Movie Review: “Star Trek Into Darkness”

This 12th movie installation of the “Star Trek” series starts with James Kirk breaking the The Federation’s cardinal rule of non-interference in order to save his best friend Spock. Kirk is temporarily relieved of his command by his mentor, Admiral Pike. The Federation headquarters are damaged by a suicide bomber who is in the employ of one of their own commanders. The film’s theme is the pursuit of this traitor into Klingon territory. Kirk and Spock’s unbreakable friendship is the anchoring relationship that stabilizes the efforts of this pursuit. The story line is predictable. The special effects are superb. Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban do a wonderful job portraying Kirk, Spock and Bones. Except for the occasional mild profanity, this film could have been rated G.

Review: Bijoux Parisiens: French Jewelry from the Petit Palais, Paris

This recently opened exhibit at the Dixon Museum features an eclectic collection of French jewelry, art prints, paintings and drawings from the 17th to 20th centuries. Most of the collection is from the Petit Palis in Paris, but also included are pieces from private collections. A fine review of the organization of the pre-revolution French jewelry guilds accompanies the earliest works. Also included is the history, evolution and representative pieces of famous jewelry businesses such as Boucheron, Cartier and Lalique. The exhibit is well organized and displayed. A color catalogue of everything shown is available at the museum gift shop.

Movie Review "Iron Man 3"

This latest installment of the Iron Man series should be more appropriately entitled “Iron Man Suits.” Tony Stark has developed anxiety disorder after the last movie’s alien encounter. The latest villain is “Mandarin” (played by Ben Kingsley) is an international terrorist bent on the destruction of the US President and American power. In the midst of this crisis, Tony Stark meets up with a young boy from middle Tennessee who helps him regain his confidence. Some attempt is made at tying past episodes with the current crisis. The plot is not well developed, but does have some closure at the end. Ben Kingsley does a superb job portraying the apparent story villain. The best relational development of the story is between Stark and the young Tennessean boy, well portrayed by Ty Simpkins. As with the previous movies in this series, the special effects are top flight- despite not viewing it in 3D

Movie Review: "Oblivion"

This Sci-Fi Action film stars Tom Cruise who plays “Jack,” a veteran assigned to guard over machinery that is extracting Earth’s remaining resources in the near future. The earth has been invaded by aliens. Humans have won the war, but are extracting water for a mass migration to the Saturian moon of Titan. He and his team member remain on earth to prevent sabotage of machinery by remaining aliens hiding on earth. Not unlike Total Recall, Jack’s struggle awakens doubts about who he is and what he is fighting for. The special effects are spectacular. The movie is suspenseful, but not frightfully so. The plot if fairly sophisticated and has an end with closure. Morgan Freeman makes more or less a cameo appearance mid and end movie.

Movie Review: "Quartet"

This British comedic drama takes place in a home for retired opera singers and musicians. The home is on the brink of insolvency and must come up with a financially successful public performance of a Verdi piece to stay open. The harmony of the home is disrupted when Jean, played by Dame Maggie Smith, an eccentric diva, arrives in the home. She was previously married to one of the residents, Reggie, a retired operatic tenor. The bulk of the plot involves the reconciliation of the two. The musical score contains many familiar pieces. The acting, plot and character development are sophisticated and proceed at an interesting pace. Interestingly, almost the entirety of the cast is retired opera performers. Were it not for a couple of obscenities, the movie could have earned a “G” rating.

Movie Review: "Jack Reacher"

This movie is based on a series of books by British author Jim Grant that centers around Jack Reacher, a former US Army Military Police Major. Five people are apparently gunned down in public by a recently discharged Army sniper. The evidence is overwhelming. The local DA’s daughter acts as the suspect’s defense attorney. Jack Reacher, played by Tom Crews, is dispatched at the request of the suspect. The dialogue between the DA and Reacher is quick, intelligent and full of innuendo- not unlike an old Mickey Spillane Who Dunnit. The plot is fairly sophisticated. The fight scenes are of tolerable length. The car chase scene features Crews driving an old fashioned GTO muscle car that was reminiscent of Steve McQueen in Bullitt. If not for a few profanities, the movie could have earned a “G” rating.

Movie Review "Argo"

Ben Affleck both directs stars in this dramatization of the 1980 CIA rescue of five American embassy employees from revolutionary Iran. Five people manage to escape from the US embassy during the take over by Iranian students. They manage to make their way to the home of the Canadian ambassador. Tony Mendez, played by Ben Affleck, is a CIA “exfiltration” expert who is called on by the State Department to secure their rescue. He forms a CIA sponsored Holloywood production company that is to use Iranian sites for a science fiction movie titled “Argo.” The production company is in fact staffed by the five embassy employees. John Goodman and Alan Arkin have small, but well performed roles as Hollywood regulars used in the formation of the production company. The plot, performance and story development are great. Were it not for the salty language, the movie could have earned a PG-13 rating.