Puss In Boots: The Last Wish

Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: he has burnt through eight of his nine lives. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

This was a great continuation of the story with the characters that you are already attached to and they did a great job of working in new variations to other fables and children's stories that worked tremendously.  There were lots of laughs and cheers at certain points and this is really one of those ideal holiday movies for the whole family.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  Who doesn't enjoy the Shrek series and this spinoff of it?

Babylon

Decadence, depravity, and outrageous excess lead to the rise and fall of several ambitious dreamers in 1920s Hollywood.

Well this was definitely something.   It was very much like being on an acid trip for three hours.  Some absolutely ridiculous things were seen and done on screen.   I liked the characters.  I liked the filmmaking style when things were off the wall.  But that run time was an absolute killer and bogged this movie down massively.  

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  Like I said - I totally understand why people would like this but it was definitely waaaaaaaaay too long.  

The Whale

An obese and reclusive English teacher tries to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.

Wow!   This movie was something.   Really something.  Amazing performance by Brendan Fraser.  Excellent directing of a play like story/setting by Arnofsky.  It REALLY makes me question eating my feelings and its a massive kick to the head for people who judge based on appearances without thinking of what have made things get to that point.  

I would definitely recommend people watching this because it really does say ALOT about society as a whole in several aspects.   It was not an easy watch at all but was a great movie with an amazing performance.  

Avatar: The Way Of Water

Jake Sully and Ney'tiri have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans.

This was very much just like the original.  An incredible movie to watch visually.  Good enough story.  Good enough characters.  Amazing action.  Did I mention the incredible visual appearance of the movie already?   It's basically the only movies I would ever recommend actually seeing in 3D.  Unfortunately there is no need for this to be 3 hours and 15 minutes long.  45 minute to an hour could have easily been left on the cutting room floor so you don't feel like you are losing years off of your life watching this.   LOL!

I would still absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  Again - its a visual masterpiece.  There is no denying that at all.  Just waaaaaaaaay too long.

Bones And All

Love blossoms between a young woman on the margins of society and a disenfranchised drifter as they embark on a 3,000-mile odyssey through the backroads of America. However, despite their best efforts, all roads lead back to their terrifying pasts and a final stand that will determine whether their love can survive their differences.

This movie was basically a decent premise with good actors cast in it but then decided to be waaaaaaaay too artistic for its own good.  There was so much dead time throughout this movie of just a score playing and nothing really happening and then something crazy would happen and it would go back to treading water.  It kind of made it miss its mark overall.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It's not the worst watch but the movie kind of like ruins itself because of how it was too overdone.  

Violent Night

An elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage inside. However, they aren't prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he's about to show why this Nick is no saint.

This movie is 10000000% exactly what you thought it would be.  It's a longer version of the trailer and doesn't disappoint for what it was.  It's over the top in every way.  It's quite corny at times.  But it works completely because the filmmakers and cast don't take themselves too seriously.  

I would actually recommend people checking this movie out.  It's a very fun, turn your brain off kind of movie that is basically Santa Claus inserted into Die Hard.

The Fabelmans

Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see "The Greatest Show on Earth." Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.

This was a really really great movie.  Anyone who has been sucked into movies and been a fan of every aspect of them will surely love this movie.   Adding to it the person's life that you follow the journey on through the eyes of his camera and the people around him and you have a movie that I think will definitely be nominated (and win) a bunch of awards this year.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It's a very real feeling movie with great emotional hooks.