A New Grinch is Born

THE GRINCH

3D ANIMATION

  

PLOT:    Another version of the classic children’s book by Dr.Seuss

                The Grinch is angry, lonely green creature who hates Christmas.  His only friend is his dog Max.  He gets a crazy ideal to steal all the presents from the people in Whoville.  It is a timeless story by Dr. Seuss and they have made a live action movie with Jim Carrey; the classic Christmas cartoon with Boris Karloff and now this.  This Grinch is mean but very funny too.  He is voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch ( Dr.Strange) who doesn’t try to do a Karloff imitation but he is very good and very amusing.  Whoville is beautiful in this version especially when they light their tree.  It is great for kids and adults.

NIGHT SCHOOL

COMEDY

PLOT:    High school dropout tries to receive his GED.

                Teddy Walker (Kevin Hart) is a great salesman but he didn’t graduate from high school.  He has a beautiful girlfriend Lisa (Megalyn Echikunwoke) and tries to impress her by telling her he is working in a topnotch business firm.  In a series of funny, crude events he must go to night school so his friend will get him an entry level job.  This is a Kevin Hart movie so if you don’t like Hart and knows his humor you shouldn’t go.  The same goes for Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip) as his teacher who uses unorthodox ways to learn.  She sounds smart but ghetto too.  The moral of the movie is you have a second chance to do well and be determined.

A STAR IS BORN

MUSICAL DRAMA

PLOT:    Another version of one singer rising while the other is hitting rock bottom.

                Do you know there are three other versions of this tragic love story?  The first was in 1937, Janet Gaynor and Frederic March, 1954 with Judy Garland and James Manson 1976 with Barbara Streisand and Kristofferson.  Now they have Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are lovers who can’t deal with love, success and failure.  The pair works very well together.  Cooper also directed the film and I must say he got good performances out of Gaga, Andrew Dice Clay and Dave Chappelle to be his debut as a director. The music is good and she sings the songs great!

New Movies for the Realm of the Holidays

HALLOWEEN 2018

HORROR 

                PLOT:    Supernatural slasher Michael Myers is alive again!

                Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is now a grandmother (!) her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak).  Karen thinks her mother is crazy for she acts like a survivalist but not for the end of the world but because of Michael Myers!  Allyson loves her grandma but thinks she is too protective and paranoia. The film is not scary but very intense because the people who survived Myers are an unhinged themselves for they know what he can do.  The new Dr. Loomis, Dr. Satrian (Haluk Bilginer) wants to find out what makes Myers tick-bad idea!  If you like the first Halloween in 1978 you will enjoy this one.  It is intense, suspenseful and the myth of Myers is throughout the movie.

NUTCRACKER THE FOUR REALMS

FANTASY

  

                PLOT:    The classic Nutcracker ballet reinvented.

                Clara (Mackenzie Foy) mother has passed away and she left each of her children a gift and Clara receives a beautiful egg with no key.  She does find the key but she must be whisked away to another world to find it.  It is beautiful to look at but there is no romance with the nutcracker but it is mentioned.  They make the princess now are beautiful, smart and adventurous and Clara is not different.  If you like these kind of new movies for the visuals and the new twist of the ballet you will enjoy this, if not wait until video. 

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

BIOGRAPHY

                PLOT:    The story of about the band Queen.

                                Farrokh Bulsara aka Freddie Mercury ( Rami Malek, TV show Mr. Robot) loved rock and roll.  He went to clubs and met a group of guys who wanted to be rock stars.  He became the flamboyant lead singer and the force behind Queen.  You have seen these rags to riches story before but it never gets old especially the performance by Malek as Freddie.  The group of actors who played Queen we not timid but funny and wild as well.  If you are a fan of the group yes go and if you’re interested after watching the film read more about him for they could not tell everything in the movie.

Halloween Screen Venomous Fun

HELL FEST

HORROR

PLOT:    A mask killer is roaming a scary amusement park.

                Slasher movies are usually a crazed person or someone the playful, oversexed young people know.  If you like these movies you will enjoy this.  It has Tony Todd (Candyman) but he is not in there very much.  There are jump scares and bloody kills but if you love these kinds of films you have seen it all before but at least it is funny and there is a twisted ending. 

VENOM

ACTION/ADVENTURE

  

PLOT:    A retelling of the origin of Venom.

                Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is a popular reporter and he has a loving girlfriend Anne(Michelle Williams) but when he tries to expose Carlton Drake(Riz Ahmed), a rich, ruthless millionaire(is there any other kind?) he gets fired and loses his girlfriend.  The good thing is he gets exposed to a symbiote from space that needs a host and it bonds with Eddie.  OMG, this is one wild ride!  Thank goodness it is funny and Hardy is hilarious ad Eddie as he tries to deal what is inside of him.  This IS NOT the origin of Venom.  You have to read the comic or Goggle it to find out the real story.  It made a lot of money but if you’re the fan of the comic you will be outraged and if you are not you will enjoy it.

THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS

FANTASY 

PLOT:    A young boy whose parents died stays with his uncle and finds out he is a warlock.

                Lewis (Owen Varcco) lost his parents and now lives with his uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) and he finds out he is a magician.  Jonathan’s friend is Florence (Cate Blachet).  The two fight like a married couple but they do like each other.  She is a witch but doesn’t like to use her powers.  All three must come together to stop an evil wizard Isaac Izard (Kyle MacLaclan) and his wife Selena (Renee Elise Goldsberry) to turn back time until humans don’t exist.  Oh man is this good and the shocking part it is directed by Eli Roth (Death Wish 2017, Green Inferno and Hostel).  He also has a cameo in this movie.  It is delightful and the special effects are great.  If you like Harry Potter, you will like this.  It is worth seening.

Fall Suspense: Revenge & Predator Nuns

PREDATOR

SCI-FI/ACTION 

PLOT:    Upgraded alien hunters fight ex-soldiers for earth.

                Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbook) is an assassin and in one of his missions he encounters the Predator.  He mailed the high technology to his son Rory (Jacob Tremblay) and by accident he triggers a beacon and the Predators come looking for the boy.  The government thinks McKenna is crazy and he is taken with other mentally ill soldiers but because of all the chaos these military men are the only one can save the planet.  There have been so many Predator movies and each one thinks one movie will make it a franchise.  There is a lot of action and a lot of humor in this one.  I don’t think there will be a sequel but it is I think it will be even better.

  

THE NUN

HORROR

  

PLOT:    Another story that is part of the Conjuring franchise.

                In the Conjuring series to me the scariest character wasn’t Annabelle but the “The Nun.”  Now she has her own origin.  A priest who deals with strange, unexplained occurrences is paired with a future nun to find out about a death of a nun in Romania.  If you like the Conjuring series you will enjoy this for its atmospheric, religious themes and gradually builds up the terror but if you like slashers movies you won’t like this.  When the “Nun” or “Creepy Nun” pops up it is great but she is not in there often but there are jump scares.

PEPPERMINT

ACTION

PLOT: Her husband and daughter killed and she wants vengeance

Riley North (Jennifer Garner) is an upper middle class mom with a loving husband and cute daughter.  Her husband needs money and his friend were going to steal from the mob but changed his mind but gangster kill all who thinks betrayed them and they kill Riley’s family.  She tried to do the right thing but that didn’t work so she disappeared for five years and came back to the gang to kill them all!  OMG the body count is very high.  You have seen it all before but Garner can do ACTION!!  Her catch phrases are not very good but the good kills are!  It seems the movie was in theaters for a hot minute but action hounds rejoice-this is your film!!!

Of Sharks and Hunny: Late Summer Wrap up

UPGRADE

SCI-FI/THRILLER

PLOT:     In the distant future technology controls everything even your body.

                A couple whose car is a hi-tech goes the wrong way and his wife is killed and he is paralyzed.  A mysterious man can make him better if he places a device STEM behind his neck.  He can walk again plus he has incredible powers.  This movie is in selected theaters but you should see it. It is an Australian production with a cast of talented unknowns. You have heard it all before but imagine HAL from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey controlling your body!  Scary and entertaining.

THE MEG

SCI-FI/THRILLER

  

PLOT:    Megalodon, a shark to be extinct is in the depths in the water.

                Jonas (action star Jason Statham) is a drunken recluse for he told his superiors that he saw a shark over 70 feet tall!  He is needed once again to save his ex-wife and a hi-tech vessel deep in the sea.  Oh man, this is an enjoyable Syfy movie made with money!  Every cliché you have ever seen in shark movies are here but it is fun.  The underwater sequences are beautiful to watch.  Statham does a good job but the star is the extinct shark!  If you like shark movies you should go.  Note:  If you can wait for video they may add extra violent scenes than the theatrical to make it PG13.

   

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

FANTASY/COMEDY

PLOT:     Christopher is now all grown up but still remembers his imaginary friends.

                Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor, Star Wars Franchise) is now a married man with a daughter.  He is always working neglecting his wife (Hayley Atwell, Captain America: The First Avenger) and child (Bronte Carmichael) until Winnie the Pooh, his cuddly stuffed, imaginary bear  accidentally crosses over  to the real world to help him find out what really matters.  It is a delightful movie!  McGregor is great as the adult Christopher who still finds out it is fun to be a kid.  The rest of the cast is excellent.  For the kids in all of us you should watch it.

Summer Remake and Sequel Season

INCREDIBLES 2

ANIMATED

PLOT:    The superhero family is back despite superheroes are illegal.

                The Parr family or the Incredibles are Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Dash and Violet try to stop Underminer with terrible results but a very rich man wants to change the imagine of superheroes so they can become legal again by using Elastigirl.  It has been 14 years since the last movie and it is worth the wait!  It is action packed and very funny and the character that steals the show is Jack Jack the youngest member of family.  He is has powers and is adorable.

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP

ACTION/ADVENTURE/ SUPERHERO

PLOT:    Sequel to the Ant-man and more problems await him.

               

                Scott Lang/Ant-man (Paul Rudd) is on house arrest in his home because helping Captain America in Civil Wars.  He wants to be a superhero and a good father to his daughter.  The original  Ant-man Hank Prym (Michael Douglass) is now looking for his wife Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Phieffer) who is in the Quantum Realm so he needs Scotts help and a mysterious woman, Ava/Ghost (Hannah John Kamen, Killjoys) who wants Hank Pym’s tech as well.  Sound very serious doesn’t it?  Well it isn’t!  It is very light-hearted compared to Avengers Infinity Wars.  It is a great popcorn movie and if you like Ant-man go see this movie!!

SKYSCRAPER

ACTION/THRILLER

PLOT:  Security expert goes to great lengths to save his family in a burning hotel.

                Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson is Will Sawyer, a war veteran with a prosthesis leg now is a security specialist for hotels and he and his family are in the tallest building in the world. What could happen?  EVERYTHING!  A burning building, crazed hi-tech criminals and a very rich man with secrets.  There are two reasons why you should see this film:  Johnson and action! If you go for anything else you will be disappointed.  It is a good summer movie!

SUPER FLY

CRIME DRAMA

PLOT:  Remake of the 1972 film.

                Priest is thinking of getting out of the “life” of drugs and crime.  He wants to do his “last score” and he has to be gangster and cunning to do it.  This movie is stylish blaxploitation.  I believe we will get a flood of blaxploitation 2.0 but it won’t start with this film.  The movie is full of bling, action, cussing, violence and sex and yet it was in the theater in a hot minute so you probably missed it.  The company Sony didn’t promote it very well.  I am sure it will do better on video and On-Demand.  

Summer Fun, See Women Run

BREAKING IN

SUSPENSE/ACTION

PLOT:    Black mother has to protect her kids from thieves.

                Shaun (Gabrielle Union) has two kids a teenage girl and her son.  Her father dies and she has to go over to her father’s house over the weekend.  The problem is robbers are there not knowing the family is coming over. The twist the robbers are white and the heroine is upper class black.  You have seen this story a thousand times before but Union gives it her all.  She uses her intelligence, courage and determination to save her children at all cost.  The movie came out in a hot minute but I am sure it will do much better on video.

OCEAN’S 8

ACTION/COMEDY

PLOT:    Females steal a six pound all diamond necklace.

                Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) gets out of jail and instead of going straight she gets a team of all women to steal multimillion dollar jewelry at a major star filled gala. The cast includes Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings, Thor: Ragnarok), Anne Hathaway (Dark Knight Returns), Mindy Kaling(A Wrinkle In Time), Helen Bonham Carter (Harry Potter Franchise), Sarah Paulson (TV series American Crime Story), Rihanna (singer of Umbrella) and Awkwafina (Neighbors 2).  The ladies are clever in the field of expertise. Who asked for female heist movie?  Not me, but it is slightly better than the female Ghostbusters. The reason is it is more glamorous.  Bullock, who looks stunning, is a con-artist or just a damn social path.  She lies flawlessly without any conscience.

JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM

ACTION/ADVENTURE

PLOT:    The continuation of the popular dinosaur franchise.

                It is four years after the shutdown of Jurassic World and Clare (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen (Chris Pratt) go to Isla Nobler to save as many dinosaurs as they can as there is a volcano there.  The rich and powerful people really want Blue, a raptor Owen trained for evil experiments.  Story really not important but the dinosaurs are especially a new creature the scientist creates. Acting not important either for it is mostly escaping unrealistic situations. It is a summer popcorn movie period.

                

Franchise Footnotes

DEADPOOL 2

ACTION/SUPERHERO

PLOT:    Deadpool is back.

                Ryan Reynolds is Deadpool, the foul-mouth, wise-cracking assassin who must save a young chubby kid from a new threat named Cable (Josh Brolin) from the future.  Yes, it is a “Terminator” theme.  It is more of the same so if you like the last movie you will enjoy this one.  He has his own team X-Force-it is not like the Avengers!  The soundtrack matches the wacky and the wildness of Deadpool.  These films send up super heroism and place it in overdrive!

  

SOLO: STAR WARS STORY

ACTION/ADVENTURE/SCI-FI

PLOT:    Hans Solo origin.

                This story is about how Hans Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) met Lando Cairissian (Donald Glover, Atlanta), Chewbacca got the ship Millennium Falcon and how he got his cynical sense of humor.  The film has a lot of references to Star Wars universe.  It is not as bad as I thought it would be with all the talent behind it.  Director Ron Howard and writer Lawrence Kasdan (Star Wars: The Force Awakens). Ehrenreich not first choice for Solo but he wasn’t bad.  It is a good addition to the Star Wars franchise.

  

OVERBOARD

COMEDY/ROMANCE 

PLOT:    Spoiled, rich Latino man has amnesia and hard-working woman uses it to her advantage.

                If the is story sounds familiar it is a remake of Overboard with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in 1987.  Ana Faris and Eugenio Derbez are the couple now.  It is very sweet but predicable.  It has some very funny moments and has a Latin flavor to it.  If you want to see something different then superhero movies this summer then this is for you.

The Infinity of Acrimony

ACRIMONY

DRAMA

PLOT:    Black woman does everything for her husband only to be cheated on and conned.

                 What does acrimony mean?  It means bitterness and anger. Melinda (Taraji P. Henson) fell in love with brilliant but con artist.  He took a lot from her: her virginity, her money, her mother’s house. Her husband did become successful and married someone else.  She has borderline personality she calls it blind rage!  Okay.  This movie is a Lifetime movie for black women.  Oh man, Henson was over the top but so would you if you had been through what she has.  If you go to see this movie, go with your girlfriends because if you go with your man it will give you the wrong ideas.  See it if you love Taraji Henson slowly turning into a crazed bitch!

AVENGERS INFINITY WARS

ACTION/SUPERHERO

PLOT:    World’s mightiest heroes come together to battle the evil Thanos.

                Ironman, Hulk, Thor, Captain America Black Widow along with many others joins forces to stop Thanos from having all Infinity gemstones.  That’s basically it but it is well done and even better for the fans. Thanos is a horrible foe yet he tries to make sense of his world killer logic.  He is a great villain. Fans or not be prepared for sensational special effects and shocking events for many of the popular superheroes.  You will be saying OMG or curse words. You don’t see it coming and you when you do you will be gasping!  Worth watching!

Ready for An Uprising Rampage?

RAMPAGE

ACTION/SCI-FI

  

PLOT:    Three animals grow and become extremely aggressive because of a chemical by a major corporation.

                Davis Okoye (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) a primatologist (!) has a bond with an albino ape named George.  One night he stumbles and breathes in a gas that makes him incredible big and incredible hostile.  Davis must help his friend George and save a city.  Oh man, the story is hard to believe but the giant monster action is fantastic!!!  The rest of the cast is not too bad either with Naomie Harris (James Bond) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Walking Dead) who is very, very, very funny.  If you like Johnson, giant monster attacking cities and fighting each other-Go!  If not WAIT!

PACIFIC RIM 2: UPRISING

SCI-FI/ACTION

  

PLOT:  The sequel to Pacific Rim.

                It took five years for Hollywood to continue the story of Jaegers (hunters in German) giant mecha-robots to defeat giant monsters from the sea. John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) is Jake Pentecost, the son of (Stacker Pentecost, Idris Elba) from the last movie.  He is not like his dad, he is reckless but Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi from the last movie) brings him back to train cadets to control the mecha-machines.  Story is not my concern but the action is!  It is rock ‘em sock ‘em 250 feet robots attack big monsters.  If you didn’t like the first one you will not like this but if you did you are in for a treat!  There is action and minor spoiler:  None of the robots fight in the rain or at night!

A WRINKLE IN TIME

FANTASY/ADVENTURE

PLOT:    Based on the 1962 novel by Madeleine L’ Engle.

                Meg (Storm Reid) and her younger brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) miss their father (Chris Pine) a scientist who discovers a new way to see the universe and he hasn’t been seen in four years. They go on a mission to find their father. Man, this movie has great special effects and the bottom line love for family but it was confusing to me. One of the reasons why it doesn’t grab you is that they took out the religious overtones in the book. The novel was difficult to make into film but director Ava DuVenay did her best.  If you like the book and Oprah Winfrey (who looks very amazing in her outfits) you should see it, if not wait.

READY PLAYER ONE

ACTION/SCI-FI

  

PLOT:  When an inventor of a virtual reality dies he tells the gamers if they can find the Easter Egg they will be rich.

                In 2045 the world is much worse than it is now but their only release is going to the Oasis, a virtual reality game.  The creator passes away but if he can find the three keys to find the Easter Egg the person will have enormous wealth.  If you love video games and pop culture you will enjoy this movie.  You think you can’t follow it but you can and it is visually stunning.  Younger people will love it even more!  Director Steven Spielberg went back to what he does best--focusing on what it is like to be young and have fun.

Spring Death Films

RED SPARROW

THRILLER

PLOT:    Young woman is forced to become a spy.

                Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence, X-Men, Hunger Games franchise) is a ballerina who has to take care of her sick mom.  After a planned accident she can’t dance anymore so of all people her uncle recruits her to become a seductive spy.  The training sequences are tough to watch.  If Hollywood makes Black Widow movie they will clean it up.  It is not Atomic Blonde either.  Not much action but lots of deception like in the real spy world.  Lawrence is brave to do some of stuff she did and she has a passable Russian accent.  It is not making money, not because of star power, but it is grim and not for kids.

DEATH WISH

ACTION

PLOT:    Remake of 1974 classic with Charles Bronson.

                Paul Kersey (Bruce Willis) is a trauma surgeon and has a lovely wife, Lucy (Elisabeth Shue) a cute daughter Jordon (Camila Morrone) who is going to college when burglars rob their house and kills his wife and his daughter in a coma.  He can’t sleep, goes to therapy but that is not working.  What does work he shoots a carjacker.  He starts shooting criminals while finding out who killed his wife for the police are not doing anything.  The film is updated but it still asks the question:  Who you kill someone who killed a member of your family?  Downbeat as it sounds there are comic moments in the film.  Minor spoilers:  Some kills you don’t see coming.  If you love action and Bruce Willis you will enjoy this.

TOMB RAIDER

ACTION/ADVENTURE

PLOT:    Reboot of Lara Croft

                Lara Croft (Alicia Vikander Jason Borne, Ex Machina) is aggressive losing her dad as he searched for a grave that if open would destroy all mankind.  She decides to find this grave and the journey begins.  Vikander put on muscle to her lithe frame to do those action sequences and she is good.  The film is grittier than the one with talented Angelina Jolie.  She is not as pretty as Jolie but damn she is fierce!  It is a good popcorn movie.

2018 Post Oscar Wrap Up

DARKEST HOUR

BIOGRAPHY

PLOT:  True story of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

                Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) is the Prime Minister at the worst time in England.  He must decide to surrender to the Germans lead by Hitler or continue to fight.  The cast is brilliant and Oldman is fantastic as Churchill.  He is funny, grumpy, intelligent and unsure what to do in such a desperate time.  Even if you don’t know history you will know an amazing performance by Oldman who must be nominated for an Oscar.

NOMINATED FOR: BEST ACTOR: GARY OLDMAN

ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ.

DRAMA

PLOT:  Defense attorney for the poor wants a better life.

                Roman J. Israel Esq. (Denzel Washington) is an outspoken, smart lawyer but he stayed in the background while his partner got clients.  He becomes ill and he tries to make it on his own but doesn’t succeed.  He gets to work at a very exclusive law firm and feel out of place for he doesn’t dress the part.  He is tired of doing the right thing so he does a very bad thing.  He becomes rich but his conscience bothers him with tragic consequences.  This is a character study about a man who does believe justice but justice doesn’t make you money.  Washington is as great as always and the cast which includes Colin Farrell and Carmen Ejogo.

NOMINATED FOR: BEST ACTOR: DENZEL WASHINGTON

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI

DRAMA

PLOT:  Angry mother wants the police to solve her daughter’s murder.

                Mildred (Frances McDormand) is upset mother and she buys three billboards to solve her daughter’s rape and murder.  The small town is turns against her even worst when the sheriff commits suicide thinking it is because of the case.  Oh man, this film is very different from other movies of moms wanting to find their child’s killer.  It feels like a sick comedy but when it becomes dramatic it is.  McDormand is not your typing grieving mother!  She is feisty, vengeful and hostile and yet you feel her ongoing frustration.  Dixon (Sam Rockwell, the darling of independent movies and in Iron Man 2) is amazing as a racist cop who loses his job and tries to redeem himself in a strange way.

NOMINATED FOR: BEST ACTRESS FRANCES MCDORMAND

NOMINATED FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:  SAM ROCKWELL, WOODY HARRELSON

DUNKIRK

HISTORY/DRAMA

PLOT:    World War 2 England and French soldiers were cut off from help and surrounded by Germans in Dunkirk, France.

                Usually I review movies that were in the theater but I doing something different this year.  There is a saying “war is hell.” This movie proves it!  Military men hungry searching for food, water and shelter and they can be killed at any moment!  There was another Dunkirk movie in 1958 but this was directed by Christopher Nolan who made Batman the Dark Knight so you know what to expect:  a very good movie!  It shows the best and worst of soldiers during May 26 –June 4.  My gripe is it is too beautiful for a war movie.  War is not pretty at all-even for the right reasons.

NONMIATED FOR: BEST PICTURE, BEST DIRECTOR 

Strong Shades of Panther

FIFTY SHADES FREED

EROTIC DRAMA

PLOT:    The final installment of the very popular franchise.

                Christian Grey (Jamie Dorman) and Anastasia Steel (Dakota Johnson) are now married and like married couples no matter how rich have problems.  She loves him but wants to be independent and he just wants to dominate her.  Things get even worse when she finds out she is pregnant and he doesn’t want children.  Jack Hyde wants vengeance on the couple and he does get it.  It’s a Lifetime movie with a lot more nudity and cursing.  It is a girls night out movie.  Johnson looks dazzling and so does Dorman.  The entire cast is very attractive along with the soundtrack.  Is mommy porn over?  Don’t count on it.  They didn’t split the last book into two movies (thank goodness) but greedy Hollywood could make a prequel about Christian meeting Elena Lincoln maybe that film would sizzle.

BLACK PANTHER

ACTION/SCI-FI

PLOT:    T’Challa now king of Wakanda must restore order.

                T’Challa(Chadwick Boseman, Marshall, Get On Up) must be King of Wakanda after the death of his father; deal with greedy arms dealers who want the country’s unique metal and fight a foe from his past Erik Killmonger (Michael P. Jordan Creed, Fantastic Four).  OMG is this movie good!  The fight scenes with Black Panther are great and his female fighters even better!  For many people the film is just another Marvel superhero movie but to African Americans it is spectacular for it shows the beauty and technology of an African country.  It shows black people-mostly dark skinned people who are heroic, intelligent and compassionate which you don’t see very much anywhere.  Worth watching.

12 STRONG

WAR DRAMA

PLOT:    The true story of the first Special Forces to attack the Taliban.

                Captain Mitch Nelson (Chris Hemsworth, Thor) and his men must go to Afghanistan after 9/11 and needs the help of Afghan warlord to defeat the Taliban.  War is hell and shows in this movie.  It is very realistic with bodies of men, women and children being gun down without warning.  As dramatic and tragic as it is it does have humor.  The acting very good especially by Hemsworth and the rest of the cast.  Hemsworth actor has done most every genre except romantic comedy which I hope you does.

Commuters and Marys and Bears, Oh My

PROUD MARY

ACTION

  

PLOT:    Mary is an assassin who gets a conscience.

                Mary (Taraji P. Henson, Empire) is a lovely black hit woman who is haunted by a “target” she killed and the result a kid is hustling on the street.  The movie isn’t original, okay but Henson is great as a hit woman trying to get out of the business and become a guardian to young boy.  It sounds more like 1980’s Gloria with Gena Rowlands or the updated 1999 version with Sharon Stone. It is actually a B-movie and blaxpotiation film as well with the soulful soundtrack.  The only reason you should go is because of Henson if not wait for video.

  

PADDINGTON 2

COMEDY/ FANTASY

PLOT:    The further adventures of the cute, clumsy well-mannered bear.

                Paddington is now with the Brown family who love him dearly as well as the community he lives in.  He wants to give a gift to his Aunt Lucy, a pop-up book of England so he does odd jobs to do so.  The pop-up book is more than just a book-it’s a map to find a treasure chest and the self-absorbed actor Phoenix Buchanan (Hugh Grant) wants to have it.  It is a wild, wonderful adventure.  If you enjoyed Paddington then you will LOVE Paddington 2.

THE COMMUTER

ACTION/THRILLER

PLOT:    Ordinary guy doesn’t have a typical train ride.

                Michael MacCauley (Liam Neeson) a regular man who uses the train to go to work and one day he loses his job and gets a strange offer from a mysterious woman and the terror begins.  It is like the movie Non-Stop on the train.  You learn more and more about MacCauley to find out he is definitely not a normal man.  This film is for Liam Neeson fans for he is intense, clever and smart.

Strange Games, Strange Dames

JUMANJI 2:  WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

ACTION/ADVENTURE/ COMEDY

PLOT:  It is a sequel, update of the 1995 movie of the same name.

                Four high school kids (the nerd, the jock, the vain girl and the anti-social girl) get detention and they uncover an old video game console and they are drawn into the game as adult avatars Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillian.  It is a sequel because it continues what happens after the 1995 movie and it is an updated as well.  It has action but thank goodness it has humor, lots of it.  It is a wild, funny ride.

  

I, TONYA

BIOGRAPHICAL DRAMA

PLOT:  The infamous ice-skater Tonya Harding.

                Tonya (Margot Robbie, Suicide Squad, and the Legend of Tarzan) was abused by her mom, LaVona Fay Golden (Allison Janney TV shows West Wing and Mom) and her husband Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan, Captain America: The First Avenger and Winter Soilder).  The only thing she loved was ice-skating and she was a skilled ice-skater then Nancy Kerrigan got injured and the media blamed her.  It is done as a dark comedy but she Tonya could have easily become a criminal.  Robbie plays Tonya as a driven but tragic human being who curses a lot.  Janney is great as her horrible, manipulative mom and Stan who is a wife-beater who has a twisted way of loving her.

  

FERDINAND

ANIMATION

PLOT:  Based on the classic children’s book The Story of Ferdinand about a bull who loves flowers than bull-fighting.

                Ferdinand (voiced by wrestler John Cena) is not like other bulls. He doesn’t enjoy causing harm to humans. He likes to smell lovely flowers.  He ran away from the bull farm and was saved by a young girl who grew flowers with her dad.  It was wonderful until he grew.  He is big and strong but still doesn’t like to fight.  It is delightful and the Lupe, the goat (voiced by Kate McKinnon) is hilarious. It is a joy to watch.