you’ll probably like it as well. It’s a fun movie with plenty of laughs and action. It runs 112 minutes and is rated “PG-13” for some adult language.

On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” I rate Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows a LARGE.