CLEAVER FAMILY REUNION

Plot:


James (Ireland) a prominent attorney and his wife Stacy (Simmons) a doctor are a childless LA power couple, that are living the dream life. But when they get a call demanding them to head to a small Texas town for a family gathering (a family that he has shunned for years and whose existence is a surprise to Stacy), they head out on a journey that will forever change their lives. Once there James (or Tinkle as his family calls him) and his dysfunctional family members let loose on individual  secrets that may leave permanent and devastating damage amongst them.


Reel Talk:


This is like a cross up of Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins' and Madea's Family Reunion which spawns the Cleavers, a wacky bunch of family members that will leave you wondering if they will make it through the weekend without killing each other. Although the cast not boasting with superstar caliber, they still each one add good unique performances to their characters, like the feisty grandmother, the British accented uncle or the jail bird brother to name a few. A good family movie that will touch all your emotions, from laughs to even maybe a tear, citing the values of what is needed to keep a strong family bond and mending estranged relationships of old. This is a movie that is worth checking out and can be seen only at various AMC theaters nationwide so please check your local listings.

Starring: Trae Ireland, Sandy Simmons, Efe', Tamara Goodwin, Arthur Richardson and Kevin Yarbrough
Directed by: H.M. Coakley
Rated: n/a

I give it 3 corn dogs and a soda on the side.

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler

Starring:

Actor Trae Ireland and Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler at the private screening in Detroit at the AMC Star Southfield for Trae's new film Cleaver Family Reunion.

G.I. JOE: RETALIATION

Plot:


Duke (Tatum) from the previous movie is now the captain of the G.I. Joes who along with his friend and fellow Joe, Roadblock (Johnson) continue to wage the war against terrorism until they are soon targeted as terrorist by the evil villain impersonating the President (Pryce) who pretty much annihilates all but a small group of the special task force. Out numbered and out gunned the remaining team led by Roadblock must enlist the help of the now retired original G.I. Joe played by Bruce Willis. The clock ticks away as the Joes rush to find the terrorist group that has armed nuclear weapons timed and set to go off destroying the United States.


Reel Talk:


This sequel to the 2009 blockbuster movie G.I. The Rise Of Cobra is a major let down. It follows up with very few cast members from the original and lacks all the technical gadgets that defined the elite squad known as the Joes. Sure you add in Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis, give them a bunch of cheesy lines and you just have a basic action movie. We are led to believe that the army of unique soldiers that once had a secret lair were so exposed that they all almost got eliminated by just one order by the President. Adding Johnson who is racking up screen time with the 5 movies released or releasing this year is a good addition but get back to the secrecy and special weaponry that separated the G.I. Joes from the average Joes.

Starring: Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Jonathan Pryce, Byung-Hun Lee, Elodie Yung, Bruce Willis and RZA
Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Rated: PG-13

I give it 2 and a half eaten corn dogs.

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler

OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN

Plot:


Mike Banning (Butler) is an ex Secret Service agent who headed up the President's personal security team but was removed due to an accident that resulted in the death of the 1st Lady. Trying to do whatever he can to regain his position with the Secret Service, he is soon inadvertently thrown back in the arena when North Korean terrorist Kang (Yune) and his crew launch an attack on the White House taking President Asher (Eckhart) and his staff hostage inside the presidential crisis bunker. Banning becomes the Pentagon's only hope in saving the President's son and preventing a nuclear catastrophe within the United States at the hands of the ruthless and brutal Kang.


Reel Talk:


From the beginning to the end, director Antoine Fuqua does a great job of keeping your attention on the screen. There is not a dull moment in this movie at all, so be sure to get your snacks and rest room runs before the movie starts because once it's on, it's non stop action. Butler is the new one man wrecking crew that takes no prisoners, so Stallone, Willis and Schwarzenegger better watch out. This is really a good movie with an all around good cast....BUT....my only problem with this movie and movies of it's kind is that it gives too many ideas to today's terrorists and exposes the possible weaknesses to the defense of the U.S. and if that is not the case than it is another example of the unbelievable over the top substance that's needed to sell movies today. Whichever the case you will definitely not be disappointed with this movie. A must see!

Starring: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Dylan McDermont, Rick Yune, Morgan Freeman and Angela Bassett
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Rated: R

I give it 4 corn dogs

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler

Director Wayne Blair, actress Jessica Mauboy and Cornelius III aka Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler interview for their movie The Sapphires due to open in theaters April 5, 2013.

Actress Jessica Mauboy And Cornelius III aka Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler interview for her movie The Sapphires due in theaters April 5, 2013.

REFINING TO BE A WINNER

From the time I met director Darren Brown in 2006 along with his partner Jay Anthony White for their collaboration on the movie Project 313, I knew this young man had cinematography  skills. In fact during that time I was writing movie reviews and interviews for the magazine Real Detroit Weekly but wanted to start taping my interviews live for a segment that would run on the show Video Go Go and in dire need for a good, reliable camera man I turned to Darren Brown. This guy without hesitation accepted the role, even to the point that I was just starting out with limited to no funds and he still was there to have my back for some of my memorable interviews. These days I most definitely can't afford him  because he's on another level as he is directing videos with some of the hottest hip hop and R&B artists as well as directing full feature films. His latest film Winnerz is a suspense thriller that's already creating a buzz. The movie is scheduled for release in May with a special red carpet screening May 2, 2013 at the AMC Southfield Theater. Please get out and support my friend Darren and his film upon it's release this spring. Keep up the good work Darren!

THE CALL

Plot:


Halle Berry plays Jordan Turner, a veteran 911 call operator that works from a call center known as The Hive. When she takes a call from a young girl whose home is being invaded, Jordan makes an error in judgement that eventually cost the teen her life, causing her to take a break from her job to regroup and gather herself. After her brief hiatus she comes back as an instructor but is soon thrown back on a call when a rookie operator can't handle an 911 emergency for a young girl named Casey (Breslin) that gets abducted from a mall parking structure and using a spare cell phone that she had hidden. It doesn't take long for Jordan to realize that the kidnapper is the same person that murdered the young girl from her past traumatic call experience. Now she is prepared to do whatever it takes to prevent this crazed abductor from repeating his murderous ways and saving the life of Casey.


Reel Talk:


Right off, there was another movie screening (a comedy) the same evening, the same time and the deciding factor was Halle Berry (while flashbacks of Swordfish and Monster's Ball invaded my thoughts). What man in his right mind would not go see a movie starring Halle, but I have to admit that the wig she sported in this movie was a total mess. I guess they were trying to tone down her sex appeal. Anyway this movie is an intense, suspense action thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and your eyes glued to the screen, but will also let you down with some of the unbelievable situations that would not happen like that in real life, especially the ending. Still this is a very exciting movie and true die hard Halle Berry fans will definitely enjoy it. In closing I will recite the words of rapper Kendrick Lamar..."Halle Berry, hallelujah. Holla back, I'll do ya"- Just not with that wig on....LOL

Starring: Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Michael Eklund, Morris Chestnut, David Otunga and Michael Imperioli
Directed by: Brad Anderson
Rated: R

I give it 3 and a half eaten corn dogs.

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler

DEAD MAN DOWN

Plot:


When New York crime lord Alphonse (Howard) keep receiving strange cut outs and members of his crew keep winding up dead, he puts his crew on alert to find the person that is responsible. But things become complicated for crew member Victor (Farrell) when his neighbor Beatrice (Rapace) witnesses him perform a crime and blackmails him to carry out a crime for her. All this in the midst of a possible war brewing between Alphonse and a group of Russian mobsters and while they get close to finding out whose trying to kill Alphonse.


Reel Talk:


This was a criminal suspense thriller that got turned into a love story, that maybe could have worked but didn't. Mainly too many unbelievable loops that make this movie hard to swallow. With the incorporation  of the love story, it kinda drags the movie along giving way to some lackluster action. There wasn't even much that Colin Farrell or Terrence Howard could do to salvage this film. This one you can wait to catch on DVD or even cable.

Starring: Colin Farrell, Terrence Howard, Noomi Rapace, Dominic Cooper and Isabelle Huppert
Directed by: Niels Arden Oplev
Rated: R

I give it 2 corn dogs

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler

OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

Plot:


When Oscar aka OZ the Magician (Franco), a young self indulged womanizer gets caught up in one of his schemes and chased by  a jealous husband, he takes to a hot air balloon to escape.  While in flight he encounters a massive tornado that sucks his balloon into it's funnel whisking him to a foreign, strange but colorful village named OZ. Soon it is believed by the village people that he is their savior to protect them from one of three sister witches that is the evil one that wants to control Oz along with her army of savage flying gorillas. Oscar is now faced with the dilemma of helping the people of OZ and being a hero or continuing his selfish ways and bail on them, causing their demise.


Reel Talk:


We all know the story of The Wizard Of OZ, well this movie gives us the orgin of how the Wizard came to be over OZ. How Theodora (Kunis) went from a good witch to an wicked and evil witch. The 3D graphics are spectacular and the story is not bad either, it just kinda takes a little long to get to where it's going. Still the performances are good and the characters are colorful. So on those points alone, this movie is a decent movie worth checking out. All you gotta do is just sit back and let your imagination go!

Starring: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, Bill Cobbs and Tony Cox
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Rated: PG

I give it 3 corn dogs

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PT 2 PROMO TOUR