On Netflix

Case for Christ (2017)
9/10

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Based on true story... in the 1980s, award winning Chicago Tribune investigative reporter and avowed atheist Lee Stroble, becomes deeply distressed when his formerly atheist wife finds religion, putting his marriage in deep trouble. Lee uses his modern investigative reporting skills to prove Christ, the crucifixion and/or resurrection has no bases in historical fact or reason.

Authentic period piece, tight modern direction, and Oscar worthy performance by lead Mike Vogel. This is how the subject matter is done... unflinchingly. There's a devotion to the subject matter at hand, not unlike Zodiac (2007), Spotlight (2015) and other subject pieces, but holds and interweaves the dramatic and emotional elements together well. Tis the season.

Two more Netflix offerings...

The House of Small Cubes (2008)
9/10

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12 minutes long

To save his house from rising flood waters, an old man uses bricks to build it higher. Unique art style, looking like water color. Rich in symbolism and subtle emotion. (Also on youtube.)


Space Pirate Captain Harlock (2013)
6/10

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Long ago, after billions of humans colonize space, they all want to return to Earth, an organization bars all humans from ever landing on Earth. An immortal space pirate, Captain Harlock, with his nearly invincible space ship and his devoted crew try to change things.

Has some nifty eye candy, but the shallow plot moves very slowly. You can guess almost all the character plot twists from the beginning. And at just over 2 hours, all but the most diehard animation lovers may find it hard to reach the conclusion.

I think the Cube Trilogy is one of the best recent horror series. I want to see the third one again. But I thought the setup was really good with the traps and what would people do in that situation. I thought I heard about a remake some time ago but I guess nothing came of it. And I love how the Star Trek girl screams murderer!!!

"Murderer!" Ya, that was just like instinctual from the belly disgust indignation well delivered line from Star Trek girl. I haven't seen any of the other Cubes. Hope Netflix adds some.

Netflix has all 3 films

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Thanks, Hammerfan!

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Cube 2: Hypercube (2002)
5/10

A group of folks are trapped in a cube.

As compared to the prior film Cube (1997), besides an upgrade in visual effects, this was a down grade in everything else. I found it difficult to know, and/or care about, any of the characters. More characters were tied to the Cube, but we aren't invited into the personal lives of each character, which is really the heart of the film, and strength of the first film.

The physical Cube structure's puzzles were fewer, and often less interesting. It's interesting if all (possible) harm to the human subjects are merely incidental to the function Cube, but why there were many human subjects, and why those subjects, are questions that should be central, not (possibly) left unanswered.


Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings (2001)
10/10

Hobbits, Wizards, Elves, Dwarves and humans battle an evil force bent on conquering Middle-earth.

Not only far in away the best of the three Lord of the Rings films, but one of the best films of all-time. Full of emotion, love, friendship, inner battles of conscience, of evil and righteousness -- all in a suspenseful, good humored and visually stunning film.


Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (2017)
7/10

"The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage."

Mildly entertaining. Some very nice visuals, good humored without being particularly funny, actually a fascinating plot, but otherwise not venturing into what could be very interesting character depth material.

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