Movie Reviews
THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT Review
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:
Strong Christian, moral, pro-family worldview promotes family, parental love and loyalty, a strong father and mother, boys begin to recite the Lord’s Prayer in one scene, and friendship between friendly American Indians and settlers, but there is some revisionist history such as title character’s first wife was actually dead at the time of the story, and he had already married a second time and had more than just two sons and movie says Davy Crockett at first supported President Andrew Jackson controversial Indian Removal Act, but he actually opposed it from the beginning and belonged to the opposing party to Jackson’s Democrat Party, plus the movie is marred by a politically correct attitude of moral equivalence;
Foul Language:
One “d” word;
Violence:
[SPOILERS FOLLOW] Strong and light violence such as villain has young boy whipped for walking too slowly, villain sets fire to family’s home, man falls off horse and is impaled by sharp stick, man shoots injured horse when they’re menaced by wolves, man shoots a racoon for a meal, Indian chases man, and then man fights three other Indians trying to kill the first Indian, man saves Indian from falling over a cliff, villains invade a family’s cabin and kidnaps the two boys, father fights villain and his men, villains beat up title character, man shot off horse, man stabbed in stomach, Indian who befriended father earlier and his tribal men attack villains too at an opportune moment;
Sex:
No sex;
Nudity:
No nudity; Alcohol: No alcohol use;
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:
No smoking or drugs; and,
Miscellaneous Immorality:
Fur trader steals from his employees’ earnings and kidnaps Davy Crockett’s boys for the purpose of indentured servitude.
THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT which has been released to theaters, follows the life of the king of the wild frontier, Davy Crockett. THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT creates a moral, inspiring, patriotic representation of the folklore hero Davy Crockett with action packed sequences and intense displays of violence. While there are some accurate depictions of 19th Century frontier life, the story is riddled with inaccuracies and a more idealistic and romantic view of the world and society at the time.
The movie begins with Davy Crockett as a Congressman in a meeting with President Andrew Jackson and his cabinet discussing the President’s plans to pass an Indian removal bill. Each member signs their petition to support the President. However, when it’s Davy’s turn to sign, he is reluctant but eventually caves due to pressure from the President. Before more discussion of the Jackson’s agenda can be planned, Davy receives a letter from his wife, Polly, that she has fallen ill. Davy immediately excuses himself much to the chagrin of the President who tries to manipulate Davy into staying. Unabated, he departs the meeting and begins his journey west to Tennessee.
Meanwhile, back at home, his two boys are having a difficult time taking care of the homestead. From cutting wood to shooting muskets, they are novices at almost every task, which begs the question why Davy would leave them in charge in the first place?
During these events, the movie follows the dealings of the Northern Fur Trading Company boss, Caleb. A greedy, conniving, arrogant person, Caleb discovers that this month’s beaver pelt quota is short by 25 pelts. Reactively, he takes out his outrage on one of the first men he sees, who is short this month, by firing him and leaving him with no belongings. Determined to find the pelt thief, Caleb searches the surrounding areas for all leads.
While galloping home, Davy Crockett falls from his horse and is impaled by a sharp branch. Disoriented and in pain, he observes that wolves are lurking nearby, ready to attack. Upon noticing the predators, Davy’s frightened horse sprints off to avoid being eaten. However, instead of trying to calm the horse down or scare the wolves away, Davy takes out his musket and mercy kills his own horse to avoid falling prey to the ravenous wolves. With leg bleeding out, Davy succumbs to bodily limitations and passes out.
Back home, the boys see that their mother is getting worse, so they begin to recite the Lord’s Prayer. The younger asks the older if he can pray to which the older allows. As they pray, “Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your Name,” the scene shifts to an unconscious Davy under the dark rainy night of the Tennessee sky. As if the prayers echoed into his ear, Davy miraculously awakes and makes a fire in the cold wet night.
The next few scenes try to display Davy Crockett’s skills as a frontiersman and trapper. He is seen building a shelter, shooting a racoon for a meal, and even capturing a wild horse that happened to not run away, not even once. Once the horse is captured and broken (rather quickly), he continues his journey.
As if the journey home could not be more exciting, Davy encounters a lone native traveling on the same path as him. Abruptly, and without warning, a chase begins as the lone native rides after Davy along a narrow path through the woods. The pursuit seems to go on slowly until Davy ditches his horse and sprints up a hill to catch his pursuer off guard.
The lone native, seeing that the trail runs cold, jumps off his horse to look around. Immediately, he is cornered by three other natives from a different tribe, who appear out of nowhere, like ghosts. Seeing that his then single attacker is now fighting for his own life, this leads to another decision in Davy Crockett’s journey. Instead of turning his back on his outnumbered attacker, he helps by firing a musket round as a warning shot. This action immediately puts him on the hit list of this new war party. This leads to a fight and then chase scene between Davy and his lone ally and the three marauding tribesmen.
The hunt comes to a cliff hanging halt when Davy’s former attacker, now ally, falls over off a cliff but is barely saved by Davy’s outstretched arm. With a miraculous amount of time on their hands, Davy lifts his lone ally to safety and then sneaks away from their marauding pursuers. After this, the two of them depart from each other in peace.
While this is commencing, Caleb and one of his goons track down the missing beaver pelt to the Crockett family’s cabin and bangs on the door, demanding to be admitted. Davy’s oldest son readies his musket and fires a shot as the door is busted open. He misses and now the whole house is taken hostage by Caleb and his goon. After much arguing and fighting Caleb says they will wait for the boy’s father’s arrival to settle the debt. While all this is happening, Polly, apparently too ill, remains asleep in the small cabin despite the gunfire and loud commotion.
The next day, more of Caleb’s men arrive to provide backup to him and his right-hand man. As they are outside discussing things, Polly finally stirs awake and readies her musket that had been hiding under her blanket. She tells the boys to run and find Pa. Once one of Caleb’s men enters, she fires her shot, wounding him and yelling for the boys to run. They manage to escape through all Caleb’s men and make their way to Davy Crockett, who’s now nearby. However, they are all quickly taken as hostages, as Caleb’s men catch up to them. Back at the cabin, Polly bravely attempts to give her sons more time by fighting her captives but is beaten severely to the point of unconsciousness.
After Caleb’s men bring Davy and his boys back to the family’s cabin, Davy finally comes face to face with Caleb. A bunch of accusations ensue from the fur trading boss to which Davy exhaustedly defends. Caleb shrewdly manipulates the facts of the case and claims the boys are responsible for not just the one pelt but all twenty-five. Caleb tells Davy they must work four years to pay back the debt, but Davy desperately offers himself as a surrogate. Caleb refuses, however, a fight breaks out.
So, the question becomes, Can Davy Crockett save his family from this evil man and his gang?
THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT has a strong Christian, moral, pro-family biblical worldview, which promotes family love and loyalty, and prayer. For example, Davy decides to return home for his family despite getting pushback from President Andrew Jackson. He also offers himself to the villain to save his sons from a life of indentured servitude.
However, many scenes in the movie make no sense, seem rushed or end abruptly. They also could use better transitions. The movie also contains some violence, including a scene where the villain whips Davy’s oldest son.
THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT is also marred by some revisionist history. For example, although the movie’s notes say it’s set in 1815, the movie depicts Davy serving in Congress in 1830 helping Andrew Jackson while still being married to Polly. However, according to all historical texts, she passed away over 10 years before his Congressional run for the Tennessee ninth district in 1827. Also, by 1830, Davy had already remarried, his second wife had two other children of her own, and they had three children together. Finally, the beginning of THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT says Davy initially supported President Jackson’s Indian Removal Act of 1830. However, history shows that Davy fiercely opposed the Act from the beginning.
In addition, THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT makes a false, politically correct moral equivalence between people groups. At one point, when the malevolent fur trader Caleb captures Davy, he explains why he wants repayment in full from Davy’s sons. Caleb says, “Without the law, our whole society will be overrun by the savages” (meaning the Indians), to which Davy replies, “We are all savages.” From a biblical standpoint this may true, in the sense that we are all sinners in the eyes of God. However, it is factually inaccurate to say that all people groups behave and act the same. The brutality and savagery committed by people differs from group to group. An example of this are people groups living in Communist China or in Muslim countries living under Sharia Law versus nations operating under a general Christian, biblical worldview, such as the United States. So, although it’s true to say that, during the Indian Wars in the 19th Century, the United States was not a perfect nation and didn’t always deal honorably with the native American tribes, research shows that the some of the tribes of North America waged war against one another, enslaved one another and even engaged in cannibalism before the Europeans arrived in their various territories.
THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT warrants caution for older children because of violence and the movie’s revision history and politically correct content.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We are a crowdfunded organization, supported by people like you. These are some of the reasons why our supporters choose to give.
“I appreciate seeing who is supportive of Christian values in the industry. “
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax-deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Movie Reviews
Film Review: The Goldfinger (2023) Felix Chong
“Doing business in Hong Kong is lot of fun”
One of the most expensive Hong Kong movies ever made (HK$350 million or 41 million euros), “The Goldfinger” also brings together Felix Chong, Tony Leung and Andy Lau after “Infernal Affairs”, where the first co-wrote. Set in the 80s, the script is based on the story of Carrian Group, a Hong Kong corporation which rose rapidly before collapsing shortly afterwards due to a corruption scandal.
Buy This Title
by clicking on the image below
The movie actually starts with Henry Ching’s arrest, who is based on Carrian Group founder George Tan, Lau Kai-yuen, principal investigator of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). A bit later, the timeline changes to the mid-70s, with Henry Ching arriving in Hong Kong and trying to get a job as an engineer. Considering the place is filled with people of the particular profession, he has no luck. Although so it seems, since he is eventually employed by K.K. Tsang, one of the heirs of a rather rich family, who has him posing as a buyer for his property, in order to convince Wu Reshong, an actual potential buyer, to increase the price he is offering. The plan eventually succeeds, and Tsang takes Ching under his wing, eventually giving him the capital to open his own company, which he ends up naming after his first hire, Carmen Cheung. Their luck, though, truly changes when Ching gets swindled in the stock market by Wu Reshong’s broker, Chung and decides to hire him. An initially reluctant to leave his employer Chung, is eventually convinced when Ching “offers” him Carmen, with the two eventually becoming a couple.
As they manage to manipulate the stock market and buy property by giving their stocks as contraband for increasingly bigger loans, the group, which eventually also includes Wu Reshong, starts becoming more and more successful. Eventually, they reach international level, with their stock being considered even more valuable than blue chips, but the handover changes everything. The second axis, of the present, also moves forward, showing Ching as a cruel man who does not shy from murdering his opponents, and Lau being continuously on his heels, despite his many failures and the strain his efforts place in his relationship with his family.
First things first. The classic style of Hong Kong cinema, with its permeating nonsensicality and the focus on individual scenes rather than the movie as a whole is not exactly ideal to present true stories. The fact becomes quite evident by the way the story progresses in a fashion that frequently does not make sense, with the back-and-forth in time not helping with the overall sense that the viewer is missing something. The scenes in the court, the presentation of the foreigners, and the ending suffer the most from this approach.
On the other hand, there are definitely enough elements here to make the film rise beyond its issues. First and most obvious, the cast and the acting. Tony Leung as Henry Ching gives another splendid performance, with the way he transforms through the years being a treat to watch. Andy Lau as Lau Kai-yuen is equally good as a character that is essentially the exact opposite of Ching, although the two share an obsession to achieve their goals against all odds. Simon Yam adds even more star quality as the benefactor who eventually becomes part of the group Ching heads. Michael Ning as Chung, and the way he falls for Carmen is one of the best aspects of the movie, while Charlene Choi, who plays her, is an impressive presence but in a role that is rather badly written. Lastly, Tai Bo as Wu Renshong, who will be forever remembered for eating two plates of spaghetti on his face in “Project A”, concludes the overall great cast, as an individual who is the top boss, but eventually is surpassed by Ching.
Furthermore, the comments about corruption, which actually start with the police in the first scenes in the movie, and the relationship between them, the capital, the stock market, and the crime world become quite evident. It is also worth noting that Ching was probably involved with people from the Philippines (Imelda Marcos), Indonesia and Malaysia, and the script actually includes them, giving the corruption an international scale. All in all, this is a great story and the fact becomes quite evident throughout the movie, even with the aforementioned shortcomings.
In that regard, what is actually equally impressive with the casting, is the amount of scenes presented through the 126 minutes of the movie, which is truly exuberant, highlighting both the big budget of the production and the amount of work that was put in the film. Occasionally, the audiovisual approach reminds intently of “The Wolf of Wall Street”, while there is a scene that will definitely make one think of “Sin City”. For the most part, though, “The Goldfinger” is its own animal, with the technical aspect finding its zenith in scenes like the one with the battle in the Golden Triangle, the one with the models dancing in glass cages, and the murder attempt on Lau. Overall, the visuals here, as captured by DP Anthony Pun are nothing short of impressive.
The Goldfinger is screening at UdineFar East Film Festival 2024
Again as usual in HK blockbusters, William Chang and Curran Pang’s editing results in a rather frantic face, which manages to hide the narrative issues to the point, also through the mixture of the timelines.
Overall, I am not sure how much the particular approach of HK cinema still applies here, particularly in real stories, but the fact remains that “The Goldfinger” is an outstandingly casted, audiovisually impressive film that offers entertainment aplenty.
Movie Reviews
In Tennis, Love Means Zero: “Challengers” Is A Sexy, Sporty Love Triangle Without Much Love
What is Challengers about?
Challengers is about tennis. Challengers is about a love triangle. Challengers is about Zendaya’s bob. Directed by Luca Guadagnino of Call Me By Your Name, it’s no surprise that this movie is also about sex. It follows three young tennis players — two lifelong friends who are rising stars and superstar prodigy Tashi Duncan with whom they are massively enamored — over their messy love lives and careers.
Zendaya leads as Tashi Duncan, the intense and intensely ambitious woman at the center of this story. After a devastating injury, Tashi goes from the top of the game to her husband’s coach, trying to recall what she felt at the height of her career.
Ambition battles desire as the love story between the three twists and turns over the course of time. Shifting between time periods and storylines, it feels like a Christopher Nolan film if it slayed. And with Luca’s expert directorial eye, styling from JW Anderson’s Loewe, and Zendaya as heroine, it’s a cinematic feat — tense, vivid, and utterly irresistible. Zendaya herself recommends watching the movie at least three times while “viewing” it from each character’s perspective each time. Well, what Z says, goes.
Clearly, Mike Faist (Dear Evan Hansen, West Side Story) as Art and Josh O’Connor (The Crown, God’s Own Country) as Patrick have been inducted into the exclusive club of Luca’s muses. If you weren’t in love with them before, you will be by the movie’s end. The film has confirmed them as the white boys of the month. But they’re more than just pretty faces. They are Actors — with a capital A.
And Challengers is their launch pad for Hollywood’s latest leading men. Their performances are masterful, their characters are tight and consistent, and their chemistry is unmatched.
While their chemistry with Zendaya is electric, it’s their chemistry together that keeps the film pulsing with anticipatory tension. Whether they love each other or hate each other, the best scenes are those when Faist and O’Connor can play off each other — whether it’s literally tennis or a battle of wits and the battle for Zendaya’s heart.
Of course: we have to talk about that scene. Teased in the trailer and the promo images alike, everyone is all aflutter over the film’s alleged menage a trois. Appearing early on, it’s a taste of what the film does well: emphasizes sex appeal without denigrating any of its characters — especially Zendaya — as mere sexual objects.
Sex in this film is often implied. Yet, sensuality and the power exchange of desire are foregrounded. It’s about power. But it’s also a game. And, like tennis, Zendaya is a master. “You don’t know what tennis is,” she tells Art and Patrick. “It’s a relationship.” For the three of them, this certainly proves true. The central question here is: who will win?
This is a movie about tennis, actually.
The internet has noticed a strange trend: the women who’ve played Spiderman’s love interest in the major Spiderman franchises have all gone on to do movies about tennis. Kirsten Dunst did the underrated rom-com Wimbledon. Emma Stone portrayed Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes just three years after her term as Gwen Stacey. And now, Zendaya is playing her own version of a tennis star.
@jessthereporter The Spider-Man to Tennis pipeline – EXPLAINED #spiderman #challengers #zendaya #emmastone #kirstendunst #movienews #movietok ♬ original sound – Jess Lucero❤️🔥☕️
But this isn’t just a film about tennis players. It’s a movie deeply in love with the game of tennis itself. It plays with the form of the game by mirroring a tennis match — each act of the film feels like a set of a match. It moves through scenes and time periods like perfect volleys. The key scene that ties it all together is a tennis match. We watch the ball go back and forth as we are transported to and from the past, wondering which player will get the upper hand.
“What do you want?” The boys ask Tashi early in the film. “To watch some good fucking tennis,” she says.
In the end, the sentiment is repeated. In tennis, love means zero. And that’s the Challengers’ conceit. Sitting across from the umpire (who is — fun fact — played by her real-life assistant Darnell Appling) in the central tennis scene, her judgment is all. It’s like the final scene of Love and Basketball — they’re playing for her heart. And her heart is always with the game.
Challengers will make a tennis fan of you. While you don’t need to know the game in order to follow the plot, its artistic representation of the game — from the writing to the directorial shot list — will satisfy the superfans and intrigue the newbies.
Let’s get to the point (pun intended): Is Zendaya’s Tashi a triumph?
Earlier this year, Timothee Chalamet achieved the impressive feat of starring in two of the year’s highest-grossing films — Dune: Part Two and Wonka. I predict that by the time they stop this weekend’s Box Office count, Zendaya will achieve the same feat with Dune: Part Two and Challengers.
While she’s the heart of Dune: Part Two, she’s finally taking her rightful place as a leading lady with her turn as Tashi Duncan. After playing high schoolers for decades from Spider-Man to Euphoria, the role of Tashi is the perfect transition. We meet Tashi the summer after high school, before she heads to Stanford, and watch her grow into an adult in real-time. Zendaya and her character get similar arcs.
Zendaya deftly handles Tashi’s youthful confidence with her jaded older self while rocking that damn bob. It’s up to you to decide whether you love this character or despise her. There’s a viral interview in which an interviewer remarks that as much as he loves Zendaya, this character kind of made him hate her. Meanwhile, I — lover of maneaters and female manipulators — am pinning photos of Tashi to my vision board as we speak.
Audiences are split on their takes on Tashi but everyone agrees: Zendaya played her with the chill-inducing complexity she deserves. EGOT soon! This is Zendaya’s magnum opus — so far. She’s proven she’s a movie star, a leading lady, and an adult woman ready to play older roles. I can’t wait for what she does next.
Challengers will hit theaters on Friday, April 26th. Watch the full trailer here:
Movie Reviews
Is AI art actually art? Checking out ‘Terror in the AIlien Realms’
AI is a constant in today’s cinematic landscape. It was a big point of contention during both strikes that affected Hollywood in 2023, was brought up during the Academy Awards, and is even leading to backlash for one of 2024’s best received films. No matter what your opinion on the subject, it is a topic that is not going away anytime soon.
Terror in the Ailien Realms: Transdimensional Horror Movie Posters & Their Film Reviews is a book by filmmaker and artist Pat Tremblay that combines art and AI. Fueled by his love of the great VHS box art from the days when video rental stores were an essential part of life, Tremblay has created a series of horror movies posters. This is not just a simple homage to days of horror movies past, however. Each poster was created with the assistance of AI.
The idea will immediately turn many potential readers off. AI is a touchy subject that seems to be met with resistance more than understanding. Tremblay – an artist himself – has written about why people should be more understanding even when they are not completely receptive to the idea of AI art. This includes the idea that AI is not stealing or plagiarizing artists but using them for reference or inspiration, its similarities to pop art, and just the natural aversion people have to change.
It will take years and many examples before most of us will be able to have a fully developed opinion regarding AI art. Terror in the Ailien Realms is a great introduction into what can be done, however. Quite simply, the posters found in the book are simply amazing. Those who spent hours of their childhoods in the horror section at video stores will be amazed by what they see. From horror westerns to grindhouse to just straight up scary stuff, Tremlay’s project has it all.
Terror in the Ailien Realms is not just limited to those who have nostalgia. Many of the pictures are reminiscent of thumbnails seen on streaming channels. Some are outlandish while others have an arthouse quality to them. It is an interesting mix that makes each page interesting.
Adding to the fun are the fictional movie reviews that are included. Genre filmmakers, writers, and journalists participated in coming up with the write-ups. There are a bunch of neat entries and they also show what can be accomplished when AI is paired with human creativity.
But at the end of the day, it is the AI art that will garner the most attention. In a vacuum, Terror in the Ailien Realms: Transdimensional Horror Movie Posters & Their Film Reviews is an enjoyable item that genre fans should get a kick out of. On a grander scale, it provides a glimpse into the possibilities of AI art. It may not change opinions outright, but it will give people a lot to think about.
Terror in the Ailien Realms: Transdimensional Horror Movie Posters & Their Film Reviews is available to order now
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
-
Kentucky1 week ago
Kentucky first lady visits Fort Knox schools in honor of Month of the Military Child
-
World1 week ago
EU leaders weigh Lebanon partnership in response to Middle East crisis
-
Politics1 week ago
Former Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Peter Barca launches congressional comeback bid
-
World1 week ago
Israeli attack on nuclear sites to prompt tit-for-tat, pursuing nukes: Iran
-
News1 week ago
Prosecutors say Trump violated gag order 7 times: Live updates
-
World1 week ago
Iranian media says three drones downed after explosions heard in Isfahan
-
World1 week ago
Shipping firms plead for UN help amid escalating Middle East conflict
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Film Review: Challengers – The Knockturnal