On Justice and Aliens

TRIPLE 9

CRIME DRAMA

PLOT:  Dirty cops and Russian mafia try to make a big heist but are stopped by a good cop.

                This movie should have been fantastic with the A-list cast that includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrleson and Kate Winslet. It has action but most of the characters are crazy, corrupt or killers.  Not too many people to root for.

BATMAN VS SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE

ACTION/ADVENTURE/FANTASY

PLOT:  Two iconic superheroes fight each other.

                Superman (Henry Cavill) destroyed much of Metropolis but saved a lot of people as well.  Congress wants him to give himself up for he is too dangerous but he has been set –up by Lex Luther (Jesse Eisenberg).  Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck) is upset he destroyed his building but more importantly the people.  They packed a lot of action and story in this one movie but the best part is when the two superheroes attack each other!  Affleck’s Batman is badass!  He is more like the Punisher but he does have his reasons. 

Many fans (including myself) didn’t think he could be good as Batman but he is.  Cavill’s Superman is okay.  Eisenberg as Lex is annoyingly arrogant and evil.  I wish they chose Mark Strong.  I believe he will be better in the next movie.  Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) isn’t in the film much but when she is she ready to battle!  To comic book fans they crammed many things together and the origin of Doomsday is good but not correct. The fight sequences are just great!  In short, it is an adult, long, epic Saturday morning cartoon.  When the movie arrives on video there will be an R-rated version.  That sounds interesting.

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

HORROR/SUSPENSE

PLOT:  Young woman after an accident is in a cellar with two men.

                First of all this film is not a sequel or prequel to the 2008  Cloverfield.  I heard the name was used just to make money off the popular movie.  Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter) is leaving her boyfriend Ben.  She is on the road and she crashes with another car and when she wakes she is in a room with no windows and chained up.  Howard (John Goodman) tells her he saved her but did he?  Is he nice, nuts or just lonely? There is also another guest/prisoner named Emmett (John Gallagher Jr). 

They are a happy family for a while but Michelle is planning her escape.  Let me just say it is slow moving but it becomes more interesting near the end.  Once again John Goodman is amazing!  An award of any kind is long overdue.  Winstead is great too.  She is the most resourceful woman I have seen on screen for a long time.   Will they make a sequel?  Only box office will tell.