I’m honestly surprised that we have a third film in this franchise since the last film was a complete bomb. I guess they thought the fans wanted one more, and the result is Venom: The Last Dance. This is writer Kelly Marcel’s directorial debut while writing the story with Tom Hardy.

 

Before we meet up with Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) a new character is introduced to the Venom Universe called Knull (Andy Serki). You learn that Knull is the creator of the alien symbiotes and became their prisoner on the planet Klintar. Knull’s goal is to send out these parasitic creatures to find an item called the “Codex” that can free him from his prison. Once that is all explained we then find Eddie in Mexico after the events from the last film. He is on the run from the government after being accused of killing an officer when he defeated Carnage. His and Venom’s goal now is to leave Mexico and make it to New York to avoid being arrested, but that all changes once these parasites show up to Earth to hunt him and Venom down. There is a secondary plot that follows scientist Dr. Teddy Paine (Juno Temple) and Stickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who have captured and studied other symbiotes that have crashed landed on Earth over the years. They learn about Knull from Detective Mulligan (Stephen Graham) who was in the last film and is infected with a symbiote called “Toxin”. They learn that if either Eddie or Venom is killed, Knull will not be able to obtain the Codex and stay in prison forever. Stricklands goal is to kill Eddie but that will be difficult to do with the parasitic creatures around. Will this tear Venom and Eddie apart? Or will they survive these unfortunate circumstances?

 

Like I said before, it’s crazy that we have three Venom movies after the first one did okay at the box office and the last one was completely unwatchable. This time around it felt like they combined the two first films together and there were some great moments which were mostly between Brock and Venom. Then there were moments that just made you scratch your head. Especially with the pacing of the film where they either let scenes go on too long or not long enough. Part of the story felt unnecessary too and I found it odd that they would now introduce a big-time villain like Knull in the third installment. If they really thought things through, Knull would have been introduced in the first film and would have been the main villain in the third movie. Supposedly Knull will be back for future movies, but they should have gone that route back in 2018 instead of waiting until 2024. The best part of the movie is Tom Hardy’s performance which is why these Venom movies do so well. He does a great job portraying both characters and really makes you believe that they both care for each other. I just wish the writing and story was better.

 

If you’re someone who enjoys Marvel and the Venom character, go ahead and see this in theaters, but don’t expect much from the franchise’s last installment. Maybe wait until it comes out on Disney+.

 

Rating: 3 out of 5

It’s been 2 years since we last saw the unsettling smirk on the big screen. With Smile 2, Parker Finn (director of Smile and Laura Hasn’t Slept) is back to bring the scares once again.

 

The film starts where we left off with the smile entity passing into the police officer Joel (Kyle Gallner). Joel witnessed the previously infected, Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), take her own life. Joel tries his best to pass the curse onto someone else by figuring out a loophole where he doesn’t have to take himself out. The plan backfires and the entity passes on to a drug dealer, Lewis (Lukas Gage), who witnesses Joel’s attempt to trick the entity. This is when we are introduced to our main character, pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott). Riley is back in the spotlight a year after surviving a car crash that killed her boyfriend and making it through rehab from a severe drug addiction. Now, she’s preparing for a new world tour while still coping with the trauma of her past. As she deals with the mental trauma, she also must manage the physical trauma, because her body is still not 100% recovered from the accident. As a result, she meets up with drug dealer Lukas to score some pain-relieving drugs. What was supposed to be a simple visit becomes her worst nightmare. Riley witnesses Lukas taking his own life and the smile entity enters her. Now under the entity’s influence, she will see things that aren’t there, have vivid flashbacks to the day of the crash, and become completely paranoid that someone is out to ruin her career. How can she overcome this entity that has already taken the lives of so many people? Is it possible to break the chain? Or will this entity continue to wreak havoc on society?

 

Sometimes sequels are good or are bombs. In this instance I’d say they knocked this one out of the park. From start to finish the movie sucks you in with how high the stakes are with this entity. The last film was more of a slow burn that led up to a big finale, but this time around they do a good job by taking everything up a peg. There were a lot of moments in the film where I didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t real. I was left guessing about when a jump scare would be around the corner. I think Naomi Scott did an amazing job in this film and should be given more roles in the future based on this performance. It was not an easy script to bring to life and she really brought her A-game to make you feel like you were experiencing what her character was experiencing. The only issue I had with the film was that there were some pacing issues, and the last 20 minutes of the film make you question what was real and what wasn’t real. I had to watch a YouTube video to get a better understanding of the events that lead to the conclusion of film. That’s the only blemish I felt hurt the film. Other than that, it was a very solid horror movie.

 

Only a couple more days of the spooky season are left, and this is a film you should check out in theaters if you’re a horror movie fan.

 

Rating: 4 out 5

Directors Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgui piece together a beautiful documentary commemorating the true Man of Steel with Super/Man the Christopher Reeve Story.

 

Christopher Reeve's story is told through his sons Will and Matt Reeve, his daughter Alexandra Reeve Givens, and a variety of celebrity friends he made over the years. The documentary starts off with his injury and then jumps back and forth comparing his Superman character to how he dealt with his paralysis. The documentary also delves into Reeve's childhood and that he grew up in a broken home. All he dreamed about was becoming an actor. We do learn a lot about the high points of his life, but also learn about his lowest moments - from not wanting to be Superman anymore to abandoning his family when his acting career wasn't going in the direction he wanted it to go. That's when we are introduced to his wife, Dana Reeve, who stuck with him through the good times and bad once he became paralyzed. Even though this story is mainly about Christopher, they make it a point to state that this is also Dana's story too. From being a wife, mother, and caregiver. We watch Christopher's story all the way to his final day alive and the impact of his death on society. 

 

It's sometimes hard to find good documentaries to watch, and once this was announced I knew I had to go see it in theaters. I grew up on Chrisopher Reeve's Superman and was just a child when he passed away. I knew how much of an important figure he was in the comic book realm and in real life. While watching this I truly believed that Reeve was Superman on and off the screen. They make a great comparison of his paralysis as Kryptonite by using a CGI sculpture of Reeve and putting the green crystals in the areas where he could no longer feel anything. I thought that was brilliant to do and to use flashbacks that compared to what Reeve was currently dealing with after the incident. I also have to give it up for the music that played throughout because it just pulls at your heartstrings. The editing in this documentary was also top notch and the narration throughout was well done. There was not a moment where I felt like the film was dragging along. It really grabs your attention until the very end. 

 

If you get the chance to head to the movie theater make sure you check this film out. It is an amazing story even though it is tragic. Reeve never gave up. That's what the Man of Steel is known for. 

 

Rating: 5 out of 5

Director Todd Phillips is back with Joker: Folie A Deux, and boy was this an odd direction for this story to take.

 

We find ourselves back in Gotham with Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) sitting in a jail cell at the Arkham State Hospital awaiting trial for the 5 murders he committed during the first film. While we wait for the trial to begin, we watch Fleck get treated poorly by security guards and he collapses back into his less confident self like the the beginning of the first film. He has given up the Joker persona completely, but then he runs into Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga) while walking by a choir class for mental health patients. This ignites something in Arthur, and he starts to fantasize his relationship with Lee as a musical that continues throughout the film. Sometimes it is a fantasy and sometimes they're just randomly singing in real life to one another. Lee's purpose in this film is to help Arthur keep the Joker persona alive so people don't walk all over him. Then, he can be a hero for the little guy that gets screwed over by the law. For the back half of the film, we watch Arthur go through his trial to avoid the death penalty by using the Joker to claim a not guilty verdict. It's really a half musical and half courtroom drama, which makes for a very weird premise.

 

To say I'm disappointed in the outcome of this film is an understatement. I am a huge fan of the first film because it was a unique take on the Joker character. It did a great job paying homage to the comic books. Now, we have a film that is a romance turned musical and courtroom drama that undoes all of the development that took place in the first film. How is it that Arthur immediately reverts to being his less confident self after being in jail for only a couple of weeks after fully taking on the Joker persona? I just don't understand why that wasn't continued on.  Instead of implementing a musical aspect to the film they could have made it some type of Shawshank Redemption escape film where Lee and Arthur cause chaos at Arkham. Unfortunately, none of that happens and you as the viewer must sit through a 2 plus hour film with an ending that could have been tagged on to the first film. The only positives that came out of this movie were Phoenix's performance, the cinematography, and one scene that really hit hard emotionally. Other than that it was just a waste of $200 million to make a sequel.

 

The verdict, wait till this film comes out on one of the streaming services. Do not waste your time or money on this long boring musical that undoes everything that made the first film so great. This is why Todd Phillips is known for making bad sequels like the Hangover Part 2 and Part 3.

 

Rating: 2 out of 5

Who knew a story about a robot that crash lands on an island with wildlife would be extremely emotional - but that is what The Wild Robot brings to the table. This new Dreamwork Animations film is directed by Chris Sanders who is best known for working on Lilo & Stitch, Mulan, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Croods.

 

Our story begins when all-purpose robot, Rozzum (Lupita Nyong’o), crash lands on an island inhabited by thousands of animals. Rozzum believes that she has made it to her destination and seeks out her owner to be given a task to work on. As she makes her way through the forest, she continues to be denied by every animal she meets because of how different she is. To better understand her new acquaintances she learns the languages of all the inhabitants on the island. Even though that helps her better understand the creatures on the island, she still can’t find a being to give her a task. Then, during a storm, she accidentally stumbles upon an egg containing a baby goose. She finally figures out what her task is - save the egg from the slick fox, Fink (Pedro Pascal). Fink tries to steal and eat the egg but ends up becoming friends with Rozzum and helps her raise the youngling. The task evolves into getting food for the baby, teaching the baby to swim, and helping the baby learn to fly before the geese leave when wintertime arrives. Now, almost fully grown, Brightbill (Kit Connor), works as hard as he can to join his fellow geese and be accepted by them. His fellow geese believe he’s just a runt that has a weird robotic mother. This all sets up a magnificent journey of Brightbill becoming the goose he was meant to be by using the lessons Rozzum taught him. Rozzum is left alone on the island and ends up having a bigger role in protecting the habitants from the winter and the technology sent by her maker to retrieve her.

 

There are a lot of different storylines in this film that all serve a purpose to the overall plot. It may seem like a lot but in the long run it’s what makes this movie excellent. From the voice acting, animation, and music this film will make you feel all the emotions. It is extremely hard to make it through this film without shedding a tear because there are so many relatable lessons, and it can be a bit overwhelming. It’s just a beautiful story of a robot trying to find her place in the world while being the mother to this baby goose and trying to protect the creatures from the outside that threaten their very lives.

 

If this film does not receive any nominations come awards season, it will be very disappointing since it seems to be a very influential film. Please go see this movie with family or friends to experience a wholesome journey of self-awareness, friendship, and family.

 

Rating; 5 out of 5

Fans of this long running franchise finally get a film that takes them back to a time before we had Autobots and Decepticons with Transformers One. Directed by Josh Cooley who is best known for directing Toy Story 4 and having a long-time relationship with Pixar Animation.

 

Our story starts from the very beginning of Cybertron’s creation when Primus transforms into a massive planet. Primus then created a group of warriors called Primes to protect Cybertron, but that was not good enough when the Quintessons wiped them out by taking the Matrix of Leadership. The Matrix helped Cybertron produce Energon but once it was taken the planet stopped producing it. Taking over the duties to get the Matrix back is Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm), the leader of Cybertron and Iacon, who continues to fight the Quintessons on the surface. That’s when we are introduced to best friends and miners of Energon - Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Bryan Tyree Henry). This is before they become Optimus Prime and Megatron. We learn that Pax is an ambitious being who wants to help Sentinel find the Matrix by breaking into government buildings to find clues. D-16, instead, goes about his day keeping his nose to the ground and avoiding any confrontation. That all changes when Pax discovers a message and map from one of the former Primes that takes them to surface of Cybertron. Joining them is their former mining boss Elita-1 (Scarlet Johansson) and garbage worker B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key). This journey will ultimately test Pax and D-16’s friendship and their viewpoint on friendship while they gain the power to transform. Will they find the Matrix of Leadership? And is there a more sinister act happening that the citizens of Iacon might not know about? Who’s to say.

 

Talk about a fun animated movie that brings great action sequences, dramatic scenes, and cool effects. I had some low expectations heading into this film because it was animated, Peter Cullen wasn’t going to be the voice of Optimus Prime, and it was going to be an origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron. It all worked because they really did a good job homing in on Pax and D-16’s relationship. Hemsworth and Henry do a great job conveying to the audience that these bots are the best of friends. So, when it gets to that point that you start to notice a falling out between the two it pulls at your heart strings. I also enjoyed the style of animation that they went with. It was very smooth and was very easy on the eyes. The sound design was great as well, as it should be for it being a Transformers film. The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the comedy. Mostly coming from B-127, the comedy felts cringy and forced. I get he is a comedian, but it could have been simmered down a bit. The plot with the Quintessons was also not as important to what the story was trying to convey between the two main characters. I get why they were somewhat useful to the plot, but they were barely in the film.

 

Overall, I had a great time watching this film and I think Transformers fans and movie goers would say the same thing. Go see this at least once at the drive-in or theater to just have a fun time learning about these beloved characters before they became household names.

 

Rating: 4.3 out 5

Whenever you go on vacation always be wary of who you interact with, because Director James Watkins Speak No Evil lays out what could go wrong if you meet the wrong people.

 

Our story starts with mother Louise (Mackenzie Davis), father Ben (Scoot McNairy), and daughter Agnes Dalton (Alix West Lefler) on vacation. While interacting with different couples and families staying at their hotel, they are introduced to a doctor named Paddy (James McAvoy), his wife Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), and son Ant (Dan Hough). For the rest of the trip both families hang out with each other, and both have such a great time that Paddy invites Ben’s family to their farmhouse for a weekend getaway. Ben, who has been completely enthralled with Paddy, wants to go to get his mind off an unsuccessful job search, struggles with his wife who had an affair, and dealing with his daughter’s severe anxiety issues. So, they make the trip to Paddy’s home for what should be a relaxing time. Instead, it will test the family’s strength to make it out alive.

 

That’s really all I can say about the plot of this film unless you want spoilers. Most of the advertising did convey that Paddy isn’t who you think he is and that the son, Ant, does not have a tongue. That is kind of a bummer that those were given away in the promotions, but the movie must sell tickets. Fortunately, it didn’t spoil the whole plot of the film and why this is all happening to this one family. Overall, I thought this was a well-done horror and thriller film. The performances all around were well done, especially by James McAvoy who always brings it with these horror flicks. This film does a good job feeding on your anxiety which is an underlying theme. The movie did drag a bit in the middle, and you were just waiting for the other shoe to fall at any moment. It did, but not until the very end. This drag kind of took me out of the film, but once it got to the climax I was sucked back into the action. 

 

All in all, if you are a horror enthusiast go see this in theaters at least once to get the full experience. It is perfect timing for the upcoming Halloween season, and you’ll get some nice jump scares while you’re riddled with anxiety.

Rating: 3.9 out of 5

It’s only taken 36 years for Tim Burton to come up with a new insane story to bring viewers back into the world of the dead with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. 

 

We find ourselves being re-introduced to Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) as she hosts her own TV show called Ghost House. She uses her powers of seeing the dead to rid people’s homes of evil spirits. Lydia receives a call from her stepmom, Delia (Catherine O’Hara), about the sudden loss of her father and learns that the funeral will be held at the house from the first film. This reunites Lydia with her daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), who is resentful towards her mother after the death of her father. Astrid also does not believe in ghosts. Tagging along is Lydia’s new love interest and manager, Rory (Justin Theroux), who is supposedly there to support Lydia but seems to have some ulterior motive. As this is all going on we head to the underworld where Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) is running his very own telemarketing service to aid other dead people with getting revenge on the living. So, he must have made it out of the waiting room at the end of the first film to start his business back up again. The only issue is that his former wife, Delores (Monica Bellucci), is back and wants to suck Beetlejuice’s soul from his body. Learning that Lydia is back home in Winter River, Beetlejuice wants to pursue her and get re-married to avoid his soul sucking ex-wife. We are then introduced to Jeremy (Arthur Conti) who is a possible love interest for Astrid as she explores the town Lydia grew up in. Her newly formed relationship with Jeremy sends her to the underworld where Lydia must team up with Beetlejuice to get her out. Is this really a smart idea? Can Beetlejuice be the hero? Most likely, not.

 

I was so excited to see this film. I remember watching the first one as a kid and was enthralled with the unique style that Burton brought to the film. Now, Burton did it again with a lot more practical effects, actual sets, and very little green screen and CGI use. It really felt like this film was made back in the late 80’s early 90’s. I think everyone’s performance was great, especially Keaton’s, Ryder’s, and O’Hara’s. The original three characters from the first film really brought their A-game. It felt like it was effortless for them to get back into those characters mentally and physically. The only issue I had with this film was the overall story. It was kind of all over the place and there wasn’t a straight plot point. There were several stories interwind with each other and all were solved quickly. I think Burton was more focused on the gags, effects, and performances than the actual story. This makes sense because the first film was a bit random too. In the first film though, there was a linear plot line with a feeling of satisfaction at the end. With this film it’s kind of the opposite. It’s mostly a lot of bits added to the plot with a not so satisfying ending. I still had a good time watching this movie. 

 

I suggest seeing this movie at least once in theaters to experience the practical magic that Tim Burton brings to the big screen, and witness a phenomenal performance by Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara. Don’t be too focused on the plot and enjoy the wackiness and fun this film offers.

 

Rating: 3.9 out 5

Making her directorial debut is Zoe Kravitz with a mind bending and anxiety driven thriller with Blink Twice. 
 
 
The film opens with our main character Frida (Naomi Ackie) living with roommate and best friend, Jess (Alia Shawkat), in a not so glamorous apartment while working server jobs. Well, that situation changes when given the opportunity to work an event hosted by billionaire Slater (Channing Tatum) who runs a popular company but is known for his child like party behavior. Frida has a bit of crush on him and decides to change out of her server outfit into some nice formal attire to get her chance to meet him. Her strategy works and she is invited to his private island where he has been going for therapy because of his questionable behavior. Several other people also tag along to go to the island to relax and party. What appears to be a fun time with new friends - relaxing, eating, drinking, and dancing - seems to be all a bit too good. Frida is focused on competing with Sarah (Adria Arjona) for the affection of Slater, but Jess starts to notice that something seems to be a bit off. She’s not remembering what time of day it is and how long they’ve been on the island. What could be causing these lapses of time, and will Frida listen to her best friend? Who’s to say when one is having a strangely good time. 
 
 
Kravitz’s directorial debut is impressive. From start to finish this film really has you on the edge of your seat. I was really trying to figure out when this dream like state would finally fall apart and the people on the island would find out the sadistic nature of what was really going on. I think this was a testament to how well the actors and actresses made the script come to life. It is an emotional film. Plot wise, I was happy that I couldn’t solve the film in a matter of seconds. The downside was that the ending didn’t go the direction it could have to produce a better finish. There were some areas of the plot that left things unexplained, so you have to draw your own conclusions. I’m not saying that it’s flat out bad, but it does hurt the plot a little. I did enjoy the filming technique used. Close up shots forced the viewers to see things from the perspective of the actors. As a result, you don’t really get the full picture of what is going on. This really foreshadows the whole meaning of the story. This also represents real life issues that can be difficult for people to watch. There’s a warning that plays before the film starts letting viewers know that, so be aware that there is some disturbing imagery in this film. 
 
 
Overall, this is a great first film for Kravitz and I hope to see more from her soon. If you don’t see this in theater that’s fine. I view this more of a streaming type of film and not a film that requires the big screen for the experience. 

Re-enter the world that brought you face huggers, chest bursters, and acidic blood with Alien Romulus. Directed by Fede Alvarez, best known for Don’t Breathe and Evil Dead.

 

The film follows orphaned Rain (Cailee Spaeny) and her adopted synthetic brother Andy (David Jonsson) who are seeking to leave the mining planet Yvaga ran by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. When she finds out that her contract is extended Rain tries to come up with a plan to escape this dark and dirty planet. That’s when a group of her friends led by Tyler (Archie Renaux) offers her the chance to travel to a decommissioned Weyland vessel that is floating above the mining planet to retrieve hyper sleep chambers. In this group are Tyler’s pregnant sister Kay (Isabela Merced), Bjorn (Spike Fearn), and Navarro (Aileen Wu). What they do not know about this station is that it was used to study the original Xenormorph from the first Alien (1979) film - after Ripley blew up the Nostromo and sent the alien out of the air lock. What they thought was going to be a simple scavenger job will become their biggest nightmare.

 

I don’t want to give too much of the film away, but it all takes place on this one vessel. The crew is small, and most of them are not going to make it. It wouldn’t be an alien film if there were more than one or two survivors. To sum it up, this movie packs a punch. From the claustrophobic setting to the gore, action, and then the practicality. The practical effects are what make for a great alien film. The previous two films, Prometheus and Alien Covenant, were reliant on CGI and were bigger in scope. Plus, the actors in Alien Romulus were lesser known, and that makes it more difficult for the audience to guess who will live or die. If Sigourney Weaver was going to be in this film, then you would obviously guess that she would survive, but in this film it’s anyone’s guess about who will survive. I think Spaeny and Jonsson were the best of the acting ensemble because of their rapport. They really felt like family and that they deeply cared for each other even though Andy is a synthetic human. Other than that, the rest of the ensemble was okay, but most of them did not make it to the end of the movie. If you plan on seeing this film, try to watch Prometheus, Alien Covenant, and then Alien in that order. The only downside about the film is that it is connected to the prequel films. It’s up to you how informed you want to be about previous events heading into this film.

 

Overall, this has everything you would want in an alien film and more. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and would consider buying it when released. So, head to the theater or drive-in at least once to see this thrilling and claustrophobic film before it’s too late.

 

Rating: 4 out of 5

It’s been 6 years since we last saw the “Merc with the Mouth” on the big screen, but the wait is finally over with Deadpool and Wolverine. Directed by Shawn Levy best known for The Adam Project, Free Guy, Stranger Things, and Night at the Museum. 

 

In this latest installment, we find Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) giving up the mantle of Deadpool after the events in the second film. He is no longer with his longtime girlfriend, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), and is living with his former roommate Blind Al (Leslie Uggams). Everything seems to be quite normal for Wade until he gets intercepted by the TVA (The Time Variance Authority) who oversees the sacred timeline throughout all the multiverses. To best understand the TVA, just watch Loki on Disney Plus. Wade believes he’s been taken for changing the outcome of specific events in the last film, but that’s not why Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) has taken Wade. Mr. Paradox oversees Wade's timeline across universes and must warn Wade that his timeline will be erased because the anchor being of his timeline has died. Once an anchor passes away, that world’s timeline ceases to exist on the sacred timeline. That anchor for Wade was Wolverine, and he passed away in the film Logan. When Wade learns about Wolverine he must make a choice. He can either leave his friends behind and let his world die, or he can travel the multiverse to find another Wolverine to save his timeline. Let’s just say the title of the film gives away that plot line. So, Wade snatches a new Wolverine from a different universe. Mr. Paradox isn’t quite a fan of that decision because it sends both Deadpool and Wolverine to the Void. Deadpool and Wolverine will have to work together to make their way through this wasteland of forgotten timelines. On this Journey, they will have to deal with Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), the evil twin of Charles Xavier, and avoid being eaten by the being Alioth. To make it back to the real world they’ll have to be able to work with each other and not try to kill each other. If not, Mr. Paradox will completely prune Wade’s timeline.

 

I know this explanation is a bit confusing, but this movie is all about the epic journey of two comic book characters that fans have been dreaming about for years. Marvel has been striking out on most of their projects ever since Avengers End Game, and to release a film like this now has bumped them back up into the good graces of Marvel fans. I have been one of those comic book fans that has been patiently waiting for this day, and boy was I not disappointed. From the very first scene to the very last I was on cloud nine. All the cameos, jokes, and rapport between Jackman and Reynolds were top tier. I never felt like the movie dragged on or found myself bored while watching it. It was so much fun, and the action was phenomenal. Shawn Levy understood the task of what the fans wanted out of this movie and went above and beyond. Plus, we get to see Wolverine in his actual suit from the comics and that just sweetened the deal. The cameos in this film were insane, some expected and others a total surprise. When it came to the villains of the film, they were there to help with the plot but weren’t that influential to the story. This was about why Deadpool exists and how Wolverine can redeem himself after disappearing from the timeline he came from. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed seeing Cassandra Nova on the big screen, but she wasn’t much of a threat. This movie really focused on Deadpool and Wolverines interactions, Deadpool entering the MCU, cameos, action, and comedy. If you’re seeing a Deadpool film that’s what you want to see. I was not disappointed. 

 

Overall, if you’re a comic book fan like me go see this film! If you enjoy action, go see this film! Or if you’re just an avid movie fan, go see this film! This is the film of the summer and maybe the year. See it a couple of times in theaters and then buy it on Blu Ray or 4K DVD. 

 

Rating: 5 out of 5

Almost 28 years after the original tornado disaster film hit the big screen with Twister, we are being treated to a new take on the classic with Director Lee Isaac Chung’s version called Twisters. The question is “Does this live up to the hype of the original?” I guess we’ll find out. 

Our story takes place in Oklahoma as we follow storm chaser and college student, Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones). She is trying to destroy a tornado using a concept she created to gain grant money for her PhD. In doing so, the tornado she tries to extinguish is an EF5 instead of an EF1.  The EF5 prevents the chemical components from working and this results in the loss of her boyfriend and two other college friends who were helping with project “Dorothy.” Five years go by, and Kate is working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in New York City. She is approached by her former colleague and friend who was at the scene of the incident five years ago, Javi (Anthony Ramos), and he is asking Kate to help study tornadoes. The goal is to help people in Oklahoma that must deal with the devastation of losing their homes. She agrees to do so and is introduced to the hot head, Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), who calls himself the “Tornado Wrangler” on YouTube. As Javi’s research team and Owens compete to find the perfect tornado to study, Kate and Tyler start to form a connection that seems to be unexpected because of how opposite they are. As Kate continues to struggle with the repercussions of what happened when she last went storm chasing, she finds the strength in herself to try her theory out once more with the help of Tyler. Will it be all for nothing? Or can Kate redeem herself and save the people of Oklahoma from these deadly tornadoes?

It's hard not to watch this film and think of the original. From the very first scene to the very last all I could think about was Bill Paxton’s and Helen Hunt’s characters going through this insane journey of surviving tornadoes so Paxton can get Hunt to sign divorce papers. Spoiler Alert, she doesn’t sign them, and they stay together. Now, don’t get me wrong, even though I was thinking about the original I still had some fun watching this new rendition. I think the show stealer was Glen Powell, but I did like the chemistry between Powell and Jones. It felt very natural and not like some cheesy rom-com. The special effects were somewhat impressive, but I do have to say some of them did not look great, and I think the original did a better job. There are effects that make you feel like you are looking at a real tornado, but there are also many scenes where you could just tell it was a CGI funnel wiping across the screen. That did disappoint me a bit because the first film really made it feel real. 

If you want excitement and the thrill of what it’s like to be up close and personal with a tornado, go see this film in theaters at least once. This is one of the few Summer Blockbusters that has been popular this year. Even though I do lean more towards watching the original over the new reboot, it’s worth the watch.
 
Rating: 3.7 out 5

It’s time once again to stay as quiet as possible to avoid the creepy crawling alien creatures that just invaded Earth in A Quiet Place: Day One. Directed by Michael Sarnoski, best known for Pig.

 

We are introduced to Sam (Lupita Nyong’o) who lives in hospice care in New York City as she is dealing with a terminal illness. You learn that she is angry about her situation as she speaks out in support groups about her disdain of living in hospice care. She does have a support animal, a cat named Frodo, that provides her comfort, protection, and a way to find help when she has a medical emergency. Sam’s therapist, Reuben (Alex Wolff), convinces her to head to the city to see a show with the group and to get pizza. She agrees to go not knowing that everything is about to change in the world she once knew. As they enjoy a puppet show there is a heavy military presence in the city, but the residents don’t seem to be concerned and go about their day. That’s until Reuben receives a call and is told to leave the city with the hospice patients. But, by that time it’s too late. Asteroids have entered Earth’s atmosphere and are landing in the city. That’s when we are introduced to the alien creatures that seek silence. This is when Sam’s and Frodo’s journey begins. The goal is to head to Harlem to get a piece of pizza from Patsy’s. I know what you’re thinking, “A whole movie about alien creatures and the main character wants a piece of pizza?” Trust me, I get it, but there’s more to it than just getting pizza. Along the way, she will run into an English law student, Eric (Joseph Quinn), who tags along to help her get to Harlem. She will help him get out of the city and to the boating docks. Even though Sam isn’t happy that Eric has joined her she will eventually find comfort that she had at least one friend by her side during the end of the world. 

 

Overall, this film is very different from the other two films that came before it. Since it is a prequel, It doesn’t connect to the original storyline of the family from the first film. There is a character from the second film that makes a tiny appearance in this film, but that is the only connection to the other films. A viewer who hasn’t seen the prior two films won’t feel confused about what is happening in the story. I felt that the chemistry between Nyong’o and Quinn was electric. The rapport between them made you believe that they were two random strangers that would ultimately end up being friends through the worst experience ever. When it came to special effects, I think those were also well done. The creatures seemed even more realistic than the first film. The sound design was very impressive and really heightened those tense moments when characters needed to be silent. Some problems I had with the film were unnecessary scenes that didn’t serve a purpose to the story, and how easy it was for the characters to reach their pen-ultimate goal. There were obstacles that they needed to get through, but it didn’t have the same sense of urgency as the other films gave off. 

 

If you enjoyed the previous two films of this franchise, I believe you will enjoy this film. If you have never seen any of these films and are just curious to see what all the news is about, then this would be a good first step before watching the other films. It won’t blow you away like the other two films, but it still has its own flavor to it that makes it watchable. 

 

Rating 3.8 out 5

Pixar takes us on another trip into the mind to deal with our emotions with Inside Out 2 Directed by Kelsey Mann.

 

We are back with the old gang from the first film - Joy (Amy Poehler), Anger (Lewis Black), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Tony Hale), and Disgust (Liza Lapira). They are trying to help Riley (Kensington Tallman) as she becomes a teenager. The only problem is that the teen years bring on new emotions which mess up everything. The new emotions that come into play are Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adele Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser). Once this happens, Anxiety takes it upon herself to bottle up Riley’s main emotions to help her make new friends when she goes to a hockey camp after teaching her best friends and teammates will be attending a different high school. While dealing with the stress of losing her best friends and trying to get on to the high school hockey team as a freshman, Anxiety will do anything and everything to help, even if it destroys Riley’s standards that she developed over the past 13 years. This will not be an easy task for the original emotions to overcome, but they must do something to get Riley back to her normal self. 

 

I remember watching the first Inside Out film being a little bit skeptical on how they would pull a concept like this off, but they did. Now, my skepticism returned based on the introduction of these new emotions. How would they go about dealing with anxiety, embarrassment, ennui, and envy. What I can say about their approach is that it was pretty much spot on. The concept that they came up with that forced Riley into having these new emotions was very relatable. I think the driving factor in getting these new emotions across was the acting by the whole ensemble. They did a great job embodying their assigned emotion, and that really makes you feel for Riley when something happens outside of her mind. I do think that this film doesn’t have the same energy as the first film, but it is close to what that first film did.

 

This film is good for families with young teens that may be going through something similar either to the plot, or just in general. This is one of the best animated films and film of the summer so far. 

 

Rating: 4 out of 5

The big boned cat that loves lasagna and long naps is back on the big screen in Garfield the Movie.

 

We find ourselves being introduced to Garfield (Chris Pratt) as a stray cat whose father Vic (Samuel L. Jackson) left him in an alley. As he awaits his father’s return, his hunger and the tempting smell of Italian food leads him to meet Jon (Nicholas Hoult). That’s when a beautiful friendship begins, and we are led to believe Garfield will never see his father again. Fast forward, and we find Garfield grown up and manipulating his best pal Odie (Harvey Guillen) to do his bidding. It seems Garfield is living his best life until he’s kidnapped by cat named Jinx (Hannah Waddingham). Jinx uses Garfield as bait to bring Vic out of hiding to force him and his son to pull off a heist stealing many, many, many ounces of milk from a dairy farm. Vic specializes in pulling off heists but has not done the best job being a father. That makes this heist extremely difficult to pull off given he abandoned Garfield. Forcing the pair to work together is either the worst idea ever, or it could re-kindle their father and son relationship.

 

The movie gels well from the editing, animation, and acting. It’s a fun film to watch. Both Pratt and Jackson were great in their respective roles and really made you believe that they were father and son. The comedy was either a hit or miss throughout but that’s probably because it leaned heavily towards children. The emotional moments hit hard because of why Vic abandoned Garfield. Kids’ movies don’t always have an emotional aspect that really builds on the story, but Garfield did.

 

I would give this another watch once it comes out on streaming platforms. If you have a family with small children take them out to the theater or drive-in. This is also a good Father’s Day film too, so maybe go see this with your dad.

 

Rating: 3.8 out 5

 

It's been over 9 years since we last experienced a film in the Australian wasteland, and now we're back with George Miller's prequel Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

 

We go back in time to follow Furiosa's (Anya Taylor-Joys) journey from a child until she shows up in Mad Max Fury Road. The story is mostly about revenge against Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) whose men kidnapped Furiosa from her home and murdered her mother. She is made to become the child of Dementus who is the leader of a biker gang. Then, they run into Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), best known as the main villain in Fury Road. He wants Furiosa in return for allowing Dementus to take over a part of Joe's operation of distributing gasoline across the wasteland. We watch Furiosa grow up over a course of 15 years as she plots her escape to get back home. Unfortunately, Dementus enters her life once again leaving her no choice but to take him out. This then leads to all-out war across the wasteland between Joe and Dementus as Furiosa stealthily plans her attack.

 

This is a straightforward film that is easy to follow. It follows all the tropes of a hero - starts off with a good life, something bad happens, plans for revenge, and ends with them getting revenge. Since this is a spinoff prequel to an earlier film, I expected a more complex story line and a clearer explanation of the origin of Dementus. I would say the acting in this was really well done, especially by the title characters of Anya Taylor-Jone and Chris Hemsworth. The action was amazing and picked up where it left off with Fury Road. A lot of the stunts pulled off were practical, but some CGI was used. The CGI at sometimes was a bit shoddy and the use of green screen was prevalent. Overall, it didn't take me out of the film, but it was very noticeable.

 

All-in-all, if you're a diehard Mad Max fan then you will enjoy this film. If you're into insane action sequences that use a lot of practical effects, then this film is for you. If you don't enjoy any of those things, then go see Garfield The Movie. I would say it’s worth seeing this film one time on the big screen.

 

Rating: 4.2 out of 5

Director Wes Ball, best known for The Maze Runner trilogy, takes us back to a post pandemic world where apes have become the superior species with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

 

The story takes place almost three hundred years after the death of Caesar in War of the Planet of the Apes. Since then, the ape species has grown more intelligent and have become the dominant species in the food chain. Humans have reverted to their primitive forms. They are unable to speak and think due to a virus (humans created) that almost eradicated all of humanity in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. In this latest installment, we are introduced to a new protagonist, Noa (Owen Teague), who is a part of the Eagle Clan. Noa has never ventured outside the parameters of his home until it is attacked by a group of apes that work for a ruler named Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand). Noa’s clan is captured and taken to Proximus’s kingdom to work as slaves. This forces Noa to leave his home and save his clan. Along the way he meets an orangutan named Raka (Peter Macon) who teaches Noa about Caesars’ reign as leader of the apes and his relationship with humans. That’s when a human, Mae (Freya Allan), comes into the picture. She is being sought after by Proximus’s men. We learn that Mae is the key to accessing a vault Proximus is trying to open. It holds human secrets that could help him further his knowledge and reign over ape kind. Mae refuses to help, but still needs to access the vault for a reason that isn’t explained until the very end of the film. Both Mae and Noa will need each other’s help if they want to take down Proximus.

 

This is the first film out of the rebooted Planet of the Apes saga, and the story line now matches the first movie that came out back in 1968. So, there is a vintage vibe to the overall style and theme throughout that pays homage to when Charlton Heston was squaring up apes. I was a bit disappointed that this story did not follow Caesar’s family lineage and what it could be three hundred years after his death. It seemed Ball wanted to create a new protagonist that had no relation to the previous three ape films. That’s okay, but Noa’s character wasn’t all that interesting, and he bogged the film down. The character I enjoyed the most was Proximus Caesar, and he was barely in the film. I would of really loved it if we had more of a back story for him. He calls himself “Proximus” due to the Roman Empire and “Caesar” because he believes he is a reincarnation of “Caesar.” Even though Proximus is doing the opposite of what Caesar believed in, he convinces his followers that he is “Caesar.” As for Mae, I wasn’t extremely invested in her story because little was shared about her. She was there to serve a purpose for one thing and that was it. I don’t know if she’ll return for future movies, but it seemed like her story just ends with this film. The special effects and action sequences were well done and the continuity from the previous ape films in those areas felt flawless.

 

Overall, this film was somewhat of a letdown from the previous ones. I didn’t feel the same emotions I had when watching the other films and that was a bit of a bummer. If you do see this in theaters, go for the special effects and action. Don’t go if you’re looking for an exciting plot.

 

Rating: 3 out of 5

A love letter to all stunt performers in the movie business comes from The Fall Guy. Directed by David Leitch, former stunt man, best known for directing Deadpool 2 and Bullet Train.

 

Our main character Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) is the stunt double for one of the most popular actors on the planet, Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). At the beginning of the film we are introduced to Colt’s love interest, cinematographer Jody Moreno (Emily Bunt), who Colt is working together on a film. That’s when one of the stunts he attempts goes horribly wrong taking him out of the stunt game for a year. Then he gets a phone call from producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) to come out of retirement because they need an experienced stunt guy for a new film that happens to be Jody’s directorial debut. It’s been almost a year since the incident and Colt has not reconnected with Jody. This makes it awkward when he shows up and finds out that she did not want him to be in her film. As Colt tries to rekindle his relationship with Jody, Gail tasks him with finding the lead actor Ryder because he has gone missing. What seems to be a simple task turns out to be a deadly mission and he will have to use his stunt man skills to survive. As the mystery of Ryder’s disappearance unfolds, all the puzzle pieces start connecting. This ends up giving the title of the film two different meanings.

 

We have finally reached our first Summer Blockbuster of the year with a fun, comedic, action-packed film that has a lot of heart. Leitch did a great job of both showing how important stunt men are in the film industry and creating a story that lets you relate to the main character. Even though the story is a bit bonkers and is somewhat unrealistic it makes for a great time. The action and stunt sequences were shot so well that it was smooth like butter. Gosling and Blunt’s relationship was very genuine and not cheesy. There was heart and passion between these two characters, and that made their relationship believable. Some sequences did use CGI which wasn’t as polished, but I’ll give it a pass because I really did have a lot of fun watching this film. Other than that, it’s hard for me to pinpoint any specific issues I had with the plot, acting, or special effects.

 

If you want to start your Summer off with a fun and explosive film, make sure you head to theaters to see The Fall Guy. It is the perfect film for action, romantic, and comedy junkies.

 

Rating: 4 out 5

Sink your teeth into the all-new film made by Radio Silence, best known for Scream 6 and Ready or Not, with Abigail.

 

Our story follows a group of criminals, Joey (Melissa Barrera), Frank (Dan Stevens), Sammy (Kathryn Newton), Peter (Kevin Durand), Rickles (William Catlett), and Dean (Angus Cloud), who kidnap a powerful underworld figure’s daughter named Abigail (Alisha Weir). The goal is to hold her for ransom in an abandoned mansion for 24 hours until they get paid $50 million in total. What they don’t know is that they are stuck inside a mansion with a blood-sucking vampire. How is this little girl a vampire? Why are the criminals locked inside the mansion? And what relation do these criminals have with the child they kidnapped? The mystery unravels as a ballerina vampire wreaks havoc on these worthless criminals.

 

It’s hard to explain the full plot without spoiling the story because the preview for this movie already reveals that the title character is a vampire. I had a feeling that it wasn’t just about a vampire ballerina taking out criminals, but that there was something more meaningful going on. That extra plot point made the movie more intriguing and kept me interested in what was happening on the screen. I think the acting made the experience better because the interaction between the criminals and Abigail was a lot of fun to watch. The best part of the movie was Weir’s performance as the ballerina vampire. She was extremely manipulative and clever at fooling these criminals. The gore in this movie was extreme, with body parts flying and blood being splattered all over the place. So, do not take your children to this film. The downside to this film is that the movie’s ending felt anti-climactic and took the wonderment and mystery out of the viewing experience. Since this makes or breaks a film for me, it was a bit disappointing.

 

The overall verdict is that this film is a good time for horror fans, or fans of Radio Silence. I would suggest seeing this in the theater. If you want to wait and have a scary movie night at home, this would be the perfect film to do so.

 

3.8 out 5

A rag tag group of misfits are tasked to go behind enemy lines to disrupt German forces during WWII in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Directed by Guy Ritchie who is best known for Sherlock Holmes, Snatch, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and The Gentlemen.

 

We find ourselves introduced to Gus March-Phillips (Henry Cavill) who is being tasked with an off the books mission created by Prime Minister Churchill (Rory Kinnear) and Brigadier Gubbins ‘M’ (Cary Elwes). Phillips is viewed as a delinquent in the eyes of the British government due to not following orders, but he is an excellent leader when executing his ridiculous plans. The goal is to have Phillips’ team - Ander Lassen (Alan Ritchson), Geoffrey Appleyard (Alex Pettyfer), Henry Hayes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin), and Henry Golding (Freddy Alvarez) - travel to Fernando Po, an island near Africa occupied by German, Italian, and Spanish fleets. The island houses an Italian supply ship called the Duchessa. This boat carries supplies to the German U-Boats which have devastated the UK by sinking many of their supply and aid ships. The goal is to sink the Duchessa, and the two tugboats attached to the ship. This will take out the German U-Boat fleet for good. To help set up the operation before Phillips arrives to Fernando Po, Marjorie Stewart (Eiza Gonzalez) goes undercover as an actress to pull information about the Duchessa from the German in charge of the ship. Heron (Babs Olusanmokun), the owner of the hotel and casino in Fernando Po, works with Stewart to prepare for the day of the operation. Will this mission sail smoothly? Or will it sink?

 

This film from start to finish really grabs your attention with its characters, story, and action sequences. Ritchie usually does a great job in those three categories, and I think he hit it out of the ballpark with this film. Cavill did an amazing job of playing Phillips because he just had fun with the role. It seemed like it was just effortless for him to become this unhinged soldier who executes insane plans that no one in their right mind would try. As for the other actors in this film, I feel like they all brought their A-game. I didn’t get the sense that any of them were phoning in their performance or that they weren’t at the tier Cavill was performing at. The action sequences in this film were well done from the use of practical effects to the execution of the fighting choreography. You could just feel every punch, shot, stab, and explosion through the sound design, and that made it even more enthralling. As for the story, Ritchie did a great job of keeping it interesting by effectively using dramatization and music to make specific scenes impactful.

 

Overall, I would highly suggest seeing this film in theaters. It’s just a fun movie that is based on a true story with great acting and awesome action sequences. What more could you ask for in a film?

 

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

A small group of media members work their way through a dystopian America to the White House in Alex Garland’s Civil War.

 

In this film, we follow war photographer Lee (Kirsten Dunst) with journalists Joel (Wagner Moura) and Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson). Jessie (Cailee Spaeny), a young and inspired photographer, joins Lee as her inspiration for entering the media industry. The group’s goal is to make it to Washington D.C. to interview the President of the United States (Nick Offerman) before the Western Forces attack the White House and remove the third term President. As they make their way to the capital, you only get bits and pieces of why states have succeeded from the United States and started a civil war. You learn that the Western Forces are a military group that resulted from a Texas and California alliance. As the characters travel to the capital, you witness the horrors of war between American citizens. Lee tutors Jessie about the ins and outs of war photography along the way to prepare her for the insanity that will ensue once they reach Washington D.C.

 

Words really can’t describe how disappointed I am after watching this film. From start to finish, I just wanted the film to be over. The story was extremely vague, the acting was stale, and the only thing that made it somewhat interesting was the action. I’m not sure what Garland was going for with this film, but I feel like he completely missed the mark. He could have made something that was impactful and meaningful, but it was just mindless cinema. I mean Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire had a more impactful message than Civil War, and that is saying something. I don’t know why some people are saying this is one of Garland’s best films to date. He directed 28 Days Later and Ex Machina, and they were both far superior to this film.

 

Overall, I don’t recommend seeing this film in theaters. I’m not sure I would even want to spend money on renting it once it hits streaming services. Wait until it is completely free if you want to watch it. If you think you’re missing out on some phenomenon by not seeing it, don’t worry – you’re not. Trust me.

 

Rating: 2 out 5

Making his directorial debut is Dev Patel with a gruesome story about revenge, real world issues in India, and Indian religion with Monkey Man. 

 

We find Patel's character, Kid, fighting at an underground club where he is known as Monkey Man. The name originates from a religious figure called Hanuman, which he learned about from his mother as a child. By taking on this persona, Kid plans to exact his revenge on the people who murdered his mother and burned his village to the ground. To execute his plan, he must first gain access to the building where the people responsible meet. He does this by getting a job as a servant and then gradually works his way up the ladder to come face to face with his enemies. To see their downfall, he will need to learn about the ways of the Monkey Man.

 

I really enjoyed this film on many levels - the story, the cinematography, and the acting. It made you feel a wide variety of emotions which in my opinion is very important when watching any film. It pulls at all the heartstrings when it needs to, but then increases your blood pressure when the all-out brawl breaks out. Each scene felt necessary to the narrative of the film making it an enjoyable viewing experience. The cinematography was well done for the fight sequences giving them a very realistic feel. The camera was shaky throughout, but that brought a sense of realness to the fights. Now, if you have a history of motion sickness, I do not recommend you seeing this film (I'm not kidding). Other than that, I really enjoyed Patel's all out performance and his ability to embody the Monkey Man.

 

The supporting cast did a good job too. The villains in this film were unredeemable and you wanted to see them get taken down. An issue I had with the film was at times the dialogue between actors was difficult to hear. This took me out of the viewing experience sometimes. I felt the same way during some of the action sequences. You didn't really feel the effect of how hard some of the hits were when Patel went on a complete rampage. When I see films that rely on hand-to-hand combat, I need to feel the impact of the punches and hits to keep me invested. 

 

With that being said, I really enjoyed my time watching this film. I think Patel has a bright future directing more feature films, and I will be looking forward to seeing what he does next. If you want to add some excitement to your weekend, I highly suggest seeing this in theaters at least once. The story is great, and the fight sequences are worth the cost of admission. 

 

Rating 4 out of 5

 

  

Prepare yourself for destruction and monster mayhem with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Bringing these two characters back to the big screen is Adam Wingard who directed Godzilla vs. Kong back in 2021.

 

The film takes place a couple of years after the matchup between Godzilla, Kong, and Mecha Godzilla. We find Kong living out his days in Hollow Earth searching for his own species and really a sense of belonging. While Kong continues his search, we find Godzilla traveling around the world defeating various Titans and building up his power level for some odd reason. We are re-introduced to returning human characters from the last film with Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) who oversees Kong for Monarch, Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry) a conspiracy theorist podcaster, and Jia (Kaylee Hottle) who is the last descendant of the Iwi tribe that worships Kong on Skull Island. The newest addition is Trapper (Dan Stevens) who plays the veterinarian for Kong. These four characters will team up to learn about a new threat in Hollow Earth called the Skar King. Skar King leads a group of species like Kong to find one of the portals that leads to the surface and rule over all of Earth. To prevent this outcome Kong will need to team up with Godzilla to prevent the end of Hollow Earth and humanity.

 

This film from start to finish is straightforward. You don’t need to do a lot of thinking or be emotionally invested. It’s just one big monster fighting another big monster with a sprinkled in plot that really doesn’t mean a whole lot. On top of that, the newest character, Trapper, seemed to have all the answers to help move the plot forward, but didn’t. The same goes for the overall storyline the humans deal with when helping Godzilla and Kong with the fight against Skar King. Speaking of Scar King, I had some high hopes but in the end that character just flopped. I wanted to be fearful of him but really, he was just there to be a punching bag for Godzilla and Kong. There wasn’t any real threat except the destruction of a lot of cities with massive casualties. I just find it difficult to watch these types of films and be invested when I know it’s going to be a slugfest with no real storyline that is worthwhile. In my opinion, Godzilla Minus One is a far superior film and has a human storyline that pulls at your heartstrings.

 

Overall, this film had some good action sequences, but the story and villain are very bland to say the least. You might want to see it once in a theater to experience it on the large screen with theater sound. If you have a good sound system and large TV at home, then watch it there when it’s available to rent.

 

Rating: 3 out of 5

This loveable and terrifying video game finally hit the big screen over the weekend with Five Nights at Freddy’s.

The main protagonist of the film is Mike (Josh Hutcherson) has been trying to stay above water by supporting his younger sister Abbey (Piper Rubio) as her guardian. It’s been somewhat difficult for him to keep a job due to unresolved trauma from when his younger brother was kidnapped on a camping trip. While dealing with that his unflattering aunt has been trying to take custody of Abbey. With all this pent-up stress and aggression Mike loses another job forcing him to head to a career service center. Career Counselor, Steve Raglan (Matthew Lillard), offers Mike the opportunity to be the night security guard at a once popular kids pizza place, which turns out to be Freddy Fazzbears Pizzeria. The store closed back in the 80’s due to the disappearances of several children and since then new security guards have been hired to keep the public out. To help Mike make sure the public is safe from Freddy’s is police officer Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail). The only question Mike has is “Why are they trying to keep the public out?” Well, that answer might lie within the ominous animatronic characters that have never been removed from the establishment. While Mike gets to learn more about Freddy, Foxy, Bonnie, and Chica he’ll also get closer to the truth about what happened to his younger brother all those years ago. The only thing he’ll have to do is survive the night.

Talk about an interesting premise for a film that deals with killer animatronics. I thought that the story was going to delve deeper into the pizzeria lore, but instead it was solely focused on Mike. I didn’t think it was a bad idea to go in that direction but by doing so it took a lot of air out of the horror aspect of the film. Never once was I on the edge of my seat, had an increased heart rate, or had to shield my eyes due to the suspense factor of the film. This was more about dealing with trauma and how to get past it while dealing with killer animatronics in the background. Now, the animatronics were cool looking, but not scary. I think the producers for this film had many different ideas about what they wanted and kind of blended it all together and got this film. I thought the acting was fine and the production value was fantastic, but I just needed more horror for such an extremely popular horror video game.

If you want to see this film do not waste your hard-earned cash on it. Try to watch it on Peacock if you have that streaming service or wait until it is free to watch. Plus, if you are looking for a good scare this is not the film to watch.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Director Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon hit theaters over the weekend shining light on a story that many people might have not known about.

The story is set on a Native American reserve, in Oklahoma, occupied by the Osage tribe who discovered oil on the land back in the late 1800’s. We are then introduced to Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), a soldier returning from World War I, to meet up with his Uncle William Hale (Robert De Niro). Hale is a popular figure on the reserve where many natives trust him based on his ability to speak their language and be very hospitable to everyone’s needs. What the Osage doesn’t know is that he is plotting against them to take their land all out of greed. So, when Burkhart wants to start his life on the reserve, his uncle wants him to marry an Osage woman to claim the money she makes off the oil. This is why many white men moved to the area - to marry Osage women. Burkhart meets Mollie (Lily Gladstone) while running his taxi service and truly falls in love with her. They end up getting married, but this is when everything begins to take a dark turn. One by one Mollie’s sisters begin to be mysteriously murdered making her paranoid that she could be next. It doesn’t help either that she has been severely ill while taking insulin to deal with her diabetes. To figure out who is committing the murders the Osage make their way to Washington D.C. to plea with President Coolidge to send help. That’s when a federal investigator, Tom White (Jesse Plemons), is sent by J. Edgar Hoover to the reserve. Can they figure out what is really happening at the reserve? Or will these murders go unsolved?

I think this might be one of Scorsese’s best pieces of cinema to date. From the cinematography to the story, it is a spectacle. It is truly a heartbreaking story in American history that few people know about. Scorsese did a great job building the whole story and providing a sense of satisfaction in the end. I thought the acting was a force of triumph that helped with the story. DiCaprio, in my opinion, might have had his best performance since The Revenant. De Niro did an amazing job bringing real life villain, William Hale, to life. Gladstone might be a candidate for best actress in a motion picture this year, because her presence on screen was so enthralling. The rest of the cast was also great because they made it feel like you were in Oklahoma in the 1920’s when this was all happening. My only quarrel with the film was the run time which clocks in at three and a half hours. I could sense that Scorsese really put his all into this film, but the run time did wear me down a bit.

All in all, Killers of the Flower Moon is must see cinema. I highly recommend seeing this at least once in theaters to get that big screen experience. This will be nominated for many awards this year and it should be. This is one of the best movies of the year.

Rating: 4 out 5