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Terminator: Genisys:
The Terminator franchise is rebooted with new faces in old roles, but for one. Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as the original “good” Terminator, and lies in wait, along with Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) for the arrival of the original Terminator in Los Angeles, which of course changes the timeline, and thereby changes the story. It’s 1984, Sara Connor is played by Emilia Clarke, and J.K. Simmons is introduced as a cop who just won’t give up. Of course there is a new-model Terminator which seems to be unstoppable, and there is a lot of bouncing around in time, but overall, I thought this was an excellent retelling of the original story. Not a huge box office hit though. Rated 14A.
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Trainwreck:
Amy Schumer wrote the script and takes on the starring role of a magazine writer who was trained up since a child by her philandering father, that monogamy was for losers, and was not a realistic way to live. She is her father’s daughter, moving from one one-night-stand to another, drinking far too much, and using whatever substance might come along, when something else comes along too – a decent guy, played by Bill Hader, who elicits in her a sense of wanting to be with him, and only with him. She has a lot of history and a lot of baggage behind her though, and it’s against her nature to settle down. Directed by Judd Apatow, and also starring Tilda Swinton. Rated18A.
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Pay the Ghost:
This horror-thriller stars Nicolas Cage as a man whose five year-old son disappeared a year ago in a Halloween parade. Since that time he has done everything possible to try to find the boy, but has been stymied by a series of events that appear to be coming from someplace other than the world that we know. As supernatural overtones become more and more pronounced, he turns to his ex-wife to team up and try to overcome the forces that seem to have their son. Sara Wayne Callies (Prison Breaks, The Walking Dead) is the ex, and the anonymous American city in the background is played by Toronto. Nova Scotia actor Stephen McHattie also appears. Rated 18A.
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Despicable Me 2 (2013):
In the first movie in this series from 2010, we were introduced to Gru (voice of Steve Carrel), who was a very, very evil villain, surrounded by equally evil minions who would do his bidding at will. A trio of young girls changes everything in this animated feature, turning Gru into something of a family man. Now, two years later, still committed to being a good dad, Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to provide an insider's knowledge of how bad people do bad things. Soon there are those who aren't sure if Gru has slipped back to his old ways. Voices include those of Russell Brand, Kristin Wiig, Steve Coogan, and Benjamin Bratt. Don't close down when the credits start rolling, as there is some very funny Minion stuff that occurs when the main action is done. Rated PG.
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EASY RIDER (1969):
The late Dennis Hopper co-wrote (along with Peter Fonda) and starred in what is surely the classic road picture as two guys hit the roads of American on their choppers. Watch for a supporting role by music producer Phil Spector.
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