Keyska2004 Reviews

K-PAX (2001)

Is he or isn't he an alien? Until the end of the movie you will not know. So my advice is to watch and listen carefully to all of the dialogue.

[10/10 · 26 January 2015]

This is one of my "Go To" movies when I want to be drawn into it and forget my daily troubles. Kevin Spacey in the lead role plays "Prot" a gentle intelligent man who claims to be from the world called K-Pax. Jeff Bridges plays the intellectual psychiatrist "Dr. Mark Powell". Dr. Powell is a realist who has an answer for most cases that come to him, but Prot presents something that he cannot quite put his finger on it. Dr. Powell takes Prot to his home to interact with his family and the movie makes a twist here showing Prot in a different light. Prot makes friends with everyone, staff and patients at the mental hospital that he was placed into. K-Pax brings this whole experience to a head in the last 20 minutes of the movie entangling the audience in everything that was explained and understood to what was left unbelievable in the movie.

Meet Joe Black (1998)

A drama that should be reconsidered as a love story

[9/10 · 24 January 2015]

I have watched this movie so many times I do not have to watch the screen to understand what is taking place. Yes, it is a drama featuring Anthony Hopkins as the top notch business executive who has everything you could want, but death steps in. He begins to suffer painful heart attacks, but for some reason the voice he hears in his head works out a plan for the two of them. The initial dialogue is very well set so with the entrance of Brad Pitt your interest is peaked. But, even though this is listed as a good drama with interactions between death and the main character; it is the side story of death learning what life is all about, including love. Claire Forlani is excellent as the quiet daughter who becomes very fond of the reincarnated young man she met in a restaurant. Their interaction is a classic love story. I will not explain how the story ends because, folks you just have to watch this movie!

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

50 years of enjoyment and still thrilling audiences at any age!

[10/10 · 24 January 2015]

How many movies in your lifetime can you really say left a mark on you? I was 9 years old when my father took me to the Michigan Theater downtown Lansing in January of 1963. I was amazed by the size of the theater let alone the opening scene of this movie with the desert sunrise. There were huge speakers in the back of the theater which enhanced the music perfectly. Peter O'Toole was the perfect choice to play the main character T.E. Lawrence. Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness, Claude Rains, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quinn and Jose Ferrer were perfectly cast for their parts throughout the movie as well as other movies that they would play in. World War I was a horrible war with so many new ways to kill each other readily available. The battle scene in the second half of the movie brings out some of those horrors. Lawrence was a visionary at the right place at the right time in history even though as time passed his vision was more skewed until he finally left Arabia. Jack Hawkins and Claude Rains played their parts perfectly as the General and diplomat who would use whomever they could to get what they wanted in the end. I have enjoyed watching this film for over 50 years and it still ranks a 10 out of 10 because of the depth of characters, scenery, script and music. I cannot say enough to advance this film as it does it on it's own.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

If you enjoyed Star Wars, you will simply love this movie!

[9/10 · 23 January 2015]

Okay, okay I have to admit that Rocket is the coolest character to come to the big screen since WALL-E. Rocket and his muscle(wooded)friend still the scenes many times throughout this movie. Just as in The Big Chill, the music will blow you away if you like classic Rock n Roll. The best movies have sound tracks that stick with you long after the movie ends. Bingo! Chris Pratt's character is so real that you can immerse yourself into him as you watch the movie. His actions are so realistic you can imagine yourself acting the same way. His costar Zoe Saldana continues her significant strong feminine profile with a character almost equal to her Avatar persona. Guardians of the Galaxy pulls you right into the movie with the opening scenes. Science Fiction fans will flock to this film, and its sequels in the future. There are so many different types of characters that pop up in this film, more realistic than Star Wars (not a slam either, just better CGI) and will make you look differently at how you judge others. I have very few films that I will give a 10 out of 10, but Guardians is a very strong 9.5 out of 10. Please take the time to watch this film and just enjoy the action and drama, laugh out loud, and cheer on the gang as they go from one situation to another.

Lucy (I) (2014)

Don't listen to the critics, experience this film for yourself and decide.

[8/10 · 23 January 2015]

The beginning of this film will be a classic start for many films to come. Lucy's character develops and she states that she has 24 hours. I watched this film 7 times in the theater because it caught me off guard just as the original Star Wars film did (I saw that one 16 times the first week it came out). Certain films will entice you, if you really enjoy action films and how they are shown you should really dig this one! It also helps that you can relate to a strong lead woman instead of the traditional male character. Scarlett continues her strong character presence in Lucy and there is so much going on that you need to watch it again just to pick up all that takes place. I prefer to completely watch a film first and experience it for what the director wants you to feel. Then I will watch it for again for everything else. Lucy and Guardians of the Galaxy are two fantastic Sci-Fi movies for all of us to enjoy for years.

Like Water for Chocolate (1992)

Subtitled movie, but True Love in old Mexico is something to behold.

[9/10 · 1 May 2011]

Yes this is a romance movie, but it is a fantastic fantasy fairy tale quality love story. Pedro and Tita fall in love but Tita's mother objects. Tita is the youngest in the family and she must stay home and take care of her mother until she dies. Her mother even arranges a marriage between Pedro and Tita's older sister Rosaura so Tita and Pedro can never become as one.

As I said this is a fantasy, and once you get past all of the initial story buildup for all of the characters the fun begins.

Tita was born in the kitchen and befriended by Nacha the hired cook. Nacha raises Tita as her own teaching her how to cook and enjoy life. Once Tita's mother sets down the law of how things will be, Tita changes. Tita's cooking becomes magic. Whatever Tita is feeling when she cooks, it comes to truth in the final product. If Tita is sad and lonely, anyone who eats her cooking feels those emotions.

I have watched this film several times since it was made in 1992, and it always leaves me feeling full of loves emotions. You have to watch this movie to understand the fullness of these emotions. I have gotten use to the subtitles over the years and prefer them to the English dubbed version of the movie. I love it.

Stuart Little (1999)

Little is more than a mouse.

[8/10 · 1 May 2011]

This film is for the whole family to enjoy with several great actors adding to it. Stuart Little (voice by Michal J. Fox)is our main character who is adopted so the Little Family can have another son. The son George (Jonathan Lipnicki) has hopes of another little boy like himself but he is disappointed by the adoption of a little white mouse. George turns around and really likes Stuart after Stuart helps George beat out the snotty little boy who always wins the annual boat race. Stuart steers the boat to victor and brotherhood with little George Little.

The family cat named Snowbell (voice by Nathan Lane) has substantial parts in this movie, beginning by putting a hit on Stuart with the help of some bad cats, who send out fake mouse parents to abduct Stuart. But in the end Snowbell turns around to assist Stewart help defeat the cats. Stuart Little is simple movie but very enjoyable to watch. This film is suitable for all ages and the special effects are amusing.

When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

Boy meets girl, again, again, again, and again over many years. A true romance that is well filmed.

[9/10 · 24 April 2011]

Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan set the standards for Romance Movies with this feature. A young couple take a trip from Chicago to New York and then separate but meet several times over the ensuing years. Billy's character (Harry) has to have sex with all women because he cannot commit to any relationships. Meg Ryan plays Sally, a good republican midwest girl who thinks she knows what she wants for her life, but is dumped many times and deeply hurt from her relationships.

We all have relationships that suffer from some of these trials and tribulations, but do we offer the truth to each other in order to make things right. Harry explains at the end of the movie everything that he loves about Sally which is a revelation to not only him, but Sally too.

This is one of my favorite romantic movies to watch year after year. After being married for 27 now, this movie is now part of our lives and always will be. So I hope that you will enjoy this movie as well as we have over the last twenty years.

ALF (1986–1990)

Short smart mouthed alien moves in with an All American family.

[7/10 · 24 April 2011]

This TV series that lasted for five years was one of my favorites. The average All-American family enjoys(?) the company of a hairy alien. Alf's lines throughout these shows generally will make you laugh. Not to mention roll your eyes now and again.

Alf is played by Paul Fusco, with Max Wright as Willie Tanner and Anne Schedeen as Kate Tanner makeup the majority of the shows programs. The kids are played by Andrea Elson and Benji Gregory as Lyn & Brian tanner.

Chaos is the main ingredient for most of these episodes. Simple humor, quick shows, a canned laughter will make you laugh. Enjoy my fellow earthlings.

Lost (2004–2010)

Airplane crashes (?) on island where nothing is as it seems. Modern day Twilight Zone.

[9/10 · 24 April 2011]

My first thoughts were correct, but I still watched it over all these years. I bought these episodes on DVD so I would not have to watch any of the commercials. I can say that it wasn't easy but I prevailed along with Calvin K. until the end.

Jack is such a great name for a story character, but I guess I am just prejudice being a Jack. Kate, Hugo, Sayid, Sawyer, Charlie, Claire, Ben, Desmond and Daniel. These characters will be forever in my mind as I grew older with them as they explored the Island and tried desperately to get off of it.

The black smoke, Richard and Jacob always kept us in suspense. Good acting made each of these characters very believable and realistic to me.

I am sorry that the journey is over, but I know something else will step up to simulate this adventure, but as the original I am sure nothing will come close to this series.

Mississippi Burning (1988)

Predudice in the South back in the Sixties

[9/10 · 24 April 2011]

I am disgusted to be white every time I watch this movie. White is Right? Might is Right? Heck no! But, I watch this movie at least once a year to remember what Martin Luther King fought and marched for.

I spent 6 months in Florida in 1962 at my older sisters home recovering from my leg surgery. I spent most of that time on the "other side" of the wall separating the whites and blacks. I would go over fishing with them for fresh water Mullet, and listening to their stories. There were a few times they told me to leave before something bad might happen, but I was only 9-yrs old at the time. I just didn't know or understand. Granted Florida was not the same as Mississippi, but the KKK were everywhere down south.

Growing up over the next few years I remember the episode of the 3 civil rights workers as well as the churches always being burned to the ground. This movie takes everyone back to another one of our dark days as a nation when most everyone turned their backs on what a few were doing.

All students should watch this movie, as it is part of our heritage, not the best part, but still this is America of the Free and Brave.

Avatar (2009)

Cripple excels as an Avatar changes allegiance for what is good.

[10/10 · 24 April 2011]

I saw this movie 5 times in the theater, and when it comes around in IMAX next time, I will be there.

CGI has once again provided us with a fantastic vision of the future. If the next two films turn out as great as this one, James Cameron will not have to worry about working again.

Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana give outstanding voice characterizations to their CGI characters. I also love how they created a whole new world including the fauna and animals.

This movie should be watched only on a wide screen TV so that you can enjoy the benefit of all of the action. I love to turn off all of the lights but a few candles and sit back and watch the full version of this movie with friends and family (my dogs because my wife doesn't enjoy SciFi).

The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

This movie will sweep you off your feet, and then get you sitting on the edge of your seat. French-British War for the North America 1757.

[9/10 · 24 April 2011]

To start out with, the acting was superb from Daniel Day-Lewis, Wes Studi, Russel Means, Eric Schweig and Madeline Stowe. The intensity of the Mohawks, the passion of the frontier settlers, the arrogance of the British soldiers. The time period shows how the daughters of the British General are not very wise to the world and just what truly happens.

Costumes and the re-enactment was very realistic. War is hell, and this movie shows it from the scalping of the British soldiers to the cannon fight at Fort William Henry.

This movie has a lot in common with the old Alfred Hitchcock films, in that the music is subtly infused when needed. The ending of the movie with the build up of the "Main Title" music during the race to retrieve the two daughters will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Tangled (2010)

Long-haired girl finds adventure and love in the real world.

[9/10 · 24 April 2011]

What a wonderful movie to watch and enjoy. I have enjoyed animated features for the last forty+years from Rocky & Bullwinkle to Wall-E. Tangled was so good I saw it in the theaters twice, and I now have it as part of my private collection of movies (1500+/-).

It is a refreshing tale of Rapunzel that brings out the laughs and happiness in life. I truly hope that Hollywood brings forth more movies like this one. Every girl will love to relate to this movie.

This movie is back on track for Walt Disney Studios and what they need to produce. CGI has opened up animation to the splendors of the 21st Century and what can now be produced. Hollywood has an excess of great actors who can share their voices with these creations. I'm looking forward to the next few years, Tangled = well worth your time.

Thank You for Smoking (2005)

If you can talk faster on your feet, you can excel at anything.

[8/10 · 24 April 2011]

Aaron Eckhart (Nick Naylor) gives a very strong performance as a professional "B.S." spokesman for the cigarette industry. The cast was rounded with J.K. Simmons, Adam Brody, Maria Bello (I loved her in Coyote Ugly), David Koecher, Robert Duvall, Katie Holmes, Wm Macy, Sam Elliot, and Cameron Bright as Aaron's son(Joey Naylor).

I grew up amongst smokers and smoking. I tried it but, I just couldn't start it. I am very happy for that point. This movie gets your juices rolling on whether or not you are a smoker or an non-smoker. You will make your own decisions if you like or dislike this movie, but please take the time to watch it.

Finding Nemo (2003)

At the time this movie came out it was the absolute best cgi film ever made!

[10/10 · 8 January 2011]

Two parents have babies until a big bad guy kill all but dad and junior. Dad has to raise junior now all on his own. Junior grows up and gets kidnapped and taken far away. Dad searches all over for him. Sounds like an everyday story that you might hear from the radio or read in the papers. Tough story to understand and realize. But, let's put this into perspective for our children to understand.

This story is about little Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould) and how he not only overcomes what life gave him (short stubby fin) but taking on challenges and adventures by himself and some friends along the way.

But the true story is about a fathers' love for his son and everything that he would do to protect him. Marlin (father voiced by Albert Brooks) meets with a talkative and short term memory loss fish named Dori (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) and they end up taking a long journey in search of Nemo. This quest will lead Marlin and Dori through old shipwrecks, giant sharks, jellyfish, and the demons of the deep ocean, not to mention mankind also.

Marlin is afraid of his own shadow, but with a little luck and many friends that he meets across the ocean he opens up and becomes the type of person we all dream of.

The colors in this film make the ocean seem so realistic that you will enjoy watching this film without your kids in the same room. Life is special and short, we need to strive for all we can be, and always help out others. This movie is a definite Pick-Me-Up film.

Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)

Fantastic Fairy Tale with a new twist - Must See

[8/10 · 3 January 2011]

Danielle, played by Drew Barrymore is the Cinderella like character in this Fairy Tale. Prince Henry is played by Dougray Scott who plays his character with all of the charm and elevated level of an aristocrat.

Danielle, whose mother passed away early in her life lives with her father in a nice Château in France. Her father comes home with a new step-mother Rodmilla, played by Angelica Huston who in my opinion plays the perfect evil stepmother. She has two daughters Marguerite and Jacqueline played by Megan Dodds and Melanie Lynskey. Marguerite is the spoiled doting elder daughter who is spoiled rotten, and poor Jacqueline always is downplayed.

This is the best movie that I have ever watched Drew Barrymore where I like her and the character that she plays. This is a good love story for young teenage girls. Good for the whole family.

Constantine (2005)

Hold on to your bootstraps, this movie will take you through the dark side of Religion

[9/10 · 3 January 2011]

John Constantine played by Keanu Reeves, and his sidekick Chas Kramer (Shia LeBeouf) are our earthly guardians who keep Satan's minions and bad angels in check. In fact Constantine has taken such pleasure in returning Satan's bad boys back to Hell that Satan has sworn that when Constantine dies, his soul is the one soul that he would leave Hell for.

Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) a police investigator has a twin sister who apparently has committed suicide at a hospital. Angela cannot believe her sister would ever commit suicide, being Catholic, so she must have been murdered. It is at this point that both Constantine and Dodson meet. Something supernatural is suspected, and Constantine being who he is, is the best candidate at solving this crime.

Pruitt Taylor Vince plays Father Hennessey a retired priest who can perceive/hear voices as his special gift; assists Constantine with his investigation until his untimely suicide/murder.

Enter in Balthazar (Gavin Rossdale) the evil Satan overlord on earth. he is always around when something goes wrong. You really appreciate hating this guy.

So Constantine and Dodson team up and solve this murder mystery. Tilda Swinton plays the Angel Gabriel, who is not what she seems. Of course, enter Satan played by Peter Stormare and he portrays what Satan would look like in human form.

I will not spoil the end of this movie for you, so take the time to watch it, but I will warn you that it is not for young children at all.

Dogma (1999)

This movie is vulgar and everything that is against what we have been told about Angels & Demons. I do enjoy it.

[8/10 · 3 January 2011]

Vulgar, swearing, sexual references, large feces demon everything that would normally turn me away from a movie. But! But, this film is extremely funny with Linda Fiorentino, Allan Rickman, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith all play off each other so well, that you actually do not worry about the language and sexual references.

Chris Rock plays Rufus, the 13th apostle. His interaction with Linda, Jason and Kevin is hilarious at several times.

Linda plays Bethany the last living descendant of Jesus Christ, of course she doesn't know it but the demon Azrael played by Jason Lee does know it.

Every good movie needs a group of main characters, in this case there are two sets: Linda, Allan, Jason, Kevin and Chris who are trying to stop the second set of characters Ben and Matt who play angels who were cast out of God's heaven for not following orders.

There is gore in this movie so beware, nothing like the horror flicks of today, but just that same there is much blood shown throughout the film. By the way did you know that God is a woman?

Babe (1995)

Great Animal Movie for your pets

[8/10 · 3 January 2011]

My wife and I adopted a two and a half year old Samoyed, and we noticed that he likes certain types of movies. Well after living with us for a month, I am playing "Babe" for him, and guess what? He loves it! Tasha sits in front of the TV and he is absorbed by this movie. Why you ask, well I will tell you.

Babe covers all of the farm animals voices and dubs them with human voices when they are having discussions with each other. The duck, voiced by Danny Mann, gets Babe (the pig) into trouble right off in the beginning.

For some reason the old farmer (played by James Cromwell)takes a liking to the little pig after the pig helps save him his sheep from poachers. Even though Rex the lead dog (voiced by Hugo Weaving) doesn't trust the pig, Fly the mother dog (voiced by Miriam Margolyes) takes Babe under her protection. James Cromwell plays a very self reliant Australian Farmer who can fix everything by himself.

Magda Szubanski plays farmer Hoggett's wife who has visions of cooking Babe for the Easter Banquet competition. Magda thinks that her husband is starting to act a little strange with the pig when he starts to have the pig work with the sheep.

This movie has a few moments that are scary for little ones, but otherwise it is a perfect movie for the whole family to sit down and watch together.

You will love the ending of this movie with Babe at the Sheep Dog National Finals, it makes you feel very good.

American Beauty (1999)

Strange American Epic Movie

[8/10 · 3 January 2011]

Kevin Spacey plays Lester Burnham and narrates throughout this film about an average American family that is anything but normal. Thora Birch who plays the daughter of Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening is self absorbed and tries desperately to be anything but normal or accepted.

Kevin's attraction to Thora's high school girl-friend Mena Suvari makes every male nervous because as a male, I can relate to the childhood crushes that can take place. Kevin who is in a loveless marriage is attracted to Mena because she is the forbidden fruit.

Thora is turned on by the next door abused son of a Marine Col. Frank Fits played by Chris Cooper. Wes Bentley plays Ricky Fits the tortured son who will not fight back against his abusive father. Wes and Thora make a perfect match.

Annette Bening's character, Carolyn Burnham is frustrated in her marriage and falls into an affair with another leading real estate salesman Buddy Kane played by Peter Gallagher.

The ending of this movie seems to me like many of Kevin Spacey's films, unpredictable. His films are worth the time to watch and own. Enjoy.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Shawshank takes you through many emotions.

[10/10 · 3 January 2011]

Morgan Freeman is fantastic in this film as he guides Tim Robbins through his 20+ years at Shawshank Prison. This movie takes you through many different emotions. Everything that takes place in the prison makes me definitely not want to ever go to prison!

Tim Robbins gives a superb performance as Andy Dufrense an innocent man sent to a very vengeful prison. If you have never seen this film, you will be amazed by everything that happens. Great ending by the way.

The warden played by Bob Gunton is the perfect 2-faced bible-toting, under the counter dealing bad-guy in a position of power over others. Somehow this movie summed up life over the last fifty or so years looking back on who was in power running the country and big business.

The Time Machine (1960)

Time Flys

[8/10 · 18 December 2010]

I have to confess that when I first saw this movie in the mid 60' I had one of my first crushes on a movie star, Yvette Mimieuix who plays Weena in this classic sci-Fi movie. Yvette was simple looking in this movie, but that is what made her stand out. It just goes to show that you do not need lots of make-up to impress somebody.

Now Rod Taylor, he was the ideal man that we all wanted to grow up to become. He was not afraid to take chances or stand up to others who ridiculed him and his goals, not to mention that he was pretty well set for money. Just watching him act, we all wanted to have his casual self awareness that he could portray.

This movie still stands out as the best film to date, as the remake doesn't even come close to it. The scenery was simple but acceptable for the time that this film was created. I still enjoy watching this movie every year along with the other classics.

As a young Sci-Fi movie enthusiast, this movie allowed me to believe that I was George Wells experiencing everything that he felt, smelled, touched. Why did time fly, and what happened to the world that I was skipping through? You have to watch this film with the eyes of a youngster and their ability to believe without seeing.

Love Actually (2003)

Best Romance / Holiday Film

[10/10 · 11 December 2010]

I was asked why I did not rate this movie as one of my top Christmas movies of all time? Granted that it is taking place starting a few weeks leading up to and including Christmas.

Several small stories are interwoven into a beautiful romantic love story that will make even the hardened heart soften up. I have watched this movie with many different people and they all agree that it is simply a great romance that will someday become one of the "Classics" to watch every year. Except for the nudity this movie would have been a TV annual event, but since the nudity is involved within one of the smaller love stories within the film, yes it is needed. It is sweet between those two young people.

My favorite story is the romance between Colin Firth and Lucia Moniz. They cannot speak the others language, but fall in love with each other. The end of the movie is the highlight for this romance as it flashes back and forth between a couple of the ongoing story lines.

Hugh Grant does not hurt this movie one bit, but playing the British Prime Minister with real life faults, it was refreshing to see life through his eyes also. Nice touch.

Take the time to watch this movie with your special loved one, and remember why the two of you got together in the first place. I do love this movie, actually!

Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)

Very good remake of a Classic Sci-Fi Movie

[8/10 · 21 November 2010]

Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson and Anita Briem work together very well in this humorous remake of Jules Verne classic "Journey to the Center of the Earth." I am a very strong fan of the first movie starring James Mason and Pat Boone. I believe that movie was never intended to replace the original, but to compliment the writings of Jules Verne by making his writing come to life in the 21st century What a great way to remake a movie, especially with the availability of special effects. Anita makes a good guide to get the movie started. The mining train ride was especially good in 3D at the theaters. This is a great action movie in it's own rights. I truly hope that a sequel will follow! Brendan Fraser reminds me of Harrison Ford when Harrison began the Indiana Jones series. Everyone likes a great action/comedy film. I am impressed on how all of my friends aged 7-60 really enjoy watching this movie.

I have watched this movie at least a dozen times now, and I still enjoy it as if I was watching it for the first time.

If you like this film you may enjoy some of my other recommendations that are similar to it: Dragon Slayer, Atlantis-The Lost Empire, Stardust, or InkHeart.