A Journal For Jordan

Deployed to Iraq, First Sgt. Charles Monroe King starts to keep a journal of love and advice for his infant son. Back at home, Dana Canedy, a senior editor for The New York Times, revisits the story of her unlikely, life-altering relationship with King and his enduring devotion to his beloved family.

This was a very well done and nice movie but it was all about pulling heartstrings.  You cared about the couple.  You cared about their journey.  You cared about their story but it was kind of forced and there was nothing that you didn't know was going to happen.  But credit where its due - even with that it was still a very enjoyable movie/story.  

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this movie out.  It's not a must see by any means but it is a good heartstring pulling kind of movie.  

The Matrix Resurrections

Plagued by strange memories, Neo's life takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself back inside the Matrix.

This is a weird one to review.  The original Matrix is one of my favorite movies of all time.  The sequel had quite honestly one of the best long action sequences ever with the freeway scene.  The third one was very enjoyable although I had my issues with it.  I assumed that this movie would just be the fourth sequel but it was more of a reboot kind of.  Like it was weird.   They didn't really step on the gas with it too much and kept it grounded because honestly it played like more of a romance movie.  Like even writing that feels weird.  And all of that is not to say the movie was bad.  I actually liked it for the most part.  I could have done without the long talky talky stuff with the old Jada Pinkett Smith character but I really liked how they set it up.  I really liked the ending.  It just was more of a soft reboot as opposed to being a sequel or like the other Matrix movies.  

I would definitely still recommend people checking this out.  I mean it's a Matrix movie.  It's worth watching alone just because of the visuals.  Just be prepared that it's very different from the other Matrix movies.  

The King's Man

One man must race against time to stop history's worst tyrants and criminal masterminds as they get together to plot a war that could wipe out millions of people and destroy humanity.

This was strangely like two separate movies.  The first half dragged ALOT.  Had some very weird and funny moments with the over the top characters and acting but dragged overall.  The second half was alot better with the faster pace and what not and made the movie rebound nicely.  But honestly - this movie is just a prequel that nobody was asking for.  I would much sooner be excited to see Kingsman 3 instead of this kind of forced prequel. 

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see by any means but a worthy watch if you have the time.  Just no need to go out of your way to see it.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

With Spider-Man's identity now revealed, our friendly neighborhood web-slinger is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life as Peter Parker from the high stakes of being a superhero. When Peter asks for help from Doctor Strange, the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.

Wow!  Just plain wow!   This has to be the most surreal movie going experience ever.   I can't really go into too much detail without spoiling anything but to be watching characters or actors from different versions of Spider-Man interacting was truly mind-blowing.   It would have been awesome even in a small sample of it like I honestly expected but to see it on as grand a scale as it ended up being was amazing.   Tom Holland cemented himself more as my favorite Spidey.  The returning characters that you have grown to love were all awesome.  Doctor Strange made a great addition.  The action and overall story were great and then all that other stuff that I don't want to spoil for everyone.   A very very enjoyable watch that had a very high bar of expectations and completely surpassed said bar.  

I would definitely recommend everyone checking this out.  As much as the Avengers movies - especially the last two were mind blowing with all the people on screen together, this one took that idea and topped it in a way simply because it never should have been possible to see this stuff.  

Nightmare Alley

In 1940s New York, down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle endears himself to a clairvoyant and her mentalist husband at a traveling carnival. Using newly acquired knowledge, Carlisle crafts a golden ticket to success by swindling the elite and wealthy. Hoping for a big score, he soon hatches a scheme to con a dangerous tycoon with help from a mysterious psychiatrist who might be his most formidable opponent yet.

This is very much one of those movies where the cinematography makes the movies.   The overall appearance of everything was like an extra character.  Regarding the rest of the characters - there was some truly excellent acting in this movie across the board.  Very stellar cast delivered throughout.   And finally the direction of the movie really takes you there and sucks in the viewer to this world that. you feel like you are on the journey with them.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It was a very enjoyable watch and could definitely garner some year end award consideration.  

Rumble

In a world where monsters are tame and monster wrestling is a popular sport, Winnie seeks to follow in her father's footsteps as a manager by turning an inexperienced monster into a contender.

This movie was nothing more than one of those animated money grabs for parents/families.  Got bumped around a couple of times because of Covid and then Paramount Plus decided to use it to drive up family subscriptions instead of the lame box office it was guaranteed to make.  Some good voices in this and it had its connections to wrestling and stuff but honestly not worth watching at all for anyone including families.  Very subpar by today's animated standards.  

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It's 90 minutes that could surely be spent better in any other way.  

West Side Story

Love at first sight strikes when young Tony spots Maria at a high school dance in 1957 New York City. Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks -- two rival gangs vying for control of the streets.

This one is a little tough to review.  It was very excellently made.  Spielberg's camera work and using the background setting as a character in pretty much every shot was beyond top notch.  The performances were all great.  The singing and choreography were all great too.  I just have never been that big of a fan of the story.  I was hoping that maybe this would help me like it more but it didn't.  

Again - I would still recommend people checking it out because it is an incredibly well done movie.  Don't let my lack of enjoyment of the story be a downer.  

Licorice Pizza

Alana Kane and Gary Valentine grow up, run around and fall in love in California's San Fernando Valley in the 1970s.

This is one of those movies that is definitely effected by so much advance hype from awards consideration and what not.  It's a very enjoyable movie and you can absolutely feel like you are growing up with the characters in the 70s because of the very genuine overall feel.   There are tons of laughs - especially Bradley Cooper's hilarious part.  I just kind of felt myself thinking why did all the critics say this was so great all along and I feel like it took away from it a bit.  

Regardless, I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It is a very enjoyable coming of age story with some really great characters.  

National Champions

Three days before the college football national championship game, star quarterback LeMarcus James and teammate Emmett Sunday ignite a player's strike -- declaring they won't compete until all student athletes are fairly compensated. With billions of dollars at risk and legacies on the line, the stakes couldn't be higher. Now, with only hours until kickoff, their head coach and various power brokers must race against the clock to protect or destroy the prevailing collegiate athletics system.

I really liked this movie alot because it is about a topic that has bothered me for a long, long time.   This movie basically perfectly addressed the absolute bs that exists in college sports with the players that universities and coaches are making billions of dollars off of not getting paid in any way for essentially their name.  This movie covered pretty much every point I have ever made when debating this and told it in a way where the escalation and politics of it all was perfectly played out.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out and hopefully it opens lots of eyes about college athletics moving forward.  

Wolf

Believing he's a wolf trapped in a man's body, Jacob eats, sleeps and lives like one -- much to the shock of his family. When he's sent to a clinic, Jacob and his animal-bound peers are forced to undergo increasingly extreme forms of curative therapies. However, once he meets the mysterious Wildcat, their friendship blossoms into an undeniable infatuation, and Jacob must decide whether to renounce his true self for love.

Um . . . . .  I have no idea what this was.  Like I get the artistic premise and stuff but this was a super strange watch.  One of those critically praised independent type movies that is 10000000% not intended for mainstream audiences.  Like at all.  This was just weird as hell.

I would not recommend anyone really bothering with this.  It's just a strange watch.  I understand the artistic hook of it but still.  Just weird as hell.  

Sing 2

Can-do koala Buster Moon and his all-star cast of animal performers prepare to launch a dazzling stage extravaganza in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. There's just one hitch -- he has to find and persuade the world's most reclusive rock star to join them. What begins as Buster's dream of big-time success soon becomes an emotional reminder of the power of music to heal even the most broken heart.

This is another one of those Universal animation franchises that are watchable but pretty forgettable right after.   Like they have the Despicable Me franchise that I love but then all the rest are decent watches but I feel no real connection to the characters and stuff to care.  The music in this was great just like the first one but you really forget all about the movie like 15 minutes after you watch it.  

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this unless it's families with younger kids.  They will certainly enjoy it and it's not beyond painful for the parents but it's not really memorable either.  

Encanto

The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift -- every child except Mirabel. However, she soon may be the Madrigals last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger.

This was yet another very entertaining Disney princess kind of movie that involves cultural representation.  I'm sure that this movie will mean much, much more to the cultures it is trying to represent but even if that is not you it is still a very enjoyable movie.  The animation was great.  The music was probably the best in a Disney movie since Moana and you can't help but get wrapped up in the story as it plays out.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this one out.  You can never go wrong with Disney animated releases around a holiday.  They are pretty much guaranteed to deliver.  

House Of Gucci

When Patrizia Reggiani, an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge -- and ultimately murder.

This is one of those movies that is tough to review.  Was it a phenomenal all around movie?  No.  It was honestly trash entertainment.  But it was really good trash entertainment if that makes sense.  The actors all were top notch.  Adam Driver was great.  Jared Leto was excellent.  And Lady Gaga was amazing.  Like she really made this movie.  You could feel the difference when she was on screen and when she wasn't.  You were so hooked by how unhinged her character was and wanted to know what she was going to do.  

I would recommend people checking this out just so you can enjoy the evolution of Lady Gaga as an actress.  I could see her being nominated again for this performance and the rest of the movie was pretty good as well although pretty trashy.

Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City

Welcome to Raccoon City, once the booming home of pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corp. The company's exodus left the city a wasteland, a dying town with great evil brewing below the surface. When that evil is unleashed, a group of survivors must work together to uncover the truth behind Umbrella and make it through the night.

Don't get me wrong, this movie was definitely one of the more watchable entries in recent memory.  They kind of went back to the beginning and tried to reboot.  And it wasn't as beyond over the top as most of the others have been until towards the end.  Like it got held back on the crazy gore and makeup effects and kept it alot more human which was definitely better.  That being said - I honestly don't know of a franchise that has been more over done than this.  Like honestly - how many of these movies have been made.  I feel like there is a new one every 2-3 years just as like a money grab for gamers and what not.  Like how about we just leave it alone.

I would not really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's watchable only when compared to the last 4-5 entries in the franchise and that is setting the bar extremely low.  

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

When a single mother and her two children move to a new town, they soon discover they have a connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

I wish more reboots, relaunches, or whatever you want to call them were done like this.   It was not a straight up redo.  It wasn't a straight up sequel.  It was a new, original and entertaining story with new characters that referenced known things from the franchise and actually managed to connect it all in a good way.  So many of these are either mailed in or just kind of attempting to modernize the original movie.   This one avoided that and was a really great watch.  

I  would definitely recommend people checking this out and honestly wish that more reboots would be more like this.  

King Richard

Armed with a clear vision and a brazen, 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his two daughters, Venus and Serena, into history. Training on tennis courts in Compton, Calif., Richard shapes the girls' unyielding commitment and keen intuition. Together, the Williams family defies seemingly insurmountable odds and the prevailing expectations laid before them.

This movie was exactly what you expected it to be.   A great biographical movie with a stellar performance by Will Smith.   I have no doubt that he will be in award contention this year and I was never a big tennis person so it was very enjoyable to learn alot more about the history of the Williams sisters.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a little bit longer than I think it had to be but it was a very enjoyable watch.  

Clifford The Big Red Dog

When Emily Elizabeth meets a magical animal rescuer who gives her a little red puppy, she never anticipated waking up to find a giant, 10-foot hound in her small New York City apartment. With her single mother away on business, Emily and her fun but impulsive uncle set out on an adventure that takes a bite out of the Big Apple.

This movie is essentially exactly what you know it will be.  Cute family movie with simple story and cute morals and messages.  Roll the credits.  There is literally nothing else that needs to be said about this movie.

I would definitely recommend this movie for people with younger kids.  They will certainly enjoy it and the movie is not unbearable for you while they enjoy it so there is at least that.  

Spencer

The marriage between Princess Diana and Prince Charles has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the queen's estate. There's eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game, but this year, things will be profoundly different.

I tried.  I did.  I made it about halfway through.  I'm sure that this will generate lots of Oscar buzz for acting and what not but I have never understood the Princess Diana fascination so I just wasn't that into it. It's Kristen Stewart who is honestly like the worst actress in all of Hollywood regardless of how good of a Diana that she played.  And its the same story I feel like I have seen told in every medium more times than I can count at this point.  

I wouldn't recommend this at all but like I said - this just really wasn't my thing so if it is you should disregard my recommendation.  

The Eternals

The Eternals, a race of immortal beings with superhuman powers who have secretly lived on Earth for thousands of years, reunite to battle the evil Deviants.

This movie was a really tough sell for Marvel.  Probably their hardest one since Guardians Of The Galaxy.   It was a whole new group of characters that had to be introduced and developed.  It did a great job of telling you the present story and going back through time to show the relationships and connections between all of them.  The witty banter was still there and a lot of the characters were really great.  I very much look forward to seeing more of these characters moving forward in the MCU.  

This was a great watch although much artsier and more dramatic than the rest of the MCU movies.  Was it one of the lower rung Marvel movies like Captain Marvel?  I would say yes but definitely still very enjoyable.  

Last Night In Soho

An aspiring fashion designer is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer. However, the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.

This was a really weird yet intriguing watch.  It was artsy which would usually be a turn off for a psychological thriller but this one somehow broke through.  And even though I felt like they were too obsessed with the look of the movie instead of the substance I was still hooked.  Don't know if it was the two leads or the director but it was just done in a way that really made you want to see where it was going from beginning to end.  I can't really say too much more without spoiling anything.

I would recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see or anything but it was a very enjoyable psychological thriller.  

Antlers

A small-town Oregon teacher and her brother, the local sheriff, discover that a young student is harbouring a dangerous secret with frightening consequences.

What the hell was this movie.  LOL!!!  It took like a beyond snooze fest hour of buildup and then when they finally got to the payoff and you saw the creature it became beyond the realm of laughable.  If there was ever a movie where they would have been better off not showing the monster it was this one.  To build up like that all serious and then basically have the campiest monster I've seen in a while just really was so ridiculous.  

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this outside of just seeing the absurd monster.  That would be the only thing worth seeing for the laugh. 

My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission

Japan's greatest heroes must track down the mastermind behind a deadly chemical attack.

Got addicted to this show over the past year.  Finally caved in to watching it after my niece insisted for the longest time.  There were two previous movies along with the five seasons of the show.  This movie was by far the best of the three.  Loved the new characters that were introduced.  The action and animation was awesome.  And even though I wish that there was more screen time of more side characters - you definitely got enough of the main ones that you love.

Would absolutely recommend any fan of the show checking this out.  Not like you were not going to anyway.  

The French Dispatch

A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in "The French Dispatch."

I honestly don't know why I keep trying Wes Anderson movies.  His entire catalog of movies are the definition of movies that critics absolutely love and fawn over but I have no interest in them whatsoever and can never see what is so great or funny when you legit don't laugh once.  

My opinion is not the one that you should really go off of with Wes Anderson movies.  I always try and I'm alway bored out of my mind.  I get that they are artistic and all but like they are barely watchable for me.  

Dune

Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their own fear will survive.

This movie was very similar to the original attempt at making this movie.   Visually it was amazing.  I can see them winning all sorts of awards for the visual aspects of this movie.   But once you get past that this movie is honestly a pretty big snooze fest and doesn't pay off on any of the hype for scenes throughout the movie.  Like it honestly ends up feeling like the movie is an paid job.  There is such a thing as too sci fi and this definitely falls in that.   Add to that that this movie was basically a 2 1/2 hour prologue to what is to you are pretty annoyed when it ends.  

Again - it has a great look to it all but I wasn't really a fan of it all because it was just too sci-fi.  When you have to explain as much as they had to then your movie is not firing on enough cylinders.  

Ron's Gone Wrong

Barney is a socially awkward schoolboy who receives a robot named Ron -- a walking, talking, digitally connected device that's supposed to be his best friend. Barney is excited to finally have his own robot -- until his new toy starts to hilariously malfunction, drawing the attention of a shady executive who wants to protect his company's stock price at all costs.

This movie was a decent family watch but honestly it felt like a knock off of Big Hero 6 for the most part and it was nowhere near as good.  There really is nothing else to say about this.  It's ultimately just there unless you have kids that this could be an entertaining distraction for them for a while.  

I would not really recommend this movie to others outside of those with kids that they would be taking to see.  You would be better off just rewatching Big Hero 6.  

The Last Duel

Jean de Carrouges is a respected knight known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. Jacques Le Gris is a squire whose intelligence and eloquence makes him one of the most admired nobles in court. When Le Gris viciously assaults Carrouges' wife, she steps forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her life in jeopardy. The ensuing trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God's hands.

This is a weird movie to review.  In terms of the story telling of the rape told from the three different points of view with the leading up to, the actual attack and the fallout from it was completely genius.  Like off the charts good.  But this movie taking place in medieval times and all the crazy battle violence and what not ended up being completely pointless. Like I was loving all that stuff for the first 45 minutes or so and then it got to what the story really was and I was like wait . . . . . . . What!?!  Again - not that it was bad.  I actually really liked this movie.   Just a very weird "epic" feel to a movie about rape.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   I really enjoyed it- especially the three perspectives thing.  But the placement in medieval times even though its based on a true story just felt odd as hell.  

Halloween Kills

The nightmare isn't over as unstoppable killer Michael Myers escapes from Laurie Strode's trap to continue his ritual bloodbath. Injured and taken to the hospital, Laurie fights through the pain as she inspires residents of Haddonfield, Ill., to rise up against Myers. Taking matters into their own hands, the Strode women and other survivors form a vigilante mob to hunt down Michael and end his reign of terror once and for all.

This movie was much more laughable than scary for a couple of reasons.  First - how are you going back to the original now and showing us things that happened that we have never seen before.  Two - and most importantly - did you really make Michael Meyers into John Wick . . .  . . twice?   Like the whole creepy killing thing is classic and money.  But this having him circled and very gorily taking out firefighters one by one legit had me laughing my ass off.  Third - every single line that came out of Anthony Michael Hall's mouth in this movie was more overdramatic and ridiculous than David Caruso on CSI: Miami back in the day.  And then there is the - SPOILER ALERT - that this movie is nothing but a set up for the next one.  Like literally - an almost two hour lead in.  Served no purpose in the long run.  

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this but honestly if you like these movies you will see it and if you don't you don't.  It is much more of a comedy horror movie than a scary one as far as I'm concerned.  

No Time To Die

James Bond is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica after leaving active service. However, his peace is short-lived as his old CIA friend, Felix Leiter, shows up and asks for help.

This movie was another very enjoyable Daniel Craig as James Bond movie.  He leaves the franchise possibly being my favorite Bond.  The edginess was still there.  There was great use of recurring and returning characters.  It was actually pretty cool for this to feel like the first actual sequel of a Bond movie.  The action was not crazy over the top and very realistic.  Great movie for Daniel Craig to wrap up with.   My only knock against it would be the 2 1/2 hour run time.  Definitely think that could have been scaled back by like 20-30 minutes.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a very fun watch and an enjoyable ride that makes movies as enjoyable as they are.

The Many Saints Of Newark

Young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark, N.J., history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters start to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, whose influence over his nephew will help shape the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss, Tony Soprano.

This movie would have been a million times better as a miniseries.  It honestly didn't work as a movie.  Like at all.  You got introduced to younger versions of all the character you had come to know on the show but I didn't really see the whole development of Tony Soprano.  The movie was much more about Dickie Moltisanti and the only character that I felt like I saw any development of was Junior.  

I'd still recommend people checking it out because it is not a bad watch.  Just really didn't work as a movie and could have worked a lot better as a miniseries.  

The Addams Family 2

Hoping to get closer as a family, Gomez, Morticia and the rest of the Addams clan embark on an adventurous road trip in a hideous and humongous camper.

This movie is pretty much exactly what is expected.  More of the first and a very decent watch for the family or kids.   There is literally nothing more to say about it.  These are the type of sequels that are just there and are decent distractions for 90 minutes or so.  

I would definitely recommend families with younger kids checking this out.  It is a fun, short watch with morals that get taught and all that stuff.  

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Venom springs into action when notorious serial killer Cletus Kasady transforms into the evil Carnage.

This franchise is a perfect example of having expectations for movies.   I was so pumped for the first one because of the Venom character and Tom Hardy playing it and that movie was absolutely trash.  Like DC Universe level trash.  Possibly one of the most disappointing movies for me ever.  So going into this I had bottom of the barrel expectations and I have to honestly say that it made the movie more watchable.  It's not a good movie by any means.  It is a very bad movie that is overly campy and what not but it was actually somewhat enjoyable because I expected nothing.  The tie in to other Spider-Man stuff at the end is a TBD because Sony has done this before and then never paid it off so I will go ahead and reserve any excitement about it whatsoever.  

I would not really recommend anyone going to see this in terms of it being a good movie.  But there is something about it being so bad that its entertaining.

Dear Evan Hansen

Evan Hansen is an anxious, isolated high-school student who's aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social media age. He soon embarks on a journey of self-discovery when a letter he wrote for a writing exercise falls into the hands of a grieving couple whose son took his own life.

Few musicals have ever owned my heart as much as this one did.  I have been waiting for this movie for years and heard all bad reviews - which I expected.  I very much enjoyed the movie though.  I don't care that Ben Platt is too old to play a high schooler.  He is Evan Hansen.  I don't care that he is more of the villain in this story to the common eye.  I totally understand that those who are not as aware of mental health issues or don't have anxiety or don't have depression not getting this but I'm not one of those people.  I identify with so much of this on so many levels and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

If you saw the musical and are a fan - go see the movie.  It is not as good.  How could it be?  But I still found it to be a great watch.  

The Eyes Of Tammy Faye

In the 1970s, Tammy Faye Bakker and her husband, Jim, rise from humble beginnings to create the world's largest religious broadcasting network and theme park. Tammy Faye becomes legendary for her indelible eyelashes, her idiosyncratic singing, and her eagerness to embrace people from all walks of life. However, financial improprieties, scheming rivals and a scandal soon threaten to topple their carefully constructed empire.

Kind of torn on this movie.  It was a really good biopic movie with great performances by all the actors involved.   Like end of year award nomination worthy performances.  My problem is that I can't stand the people the movie was about and hate that they continue to get attention years later because of a movie like this.  Like this clowns were essentially a pretend religious version of the Kardashians from years ago.  They are complete trash that just wanted all the attention in the world on them and I hate the amount they were given and that they are still getting it today because of this biopic.  

Like I said before - it is a good movie with great performances.  I just can't stand the morons that the movie was about so I can't fully recommend more people giving them undeserved attention.  

Cry Macho

A onetime rodeo star and washed-up horse breeder, in 1978, takes a job from an ex-boss to bring the man's young son home and away from his alcoholic mum. Crossing rural Mexico on their back way to Texas, the unlikely pair faces an unexpectedly challenging journey, during which the world-weary horseman may find his own sense of redemption through teaching the boy what it means to be a good man.

What in the blue hell was the point of this movie?   Like seriously one of the more pointless movies I have watched in a long time.  I have been saying for years that Clint Eastwood is one of the weirdest directors in Hollywood because for every movie that he makes that is an amazing award contender and basically one of the best movies to come out that year he will turn around and make one of these.  Like his name being plastered on it "directed by Clint Eastwood" either means the movie will be amazing or a giant turd.  This is definitely in the turd pile.  I will never understand how he can flip flop as a director like that.

No I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It is a complete waste of time and there was no reason for millions of dollars to be spent making something so pointless.

Malignant

Paralyzed by fear from shocking visions, a woman's torment worsens as she discovers her waking dreams are terrifying realities.

This movie was a very crazy watch because it changed up like three times.  For the first third you are really pulled in and think you are watching some kind of a victim of abuse kind of a psychological thriller.  For the second third you are like what the hell is going on but not in a way that you want to turn it off.  And then the big swerve at the end is like WHAT and you are completely hooked even though you know how over the top and silly it pretty much is.  Can't say much more without spoiling it.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It's very gory at times so be warned but really was an enjoyable watch and one of my more favorite ones from James Wan's body of work at this point.

Copshop

Screaming through the Nevada desert in a bullet-ridden car, wily con artist Teddy Murretto hatches a plan to hide out from lethal assassin Bob Viddick. He punches rookie officer Valerie Young to get himself arrested and locked up in a small-town police station. However, jail can't protect Murretto for long as Viddick schemes his own way into detention, biding his time in a nearby cell until he can complete his mission.

This movie is a throwback testosterone fest.  Every thing about it seemed like a late 80s/early 90s guys being tough and above the law kind of movie.  Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo were perfectly cast in this and both did a great job of playing their parts.  This movie was just a fun ride where you can turn off your brain and enjoy the over the top machismo oozing from the movie.

I would definitely recommend people who are into old school action movies to check this out.  If you like watching tough guys go against each other than this is pretty much a great watch.  

The Card Counter

William Tell is a gambler and former serviceman who sets out to reform a young man seeking revenge on a mutual enemy from their past. Tell just wants to play cards. His spartan existence on the casino trail is shattered when he is approached by Cirk, a vulnerable and angry young man seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel. Tell sees a chance at redemption through his relationship with Cirk.

This movie was exactly what I was afraid it would be when seeing the trailer.   It wanted to be a good and enjoyable, well done movie.  But it went all for style and not too much substance.   Like all effort was put into the movie looking good instead of actually being good.  It wasn't awful by any means.  It just wasn't really that good either.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  Especially not a trip to theaters or spending any money on it.  

Queenpins

A frustrated suburban housewife and her best friend hatch an illegal coupon-club scheme that scams millions from corporations and delivers deals to legions of fellow coupon clippers. Hot on their trail is an unlikely duo -- a hapless loss-prevention officer and a determined U.S. postal inspector -- both looking to end their criminal enterprise.

This movie is a perfect example of having little to no expectations for a movie helping to possibly enjoy it more.  I put this on because it showed up online and fully expected it to gradually become background noise while I did everything.  But the movie ended up completely keeping my attention.  I liked the progression of the whole the two leads dug themselves into, I really liked the part that Paul Walker Hauser played and he had me pissing myself from laughing at times, and I loved him and Vince Vaughn working together.  Just the scenes with the two of them and their characters evolving makes this movie worth watching.

Never in a million years did I expect to be suggesting people watch this movie.   It was a lot of very simple fun with great laughs throughout.  

Shang Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings

Martial-arts master Shang-Chi confronts the past he thought he left behind when he's drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.

Marvel simply does not fail.  I knew nothing about Shang Chi or the ten rings going in.  It was never in any of the comics I read as a kid and it didn't matter at all.  They did a great job of telling the origin story, a great job of building up new characters, had one of the craziest connections ever to the rest of the MCU, had amazing fight scenes and action and introduced us to a whole other world that can now be revisited.  The comparisons to Black Panther are very justified and I can't wait to see more of these characters in future movies.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a great watch and another awesome entry/character added to the MCU.

Candyman

In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, Anthony and his partner move into a loft in the now gentrified Cabrini. A chance encounter with an old-timer exposes Anthony to the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to use these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, he unknowingly opens a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence.

I am not sure how to feel about this movie yet.  Like it wasn't bad.  It wasn't trash like a lot of recent horror movies have been.  But it was alot more talking and psychological than the original was.  I'm not saying that I am all for gore and stuff but sometimes movies are better with more style and less substance if that makes sense.   And I definitely feel like Candyman falls into that.   Like comparing the two I definitely enjoyed the original alot more because it was less talking and more scares even if it was more of slasher movie.   It doesn't translate as well in this psychological context even though there were some creepy visuals.

I would kind of recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see and if you do see just be expected a very different version of Candyman with more talking and psychological thrills as opposed to the slasher gore that made the first one so good.

Respect

Following the rise of Aretha Franklin's career -- from a child singing in her father's church choir to her international superstardom -- it's the remarkable true story of the music icon's journey to find her voice.

This movie was you typical autobiographical music.  Covers a lot of time and a lot of material with the acting being top notch across the board.  That being said - this movie was definitely way too long.  And you feel it.  Not to say that the movie was bad but it definitely dragged alot.  There was also a lot of alluding to things or glossing over things that probably should have gotten more attention even though the movie was already too long.  

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this movie out.  It is not a must see by any means but it is a decent watch if you have the time.  

The Night House

Reeling from the unexpected death of her husband, Beth (Rebecca Hall) is left alone in the lakeside home he built for her. She tries as best she can to keep together-but then the dreams come. Disturbing visions of a presence in the house call to her, beckoning with a ghostly allure. But the harsh light of day washes away any proof of a haunting. Against the advice of her friends, she begins digging into his belongings, yearning for answers.

Was this movie a decent arthouse kind of psychological thriller?  Yes.  Was that what it was hyped to be.  Not really.  The trailer and ads for this definitely had it set up to be more of a fearfest than it was.  I hate when studios do that.  If you are not proud enough of your movie to market it right than don't make one.  Again - the movie wasn't awful.  It was a decent watch.  It managed to keep your attention enough but when you keep looking for something that was advertised its hard to enjoy the movie.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's not bad but its not great either.  Definitely not worth money at a theater and can wait until it shows up on cable or a streaming service.  

The Protege

Rescued as a child by the legendary assassin Moody, Anna is the world's most skilled contract killer. However, when Moody is brutally killed, she vows revenge for the man who taught her everything she knows. As Anna becomes entangled with an enigmatic killer, their confrontation turns deadly, and the loose ends of a life spent killing weave themselves ever tighter.

This was a pretty decent story with pretty good fight/action scenes but really didn't bring much else to the table.  It's basically your textbook August action release.  Something to watch but absolutely not a must watch by any means.

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this out.   I definitely wouldn't bother rushing to a theater and paying for it though.   Not worth that at all.  

Reminiscence

A scientist discovers a way to relive your past and uses the technology to search for his long lost love. Whilst a private investigator uncovers a conspiracy while helping his clients recover lost memories.

This movie was a pretty good watch.  I wouldn't say a great watch but I would say a pretty good watch.   The premise was great.  The cast was great and the pacing of it was pretty good.  My only issue is that they didn't completely hook the audience enough.  Like they got your attention and then just ran with it.  If they would have put a little more effort into really grabbing the viewer this movie could have actually been much better.  I know its not much details but its hard to talk about this movie without giving away spoilers.

I would still recommend people checking this movie out because it is a pretty good watch.  Just honestly could have been great.  

Don't Breathe 2

A blind veteran must use his military training to save a young orphan from a group of thugs who break into his home.

Honestly didn't even have to see this movie to write the review of it.  It's garbage.  Total garbage.  It's the definition of filming garbage and slapping a 2 on it.  Was anyone wanting a sequel to Don't Breathe?  Absolutely not.  And its not even a sequel.  It's a side character from the first movie that they decided more background was needed on it.  And in no universe was it.  It's a 90 minute total waste of time.

No I would absolutely not recommend anyone bothering with this.  The only reason I even watched it is because it showed up online and even then I started doing other things while watching it after about 7 minutes or so.