Film on Friday #46 - Greater

I love being entertained by a movie. But the ones that stay with me are those stories that are true. The ones that make you think long after the final credits roll.

Greater released yesterday in theatres. Greater is the story of Brandon Burlsworth - 'The Incredible True Story of the Greatest Walk-on in the History of College Football'.

Greater opens in 1999 Arkansas, where a young, awkward, clumsy Burlsworth declares that he is going to play for the Razorbacks one day. And then cuts to a road with a semi barreling down it, facing an oncoming car. So we know the beginning and the end. But it's the stuff in the middle that will have you laughing, crying, cheering and wishing you could have met this incredible young man....

Chris Severio stars as Brandon and veteran actor Neal McDonough as his older brother. Severio was great as Brandon - physically he looks very much like Burlsworth and his quiet, gentle, steadfast portrayal of this determined young man seemed to embody the spirit of Brandon. McDonough often appears as a 'bad guy' in movies  - it was refreshing to see a different side - as Marty, Brandon's caring and devoted brother. I also thought Leslie Easterbrook did a great job with the role of Brandon's Mom - personifying her steadfast belief in her son and her resolve to help him reach his dreams.

This is a movie about faith - faith in yourself, but most of all faith in God's plan. Brandon has no doubts, but his brother does. Director David Hunt sets up a nice visual of good and bad/God and the Devil using an old man and a young man on the sidelines of the football field to illustrate this.

Brandon's faith never wavered - he believed. Despite the odds, the setbacks, the cruelty and derision, rejection and dejection, he believed. And in doing so, others believed.....

Just an excellent, excellent movie - entertaining, but with a great message. It's rated PG, so it would be great family viewing as well. (But have some tissues ready...) Take a sneak peek at the trailer below.

"Do it the Burls Way". A saying coined after Brandon's death that means do it the right way, even when no one is looking - a good way to live life. I loved one of the last lines.....'Have Faith. This is My Road'. So....what's your road?

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital

I'm a big fan of James Dashner's Maze Runner series of books. Last year's movie release of the first book was really well done in my opinion. I've been waiting to watch the second book to movie - Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials. Christmas vacation was the right time! Now, would it be as good? For this viewer, the answer is yes!

Fox Home Entertainment has just released the Blu-ray/DVD combo on December 15th.

Now, I'm just going to say right up front - if you're looking for the movie to be absolutely faithful to every incident/plot point in the book you're going to be a bit disappointed. But if you're looking to be entertained and on the edge of your seat for the entire 129 minutes, well, you're going to love it.

Scorch Trials picks up right where Maze Runner left off. I was immediately re-immersed in the story. Familiar (but not many) faces from Thomas's glade are back, having found safety at the end of the first movie. (This is a great ensemble) But have they found safety? Still running, the gladers are thrust into the Scorch - a no man's land of ruined cities of the past, heat, sand and cranks......those who have the Flare - a zombie like illness. I gotta tell ya - those with the Flare in this movie were infinitely more terrifying than the zombies from The Walking Dead. There's a lot of scary in the Scorch Trials - from the creepy undergrounds, to the abandoned buildings, but especially those infected. I had a couple of jumpy, heart tripping, gotcha moments.

The sense of danger, the pacing, the what-next, made for an edge of your seat viewing. The Scorch Trials does have more of an 'adult' feel to it than The Maze Runner - there's more overt violence and some more 'adult' situations (the drunken dance party for example). And of course, there's lots of running - lots and lots of running - from cranks, from WCKD (yep what you thought at the end of the last movie - rethink it.) and from danger of many sorts, sizes and shapes. 

There were lots of extras included as well - audio commentary, gag reel, deleted and extended scenes, added videos, documentary, visual effects and more.

So, yes I've read the books. And yes, there are differences. And no, it doesn't upset me at all. I thought The Scorch Trials was wonderfully entertaining. And yes, I can't wait for the release of The Death Cure movie, coming in February 2017. Check out the trailer for The Scorch Trials below.