Tag Archives: Peter Berg

Film Review: Lone Survivor

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, Eric Bana

Directed by: Peter Berg

Today, I just saw the film, “Lone Survivor” and here is my review…

Plot/synopsis: This film tells the real life story of a failed mission called, “Operation Red Wings”, in which four Seal Team 10 members are ordered to kill the Taliban leader, Ahmad Shahd in Afghanistan. It also tells the real life story of  Seal member, Marcus Luttrell (who also helped wrote the book).

Peter Berg who is famous for creating “Friday Night Lights” may have been making bad movies lately but I think he redeemed himself, this time. I was totally blown away with, “Lone Survivor”. Most new war movies are silly and not very good but finally Peter Berg makes an excellent one! This have got to be the best war film since, “Saving Private Ryan” (sorry about that, Kathryn Bigelow).

This film gives you a realistic look on what Navy Seal battles are all about. The director may have done his homework before making this film and did lots of research. The battles in this film were graphic, intense and terrifying. It wants to give you a better look on what Seals go through during war. To give you an idea of what war is like today in Afghanistan. War today is pretty much the same as all other wars in the past. Peter Berg did a great job on staying accurate and faithful to Navy Seals.

The performances of everybody in the cast was amazing. They all did a good job but I was most impressed with Mark Wahlberg and I think he may finally get his Oscar for this role. Everything else about the film was just perfect too: the script, camera work, musical score/soundtrack, etc. Warning though, the film can get quite graphic and very intense. It’s also a very sad film so be sure to have something to wipe your eyes with when you go to the theater to see this.

The action scenes may have been well done and may have been fun to watch but I believe this movie wasn’t made to entertain you. Like I said, it wants to give a realistic look of what it’s like fighting in a war today. War is unpredictable. You’ll never know what will happen. There maybe good guys vs. badguys but you’ll never know who’ll win, who will get injured or even killed. A soldier can fight even when going through the worse injuries you’ve ever seen… it doesn’t matter if they have a missing leg or missing fingers. You’ll see all that stuff in this film. So you WILL see some major gross-outs that will make you wanna look away from the screen.

There are mixed emotions however… some of this film can be enjoyable, heartfelt, sad, scary, and even funny (yes, there’s a little bit of comedy in this film). This film already has Oscar written all over it. It maybe too late for this film to make this year’s Oscars but definitely next year in 2015. If this film doesn’t win, “BEST PICTURE” for 2015 or even a nomination, then I won’t support the Oscars anymore.

Every American needs to see this important film… doesn’t matter if you’re liberal, conservative, libertarian or whatever party you are.

Two thumbs up for, “Lone Survivor”.

Kev

Report: Will Taylor Kitsch reprise as Tim Riggins for the “Friday Night Lights” big screen movie?

Since Peter Berg is serious on bringing the, “Friday Night Lights”, TV show to the big screen, everyone is wondering if Taylor Kitsch will be reprising his role as, Tim Riggins. Well, Taylor himself finally responds and he said he will do it if the script for his character is worthy enough to come back. In other words, it must be good. He said he was proud of how his character ended the show, so he may or may not come back at all.

More on the story, here.

That’s understandable if he doesn’t want to come back ’cause he is becoming a much bigger star than ever before. He wasn’t in the last season of FNL that much, he only appeared for a few episodes. It’ll be cool if Taylor comes back but if he doesn’t, that’s fine too.

I’m hoping the big screen movie will be good too, so hopefully Mr. Berg does a good job with the film.

Kev

 

Report: Connie Britton speaks out on the new, “Friday Night Lights”, movie…

Connie Britton, who plays Tami Taylor, on “Friday Night Lights” TV show, spoke to US Weekly saying that Peter Berg is all fired up about turning the show into a new movie. She also says Jason Katims is writing the script.

Read what she have to say, here.

I’m very excited for this. The “Friday Night Lights” movie could have potential for an Oscar nod for some of the show’s actors especially, Kyle and Connie.

I’m sure they’ll do a good job with the film. I just hope Minka Kelly comes back as Lyla throughout the movie, and not just a cameo for her.

Kev

BREAKING NEWS: Peter Berg confirms “Friday Night Lights” movie is happening!!!

Peter Berg, the man himself, confirmed that “Friday Night Lights” movie sequel with the current cast of the TV show is definitely gonna happen. Universal Studios already gave the film the green light and Peter also confirmed a script is being written. They already got Brian Grazer to produce and they plan to start filming in 2012.

There have already been a “Friday Night Lights” movie that starred Billy Bob Thornton in the leading role, but the next movie will be adapted from the TV show. The article says Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler will reprise their roles for the movie version but doesn’t say if the original cast from the TV show will return.

Deadline, reports.

At the end of FNL – Season 5, it ended with Tami and Coach Eric Taylor leaving Dillon to move to Philadelphia, P.A. So the movie will be taken place in Philadelphia.

I’m hoping the rest of the cast will be back for the movie too.

I’m excited. Glad they’re doing a movie version. I’m sure it will be a box office success and I hope Peter Berg himself directs the film.

Kev

Cool Video: “Battleship” trailer hits online!!!

Peter Berg’s “Battleship” movie based on the popular board game hits the internet today. From what I remember, the original Battleship game was never about battling against aliens. It’s supposed to be about battling other ships such as the Destroyer, submarine, aircraft carrier, etc. Just adding alien ships to the mix is just silly. The film stars Liam Neeson and Taylor Kitsch. Definitely looks like a wait for DVD thing for me. I’m not that excited about it.

Check it out, here.

Kev

Report: Even if “Friday Night Lights” maybe ending for good tonight, Peter Berg is trying to bring it to the big screen!!!

While the series “Friday Night Lights” is coming to a close tonight. Yes, tonight is the final and last episode of FNL sadly. The good news is, that Peter Berg is trying to bring the series to the big screen. Yes, there is already a Friday Night Lights movie that starred Billy Bob Thornton, but there could be another movie with the current cast of the TV show.

Read more on the story here, at Deadline.

Man, this would be awesome if this could happen. Peter Berg knows this show is very popular and he wants to keep it going to keep the fans happy. Much respect for him on this. NBC may no longer want the show, but there’s always another try for the big screen. I’m sure the big screen version would happen. Thanks Peter!

I’ll review “Friday Night Lights – Season 5” after I watch it tonight.

Kev

Report: “Friday Night Lights” characters Jason Street and Tyra Collette to return to season 5!!!!

Well it seems that NBC already filmed, season 5 for “Friday Night Lights”. We have some good news and some bad news about next season. Lets get the good news out of the way first. The good news is that FNL characters Jason Street (Scott Porter) and Tyra Collette (Adrianne Palicki) will be returning throughout most of season 5. The bad news is “Friday Night Lights – Season 5” will be the last season for good and also more bad news, it looks like Minka Kelly who plays Lyla didn’t agree to return to Season 5 either. Maybe she’ll return in an episode or two but not throughout the entire season.

It seems that Tim Riggins won’t be released from prison at all for Season 5 as it looks like they filmed scenes with Tim Riggins in jail. Will Tim Riggins stay in jail throughout Season 5? Not to worry Tim Riggins fans. I’m sure the Tim Riggins character will get released from prison sometime toward the end of the season.

More on it here:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/46120

Kev

Brock reviews “Friday Night Lights – Season 4” ***SPOILERS***

Well here it is, “Friday Night Lights” Season 4 is over already. It has came and gone. I must say that this season was a HUGE improvement from the first three seasons. The first three seasons were pretty good but the show needed a lot more improvements in the writing. I thought “Season 4” of FNL was the most powerful and emotional season of them all. No complaints at all for Season 4, as I thought it was the best season so far.

The Season begins with Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) no longer being coach of the Dillon Panthers. So Coach Eric forms his own football team called, the Lions instead. Eric Taylor loves football too much that he can’t give it up and wants to show his passion for football by continuing with coaching. In the beginning of the series focuses on Coach Eric struggling to keep the Lions together. There is a handful of new players for the new team, except the only returning player from the earlier seasons being part of the team is Landry Clarke, who was a former Panther from the earlier seasons. There is a new character named, Vince, who is black who Coach Eric tries to help him from getting in trouble with the law so he could stay with the team because Eric is impressed with Vince’s running skills. Vince is a troubled kid who is a criminal and he forms a friendship with Coach Eric. Later on, in the season, Eric almost came this close to losing the Lions team because he couldn’t get along with his team mates.

Then, Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) came along and helped Eric get his team back. Tim Riggins becomes friends with a girl named Becky and she and her mother offered him a place to stay in the trailer next to their home. Becky confesses that she is pregnant to Tim, and that a character named Luke is the father of the baby. She wants to have an abortion because she is afraid of what her mother will do if she finds out about it. Tim takes Becky to Tami Taylor for her help. Becky then decided she wants to keep the baby after learning from Tami’s advice. Tami learns that Luke’s mother is trying to get Tami fired from principal as Dillon high over this abortion thing. All of a sudden, the entire town of Dillon hates the Taylors for this abortion thing she tried to help Becky with. Now Tami is in danger of getting fired of being principal of Dillon High. Becky wants a romantic relationship with Tim Riggins, but Tim says no because he still have feelings for Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly). Then a love triangle drama breaks out over this. Lyla is not in this season because the character is away for college, but Lyla did visit Dillon for a few episodes.

Billy Riggin’s wife, Mindy, is pregnant and is also about to have a baby soon. Billy is Tim’s brother. Billy and Tim needed money to help take care of Mindy’s baby. They couldn’t really think of anyway to make more money, so they put on a stripper party at the Riggin’s home to benefit money from that. After that, Tim and Billy still needed money. Tim tries to get a job somewhere out in town with the help of Becky, but no job would hire Tim at all. So Tim learns that Billy is at his car garage. Billy is working on stripping cars that were stolen and to sell the car parts for money, which is something known as illegal trafficking. Tim decides to help his brother out so Tim can make more money off of that which is a crime.

After Billy’s wife, Mindy, finally had her baby. Tim begins to feel like a happier person again because he is now an Uncle. At the same time, Tim feels terrible because he was caught and arrested with the trafficking crime earlier. The season ends with Tim turning himself into police and he’ll blame himself for the crime. Tim wanted to keep his brother, Billy, out of prison so he can be there for his newborn son. Tim was willing to go to prison instead to save his brother’s family. Which this is a perfect way to end the season.

This season had some good story lines, but the story line I loved the most, was the Tim Riggins storyline. In the earlier seasons, pretty much everyone in Dillon hated Tim Riggins, he was a character who was always drunk and a bit of a womanizer. This season, made the Tim Riggins character very special. Everybody saw Tim as a drunken loser but Tim wanted to prove that he can be a good guy and can help other people. This season Tim pretty much helped everybody. He helped Coach Eric, Luke, Tami Taylor, Becky, Billy, etc. For all this, Tim went to prison ’cause he was willing to do it.

It was a pretty impressive season. The show isn’t completely over, as there will still be Season 5 for next year. Season 5 will end the show completely. I’m sure Taylor Kitsch will be back for Season 5 and it will be interesting to see how he is going to be released from prison for next season. This season has been Kyle and Connie’s best acting.

I look forward for more FNL next year!

Kev

5 Reasons to like “Friday Night Lights”…

So “Friday Night Lights” is finally back. The premiere of Season 4 aired last Friday over the weekend and I watched it very good episode. Why do I love the show so much? Well there are 5 reasons….

  1. Kyle Chandler is a great actor. Kyle Chandler who plays Coach Eric Taylor can be very entertaining ’cause he has a really short fuse and has a temper tantrum. The reason he acts this way on the show ’cause it’s his way of trying to get the players on the team more motivated in football, plus all Eric cares about is his team winning games like most sports coaches do. So he uses his temper to get players all fired up and ready for the game. This is an entertaining character and it’s one reason why I watch it. Whenever “Friday Night Lights” gets canned for good in the future, I have a feeling that Kyle Chandler will become a huge movie star in the future. He already had a few pretty big roles in Hollywood movies such as Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” remake and he had a role in, “The Day The Earth Stood Still” remake as well.
  2. Taylor Kitsch as Tim Riggins. He’s another entertaining character of the series. Taylor Kitsch is already a Hollywood actor before this show. Tim Riggins is a flaky kind of character who is an alcoholic and plays a loser type of character on the show. This is one reason that makes the show good.
  3. Minka Kelly as Lyla Garrity. Another reason to like this show is the gorgeous and sexy, Minka Kelly. Damn, she’s one fine looking chick.
  4. Good writing. The scripts of the episodes is what keeps the show going and what keeps people watching. The show has really good writing. Most shows on TV has bad writing, but “FNL”, the writing almost seems like a movie script, rather than a TV show.
  5. It feels like old school primetime drama. A show like this can make you feel like watching “The Wonder Years” or “Doogie Howser”. It almost feels like the 80’s of drama TV all over again. “FNL” is the real deal.

Glad the show is finally back.

Kev

Report: Pierre Morel, set to direct “Dune” remake…

“Taken” director, Pierre Morel, is set to direct the new version of “Dune”, based on the legendary sci-fi novel written by Frank Herbert. This would be the third remake of “Dune”, the first being directed by David Lynch and the second was a direct-to-TV version by John Harrison for the Sy-Fy channel.

More on it here:

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/16002/-taken-helmer-takes-over-dune-remake

They’re probably gonna turn this version into a big time special effects action movie like all the others. I love the David Lynch version of “Dune”, that film was a classic. Hope they don’t screw this one up.

Kev