My Top 5 Old school Action flicks!

The other day my niece came over and I was stunned when I made a Commando joke and she had no idea what I was talking about. I blinked at her in disbelief before going to Netflix and looking up Commando with Arnold Schwarzenegger aka The Govenator and Alyssa Milano and off we got to watch it. While I watched the familiar antics of Arnie and the stupid bad guys who would dare mess with him and his daughter - I mean the man is ex-military, built like a brick house and with a last name of MATRIX!

Anyways, it all got me thinking of my top five old school action movies. So here goes.

5. Platoon - A young recruit in Vietnam faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man - (IMDB). Sure it's not really action, action per say but come on. This had to be on my list somewhere.

4. Commando - A retired elite Black Ops Commando launches a one man war against a group of South American criminals who have kidnapped his daughter to blackmail him into starting a revolution and getting an exiled dictator back into power - (IMDB)....Nuff said.








3. True Lies - Harry Tasker is a secret agent for the United States Government. For years, he has kept his job from his wife, but is forced to reveal his identity and try to stop nuclear terrorists when he and his wife are kidnapped by the terrorists - (IMDB)This movie had it all. Action, comedy and Arnie! Then to top it all off Jamie Lee Curtis is in it! She had me rolling.

2. Under Seige - A former SEAL, now cook, is the only person who can stop a gang of terrorists when they seize control of a US Navy battleship - (IMDB)This was Steven Seagall's best movie EVAR! I mean come on, this was before they allowed Stevie boy to write and direct his own crap. Now his movies just suck! And to make it better? Tommy Lee Jones was in it as the crazy bad guy! Oh! And don't forget Gary Busey in a dress - come on! What beats that?

1. Enter the Dragon - A martial artist agrees to spy on a reclusive crime lord using his invitation to a tournament there as cover - (IMBD) - Come on - It's Bruce Lee! I mean sure Chuck Norris is the master but without Mr. Lee there'd be no What Would Chuck Norris Do! *runs around doing karate chops*

The Heat

An uptight FBI Special Agent is paired with a foul-mouthed Boston cop to take down a ruthless drug lord. - IMDB

This movie stars Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy with Marlon Wayans. The first time I saw the trailer for this was last Valentine's Day when I went to watch A Good Day to Die Hard. Not sure why I chose to go see that movie on opening day and probably will never do that again. There were couples everywhere. But this isn't about that movie it's about The Heat 

The first time I saw the trailer, the whole theater was laughing so hard. I was doubled over and I could barely breathe it was hilarious. Then every time after that the reaction was the same. Then the movie came out and I waited to see it. I wound up seeing it with my 14 year old niece, my friend Jo Jo and one of her friends. The movie didn't disappoint. It had me laughing from the opening credits.  So here's the run down--Special Agent Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) is one of those agents all the other agents hate. She tries to give the SWAT team direction and they merely ignore her and barged into the bust. She wants to get far in her career so her personal life takes a hit--a major hit.  Then there's Detective Mullins (Melissa McCarthy) who is rough, from the streets, dresses like a hippie-Rambo with a rocket launcher in her fridge. She is the kind of cop who swears up a blue streak, downs tequila like its water and has the temper to match.

This movie was hilarious with heart. There was a serious story line in there that I can't talk about because I don't want to give it away. But this movie was great. Not perfect because there were a few things I could mention that made me wonder why it wasn't edited out. But think, two women carrying a movie isn't all that popular these days so to see this made me nervous going in but there was no need to. It was 6 bucks well spent and I am definitely going to see it again the minute I get a chance.

Marlon Wayans plays an FBI agent from the Boston office who was more of a cameo rather than a real part but it was so worth it to see him and it wasn't waste film--he was good. Along with him was Michael Rappaport (Paul Moretti in The Mob Doctor, Danny Hanson in Boston Public) who played Mullins' brother. Another Cameo that made my blink at the screen going NO WAY! was Joey McKintyre from New Kids on the Block.

This movie is perfect for a girl's night or a date night. Or if you're like me and just want to get away from real life for a an hour and a half and laugh your butt off.

Hugs,

Kato

I Do - Yes please

**This film is LGBT**

I'd just finished watching big Eden for the hundredth time and was looking for something to watch. I couldn't figure out what I wanted so I began trolling the Wolfe Video website hoping to get an idea of what I wanted to see. I found one called Saltwater but when I went to this website that you can get movies VOD - you pay a fee and you can stream the movie for seven days then the link expires- and to my horror this website doesn't take paypal and though I'm a somewhat trusting person, I did not feel comfortable just handing over my credit card to this site. So then I had to find another website to watch my movies on through VOD that accepted paypal! Took me an hour and I found it. I went back to the Wolfe website and found this movie I Do.

I read the blurb for it--and debated whether I wanted to follow up the feel goodness of big Eden with something that seemed as if it would rip my heart out and stomp on it only to run it over with a bulldozer. I mean, sure, I was being a tad dramatic but sometimes when you watch a really sad movie that's how it leaves you feeling, especially with an ending like Shut Up and Kiss Me. Still, I took a breath, paid my VOD fee and hit play.

The story centers around Jack Edwards (played by David W. Ross- former member of Bad Boys, Inc)

David W. Ross - writer and star of I Do

who is a gay British National living in New York. He works with his lesbian best friend with photographers and makes a pretty good living. He's happy with his life until tragedy hit and he finds himself playing father to his niece, on the brink of deportation and being put in the position of having to chose between his family or lying to get his green card and possibly face federal prison. Not only that, he drew his best friend Ali (played by Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Natalie in Ugly Betty and herself in Entourage) in, by marrying her to pretend she's his wife so he can get his papers. To make matters worse, right as they marry, Jack meets the love of his life, Mano Alfaro (played by Maurice Compte, Gaff in Breaking bad and Chatto in Choke.Kick.Girl: The Series). 

I thought well, this is going to be another badly acted gay movie about some guy who can't get his crap together and it's going to wind up having a crappy ending to leave me thinking Well, there's an hour and a half of my life I'll never get back! But boy was I wrong. To top off a very intriguing story that touched on Gay Equality Rights, and the horrible things one can say to another after guilt forces them to be silent for years, I was fanning my face like a moron saying don't cry! Don't cry! I couldn't help it. Jack just kept having one horrible day after another. Think about it. You're finally forced to marry someone and then finds Mr (or Mrs) Right, the very next moment! How sucky would that be?

Maurice Compte

Mano has his own demons that will shock and anger you then make you feel as if you just want to hold him until he feels better and those demons go away.

I Do was brilliantly acted. The music was stunning the scenery perfection and the script, though some parts could use a little tweaking, was amazing. The emotions coming off the screen left me crying and laughing out loud at times. Sometimes I found myself getting so caught up in the movie I wanted to reach through the screen and strangle Ali (Jack's best friend) and then shake Jack's Sister in Law Mya (played by Alicia Witt, Rosalind Harker in The Mentalist).

The secondary characters were all necessary and lend an air of authenticity to the film that was breath-taking. At one point I found myself muttering repeatedly "No no no! Don't do that! Just walk away man! Walk....away!" during one of Jack's interaction with a secondary character.

This movie will pull you in from the first first sound of Jack's voice the moment the movie begins. Though it it will break your heart, it will not leave you disappointed. It will make you want to really look forward to anything else David W Ross may decide to pen in the future. I was pleasantly surprised at this, his first go at it and couldn't stop watching, even for a bathroom break. I Do is one of the BEST LGBT movies I've seen thus far and it gives me a renewed hope that soon, we'll be able to see more.

Oh! And before I forget, Grant Bowler, Chief Lawkeeper Joshua Nolan in Defiance - a hot show here in Canada on SHOWCASE TV, is in it for a brief moment. He plays Jack's brother Peter.

Grant Bowler - plays Jack's brother, Peter.

Hugs,
Kato

PS: please check out Grant Bowler in DEFIANCE on Showcase TV if you're in Canada! All others can watch it on SyFy - The new season doesn't begin until June of 2014 (oh the horror!) so you have time to get caught up on all it's end of world-ie goodness.  Also visit DEFIANCE's official website by clicking HERE.

Shut up and Kiss Me

**this is a LGBT movie**

Ben (Ronnie Kerr) is tired of one night stands and stupid men. He is looking for more, stability, monogamy. He's 35 and is looking for something of substance. This movie follows his trials and tribulations on his search for Mr. Right.

Where do I start with this movie? Okay, lets start with Ronnie Kerr (NYPD Blue, Vampire Boys 2) is a very good looking man, I have to put that out there and while I adored this movie, I have to say he could have given a little extra effort. He doesn't seem to be good at the back and forth dialogue as some of it gets lost in his facial expression but when it comes to sadness, he is spot on--and let me tell you there is a lot of heartbreak in this one.   So the movie startsout with Ben at a dating service advertise himself for a new man. Then his best friends get to sit in and and its a riot hearing their back and forth.  I laughed until I couldn't breathe at the montage of men he found from the dating service - from a pre-op who thought Ben wasn't his type, to a goth decked out in all black with black eyeliner and outfit and lipstick and a 17 year old pretending to be 24. Then he tried online dating which didn't end well either. 

He'd all but given up when he sees Grey, played by Scott Gabelein (The Fallen, Paradox Alice) jogging by him while he's watering his lawn. Let the stalking from the front lawn begins! 


Ronnie Kerr

From there its a lovely, funny tale of lust at first sight and the best friends forcing Ben to step out of his box and actually talk to Grey rather than watching him like a stalker from the front lawn.

The acting after this gets progressively better becauase not only is it funny but they begin getting into some hard topics like infidelity and HIV. Now where the movie takes on a drastic turn--I'm a romance writer myself and after my two character meets each other I try desperately not to let them sleep with anyone else. Grey has this iss with monogamy that Ben can't seem to get over. Which makes sense **spoiler alert** and when Grey cheats not once but twice - it breaks Ben's heart.

What I have an issue with is the ending. They go the whole movie with Ben refusing to settle for some man who can't keep it in his pants even going to therapy for it.  He talks about how he deserves more than a man who cheats on him and sudenly WHAM! All of a sudden, in the last two minutes of the movie, he's cool with it. He accepts Grey and is man-whoring ways and all is right with the world. I'm sorry I cannot accept that ending. There was no explanation leading up to it, no nothing. It was like poof! it never happened.

Scott Gabelien

This movie is okay. It's quaint and cute and funny in some parts. If I had to give it stars I'd give it a three stars and thats because the secondary characters were a hoot to watch--if I was being truly generous I'd stretch it to a three and a half star movie since Ronnie was so yummy but ugh. there were dialogue that was repeated so many times I wanted to scream. The ending just ruined the whole thing for me - UGH.

Hugs,
Kato