Awkward (2011-2016)

Genre: TV / Comedy

Starring: Ashley Rickards, Beau Mirchoff, Nikki DeLoach

Number of seasons: 5

The five seasons of this MTV series takes us through the last few years of high school and first years of college of Jenna Hamilton, an awkward aspiring writer with an on-and-off rocky relationship with jock Matty McKibben. When the show starts, Jenna accidently hurts herself in what will be falsely perceived for a long time as a suicide attempt.

Awkward is a funny and quite cute. The show dares to go a little beyond the usual teen shlock and even manages to be a little crude (not too much). The characters are well defined, though a little cliché at times and a little too pretty. Even the losers are a little too cute to feel real. Nonetheless, the viewers are sure to recognize a bit of their own life in the hick school and college experience of this show. Very entertaining.

Rating: «««

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Genre: Biographical / Drama

Directed by: Mel Gibson

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey

Running time: 139 minutes

Based on a 2004 documentary called The Conscientious Objector, this films tells the story of Desmond Doss, who joined the army as a medic and went to the front during World War II, all the while refusing to use a gun or any weapon in the line of duty due to his religious beliefs. Doss would eventually be awarded the Medal of Honor for his service.

As far as cinematography goes, this film is great. The war images were well shot and felt really realistic. It really gave you the feeling that you were there with them fighting.

My main problem with it is in the acting. I know that there were many praises and award nominations, but I just did not feel it. I can’t put my finger quite on it, but it did not resonate with me. And Vince Vaughn as a Sergeant was not convincing.

Rating: «««

Olympus Has Fallen (2003)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Antoine Fuqua

Starring: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman

Running time: 119 minutes

Mike Banning was head of the security detail for US President Benjamin Asher until a car accident on Christmas evening. Banning managed to extricate the president from the limo before it fell over the side of a bridge, but the First Lady, who was knocked out and stuck, plunged to her death. Eighteen months later, Banning is working a desk job at the Treasury HQ. After a North-Korean guerrilla group attacks and takes control of the White House, all the while holding the president hostage, Banning will spring back into action to save his former boss and friend.

Olympus Has Fallen is your typical Hollywood action film, where the bad guys are foreigners and are extra evil, and where Americans are virtuous and courageous. There are lots of explosions and people getting shot. After a while, there are so many deaths and wounded people that it feels like a video game and you stop caring a little bit for the characters.

That being said, while not completely original and devoid of clichés, this film still offers some entertainment for the fans of fast-paced action. Gerard Butler’s performance also helps make this better than it should be.

This film would be followed by a sequel, London Has Fallen, already reviewed on this site.

Rating: «««

Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama (1988)

Genre: Horror / Comedy

Directed by: David DeCoteau

Starring: Linnea Quigley, Andras Jones, Robin Rochelle, Carla Baron

Running time: 80 minutes

A group of three nerdy frat boys decide to go spy on an initiation ceremony held by a neighboring sorority. They get caught and are forced to join the girls being initiated in the last part of their challenge, which consists in breaking into the local bowling alley and stealing a trophy. When they get inside, they come upon an imp, who will soon make their lives a living hell.

This film is so bad it is somewhat funny. It has all the elements of the teen sex horror/comedy. We have scantily clad young ladies getting spanked with a paddle by older girls, pervy young men and all kinds of shenanigans, though the whole thing is quite tame compared to other movies.

Though it contains a few humorous cheesy moments, this flick doesn’t have much to offer. Not even the best of its genre.

Rating: ««