Note: Back from a long break, but ready to roll. Let's go!
BLACK PHONE #2
HORROR
PLOT: The “Grabber” origin.
WHAT IS GOOD: Some jump scares and an interesting back-story of Grabber.
WHAT IS WRONG: Very slow to get started.
SHOULD YOU WATCH: If you enjoy
the first film but is curious about how the Grabber beginnings you will like it
but no rush to see this film.
WICKED FOR GOOD
MUSICAL/FANTASY
PLOT: The sequel to Wicked. Elphaba, (Cynthia Erivo) the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda (Ariana Grande) are at odd with each other but still want to be friends.
WHAT IS GOOD: The two female leads Erivo and Grande! They have great voices. The costumes are dazzling!
WHAT IS WRONG: The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow origins have been changed and Dorothy ! You NEVER see Dorothy’s face only silhouette but you see her shoes-they are not red!
SHOULD YOU WATCH: It is a different telling of the classic story. It is not bad but not great either.
THE CONJURING: LAST RITES
HORROR
PLOT: The Warrens do their last
paranormal investigation and background story about their past.
WHAT IS GOOD: It is creepy, scary and suspenseful. There is blood but not what you think.
WHAT IS WRONG: Even this movie has typical jump scares.
SHOULD YOU WATCH: YES!! It is suppose to be the last film of the
franchise but I don’t think so. It is
effective but if you’re into slasher the film it may bore you.
DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA INFINITY
CASTLE
ANIME
PLOT: The Demon Slayer invades a mansion with assorted supernatural beings. The first of three movies.
WHAT IS GOOD: It is visually stunning and the sound astonishing!
WHAT IS WRONG: It is a long anime film. It is over 2 ½!
SHOULD YOU
WATCH: If you are a fan of the series it
is a violent treat. It is beautiful and
bloody!
THE RUNNING MAN
ACTION/SATIRE
PLOT: In the distant future people watch selective, ordinary citizens become “runners’ and are tracked and killed by “hunters” while customers love to watch the carnage. The film is based on the Stephen King novel which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987.
WHAT IS GOOD: The action which is exceptional! Colman Domingo as Bobby Thompson is great as the host of the violent TV show. Josh Brolin is good as the evil producer. Glen Powell is very good as Ben Richards, who doesn’t want to be a runner but does to pay for his child medical bills.
WHAT IS WRONG: I didn’t see the 1987 version so I can’t compare the two. It could have been shorter.
SHOULD YOU WATCH: Maybe. If you like the 1987 movie you might like it
better than this one but this movie isn’t bad.
PREDATOR: BADLANDS
THRILLER/SCIENCE FICTION
PLOT: Dek, a small predator goes to Genna also called the death planet to prove his worth as a warrior. This is the ninth movie in the popular franchise.
WHAT IS GOOD: Dek (Dimitrius Schuster Koloamatangi) proving he is worthy of being like his father and brother. He shows emotion in his alien face. Thia (Elle Fanning) is amusing, friendly to be a synthetic-looks human but is not who Dek helps on his journey to prove he strong and brave .
WHAT IS BAD: Many fans are used to the ugly alien is the bad guy but in this film it has feelings and is the hero. Not bad but strange.
SHOULD YOU WATCH: YES! It’s a different take on the
Predator series and it does pay off.
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
THRILLER
PLOT: Pat Calhoun (Leonardo Di Caprio) an explosive expert who was in a terriost group French 75 is now stays of the grid and get high all the time until his daughter is kidnapped by an enemy from his past Colonel Lockjaw (Sean Penn)
WHAT IS GOOD: The cast is great but DiCaprio and Penn stand out. Great mix of acting and action –very rare today.
WHAT IS WRONG: It could have told the story shorter.
SHOULD YOU WATCH: YES! If you enjoy the talented cast, exciting action. I am sure there will be Oscar nominations for this film.
SISU 2: ROAD TO REVENGE
ACTION
PLOT: Jorma Tommila (Aatami Korpi) comes home in 1946. His family is dead so he takes down his home by himself and moves to a new place to live. Stephen Lang (Igor Draganov) killed his family and he is jail but they release him to kill Korpi.
WHAT IS GOOD: First of all Sisu is not the hero’s name. In Finnish it means sheer determination. Korpi is determined and cannot die! Draganov tries to kill him with everything he’s got but Korpi is very resilient! Stephen Lang starred in Avatar as a villain Colonel so these two attacking each other is just fantastic and bloodly!
WHAT IS WRONG: The violence is WAAY over the top! Almost cartoonish.
SHOULD YOU WATCH: If you like
the first SISU you will enjoy this!