Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum in “White House Down.”
White House Down – Channing Tatum/Jamie Foxx starred in the year’s second White House under siege movie (after the far better received “Olympus Has Fallen” raced out to theaters first in March) and it was a clear second best on all accounts. Critics were split giving it 50% on rottentomatoes.com and audiences weren’t in love with the prospect of deja vu either. It only managed a chump $73 million off its $150 million budget.
David Spade, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Kevin James in “Grown Ups 2.”
Grown Ups 2 – I have the “honor” of being one of seven critics who actually liked the reunion of Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock and David Spade for another round of immature behavior.
I still don’t apologize for it as the comedy delivered exactly what you expect. If you liked the first one, you’ll laugh a lot at the sequel.
If you didn’t like the first one, there’s absolutely no good reason you should think this one will win you over on the franchise.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Extended Edition – The theatrical release of the first chapter of Bilbo Baggins’ saga clocked in at 169 minutes, which seems way too long until you consider Peter Jackson wrapped his first trilogy, “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” in 201 minutes. And if you’re a super fan of that saga like me, you sat through all 263 minutes of the extended Blu-Ray edition. But unlike Jackson’s first saga, 169 minutes seemed more than enough for what was essentially a very long introduction. Still, fans should happily enjoy the 182 minute edition sure to feature more singing dwarves and dancing hobbits.
Lyles Movie Files 
I saw this one on a nine hour flight to Australia from Vietnam. I guess on a plane with nothing else to do It was entertaining if not to believable. I kept thinking about Bruce Willis and the DIE HARD themes. They guy survive as many explosions as Bruce and looked like him a bit. The girl was as feisty as Brice’s daughter too.(smile) In these time, if want to satisfy Americans just wave the flag right.
Geesh. I complain after a five-hour flight!
It’s crazy, but I did miss that wifebeater look Tatum was rocking and its similarities to Bruce Willis. I was so focused on it being so close to “Olympus Has Fallen” I missed the obvious inspiration for both of them.