Oblivion - Too much of everything!

Too much of a good thing is bad, and too many story lines in one movie aren't good either.  Oblivion starring Tom Cruise is a movie with too much going on at one time.  Is this a love story?  Is this a science fiction thriller?  Is this a mystery?  What the heck is it?  I really can't explain to you what's going on in the movie because I really didn't get it all, but I'll try.  There were about 4 different stories going on in one.  Please bare with me if I confuse you, but I'm giving you what was given to me.

Story #1:  There was a war in 2017 between the human race and aliens known as scab.  Although humans won, earth was virtually destroyed due to nuclear warfare and the aliens destroying our moon.  All remaining humans were sent to one of Saturn's moons while a few were left to clean up the mess.  In the interim, humans decided to take Earth's oceans, purify them, and sending them to the humans near Saturn...I think.  I didn't really get that last part, but whatever.

Story #2:  Jack, played by Tom Cruise, who 60 years later, is on Earth to fix drones who seek out and kill skabs.  He has an administrative controller, Vica, played by Andrea Riseborough, who oversees his trips and is also his lover.  She asks no questions and follows the rules while he questions things (but not in depth enough) and seeks a way to stay on Earth (but not hard enough).  She seems to really care for him, and struggles with the balance of keeping him happy and command central happy.

Story #3:  (SPOILER ALERT)  The Skabs turn out to be humans (big surprise there) and have figured out who ultimately control the human killing drones.  They want Jack to help destroy this being, but first they have to prove to Jack the truth of what is really going on here on Earth.  The leader of the skabs is played by Morgan Freeman.  He's trusting Jack to help, but has to prove to the rest that he's trustworthy and will discover the truth on his own.

Story #4:  A beacon sent by the skabs causes a shuttle to touch down on Earth.  Everyone on the shuttle is killed by the drones except one.  This person also happens to be the woman in Jack's dreams which is interesting since supposedly his memory has been wiped.  Love ensues and Jack has to discover who she is which in turn will help him discover who he is and what's really going on on Earth.  She also will help explain, kinda, how all of this came to be.

Yes, that's a lot, and there's still more.  This explains why the movie is over two hours long and extremely confusing.  Even though there is a lot, it is still a very slow movie.  It's almost an hour exactly before Morgan Freeman takes the screen.  And, although there are action-filled moments, this movies isn't action packed.  There's maybe a total of 30 minutes of action which isn't much considering the length.  It has a very predictable ending, one that isn't very original.  I found it very Independence Day-esque.  I love sci-fi movies.  It's my favorite genre, but this one doesn't cut it.  It needed more simplicity and action to make it understandable.  I have a lot of unanswered questions, and I feel like some things could have been omitted.  I probably won't ever watch this again, and maybe neither should you.

42 - This makes baseball look interesting

What would you do if someone told you they would fund your dream job and give you everything you ever asked in this job, but the catch is that you have to employ every hater you ever had in your entire life.  You'd have to work with every person who'd ever hurt your feelings or pushed your buttons.  AND, you couldn't fire them or fight back.  Could you handle that?  Could you stick with it to live your dream? This is the question the movie 42 asks.  It's a biographical drama about Jackie Robinson's entrance into the Major Baseball League.  

Jackie Robinson was the first black man in baseball back in 1947 which at the time was known as a white man's sport.  Based on the movie, he was hired to eventually join the Brooklyn Dodgers and help change the face of baseball quietly without fighting those who would, by any means necessary, try to discourage him from playing.  He and his teammates had to endure death threats, racists players on and off his team, discrimination at hotels and restaurants not wanting their patronage, not to mention the crowd at games who would boo, hiss, and use racial slurs when Robinson took the field; all while attempting to hold it in and play the game.  What strength!  I don't think I could do it.

This movie was a good look into what he faced though very surface and not in depth at all showing nothing anyone who's ever studied Jim Crow Laws and racism in America didn't know.  What  it did do is inspire using baseball.  It depicted Jackie's strength, agility, love, and passion for his family, his race, and his sport.  I actually was intrigued and entertained by baseball when watching the games  It helped me understand what good baseball is like.  I'm a football girl.  It's the only ball sport that I truly 100% enjoy and baseball is my least favorite of all sports on the planet.  I find it extremely boring and slow, but there wasn't one ounce of boredom in 42.  Jackie Robinson's skills were very exciting!!!  It made me wish I was there when all of this was happening to see it in person.

There were few stars in the movie.  Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey was phenomenal, and was the biggest name of them all.  He really transformed himself.  I almost forgot it was him.  He showed no signs of Indiana Jones, Hans Solo, or Harrison Ford for that matter.  Jackie Robinson was played by little known actor Chadwick Boseman.  He did a great job showing emotion and athleticism, and I hope to see his handsome chocolaty self on the screen more often.  There were a couple of Grey's Anatomy stars past and present in the film.  TR Knight and James "The Chief" Pickens, Jr made appearances.  Solid cast for a solid movie. 

The movie 42 was very enjoyable movie.  I learned some things and was intrigued to search out more information on others.  The movies this year have been pretty entertaining, and this one can be added to the list.  If you are a baseball fan, you'll love it, and if you're not...you'll have a good time too.  Oh, and AMC is giving away free small popcorn this weekend only, because we all know you have to take out a loan to go to the movies these days, so enjoy this freebie.  Click on the link: free popcorn