Ed's Review Dot Com

Altar Identity Studios,

Ashley Judd, Patrick Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg, John Benjamin Hickey, Jane Krakowski, Anthony LaPaglia, Jenna Elfman

Ave Maria Mulligan (Ashley Judd) is Big Stone Gaps official spinster, since she’s mid 30’s with no prospects. She’s a pharmacist in this small southern town full of characters. As Ave expands her horizons she finds she’s not as much of a plain Jane as she thought she is and soon she has suitors climbing out of the shadows as she plans a journey that may change her life forever.

This is a really heartwarming down home Southern charmer. The small town life is portrayed very kindly, and the actors in this movie are outstanding. It was a bit of a surprise, as with this many huge stars in one place, they really turned a little tale inside out and really brought home the charm of the South. There’s not so many laugh out loud, belly laughs as there are big smile moments as there is plenty of humor filled with lots of heart. Whoppi has a wonderful role as Ave’s supportive boss and owner of the pharmacy where Ave works. She’s excellent, as usual. But everyone else kicks in and does their part to make this a good feeling down home yarn like they used to make. This is not a big theater filling smash, for sure, but it’s a nice little diversion all the same, and I enjoyed watching it. I’m not saying to go out searching for it, but if you happen across it, be sure to give it a chance, as it was a very fun and warm visit to a place very few of us will get to experience in real life.

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Alcon Entertainment, Boxing Cat Films, Color Force,

Harry Connick Jr., Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson, Nathan Gamble, Austin Stowell

Several years have passed since Sawyer Nelson (Nathan Gamble) and Dr. Clay Haskett (Harry Connick Jr.) rescued Winter, a dolphin without a tail. Sawyer has the opportunity to attend a very special program which means moving far from home, and he’s not very anxious to leave Clearwater Marine Hospital. But when Winter’s partner Panama dies of old age, that leaves Winter alone in her pool. Government regulations require that a dolphin cannot be housed alone, so the team has 30 days to solve the situation or Winter will have to be transferred to a marine park or zoo somewhere else. This is the sequel to 2011’s Dolphin Tale.

This is a really good family movie like the good old days. There haven’t been many movies like this in the past 20 years or so, but this is a good one. It’s truly PG, it’s a true story, and it’s excellently told. Clearwater Marine Hospital is a real animal hospital and they allow the public to view the animals, but their only purpose is in their motto, Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Release. This place is dedicated to rescuing animals in serious trouble, fixing them up and setting them back out to sea as soon as it’s possible. Winter, if you remember the first film, will never be able to be released back to the wild because being seriously harmed by a fishing net, he lost his tail. Fitted with a prosthetic tail, he is surviving, but will never be able to survive outside.

This is being attacked by closed minded people who insist these animals are being captured in the wild and forced to perform for the amusement of humans. Nothing could be further from the truth with this facility, but they immediately jump to that conclusion based on the subject of the film. Personally, I appreciate zoos and marine parks, and have visited Sea World, Marineland, and Miami Sea-Aquarium, as well as the old Theater of the Sea out in the Florida Keys. I feel that there is a valuable lesson for people learned by seeing the animals up close and personal. IMAX films are great, but seeing a dolphin face to face really makes you understand the beauty of these animals. But people have their causes. I wanted to make it clear that I’m not an anti-Sea World guy, and I think they helped me and my five children learn a lot about life under the sea. But as far as this film is concerned, I really enjoyed it. very much. I liked the characters, I liked the care and concern they showed, and yes, this is based on a true story just like the first one. I think people who love real family films will like this, though I’m sure there’s a lot who won’t watch it, and that’s ok, too.

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Summit Entertainment, Red Wagon Entertainment,

Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Maggie Q, Jai Courtney, Miles Teller, Ashley Judd, Tony Goldwyn, Mekhi Phifer

In the future, society has broken the population down into five factions based upon their nature. When a child comes of age, in an elaborate, they are given an aptitude test to recommend to them which of the factions they will be best suited for. But based upon their own heart, they have the right to choose which faction they wish to be a part of, but once the choice is made, they cannot change their mind. Of course, those that fail or who are unable to choose are condemned to be “the factorless” and must live in poverty. When Beatrice (Shailene Woodley) takes the test, she fails as the results are inconclusive. She is “divergent” or one who has the characteristics of all the factions and is able to choose her own future. This is very dangerous to the government so even though she joins the rough and tumble warrior factor, she has to keep her secret before the government can find her and eliminate her.

I must first say I haven’t read the books. I think often fans of a book, or series of books is very disappointed when they come out on film. I’ve always had a theory for myself. If I am looking at a series that I’m already familiar with, such as Star Wars or Star Trek, or something along those lines, I would love to read the book first. But if I go see a movie that is really good, or strikes me as a very interesting subject, I love to read the book afterward. That way, I get the story and understand what’s going on, then go into much more depth and I already have a picture in my head (from the movie) of what the world looks like and what the characters look like, so reading about them I can picture it the same way in my mind. But if I read the book first, I end up having a completely different idea of what a person looks like, sounds like, or what their environment looks like. This is good if you’re simply a book reader, but if you love movies, like I do, it’s very jarring to find out the director’s vision is so very different from yours. This is what I think happened to the people who love the book and hate the movie.

Coming into this with no knowledge of the story, I was really blown away. I really enjoyed this film, and it’s been a long time since I’ve had a 5 star review. But I loved this story. Now I will agree, there is certainly a similarity to other works. It’s obviously got elements of The Hunger Games, and Harry Potter in it. And just when I was certain the film was going to go and turn all Blade Runner/Logan’s Run on me, it totally didn’t. It is a unique enough story that has to steal some from other similar types of stories. There’s no way to avoid that. But this was very colorful, suspenseful. a very innocent love story, extreme action and excitement, tension till the last, comedy, tragedy, and it tugs the heart strings. Basically it’s everything a big budget Hollywood blockbuster would have. And it’s obviously ripe for a series.

I can understand those who were disappointed, but this is certainly the best film I’ve seen in 2014, and really think they have the makings of a great series here. See it in the theater if you have a chance.

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Alcon Entertainment, Arc Productions,

Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson, Harry Connick Jr., Nathan Gamble, Austin Stowell, Austin Highsmith, Kurt Yaeger, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Ray McKinnon, Frances Sternhagen, Rus Blackwell, Marc Macaulay, Richard Libertini

Sawyer Nelson (Nathan Gamble) is a little boy who lives near the ocean. He lives with his Mom, and while riding his bike along the beach, finds a dolphin who has been caught by a shrimp trap and is beached, and in serious trouble. Dr. Clay Haskett (Harry Connick Jr.) and his family run a small aquarium, partly open for the public, but the real purpose is to treat injured animals. Dr. Haskett and his guys pick up the dolphin whom they named Winter and bring him to the facility for treatment. Winter is badly injured and ends up losing his tail, but due to a strong bond between her and Sawyer, plus a friendship with Clay’s young daughter Hazel (Cozi Zuehlsdorff) and a plan to bring in a specialist Dr. Cameron McCarthy (Morgan Freeman) to build an artificial tail, which Winter despises, but which could save her life, makes a very touching story.

Clearwater is a beautiful place, and the film is shot beautifully. From the aquarium scenes, to the ocean scenes, and everywhere in between, it’s very pretty. The story is also a great family adventure which is perfect for the adults and kids alike. The acting is really good. I was worried when I saw Harry Connick Jr. as the lead, but he did a fine job, but the child actors were stellar. Morgan Freeman is perfect as a grumpy doctor with a heart of gold underneath the gruff exterior. He’s a perfect choice for this role. There are some others who are worth mentioning for the great performances they bring, Kris Kristofferson and Clay’s father, Ashley Judd as Sawyer’s Mom, and really everyone else. It’s a stunning animal story, well worthy of your attention. If you’re a fan of films like Old Yeller, Flipper, Marly and Me, and dozens others, this is every bit as good as any of those. An amazing story, and very entertaining for the whole gang. I really enjoyed this film, and I highly recommend it! P.S. Winter in the movie is the real Winter. She should be credited as playing herself in the film. The dolphin without a tail is a real dolphin without a tail! There are some elements of the story that were enhanced to make it a better film, but basically this is based on a real dolphin who wears a prosthetic tail.

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