Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Set in Los Angeles in the summer of 1969, Tarantino’s upcoming movie focuses on a male TV actor named Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) who’s had one hit western series and is looking for a way to get into the film business. His sidekick Cliff Booth (Pitt) who’s also his stunt double, is looking for the same thing. The horrific murder of Sharon Tate (Rick’s neighbor in the film) and four of her friends by Charles Manson’s cult of followers serves as a backdrop to the main story.

I have always been a huge fan of Tarantino.  Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are probably two of my favorite movies ever.  Most of his movies would also be way up there.  That being said, you can always expect certain things from his movies . . . . . They will take you to the exact time where the movie is supposed to take place almost flawlessly, the movie will be too long and there will be legendary dialogue or random action scenes.  This movie was no different.  The movie legit looked like it was right out of the 70s.  There was so much effort put into the cinematography and it really became kind of like a character in the movie.  The movie was definitely too long and to be honest was missing a hook for the first 40 minutes or so.  I was starting to get worried that I wouldn't like it (knowing I still had two more hours) just before it did get much better.  Could have done without that though.  And yes - the dialogue, one liners, random action scenes with Brad Pitt were all awesome.   And the bottom line is that even though it was too long - the movie came together awesomely and very Tarantinoesque at the end.

I would recommend people checking this out because just like all his other films - this is essentially a clinic on film making from every angle.  It is definitely too long and drags at times but gets better as it goes and the way it comes together at the end is awesome.

The Lion King

Jon Favreau will direct a live-action version of "The Lion King." The film will include songs from the animated film. The Lion King (1994) is one of the biggest animated films of all time with a lifetime global box office gross of $968.8 million, including $422.8 million domestically. It won Academy Awards for the original song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (Elton John, Tim Rice) and original score (Hans Zimmer), plus two Grammy Awards, with the soundtrack selling over 14 million copies. In 1997, the stage production “The Lion King” made its Broadway debut, winning six Tony Awards; 19 years later, it remains one of Broadway’s biggest hits.

I was nervous about this movie because of how much the original owns a piece of my heart on a bunch of levels.  But it did not disappoint.  I actually thought that they did a really great job considering the animated facial reactions that they would not be able to do with the live animal CGI.  I was not a fan of pushing the Beyoncé voice/character so much and it definitely fell victim a little too much to the "Me Too" pc forcing that is so prevalent now.  But that being put aside - they really did a great job with characters that I have loved for decades.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  There are great iconic moments that are included and some elaborated on a little bit to put their own twist on it.  This is a very enjoyable family movie just like the original animated version.

Crawl

When a massive hurricane hits her Florida hometown, Haley (Kaya Scodelario) ignores evacuation orders to search for her missing father (Barry Pepper). Finding him gravely injured in the crawl space of their family home, the two become trapped by quickly encroaching floodwaters. As time runs out to escape the strengthening storm, Haley and her father discover that the rising water level is the least of their fears.

This movie was exactly what you thought it would be.  It's a movie that could have been made for tv with a little less blood that somehow ended up in theaters in this lamest summer movie calendar of all time.  Were there a couple of moments that made me jump out of my seat?  Yes.  Did you pretty much see everything else coming?  Yes.  This movie was totally formula in every way but still watchable for what it was.  

I would not recommending anyone rushing to see this.  It's by no means a must see movie.  But like I said - if you like disaster and wild animal type of movies - you could definitely do worse than this.

Stuber

When a mild-mannered Uber driver named Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) picks up a passenger (Dave Bautista) who turns out to be a cop hot on the trail of a brutal killer, he's thrust into a harrowing ordeal where he desperately tries to hold onto his wits, his life and his five-star rating. 

Ugh.  Just plain ugh.  Did I laugh a couple of times?  I'll admit.  But was this movie awful?  Oh my god yes.  And not in the kind of a way where you can enjoy it because of how awful it is.  It was just outright bad.  Even more baffling is that I can't get past how in the blue hell this was a mid-July release.  That is how bad this summer is.  Stuber is a summer wide release in the middle of July.  Did you read that?  Read it again.  How insane is that?   Unreal!

No - nobody should waste their time with this movie.  It is absolutely not worth your time or money.  It's just completely baffling how this movie is a thing . . . . . . . and then the fact that its a summer release.  What in the actual hell is going on in Hollywood!?!

Midsommar

Ari Aster’s next horror film, a story about a vacation gone violently wrong - as a couple travels to Sweden to visit their friend’s rural hometown for its fabled mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.

What in the blue hell was this movie?  I went into it knowing that this was not a mainstream type of movie and that there was only so much of a "horror" movie that it could be.  I have seen Hereditary and loved it but it was still one of those movies that I couldn't just blindly recommend to everyone.  It's for very particular tastes.  I assumed this one would be just like that and apparently it was because it has gotten amazing reviews but my review of it is that it was total and complete garbage.  Like what in the blue hell was this?  Why was it 2 1/2 hours long?  I was so annoyed by it that I just starting yellling WTF openly in the theater.  I understand it was well done from a directorial view and what not.  Like I get that.  But I still thought that movie was a giant turd.   

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.  Do not buy the hype like its a must see or a mainstream/enjoyable movie.  

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Spider-Man: Far From Home sequel will continue to explore the adventures of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe - the 2019 sequel to Homecoming will take Peter Parker out of New York for a European adventure in London that will reflect the global aftermath of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

I literally love Tom Holland as Spider-Man.  He is such perfect casting in this role.  I cannot possibly stress that enough.  This movie was great in many ways.  It was a perfect standalone movie.  It was a great sequel too.  But most importantly this was an excellent follow up to start the next chapter after Avengers: Endgame.  They answered some questions which will leave fans very very happy.  They did is straightforward which is even more appreciated.   And they kept it simple in terms of focusing on Spidey's age and the stuff he was going through along with having to fight off the bad guy and it be connected to a bigger picture moving forward.

I very much enjoyed this movie from beginning to end.  Love the Spider-Man franchise now that it is connected to Marvel Studios so much more than before.