Saturday, April 6, 2013

Tim Tebow: On a Mission - 4 stars out of 10

Tim Tebow: On a Mission - 4 stars out of 10 

“Tim Tebow: On a Mission” gives insight into the life and motivations of the polarizing quarterback.  Most people know Tim Tebow’s biography from college through the NFL but this documentary explores his upbringing and how he became the strong Christian that he is today.  It was really interesting to watch this documentary knowing the events that follow the conclusion of the documentary.  It ends with Tebow’s trade to the Jets in the off-season and several interviewees speculate how his new team will be able to effectively use him.  Of course we know that the Jets season ended in disaster instead of dominance and perhaps they should have used Tebow as a tool instead of a strategy for selling more jerseys.  The documentary itself is not great because much of the information is common knowledge (and it brought back bad memories of that playoff game against the Steelers), but it’s worth watching if you’re a football fan or a Christian who is proud of this positive role model.

Winnebago Man - 6 stars out of 10

Winnebago Man - 6 stars out of 10

"Winnebago Man" is an interesting look into the real life of accidental Internet sensation Jack Rebney and his infamous Winnebago sales outtakes.  Although I had somehow never seen this YouTube viral video, I can see why people quickly latched on to the misfortunes of this frustrated salesman.  Although it is layered with profanity and disdain for humanity, this is actually the story of a sweet old man who wishes that he had a voice beyond that of his famous freakout.  The film never grows stale as it has three distinct sections: the search for Jack, the true nature of Jack, and the film festival.  I would only put the quality of the documentary as average but it brings perspective to the power of the Internet and drives home the point that you can't judge a book by its cover (or a Winnebago by its salesman).

Monday, April 1, 2013

Ernest in the Army - 2 stars out of 10

Ernest in the Army - 2 stars out of 10

The earlier Ernest movies could actually pass for "real" movies but this one obviously went straight to video.  It has a couple of funny moments, but this movie is significantly cheesier than "...Goes to Jail" or "...Saves Christmas."  It just feels fake and I never cared about what was happening, just hoping for another Ernest slapstick moment.  The ending narration is really corny and the movie as a whole just does not deliver like the classic Ernest movies.  Maybe it's because Chuck and Bobby (a.k.a. those two hilarious guys from all of the Ernest movies) were missing, but something about "Ernest in the Army" makes it seem like it missed basic movie training.

Sunday, March 31, 2013

The Omen (1976) - 8 stars out of 10

The Omen (1976) - 8 stars out of 10

"The Omen" is one of those classic horror films that focuses more on giving you nightmares than a few cheap scare.  The premise alone is enough to send chills down your spine, and this film simply takes that premise and develops it in a straightforward way.  The film does have some awesome shocking moments (like the hanging and the tricycle) but gathers its momentum from pure intensity and creepiness (particularly Mrs. Baylock, the nanny).  The true genius of this film is the intrigue of its story, growing weirder and weirder at every turn and yet remaining completely believable.  Gregory Peck does a great job of portraying his internal struggle to follow logic or believe in this Satanic evil.  The birthmark scene is incredible and the film's climax feels very personal, placing each audience member in the midst of Peck's decision as Damien suddenly appears to be an innocent child.  "The Omen" is not the scariest movie ever made but its frightening musical theme will haunt your thoughts any time that you think about abortion or notice a young child acting out of the ordinary.