GLADIATOR II
ACTION
PLOT: Lucius becomes a slave/fighter after his home was taken over by Rome and wants vengeance!
WHAT IS GOOD: Paul Mescal as Lucius is good as a warrior who wants revenge. He was in After Sun, a good movie but VERY slow. Pedro Pascal (series Mandalorian) is good as warrior Marcus Acacius who enslaved Lucius. Denzel Washington is EXCELLENT as Macrinus, a calculating, charming slave owner who uses Lucius to carry out is sinister plan. Washington is a joy to watch as an evil man. The violence is vicious!
WHAT IS BAD: Not as good as the
first one. Also there is a scene that is
hard to believe in those times.
SHOULD YOU WATCH: It is bloody and the main actors are great but if you compare it to the first one you won’t like it.
CONCLAVE
MYSTERY THRILLER
PLOT: The last pope died and now they have to vote in a new pope but not without scandal or secrets. The meaning of conclave is electing a new pope.
WHAT IS RIGHT: The cast that include Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow. They show the Vatican is lush and vast! It also shows the candidate for the job as people-they are not perfect. They are shown as ruthless, ambitious and racists.
WHAT IS WRONG: It is a slow burn. The film is only 2 hours but it feels longer.
SHOULD YOU WATCH: YES! The group of actors are worthy of this
film. Oscar nomination is in Ralph
Fiennes’ future.
ABSOLUTION
CRIME DRAMA
PLOT: Once a boxer now an aging gangster with CTE wants to connect with his family .
WHAT IS RIGHT: Liam Neeson as an older thug who begins to have a conscience. He is tough but he wants to do the right thing which is hard in organized crime world. The title of the movie means forgiveness.
WHAT IS WRONG: It is not action packed like the trailer. It is a character story about a man who wishes he did things differently. You have seen Neeson do these kinds of movies before but does it so well.
SHOULD YOU WATCH: You should
watch if you are a Liam Neeson fan, if not wait for On Demand.
RED ONE
COMEDY/ACTION/ADVENTURE
PLOT: Santa Claus is kidnapped and his top security guard and a bounty hunter must find him before Christmas!
WHAT IS RIGHT: Dwayne Johnson (Black Adam) as Callum plays it straight as Santa Claus bodyguard and Chris Evans (Captain America) is fun as a different kind of bounty hunter/hacker. The special effects were good. He has an amazing, hi-tech sleigh!
WHAT IS WRONG: It is a different story of Santa Claus but at least he is NOT a serial killer! It is an expensive movie but should have paid more on the script!
SHOULD YOU
WATCH: If you like an unusual telling of
Santa Claus movie this is it! If you
like Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans you should see it too.