Spawn, by Albert W. Vogt III
Have you ever looked at the Mona Lisa by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci and wanted to draw a mustache on it? Have you listened to a perfectly formed symphony by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and felt like it could be improved by blaring police sirens? Have you pondered a potential threat to all existence on… Read more “Spawn, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Voyagers, by Albert W. Vogt III
Teenagers, am I right? That is pretty much the only reason why Voyagers is not the best movie. If you can ignore the fact that the overwhelming majority of the main characters are in their late teens, then there are some pretty deep themes at work. It actually gets at the meaning of life, albeit… Read more “Voyagers, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Bad Boys II, by Albert W. Vogt III
Sigh. Bad Boys II (2003). I am not going to have the same kind of summary for Bad Boys II as I usually provide. In the main, there is no difference between it and its predecessor. There is another crime boss, this time the Cuban Hector Juan Carlos “Johnny” Tapia (Jordi Mollà), again trying to… Read more “Bad Boys II, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Bad Boys, by Albert W. Vogt III
What is the first thing that comes to mind when I say the name Michael Bay? If you have some working knowledge of cinema, or American culture in general, that word would be explosions. For Captain Pyrotechnics (my own invention), film seems to be an excuse to blow things up. He has made a career… Read more “Bad Boys, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Godzilla vs. Kong, by Albert W. Vogt III
There are times when I watch a movie and I think, “Were there prerequisite readings I was supposed to complete before viewing this stuff?” I cannot take full credit for that thought. I got it from an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. And you know that whenever something conjures that great show about riffing… Read more “Godzilla vs. Kong, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), by Albert W. Vogt III
There is a saying that bigger is not always better. I can think of few movies where that is more applicable to than the 2008 remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. With its 1951 forerunner, there was a certain charm to its campiness and simplicity. Premiering as the Cold War was still relatively new, its message of… Read more “The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), by Albert W. Vogt III”
Nobody, by Albert W. Vogt III
For movie enthusiasts, one of the myriad of annoying aspects of of the COVID-19 lockdown was how so many titles kept getting pushed back. When theaters began reopening, the thin offerings often came with the same trailers. Ever hear of Save Yourselves! (2020)? I barely remember it, though I do recall enjoying it. So while… Read more “Nobody, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Zack Snyder’s Justice League, by Albert W. Vogt III
You might look at the title of this review and say, “Wait, did not my favorite Catholic movie review blog already cover this film?” If so, thank you for making this your favorite Catholic movie review blog! And also, yes, in a way. If you care to read a discussion of the joke that is… Read more “Zack Snyder’s Justice League, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Operation Finale, by Albert W. Vogt III
When I noticed that Operation Finale (2018) was on Netflix, I began wracking my brain. Given how The Legionnaire has reviewed most big movies that have come out in the past couple of years, I was initially incredulous as to how this one was left out from being on the blog. It is also a… Read more “Operation Finale, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Underwater, by Albert W. Vogt III
Ah, the heady days of the pre-COVID-19 world. It was a time when you went to the theater and, unless you already had a choice in mind, you had to actually make a decision. When Cameron came aboard, as I mentioned yesterday, it became a matter of splitting between two new releases every week. And while this was… Read more “Underwater, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Chaos Walking, by Albert W. Vogt III
Of the main characters from the original Star Wars trilogy, outside of Harrison Ford, how many different movies can you name in which they have appeared, much less had a starring role? I will give you a moment to Google. . . . Back? I am sure you found some films, but how many had… Read more “Chaos Walking, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Forsaken, by Albert W. Vogt III
There have not been too many Westerns reviewed for The Legionnaire. Off hand, I cannot think of a single one. I have no good reason for that beyond mere oversight, I suppose. It is a sub-genre of film that has never particularly interested me as they tend to be formulaic. Today’s film, Forsaken (2015), is… Read more “Forsaken, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Suicide Squad, by Albert W. Vogt III
In previous reviews I mentioned how when I see an awful movie, particularly modern ones, I come up with fanciful explanations as to why it was so bad. I am sure they bear no resemblance whatsoever to the truth. Incompetence is real, and given the size of so many Hollywood productions it is expected that… Read more “Suicide Squad, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Mortal Kombat, by Albert W. Vogt III
You can hardly have existed in the 1990s without hearing the title of today’s movie being shouted. Mortal Kombat (1995), the film version of one of the most controversial video games to ever be released, starts out with that phrase, followed by its earwig techno music. As a teenager, these were the sounds that haunted… Read more “Mortal Kombat, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Supergirl, by Albert W. Vogt III
Please note, this is the 1984 version of Supergirl. As I understand it based on the random information that floats my way on a daily basis, the Linda Lee/Kora Zor-El (Helen Slater) character in the film is not all that close to the original DC Comics material. However, that is the least of the problems… Read more “Supergirl, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Gangs of New York, by Albert W. Vogt III
Movies like Gangs of New York (2002) are why I wrote my dissertation, although I did not talk about it within those 239 pages. Before I go any further, know that this is going to be a history heavy review. You see, Catholics in this country have had a hard time. The attitudes towards the… Read more “Gangs of New York, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Ghost and the Darkness, by Albert W. Vogt III
If you lived in the Tampa Bay area in the late 1990s like I did, then Busch Gardens Tampa was the place to be. The first time I went was for a high school field trip. Our physics teacher expected us to ride the roller coasters and record the effects of g-forces, acceleration, and other… Read more “The Ghost and the Darkness, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Crow, by Albert W. Vogt III
There are certain movies out there at certain times of your life that are spoken of in hushed tones as if they are legends. I never saw The Crow (1994) before yesterday, but it was one such movie as I went through my teenage years in the 1990s. At first, I knew nothing about it.… Read more “The Crow, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, by Albert W. Vogt III
In my review of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), I mentioned my love of the 1977 cartoon version of The Hobbit. At least that is how I remember feeling about it. I had not seen it in roughly fifteen years when The Fellowship of the Ring premiered, but my… Read more “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, by Albert W. Vogt III”
X-Men: Apocalypse, by Albert W. Vogt III
There is a scene in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) when En Sabah Nur (Oscar Isaac), known more familiarly by the villainous sobriquet in the title, reemerges from his millenniums long slumber to an avalanche of stone and other masonry. There is a group of people fleeing in panic. Seeing this, the old man I live with… Read more “X-Men: Apocalypse, by Albert W. Vogt III”
X-Men: Days of Future Past, by Albert W. Vogt III
When C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) remarks to R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) “Here we go again,” it comes as a new set adventures are about to begin. The line is also meant to evince in the viewer the weight of all they had been through not only… Read more “X-Men: Days of Future Past, by Albert W. Vogt III”
X-Men: First Class, by Albert W. Vogt III
Perhaps because the cast of the first X-Men was getting older, but for whatever reason the heads at Marvel decided to bring in a new wave of comic book mutants to the big screen. They also did this in the middle of laying out the grand plan that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). By… Read more “X-Men: First Class, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Outside the Wire, by Albert W. Vogt III
Technically what will follow is a fan request. It is not on any of The Legionnaire‘s social media lists, but I watched Outside the Wire last night. I have another endeavor that I hope to start up soon, also regarding film, with another friend. Stay tuned for more details. He had requested that I see… Read more “Outside the Wire, by Albert W. Vogt III”
X-Men: The Last Stand, by Albert W. Vogt III
Everything has to be a trilogy these day, I guess. Then again, is it accurate to refer to a movie like X-Men: The Last Stand that was made in 2006 as “these days?” Where is the line between now and then? Anyway, if there is a popular franchise out there, you can bet your bottom… Read more “X-Men: The Last Stand, by Albert W. Vogt III”
X2: X-Men United, by Albert W. Vogt III
One of my favorite comic book characters is Kurt Wagner, more widely known as Nightcrawler. My interest in him started with the early 1990s X-Men arcade game. It was always better when you could get a group of people together to play it because that made defeating the legions of sentinels easier. Yet playing with… Read more “X2: X-Men United, by Albert W. Vogt III”
X-Men, by Albert W. Vogt III
At some point in my youth I became interested in Marvel comics. I do not recall exactly what was the trigger. There were vague references to certain characters among my earliest memories. The old The Incredible Hulk television show was in reruns when I was a child, and every kid knew about Spiderman. But I… Read more “X-Men, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Waterloo, by Albert W. Vogt III
Since it was my birthday yesterday, I hope you, my dear readers, will indulge me this little review. I have discussed in various other posts how I came to love history. To briefly recap, my dad would tell me about Napoleon’s campaigns. I also loved films from an early age, which should be fairly obvious.… Read more “Waterloo, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Bad Times at the El Royale, by Albert W. Vogt III
The mind is an incredible gift from God. Cognition can lead us to some lofty heights. My academic career is evidence of this fact. It can also be our worst enemy, telling us something is real when there is no evidence of it. This is why we have therapy. In a more positive light, it… Read more “Bad Times at the El Royale, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, by Albert W. Vogt III
My apologies to any of you that have been waiting on a review from The Legionnaire for a film you requested. You have our assurances that they will be seen and covered. However, when I saw how St. Joan of Arc was portrayed in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), it got me thinking about… Read more “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Mask, by Albert W. Vogt III
In the 1990s, Jim Carey was at the height of his career. I barely remember him from his In Living Color days. That show was among others, like The Simpsons, that my mom would not let my sister and I watch. There were performances Carey reprised on In Living Color that trickled down to a… Read more “The Mask, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Marksman, by Albert W. Vogt III
Oh, look, it is Winter. Must be time for another Liam Neeson film. Last Fall, it was Honest Thief (2020), an eminently forgettable movie. Not bad. Just not good, or memorable for any reason whatsoever. If you have seen any of the films Neeson has done since playing Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I… Read more “The Marksman, by Albert W. Vogt III”
3 Ninjas, by Albert W. Vogt III
As I said a number of times during my slog through the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy, when you watch movies you thought were cool as an eight years old, the experience as an adult is not the same. I remember seeing 3 Ninjas (1992) when I was a kid. I did not recall anything… Read more “3 Ninjas, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, by Albert W. Vogt III
While watching the early 1990s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy over the past few days, a series of inexplicable choices emerges. For example, why did they decide to have Casey Jones (Elias Koteas) in the first installment, not bring him back for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), only to… Read more “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, by Albert W. Vogt III
If you have not yet noticed, there is a “III” suffix at the end of my name. When I was born, my parents and grandparents had a small debate over what they were going to call me. My paternal grandfather went by “Al,” and they called my dad “Albie,” though he goes by “Al” now.… Read more “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, by Albert W. Vogt III”
News of the World, by Albert W. Vogt III
Last weekend I had a choice to make: either Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) or News of the World (2020). I did the superhero movie first because I figured it would garner more attention. Given the number of people I saw in the theater, I suspect I was right. Still, even though it was not quite… Read more “News of the World, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, by Albert W. Vogt III
Every New Year’s Eve for well over a decade, I have gathered with some of my closest friends and their steadily growing family to have a Harry Potter movie marathon. With eight movies covering seven books, we can never get all of them seen in one day, but we enjoy putting them on and passing the… Read more “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, by Albert W. Vogt III
I do not consider the recent reboot of the famous humanoid, be-shelled martial artists, beginning in 2014, to be the real Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Nor really would be the 1990 movie under examination today. If you were a kid in the 1980s like me, you will remember the way the cartoon version seemingly invaded… Read more “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Wonder Woman 1984, by Albert W. Vogt III
Finally, Wonder Woman 1984 has arrived. I never knock anyone for taking any precautions they feel necessary during these times, but it was nice to see a nearly full theater for what I am sure was supposed to be a summer blockbuster. There were two empty seats next to me, but otherwise my row, and… Read more “Wonder Woman 1984, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, by Albert W. Vogt III
We pick up Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015) six years after the events of Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009). Nothing has changed, and hence no need, really, for an introduction. Go read the review of the first one to orient yourself to what is going on. Paul Blart (Kevin James) is still working as… Read more “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Paul Blart: Mall Cop, by Albert W. Vogt III
Sigh. Asking your fans for movie suggestions is both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes you get hidden gems, like The Lunchbox (2013). But then you have friends who, as they say in the British Isles, like to “take the piss,” and they want you to look at films like Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009).… Read more “Paul Blart: Mall Cop, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Monster Hunter, by Albert W. Vogt III
What do you get when you combine Mad Max with a little bit of Lord of the Rings, as well as some giant monsters and a hint of the American military industrial complex? There are some out there that would say to themselves that such a mix would be something they would want to see.… Read more “Monster Hunter, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Perfect Storm, by Albert W. Vogt III
A little over a month ago, Florida was hit by Tropical Storm Eta. It made landfall on the Gulf Coast a little north of the little home in which I reside on the coast. As somebody who has lived in Florida for some time, you learn to take storms in a measured way. What I… Read more “The Perfect Storm, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Night of the Living Dead, by Albert W. Vogt
Like our review of The Ring (2002), apologies for this seasonally mistimed review of the film that launched George Romero’s zombie franchise: Night of the Living Dead (1968). Not that I am complaining. For months I cast about trying to choose which movie to watch. I soon realized that my tastes are somewhat eclectic, but… Read more “Night of the Living Dead, by Albert W. Vogt”
The Usual Suspects, by Albert W. Vogt III
For those dedicated fans of The Usual Suspects (1995), there is nothing bad you can so about the film. Still, I am not sure why would would ever watch it a second time. I saw it once years ago, but before this I learned the big secret about the film that makes it kind of… Read more “The Usual Suspects, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Incredibles, by Albert W. Vogt III
Have you ever had an identity crisis? Maybe you have worked hard in crafting one way of life for yourself, only to have unforeseen events impel you to adopt another one? As this is the Advent season, one of the themes that you find throughout the readings is the need for preparation. 1 Thessalonians 5:2… Read more “The Incredibles, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Vanguard, by Albert W. Vogt III
With movie studios hesitant to release films due to COVID, and yet theaters needing to show movies to justify their existence, it has all led to an odd Fall and early Winter for cinema. It does not bode well for the rumored Christmas release for Wonder Woman 1984, especially for us die hards who enjoy… Read more “Vanguard, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Pearl Harbor, by Albert W. Vogt III
The movie Pearl Harbor (2001) should not be called “Pearl Harbor.” My annoyance with this film stems not so much from historical inaccuracies (though there are plenty of those), and more from its length and pacing. I get that a film typically does not launch into its proposed subject matter right away. Characters need to… Read more “Pearl Harbor, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Train to Busan, by Albert W. Vogt III
Today is Thanksgiving, and at Mass this morning during the homily the priest reminded us of how it is “right and just,” as the prayer goes, to give thanks. It is a call to reverence God in all situations, no matter how terrible. With 2020 going the way it has, it is even more important… Read more “Train to Busan, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Tombstone, by Albert W. Vogt III
Ah, the Western. I think this review of Tombstone (1993) might be the first of its kind in the nearly 300 movies The Legionnaire has covered. Some of the more classic films in cinematic history have been Cowboy Dramas, and if that is not a typical way of referring to Westerns remember that you read… Read more “Tombstone, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Top Gun, by Albert W. Vogt III
When I was a wee lad in the 1980s, our family bought a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). That was its official title, after all. We were super excited, but perhaps no one more so than my mother, who, while my sister and I were at school, mastered Super Mario Brothers. She was the first one to beat it in… Read more “Top Gun, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Charlie’s Angels, by Albert W. Vogt III
We were all immature once. Some of us still are, perhaps. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.” What that means, basically, is that we all go through phases, even ones where we willingly watch films like Charlie’s Angels (2000). I have… Read more “Charlie’s Angels, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Running Man, by Albert W. Vogt III
There was a sizable, Austrian weight-lifter turned Hollywood actor turned California governor turned actor again hole in my cinema viewing known as The Running Man (1987). I filled that hole last night. What did I think of the movie? Uh. . . . The Running Man is a movie that is ahead of its time… Read more “The Running Man, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Honest Thief, by Albert W. Vogt III
I keep going to the theater on the weekends hoping that maybe it will finally be the weekend some big time movie will be there for me. Since cinemas have reopened near me, this has not been the case, with the exception of Tenet. Since then, though, it has been a series of openings with… Read more “Honest Thief, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Bloodsport, by Albert W. Vogt III
If you were born in the 1980s like I was, and you were a kid that was into action films, then Jean-Claude Van Damme was the man. Stereotypically speaking, many guys see doing the splits as painful and somehow not athletic. Van Damme made it look cool. He was also able to bridge the gap of martial arts… Read more “Bloodsport, by Albert W. Vogt III”
IP Man, by Albert W. Vogt III
For whatever reason, when I first heard of Ip Man (2008), I assumed it was some sort of strange science-fiction/martial arts combination. Thus I wrote it off, even on nights when I was scouring streaming services for something to watch. I mean, “IP Man” could be anything, from something having to do with computers to… Read more “IP Man, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Infidel, by Albert W. Vogt III
It was mildly entertaining to look up other reviews of Infidel (2019) after I viewed it this past weekend. I witnessed those who do not share the views of the main characters in it twist and turn trying to find nice things to say about the film. They do not like to give any credit… Read more “Infidel, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, by Albert W. Vogt III
When I am writing a review, there is always one other page open on my browser: the listing on the International Movie Database (IMDb.com for short) for whatever movie about which I am writing. It is a great resource, but it can be frustrating. Sometimes it lists the actors and actresses in the most idiosyncratic… Read more “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Tax Collector, by Albert W. Vogt III
The last time we saw Shia LaBeouf, it was as the troubled but good hearted Tyler in The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019). I love that movie. Now he is the cold-blooded (but also good-hearted?) killer in The Tax Collector. This movie is perplexing stupid. It is not so because of the decisions made in filming… Read more “The Tax Collector, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Tenet, by Cameron J. Czaja
For those who don’t know, Christopher Nolan is one of my favorite directors working in Hollywood at the moment, and I always look forward to his films. When I heard about Tenet, I was ecstatic because of how it looked and the unknown plot that made me curious. It was my most anticipated film of the… Read more “Tenet, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is the third installment, and the fourth reviewed by The Legionnaire, in the strange franchise that is the Terminator series. I feel the haphazard approach to the series by this blog is somehow appropriate given the progressively sillier tenor of the movies since The Terminator debuted in 1984. Along… Read more “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”
The New Mutants, by Albert W. Vogt III
After nearly six months of not having set foot in a movie theater, I finally made it back. I suppose I could have gone sooner, but it did not seem like they were releasing anything major. It almost came to naught, as well, when the manager approached and said the projector could break down at… Read more “The New Mutants, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Wonder Woman, by Albert W. Vogt III
Somewhere between the plots of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017) lies Wonder Woman (2017). It is really murky. If you watch these films in order, very little will make sense. I know. I have done it. That is the DC Cinematic Universe for you. Wonder Woman was widely heralded… Read more “Wonder Woman, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Equalizer, by Albert W. Vogt III
A couple days ago I reviewed Inglorious Basterds (2009), which, as a Quentin Tarantino film, is about revenge, in this case of the historical variety. Today, I will be talking about The Equalizer (2014). The name itself should indicate a form of vengeance. It is a film about a guy, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), meting… Read more “The Equalizer, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Justice League, by Albert W. Vogt III
Since DC Comics has seemingly decided to go about releasing its own universe building franchise in a pale comparison to Marvel’s endeavor in piecemeal fashion, I have decided to do the same thing in reviewing the various movies in the series. Does anyone remember the Super Friends cartoon from the 1970s and 1980s? No? I… Read more “Justice League, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Inglorious Basterds, by Albert W. Vogt III
Here is a list of Quentin Tarantino movies I like: Jackie Brown (1997), Kill Bill (both volumes, 2003 and 2004 respectively), and Django Unchained (2012). Here is a list of Quentin Tarantino movies I do not like: Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), The Hateful Eight (2015), and Once Upon a Time . . .… Read more “Inglorious Basterds, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Beyond the Mask, by Albert W. Vogt III
If there are any Christian filmmakers out there who read this blog and are thinking of making a historically based film, please contact me. While recently scouring the various streaming services to which I subscribe, I came across a little film called Beyond the Mask (2015). I suppose because of all the history related material… Read more “Beyond the Mask, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, by Albert W. Vogt III
The year was 1993 and DC Comics, seemingly in a publicity stunt, decided to kill the most popular comic book character of all time, Superman. Although I considered myself strictly a Marvel man (or boy, I guess, at that time), I scraped together enough nickels to go out and buy a first printing. There was… Read more “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, by Albert W. Vogt III
It seems I am going backwards in a franchise. Last year I caught Jumanji: The Next Level (2019). It is a serviceable sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017). Maybe one of these days I will get around to watching the original, Jumanji (1995), starring the late, great Robin Williams. The first of the… Read more “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Force of Nature, by Cameron J. Czaja
Much like the movie Capone that I reviewed a couple months ago, Force of Nature was another film that was supposed to go to theaters but went straight to video on demand and Redbox. I was somewhat curious about this film, mainly because I feel like I have hidden interest in survival films where regular people go up against… Read more “Force of Nature, by Cameron J. Czaja”
V for Vendetta, by Albert W. Vogt III
Did you know that Guy Fawkes was a Catholic? You would not know that based on the 2005 film V for Vendetta, though it was a crucial part of the reason the famed conspirator and the day of his plot are remembered. Briefly, Catholics were persecuted in England hundreds of years ago, and he and his co-conspirators felt… Read more “V for Vendetta, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Starship Troopers, by Albert W. Vogt III
There was a time when even I was young and stupid. We will set the way-back machine to 1997, the year I graduated high school. Late that Summer, after returning from my little foray into the army (that is another story), this little film premiered called Starship Troopers. The first time I saw it I thought it was the… Read more “Starship Troopers, by Albert W. Vogt III”
A Bridge Too Far, by Albert W. Vogt III
There is a film (a personal favorite of mine) called PCU (1994) that I have been wanting to rewatch for some time. The hold up lies in the fact that I have transcended the age of hard copies and now watch all my movies solely through the digital format. While that may not sound like… Read more “A Bridge Too Far, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Saving Private Ryan, by Albert W. Vogt III
What is one life worth? That is the question at the heart of Saving Private Ryan (1998). But if that is too esoteric for you, watch it again to see a young Vin Diesel as Private Caparzo. Would you believe that he was barely in his thirties when this film was released? And that he… Read more “Saving Private Ryan, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, by Albert W. Vogt III
There was a period of a few years of my life when I was seriously into martial arts, specifically kung fu. I blame it on Star Wars and all the expanded universe novels that I read from that franchise (all of which were rendered useless by Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, but… Read more “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Sucker Punch, by Albert W. Vogt III
Certain directors have a definite style to how they go about crafting the movies with which they are involved. Yesterday I reviewed Jurassic Park (1993), which was directed by Steven Spielberg. His films tend toward the epic, with dramatic scores, lots of wide-angle shots, and heroic characters. That might be too nebulous of a description… Read more “Sucker Punch, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Jurassic Park, by Albert W. Vogt III
Look at what has come to Netflix recently! Jurassic Park (1993) is one of those nostalgia films for me. Not that I have ever been into dinosaurs. When the blockbuster about prehistoric reptiles (or birds, I suppose) came out, I was mildly curious as to why everyone was raving about it. I do not recall… Read more “Jurassic Park, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Terminator: Salvation, by Albert W. Vogt III
So I decided to skip over Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003). They are both good movies in their own right, but it would seem that they progressively abandoned the deadly seriousness of The Terminator (1984). I wonder if James Cameron, who directed Terminator 2: Judgment Day, thought when the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) uttered the line “Hasta… Read more “Terminator: Salvation, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Batman Begins, by Albert W. Vogt III
Not long ago I made the proclamation that Christopher Nolan is a hack. I stand by that principle, even though there are a few of his movies that are not that bad. Batman Begins (2005) is one of them. It marked a rebooting of the Batman franchise after a spate in the 1990s and early… Read more “Batman Begins, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Serenity, by Albert W. Vogt III
Remember when Joss Whedon was good? There was a time when he ruled the late 1990s, with such well-known shows as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and in the early years of the 2000s with Firefly. It is this last series on which the 2005 hit Serenity is based. Maybe “hit” is overselling it. While Firefly… Read more “Serenity, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Edge of Tomorrow, by Albert W. Vogt III
In reading my friend Cameron’s review of Palm Springs, I was reminded of a little mentioned favorite of mine titled Edge of Tomorrow (2014). It is kind of strange to think that this movie is not remembered more frequently. If nothing else, its two main characters, Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) and Sergeant Rita Vrataski… Read more “Edge of Tomorrow, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Inception, by Albert W. Vogt III
Christopher Nolan is a hack. There, I said it. When I first saw Inception (2010) in the theater, I confess I got caught up in its intricacies and thought it was far more brilliant than what it is, actually. So good did I think it was that I invited my friend (the same that had… Read more “Inception, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Greyhound, by Cameron J. Czaja
Here it is, yet another World War II film that Hollywood keeps churning out every year. I make it sound like I dislike the sub-genre, but on the contrary I do enjoy it quite a bit. I guess what I’m trying to say is that World War II has been featured in so many films… Read more “Greyhound, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Man on Fire, by Albert W. Vogt III
It would seem that Man on Fire (2004) is a remake of a film by the same title from the 1980s. This is not the first time I have come to this realization. As creative and colorful are most modern films, the stories, alas, are often not original. Whether they are sequels, remakes, or reboots,… Read more “Man on Fire, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Old Guard, by Albert W. Vogt III
With movie theaters open but not yet getting my patronage, I have yet to watch many new movies recently. Part of my reticence has to do with (if you can believe this) a lack of an adventurous spirit when it comes to my movie experiences. I love going to the cinema, probably more than most… Read more “The Old Guard, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Total Recall, by Albert W. Vogt III
Well, at least it was not Zardoz (1974). Total Recall (1990), the original version directed by Paul Verhoeven, is a campy science fiction movie that is some kind of cult classic, for an unbeknownst reason. It is set in 2084, and while rewatching it recently I remember thinking, “So, 100 years from now it will… Read more “Total Recall, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Hunt for Red October, by Albert W. Vogt III
I seem to be on a little bit of a Sean Connery kick lately, although one of his films I recently reviewed I would rather forget. If you are familiar with the process of erasing memories from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), I would sign up for that procedure in a heartbeat. As… Read more “The Hunt for Red October, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Boondock Saints, by Albert W. Vogt III
If I have not said this before, I will say it here: I have a doctorate in American History where I wrote about how Catholics have been portrayed in American cinema. All the films I covered came out before 1973 when The Exorcist was released. However, if I were to sum it all up, it… Read more “The Boondock Saints, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Casino Royale, by Albert W. Vogt III
Potentially unpopular opinion: Daniel Craig’s portrayal of the famous British 007 agent James Bond is the best. I have nothing but respect for his forebears, mostly Sean Connery. However, I was not alive when Connery’s Bond films premiered, and though I have seen bits and pieces of some, I was never inspired to sit down… Read more “Casino Royale, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Last Airbender, by Cameron J. Czaja
When Avatar: The Last Airbender first premiered on Nickelodeon back in 2005, I thought it was a unique show. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the show wasn’t like any other kid’s program as it had a continuous story with character development set in a fantasy world. Unfortunately, I didn’t really continue with the… Read more “The Last Airbender, by Cameron J. Czaja”
The Terminator, by Albert W. Vogt III
Fun fact: when I was a kid (like many at that age) I could not pronounce the name of The Terminator (1984) antagonist and title character Arnold Schwarzenegger. My dad, noticing my struggles, decided to refer to him as Schnooferdoofer. Thus, in the Vogt household, he became Arnold Schnooferdoofer. Fast forward roughly thirty years and… Read more “The Terminator, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Lost Boys, by Cameron J. Czaja
Recently, eccentric director Joel Schumacher passed away at the age of eighty after a year-long battle with cancer, and I figured what better way to honor his memory then to review one of his films. Looking back at his filmography, though, I noticed that I actually haven’t seen the majority of his films. In fact,… Read more “The Lost Boys, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Kingdom of Heaven, by Albert W. Vogt III
My recent history kick has been surging as of late. I love it, though, when I can see a film about the past that dovetails so well with my faith, and in this case it is Kingdom of Heaven (2005). I remember being struck by it when I saw it as a younger man, but… Read more “Kingdom of Heaven, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Last Samurai, by Albert W. Vogt III
Let me point out a few historical facts right off the bat: none of the characters depicted in The Last Samurai (2003) actually existed. This means main samurai rebel Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), prime protagonist Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), racist foil Colonel Bagley (Tony Goldwyn), and greedy Japanese industrialist Omura (Masato Harada) were all inventions of… Read more “The Last Samurai, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, by Albert W. Vogt III
Most people hate Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and I have never been entirely sure why. When I came out of the theater after seeing it the first time, I was, on the whole, satisfied. It looked like an Indiana Jones movie and quacked like an Indiana Jones movie, so… Read more “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, by Albert W. Vogt III
Shortly after I viewed Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) as a boy, I was convinced that I could go to the library and discern the current location of the Holy Grail, the Chalice used by Jesus at the Last Supper. After all, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) tells his class early on in the… Read more “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, by Albert W. Vogt III
George Lucas, the “brains” (I do not like give him credit for much) behind the Indiana Jones series, once explained the (for lack of a better word) oddness of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). He blamed it on the fact that he was going through a divorce at the time that Star… Read more “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Raiders of the Lost Ark, by Albert W. Vogt III
In a recent episode of Jeopardy! (did you know it is supposed to have the exclamation point at the end?) one of the responses given by a contestant resulted in a loss of money. It had related to Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and she had included in the title the character after which… Read more “Raiders of the Lost Ark, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Man in the Iron Mask, by Albert W. Vogt III
Lately I have been watching a series of documentaries about English history. Specifically, I finished a good three parter on the downfall of King Charles I, so later that day I decided to watch The Man in the Iron Mask (1998). About forty-five minutes into it, I texted my girlfriend that I had made a… Read more “The Man in the Iron Mask, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Inside Man, by Albert W. Vogt III
In Inside Man (2006), there is a saying that basically amounts to all bad deeds stink and will not go unpunished, eventually. As a Christian, I believe that ultimate judgment lies with God. There is a certain comfort in that sentiment. As far as our human justice system is concerned, I hope that rather than… Read more “Inside Man, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Artemis Fowl, by Cameron J. Czaja
Usually whenever young adult book series are published and are very popular, there’s a film adaptation of it in the works released not long after it comes out. We’ve seen it done with Harry Potter, Twilight, Percy Jackson, The Hunger Games, etc. So, when I heard they were going to release a film called Artemis Fowl, I was confused because… Read more “Artemis Fowl, by Cameron J. Czaja”
