Review: Suits TV Series *Two Lawyers One Degree* No Spoilers.

I have always found it difficult to nurture any interest in TV shows and series. I have always preferred watching the same movie more that ones (Mostly 3 times in a row if it is that good) over following a TV series. Well…. A couple of times I have done my best to follow a few but…. to me they have always lacked the extra punch to keep me dazed and hooked for more than the first few episodes. Yeah, up until I found Suits… I didn't know what to expect and I didn't have any high hopes either, I gave it a shot and  4 seasons with 54 episodes down and I am still hooked and can’t seem to get enough of it. 

The 90mins pilot of the whole series was enough to interest me….

While running from a drug deal gone bad, Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) a brilliant college dropout out with a photographic memory manages to slip into a job interview with Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) who happens to be one of New York’s best lawyers and manages to impress him with his raw talent and knowledge of the law even though he had never been to law school. Harvey takes a huge gamble and hires him; together they form an unstoppable team.

Yeah… sounds ridiculous but that is the underlining plot of this series that goes on to reveal many more equally intriguing sub plots and stories over the cause of it’s 4 seasons (So far) with the aid of several well written characters taking into consideration different human characteristics and personalities.

I had read some reviews from critics who felt that the series was not going to last more than a season because it was either too complex of too ridiculous. Two seasons in, there where unconfirmed reports that it would be discontinued. (Imagine my shock) Allegedly the producers felt that it was not gaining enough following. It went on a long break, the writers did some magic and it came back with a huge bang. (I thank God it did)

Besides the underlying plot which is the center of the whole series you get to see allegiances forged, friendships tested, betrayals, blackmails, heartbreaks as well as some kick ass moments. I don’t think there is any other series out there that packs all these in a good bundle of humor that is not just entertaining but very educative and informative as well. (I am always impressed when I get to learn something from the titles I watch). The cast I must say all ‘suit’ the characters they play… from expressing emotions to even fully embodying the character. Aside a few minor individual flaws I haven’t watched any other series that packs such a perfect cast… You could almost feel the synergy and chemistry between them.

The dialogue is always clear and clever. And you can never get tired of the Witt and humor. The suits…mehn….you have got to love the suits. The characters seem to never run out of style and suave… the fashion is always stepped up.

Story lines have been on point so far….  Almost always predictable to some extent (if you are paying attention, that is) but never lacks the usual unexpected twists that keep you on edge waiting for the next episode. You never get lost or caught up with some unnecessary law jargon's or technicalities so it’s easy to follow along as events unfold. 

Season Four has been a magnificent ride for me and any one who is as hooked as I am would definitely agree me.

We have seen Mike Ross try to succeed as an investment banker, well… with a bit of a mean streak, his relationship with Rachel Zane (Meghan Markle) (Mikes love interest) being tested, a not so cold side to Harvey, an unexpected love interest for Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres), Donna’s (Sarah Rafferty) hidden passion  and a climax with Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) turning the heat all the way up. We have also seen some new characters (Played by some equally good actors like Eric Roberts and Neal McDonough) who have also added depth to the whole story.

If you want a TV series that properly incorporates legal matters into all aspects of human nature yet is still entertaining enough to keep you wanting more then this is for you. It’s currently on summer break so you can start and catch up before it returns.

If this series goes on for a life time I would be still be hooked provided it doesn't loose any of its qualities but only gets better and better. So far the status quo keeps rising for them.

I honestly can’t wait for Suits to come back with the rest of Season 4. I would pick this any day over some witches and dragons. (Yiee.. lol)

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Top Five: 2014 Movies You should have seen by now.

I am sure you would agree with me that 2014 has been a very great year for movies. Personally, I have lost count of the titles I have seen so far this year. Some good, some bad, some ok… some well not so ok. Some so good that I had to see more than just ones others so terrible that I don't even want to remember sitting through them. (That bad)

This is probably the hardest thing I have had to do so far with this blog….. Trying to sum up my 2014 so far with 5 titles. You might be wondering why I didn't a pick a top 10 instead… believe me that would have been much easier and I just wanted to challenge myself with this one.(Yeah right).

Ok.... so in no particular order here are my Top 5 2014 Movies you should have seen by now. 

1. Lone Survivor [Action, Biography, Drama] 121min

Marcus Luttrell, a Navy Seal, and his team set out on a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, in late June 2005. After running into mountain herders and capturing them, they were left with no choice but to follow their rules of engagement or be imprisoned. Now Marcus and his team are left to fight for their lives in one of the most valiant efforts of modern warfare. 

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch and Ben Foster

Hmm…. You just have to love this movie….. A true story being told. If you are a sucker for movies like Black Hawk Down, Tears of the Sun and Act of Valor there shouldn't be any excuse for not watching this movie by now.

Watch Trailer Here

2. About Last Night [Comedy, Romance] 100min

Follow two couples as they journey from the bar to the bedroom and are eventually put to the test in the real world.

Starring: Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall and Joy Bryant

Yeah… a chick flick… so what? You will still love it anyways… The Story is good and definitely has some good humor for matured minds. Michael Ealy had to loose over 20 pounds just so he could play the character he was given and trust me when I say he did nail it.

Watch Trailer Here

3. I, Frankenstein [Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy] 92min

Frankenstein's creature finds himself caught in an all-out, centuries old war between two immortal clans.

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Jai Courtney, Bill Nighy and Miranda Otto

Well a kind of not so long movie I must say but I am sure you would love it. From the same producers as the much acclaimed Underworld franchise. A simple plot with decent nicely done graphic effects to match the well played out action sequences. You should expect an exciting twist to the Frankenstein stories you might be familiar with. 

Watch Trailer Here

4. Need for Speed [Action, Crime, Drama] 132min

Fresh from prison, a street racer who was framed by a wealthy business associate joins a cross country race with revenge in mind. His ex-partner, learning of the plan, places a massive bounty on his head as the race begins.

Starring: Aaron Paul, Domnic Cooper, Scott ‘KiD CuDi’ Muscudi and Imogen Poots

This is the official NFS movie backed by EA Sports. Yes….fast cars and good driving. Since we all couldn't get to see Fast & Furious 7 this year this movie just had to do it for us. A nice story told with some wicked cars. You have got to love the soundtrack at the end of the race scene. Linkin Park’s Road’s Untraveled… it was the perfect choice of song for that scene if you should ask me. 

Watch Trailer Here

5. The Raid 2: Berandal [Action, Crime, Thriller] 150min

Only a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force.

Starring: Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Arafin Putra and Oka Antara

This is a direct follow up sequel to last years hit The Raid: Redemption. You might have or might not have seen it. Either which way… if you like movies with more than just impressive hand to hand combat then you would have to see this movie. The fight sequences are stunning. This one is twice the action and thrill of the first movie.

Watch Trailer Here

Well there you have it….my Top 5 2014 movies you should have seen by now. I did my best to cover most genres of movies in this list. Wasn't easy getting this top 5 at all believe me. The whole idea to was to get movies that would be easy to love by all. If you have seen them then cool.. if you haven’t… do well to check these titles out 2014 is almost coming to an end. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

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Movie Review: The Purge; Anarchy 2014 *Do you want to purge?*

This movie is the sequel to one of the hits of 2013, ThePurge that had Ethan Hawke in the lead role. It’s not one of those follow up sequels with the same cast to continue or extend the story being told in the prequel but packs an entire different cast and story line which maintains the original concept of the purge. 

The purge’s concept is…. A not so distant future (2023) where crime is low and unemployment has reached below 5% but one day in a year is set aside for the annual purge were all crimes including murder is legal and free from punishment for 24hours. Purposely to allow citizens to cleanse and purify their hearts and souls from all the hate, anger and resentments in side them by releasing aggression. (Sounds crazy right?)

This particular purge movie follows a couple, a police sergeant and a mother and daughter who are caught up in the purge based on different circumstances who meet up by chance and must help each other as they attempt to survive the night in Los Angeles.

Personally, I feel this story certainly has more content than its prequel but the good thing is you don’t need to have watched the 2013 prequel to get comfortable with this one. The movie starts with scenes to explain the whole idea of purging so you are basically prepared for what you are about to watch. Also, the story line does not have any direct link to the not so broad prequel. It’s simple and straight forward and you do not have to do any thinking to get what is going on or is about to happen. I feel the writers made a huge step up on the previous ones script, taking the whole concept a bit deeper and broader. The acting….well, the roles where simple but I feel the lead characters fell short on delivering the right emotions for certain situations they found themselves in ….nonetheless it was good. 

I would describe this movie as a beautiful combination of horror, thriller and action in controlled proportions. The writer had the mix right this time around.

I wouldn't say this was a perfect movie at all, for me…. there where no standout moments or performances since the story kept the same pace from start to finish. I also didn't like that a closer look at the details of this story hints a political back drop. (I hate politics that much.) It didn't ruin the movie in any sense at all but I didn't like the idea even though I feel it was necessary to broaden the depth of the concept this movie surrounds. Also I felt that some of the scenes weren't necessary at all. (Just to kill time.) For anyone who hates mindless violence you should expect to see some in this movie….lucky enough they are mild scenes and not vividly over done. 

Of course there is some decent suspense tactfully scripted to keep the viewer interested in the story as it goes on for 103mins. A lot of human elements such as fear, anger, revenge and heroism are exploited in ways not many movies of this kind have been able to perfect. 

That is why I would rate it ….. 6/10.

Although I would highly suggest parental guidance for minors, I recommend this movie for anyone who loves a good thrill even if they haven’t already seen the first film. (You should watch that one too if you can so you can also make your own comparison of the two.) This movie didn't disappoint at all…. It’s something you would definitely not mind watching more than once. 

I am still wondering if the whole idea of a Purge can be successful in real life. 

Do you want to purge?

Watch Trailer Here

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Movie Review: God's Not Dead 2014 *What is your believe?*

Honestly I have never been a fun of Christian movies. Not that I am against them but I have always felt the acting to be too mediocre and substandard (Except The Passion of the Christ)…this thought being based on the few Christian Drama movies I have seen. I didn't know what to expect from this movie but its title is what caught my attention and made me want to know what it was all about. (I would do my best to stray from giving of any spoilers)

God’s Not Dead

A college philosophy professor’s curriculum is challenged by one of his new students who happens to disagree with his disbelief of the existence of God.

The story pits a young college student with unshakable faith in God against an atheist professor who based on an event in his past no longer thinks God exists as the underlining plot. There are about five back stories that are all in a way connected to main plot.  I feel the writers did a good job finding a way to link all these back stories together. If it was just the underlining plot the movie I am sure would have ended long before 113mins.

Like most of the Christian movies I have seen, acting was mediocre but all the lead characters I believe did their best in portraying the roles they had been tasked to play. The only familiar face to me is Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) who plays the role of the atheist Prof Radisson. It also boasts of cameo appearances from Willie Robertson and Christian rock band Newsboys.

What I like most about this movie was how attention was given to other schools of thought, particularly science in making arguments as to whether God exists or not. Some great minds where mentioned and quoted and for me that was a big plus. So if you pay attention you might end up actually learning a thing or two. 

Devoid of my own personal religious believes what I did not like most about this movie was that it was a bit too one sided and stereotypical. This you would only notice if you pay close attention to the back stories that supported the underlining plot. (No Spoilers) You would have to watch and figure this one out for yourself.

For any Christian or any one who believes in the existence of God this is exactly the movie you need to see to remind you of your faith and help revive your hope and believe in the Almighty creator.

I would score this movie 4.5/10 because regardless of the substandard acting  it did keep me seated and interested for the whole of 113mins. No wonder its estimated budget of $2,000,000 US has yielded a gross profit of $60,753,735 US as at August 1^st, 2014.

If I should be very honest, I would say this movie did a good job of reminding me of faith in God and His existence. I have no doubt that God’s Not Dead.

[From movie]

Josh Wheaton: How can you hate someone who doesn't exist?

Watch Trailer Here

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Movie Review: Hercules 2014 *Human or Demi-god?*

After all the noise, Hercules, starring the famous Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been released and I must say it did live up to expectations. Well not in all areas but it wasn't a complete failure at least. Pre-release date trailers promised a look into the life of the Legendary Greek Demi-god after he had completed his twelve labors and now lives his life as mercenary who is hired by the King of Thrace and his daughter to help in defeating a tyrannical warlord.

Before watching this movie I wondered if 98 minutes were enough to completely tell this story. The movie starts with an almost slow motion comic footage of Hercules doing his twelve labors. This I guess was necessary to a set up the main story that was going to be told without having to bore viewers with the earlier life of the main character. I think the writers made a huge gamble with this capitalizing on the surety that the tales of Hercules are not really new to anyone. Although it does not ignore the back story of his wife and kids it does tend to play with already popular knowledge about him and sets up the viewer for events and questions that would later be visited and answered at the climax of the movie.

I was impressed with the idea of telling this story with a much more mature Hercules and not some young over zealous yet inexperienced hero. I feel that Dwayne Johnson did deliver on that. I have no idea who else might have been offered this role but if Dwayne was the first pick then the casting was definitely on point. For me a younger teenage Hercules would have been a huge minus to this movie. The long hair and beard did well to complete the image of our otherwise bald and clean shaven real life Dwayne.

I was also impressed with the fact that film makers did not make use of too much CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) but actually shot the movie with actual humans and real props making the fight scenes much more realistic. Oh YES, there are some epic battle sequences that were well planned out, choreographed and shot from good angles to make its 3D viewing worth it and pleasurable. You don’t get to see any unnecessary slow motions with fake blood gushes if that is your fancy. Hercules gets to show of not only in-human strength but also some crafty and cunning art of war. His band of merry men (plus a woman) did not fall short either on showing of their distinctive individual war skills.

The writers made use of good humor and wittiness to relax the whole seriousness of the story. Trust me; the humor was a huge plus. Careful use of sarcasm can never go wrong. Although you would have to be very attentive to catch some of these there are clearly quite enough scenes that would stir up a good laugh. Not to say this movie would pass for a comedy but… hey a little bit of humor doesn't kill does it? If you are the type that appreciates good humor this movie is for you because it definitely packs that in good measure.

OK …so what I didn't like about the movie aside the fact that it was short (trust me 98mins in my books is short), is what I would like to call a confusing factual blunder. Greek mythology mentions Zeus as the father of Heracles not Hercules. Hercules is actually from Roman mythology and the son of Jupiter. (Who cares? Well I do.)  Confusing indeed, but I don’t think it would matter to anyone who isn't too concerned about getting mythological facts right as I am.

Whatever this movie lacks I must say it makes up for with all the action and humor. We get to see a human side more than a more conflicting wide known god-like persona of the Hercules character. Yes, this movie doesn't play too much on the demi-god legends but leaves enough room to figure it out for your self. Bravery, heroism and honor are clearly depicted in this story.

Overall I would score this movie 6.5/10. Yes…. above average.

Even though the movie builds up and progresses at a slow pace it doesn't leave you lost and wondering what happened or is about to happen. As to if I enjoyed watching this movie, of course I did and its something I would want to watch again. My 98 minutes were not wasted at all.  And I would recommend this movie for any one who is interested in seeing the Hercules story being told from the realest point of view. For those not interested in watching this…. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE GIVING UP. 

[From trailer]

Amphiaraus: No matter how far you go, man cannot escape his fate. Who are you? Are you a murderer? Are you a mercenary who turns his back on the innocent? We believe in you! We have faith in you! Remember the deeds you have performed, the labors you have overcome! Are you only the legend, or are you truth behind the legend? Now, tell me, WHO ARE YOU?

Hercules: I AM HERCULES!

Chaley don’t dull go see this movie yh. 

Watch Trailer Here

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