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SLL2004
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- Review count38
- Helpfulness votes78
- First reviewMarch 16, 2015
- Last reviewFebruary 10, 2017
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- Average rating4.4
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![McFarland, USA [DVD] [2015]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3938/3938437_sa.jpg)
Posted by: SLL2004
This moving family drama, based on actual events, tells the story of a high school teacher who comes to work in a rural, Hispanic community. His cross country team, made up of poor boys who work in the fields before and after school, gradually starts winning and changing lives.
The basic plot of teacher-brings-hope-to hopeless-kids has been done many times, and yet this movie is not corny or overly-sentimental. The performances are honest and touching; several parts are played by local first-time actors. Kevin Costner is excellent as the coach and the epilogue over the final credits brought (happy) tears to my eyes.
It is inspiring and often surprising. Highly recommended.
My Best Buy number: 2178805630
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
![American Sniper [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray/DVD] [Only @ Best Buy] [2014]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2110/2110025_sa.jpg)
Posted by: SLL2004
While settling into my theater seat to view "American Sniper", I had about as high of expectations as any movie I'd seen in the past year. Rarely do those type of expectations ever get lived up to these days, it seems. That was emphatically NOT the case with this film, however, as it captivated me from beginning to end.
For a basic plot summary #minor spoilers#, "American Sniper" focuses on the life of Chris Kyle #Bradley Cooper#, who serves multiple terms in Iraq during the early 2000s while wife Taya #Sienna Miller# dutifully waits for him on the homefront with each deployment. Over in Iraq, Chris is an expert sniper Navy Seal, tasked with providing air support and protecting "his guys" from any number of unforeseen calamities #a scene where a young Iraqi boy begins to pick up an explosive device is particular telling on what mental torture Chris's job can be at times#. Because, Chris doesn't want to leave until the "job is done", he's a little bit less himself every single time he returns stateside. This puts particular strain on wife Taya and a growing family that Chris does not know how to integrate back into.
One could almost say that "American Sniper" is two movies in one...
First, it is a taut psychological spectacle of the type of warfare that was being conducted in Iraq. A sniper from the opposition is nearly Kyle's equal, while a notorious "Butcher" commits atrocities that begin to wear on Kyle's mental faculties. To me, this was the "weaker" portion of the film #though to call it "weak" would be a travesty#, but that's likely because I don't have first-hand experience in that type of environment. It was all kind of surreal to me. A number of people in the group I saw the movie with thought these war/sniping scenes were the best part, so it was probably just personal preference.
Secondly, and to me this is where the flick can go down in history, are Kyle's struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. Each time he returns back to Taya and the family, he is a little bit less himself, and even a bit more anxious to be back to the battlefield. I was utterly fascinated #and quite more than a bit proud# by how a man can voluntarily put himself into harm's way in order to finish the war at hand and have the back of his fellow soldier. These are the scenes where director Clint Eastwood really excels. He knows exactly how to prod the emotions and then get out of the way so as not to seem preachy.
So, for me, "American Sniper" made my "top films" list because I've never seen a war film tackle the issue of PTSD so brutally. Usually, a military member returning home will say something like "I saw some things over there" and that's all that will be said. Here, however, the PTSD is actually experienced in chilling fashion.
If Bradley Cooper doesn't get serious consideration for his outstanding performance as Chris Kyle, it would be a crying shame. The auxiliary cast is good as well, but Cooper is almost literally front and center in every meaningful scene or exchange in the picture. He'd certainly get my vote for "Best Actor" to get a gold Oscar, that is for sure.
Overall, "American Sniper" is one of those films that is tough to "like" even though it is truly a gem. The reason being? It is so hard-hitting. The story of Chris Kyle and his family is one that resonates in this day and age, while Eastwood was the perfect choice to get the most out of it. If you want an insight into many aspects of being a soldier that you had likely never thought of before, "American Sniper" is the film to watch.
My Best Buy number: 2178805630
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+20points
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![Interstellar [2 Discs] [Includes Digital Copy] [UltraViolet] [Blu-ray/DVD] [2014]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2828/2828008_sa.jpg)
Posted by: SLL2004
Even if you're not particularly interested in Sci-Fi movies, "Interstellar" is a must see for its outstanding visual excellence and soundtrack. When I watched "Gravity" in 2013, I never thought that in less than two years another movie will surpass the high bar that "Gravity" had established in outer space visuals.
"Interstellar" offers a nice introduction, taking place on earth, before beginning its outer space journey. You'll get to know the characters, especially Cooper #Matthew McCaughey#, such that after an hour into the movie, you'll start to care deeply about the characters and their fates, which is yet another reason why this movie is so memorable.
The cast have done an amazing job in portraying their characters in unique situations and environments. It must be very difficult and challenging to embody a character that is far away from earth on a mission to save the humankind, and I'm very happy to see talented people like Matthew McCaughey and Anne Hathaway doing such an amazing job.
Overall, "Interstellar" is a breathtaking adventure that will make you think about it for days and weeks to come. It may fall short in places such as scientific accuracy, but I believe that everyone involved in the production of "Interstellar" did their best to create a great memorable movie. I highly recommend this movie, especially in high definition.
My Best Buy number: 2178805630
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
7of 8voted this as helpful.
![The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies [Special Edition] [DVD] [2014]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1434/1434023_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
An Excellent Conclusion to the Hobbit Trilogy
on March 25, 2015
Posted by: SLL2004
I have to say that I enjoyed this film. The CGI was excellent, as always, and the battle scenes epic. From Smaug's attack on the city, to the battle itself, this movie was enjoyable from start to finish - if you don't minfd that it was certainly not 100% representative of JRR Tolkien's work. I do wish Jackson had remained more true to the book. Having now seen all the Hobbit movies, I'd rather he had just made one film, true to the novel, even if it was a three or four hour couchfest.
My Best Buy number: 2178805630
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
![Unbroken [DVD] [2014]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3391/3391022_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
If you can take it, you can make it
on March 25, 2015
Posted by: SLL2004
I read the book. Jack O'Connell is Louie Zamperini. He gives one heck of a performance. The Japanese were brutal. They lacked a strong moral base. That's why they lost the war. I was annoyed that the film did not show what happened to Zamperini after he returned home after the war. For me, that part of Zamperini's life is really what showed you what he was made of and what was at the core of this man. This is the part of the man facing his own moral base that was absent from this film.
My Best Buy number: 2178805630
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
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![The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 [2 Discs] [Include Digital Copy] [Blu-ray/DVD] [2014]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/9370/9370105_sa.jpg)
Posted by: SLL2004
I have read all the books and watched all of the movies that have come out thus far. This is the best Hunger Games movie so far. There were a few changes from the book, but in the most part it stayed true to the book. A lot of the characters that were not able to show any character growth and development in the previous films had growth here. The story is a bit more intense than the other two films because this is where the actual way starts and Katniss isn't sure who she can actually trust.
My Best Buy number: 2178805630
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
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![Million Dollar Arm [DVD] [2014]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8190/8190757_sa.jpg)
Posted by: SLL2004
I felt that the makers of this film did a pretty good job with this one. I felt that it was inspirational, humorous, and extremely entertaining. It was a feel good story about two boys from India who, after winning a reality show contest, try to make it in the “big leagues.” It’s hard to imagine going from never playing the game of baseball before to trying out in front of droves of scouts in a matter of 10 months. What the two young men accomplished was remarkable, and I feel that the movie did a great job of capturing that aspect. I also liked how the movie showcased cultural differences through light humor (i.e., the part about Indians loving to honk horns was pretty funny). Overall, I would recommend this movie to any fans of sports movies, inspirational stories, or entertaining movies in general.
My Best Buy number: 2178805630
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
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![Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb [DVD] [2014]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2036/2036003_sa.jpg)
Posted by: SLL2004
This is the third of the Night at the Museum movies and if you liked the first two I would have to say that you will continue to like this too! My daughters and I went and found it to be very funny. I will say that personally it was hard to know that this was the last movie ever made by Robin Williams, but even he did a great job again as Teddy Roosevelt.
The movie shares some good family fun, with laughs, and some good messages too. This is definitely a movie that you can share with your whole family and enjoy together!
My Best Buy number: 2178805630
I would recommend this to a friend!
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