The Kid Who Would Be King

The Kid Who Would be King tells the story of Alex, a twelve-year-old British schoolboy whose everyday problems are dwarfed by his discovery of the mythical sword Excalibur. Now, with the most powerful sword in history in the hands of the most powerless schoolboy in Britain, an epic adventure begins as Alex and his friends must thwart a medieval villain named Morgana, who is hell-bent on destroying the world.

This was your textbook January released family film.  It has no business really being in theaters or getting a wide release but at this point families are so desperate to take their kids to something not called Mary Poppins that Hollywood throws something like this out there to take the parents' money.  And that is pretty much exactly what this is.  A borderline at best family movie to watch that takes a known story, puts a twist on it and preaches a bunch of morals and what not to the kids and families that are watching.

I wouldn't really recommend families drop the money it would cost to go see this on this movie.  I know it's like a few more weeks but there will be much better family movie options soon with Lego Movie 2 and How To Train Your Dragon 3.  Just wait for those.

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Melissa McCarthy stars in the adaptation of the memoir Can You Ever Forgive Me?, the true story of best-selling celebrity biographer (and friend to cats) Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) who made her living in the 1970’s and 80’s profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Lee is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack (Richard E. Grant).

This is one of those movies where you know the movie is well done and the acting is really good but there was literally no hook fully keeping me interested in it.  Like I watched the whole thing.  Didn't want to pull the plug because it was bad.   But it was really just there without that hook.  Which is incredibly unfortunate because I love Melissa McCarthy and the story was really good.  I just don't know what it was.   It was definitely missing the emotional or attention hook.

I wouldn't really recommend people bothering with this.   It was just one of those "kind of there" movies.

Serenity

From the creative mind of Steven Knight comes a daringly original, sexy, stylized thriller. Baker Dill (Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey) is a fishing boat captain leading tours off a tranquil, tropical enclave called Plymouth Island. His quiet life is shattered, however, when his ex-wife Karen (Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway) tracks him down with a desperate plea for help. She begs Dill to save her – and their young son – from her new, violent husband (Jason Clarke) by taking him out to sea on a fishing excursion, only to throw him to the sharks and leave him for dead. Karen’s appearance thrusts Dill back into a life he’d tried to forget, and as he struggles between right and wrong, his world is plunged into a new reality that may not be all that it seems.

Wow!  This was like legendarily bad.  How in the blue hell were there this many legit actors in this movie?  What was the thought process here?   This movie was outright garbage.  The acting was terrible.  The story was terrible.  The editing and camerawork were terrible.  Just straight yuck.  I'm usually a fan of Anne Hathaway but this was easily her most annoying performance I've ever seen.

I would not recommend anyone watching this.  Like ever.  It was really a giant piece of garbage.

On The Basis Of Sex

The film tells an inspiring and spirited true story that follows young lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she teams with her husband Marty to bring a groundbreaking case before the Supreme Court and overturn a century of gender discrimination. The feature will premiere in 2018 in line with Justice Ginsburg’s 25th anniversary on the Supreme Court.

I honestly saw this movie because it was free and a time killer and did not expect to get as hooked by it as I did.  The acting was really top notch and the story was told in a way that kept my attention much more than I thought it would.  I'm actually surprised that this movie didn't get more award season love than it did.

I would recommend people checking this out.   It's another movie that is not must see material but if you have the time it is a very enjoyable biographical watch.  

If Beale Street Could Talk

Based on the novel by James Baldwin, If Beale Street Could Talk is the story of Tish, a newly-engaged Harlem woman who races against the clock to prove her lover’s innocence while carrying their first-born child. It is a celebration of love told through the story of a young couple, their families and their lives, trying to bring about justice through love, for love and the promise of the American dream.

I was a little bit sketchy about seeing this movie because it was from the guy that did Moonlight.  So I totally expected one of those movies that you know is a good movie but is boring as hell.  I was pleasantly surprised though.  This movie was actually really good and did a great job of showing the effects of what was going on through several different sets of eyes and ages.

I would recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see by any means but it is a very well acted and scripted movie.  

Glass

Following the conclusion of Split, Glass finds Dunn pursuing Crumb's superhuman figure of The Beast in a series of escalating encounters, while the shadowy presence of Price emerges as an orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men. - Sarah Paulson joins the film as a psychiatrist who describes herself as someone that specializes in “individuals who believe they are superheroes.” Present among her patients at a Philadelphia asylum are David Dunn, Elijah Price, aka Mr. Glass, and Kevin Wendell Crumb, aka The Horde.

This was literally a movie split in two halves.  The first half was awesome.  The story was coming together awesome and all the characters were being done justice by equally.  The pacing was great and James McAvoy was killing it just like he did in Split.  But then once the three main characters were together - the movie suddenly stopped moving forward and slowed down to a snail's pace.  It was literally like night and day and extremely disappointing after such a solid start.

I would still recommend people check this out if you are invested in the two movies coming together but just be sure to keep your expectations low because it definitely plays out pretty flat after a very promising start.

A Dog's Way Home

Adaptation of the best-seller by W. Bruce Cameron. A Dog’s Way Home chronicles the heartwarming adventure of Bella, a dog who embarks on an epic 400-mile journey home after she is separated from her beloved human, Lucas, an aspiring med student and VA hospital volunteer. Bella touches the lives of many during her unwavering quest; from an orphaned mountain lion cub to a homeless veteran down on his luck, Bella brings joy and comfort to everyone she meets with her unique spirit and faith.

Wow!   This was pretty much one of the most blatant heart string pulling movies of all time but it was done in a way that I honestly didn't care and was able to enjoy it regardless.  It was pretty much the definition of cute and an absolute must see for any animal lover.  There is no way that you can watch this movie and not go home to your pet and love them that much more.  

I would definitely recommend anyone interested checking this out.  It is a very cute and fun watch that will make you laugh and cry.  Plus - it is a perfect family film.  

Mary, Queen Of Scots

Mary, Queen of Scots explores the turbulent life of the charismatic Mary Stuart. Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth 1. Each young Queen beholds her “sister” in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence. Determined to rule as much more than a figurehead, Mary asserts her claim to the English throne, threatening Elizabeth’s sovereignty. Betrayal, rebellion, and conspiracies within each court imperil both thrones – and change the course of history.

Like I said recently with my thoughts on The Favourite.   These period piece movies are just not my thing.  I just have such a mental block that I can't get past all the pomp and circumstance stuff to really enjoy the movie unless the movie is knock it out of the park great.   This one came pretty close and it was because of the acting of the two leads.  They really did an awesome job and kept me interested in the historical development of their roles and the connection between the two.  The pacing and story were told very well too.

I would recommend that people check this out.  Again - these are not really my kind of movie but this one was definitely done well enough with great acting in order to keep me hooked.  So I would give it the nod.  

The Upside

The Upside chronicles the unexpected friendship between Phillip Lacasse (Cranston), a Park Avenue billionaire left paralyzed after a hang-gliding accident, and convicted felon Dell (Hart), recently released from prison and in need of a job and a fresh start. From worlds apart, Phillip and Dell form an unlikely bond, bridging their differences and gaining invaluable wisdom in the process, giving each man a renewed sense of passion for all of life’s possibilities.

This was an awesome pairing onscreen chemistry wise.  Kevin Hart and Byran Cranston were perfectly paired in this movie and played off of each other so well.  You really believed a lot of the odd couple bantering and the caring that developed between the two characters.  The old two people from different worlds, both flawed and learning from each other how to change for the better story was perfectly played out because of this great chemistry.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It is a very enjoyable watch with lots of laugh and heart throughout.  

Escape Room

An elevated psychological thriller about six strangers who find themselves in circumstances beyond their control and must use their wits to survive.

This is one of those movies that you pretty much know exactly how its going to go from the trailer.  There was no curveballs whatsoever and it was a decent shut your brain off and watch movie.  It also wasn't overly gory in the Saw franchise way which I appreciated because there really is no need for that massive over the top stuff.  I only watched this to keep my mind busy and it did its job . . . . . . surprisingly better than I thought it would.

I would actually kind of recommend people checking this out.  It was a pretty decent watch based on what it was.  

The Favourite

The Favourite is a bawdy, acerbic tale of royal intrigue, passion, envy and betrayal in the court of Queen Anne in early 18th century England. At the center of the story is the Queen herself (Olivia Colman), whose relationship with her confidante, adviser and clandestine lover Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz) is turned upside down by the arrival of the Duchess’s younger cousin Abigail (Emma Stone). Soon the balance of power shifts between the women as they jockey for influence with the Queen and the court.

These movies are just not my thing.  I always try.  Especially when they get the crazy buzz around award season.   But it is extremely rare that I am able to give a positive review to these period pieces.  I know that the movies are well done and this one was.  I know that the acting is top notch and it definitely was in this one.  But I just can't really get into them no matter how hard I try.

I wouldn't really recommend peeps checking this out but my opinion again is pretty biased with these movies.  If you are into period pieces like this - I am pretty sure you will like this one.  If you don't like me - this one will not sway you.

Vice

The project reunites award-winning director and co-writer Adam McKay with Christian Bale and Steve Carell, as well as Amy Adams. Bale will be headlining as former Vice President Dick Cheney, with Adams as his wife Lynne Cheney, Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush, Carell as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Tyler Perry as Colin Powell, and Bill Pullman as former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. Cheney is regarded as one of the most powerful and influential U.S. Vice Presidents in history, having served under (and, as many regard, OVER) George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. The former Halliburton chairman/CEO — who also served in the Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush administrations — was a hawkish proponent of the War on Terror and the Iraq War, and eventually left office with a 13% approval rating.

I am at a total loss of how to review this movie.  I'm not really a political or history kind of guy so was not interested from that standpoint.  The filming style was weird as hell and I found it pretty annoying throughout.  I also could not remotely tell if this was supposed to be a drama or a comedy throughout the movie and that annoyed the hell out of me too.  I just really was not a fan in any way of this movie.

I wouldn't recommend anyone checking this out but this is one of those things where I'm probably not the best reference because of me not caring at all about politics or history.  So you should probably check out some other reviews.

The Ten Best Movies Of 2018

Honorable Mention - There are a couple of them . . . . .
Hereditary - this was a crazy psychological thriller that left a ton of screwy images in my head but the ending was a little bit off
Searching - never thought I would enjoy one of those gimmicky social media related, everything happens on a computer screen or monitor type of movie as much as I enjoyed this
Blackkklansman - very well done and deserves all the accolades it will get but was definitely waaaay too long
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse - shocked that the best Spider-Man entry to come from Sony is an animated one with a crazy over the top story and a ton of different main characters but this was awesome

10 - Ready Player One
I loved the book and I loved the movie although they were both majorly different.  It is beyond rare that a movie can change so much from a book and I still love it and honestly see it as a different entity that is better because of the said changes.

9 - The Incredibles 2
The movie was a little bit too long and I hate that I had to wait so long for what should have been the most obvious sequel of all time but the movie was still great and they did right by all the different characters that you are crazy fond of.

8 - Bird Box
This one didn't open in theaters and was a Netflix original and I will never understand why.  This was a very well done psychological thriller and much better than 95% of the garbage that gets released in theaters.

7 - The Mule
Clint Eastwood proved again how his movies that he directs with him as the lead are amazing and the ones that he directs and is not in are usually turds.

6 - Mission Impossible: Fallout
Always have been a huge fan of this franchise but this one took it to a whole other level.  The fighting and action were awesome and somehow seemed more real than before.

5 - Black Panther
This movie was absolutely amazing on so many levels.  The only knock that I can make against it is that it had two of the best villains not named Loki in the Marvel franchise so far and did away with both of them.  Outside of that - EVERYTHING worked in this bad boy.

4 - Avengers: Infinity War
I will never understand for the life of me how you could have this many characters in a movie, have such sky high expectations for it and completely drive it so far out of the park.  Marvel is truly amazing and we are all so privileged to be able to see this stuff play out so masterfully.

3 - Green Book
Excellent on screen chemistry.  Excellent story telling from both a nationality point of view and a historical point of view.  I figured I would like this movie but was caught way off guard with how much I actually ended up loving it.

2 - A Quiet Place
I have never had a more immersive and tense movie going experience than this movie.  I was legit sore when the movie was over because of how tense it made me from beginning to end.  And to do it with literally minimal amounts of actual talking is so impressive.  Didn't think I could be a bigger fan of John Krazinski and then he directed this.  Truly top notch.

1 - A Star Is Born
I have never seen better on screen chemistry between an actor and actress in my life.  I was so completely sucked in by this movie and loved this pairing so much.  Just like with A Quiet Place - the fact that Bradley Cooper directed this just makes the movie that much more impressive.  His camerawork and use of certain techniques to build drama or love was amazing.  I could see this ending up as my favorite "date" movie of all time.

The Ten Worst Movies Of 2018

Dishonorable Mention - Maze Runner: The Death Cure
I had read all these books, loved the first one and thought the second one was pretty good.  This last entry just seemed like a throwaway effort and was super disappointing.

10 - A Wrinkle In Time
It really is difficult for Disney to deliver any giant turds at this point with all that huge movies that they are churning out.  2019 looks like its going to be absolutely insane.  But this one was a huge piece of garbage.  And it involved Oprah too!!!  This was massively overdone and never hooked me one bit from beginning to end.

9 - Boo 2: A Madea Halloween
Don't get me wrong.  I somehow still find the Madea character very funny.  It just can't be so often and everyone of her movies is already kind of like a "sequel".  To make an actual sequel to one of the crappiest Madea movies is just a blatant money grab.

8 - Venom
This is proof yet again that Sony needs to just relinquish all rights of the Spider-Man franchise back to Marvel.  This movie was total garbage and even worse considering the quality of actors signed on to it.  I was so annoyed by this movie that I ended up being that guy in the theater that heckles the screen.

7 - Slender Man
Another one of those really lame PG-13 "scary" movies that I basically stop paying attention after like 20 minutes of boredom and annoyance.

6 - Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again
I will never understand what it is about these movies.  I love musicals.  I have always had a tremendous soft spot for them.  I love the majority of the cast in these movies.  The publicity for it was hilarious and I hoped this would be different than the first.  But it wasn't.  I tried but couldn't even make it past like 45 minutes because it just annoys me so much and feels so cartoonishly forced.

5 - Bad Times At The El Royale
There is something that always bothers me about movies that try really really hard to be edgy and different and completely fail.  Like wanna be Tarantino movies kind of.  That is exactly what this movie was and I couldn't even finish it.  Crazy considering the cast in it.

4 - Fifty Shades Freed
Thank god that this franchise is over.  Worst onscreen chemistry I have ever seen and I have never seen a less sexy movie mostly about sex before.  So bad.

3 - A.X.L.
How do movie studios have millions of dollars to make and market movies like this.  It is truly baffling.   Like make this truly pointless movie or feed the country of Ethiopia for months?   How is that a question?

2 -Alpha
What do you get when you have a filmmaker who is clearly just obsessed with amazing cinematography but obviously nothing else?  This movie.  Stick to the National Geographic channel, fella.

1 - Action Point
See my comments about A.X.L. above and add to it the amount of physical harm that people were put in making this bomb of the year.  I was a fan of a lot of the Jackass stuff but trying to put that to an actual story is just a recipe for the worst movie of the year.