Jennifer Lopez – STREAMING MOVIE NIGHT

2025 Amazon MGM Studios

Rated: PG-13

Length: 2 hr 4min

Biography ~ Drama ~ Sports

Starring: Jharrel Jerome, Anthony Robles, Jennifer Lopez, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, and Don Cheadle.

“My Spirit is Unconquerable…..I don’t care what’s probable. Through Blood, Sweat and Tears, I am Unstoppable.”

This movie tells the true story of Anthony Robles, born without a right leg, from Mesa, Arizona. He was raised by his mother who encouraged him to stand tall and be himself in spite of his handicap. Constantly pushing himself to be better and overcome his handicap, he discovered a passion for wrestling in high school. Striving to excel he rises up to become a force to be reckoned with on the mat, in spite of the struggles of his life. His step father was abusive and never supported Anthony emotionally, constantly demeaning him and his passion for wrestling. Things in the household became very tense and eventually his stepfather left the family. Leaving Anthony and his mother to pay the bills and take care of his three brothers and sister.

Anthony becomes very good at wrestling and wins two State Championships in his Junior and Senior year, and one in his senior year. After High School he attends Arizona State and works his way into the Wrestling Program against all odds. He became nationally ranked and won many Championships. The underdog who had a dream against all odds to be a wrestler in spite of his handicap. And comes out on top having risen above all the obstacles in his life, and seemingly insurmountable odds, to become a Champion and Hero to so many. It is the kind of story that makes you jump out of your chair and yell, “Hell yes!”. (Think Rocky)

Jharrel Jerome plays Anthony in the movie. They wrapped his right leg in a green sock, and he wore a green clog on his right foot, so they could edit it out in post production. I wondered how they made his leg disappear for the movie. Anthony Robles played actor and stunt double in the wrestling scenes, and also produced the movie along with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Kudos to all of them for a job well done. Jennifer Lopez plays Anthony’s mother Judy Robles and does an excellent job of it. Bobby Cannavale plays Rick Robles, Anthony’s step father and father to his brothers and sister. Good job at playing a real asshole, what a jerk! You want to step on screen and whoop his ass in front of the whole family!

Michael Peña, and Don Cheadle play Anthony’s coaches in High School and college, respectively. They were very instrumental in encouraging Anthony and helping in his success. It was good to see both of these actors in these roles and I thought they did an outstanding job. There are a few scenes where Anthony is in Philadelphia and climbs the same steps as Rocky, and stands in Rocky’s footsteps. I found myself rooting hard for Anthony Robles, not wanting to see him fail. But when he did, hoping he would get back up and fight harder. And when he did, cheering him on with every fiber of my being…GO ANTHONY GO!!!!

The Movie is based on Anthony’s 2012 Autobiography Unstoppable. It is a great movie, some of my favorite themes rolled into one fantastic feel good movie. The underdog coming out on top against seemingly insurmountable odds, and an Incredible True Story. I love the True Story Movies the best, and I love this one.

Highly Recommended!

Two Thumbs Up!

2024 Netflix

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1hr 58 min

Action ~ Adventure ~ Drama ~ Sci-Fi

Directed by: Brad Peyton

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, and Mark Strong.

“Across the globe artificial intelligence bots ranging from transportation to medical and home maintenance have all bypassed their security protocols. AI bots have killed over one million civilians with no end in sight. To combat the threat, we have assembled a coalition force, The International Coalition of Nations.”

Jennifer Lopez stars as Atlas Shepherd, an Analyst working for the ICN (International Coalition of Nations) which was formed in 2043 when an A.I. Robot named Harlan Shepherd (Simu Liu) led a revolt of A.I. Robots and machines against mankind. Harlan was forced to leave Earth following the ICN‘s string of victories against the AI uprising. Now, 28 years later, Atlas and the ICN are still trying to hunt down the elusive Harlan Shepherd.

One of Harlan’s AI agents is captured on Earth and after interrogating him, Atlas tricks him into revealing where Harlan is holed up in the galaxy. He had escaped to a planet in The Andromeda Galaxy and a Military Mission is organized to find and capture him. Atlas insists she accompany the Mission as she knows Harlan better than anyone and has very personal reasons for finding Harlan.

Atlas’s Mother made Harlan, and Atlas and Harlan basically grew up together before Harlan overwrote his protocol and instigated the AI Revolution. Atlas joins the ICN Rangers on their Mission to The Andromeda Galaxy accompanied by their giant human controlled Robots called Mechs. Just as the spaceship enters the planet’s atmosphere, they are attacked and Atlas is forced to evacuate the ship in a mech herself that she has no idea how to control.

It is controlled by AI that calls itself Smith and is supposed to pair with the human operating the mech, but Atlas has a huge mistrust of AI thanks to Harlan and refuses to pair with the AI. What follows is an adventure on a hostile planet to find and capture Harlan, while Atlas bickers incessantly with the AI Smith about who is in control. As they venture forward you can see a bond build and Atlas starts to trust Smith and eventually agrees to pair with the AI for the benefit of their survival.

Their are long passages of scene and dialogue where it is just Jennifer Lopez and the voice of Smith as they banter and work things out Human to AI robot. I think she did a good job at portraying Atlas in those moments, it had to be difficult to capture those emotions solo with no other physical actor to bounce off of. There are times when it reminded me of The Terminator and I Robot. Given the current explosion of AI in our daily lives it is an interesting look at the downside of AI.

I thought it was pretty good.

An enjoyable Sci-fi AI Adventure.

Two thumbs up