Second Act

Second Act is a comedy in the vein of "Working Girl" and "Maid In Manhattan." Jennifer Lopez stars as Maya, a 40-year-old woman struggling with frustrations from unfulfilled dreams. Until, that is, she gets the chance to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts, and that it is never too late for a Second Act.

Never in a million years did I imagine that I would enjoy this movie as much as I did.  I totally expected a run of the mill formula and predictable movie.  And honestly for the most part - it absolutely was exactly that.  However, the chemistry between all the actors really made this movie a lot of fun.  You get hooked by the relationships.  There are plenty of laughs - especially from Leah Remini as the best friend and how she talks to her kids.

I would actually recommend people checking this out.  Again - never expected to be saying that after seeing this but this was a very, very enjoyable comedy even though you know exactly how its all going to play out from the start.  

Holmes & Watson

"Holmes & Watson" will feature Will Ferrell as the 21B Baker Street sleuth, with John C. Reilly playing Dr. Watson.

This movie was just as silly and pointless as the trailer made it out to be.  Luckily it was super short so you are able to enjoy the great chemistry between these two guys a little bit.  But totally not enough to warrant spending money on this.  It was pretty much just a money grab of cashing in on these guys history together.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bother with this movie.  It's nowhere near the level of their previous offerings like Step Brothers or Talladega Nights.  

Welcome To Marwen

Robert Zemeckis directs Steve Carell, based on Jeff Malmberg's 2010 doc "Marwencol," which followed a man who builds a miniature WWII-era village with action figures and dolls as a way to recover from a violent assault. The studio is describing the project as “one broken man’s fight as he discovers how artistic imagination can restore the human spirit.”

This one is a tough movie to review.  On one hand - the movie was massively flawed in several ways.  They should have developed the side characters more so the audience could get to know them better outside of the doll versions.  They should have been more selective with how often they went into the doll world or not had the same kind of battles when they went there over and over.  They shouldn't have tried so blatantly to pull heartstrings and let it be more organic.   All of that being said - I still really enjoyed this movie.  I think that the story is amazing and really told itself.  Anyone who has studied psychology or anything related to that field won't be able to help but be intrigued by watching the character struggle with his therapy in such a specific and unique way.  That part I really enjoyed and it hit home.

I would recommend people check this out.  It is an enjoyable watch.  It definitely could have been better but it was still enjoyable for me regardless.  

Mary Poppins Returns

In Disney's Mary Poppins Returns, an all new sequel with a fresh sensibility that celebrates the spirit of the original, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light -- and life -- to the streets of London.

This was a very decent watch.   The music was good.  Emily Blunt was great as Mary Poppins.  It will easily be the family film of the holidays this year.  The only problem is that there isn't much else to say about it.  It's not amazing.  It's not a must see.  It's not bad at all.  It's just kind of there and a redo of sorts of the first Mary Poppins.  

I would still recommend anyone with kids check this out - just like the first one.  It is an awesome family movie that drives home lots of points.  But honestly - it doesn't massively stick with you or anything outside of how good Emily Blunt is which is pretty much accurate for anything she does.

Aquaman

An icon for over 70 years, Aquaman is the King of the Seven Seas. This reluctant ruler of Atlantis, caught between a surface world constantly ravaging the sea and Atlanteans looking to lash out in revolt, is committed to protecting the entire globe.

I seriously hate DC Cinematic Universe so much.  Like its my biggest ranting trigger ever.  I will never understand how they churn out such garbage and refuse to follow the Marvel model that is 20 films in and has yet to churn out a single subpar movie.  Aquaman was always one of my favorites.  And honestly - how can you not enjoy Jason Momoa.  The dude is just awesome and charismatic as hell.  But they literally just had that.  Everything else was corny as hell.  The CGI was WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY too much.  The dialogue and jokes were cheesy as hell.  The movie was crazy too long.  And it gave ZERO hope for DC Universe moving forward.

I'm sure everyone will see this regardless but I wouldn't recommend it.  It's just like other DC Comics movies that I will probably never watch again because of my annoyance levels when watching it this one time.   I will just never understand how they can screw these up so bad.  

The Mule

In The Mule, Clint Eastwood stars as Earl Stone, a man in his 80s who is broke, alone, and facing foreclosure of his business when he is offered a job that simply requires him to drive. Easy enough but, unbeknownst to Earl, he’s just signed on as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel. He does well—so well, in fact, that his cargo increases exponentially, and Earl is assigned a handler. But he isn’t the only one keeping tabs on Earl; the mysterious new drug mule has also hit the radar of hard-charging DEA agent Colin Bates. And even as his money problems become a thing of the past, Earl’s past mistakes start to weigh heavily on him, and it’s uncertain if he’ll have time to right those wrongs before law enforcement, or the cartel’s enforcers, catch up to him.

Clint Eastwood continued his streak of his movies being so much better when he is in them and directing them at the same time.  This was a great story that was well paced and you totally connect with the character and his reasoning.  And you totally get caught up in the building tension and not wanting Earl to get caught.

This was an excellent movie across the board.  Not sure why I didn't hear more awards buzz about this movie because I'm pretty sure that this will end up on my top ten list at the end of the year.

Bumblebee

On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.

I swore off on seeing any more Transformers movies in theaters after walking out of the last one.  Well this one showed up online so I decided to check it out.  It was not great, but it was definitely better than all of the Transformers sequels by far.  It wasn't as annoyingly over the top with effects like them and gave you a backstory.  The problem was that a lot of the backstory you already knew as the viewer.  Like Bumblebee communicating via the radio.  Like when that was a revelation it was like um . . . . yeah.

I would sort of recommend this movie but honestly just because it wasn't as bad as the other Transformers sequels.  Transformers is still one of my favorite movies ever but its just been so bad every movie since then.   This was a welcome much less painful option.  But again not great.  Just watchable.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative minds behind "The Lego Movie" bring their unique talents to a fresh vision of a different Spider-Man Universe, with a groundbreaking visual style that’s the first of its kind. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where more than one can wear the mask.. Jake Johnson is Peter Parker, Shameik Moore will voice Miles Morales, and Liev Schreiber will voice a mystery villain. Cage will voice Spider-Man Noir, an alternate Spider-Man from the 1930s. Kimiko Glenn as SP//dr aka Peni Parker; John Mulaney as Spider-Ham.

I am shocked at how much I enjoyed this movie.  I figured it was a throwaway animated movie that was coming out during a down time as sort of a money grab.  Not the case at all.  This was better than most live action comic book movies (especially from DC) and showed along with Teen Titans Go To The Movies earlier this year how cartoon comic book movies can still be an awesome watch.   Loved the story told here and how well it worked across the board.

I would definitely recommend people checking this bad boy out.  It was a very enjoyable watch and a very pleasant surprise.  

Green Book

When Tony Lip (Mortensen), an Italian-American bouncer with a seventh-grade education, is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley (Ali), a world-class African-American pianist on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on the “Negro Motorist Green Book” to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for Blacks. Confronted with racism, danger—as well as unexpected humanity and humor—they are forced to set aside differences to survive and thrive on the journey of a lifetime.

This was an excellent movie that told so many excellent stories from different viewpoints.   The chemistry between the two leads was perfect and so believable.  I see this movie being nominated for a TON of awards come the end of the year and it massively deserves all the accolades it has coming.

I would absolutely recommend people check this movie out.  It's pretty much a must see and will certainly make my top ten list at the end of the year.  Probably in the top 5 at a minimum.  

Instant Family

When a couple decides to start a family, they are inspired to pursue adoption through the foster care system. They feel like wonderful, altruistic people until they suddenly have three wild kids in their home. Now they must learn to love and parent children who have no interest in being parented in this heartwarming comedy.

Wow!   I really enjoyed this movie a lot.  It was just as predictable and formula as you would think from the commercial but the on screen chemistry between the two leads and the kids was very good and there were ALOT of big and unexpected laughs throughout the movie that kept everything fresh.
I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It really was a perfect family friendly movie.

Mortal Engines

Hundreds of years after civilization was destroyed by a cataclysmic event, a mysterious young woman, Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar), emerges as the only one who can stop London — now a giant, predator city on wheels — from devouring everything in its path. Feral, and fiercely driven by the memory of her mother, Hester joins forces with Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan), an outcast from London, along with Anna Fang (Jihae), a dangerous outlaw with a bounty on her head.

Very surprised at how much I was able to enjoy this movie.  I thought it would just be an overdone fantasy movie with great visuals and at its core - it definitely was that, but it was also very watchable from beginning to end.  There was good enough action and the story progressed well enough that at no point did the movie get bloated and blah.  I was very surprised.

I would actually recommend people checking this out.  It is not must see by any means but it definitely is a better than average watch that can be enjoyed.

The Possession Of Hannah Grace

A shocking exorcism spirals out of control, claiming the life of a young woman. Months later, Megan Reed (Shay Mitchell) is working the graveyard shift in the morgue when she takes delivery of a disfigured cadaver. Locked alone inside the basement corridors, Megan begins to experience horrifying visions and starts to suspect that the body may be possessed by a ruthless demonic force.

Wow!  What a giant piece of crap this was.  Like for real.  How was this even a legit movie that got a wide release?  I tried to push through all of it but after not giving a rats ass what was happening for the first two-thirds of it I just couldn't anymore.  This was downright awful.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  Ever.  Total waste of time.  

Robin Hood

A war-hardened Crusader and a Moorish commander mount an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown in a thrilling action-adventure. Packed with gritty battlefield exploits, mind-blowing fight choreography, and a timeless romance, "Robin Hood" is a never before seen story of how Robin Hood became the icon and legend as we know him today.

I kind of liked this movie.  It was simple action but still good.  The cast was solid all around.  I really do like Taron Edgerton a lot.  The story moved along fast enough.  Can't really complain about this one.

I would recommend people checking this bad boy out.  It was definitely an enjoyable watch and a good take on the very often redone story.

Widows

From Academy Award®-winning director Steve McQueen ("12 Years a Slave") and co-writer and bestselling author Gillian Flynn ("Gone Girl") comes a blistering, modern-day thriller set against the backdrop of crime, passion and corruption. "Widows" is the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities. Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), Alice (Elizabeth Debicki), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Belle (Cynthia Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms. "Widows" also stars Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Daniel Kaluuya, Lukas Haas and Brian Tyree Henry.

I had pretty high hopes for this movie considering the cast and the people involved behind the scenes.  But the movie massively failed to meet those.  This was not necessarily a bad movie.  But it also definitely was not good either.  It ended up just kind of being there.  It's not awful to watch but you forget about it 5 minutes after you watch it.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  Definitely not in theaters.  It's not worth the time and money.   

Overlord

On the eve of D-Day, a group of American paratroopers are dropped behind enemy lines to carry out a mission crucial to the invasion’s success. But as they approach their target, they begin to realize there is more going on in this Nazi-occupied village than a simple military operation.

This was an incredibly random movie but somewhat watchable for what it was.   There was good action and grizzly effects for what ended up kind of being a horror movie as it went on.  Started off as a war movie but then got isolated to one crazy house with weird stuff happening there.

I would kind of recommend people checking this out.  It really is tough to call though because the movie touched upon so many different genres that would ultimately detect if someone would like this or not.  

Nobody's Fool

Trying to get back on her feet, wild child Tanya (Tiffany Haddish) looks to her buttoned-up, by the book sister Danica (Tika Sumpter) to help her get back on track. As these polar opposites collide with hilarious and sometimes disastrous results, Tanya discovers that Danica’s picture-perfect life including her mysterious boyfriend may not be what it seems.

This is one of those movies where anything funny (and pretty much all of Tiffany Haddish) was in the trailer.  The rest of the movie was predictable as hell, had no laughs and had next to zero emotional hook in the characters it really focused on.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  It was pretty much a waste of time and a waste of Tiffany Haddish.

Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2

Ralph Breaks the Internet leaves Litwak's video arcade behind, venturing into the uncharted expansive and thrilling world of the internet - which may or may not survive Ralph's wrecking. Video game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) must risk it all by traveling to the world wide web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope's video game, Sugar Rush. In way over their heads, Ralph and Vanellope rely on the citizens of the internet - the netizens - to help navigate the way, including a website entrepreneur named Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), who is the head of algorithm and the heart and soul of trend-making site "BuzzzTube."

This movie was ALOT of fun.  They did an awesome job of side jokes and innuendos about the internet and using multiple other Disney properties within the movie.   The main characters are still great and so are the new ones that get introduced.   The story was great and very easy for both children and adults to connect to.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  Its an awesome venture for the whole family and totally worth the time and money.

Creed II

Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.

This movie was pretty much a replica of Rocky IV.  If you liked Rocky IV (my favorite Rocky movie) then you are sure to love this one too.  The performances were all great.  The pacing was great.  The boxing was awesome.   I really enjoyed it.  Might have  even liked it more than the first Creed in all honesty.   Again - its based on my previous favorite of the franchise.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It is a very enjoyable watch even if you know damn well how it is all going to play out.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second of five all new adventures in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Holy crap they crammed a lot of stuff into this movie.  I had a headache after watching it trying to keep up with everything.  The special effects were great.  The casting was still great.  The story moved along well and had lots of twists and turns but I definitely think that they tried to do too much.  They should have held back a little because it was definitely difficult to process all of the info that you were being given.

I would still recommend that fans of the franchise obviously check this out still.  It is a very good watch and I think I actually liked it more than the first but they definitely put too much info into it and made the movie too convoluted overall.  

The Girl In The Spider's Web

The Girl in the Spider’s Web will be the first in the best-selling series to be produced into an English-language film in its initial adaptation. The previous books in the series have been adapted into Swedish-language films, and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was a remake of the Swedish film. It became a global hit for Columbia Pictures, taking in over $230 million worldwide.

I was a huge fan of the original Swedish trilogy and loved the books.  I even really enjoyed the American version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and hated that they didn't make the rest of that trilogy.  I actually never got around to reading the book that this one is based on but was still excited to see the character back on the screen.  That being said - I was pretty disappointed with this movie.  It wasn't necessarily bad but it was definitely subpar to the edginess of all previous offerings.  Claire Foy did a pretty good job in the title character role but everything else around her was just kind of there.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this one.  It was definitely a really disappointing entry in the franchise.

The Nutcracker And The Four Realms

All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift from her late mother. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world.

This was a somewhat decent watch I guess.  It really was just an overdone production though.  That's what all effort/budget was put into.  The story and acting didn't matter.  It was just the over the top cinematography and scenery.

I would not really recommend anyone rushing to see this.  Pretty sure that if you wanted to see it you already would have.

The Grinch

The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl's generous holiday spirit. Funny, heartwarming and visually stunning, it's a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism.

This was another very enjoyable version of the classic story.  I thought that the animation was great and loved the voice cast.  There really isn't much else to say about the movie though because it really is just the same movie that you have seen several versions of already.  There was really nothing different as far as I could tell.

I would still recommend this for the family movie venture.  It's a great holiday watch for the whole family.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound, their near-implosion as Mercury's lifestyle spirals out of control, and their triumphant reunion on the eve of Live Aid, where Mercury, facing a life-threatening illness, leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. In the process, cementing the legacy of a band that were always more like a family, and who continue to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.

Rami Malek deserves the academy award for his performance of Freddie Mercury.  He was amazing across the board.   The music was awesome and the explanation behind a lot of the songs and the development of them was very well done.  However, the movie was pretty much a fluff piece on the band and you could tell that they were holding back big time.  Not that the movie was bad.  It just was way to "prettied up" overall.

I would still recommend people checking this movie out because it was a very enjoyable watch.  But if you are looking for something of more substance than an excellent lead actor performance this is not that movie.

Halloween

Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago. Greer would play Karen Strode, the daughter of Curtis’ character.

I wish that all reboots or way after the fact sequels or whatever you want to call them were this good.  This is easily the best Halloween movie after the original two . . . . . . although it technically doesn't even acknowledge Halloween II.  LOL!!!   That was the weirdest part of the whole thing is that it literally is erasing the last 40 years and 10 movies from the franchise.  But honestly - you get over that real quick as you watching because this is the EXACT movie that you want.  No over the top stuff - just crazy psycho killer back and on the warpath.  Lots of creepiness.  Lots of those uncomfortable laughs.  EXACTLY what made these kinds of movies great in the first place.  

I would absolutely recommend that horror fans check this out.  It was great addition to the franchise . . . . . again - even if it technically wiped out the whole franchise in the process.  

Johnny English Strikes Again

Johnny English Strikes Again is the third installment of the Johnny English comedy series, with Rowan Atkinson returning as the much loved accidental secret agent. The new adventure begins when a cyber-attack reveals the identity of all active undercover agents in Britain, leaving Johnny English as the Secret Service’s last hope. Called out of retirement, English dives head first into action with the mission to find the mastermind hacker. As a man with few skills and analogue methods, Johnny English must overcome the challenges of modern technology to make this mission a success.

All I can really say is how is this a franchise?  I literally watched this and immediately forgot about it five minutes later.  Legit.  Don't remember a damn thing from it besides saying over and over again "how is this a three movie franchise?"

I wouldn't recommend anyone bother with this.  It really is a waste of time.  

A Simple Favor

A Simple Favor, directed by Paul Feig, centers around Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a mommy vlogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily's (Blake Lively) sudden disappearance from their small town. Stephanie is joined by Emily's husband Sean (Henry Golding) in this stylish thriller filled with twists and betrayals, secrets and revelations, love and loyalty, murder and revenge.

This was a really enjoyable watch but confusing at the same time.  Was it a comedy?  Was it a suspense movie?  Was it a drama?  It really hit a couple of different chords and hit all of them really well.   There was a certain lingering level of interest and intensity throughout that really hooked the viewer and kept you wanting more.

I would definitely recommend that people check this one out.  It was a very surprisingly enjoyable watch.

First Man

Based on the authorized biography "First Man: A Life Of Neil A. Armstrong" by James Hansen. NASA historian James R. Hansen got rare direct access to Armstrong, a test pilot-turned-astronaut who was so driven to reach the moon and play the role of American hero that he became known as "the Ice Commander." Armstrong had a family tragedy before Apollo that turned him into this driven astronaut, and he became such a perfect hero that while Buzz Aldrin was announced to be the first man on the moon, NASA reversed its decision because Neil was regarded as more heroic. Armstrong returned from the moon as one of the most famous men on Earth but didn't capitalize on it with a political career or endorsements. He reconnected with his family, shut out the world and became an intensely private man.

This was an incredibly well done movie.  The direction was great.   Everything felt off the charts real and genuine.  Such an amazing amount of detail clearly went into all of this.  The acting was also top notch and the story was clearly interesting.  The movie was definitely on the too long side though and could have been scaled back a bit.  And in all honesty - there were definitely long stretches of the movie where I could see people feeling like it was a bit of a snoozefest but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It is a very great movie and will surely be nominated for a ton of awards later this year.

A Star Is Born

Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a country music star who is on the brink of decline when he discovers a talented unknown named Ally (Germanotta). As the two begin a passionate love affair, Jack coaxes Ally into the spotlight, catapulting her to stardom. But as Ally’s career quickly eclipses his own, Jack finds it increasingly hard to handle his fading glory.

Words do no justice to how much I loved this movie.  This is easily the best movie of this year for me and I don't see anything topping it.  The chemistry between these two is the greatest on screen chemistry I've ever seen in a love movie.  The talent that both of them showed on every level - acting, singing, directing, song writing - was on a whole other level.  And the music?  I've never seen music used so amazingly in a movie that was not a full blown musical.  I will be listening to this soundtrack forever thinking back on how much I enjoyed the movie.  And getting back to the directing done by Bradley Cooper.  Wow!!!  Just wow!!!  He did such an incredible job with camera angle usage and foreshadowing in what was such an amazing love story.

I couldn't possibly recommend people checking this movie out more.  It is legit from every possible way and an absolute must see.  

Venom

Tom Hardy, who is said to be a "Venom" fan, will play Eddie Brock, the character who first became Venom. First appearing in the comic book series as an alien costume worn by Spider-Man in Marvel‘s “The Amazing Spider-Man” #252 in 1984, it was several years before the creature left Peter Parker and merged with photographer Eddie Brock, forming the antihero known as Venom.

Wow!  This was awful.  Like truly awful.  I have not been the annoyed by a comic book movie in a long time.  Like worse than DC Comic movies.  This was so horribly done across the board and a total waste of incredibly legit actors.  I was so annoyed at how bad this was that I was basically heckling the screen by the end of it.

I would not recommend anyone bother with this movie.  It really is a total piece of garbage.

Smallfoot

An animated adventure for all ages, with original music and an all-star cast, “Smallfoot” turns the Bigfoot legend upside down when a bright young Yeti finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human. News of this “smallfoot” brings him fame and a chance with the girl of his dreams. It also throws the simple Yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in a rollicking story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery.

I had no expectations whatsoever of this movie being this much fun.  It was very cute the way that they covered the communication issues between the two worlds and the music throughout made this feel a hell of a lot like a Disney movie.  The voices were great and the story moved along with great pacing.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It is a perfect family movie at a very quiet time in theaters.

Night School

Star Kevin Hart and producer Will Packer, who partnered for the hit "Ride Along" and "Think Like a Man" series, bring their signature style to Night School. Based on a story by Hart, the comedy from director Malcolm D. Lee ("Girls Trip") follows a group of misfits who are forced to attend adult classes in the longshot chance they'll pass the GED exam.

I was worried that this would be one of those movies where the trailer showed all the funny parts.  I was happily wrong.  There were tons of laughs throughout this movie and while the two leads delivered plenty of them, it was the supporting cast that really delivered some of the best stuff.  They kept everything fresh enough that the movie never dragged or fell flat like I kind of expected it to.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It has plenty of laughs throughout and is well worth the time and money.

The House With A Clock In Its Walls

Ten-year-old Lewis goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house that contains a mysterious ticktock noise. When Lewis accidentally awakens the dead, the town's sleepy facade magically springs to life with a secret world of witches and warlocks.

This movie could call itself whatever it wants to.  The bottom line is that it was a Goosebumps movie.  From every possible way - it looked like a Goosebumps movie.  The weird thing was that it was rated PG and definitely seemed like it should have at least been PG-13 based on the creepiness level at several times.

I would recommend people with young teenage kids check this out.  It's not for younger kids and if they are later teenagers they will not really care.  But that 10-14 year old range should definitely like this.  

Life Itself

As a young New York couple goes from college romance to marriage and the birth of their first child, the unexpected twists of their journey create reverberations that echo over continents and through lifetimes.

This is one of those movies that totally does an incredible job of connecting everything in the end and leaves you feeling much better about the movie as a whole at that point.  However, it really did take waaaaaaaaaaay too long to get there.  And there was some stuff in there that was major WTF level in terms of pulling heart strings and what not.  

I would not fully recommend that people check this out.  You can tell its from the creators of This Is Us but I think that their stuff translates better to the small screen than the big screen.

White Boy Rick

Set in 1980s Detroit at the height of the crack epidemic and the War on Drugs, WHITE BOY RICK is based on the moving true story of a blue-collar father and his teenage son, Rick Wershe Jr., who became an undercover police informant and later a drug dealer, before he was abandoned by his handlers and sentenced to life in prison.

This was a very well done and incredibly real feeling movie.  The no-name actors did an excellent job.   Watching all of Rick's stuff spiral out of control was crazy and again all felt very genuine.  Matthew McConaughey did awesome job as his father and was convincing in every way imaginable.  

I would definitely recommend people check this movie out.  Great acting and story telling throughout.  

The Predator

From the outer reaches of space to the small-town streets of suburbia, the hunt comes home. The universe's most lethal hunters are stronger, smarter and deadlier than ever before, having genetically upgraded themselves with DNA from other species. When a boy accidentally triggers their return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the human race.

This was by far the campiest of all the Predator entries in the franchise so far.  That's not to say that it's bad.  Its just that the team that was fighting against the predator was not your usual top notch team that you are used to.  The effects were still cool.  The action was still cool.  There was a TON of humor added to it.  But it was definitely over the top campy at points which was a weird decision overall.  

I would still recommend people checking this out.  It's a good continuation of the franchise but not what you would expect soldier wise at all.  

Kin

KIN, a pulse-pounding crime thriller with a sci-fi twist, is the story of an unexpected hero destined for greatness.

What a joke of a synopsis for this movie.  They make it seem like some legit movie.  It is very much not one.  This should be a made for tv movie on the sci fi channel basically.  It's completely pointless in every way and was released quietly at the end of August for a reason.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie at all.  It's a very pointless waste of time.

Peppermint

Peppermint is a revenge story centering on a young mother who finds herself with nothing to lose, and is now going to take from her enemies the very life they stole from her.

This was exactly what you thought it would be from the trailer.  It was entertaining and pretty bad ass at times as long as your could totally suspend reality.   The movie was a little bit long overall but the action was good and Jennifer Garner was more believable than I thought she would be.  

I would recommend people checking this out.  Its basically female Taken and an enjoyable watch.  No rush but it's pretty good.

The Nun

When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together they uncover the order’s unholy secret. Risking not only their lives but their faith and their very souls, they confront a malevolent force in the form of the same demonic nun that first terrorized audiences in “The Conjuring 2,” as the abbey becomes a horrific battleground between the living and the damned. 

This movie was not as overall scary/creepy story wise like The Conjuring movies were.  This was much more about the jump scares than those though.  Creepy sounds.  Creepy visuals.  Lots of watching from behind your hands in this one.   I definitely enjoyed it but not as much as the others in the franchise.

I would still recommend people checking this out.  Just don't expect such a well done story.  This is just straight up about the scares.

Alpha

An epic adventure set in the last Ice Age, ALPHA tells a fascinating, visually stunning story that shines a light on the origins of man’s best friend. While on his first hunt with his tribe’s most elite group, a young man is injured and must learn to survive alone in the wilderness. Reluctantly taming a lone wolf abandoned by its pack, the pair learn to rely on each other and become unlikely allies, enduring countless dangers and overwhelming odds in order to find their way home before winter arrives.

This movie was total garbage.  I made it like halfway through.  No emotional hook.  No character that you were enjoying watching the development of.  It was just a lame excuse to show some decent cinematography.  Literally nothing more.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.  Like ever.  Total hot garbage.

A.X.L.

A.X.L. is a top-secret, robotic dog with advanced artificial intelligence created by the military. After an experiment gone wrong, A.X.L. is discovered hiding in the desert by a kind-hearted outsider, (Alex Neustaedter), who finds a way to connect with him after activating his owner-pairing technology. The two develop a special friendship based on trust, loyalty, and compassion. A.X.L. will go to any length to protect his new companion, including facing off against the scientists who created him and who will do anything to get him back. To protect his new best friend from being captured, Miles teams up with a smart, resourceful ally named Sara (Becky G) on a timeless, epic adventure for the whole family.

This movie was just as silly and pointless as the trailer made it out to be.  There was nothing outside of the trailer that you hadn't already seen or could figure out in like five seconds.  The amount of money that gets put into pointless movies like this will never cease to baffle me.  

This movie was a pointless turd and is pretty much out of theaters already after a week.  Rightfully so.  Nobody should really ever bother watching this.  

Searching

After David Kim (John Cho)'s 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a local investigation is opened and a detective is assigned to the case. But 37 hours later and without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept today: his daughter's laptop. In a hyper-modern thriller told via the technology devices we use every day to communicate, David must trace his daughter's digital footprints before she disappears forever.

I never in a million years thought that this movie would be as good and as enjoyable as it was.  I expected it to be another one of those desktop computer movies where they are using technology and social media to tell a story instead of actually filming it.  It was in fact one of those kinds of movie but this was by far and away the best one that has ever been made.  The movie did such a good job of continuing to build the desperation and the mystery with very well timed twists and turns.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  Never in a million years expected to be saying that going in but this was a really well done movie.

Operation Finale

Fifteen years after the end of World War II, Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad and security agency Shin Bet – led by the tireless and heroic agent Peter Malkin (Isaac) - launched a daring top-secret raid to capture the notorious Eichmann (Kingsley), who had been reported dead in the chaos following Nazi Germany’s collapse but was, in fact, living and working in a suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina under an assumed identity along with his wife and two sons. Monitoring his daily routine, Malkin and his operatives plot and execute the abduction under the cover of darkness just a few feet from Eichmann’s home. Determined to sneak him out of Argentina to stand trial in Israel, Malkin and Eichmann engage in an intense and gripping game of cat-and-mouse.

This was a surprisingly well done under the radar movie.  They did a great job with "taking you there" and making you feel like you were in that time.  They did a great job with the escalating tension of if they would complete the mission or not.  They did a great job with the team struggling with its emotions while performing said mission.  I was very pleasantly surprised.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  Pretty solid cast and well told story from beginning to end.

Blackkklansman

From visionary filmmaker Spike Lee comes the incredible true story of an American hero. It’s the early 1970s, and Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, Stallworth bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. The young detective soon recruits a more seasoned colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), into the undercover investigation of a lifetime. Together, they team up to take down the extremist hate group as the organization aims to sanitize its violent rhetoric to appeal to the mainstream.

This was an excellent movie across the board.  The acting was great.  The directing was great.  The build up of both sides along with the cops working on both of them was great.  The only flaw that I could give this movie isn't really a knock on the movie, but more of a leaving the theater hating the world kind of thing.  This movie strikes a lot of nerves and does an incredible job at it.  It's portrayal of the levels of hatred that very unfortunately exist in this world was so well done but so upsetting at the same point.

I would absolutely recommend that people check this out.  This movie is an awesome piece of work and should be seen by all and hopefully open lots of eyes to the very big need for change in this world.