Megs, and Mutants, and Mayhem, OH MY!

THE MEG 2: The TRENCH

ACTION/THRILLER

PLOT:  The sequel to the The Meg  in 2018.  Five years later they discover something in the water that has Megs and large octopus.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The Megs!  The sharks are the stars and they do deliver!  Jason Statham as Jonas Taylor is still a hero like in the last movie.  There is a lot of humor and horror.

WHAT IS BAD:  This is a popcorn movie so have to expect the outrageous things.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  OH YES.  If you like shark movies, unbelievable situations  and heroics you will enjoy it! 

TEENAGED MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM

ANIMATED/ACTION/COMEDY 

PLOT:  The Teenaged turtles must stop a malformed house fly from destroying all humans.

WHAT IS GOOD:  Every few years Hollywood always makes a Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtle movie.  This time it is creepy animated but it is very good.  The turtles are voiced by young people!  The best is Jackie Chan as Splinter, the father of the turtles who constantly tells them humans will never accept them.  Ice Cube as Superfly, a huge mutant housefly who hates humans and wants to kill all humans and make more grotesque insects and animals.  He is evil and very funny.  Maya Rudolph is funny to as Cynthia Utrom, who works at TCRS-Techno Cosmic Research Institute  to use their blood to make weaponize  ordinary animals.

WHAT IS BAD:  The ending is long and crazy.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES if you like the turtles.

 

INSIDIOUS #5 RED DOOR

THRILLER/SUPERNATURAL 

PLOT:    Dalton Lambert (Ty Simpkins) is now grown and going to college but evil still follows him.  His father Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) is not getting along and his wife died.  Both are trying to repress  tragic memories.  Supposedly the final chapter of the popular franchise.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Patrick Wilson is star and director.  He does a good job.  Good jump scare moments.  Simpkins as Dalton does a good job of a trouble with college and other problems in his life.  Sinclair Daniel as Chris his female roommate is great comic relief.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Slow and not many jump scares.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you enjoy the franchise you know the characters you will find it good; others may find it very slow.

OPPENHEIMER

BIOGRAPHY/DRAMA 

PLOT:  Julius Robert Oppenheimer, the man who created the atomic bomb directed by Christopher Nolan.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The performances of Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy Batman, 28 Days) Robert Downey Jr. ( Iron Man franchise)as Lewis Strauss, his rival. Emily Bunt as Kitty, Oppenheimer’s wife and the rest of the cast.  Oscar nominations are in their future.

WHAT IS BAD:  Oppenheimer was said to be a ladies’ man but the nudity could have been cut out.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  It is an epic tale of creating something that could destroy the world and the same people who helped you are the very same people to bring you down.  It is a great movie but ALWAYS read more about famous people when they make a drama about them.

 

The Sound of Barbie, Freedom and Summer Profits

JOY RIDE

COMEDY

PLOT:  A group of young Asian women go on a business trip but soon becomes a wacky adventure and find out about themselves.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The cast of Asian American actresses.  Audrey ( Ashley Park) is the attractive smart female; Lolo (Sherry Cola) who is not ashamed to express herself; Kat (Stephanie Hsu)

 Audrey‘s roommate when they were in college now an actress and loves sex and Deadeye (Sabrina Wu) Lolo’s cousin who is a little strange but loves hip-hop.  It is raunchy, outrageous and very funny!  It is sad near the end.

WHAT IS WRONG:  It is a formula females  have fun and mishaps journey. You seen it before just not with Asian woman.  They put down whites a lot.

SHOULD YOU WATCH: YES.  It is a wild, funny film .  It is rated R for a reason!  Sexual situations, lots of cursing and suggestive sex and a threesome!

BARBIE

FANTASY/COMEDY

PLOT:   Barbie (Margot Robbie) lives in the perfect world of Barbieland but is beginning to have human emotions so she has to go to the real world to solve her problem.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The visual effects are AMAZING!!! Her costumes are fantastic.  Ryan Gosling is very funny as Ken. Kat McKenna is great as Weird Barbie.

WHAT IS WRONG:  You don’t want to hear a speech of hard it is to be a woman in this kind of movie.  It does have wonderful, funny moments but not enough.  It can be stupidly fun at times. 

SHOULD YOU GO:  Young girls will love it, teen girls will like the fashion and the adults will some of the silly stuff.  If you can deal with this mixed bag, GO! 

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: DEAD RECKONING

PART ONE

ACTION/THRILLER

PLOT:  Ethan Hunt and his team have to find a unique key that could destroy the world.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The cast starting with Tom Cruise and Ethan Hunt.  He does his own stunts and does  well in the acting department as well.  Hayley Atwell (Captain America First Avenger) as Grace, a professional thief who gets way over her head.  She is a great actress in everything she does.  The villain Gabriel (Esai Morales) is fantastic and Henry Czerny as Kittridge who will do what it takes to save the country or himself.  The action scenes are simply the BEST!

WHAT IS WRONG:  The story is familiar but you are not going for story.

SHOULD YOU GO: OH YES!  This is the summer popcorn movie people have been waiting for!  It has everything  a summer movie must have and it is done very well.  MUST SEE!

SOUND OF FREEDOM

DRAMA

PLOT:   True story of Tim Ballard, a government agent who stops sex trafficking of children.

WHAT IS GOOD:  Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard.   He has a big family of his own and he goes way out of his way to capture pedophiles.  Caviezel is known for doing The Passion of the Christ directed by Mel Gibson.  Caviezel takes risk in his acting career and it does pay off!   The rest of the cast is great as well.

WHAT IS WRONG:  It is slow but not enough to lose interest.  Many scenes are sickening in what is implied.

THE CONTROVERSY:  The movie is 5 years old and  finally gave distribution, release the movie.  It could be because they use God’s name too much.  The quote “God’s children are not for sale.”  That is not a left issue or right issue but a crime!  At the end of the movie it reads that the most country that buys children is the United States.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  It is NOT a popcorn movie but it is a good  film.  It is hard to stomach at times but worth watching.

 

Fantasy and Action Films Gone in a Flash?

THE FLASH

ACTION/ADVENTURE/SCI-FI 

PLOT:    Barry misses her mother very much and his father is in jail for her death he decides to uses his speed to go back in time with terrible results.

WHAT IS RIGHT:   Erza Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash.  He is very funny and tragic at the same time.  He wants to keep his family together and keep superheroes in the world.  Sasha Calle as Supergirl.  Calle doesn’t have much dialogue but she is tough in the fight sequences.  The guest stars and there are many especially at the end.  Based on the popular comic book The Flash entitled Flashpoint in 1961.

WHAT IS WRONG:  He curses a lot but look what he is going through.  It is frantic very much.

SHOULD YOU GO:  If you like The Flash, the comic book and The Flash in the Justice League. It is worth seeing, but on the big screen--just maybe.

 

ELEMENTAL

3D ANIMATION 

PLOT:    A romance with Ember, who is made of Fire and Wade, who is made of water.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The film is about race and can we get along with each other despite our differences?  It is very romantic, funny, amazing visuals and suspenseful!

WHAT IS WRONG:   The movie maybe too deep for kids and some adults.  Race and immigration is a hot topic at this time and many people don’t want to see that right now.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  Like the Flash, due to PC and other issues it may be out of theaters quick.  But, YES!  It is a very romantic, amusing and tells the ageless story we can get along even though we are not the same.

Dead Rise Fast -- Action Season Begins

EVIL DEAD RISE

HORROR 

PLOT:   Two sisters have become distant but one visit the other with a family and that one becomes possessed by THE BOOK OF THE DEAD and fight for survival begins.

WHAT IS GOOD:   If you have seen Evil Dead franchise you know there is MUCH BLOOD and horrible ways to disfigure and kill someone.  It is all here. It's not exactly one of the best romantic comedies.

WHAT IS BAD:    If you don’t like a lot of blood.  It is a body count movie.  You have to believe a lot in these kinds of movies.  I didn’t name the cast because most don’t make it.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  For fans of the franchise will enjoy it ; others maybe.

 

FAST X

ACTION 

PLOT:   Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his team meet a bad guy from his past, Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa) who wants revenge for them killing his dad.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The stunts!  They are incredible!  In movies there is a term “suspension of belief” in movies but this film takes it to a whole new level!!  The female fight with Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and Cipher (Charlize Theron). Jason Momoa as Dante Reyes who is comical, crazy and homicidal!  Many guest stars appear as well.  There is a cliff-hanger ending for there is a FAST 11.

WHAT IS BAD:  You have to believe A LOT when watching this movie.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  OH YEAH!!!  If you like this franchise it is a MUST.

Killers and Thieves at Eastertime

JOHN WICK #4

ACTION  

PLOT:  John kills more people to have freedom from the High Table.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The spectacular stunts and kills!  The cast including Donnie Yen as Caine, a friend of John Wick who must try to kill, Shamier Anderson as Tracker/Mr.Nobody who is obsessed with John on killing a legend with his attack dog.  Scott Aktins(Jean Claude Van Dam sidekick in Expendables 2) as a bloated male in charge of the German High Table.  Last but not least Bill Skarsgard as Marquis Vincent De Gramont head of the High Table who wants John Wick dead.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The action is fantastic but unbelievable too.  It is like Fast and Furious franchise. Great but outrageous!!!

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  If you like John Wick series you have to see this one.  NOTE:  Don’t rush out of the theater there is a post scene.  Amazing fights and kills but stretching you imagination!

  

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS:  HONOR AMONG THIEVES

ACTION/ADVENTURE/FANTASY 

PLOT:  Edgin (Chris Pine) is a thief and his partner Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) land in jail while the real bad guy Forge (Hugh Grant) escapes with the treasure.  They are joined with others to take the magical item back.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The cast, the comedy and the adventure.  Chris Pine is great as the charming Edgin.  Michelle Rodriguez is good as his friend and a fighter.  Huge Grant is fantastic as a classy, funny villain.

WHAT IS WRONG:  You have heard the story before of a group of thieves becoming heroes but it is still fun.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  It has the right balance of comedy, action, fantasy and adventure.

Oscar Movies Everywhere at Once

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE AT ONCE

FANTASY/COMEDY/ACTION

OSCAR NOMINATIONS:  BEST ACTRESS MICHELLE YEOH BEST PICTURE  BEST EDITIING 

PLOT:  Michelle Yeoh (Tomorrow Never Dies) is  Evelyn Quan a middle age stressed out Chinese woman dealing with a laundry business, her dull husband Waymond Wang played by Ke Huy Quan(Short Round in Indiana Jones and Temple of Doom), a senile  father and daughter Joy Wang played by Stephanie Hsu who disappoints her.  She finds out that she is the only person who can save the universe and goes into different multi-verses to do it.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The editing and the action sequence are fantastic! 

WHAT IS WRONG:   It is STRANGE!  It goes to comedy, drama fantasy in seconds!

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  This film is not for everyone despite it is Oscar nominated. You will be saying WTF many times before the movie is over.  It will either be brilliant to some bizarre to others.  The film was directed by two directors Daniel Kwan and Daniels Scheinert.  It is recommended for an open mind.

TO LESLIE-2022

DRAMA 

OSCAR NOMINATION:  BEST ACTRESS 

PLOT:   Leslie Rowland is a southern woman who won the lottery but she is also an alcoholic. She spent all the money an abandon her teen son.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  British actress Andrea Riseborough is AMAZING as Leslie who knows she is a loser  and struggles to change.  She has humor and heart.  She is also Executive Producer.  The supporting cast is very good as well including Allison Janney (The West Wing) and Marc Maron. If you love country music it’s great soundtrack.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Nothing is wrong with the independent film but there is scandal how Ms Riseborough got an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  OH YES!  You want to see good performances , good soundtrack this is the movie. 

 

WOMEN TALKING

DRAMA 

OSCAR NOMINATIONS:  BEST PICTURE BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

PLOT:  In Bolivia in a Mennonite, ultra conservative community 9 men drug women with cow tranquiller to rape them.  The women must make a decision- stay or leave.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The performances!  The cast includes Rooney Mara, Clair Foy, Judith Ivey and Frances McDormand. It is mainly in a barn where the women are discussing what to do with their lives.  It is a slow burn yet it is hard to watch at times.

WHAT IS WRONG:   The true story was in Bolivia, a Latin country.  They couldn’t find good Latina actresses for the part? 

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES.  It is bleak and grim but there is some humor. 

 

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN

BLACK COMEDY 

OSCAR NOMINATIONS:  BEST ACTOR, BEST SUPORTING ACTORS BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS BEST PICTURE

PLOT:   Colm and Padraci, two  best friends and one decides he doesn’t want to be his buddy any more with funny and tragic consequences.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Colin Ferrell and Brenden Gleeson as the two friends.  Ferrell as Padraic doesn’t want to let go of the friendship for it is all he has in the small town.  Colm played by Brenden Gleeson wants to be left alone to write music and calls it the name of the film.  He enjoys the arts but still lives in the small town too.  Dominic played by Barry Keoghan is great as a horny teen.  Siobhan played Kerry Condon is a delight as Padraci’s sister who wants to get away from and do better.  The lush cinematography by Ben Davis is fantastic!

WHAT IS WRONG:  The stereotypes of Irish people-arguing and drinking.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  It is strange but entertaining.  If you are into that and the good acting-YES.

 

THE WHALE-2022

DRAMA 

BEST ACTOR/BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

PLOT:  Charlie (Brendan Frasier) is a 600 hundred pound English professor.  He teaches online but no one knows what he looks like.  He knows he is dying and wants to see his daughter again.  Based on the play by Samuel D. Hunter.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The cast.  Brendan Frasier- The Mummy franchise is great as the English professor who knows his job but his personally life is a mess.  Liz(Hong Chau) is his part=time nurse and only friend who hates him for letting himself go but wants to help him  the best she can.  Elle (Sadie Sink) his teenage daughter who has a love/hate relationship with him for she thinks he abandon her and her mother for a male student.  Mary (Samantha Morten) an alcoholic who does the best she can to raise her daughter.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Religion is not favored in this movie.

SHOULD YOU GO:  OH YES!  The performances of damaged people is gut wrenching but  worth watching.  Oscar nominations should go to the entire cast.

  

AFTERSUN

DRAMA 

BEST ACTOR 

PLOT:   Sophie (Frankie Corio) a teen and her farther Calum (Peter Mescal) go to Turkey together.  Her dad is great to her but her dad has problem.  He has depression.

WHAT IS GOOD:  Frankie Corio and Peter Mescal are great as daughter and dad.  He cares about her daughter very much and tries his best to not show his illness.  Corio is a smart girl but doesn’t realize what is happening to her farther.  The film is beautiful looking.

WHAT IS WRONG:   The film is very sloooow.  Patience is needed here.  It is Euro-style art movie.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:   Yes.  The acting is great but you must have patience for it is required.

 

LIVING

DRAMA 

BEST ACTOR 

PLOT:  Rodney Williams (Bill Nighy, Underworld franchise and Love Actually) works at a government job in England in the 50s.  He doesn’t have long to live, he has stomach cancer.  He tries to commit suicide but didn’t but committed himself to help moms to make a playground for poor children.

WHAT IS GOOD:  Bill Nighy as Rodney.  He is a sad character for he is predictable, cold and dull but as he tries to help other people he changes for the better.  It is a slow yet subtle change.  He is great.  Amie Lou Woods as Margaret Harris, a cheerful female where Rodney works is excellent as well.

WHAT IS WRONG:   I don’t know why Margaret left a government job to become a waitress is strange.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES.  The acting is amazing.  The moral of the story is you work hard, take care of family but you don’t live.

 

BLONDE

BIOGRAPHICAL DRAMA

BEST ACTRESS

PLOT:  The latest film about the tragic life and death of fame actress Marilyn Monroe.  This one based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates.

WHAT IS GOOD:  Ana deArmas as Marilyn Monroe.  She is in agony most of the movie.   Men use or abuse her throughout the movie. Gladys Baker played by Julianne Nicholson is incredible as her mentally ill mom.  You feel sorry and angry with her. Her story is a cautionary tale how far will you go for stardom.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Another movie about Marilyn Monroe’s doomed life?  How many times can you tell the same story?  Is the events true or not?  When they make bios you have to research to find out what is true and what is false.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  The film is on Netflix and it is a sad, tragic story.  If you want to see good acting then Yes.

Oscar and Action Movies to Watch

A MAN CALLED OTTO

COMEDY DRAMA

PLOT:  Tom Hanks is Otto, a grouchy senior citizen who has a heart of gold.  Based on a Swedish movie A Man Called Ove.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Tom Hanks who loved his job and wife dearly and it was taken away from him and he hates the world but soon starts to care about his multicultural  neighbors is a joy to watch.  The rest of the cast is wonderful too.

WHAT IS WRONG:  It is predictable but still great to watch.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  Loss is hard to bear and his only reaction was anger at people.  Very good and very sad.  The only thing I can say is where is the series.

80 FOR BRADY

COMEDY 

PLOT:   Inspired by a true story of four senior ladies going to see Tom Brady at the Super bowl.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The four 80s ladies Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda (who looks AMAZING!), Rita Moreno and Sally Fields.  It is a cute concept with the team getting into fun and adventure.

WHAT IS WRONG:  You know what is going to happen but still fun to cheer them on.

SHOULD  YOU WATCH:  YES.  If you like the cast and Tom Brady is throughout the movie and is Executive Producer.  It is fun to watch ladies in their 80s have a good time.

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP:  QUANTUMANIA

ACTION/FANTASY 

PLOT:  Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is happy he was an Avenger and back with his family. His teen daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton) made a device to contact the Quantum Realm but the adverse effect the family is sucked in to the Quantum Realm.  They try to find each other but secrets are revealed.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The spectacular special effects!  You feel you are like in another world.  The cast. Paul Rudd as Scott Lang /Ant-Man is Great!  Michelle Pfeiffer is equally good as Janet Van Pyne who lived in the Quantum Realm and has many secrets.  Kathryn Newton is good as the smart and wants to change whatever world she is in.  The supporting cast is wonderful too.  William Jackson Harper as Quaz who’s forehead glows and reads minds.  Katy O Brian as Jentorra, a female warrior trying to protect her people.  Jonathan Majors as Kang steals the show.  He is evil to the core and does it well!

WHAT IS WRONG:  There is a person from Ant-Man’s past who shows up.  They tell what happened to the person, but it could have been done better.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES.  It is full of excitement, adventure and comedy.

M3GAN 2023

HORROR/SCI-FI

PLOT:  The perfect robotic toy becomes a killing machine.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  M3GAN stands for Model 3 Generative Android. The prototype in the beginning she is loving, protective even a companion and sister. The doll then soon evolves to have human emotions.  She becomes toy Terminator before it is over and it is good.  The leads are women and there is dark humor.

WHAT IS BAD:  It is predictable and it has been done to death!  Machine turns on man or woman or machine wants to control man for his own good.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you enjoy dolls run amuck then yes!  Note:  The movie is rated PG-13 but the studio might have done an R-rated version.  Also they maybe a sequel and when you watch the film you will know why.

 

THE OLD WAY

WESTERN

PLOT:   A cold-blooded gunslinger, Colton Briggs (Nicolas Cage) marries and has a daughter but his past catches up with him.

WHAT IS RIGHT:    Nicolas Cage!  He can still act even if he does strange, quick buck movies and it is a western which they don’t make these days.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The plot you have seen in most western:  revenge!  Brook Briggs (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) is a headstrong, bratty kid you have seen a dozen times over.  The villain James McCallister (Noah LeGros) is the standard bad guy.

SHOULD YOU SEE IT:  Two things:  Nicolas Cage and it’s a western.  If not interested in those two reasons don’t watch!

 

Oscar Bait Season and the Fate of Young Boys

THE FABLEMANS

DRAMA 

PLOT:    A semi-autobiographical film about the legendary and talented Steven Spielberg. 

WHAT IS GOOD:  The acting!  Mitiz Fableman played by Michelle Williams is amazing as she supports her child Sammy who wants to make films after seeing The Greatest Show on Earth.  She is talented as well.  She gave up being a pianist to raise a family.  In was the 50s.  She is fun but also erratic.  Burt Fableman played by Paul Dano (The Batman as The Riddler) is just as amazing as a computer engineer  who takes his family place to place to give his family a better life.  He knows he is not exciting but he is excellent provider.  Judd Hirsch as Uncle Boris is not in the film very much but his “art” speech is nothing short of excellent! Williams, Dano and Hirsch should be Oscar nominated.

WHAT IS BAD:  When doing semi autobiographical movies many things may not be true so you would have to learn about Spielberg,

SHOULD YOU GO:  YES!  It has OSCAR all over it!  Up and coming film makers should see it for it is not easy to be one.

 

TILL

BIOGRAPHICAL/DRAMA 

PLOT:    Another retelling of the tragic story of Emmett Till, a black teen in Mississippi in 1955 who was disfigured by two white men when he whistled at a white woman. 

WHAT IS GOOD:  Dainelle Deadwyler as Mamie-Till Mobley .  It is a very difficult part-especially when she sees he son in the morgue.  Should be an Oscar nomination.  The cast is equally fantastic including Whoppi Goldberg who is in a brief part as Mamie’s mom and one of the producers.

WHAT IS BAD;   The subject has been done a few times now and though it is a true story Hollywood may change a few things for dramatic effect.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:   A cautious YES because this is not a crowd pleasing movie but an emotional journey of a mother trying to get justice for her son.