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marcus563
Reviews
The Salvation (2014)
Raw Western--A must see
90 minutes of solid raw western action. The dialogue is used as needed. No wasted words or scenes. If you like Westerns then you like this film.
There is just enough emotion to make the characters feel real without overdoing and over extending the scenes. The characters' motivation is clear and their actions are pointed.
The rustic set gave the film a great raw and edgy feel that kept my attention. Western fans will see familiar images and scenes from other classic Western films, which makes this film a tribute film in a way but it also stands on it's own merit as Western.
Overall, it is worth watching.
Steve Jobs (2015)
The Public and Private life of Steve Jobs
A cradle to grave story about a man as iconic as Steve Jobs would be 3 hours of life highlights laboriously in the style of connecting dots to show who Steve Jobs was. Rather than creating such a complex narrative, this film focuses on three very public events in Steve Jobs life and showing behind the stage at these pubic events key elements of his private life.
Enough has already been said about the public events, his product launches, but in these events we see Steve Jobs' determination toward success and his failings. Steve Jobs is seen as a jerk at times but also a man who in the end will do right by his daughter.
As the credits were rolling, I reflected on the film and looked at my sons IPOD. At that moment, I realized what the film was doing, showing how Jobs had design vision for technology but it took awhile for technology to catch up to his vision, while contrasting his public and private life with a stage curtain.
This film clearly shows a cross section of Steve Jobs and lets the viewer come to an understanding of the man whose products we all know.
The Captive (2014)
Contrived Ending
Throughout this film the audience knows the father is innocent, but the characters are two steps behind. Being behind the truth is the detective's dilemma. As other reviewers have pointed out the plot holes, which to them make the police look stupid, it also makes the criminals that much smarter. Yes the accomplice pours drugs into a water glass and does not get noticed and this has been called a plot hole. The other characters are not attentive which makes the villains appear to more sinister.
I found this film to be intriguing, wondering if the father was going to find his daughter. He never gives up and is rewarded. I enjoyed it. The ending wrapped everything up and delivers a happy ending, which I found a bit sappy with Cassandra ice skating. Perhaps the message this film is conveying is for families to work at being together to remain whole and complete.
Basically this film uses the ancient separation, devastation, return cycle. Father, mother, daughter are together and happy. There is a separation with the daughter being abducted. The father's and the mother's life are devastated and are brought back to a happy life once their daughter is returned.
The Runner (2015)
Values and Compromises
I think this film has been underrated. Everyday we make compromises just to get through the day. Nicolas Cage shows us a man who has ideals and is striving to live up to those ideals, helping the fishing industry of Louisiana.
He refuses to compromise with the oil industry. He resigns because his position has been compromised because of marriage infidelity.
He finds happiness with his political consultant as he and his wife begin to divorce, but his consultant decides to work on her own marriage and he has to compromise again and go back to his wife who has become his second choice.
We see him struggling and hurting showing the emotions of grief, loss and struggling to keep his dream alive.
In the end he makes the big compromise and runs for the Senate with the oil company backing him and he struggles to give the speech in which he says life is about compromise.
I really liked it. If you want a movie about heroes watch Avengers or Iron Man. If you want a reminder of how good people strive to be heroic for others and do the best they can in a broken world watch The Runner.