allmoviesfan Reviews

X-Men: The Animated Series: Slave Island (1993) Season 1, Episode 7

"Slave Island"

[8/10 · 11 June 2024]

An episode almost exclusively featuring Gambit, Storm and Jubilee (with a Wolverine cameo), "Slave Island" deals with what the X-Men thought was a peaceful, safe haven of an island but Genosha is anything but that.

The mysterious American mercenary Cable makes an appearance. I guess he could be described as the X-Men universe's version of John Rambo?

There is a lot going on in this episode, with very few slow moments.

The cliffhanger scenes at the end gives you the impression - or, at least, it gave me the impression - that Gambit's allegiance isn't completely certain. Maybe I'm reading too much into it?

X-Men: The Animated Series: Cold Vengeance (1993) Season 1, Episode 6

"Cold Vengeance"

[7/10 · 11 June 2024]

The commencement of another multi-episode arc - complete with a 'To Be Continued' frame at the end - "Cold Vengeance" sees the emotional, hot-headed Wolverine leave the X-Men. Jean Grey thinks it's because of her.

Wolverine is after solitude in the Arctic, but instead gets the opposite, running into his old enemy Sabretooth. The two square off once more.

Elsewhere, Gambit, Jubilee and Storm do some investigation work. Whilst Storm has played a large part in a few episodes, Gambit and Jubilee have largely been on the periphery of events. It was good to see them front and centre in this episode.

X-Men: The Animated Series: Captive Hearts (1993) Season 1, Episode 5

"Captive Hearts"

[8/10 · 11 June 2024]

The duo of Magneto and Sabretooth take a bit of a back seat in "Captive Hearts", where the Morlocks, a zombie-style mutant race rear their ugly heads and cause trouble for the X-Men.

A large part of the episode takes place in the New York City sewers: a good atmospheric setting considering the deformed foe the X-Men face.

There is a rivalry bubbling between Cyclops and Wolverine. The former is dating Jean Grey and the latter wishes he was. That will be an interesting subplot to follow.

I could be wrong...but as far as I can recall, "Captive Hearts" is the first episode where Jean Grey appears in a major way/has a major impact.

X-Men: The Animated Series: Deadly Reunions (1993) Season 1, Episode 4

"Deadly Reunions"

[8/10 · 11 June 2024]

In "Deadly Reunions", we get - as you might imagine, given the name of the episode - the reunion that we have been building to over nearly two episodes: Magneto and Professor X. But it is far from a happy one. Same goes for the confrontation between Wolverine and Sabretooth, who is working with Magneto.

So far, season one has been two-episode arcs, which is a good way of telling an extended story rather than hurrying events to squeeze them into any given 20-minute episode.

Random/fun fact: this episode is written by Donald F. Glut, who wrote the novelisation of "Star Wars Episode IV: The Empire Strikes Back".

X-Men: The Animated Series: Enter Magneto (1992) Season 1, Episode 3

"Enter Magneto"

[8/10 · 10 June 2024]

The electric guitar in the X-Men theme is so iconic.

The third episode of season one of X-Men, ("Enter Magneto") deals with the mysterious Magento and his relationship to the X-Men and particularly Dr Xavier, dating back to when they were friends and wanting the same thing.

Magento tries to break Beast (who is reading George Orwell's Animal Farm when first seen this episode) out of jail, but he won't have any of it. An origins story episode. Wolverine and the mysterious Sabretooth get plenty of screen time.

Credit the series for developing the characters so thoroughly. No stone is left unturned.

D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)

The Quack is back!

[8/10 · 10 June 2024]

The Mighty Ducks return in Team USA guise for the Junior Goodwill Games. Gordon Bombay is back, as is most of the key players from the first movie, and some additional rather-stereotyped characters as well. The bad team are the Icelandic group this time, and they wear predominantly black jerseys like the Hawks did in the original. The plot is what it is. You don't watch Mighty Ducks movies for that. Cool to see some other NHLers of the day - including Chris Chelios - and other sports superstars appear at Bombay's Malibu apartment. USA Ducks vs. Iceland in the tournament final. I think we all know how it's going to end.

Fun movie, though. Over and over.

The Marine 5: Battleground (2017 Video)

Die Hard in an amusement park?

[7/10 · 10 June 2024]

Well, the titular Marine, played by WWE star Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin is back for more. This time, he is facing off against a bunch of bikies who are out for revenge after their president is gunned down - on his first day as a paramedic!

The action largely takes place in a theme park parking garage and then in the wider theme park. There are lots of bullets fired on both sides, and some of them actually even hit their intended targets! It's violent in the extreme, as bad guys are dispatched methodically and brutally.

Absolutely nothing groundbreaking, but if you've stuck with the series thus far, it's a better entry than the second one. Still enjoyed Mizanin in the previous instalment, and John Cena is still the best to play the main role.

The Mighty Ducks (1992)

Quack!

[8/10 · 10 June 2024]

It's been at least a decade since I last revisited one of my favourite childhood movies, The Mighty Ducks and although it's predictable in basically every single facet of storytelling, it's hard not to just enjoy this piece of Disney brilliance featuring Emilio Esteves as lawyer turned reluctant hockey coach Gordon Bombay. The movie that spawned sequels, animated shows and even an NHL franchise is a great time capsule of Minnesota - and, indeed, Disney filmmaking - in the early 1990's, and benefits from the engaging Estevez and the fun cast of kids they put around him. Not to mention the appearance of NHLers Basil McCrae and Mike Modano. Just a fun show from start to finish. Great nostalgia.

Autumn in the Vineyard (2016 TV Movie)

Great Hallmark

[8/10 · 10 June 2024]

When you set aside the predictability of certain sections of "Autumn in the Vineyard" (noting that predictability isn't exclusively reserved for Hallmark movies), you still have a really fun film with a good plot and two engaging leads in Chesapeake Shores alum Brendan Penney and Rachael Leigh Cook as rival winemakers from two warring families - the Capulets and Montagues of Wine Country? - who elevate the project with their acting ability.

Based on a novel by Marina Adair, this is top-notch Hallmark filmmaking, and it clearly resonated with audiences, because they made two sequels. Penney and Leigh Cook are a delight together.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

The best of the prequel trilogy.

[9/10 · 10 June 2024]

Finally, we know why Anakin Skywalker turned to the Dark Side of the Force and became Darth Vader.

The last hour of the final instalment in the prequel trilogy is right up there with the very best scenes from any Star Wars movie or TV show. It's stunning, gripping, tense, emotional and brilliantly conceived. Yoda vs. Emperor Palpatine and Anakin/Vader vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi are two brilliant lightsaber battles taking place concurrently. Those scenes alone are worth the price of admission.

A somewhat marginalised trilogy - however, I didn't exactly hate either of the first two films in Lucas's prequel saga - ends on the best possible note.

The Acolyte: Lost/Found (2024) Season 1, Episode 1

"Lost/Found"

[8/10 · 7 June 2024]

Carrie-Anne Moss didn't last very long - not more than five minutes into the first episode of "The Acolyte" and she met her end at the hands of a Jedi killer after a duel in - where else? - a cantina. Not Mos Eisley, but somewhere similar. Killed by a Jedi hunter.

The same person, in fact, who wakes up from a dream the very next scene, leading us to question whether she was the killer responsible for the carnage in the episode's opening action sequence. It isn't long before a plausible

Set one hundred years before the rise of the Galactic Empire, there is the all-important look and feel of Star Wars in this first episode - including scenes on Coruscant, a familiar planet - and I'm excited to see where the series goes.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)

Whatcha gonna do?

[8/10 · 7 June 2024]

Martin Lawrence and Will Smith EXPLODE back onto the big screen in "Bad Boys: Ride or Die", which is in every way an improvement on the third instalment of the long-running franchise. That's not to say that "Bad Boys for Life" wasn't good, just that this one was better. The two stars are in fine form: their chemistry is better than ever. Even if the two cops themselves are a little wiser more suspectable to the ravages of age.

Aside from the outrageous action sequences and one-liners that pepper this slick, brash, loud and fun buddy cop adventure, there are some great nods to the events of previous movies and characters, and it was especially cool to see Joe Pantoliano's Captain Howard back, mostly in flashbacks but also some new scenes.

Indeed, the plot revolves around Lawrence and Smith as Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowry going on the run, trying to clear Howard's name after the dead captain is tarred as a dirty cop.

A fun movie from start to finish. I hope this is the last one, as it would be a case of cast and crew going out on top of their game. Better than the opposite: going one movie too many.

X-Men: The Animated Series: Night Of The Sentinels Part II (1992) Season 1, Episode 2

"Night Of The Sentinels Part II"

[9/10 · 6 June 2024]

"Night Of The Sentinels Part II" picks up where the premiere episode ends: with the X-Men team commanded by Cyclops breaking into the Mutant Control Agency headquarters on a mission to destroy all information pertaining to mutants on earth.

The mission does not go without incident, unfortunately for the X-Men, and there is some early signs of tension between Wolverine and Cyclops.

Poor old Morph meets his maker at the hands of one of the same marauding robots that were after Jubilee last episode (now known as Sentinels). Alas, we never had a chance to know thee. I had a feeling he was not long for the world, considering what I know of the X-Men characters, and so it played out.

Kudos to the writers. There are more than a few good one-liners delivered, especially by Gambit and The Beast.

X-Men: The Animated Series: Night Of The Sentinels Part I (1992) Season 1, Episode 1

"Night Of The Sentinels Part I"

[9/10 · 6 June 2024]

"Night Of The Sentinels Part I" opens the X-Men animated series, and it is a strong start.

In a time of concern over mutants, Jubilee's parents are worried that the neighbours will find out that their daughter is a mutant, and have registered her with the Mutant Control Agency - an "outreach program", Jubilee's dad says - but she doesn't get there.

A giant robot arrives and is targeting Jubilee for capture. Fortunately, she is saved by Storm and Rogue and the rest of the X-Men as well. Each of the introduced characters has their own personality, and the episode spends a bit of time setting that up. For example: Cyclops seems to be Professor X's favourite and Wolverine is definitely a lone ranger.

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story: Legendary (2024) Season 1, Episode 4

"Legendary"

[10/10 · 5 June 2024]

The fourth and final episode of "Thank You, Goodnight" picks up where Richie Sambora leaves the band - perhaps the most semismic, and altering moment in the history of Bon Jovi - and goes through the current-day uncertain future of the band, in it's new guise with John Shanks and Phil X joining, and Everett Bradley later.

We see the reunion of old and new at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, find out about JBJ's friendship with Bruce Springsteen, hear about the death of Alec John Such, David Bryan's Broadway career and - a running thread throughout the documentary - Jon Bon Jovi's continuing efforts to rehabilitate his voice, whilst discovering political activism.

Who knows what the future holds for one of the titans of rock music, forty years into their career. If this is the end, it's been one heck of a ride. No matter what happens, Bon Jovi's legacy is assured.

The episode is dedicated ("in loving memory" to Alec John Such.)

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story: Brothers in Arms (2024) Season 1, Episode 3

"Brothers in Arms"

[9/10 · 5 June 2024]

Very much an episode of change for Bon Jovi as the world knew it, and what a fascinating episode it was.

Early on in "Brothers in Arms", Doc McGhee departs as the band's manager. Shortly thereafter, Alec John Such is out as the bassist (thanks to substance abuse issues) and - after reinventing itself via the mega hit 'It's My Life' and some brilliant albums after that - Richie Sambora departs as lead guitarist.

Perhaps the biggest and most controversial moment in the band's history?

Certainly the moment that has everyone talking, still to this day.

There was no one real reason why it happened, just an avalanche of them, I guess. Interesting to hear both sides, Sambora's and Bon Jovi's, plus the thoughts of John Shanks, stuck in the middle. If I'm honest, Sambora's departure was when I stopped paying close attention to the band. It just wasn't the same. Phil X is a fine guitarist, but he isn't the guy who should be up there with JBJ.

At the same time, Jon Bon Jovi continues his present-day struggle with vocal chord issues.

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story: Nowhere to Everywhere (2024) Season 1, Episode 2

"Nowhere to Everywhere"

[9/10 · 4 June 2024]

The heights of stardom are scaled by Bon Jovi in part two, with 'Slippery When Wet' and it's epic rock anthems shooting the band into the stratosphere.

There's a tour, then the recording of 'New Jersey' (with it's own fair share of rock anthems) and more touring. Exhausting amounts of touring across twenty (!!) countries: epic gigs. Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, and basically anything the band wanted. And then the inevitable burn-out as tensions rise amongst the band.

The 1980s footage is fantastic.

This episode also deals with Jon Bon Jovi's physical struggles during their 2022 return to touring. Quite the contrast to how things were in the 1980's for him. I admire the frank and raw honesty.

Doc McGhee and Desmond Child add very interesting points of view on the band. Also great to see Richie Sambora taking part in this documentary, given his somewhat fractious relationship with the band in recent years. Kudos to Jon Bon Jovi for including him.

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story: New Jersey vs. Everybody (2024) Season 1, Episode 1

"New Jersey vs. Everybody"

[9/10 · 4 June 2024]

My first thought when Jon Bon Jovi pops onto the screen following the intro, comprised of historical footage, was, "Man, he is old!" Bon Jovi has been around for forty years, so that tracks.

"New Jersey vs. Everybody" details the early years for Jon Bongiovi in New Jersey club bands such as the Atlantic City Expressway, inspired by the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (both The Boss and Southside Johnny appear on the doco), right up to around when "Runaway" was released - all of it interspersed with 2002 rehearsal footage.

The final scenes introduce guitar virtuoso Richie Sambora to the documentary. Richie was the other half of Bon Jovi for so many years and left under uncertain circumstances more than a decade ago.

Richie asks whether he's meant to tell the truth or not, setting up the second episode.

JAG: Rendezvous (1997) Season 2, Episode 15

"Rendezvous"

[8/10 · 3 June 2024]

The finale of JAG's second season, whilst not featuring a cliffhanger ending, "Rendezvous" at least finally has Harm and Mac back in the courtroom and on opposite sides of the trial of a Chief Petty Officer, who is charged with murder.

Perhaps the best part of the episode is the chat Harm and Mac have midway through, in which Mac - kind of a mystery to this point - tells Harm about her relationship with her father, which has a bearing on the case.

Ensign Simms is back. Her and Bud continue their romance, despite a few bumps in the road.

A strong way to end the first season of JAG's reboot on CBS.

JAG: Cowboys & Cossacks (1997) Season 2, Episode 14

"Cowboys & Cossacks"

[8/10 · 3 June 2024]

In "Cowboys & Cossacks", the penultimate episode of JAG's second season, Harm and Bud are on a Russian warship whilst Mac remains on the USS Cayuga as war games exercises take place. The two opposing captains have a history - and we learn a little about Rabb's career as a fighter pilot, too - and are seemingly hell-bent on using the wargames as a way to settle a score. But the Russian captain goes too far: a plot device I've seen used a time or two before. It's up to Harm and a sympathetic Russian to save the day and prevent an incident that would lead to World War Three. A good episode with a few funny moments throughout.

JAG: Code Blue (1997) Season 2, Episode 13

"Code Blue"

[8/10 · 2 June 2024]

Unlucky Harmon Rabb Jr. He gets skittled by a car whilst out on a morning run with Mac and ends up in the very same hospital that Hamas overruns. The Big Bad Guy is played by Francesco Quinn. He wants to hold a government official hostage to affect a prisoner exchange. (Watching in 2024, Hamas is quite topical at the moment).

In a nutshell, in "Code Blue" we have a slightly-concussed Harm and a fully-healthy Mac doing JAG's imitation of Die Hard in a hospital. And if for one minute you think that our favourite JAG lawyers are going to let the bad guys get away with it, I've got beachfront property in Arizona to sell you.

A fun episode, in which Bud and Admiral Chegwidden don't appear at all.

JAG: The Guardian (1997) Season 2, Episode 12

"The Guardian"

[9/10 · 1 June 2024]

Goodbye to the gung-ho assassin-preventing, princess-protecting, gunnery sergeant-impersonating Harm Rabb and hello to the hotshot lawyer who represents a disaffected former Navy SEAL who has killed some men trying to rob a convenience store, before running into a church for refuge. Bud happens to be there, and is taken hostage.

"The Guardian" is a very strong episode that shines a light on the unfortunate plight of too many men who return from any given theatre of war physically okay, but carrying all sorts of mental scars.

The entire episode is extremely well written and very well acted: some of the best we've seen thus far in JAG's run. David James Elliott plays a somewhat stereotyped character in some episodes, but when given the chance to shine - as in this episode - he really does.

JAG: Force Recon (1997) Season 2, Episode 11

"Force Recon"

[8/10 · 1 June 2024]

"Force Recon" starts out as a pretty standard JAG episode (as I remember them, from watching back in the 90's and 00's, anyway) with two Marines hurt during an exercise, under somewhat suspicious circumstances. So Mac and Bud are sent to investigate whether the company's commander has gone too far with his training.

The curve ball is when the new Gunner Sergeant Major Post appears on the scene. He is none other than Harm, undercover. Yet another random assignment for the fighter jock turned hotshot lawyer. That said, Harm Rabb is a convincing Marine, even though Mac isn't overly thrilled by his appearance.

JAG: The Game of Go (1997) Season 2, Episode 10

"The Game of Go"

[7/10 · 31 May 2024]

When a mission to kidnap a big-time Colombian drug lord doesn't go to plan and one of the Marine raiders is left behind presumed dead but not actually dead, it's up to Harm and Mac (with an assist from Clayton Webb) to find a way to bring the Marine home. The problem is, he's being held hostage by the drug dealer.

Plenty of action, again, but not very much courtroom action. I think it's high time that these JAG lawyers get back into the courtroom for an episode or three.

Not the best episode ever - entertaining like they all are, but probably not one that's going to stick with me once I've watched all of JAG's ten episodes.

JAG: Washington Holiday (1997) Season 2, Episode 9

"Washington Holiday"

[8/10 · 31 May 2024]

For a fighter jock turned JAG lawyer, Harmon Rabb certainly does have his fair share of random assignments. Perhaps none more so, to this point, than escorting a Romanian princess around Washington D. C. whilst her father sorts out Romania's entry into NATO. There is an assassin on the loose, threatening to kill the princess if the king goes ahead with joining NATO, an effort spearheaded by everyone's favourite State Department spook, Clayton Webb (Steven Culp plays him well). Naturally, Harm gets to play hero, whilst fending off the princesses' attempts to kindle a romance.

Elsewhere, Harriett Sims turns up in Washington D. C. and Bud does not handle it at all well. His attempts to romance the ensign is definitely the comic relief in "Washington Holiday".

A fun episode, even if I was able to pick the identity of the assassin immediately.