Baby Driver

A talented, young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom.

Wow!  This was the best use of music I've ever seen in a movie.  The music was like the best character honestly.  It was so woven into the dialogue and pretty much every scene.  On top of that some awesome acting from all the tough guy/girl criminals and this was a very enjoyable, edgy ride.  At a time of year where it's usually nothing but over the top effects sequels or retreads and zero originality - this was a very enjoyable break from the norm.  

I would definitely recommend people check this out.  The writing, acting, directing and editing were all top notch and made this a great watch.

47 Meters Down

On the rebound after a devastating break-up, Lisa (Mandy Moore) is ready for adventure while on vacation in Mexico. Even still, she needs a little extra persuasion when her daring sister Kate (Claire Holt) suggests they go shark diving with some locals. Once underwater in a protective cage, Lisa and Kate catch a once in a lifetime, face-to-face look at majestic Great Whites. But when their worst fears are realized and the cage breaks away from their boat, they find themselves plummeting to the bottom of the seabed, too deep to radio for help without making themselves vulnerable to the savage sharks, their oxygen supplies rapidly dwindling. 

I thought that this was going to be a cheesy single camera type of movie.  Like Paranormal Activity underwater.  They had done one a few years back and I can't remember what it was called.  But it wasn't.  This was actually a pretty decent shark scare movie.  They didn't show you as much I'm sure because of budget reasons but they did a good enough job of building the tension and kept it at a super tight running time of under 90 minutes.

I would kind of recommend people checking this out. It's not a must see by any means but I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Rough Night

The stars play five best friends from college who reunite in Miami 10 years later for a wild bachelorette weekend. But when the partying ends up taking a dark turn and they accidentally kill a male stripper, the longtime friends are forced to put their heads together and cover up the accident.

This is absolutely one of those movies where if you have seen the commercial then you have seen the movie.  There were no big laughs that you had not already seen.  Honestly the movie really wasn't that funny at all.  There were a few scattered laughs here or there but not nearly enough to carry the whole movie.  

I wouldn't really recommend that anyone bother seeing this.  It's not worth the time or the money because you can just watch the two minute version on your tv during a commercial break.

Transformers: The Last Knight

The Last Knight shatters the core myths of the Transformers franchise, and redefines what it means to be a hero. Humans and Transformers are at war, Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Saving our world falls upon the shoulders of an unlikely alliance: Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg); Bumblebee; an English Lord (Sir Anthony Hopkins); and an Oxford Professor (Laura Haddock).

Congratulations, Michael Bay!   You have done the unthinkable.  You have manage to push the guy that pretty much sees EVERY movie that comes out to announce that I will absolutely not be seeing any more Transformers movies.  I couldn't even make it through this one.  I pushed to get to about the half way mark but then the list of things I could rather be doing was so massive that I just couldn't do it anymore.  This is just more of the same crap from the other Transformers sequels.  They try the Fast & Furious idea of bringing actors back to the franchise but nobody cares.  The script is so beyond painfully bad that I was groaning out loud within the first 5 minutes and never stopped.  The action is just over the top - tons of crap happening on the screen stuff.  And all of this kills me because the original Transformers is absolutely one of my favorite movies ever.  Never have I seen something get this much worse as it goes on.  I pray that people stop going to see this garbage so that they will stop making them.  

I would absolutely not recommend anyone see this.  It is pretty much a lock for worst movie of the year for me.   I'm literally annoyed even writing about it right now.  I've literally been shaking my head in disgust the whole time.

All Eyez On Me

All Eyez on Me tells the true and untold story of prolific rapper, actor, poet and activist Tupac Shakur. The film follows Shakur from his early days in New York City to his evolution into being one of the world’s most recognized and influential voices before his untimely death at the age of 25. Against all odds, Shakur’s raw talent, powerful lyrics and revolutionary mind-set propelled him into becoming a cultural icon whose legacy continues to grow long after his passing.

After Straight Outta Compton, I was kind of excited about this movie.  I remember growing up during all of this and even though I was never really the biggest fan of Tupac, I wanted to see how they covered everything.  I ended up royally disappointed.  Outside of the fact that the actor really looked like Tupac, this movie was a giant waste of time.  The acting and storytelling was mailed in.  Most of the huge events were just cutaways to news reporters telling about it.  And why in the blue hell did this movie have to be almost 2 1/2 hours long when it breezed through so much!?!

I would definitely not recommend people waste their time with this.  It was a major disappointment and pretty much just mailed in trying to cash in on the success and great job done on Straight Outta Compton.

Cars 3

Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!

This was an excellent rebound for this franchise.  Cars 2 is pretty much recognized as the one big turd that Pixar has ever made.  They pretty much made that movie as a blatant attempt to sell a bunch of merchandise.  Everything about it was very much mailed in.   This movie is absolutely the worthy sequel to Cars.  This had all the same writing and emotional hooks that the original did and was a very pleasant surprise since I had gone in to it expecting another turd in an animation franchise that I have never really been hooked by even though I liked the original. 

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a very enjoyable family film with great messages for kids and adults alike.

The Book Of Henry

Sometimes things are not always what they seem, especially in the small suburban town where the Carpenter family lives. Single suburban mother Susan Carpenter (Naomi Watts) works as a waitress at a diner, alongside feisty family friend Sheila (Sarah Silverman). Her younger son Peter (Jacob Tremblay) is a playful 8-year-old. Taking care of everyone and everything in his own unique way is Susan’s older son Henry (Jaeden Lieberher), age 12, whose creativity is without limits. Protector to his adoring younger brother and tireless supporter of his often self-doubting mother – and, through investments, of the family as a whole – Henry blazes through the days like a comet. Susan discovers that the family next door, which includes Henry’s kind classmate, 12-year-old Christina (Maddie Ziegler), has a dangerous secret – and that Henry has devised a surprising plan to help. As his brainstormed rescue plan for Christina takes shape in thrilling ways, Susan finds herself at the center of it.

Wow!   This movie is the dictionary definition of being all over the place.  This was like three very different movies in one.  They should have picked what type of movie they wanted it to be and gone with that.  The kid actors were great.  Honestly - so was the mom.  But the story was something that the great acting simply could not solve.

I doubt anyone will be seeing this regardless since it came out very strangely in summer and will be buried, but nobody really should bother anyway.   It was an unfortunate disappointment because with proper direction this could have been a really good movie.

It Comes At Night

Imagine the end of the world— Now imagine something worse.  Award-winning filmmaker Trey Edward Shults follows his incredible debut feature "Krisha" with It Comes At Night, a horror film following a man (Joel Edgerton) as he learns that the evil stalking his family home may be only a prelude to horrors that come from within.  Secure within a desolate home as an unnatural threat terrorizes the world, the tenuous domestic order he has established with his wife and son is put to the ultimate test with the arrival of a desperate young family seeking refuge.  Despite the best intentions of both families, paranoia and mistrust boil over as the horrors outside creep ever-closer, awakening something hidden and monstrous within him as he learns that the protection of his family comes at the cost of his soul.

This was a well done psychological thriller but is very much not a mainstream movie.  There is no straight delivery of fear or answers to any questions.  Almost all of the tension is built between the creepy score and the filming style of slowly zooming in during tense situations. The it from the title refers more to the unknown or paranoia about it.  And that is what all the suspense and fright in this movie is about.  

This was a pretty well done movie that a lot of people with different expectations will end up not liking.  Knowing that it is a thinker instead of just a scary movie might help.  I liked it but didn't love it.

Captain Underpants

Based on the worldwide sensation and bestselling book series, and boasting an A-list cast of comedy superstars headed by Kevin Hart and Ed Helms, DreamWorks Animation brings audiences the long-awaited global movie event, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.  This raucously subversive comedy for the entire family tells the story of two overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold, who hypnotize their principal into thinking he's a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants.

This was a pretty funny and cute kids movie.  It's not like most Pixar or Dreamworks Animation movies that are made for the adults just as much as they are for the kids.  It's definitely a kids movie but it's still very enjoyable because of the characters and storytelling bits that they sprinkled in here and there.  

I would definitely recommend all families checking this out.  Lots of laughs and good times with you and the kids.  

The Mummy

Thought safely entombed in a crypt deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient queen whose destiny was unjustly taken from her, is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.  From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.

This was an old school summer popcorn movie.  Lots of action.  Lots of effects.  Mix in some humor.  Totally done to set up a sequel (or in this case the whole "Dark Universe").  I grew up loving movies like this so I was definitely able to enjoy this for what it is.  Was it game changing for the monster genre?  No.  But it didn't have to be.  It moved along well enough.  It did a good job introducing the whole monsters thing that Universal is starting.  I enjoyed it for what it was.

I would recommend people checking this out just because it's an enjoyable ride.  If you have high hopes of being blown away or whatever though it will most likely disappoint you.  

Wonder Woman

Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.

This was easily - and by far - DC Universe's best offering so far.  This felt a lot more like a Marvel origins movie than the rushed and way too CGI method that DC tends to do.  They still went a little overboard towards the end in terms of the CGI stuff but the movie had massively already won me over by that point.  I was also very wrong in having low expectations for Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.  She turned out to be awesome in this role.  Hopefully, DC can learn from this movie and start producing more high level and rewatchable comic book movies.  See how great following the Marvel template can actually be?

I would absolutely recommend everyone checking this one out.  It is a very fun ride and definitely meets all the hype leading up to it.  Very pleasantly surprised.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazer (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea – notably Jack. Jack’s only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Benton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifull small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has never faced.

This is a blatant attempt  at trying to pull a Fast & Furious with the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise.  They are trying to go back to the storytelling and action that made it a success in the first place and they are bringing back characters that had previously left it to try and revive it.  It kind of works.  I mean this one is definitely better than the 4th one and is kind of on par with the 2nd and 3rd entries but its still nowhere near the original.  It's just kind of more of the same.  It's not like Fast Five was in bringing that franchise to a whole other level.  It's just more of another entry that sets up yet another one.  

I would kind of recommend people checking this out.  It's a decent watch if you like the Pirates movies but not a must see by any means.

Baywatch

Baywatch follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Johnson) as he butts heads with a brash new recruit (Efron). Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.

Not going to sugarcoat this one.  This is a bad, bad movie.  Like really bad.  Disappointingly bad.  That being said - all the critics that are panning it as a horrible tv show to movie adaption are clearly forgetting just how bad of a show Baywatch was.  It technically did a great job of adapting the show.  The problem with this is that they didn't follow the same formula that 21 Jump Street did with not taking itself to seriously.  And I never thought I would say this in my life - but The Rock was the problem.  His banter with Zac Efron was honestly the only thing that kept this movie afloat and those were the scenes where his character wasn't being portrayed to seriously.  But outside of that his seriousness was a dead weight that wouldn't allow the movie to break loose fully comedy wise.  

I am sad to say that I wouldn't really recommend people watching this.  It really was disappointing because the commercials for it were so damn funny.  Sad.

Alien: Covenant

Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with Alien: Covenant, a new chapter in his groundbreaking "Alien" franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

This is a tough one to review.  Overall - the movie was pretty good.  Good story and the alien stuff was awesome.  Probably the best it's been since Aliens honestly.  The problem - and I never thought I would say this - was Michael Fassbender.  Or I guess his character.  It was like a momentum killer every time he showed up on screen and I can't say much more without giving too much away but it seemed like he was the bad guy and the aliens were just his henchmen as the movie went on.  It was very weird.  

It's not that I didn't like the movie.  I liked the stuff that was alien in nature.  That stuff was awesome.  There was just too many pacing issues with all the Fassbender stuff and all of that was done in a way where it was predictable too.  I would still recommend people check this out.  Just know that this is very much a Prometheus sequel - although not really advertised as one - and your liking of this will depend very heavily on how much you liked that movie.

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

In Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, based on the record-breaking book series, a family road trip to attend Meemaw's 90th birthday party goes hilariously off course--thanks to Greg's newest scheme to (finally!) become famous.  

I read all the books and enjoyed the first couple of movies a lot.  But the recasting of everyone in the movie killed the franchise for me.  Especially Rowley and Rodrick.  It just was not the same at all.  Very sad.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone going to see this.  It's a shame because I really liked the old family/movies.

Everything, Everything

What if you couldn’t touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun warm your face…or kiss the boy next door? Everything, Everything tells the unlikely love story of Maddy, a smart, curious and imaginative 18-year-old who due to an illness cannot leave the protection of the hermetically sealed environment within her house, and Olly, the boy next door who won’t let that stop them. Maddy is desperate to experience the much more stimulating outside world, and the promise of her first romance. Gazing through windows and talking only through texts, she and Olly form a deep bond that leads them to risk everything to be together…even if it means losing everything.

Decent watch for a teenage girl movie pretty much.  Basically if you saw the trailer - you saw the movie.  There is a little twist that you kind of see coming regardless but I won't spoil it.  There really is not much more to say about this movie.

I would recommend any females between the age of 12 and 17 check this out.  Outside of that there really is no reason to see this.

Snatched

After her boyfriend dumps her on the eve of their exotic vacation, impetuous dreamer Emily Middleton (Amy Schumer) persuades her ultra-cautious mother, Linda (Goldie Hawn) to travel with her to paradise. Polar opposites, Emily and Linda realize that working through their differences as mother and daughter - in unpredictable, hilarious fashion - is the only way to escape the wildly outrageous jungle adventure they have fallen into.

I wanted this to be a hilarious movie where you didn't already see all the funny stuff in the commercials.  But that was really not to be.  The movie was definitely watchable and there were some big laughs.  The chemistry between the leads was great but they really did give away way too much in the commercials.

I would sort of recommend people checking this out.  It's not great.  It's not bad.  It's just sort of good but you really feel like you have already seen the whole movie with the 3 minute trailer.

King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword

Guy Ritchie brings his dynamic style to the epic fantasy action adventure King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Starring Charlie Hunnam in the title role, the film is an iconoclastic take on the classic Excalibur myth, tracing Arthur’s journey from the streets to the throne. When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern (Jude Law), Arthur’s uncle, seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy…whether he likes it or not.

This movie started off very choppy and annoying.  The whole explanation of the father and uncle fighting and what not was way too rushed and had a lot of mage effects that were annoying.  Once it got to where Charlie Hunnam was King Arthur, the movie was actually very enjoyable.  The only times that it fell off again was any time that they went hard into the mage effects again.  It really kind of ruined what could have been an awesome movie and ended up making it and up and down enjoyable movie because the parts with King Arthur and his men with all the bickering really was great.  I have always been a huge fan of Charlie Hunnam and he was perfect in this.

I would recommend people checking this out.  Just be aware that the mage stuff is all kind of eh but everything around that stuff is great.

The Circle

The Circle is a gripping modern thriller, set in the not-too-distant future, starring Emma Watson (Harry Potter films), Tom Hanks (Sully) and John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens). When Mae (Emma Watson) is hired to work for the world's largest and most powerful tech & social media company, she sees it as an opportunity of a lifetime. As she rises through the ranks, she is encouraged by the company's founder, Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks), to engage in a groundbreaking experiment that pushes the boundaries of privacy, ethics and ultimately her personal freedom. Her participation in the experiment, and every decision she makes begin to affect the lives and future of her friends, family and that of humanity.

I don't understand why the reviews for this movie were so bad.  Maybe it was that the reviewers are people that were all in on social media and what not?  I don't take part in any social media at all because of this exact kind of thing shown in this movie.  How pervasive and intrusive it all ends up being.  I thought this was actually a pretty good movie and it felt like an extended and more mainstream episode of a series called Black Mirror - which anyone who has not watched - really should!   I liked the cast and thought Emma Watson continued to show her acting chops with going back and forth on her feelings about The Circle. 

I would recommend people checking this movie out.  It's not a must see by any means but it was nowhere near as bad as the critics had made it out to seem.

Sleight

A young street magician (Jacob Latimore) is left to care for his little sister after their parents' passing and turns to illegal activities to keep a roof over their heads. When he gets in too deep, his sister is kidnapped and he is forced to use his magic and brilliant mind to save her.

The movie was a pretty good idea.  Unfortunately, it was too slowly aced at the start and fell flat before getting to the finish line.  They did a good job of hooking you with the characters but there was little else substance to this movie.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's not worth the time or money.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.

Once again, Marvel doesn't make bad movies.  They have once again taken what should be a massive sci-fi specific audience into a blockbuster movie with appeal to all audiences.  It's also one of their funnier movies.  I can't tell you how many times this movie had me belly laughing.  Rocket The Raccoon was just as great in this one as the first one.  Baby Groot was definitely more entertaining than in the first.  But Drax completely stole the show in this one.  Still can't believe how former wrestler Batista is so great in this role.  The only knocks I'll make against it is that the group was not on screen together enough and that Chris Pratt's character had way too much solo screen time.  Can't wait to see these characters on screen with the rest of the Avengers.

This movie is a great way to kick off the summer.  It's a very enjoyable roller coaster ride and is another example of Marvel's excellence.

Unforgettable

Tessa Connover (Katherine Heigl) is barely coping with the end of her marriage when her ex-husband, David (Geoff Stults), becomes happily engaged to Julia Banks (Rosario Dawson)—not only bringing Julia into the home they once shared but also into the life of their daughter, Lilly (Isabella Rice). Trying to settle into her new role as a wife and a stepmother, Julia believes she has finally met the man of her dreams, the man who can help her put her own troubled past behind her. But Tessa’s jealousy soon takes a pathological turn until she will stop at nothing to turn Julia’s dream into her ultimate nightmare.

This movie's title is  a total lie.  I had forgotten all about the movie by the time I got to the car.  You literally have seen the movie by watching the trailer for it.  There are no surprises or suspense whatsoever.  It's the same tired story of an obsessed ex.  Why do they bother churning these out without trying to put any sort of effort into making it interesting?

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It's a huge waste of time and should have been called Beyond Forgettable.

Free Fire

Free Fire centers around an arms deal that goes spectacularly and explosively wrong. Justine (Larson) has brokered a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two Irishmen and a gang led by Vernon and Ord, who are selling them a stash of guns. But when shots are fired during the handover, complete pandemonium ensues, with everyone at the scene suddenly thrust into a heart-stopping game of survival..

This movie was pretty much just a massively over the top story of things going crazy when a collection of criminals are gathered in the same area.  There wasn't really any rhyme or reason to this movie but it's over the topness made it somewhat entertaining at times.  But ultimately it was just 90 minutes of watching people crawl around trying to shoot at each other. 

I would not really recommend anyone rushing to go see this in theaters or spending money on it.  It's not worth that at all.  Watch it when it's on cable or something and get a few laughs at the absurdity of it all.

The Lost City Of Z

Based on author David Grann’s nonfiction bestseller,The Lost City of Z tells the incredible true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who journeys into the Amazon at the dawn of the 20th century and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific establishment who regard indigenous populations as “savages,” the determined Fawcett — supported by his devoted wife (Sienna Miller), son (Tom Holland) and aide-de-camp (Robert Pattinson) — returns time and again to his beloved jungle in an attempt to prove his case, culminating in his mysterious disappearance in 1925.

This was a very well done movie and told the story pretty well.  The problem was the up and down pacing of it.  The movie was super slow and drawn out at times.  Like you would actually feel like you were part of this for years.  Then it would speed up and become pretty intense, but then go back to the snail's pace approach.  It was very difficult to get too into the movie because of this.  I thought that Charlie Hunnam was great and have always been a fan.  The movie was just missing a complete hook to keep the viewers interested.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this movie in theaters.  It's not really a bad movie but it ends up just kind of being there and not worth the time/money.  Check it out when it shows up on cable or something.

The Zookeeper's Wife

The real-life story of one working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II. In 1939 Poland, Antonina Żabińska (portrayed by two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (Johan Heldenbergh), have the Warsaw Zoo flourishing under his stewardship and her care. When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are stunned – and forced to report to the Reich’s newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck (Daniel Brühl). To fight back on their own terms, Antonina and Jan covertly begin working with the Resistance – and put into action plans to save lives out of what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, with Antonina putting herself and even her children at great risk.

I was enjoying this movie and the story very much for the first 3/4 of the movie even though it takes you to a time that I try to think about as little as possible.  They did a good job of taking you there and you felt rooted in the importance of what the characters were doing to help and what not.  For some reason the last 1/4 of the movie just felt very rushed.  It was like they took all this time to develop everything and then flew through all the payoff and what not.  It was kind of disappointing at the end of what really was a great movie.

I would still recommend people checking this out.  It's definitely an enjoyable watch but just kind of disappointing towards the end with the quick rush for closure and what not.

The Fate Of The Furious

Now that Dom and Letty are on their honeymoon and Brian and Mia have retired from the game—and the rest of the crew has been exonerated—the globetrotting team has found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman (Oscar winner Charlize Theron) seduces Dom into the world of crime he can’t seem to escape and a betrayal of those closest to him, they will face trials that will test them as never before.  From the shores of Cuba and the streets of New York City to the icy plains off the arctic Barents Sea, our elite force will crisscross the globe to stop an anarchist from unleashing chaos on the world’s stage…and to bring home the man who made them a family.

This is just more of the same awesome popcorn fun as the others.  They used The Rock much more which you can pretty much never go wrong doing.  The did an excellent job with the use of Jason Statham.  He really ended up being on a level with Tyrese in terms of producing laughs.  Tyrese was still great too.  Charlize Theron was surprisingly great as the villain.  The action was crazy over the top as always but there were at least three action sequences that had me staring at the screen in awe, clapping and laughing.  I love this franchise.

I recommend that everyone suspend their disbelief and enjoy the ride of these movies.  They are pure popcorn entertainment at their finest.

Going In Style

Oscar winners Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin team up as lifelong buddies Willie, Joe and Al, who decide to buck retirement and step off the straight-and-narrow for the first time in their lives when their pension fund becomes a corporate casualty, in director Zach Braff’s comedy Going in Style.  Desperate to pay the bills and come through for their loved ones, the three risk it all by embarking on a daring bid to knock off the very bank that absconded with their money.

This is a dime a dozen kind of movie.  If you saw the trailer, you pretty much saw the movie. It's not a bad movie.  It's actually a pretty enjoyable movie with well developed characters and chemistry between them.  It's paced well and definitely leaves you with a feel good feeling.  It's just that there is nothing you dont already know what is going to happen.

I would sort of recommend people watching this.  Not sure it's really worth the time or money even though it's a decent watch.  Maybe wait for free access to it.

Gifted

Frank Adler (Chris Evans) is a single man raising a child prodigy – his spirited young niece Mary (Mckenna Grace) – in a coastal town in Florida. Frank’s plans for a normal school life for Mary are foiled when the seven-year-old’s mathematical abilities come to the attention of Frank’s formidable mother Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan) whose plans for her granddaughter threaten to separate Frank and Mary. Octavia Spencer plays Roberta, Frank and Mary’s landlady and best friend. Jenny Slate is Mary’s teacher, Bonnie, a young woman whose concern for her student develops into a connection with her uncle as well.

There are times when blatant heart string movies are insulting with how desperately they attempt to hook your emotions.  And then there are times when they are done just right and even though the movie is beyond predictable and formula, it is an excellent watch.  I felt like Gifted is much more of the latter.  They got me very invested in the story and characters.  They did a great job of showing how family should be even if it wasn't an ideal situation.  

I very much enjoyed this movie and recommend people check it out.  It's a great character drama about doing the right thing and listening to your heart.

Smurfs: The Lost Village

In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!

This was a cute movie for kids.  I kind of feel like The Smurfs have run out of steam since being rebooted a couple years back but the movies are still entertaining for kids.  This is clearly one of those family movies where the parents suffer for the sake of their children pretty much.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bother with this movie unless you are looking for something to do with your kids.  Even then - you might be better off seeing Beauty & The Beast or Boss Baby again instead.  

The Boss Baby

DreamWorks Animation and the director of Madagascar invite you to meet a most unusual baby. He wears a suit, speaks with the voice and wit of Alec Baldwin, and stars in the animated comedy, DreamWorks' The Boss Baby.  The Boss Baby is a hilariously universal story about how a new baby's arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator, a wildly imaginative 7 year old named Tim. With a sly, heart-filled message about the importance of family, DreamWorks' The Boss Baby is an authentic and broadly appealing original comedy for all ages.

This was a very cute and enjoyable movie.   It was almost exactly what you would expect from seeing the trailer in terms of laughs.  The surprise was that it actually had a really good story in terms of having a teachable moment with your kids about little sisters or brothers.  The voices were good, the movie was paced well and most importantly - the nieces I went with to see it really liked it.  

I would definitely recommend families checking this out.  It's not a top level animated movie like Pixar and most other Dreamworks offerings but it is definitely the type of animated movie where your kids will enjoy it and so will you.  Its definitely not one of those suffer through it for your kids type of movies.

Ghost In The Shell

Based on the internationally-acclaimed sci-fi property, Ghost in the Shell follows the Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology. The film is based on the famous Kodansha Comics manga series of the same name, written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow.

This movie was excellent visually.  They did an incredible job of taking you into this world and making you feel that you are really there.  The action was great and the chemistry between Johansson and her partner was also very well done.  Unfortunately, the pacing of the story was slow as hell and there were several points throughout where the movie dragged tremendously.  It ended up being one of those hour and 45 minute movies that felt more like 2 1/2 hours.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this movie out.  It was great visually but kind of rough story wise.

Chips

Jon Baker (Dax Shepard) and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello (Michael Peña) have just joined the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Los Angeles but for very different reasons. Baker is a beaten up pro motorbiker trying to put his life and marriage back together. Poncherello is a cocky undercover Federal agent investigating a multi-million dollar heist that may be an inside job—inside the CHP. The inexperienced rookie and hardened pro are teamed together, but clash more than click, so kickstarting a partnership is easier said than done. But with Baker’s bike skills combined with Ponch’s street savvy it might just work…if they don’t drive each other crazy along the way.

This movie was pretty much garbage.  I expected nothing from the movie and got even less.  Don't remember laughing at all.  I have no clue what the point of this movie was or why in the blue hell they thought that the world was missing a Chips reboot.  It wasn't.  

I would recommend that absolutely nobody waste their time with this.  I still don't know how I made it to the end without pulling the plug early.

Power Rangers

Saban's Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover that they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late.

Whether you like this movie or not might depend on how much of a fan boy or fan girl you are of the franchise.  I was a lukewarm fan of the Power Rangers when I was younger so I thought the movie was a pretty good watch.  They did a decent enough job of developing the characters and the story.  The action was better and didn't cross over into Transformers land of special effects vomit to the point of not being able to tell what was actually happening.  

I don't know if this one will satisfy the die hard fans or not but I was able to enjoy it.  I'd recommend people checking it out.  It was a pretty good reboot.

Life

Life is a terrifying sci-fi thriller about a team of scientists aboard the International Space Station whose mission of discovery turns to one of primal fear when they find a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars, and now threatens the crew and all life on Earth.

This movie is exactly what you would think from the trailer for it.  It's a wannabe Alien.  That doesn't mean it's bad or anything.  It's definitely a decent watch.  But there is pretty much nothing original or not predictable about the story or any of its characters.  

I'd somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It's a decent watch but really just a retread of a story told several times already.

The Belko Experiment

In a twisted social experiment, a group of 80 Americans are locked in their high-rise corporate office in Bogata, Colombia and ordered by an unknown voice coming from the company's intercom system to participate in a deadly game of kill or be killed.

This was basically a slightly tweaked version of The Purge.  Same basic violent concept with a different setup of how to get there.  The movie was enjoyable for what it was.  If you like movies like The Purge, then this one won't disappoint you.  Lots of crazy violence.  Lots of people cracking under pressure.  Lots of uncomfortable laughs from the panicked participants.  

Again - I would recommend this movie to anyone that enjoyed The Purge or any of the sequels.  If you can turn your brain off and enjoy movies like that, this is an enjoyable watch.  If not - you shouldn't go near this with a ten foot pole.

T2: Trainspotting

Striking with preemptive speed, TriStar Pictures has acquired the worldwide rights to Danny Boyle’s much-anticipated sequel to Trainspotting.  T2 Trainspotting, based on characters created by Irvine Welsh, reunites director Danny Boyle with screenwriter John Hodge and all of the principal cast of the 1996 film—Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner and Robert Carlyle will reprise the iconic roles of Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie.

I don't want to say that this movie was disappointing.  I will go with it just being much different than what I expected.  The best part of the original Trainspotting was the manic way that it was filmed where you kind of felt like you were on the same drugs as the characters and you went along for the crazy ride and perceptions of the world through their eyes.  This movie didn't touch any of that with a ten foot pole.  The closest that they came to it was random side vignettes.  This movie was more about how none of the characters had changed in the last 20 years and it kind of made the movie more depressing than manic and hopeful like the first one.  It was still a watchable movie and pretty decent for what it was.  It was just very different and more mellow than I had expected.

I would still recommend any fans of the original and these characters check it out because the familiarity with them is what still makes the movie good even with its way different tone and what not.  Just go into it with very different expectations.

Rock Dog

For the Tibetan Mastiffs living on Snow Mountain, a dog’s life has a simple riff: Guard a peaceful village of wool-making sheep from the thuggish wolf Linnux (Lewis Black) and his rabid pack. To avoid distractions, Mastiff leader Khampa (J.K. Simmons) forbids all music from the mountain. But when Khampa’s son Bodi (Luke Wilson) discovers a radio dropped by a passing airplane, it takes just a few guitar licks for his fate to be sealed: Bodi wants to be a rock ‘n’ roll star. Yet that means defying his father’s wishes, heading to the city, and locating the legendary – and reclusive – musician Angus Scattergood (Eddie Izzard), who needs to write a new song and fast.  If Bodi can put a band together, help Angus with his song, and defeat the wolves’ plot to take Snow Mountain, his life will be in tune. Bodi will become what he’s always dreamed of being: More than a dog … more than a Rock God… he’ll be a ROCK DOG!

Wow!  This is easily one of the most boring animated movies I've seen in a long time.  And I'm pretty much a huge fan of them.  This movie had no hook.  No characters that stick with you.  And you can't even say that it was no good for adults because it's technically a kids movie anyway because the story is kind of too over the head of kids too.  It wanted to be a Pixar or Dreamworks animation type of movie with parents liking it as much as the kids but pretty much massively missed on both fronts.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  I honestly only watched it because it showed up online and I was bored out of my mind watching it.

Beauty And The Beast

The beloved tale will be retold for the big screen with a modern live-action lens and the help of transformative CG magic. Emma Watson and Dan Stevens will star as Belle and the Beast/Prince respectively, and Luke Evans will play the role of Gaston. Emma Thompson has joined the cast as Mrs. Potts and Kevin Kline as Belle's father, Maurice.

This was easily one of Disney's better live action remakes of their classic animated movies.  I still think that overall Jungle Book is still the best but that was pretty much entirely CGI with the animals.  With the actors included - this one becomes the best one that they have done so far.  All the classic songs were there and they did a really good job of capturing the characters quirks that made you love the animated versions from back in the day.  Emma Watson was perfectly cast along with Luke Evans as Gaston and Josh Gad  as his sidekick that literally stole every scene that he was in.  There are some scenes in this live action version that will terrify the younger kids but it was a very enjoyable watch and will probably end up being the biggest movie of this year that doesn't have Star Wars in the title. 

I absolutely recommend everyone checking this out.  It's rare that remakes are enjoyable as this one was.

The Shack

Based on the New York Times best-selling novel, The Shack takes us on a father’s uplifting spiritual journey. After suffering a family tragedy, Mack Phillips (Sam Worthington) spirals into a deep depression causing him to question his innermost beliefs. Facing a crisis of faith, he receives a mysterious letter urging him to an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Despite his doubts, Mack journeys to the shack and encounters an enigmatic trio of strangers led by a woman named Papa (Octavia Spencer). Through this meeting, Mack finds important truths that will transform his understanding of his tragedy and change his life forever.

To say that I am not really a spiritual or religious person is a massive understatement.  Movies like this tend to make me roll my eyes and pretty much lose my attention very easily.  This was all prior to the last year and a half.  After all of that my faith is even more shattered and I find it very difficult to believe in things spiritually.  All of that being said - this movie was like a roundhouse kick to the side of the head.  This movie connected with me more than I could have possibly imagined.  The Mack character was saying things and asking questions about God and faith that I have been.  There were so many points throughout this movie that were gut shots and really made me think about things.  

I would actually recommend people checking this out.  It was so much better than I thought I would and really tries to help people see things in a different light.

Kong: Skull Island

The producers of Godzilla reimagine the origins of one the most powerful monster myths of all in “Kong: Skull Island.” This compelling, original adventure tells the story of a diverse team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers uniting to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific, as dangerous as it is beautiful. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden in which humanity does not belong.

If you are a fan of monster movies - this was a very enjoyable watch.  Plenty of excellent action and it was quality.  No gimmicky half showing of things or shaky camera work to compensate for the effects.  The effects were legit and not just quick shots and moving on.  These were pretty extended fights that you can't help but be in awe of.  The characters were not necessarily over developed which also helped make the movie enjoyable because you are really just there for the crazy monster stuff.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this bad boy out.  It was a very fun watch and it looks like the Monsterverse is going to be in full effect moving forward.  This was a great follow up to Godzilla from a few years back.

Before I Fall

What if you had only one day to change absolutely everything? Samantha Kingston has everything: the perfect friends, the perfect guy, and a seemingly perfect future. Then, everything changes. After one fateful night, Sam wakes up with no future at all. Trapped reliving the same day over and over, she begins to question just how perfect her life really was. As she begins to untangle the mystery of a life suddenly derailed, she must also unwind the secrets of the people closest to her, and discover the power of a single day to make a difference, not just in her own life, but in the lives of those around her--before she runs out of time for good.

This movie was based on a young adult novel and you could totally tell.  That being said - it was pretty well told of the girl reliving the same day before she dies over and over again in order to see the wrongs that she needs to right to be at peace.  The characters were done just good enough to make you not lose interest.  

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to see this but I will admit it was a better watch than I had expected going in.

Logan

In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

This was a great, great movie.  It was an excellent ode to Hugh Jackman playing Wolverine for 17 years.  However - it was absolutely NOT an X-Men movie.  I can totally understand people going into this with those kinds of expectations being massively disappointed with this movie.  There were virtually no sci-fi special effects.  The action was very straight forward and they loved having the R rating and not having to hold back.  There was no futuristic cinematography.  Everything was very barren backgrounds and what not.  This movie was basically a legit movie about getting older and coming to terms with it but starring Wolverine.  There really is no other way to describe it.  In terms of acting and actual screenwriting - this is the best  of the X-Men movies. 

If you are able to see it for that, you will be able to really appreciate this movie.  If you are looking for a heavy special effects popcorn movie that X-Men has become known for - you will be heavily disappointed.