Super Mid 2026 Round-up

SUPERGIRL 2026

ACTION/ADVENTURE 

PLOT:    Kara Zor-El/Supergirl (Milly Alock) helps  a teenager Ruthye (Eve Ridley) to get revenge on Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts)  leader of Brigands who killed her parents.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Alock is good in spots but the star belongs to Lobo (Jason Momoa)!  He is a bounty hunter and assassin.  He seems to enjoy all the wrong things he is doing!  He NEEDS a solo movie.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Many people will not like this version of Supergirl because she swears, drink and doesn’t care about humanity!  Her back story tells why.  Krem played by Schoenaerts is NOT a memorable villain!  He eats a lot and looks annoyed and kills people.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you interested in this new Supergirl you will find it very different indeed.  If not WAIT for streaming.

 

TOY STORY # 5 

PLOT:   The story is about tech or toys.  Bonnie loves to play with toys but also wants friends.  Her parents buy her a tablet and she stops playing with the toys!

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The cast is great and so is the subject.  It has drama, adventure and comedy that works very well.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Really nothing despite it is the fifth movie.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  POSITIVELY YES!  It is a fantastic film!  Kids and adults will love it!

 

MINION AND MONSTERS

3D ANIMATION/COMEDY 

PLOT:   The yellow pill shape minions are in the 1920s and they want to make a monster movie.  They do with funny, chaos results.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  It is zany and it has nostalgic scenes from older movies.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Some the scenes are so silly but still very amusing.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!!! It is so frenetic yet hilarious situations but it is very good.

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA # 2

COMEDY/DRAMA

PLOT:  It has been 20 years since Andy (Ann Hathaway) has been away from Runaway.  She is now a respectable journalist but the same night she receives an award she is fired with many more staff!  She goes back to work with Miranda (Meryl Streep) to save the magazine from a scandal.  Miranda is about to become CEO when the previous one dies suddenly and now there is a power grab.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The cast is attractive and great. The exotic locals are great too.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Adrian Grenier who was in the first movie is not in this movie and not even mentioned.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  If you like the first you will enjoy this one.

 

MORTAL KOMBAT 2 2026

ACTION/FANTASY

PLOT:   A sequel to Mortal Kombat in 2021 Fighters from earth and other realm must fight to save their world

WHAT IS GOOD:  The fight scenes and Karl Urban (The Boys, Dred) as Johnny Cage, an experience fighter who is arrogant and funny as a macho action star passed his prime.

WHAT IS BAD:  Very violent and curses a lot.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you are a fan of this franchise then YES!

 

THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU

ADVENTURE/FANTASY 

PLOT:  The Mandalorian and Grogu have a mission that puts the two in danger. 

WHAT IS RIGHT:    Special effects are amazing and the action is great!  Comic moments with the Mandalorian and adorable Grogu are very good.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Many fans think it is a two hour show of the cancel series.  If you never seen the show it is not bad.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES if you enjoyed the show.

 

OBSESSION

HORROR

PLOT:  Baron ‘ Bear Bailey’ (Michael Johnston) has a crush on Nikki (Indie Navarette) but is too shy to tell her.  Baron goes into a occult shop and picks a One Wish Willow and makes a wish for to love him. She does in the worse way.

WHAT IS RIGHT:   The two leads-especially Indie Navarette.  She plays a nice but tough girl but when she is possessed she is funny and frightening!  I do hope she is not type cast as a crazy babe. It is a cautionary tale of be careful what you wish for just might get it.

WHAT IS WRONG:  It is a slow-burn but the jump-scares are scary!

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  Absolutely YES!  Made for about a million dollars it shows you don’t need tons of money to make a good movie!

 

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE 2026  

PLOT:    Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) is on earth searching for his magical sword that transforms him into He-Man.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  They put money in this film unlike the movie in 1987.  Galitzine is fantastic as Adam not so much as He-Man. James Purefory as Adam’s father King Randor is great if only in the movie briefly.  A fine actor as well as Idris Elba as Duncan /Man of Arms protector of King Randor and family.  Camila Mendes as Teela is good as a female fighter.  Jared Leto as Skeletor is over the top! He is creepy and comical.  Stay around for the post credits.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The movie is using the cartoon as well as the movie with the same name in 1987!  There is a WTF sequence in the film which is jaw-dropping!  It is a jokey in parts which kills the tension.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  MAYBE.   If you enjoyed the cartoon series you might enjoy it.  It has the characters many people remember and the special effects are great.

 

BACKROOMS

HORROR 

PLOT:   Clark(Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a salesman at a furniture store who has found many rooms  that could be from another world.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Actor Ejiofor who is a great actor has been in Dr. Strange and many other blockbusters but he shines as a man frustrated with his job and life.  The directing and writing is strange but that is what makes this film so interesting.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The ending.  You really don’t know what is going on.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you want something different than sequels of Hollywood big movies this is the movie for you! Scary, odd and very, very different.

CITIZEN VIGLANTE 

PLOT:  Sanders (Armie Hammer) is ex soldier living in Europe and is killing migrants, judges even cops for justice among victims.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Armie Hammer!  The actor was in Man From U.N.C.L.E and was intense but in this film he is even more INTENSE!!!  There is no smile on this man face!  He only has determination and assassination his mind!

WHAT IS WRONG:  The film is direction by Uwe Boll.  They say he is the foreign Ed Wood.  He makes bad movies but he produces them as well.  Many may think the film is racist for he kills immigrants but he kills everybody!

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you like exploitation the film gives it to you!  It is action packed, sleazy and bloody!

Spring Goat Screams

 

GOAT

3D ANIMINATION/COMEDY 

PLOT:  Will Harris is a goat who is a fan of Jett a great basketball player of the Thorns and by odd events gets on the team.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The voice cast which includes Gabrielle Union as Jett, Jenifer Lewis is Flo, a warthog owner of the team the Thorns and Mane Attraction an arrogant horse, Aaron Pierre.  They match their animal characters very well.

WHAT IS WRONG:  It is very predictable but still enjoyable.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  OH YES!  It is nothing new but it is fun to watch!

 

SCREAM 7

HORROR/MYSTERY 

PLOT:  Sidney (Neve Campbell) is trying to raise her daughter but slasher Ghostface is following her AGAIN!  This time he wants her daughter Tatum!

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Creative kills and franchise is so popular it has its own tropes!  Small spoiler: It is always 2 people.  Campbell is good as Sidney trying to raise a family and be normal but she has to get tough every time!  Courteney Cox is great as Gale, a reporter who is friends with Sidney but she is also a bitch!  Jasmin Savoy Brown is a stand-out as Gale’s assistant Mindy.  She is just like Gale just younger!

WHAT IS WRONG:  You have seen it all before and you probably figure out who the killer is and Sidney survives!  Are we going to see Scream in Space soon?

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  Do you like Scream movies?  If a fan you are going to watch it because the  main characters are funny and tough! 

Oscar Phat: Nomination Season

PRIMATE

THRILLER

PLOT: Ben an adorable, lovable chimp gets rabies and becomes violent.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The kills are very gruesome!

WHAT IS WRONG:  You have seen this story before.  The young people want to have a party and the monkey goes nuts.  Only in the movies when an animal infected by rabies they become smart!

You want the young people to survive but they do stupid things.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  They kills are very good but should be ON DEMAND.

 

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

ROMANTIC DRAMA 

PLOT:  Another version of Emily Bronte’s book of the same name.  Heathcliff and Cathy have a passionate, toxic love.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  It is visually dazzling!  Vivid colors and lovely country sides.  Owen Cooper and Charlotte Mellington as young Heathcliff and Cathy are fantastic! Talented actors to look for in the future.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the grown Cathy and Heathcliff are very attractive actors playing the most horrible people you can imagine!  It is hard to feel sympathy for them and what they do to other people.

SHOULD YOU WATCH: If you have never read the novel or seen the movies it might entertain you.  This movie is fan fiction for many things don’t happen in the novel.  Those who read the novel will be in shock!  If you can wait-WAIT!

ZOOTOPIA #2 2025

ANIMATION 

PLOT:  Judy Hoops, a bunny and Nick Wilde, a sly red fox are officially cops on a new dangerous case that involves snakes being abandoned by the city.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The story is has EVERTHING, comedy romance and suspense and music.  It has talented stars that include Iris Elba, singer Shakira Roman Reigns and CM Punk!

WHAT IS WRONG:  NOTHING!!!

SHOULD YOU WATCH?  ABSOLUTELY!

 

AVATAR #3 FIRE AND ASH 2025

FANTASY/ ADVENTURE

PLOT:    Jake and his family are sadden by the death of their son but new threats are coming  that include Jake’s enemy.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The visual effects are AMAZING as always.  The evil commander Quartich (Stephen Lang) is GREAT and Varang(Oona Chaplin) is equally menacing as leader of her clan who will kill anyone in her quest for power.  The two are the Bonnie and Clyde of Avatar.  The action scenes are fantastic.

WHAT IS WRONG:  There are soap opera elements are there but it does help the story.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  OH YES!  If you are a fan of this movie franchise you will enjoy it.

SPECIAL NOTE:  I wish director James Cameron would make a superhero movie for he knows how to make an epic, exciting film many people would watch.

 

HAMNET

DRAMA 

PLOT:  Based on the novel by Maggie O’ Farrell the writer William Shakespeare had a wife and three children and the son named Hamnet died and he wrote the play Hamlet.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Paul Mescal (Gladiator 2) is Shakespeare and he is good but it is Jessie Buckley as Agnes, Shakespeare’s wife that is amazing.  Giving child birth alone or with help she shows the agony of it!  The film is slow and sober.  The ending is closure than a happy ending.

WHAT IS WRONG:    It is a novel so much might not be true but could be.  The film may add things that might not have happened.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  It is a film about grief and how people deal with it even in olden times.

NOMINATED FOR:

BEST PICTURE

BEST ACTRESS

BEST DIRCTOR

 

FRANKENSTEIN

HORROR 

PLOT:  Another version of the novel of Mary Shelly’s novel of an obsessed doctor creating parts of deceased men to creature new life.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The acting of Oscar Isaac as Dr Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the “creature”!  It is like a father and son relationship!  Frankenstein made something alive that is dead and he is not proud of it.  The “creature” is upset because he came into the world and is hated even by his creator.  It is creepy.  It is very elaborate.  It is a sad tale of man reaching for greatness at what cost!

WHAT IS WRONG:  How did Frankenstein become so strong from dead men?  The monster is not as great as the Boris Karloff version.  It should be better because of AI!

SHOULD YOU WATCH:   YES!  Especially if you like horror and great acting.

NOMININATED FOR:

BEST PICTURE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

 

TRAIN DREAMS

PERIOD DRAMA 

PLOT:  Robert Grainier is an orphan who lived 80 years and took odd jobs while the world changed around him.

WHAT IS  GOOD:  Joel Edgerton!  He plays Robert in a low key manner.  He does his job, goes home to his wife and child.  That’s it!  He does what most people do.  He sees things doesn’t understand why but does his best in the world he lives in.  You root for him because that’s what most people do.  William H. Macy as Arn, an older explosive expert is comic relief and he does it well.

WHAT IS WRONG:  It is slow moving but that is the point-like life.  It is not exciting like an action movie.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  It is a character study about a man with life, loss and change.

NOMINATIONS FOR:

BEST PICTURE

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

SECRET AGENT

DRAMA 

PLOT: A tech expert with a mysterious past return to his home town but there is more danger ahead in Brazil.

WHAT IS  GOOD:  Wagner Moura as the tech expert who wants a peaceful life.  He sees corruption with his sad eyes and wants to remain peaceful.

WHAT IS WRONG:  This is a foreign films and they are different than American films.  This one is no different.  It takes a long while to get going!  You also think with a title like this it is action packed, gadgets and pretty girls.  Not this movie.  It is slow and sober.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  It is good but you must have patience!

NOMINATIONS FOR:

BEST PICTURE

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

 

SONG SUNG BLUE

MUSICAL DRAMA 

PLOT:   Cover singers Mike Sardina (Lighting) and his wife Claire Stengi(Thunder love to sing Neil Diamond songs at various clubs.  The duo is very close to stardom but tragedy gets in the way.   It is based on a true story.

WHAT IS  RIGHT:  Hugh Jackman is great as Mike who once was a soldier and an alcoholic and it is music that saved him. He is charismatic but hurting. He is not nominated for BEST ACTOR but he should have been.  Kate Hudson as Claire is nominated and she is wonderful as well.  She was a fun-loving woman then something bad happens.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Their story is so fantastic you think it was fiction but it is not!

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES! If you like Neil Diamond songs-some I never heard of and the good pairing of Jackman and Hudson is worth the watch.

NOMINATIONED FOR:

BEST ACTRESS

 

BUGONIA

THRILLER/SCI-FI 

PLOT:  Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone) is CEO of a drug company and Teddy Gatz (Jesse Plemons), a conspiracy theorist and beekeeper and his autistic cousin Don(Aiden Debis) kidnap her thinking she is an alien.

NOTE:  The title means ancient Greeks folk tale that bees would generate from a dead cow.  If you watch the film .  It might make sense, might not.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Emma Stone is fantastic as the CEO Michelle Fuller.  She is driven, aggressive and scheming.  You don’t know how far she will go to escape.  Jesse Plemons  is intense as Teddy obsessed that she is really an alien.  Don, his cousin doesn’t believe him but goes along because it is his cousin and he admires him.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The director Yorgos Lathimos is a talented and twisted director!  His films are bizarre to say the least!  Watch the movies, The Favorite 2018 and Poor Things 2023.  This film is very violent and strange.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  The ideas are good and Emma Stone is very good but it is a outrageous film but to me better than Poor Things.

F1

SPORTS DRAMA 

PLOT:  Aging race car driver Sonny Hayes gets to drive again and train a new comer Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) and has a romance with an attractive, smart technical director Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon).

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The race car driving scenes!  You feel you’re inside the car with them taking the risk!  Javier Bardem who is the APXGP owner who needs Sonny’s help is good and dresses very well. Damon Idris as Joshua who is very confident younger race car driver.  Sarah Miles is great as Bernadette Joshua’s smart, protective mom.

WHAT IS WRONG:  You know the experience older driver helping the cocky newcomer yet it NEVER gets old.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  If you like race car driving, Brad Pitt along with a good cast you will enjoy this movie.

NOMINATED FOR:

BEST PICTURE

 

MARTY SUPREME

SPORTS COMEDY DRAMA

PLOT:   Marty (Timothee Chalamet) in the 50s is a chiasmic, determined young man who works at a shoe store but wants to go to Japan to become a table tennis champion.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The actor Timothee Charlamet who does whatever it takes to achieve his goal no matter what the cost.  He is no hero to cheer for but you watch to see if he is successful.  Odessa A’zion is very good as a married woman who is having an affair with Marty.  Gwyneth Paltrow is Kay Stone an actress married to a very rich man who is horny as hell! 

WHAT IS WRONG:  When they do biography movies many things don’t really happen just to intensify  the film.  You if are interested you read more about the person.  The film could have been cut a slightly.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you like Charlamet and the rest of the cast-YES.

NOMINATED FOR:

BEST ACTOR

 

IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU

COMEDY DRAMA 

PLOT:  Linda (Rose Byrne) is a working mother with a sick child and she is a hot mess!

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Actress Rose Byrne is a therapist but she has more problems than her patients! Her emotions are anger, stress, drinking and drugging!  Byrne is great as woman who has too much on her plate.  Stunt casting the comic, late night host Conan O’ Brien is her therapist!  She funny and frightening at the same time. 

WHAT IS WRONG:  The director, Mary Bronstein tells the story in a strange way.  You may not understand it in the beginning but it is explained.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!!!  If you want to see GREAT acting!

NOMINATED FOR:

BEST ACTRESS

 

BLUE MOON

BIOGRAPHY/DRAMA 

PLOT:  This is a movie about the great songwriter Lorenz Hart who wrote songs like Lady Is a Tramp, Manhattan and Blue Moon.  His partner Richard Rogers who team up later with Oscar Hammerstein to create more outstanding songs.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Ethan Hawk is fantastic as Lorenz Hart!  He is talented but he drank too much, erratic and could be gay.  The setting is in Sadri’s Restaurant which was popular in the 40s after Hart watch Oklahoma.  He is a sad, creative person.  He wants to be better but his bad habits get in the way.  Bobby Cannavale as Eddie, the bartender is very funny.  He is a supporting character in films but he shines in this one.

WHAT IS WRONG:  It is not wrong but the film is like classic Hollywood.  You find out much about the character through dialogue.  It is like a play on film.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  If you like Lorenz Hart, his songs and Hawke’s performance a MUST SEE!

NOMINATED FOR:

BEST ACTOR

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

 

Fall Fantasies, Winter Washouts

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!

A Nobody But Bad Guys End of Summer

 

NOBODY #2

ACTION 

PLOT:    The sequel to Nobody.  His family goes on vacation but not crime and soon he is fighting for him and his family.

WHAT IS RIGHT:    Nobody (Bob Oderkirk) is very good as an average man who just wants an average vacation but always in danger.  Sharon Stone the villainess Lendina is great!  She seems to enjoy causing pain and cursing as well.  Daniel Bernhardt is great as her henchman Kartoush.  He is wonderful but unsung as the boss’s henchmen.

WHAT IS WRONG:  You know Nobody will get into trouble and resolve it in violence.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you like the Nobody franchise.  YES!

  

BAD GUYS #2

ANIMATION/COMEDY/ ADVENTURE 

PLOT:   The sequel to Bad Guys.  The team wants to be good guys now but it is hard but they are force to do an amazing heist to protect a friend.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The animated movie is like Mission Impossible full of fun and thrills.  It is very elaborate and clever!

WHAT IS WRONG:  Over done at times.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  It has it all!  Action, comedy and excitement.  It is VERY well done.

 

NAKED GUN 2025

ACTION COMEDY 

PLOT:   Frank Drebin Jr (Liam Neeson) stumbles into a case that is global proportions.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Aging action star Liam Neeson is great as a funny in comedy.  Pamela Anderson is very good as a mature femme fatal. CCH Pound is amusing as Chief Davis.  Danny Huston is still the bad guy but amusing as well.  Actors who usually do mostly dramas or thrillers are fantastic in this!  There is wordplay, slapstick and silly stuff at a rapid pace!

WHAT IS WRONG:  Some of the comedy is raunchy.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  It is a great update on the old Naked Gunn franchise.

 

RED SONYA

FANTASY/ADVENTURE 

PLOT:  The origin of the title character.  Different from the comic book and the 1985 film.

WHAT IS RIGHT:    Matilda Lutz (Revenge) is great as Red Sonja!  Yeah I know she is little in size but fierce in the fight scenes!  Robert Sheehan is the evil Emperor Dragan the Magnificent is effective and Rhona Mita as Petra who is in there briefly but was very good.

WHAT IS WRONG:  It is a shame it didn’t have a bigger budget.  It was done well but would have been better with adequate money.   

SUGGESTION:  If they make another Red Sonja I wish they would have her and another female warrior Xenia.  It would be worth watching.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  If you like sword and sorcery movies with a female lead  this is not bad.  If you watch the trailer it looks terrible but if you see the movie it is MUCH better.  It is a B-movie but a good B-movie. 

Summer Monsters, Zombies, Superheroes and Requels

LILO AND STITCH

FANTASY/ADVENTURE 

PLOT:   Live action remake of the cartoon.  Lonely young girl adopts a blue dog but it is really a destructive alien and it learns about family.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The young actress Maia Kealoha as Lilo.  She is cute, spunky and cares about her sister Nani who is played by Sydney Aqudoag who is young, wants to be a good sister, guardian  and trying to work.  Both actress are very good.  Stitch is computer generated and fun to watch even when doing gross things.  He is voiced by Chris Sanders and he is great!

WHAT IS WRONG:  The animated version was great without a remake.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!   If you enjoyed the animated version this version is just as good.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

FANTASY/ADVENTURE 

PLOT:  Live action remake of another Disney cartoon!  In the town of Berk, dragons are hated by Vikings but Hiccup, a creative young man befriends a dragon and they become good friends.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The visuals!!!  There are sequences of flight that take your breath away!  The cast is very well played.  If you enjoy giant monster fighting that is amazing!

WHAT IS WRONG:  Woke again but just a little.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  OH YES!!!  It is a delight for the eyes and the heart

JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH

ACTION/ADVENTURE

PLOT:  A drug company pays a group of mercenaries to get DNA from hybrid dinosaurs on yet another secluded island.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The dinosaurs  of course.  They are freakish than the past ones.  The fun is the people have to escape one crisis after another.  Scarlett Johansson as Zora is good as well as Mahershala Ali as Duncan leader of the mercenaries.  They become heroes reluctantly.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The first fifty minutes!  It sets up the story but it is slow.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you love the Jurassic franchise. YES!  It is fun because of the giant monsters.

28 YEARS LATER

SI-FI/THRILLER 

PLOT:  A small island in the UK successfully protects zombies from attacking them.  On one of Jamie (Aaron Taylor Johnson) and his 12 year old son Spike (Alfie Williams) may have found a doctor named Dr. Ian Kelson to help their sick family member Isla (Jodie Comer)

WHAT IS GOOD:  Alfie Williams as Spike.  He has to learn how to fight, take care of his mom and face danger with his dad. That’s a lot for a 12 year old but Williams pulls it off.  Johnson always finds his ways in movies whether they are successful or not!  Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Ian Kelson is great trying to live and keeps his humanity.  There are beautiful scenes in the film.

WHAT IS WRONG:   It is a downer.  Lots of sadness.  Mental illness, terminal illness and daily survival.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you like the first one YES!  It has beautiful visuals and sadistic violence.

  

SUPERMAN 2025

ACTION/ADVENTURE/FANTASY

PLOT:  A VERY DIFFERENT version of the man of steel.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  David Corenswet (!) isn’t bad as Superman.  He truly believes what he is doing is right!  Rachel Bronahan is good as Lois Lane, a reporter and Superman’s love interest.  Nicholas Hoult as the evil Lex Luthor is effective.  He is so obsessed with even Superman wonders what is wrong with him!  Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, a Green Lantern is very good even if his hair cut isn’t.  Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl is okay even though she doesn’t have much to do but when she does it is brutal!  Krypto, the CGI dog is adorable and annoying!  Ed Gathergi as Mr. Terrific is terrific!  I hope they make a movie about him!

WHAT IS WRONG:  Superman gets beat up often in the movie!  He is resilient  but he is hurt most of the time!  He swears too but not much and he is not Clark Kent a lot either and it is explained why he wears the glasses he doesn’t need.  The worst is Superman is called a bitch and not by Lex but someone close!

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you like the traditional Superman movies NO but if you want something new and unique this is for you.

 

M3GAN 2.0

ACTION/SCI-FI 

PLOT:     Megan, an AI robot that was “killed” must come back to fight a military female robot to save the world!

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Megan the robot is great!  She still has lewd humor, still can dance and knows how to kill.  The fights scenes are good.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The first film was a horror movie now it is an action thriller with two fem bots trying to kill each other!  I must say it is different.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you like the first movie this one will be a shock!  If you like the change in genre this one is you might like it too.

Final Sins, Reckonings, and Destinations

SINNERS

HORROR/ACTION 

PLOT:    Two black twin brothers buy a place to start a club in the south in 1932 but something evil arrives.

WHAT IS RIGHT:   The music is great as well as the cinematography. Michael B Jordan is good but the villain Remmick played by Jack O Connell is excellent.

WHAT IS WRONG:  Nothing happens for an hour.  It is a slow burn but the second hour is unbelievable!!!   It is something to be seen!  Jaw-dropping!   It is a different vampire movie I have EVER seen!

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you want something unique this film is it!

FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES

HORROR 

PLOT:  Young female college student must stop the cycle on her and her family that will be killed by Death.  The 6^th movie in the supernatural series.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The kills!  The slaughter of people are very elaborate and bloody!  The late Tony Todd in  his final appearance is very brief but good.  The plot does make horrific sense.

WHAT IS WRONG:    You seen one you have seen them all but kills become more imaginative.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you like these kinds of films it is better than most of them.  There is a saying in Hollywood that horror in the summer doesn’t sell.  This one is!

 

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FINAL RECKONING

ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLER 

PLOT:  Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team a device that could destroy the world.

WHAT IS RIGHT:    Tom Cruise doing the most fantastic stunts!  The film is over 2 ½ hours but it goes by very fast!  His team has newcomers and the original people from past films.  There is brief sadness in the film but the hero must fight on.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The stunts are great but it almost cartoonish as well as the villain.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you are a fan of this franchise YES!  I don’t think this is the last one but if it is it was done very well.

Spring Thunderbolts, Mines, Assassins and Working Men

THUNDERBOLTS*

SUPERHERO/ACTION/FANTASY 

PLOT:  Antiheroes come together to save the world.  Marvel’s version of Suicide Squad.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Florence Pugh as Yelena, she is an assassin who is ashamed and disgusted with her life.  She is strong most of the time and sad the rest.  David Harbour is great as Red Guardian, comic relief but has a serious side.  Julia Louis Dreyfus is very good as Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, head of  the CIA. She is charming but cunning and ruthless.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The hero/villain named Sentry.  He is VERY powerful  but ordinary when he is human.  His origin is amazing but you don’t know that until the end.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  OH YES!  To the reader of comics they may dislike some things but to the other audience who enjoy just excitement it is great.

DISNEY’S SNOW WHITE

MUSICAL/FANTASY 

PLOT:  Snow White must save her kingdom from the Evil Queen.  A remake of the animated classic.

WHAT IS GOOD:  Rachel Zegler has a lovely voice and Gal Gadot (Wonder Women) is wicked as the vain Queen.  It is beautiful to look at.  The dwarfs are very funny and the animals adorable.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The songs are NOT memorable!  The song, Hi Ho from the classic is cute but over the top!

SHOLD YOU WATCH:  It is not as bad as you think but with the budget for reshoots, the two leading actresses did not get along and there are some woke parts it could have been MUCH better!  Ms. Zegler is talented and she does have a right to speak her mind but not when you have to promote a big budget picture.

 

A WORKING MAN

ACTION 

PLOT:   Jason Statham is Levon Cade, a former Royal Marine who is now a construction worker and helps his boss find her daughter who was kidnapped.

WHAT IS GOOD:  Jason Statham!  He is good when he plays a tough guy to help others.  The fights are great.  Humor helps a lot.

WHAT IS BAD:  It’s a B-movie you have seen before.  Jason Statham plays the same type.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES if you are a fan of action films and of course, Jason Statham.

 

MINECRAFT

ADVENTURE/FANTASY/COMEDY 

PLOT:  Based on a video game Jack Black is Steve, a bored doorknob salesman who longs for something more and he goes in a mine and finds an orb he is taken to another world he can create his own world.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Jack Black and Jason Momoa as Garrett, a big guy who is video game champion but he also not so bright. The two are a great pair and make the movie fun!

WHAT IS WRONG:  It is very silly once they go to another world.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  If you like the video game but the performances of Momoa and Black are the two best reasons to go.  It is senseless but so entertaining

  

G20

ACTION/THRILLER

PRIME 

PLOT:  President Danielle Sutton (Viola Davis) goes to a summit with her family in South Africa and met with terrorists.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The talented actress Viola Davis as the president.  She is tough, funny and a concerning mother.  She brings humanity to the part.  Antony Starr (The Lost Boys) as the villain Rutledge is great.  Ramon Rodriguez as the prime Special Security Agent is all you want as a bodyguard: loyal.

WHAT IS WRONG:  There is a lot of “woke” in the film.  A black female president; her Latino as her Special Security Agent, the daughter is very smart, sassy and the bad guys are white.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  It is has a lot of suspense and action.  It is senseless but exciting.

Tacky Fangs, Oscar Noms, and Brave New Them Days

 

THE WOLFMAN

HORROR 

PLOT:  A different version of the classic creature.  A family man’s father dies and he goes to visit the home but is scratched by a werewolf.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The transformation is Great!  He slowly turns losing humanity in the process.  The acting is good and very creepy in some spots.  I do believe in years to come this will be a classic.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The design of the final werewolf is not so good.  Very disappointing but slightly better than the original design

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you are werewolf fan-NO.  It is different than most werewolf movies.  If you like blood and guts-this is NOT the movie for you either.

ONE OF THEM DAYS

COMEDY 

PLOT:   Dreux and Alyssa live together and the rent is due.  The two black women go through misadventures to pay the rent before time is up!

WHAT IS RIGHT:  Keke Palmer and singer Sza are great as good friends finding zany ways to get money. The rest of the cast is very amusing.

WHAT IS WRONG:  There are A LOT of black stereotypes!

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES.  It is very funny but it is very urban comedy.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD

SUPERHERO/ACTION/ADVENTURE 

PLOT:   Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is now the new Captain America and he has deal with President Thaddeus Ross to create another Avengers Team.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The cast!  Anthony Mackie is great as Sam Wilson who has doubts he can’t be like Steve Rogers.  Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) is good as Falcon.  He is funny but very smart.  Carl Lumby is fantastic as Isaiah Bradley who was a super solider who was imprisoned for 30 years and finally gets out.  Harrison Ford is very good as President Thaddeus Ross who is hiding something.  The action is also outstanding.

WHAT IS BAD:   The villain is okay not great.  Minor spoiler:  The Red Hulk is in the movie he and makes it count but very brief!   All the money for the reshoots and delays it should be slightly better but it is not terrible.

SHOULD YOU WATCH: YES!  It is stage one for Avengers 2.0 and I am hoping it will be fantastic!  The acting, the action is worth it.

PADDINGTON IN PERU

COMEDY/ADVENTURE 

PLOT:  Paddington must find Aunt Lucy who is missing and his human family The Browns help him find her.

WHAT IS GOOD:  The cast is fun to watch. The villains of Paddington series are amazing.  This time around is Olivia Colman as Reverend Mother who is bubbly but very bad.  Antonio Banderas is charming but devious as Hunter Cabot.

WHAT IS BAD:  Not as good as the last movie.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  OH YES!  Paddington is just an adorable, playful bear you want his to succeed no matter what.

Lions and Hunters, and Wars, Werewolves, Vampires, and Hedgehogs, Oh My!

KRAVEN THE HUNTER

ACTION/SUPERHERO 

PLOT:   Sergei Kravinoff aka the Hunter and his father have a terrible relationship.  Sergei is killed hunting animals but comes back to life by a potion given by Calypso and he can find anyone.

WHAT IS RIGHT:   The fight sequences are very well done!  Kraven  has powers to climb walls and is very strong.  He is very violent if he has to kill!

WHAT IS WRONG:  He is NOT an anti-hero!  He is a villain in the Spiderman comic book! The screenwriters did a lot of detail to make him an anti-hero but he is not!  Calypso is also a villain but that is not shown either. The movie should be shorter as well.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  It is a good  B-movie great but it would much better if he was just the bad guy. See it on DVD or Demand. 

  

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #3

3D AINMATION 

PLOT:   Sonic and his family and his team must fight a superior, vengeful version of Sonic called Shadow.

WHAT IS RIGHT:  The voice cast!  Keanu Reaves (John Wick series) as Shadow is amazing as an evil hedgehog out to destroy the world at any cost because of a past tragedy.   Jim Carry is again the goofy genius Robontik and he also plays his demented dad!

WHAT IS WRONG:  Jim Carrey can ham it up but it is still good.  Sometimes it is darker tone than the other two movies.

WEREWOLVES

HORROR ACTION

PLOT:   A supermoon caused a billion people to turn into werewolves the year before and scientists want to stop that from happening again.

WHAT IS GOOD:  Actor Frank Grillo is a soldier and a scientist who wants to protect sister-in-law and her daughter.  He is perfect rugged yet sympathetic.  The werewolves!  They are snarling, slaughtering and smart!

WHAT IS WRONG:  It is a crazy plot and it low budget.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  YES!  If you love werewolf movies it is B-movie GREAT!

NOSFERATU

HORROR

PLOT:   A chilling remake of the 1922 of the same name.

WHAT IS GOOD:  Actress Lily Rose Depp, daughter of actor Johnny Depp is over the top Ellen as the heroine who being stalked by a vampire Orlak who desires her.  The rest of the cast is good but Bill Skarsgard is terrifying as Orlak.  You see him in stages until the end.  His accent is a thick European and Darth Vader!  Lots of atmosphere and just eerie!

WHAT IS WRONG:  It is a slow burn yet the movie is over 2 hours but it seems much longer.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  If you like vampire movies and especially if you liked the original film for the director found a way to make it even creepier!

 

THE LORD OF THE RINGS:

ANIMATED

THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM

ACTION/ADVENTURE/FANTASY 

PLOT:  This story is before the fantastic trilogy of The Lord of the Rings of the heroine Hera helps protect and save her land from once a friend  now an enemy named Wulf.

WHAT IS GOOD:   The film is a visual delight!  I have seen Japanese anime but this is just terrific!  The voice actors are great as well.  Director Peter Jackson who did all the Lord of The Rings movies is executive producer.

WHAT IS WRONG:  The movie is based on a footnote of Tolkien and was made into a 2 hour film!  The lead is a woman and it is “woke” a bit.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  To the causal moviegoer it might be not interesting for this story is not popular like LOTR and to a Tolkien fan not good at all!  Wait for ON DEMAND or DVD but it beautiful looking.

MUFASA : THE LION KING

MUSICAL DRAMA 

PLOT:  Prequel of how Mufasa, before Simba became the lion king.

WHAT IS GOOD:   A visual delight!  The voice cast is great but who stands out is Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale, Wraith of the Titans) as the evil Kiros leader of the powerful white lions.

WHAT IS WRONG:   Songs not that memorable, flashbacks important but annoying.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:   Yes, if you like the other movies.

SHOULD YOU WATCH:  OH YES!  It is a very good third addition to the franchise.

Roman Thrillers and Killers, with Christmas Fillers

 

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.