Kedi
This is a charming documentary about the thousands of cats that have roamed the streets of Istanbul for centuries. (It is also a delightful reminder of how nice Istanbul can be in good weather and calm political periods.)
Cat people will find this movie enchanting since it showcases the behavior cats demonstrate when they co-exist with people in the broader society rather than being kept as mere pets.
It is also a social commentary about the people who exhibit random acts of kindness caring for these independent yet dependent felines.
It is unrated and runs 1 hour, 20 minutes. The cinematography and musical score make it worth a look.
The Belko Experiment
This is a horrific film! If you like the recent The Purge trio of slash movies you will undoubtedly love this movie too. This one is set in a remote area of Bogata, Columbia in a midrise office building where the 80 employees are suddenly trapped inside.
It is rated R for extreme violence and gruesome scenes for gore sake. The violence is relentless and meaningless. It is listed as an Action/Thriller and runs an exhausting 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Critics have noted commentaries of social behavior and Corporate banality but I say poppycock. Blood and gore for shock effect is simply just a waste of time and resources. John gets a big raspberry for picking this one!
Life
Hmm…Astronauts aboard an International Space Station discover a new life form for the first time ever! They quickly realize this life form is dangerous and evolving rapidly. Duh! I’m not a scientist or an astronaut and I could have told you that, and more.
It is a shame really because this was a well acted, well produced film about a relevant topic that just missed its target.
Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Furguson, Hiroyuki Sanada and Ariyon Bakare round out a good solid cast.
Fortunately there are enough surprises to make it worth while and a surprise ending that is thought provoking. It is listed as a SciFi/Thriller. Rated R for some unnerving scenes and may not be suitable for little ones. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes.