Nerd in the 'Noke

RoboCop (2014), PG-13, 108 minutes - I'm not sure when it started, but a trend has come to my attention over the last couple of years.  That of movie studios dropping macho-centric flicks over Valentine's Day weekend.  Last year it was A Good Day to Die Hard and this year it was this reboot of the RoboCop franchise.  I see what they are trying to do, but I'm not sure it has been all that successful.  Although, I suppose that could be in part because neither of the films mentioned were all that spectacular.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this reboot, but it wasn't Earth-shattering enough that I would have been able to talk my wife into seeing it over something more romantic!   To be honest, this new version of RoboCop was better than I expected.  The same basic idea of the original was kept in place: in the not-too-distant future (2028) a private defense firm (OmniCorp) is developing drones to help combat crime and must find a way to 'humanize' t...

Lincoln (2012), PG-13, 150 minutes - When it comes to movies, I've always enjoyed period pieces.  Give me a film that provides a glimpse into another time and I'm happy.  I've also always enjoyed a well made biopic.  Luckily for me, these two genres often times go hand in hand.  In this case, Steven Spielberg covers both genres with an excellent film that focuses on the final four months of our 16th President's life, including his push to get the 13th Amendment to our Constitution passed in order to abolish slavery. Most biopics tend to cover an entire lifespan, but Spielberg decided to narrow his focus on a fraction of Abraham Lincoln's life that had the most lasting effects on our country (Tony Kushner's screenplay draws heavily from Doris Kearns Goodwin's novel 'Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln').  He takes a look behind the scenes and shows us Lincoln's mindset after having made the Emancipation Proclamation and bei...

Lincoln (2012) – Daniel Day Lewis?  Steven Spielberg?  Historically based period piece?  I was sold on this film before ever seeing the trailer.  After seeing the trailer (and the rest of the unbelievable cast that this film boasts), I am adding it to my short list of absolute must see theatrical views (along with Skyfall and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey).  Day Lewis is joined by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Jackie Earle Haley, Jared Harris, Sally Field, John Hawkes, David Strathairn, and many others (more recognizable by face than by name).  I am very much looking forward to seeing Daniel Day Lewis’ take on one of our most popular presidents during a pivotal time in our country’s history.  Lincoln hits theaters on November 16th, which will be here before we know it!