Nerd in the 'Noke

Cars 3 (2017), G, 109 minutes - Over the years, Disney/Pixar has proven to be the cream of the crop when it comes to animated films.  While I would argue that Pixar's overall library ranks above-average to excellent, there have been a couple of missteps in recent years.  This film's predecessor, 2011's Cars 2, being one of them.  That film suffered from its attempt at making Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), a wonderful supporting character, into the star of the film. Cars 3 returns Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) to the spotlight, and rights the ship for one of Pixar's most recognizable franchises. Over the years, Lightning McQueen has risen to dominance of the Piston Cup circuit.  More often than not, either he or one of his buddies takes home the checkered flag, with the winner enjoying the spoils, and the others taking pride in playing pranks on the winner.  One day seemingly out of the blue a rookie, Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer), takes the field by surprise...

The Lone Ranger (2013), PG-13, 149 minutes  - It has been years since I last saw an episode of the old The Lone Ranger television series starring Clayton Moore.  I used to watch it as a kid with my dad and that old series is part of why I grew up with an affinity for westerns.  Unfortunately, because it has been so long, I can't remember how campy it may or may not have been, but I do feel pretty comfortable in saying that this version of The Lone Ranger is not close to what little I do remember from my childhood. From the very first trailer I saw for this film, I thought 'why don't they just call it The Legend of Tonto?'  It just seemed odd to me that you would cast one of the world's most well known actors in a supporting role.  I don't mean the kind of supporting role that Captain Jack Sparrow was when the Pirates of the Caribbean films started, but the sidekick type that the role of Tonto has always fallen into. The film uses Johnny Depp's Tonto to...

  J. Edgar (2011), R, 137 minutes - It has been a while since I last updated the good old blog here (about 3 months as I was so kindly reminded by a  former co-worker/blog follower), and as anyone who knows my taste in films, what better way to return to posting than by reviewing Clint Eastwood's most recent directorial effort? J. Edgar is Eastwood's biopic about J. Edgar Hoover, long time Director of the FBI (and architect of the FBI as we know it today).  While the film covers Hoover's life from shortly before he took the position with the FBI up until his death, it really is more of a character study of his relationships with family and co-workers as well as how he viewed himself.  If you are looking for an action filled story about major crime busts that Hoover oversaw during his years in office, you won't find it here.  What you will find is a film that shows how his own paranoia about just about anyone and everyone led to trailblazing improvements in how...