Happy Death Day 2U

Jessica Rothe and Israel Broussard will reprise their roles from the first film. Suraj Sharma is also joining the sequel as Samar Ghosh, a science enthusiast and geek who enjoys coding in his spare time. Sarah Yarkin will play Dre Morgan, a science geek and tomboy with a sleepy feline gaze who is Samar’s partner-in-crime. "Happy Death Day 2U" will pick up where the first film left off in a “Back to the Future-like style.”

Not really sure why a sequel was needed to this.  The first one was better than I thought it would be but only because I had bottom of the barrel expectations.  To make a sequel off of that is questionable at best.  And it very much was nowhere near as enjoyable as the first one.  This came off as much more rushed and desperate considering that there was barely enough material for the first one.

I wouldn't really recommend that anyone bother with what was a very pointless sequel.  It's really not worth it and should not have been bothered with at all.  

Alita: Battle Angel

Based upon the graphic novel ("Manga") series "GUNNM" by Yukito Kishiro - From visionary filmmakers James Cameron (AVATAR) and Robert Rodriguez (SIN CITY), comes ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, an epic adventure of hope and empowerment. When Alita (Rosa Salazar) awakens with no memory of who she is in a future world she does not recognize, she is taken in by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a compassionate doctor who realizes that somewhere in this abandoned cyborg shell is the heart and soul of a young woman with an extraordinary past. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious history while her street-smart new friend Hugo (Keean Johnson) offers instead to help trigger her memories. But it is only when the deadly and corrupt forces that run the city come after Alita that she discovers a clue to her past - she has unique fighting abilities that those in power will stop at nothing to control. If she can stay out of their grasp, she could be the key to saving her friends, her family and the world she's grown to love.

I really enjoyed this movie.   I wasn't really sure what to think from the movies because it was going to be one of those science fiction movies where how good it is was totally dependent on whether they were able to transport you to their made up world or not.  This movie did a great job of taking you there.  You really bought that this world could exist and visually effects wise it was really cool.  The action was also awesome throughout.  I really liked it a lot and was pleasantly surprised.

I would definitely recommend fans of these kinds of movies checking this out.  It really had a little of everything in it and I enjoyed it a lot.

Cold Pursuit

Cold Pursuit is an action thriller infused with irreverent humor, stars Liam Neeson as Nels Coxman, a family man whose quiet life with his wife (Laura Dern) is upended following the mysterious death of their son.

This movie was literally one of those where if you watched the trailer - you saw the movie.  No surprises.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  Just a longer version of the two minute trailer that you essentially forget all about 10 minutes after its over.  

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.   Wait for cable or something when you accidentally find it on because there is really no need to go out of your way to watch this.

heir son. Nels' search for justice turns into a vengeful hunt for Viking (Tom Bateman), a drug lord he believes is connected to the death. As one by one each of Viking's associates "disappear," Nels goes from upstanding citizen to ice-cold vigilante, letting nothing and no one get in his way.

Miss Bala

A beauty contest winner is forced to work for a crime boss after she witnesses a murder. The movie is a remake of the 2011 film, Miss Bala.

This movie was literally one of those where if you watched the trailer - you saw the movie.  No surprises.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  Just a longer version of the two minute trailer that you essentially forget all about 10 minutes after its over.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.   Wait for cable or something when you accidentally find it on because there is really no need to go out of your way to watch this.

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is the much-anticipated culmination of one of the most beloved animated film franchises in history. As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless’ discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup’s reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind.

Wow!!!   I can't think of a single movie franchise that means more to me than this one does.  Like even more than Star Wars.  I have been massively connected to these movies from the beginning because the Hiccup and Toothless relationship is virtually identical to the one I had with my son/cat, J.  And this entry was no different.  It was legit a perfect ending to this trilogy of stories.  The animation was absolutely amazing just like the previous two.  The characters were all great.  And the connection between Hiccup and Toothless as they both grow up is equal parts heartbreaking and the most beautiful thing ever.  I was pretty much ugly face crying by the end of this movie and loved every second of it.

I give this movie the must see stamp.  Again - it is a great conclusion to this story and these characters.   This series is the best non-Disney animation of all time as far as I'm concerned.  It's honestly better than most Disney too.

The LEGO Movie: The Second Part

A sequel to the original 3D computer animated film, which follows Emmet, an ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared.

Let's be honest . . . . .  how could they go wrong with this movie?   Just do more of the same.  Have similar laughs, humor and references throughout and the movie would be all good.  And that is exactly what they did.  You still have the characters you love from the first.  You still have the constant laughs and sight gags.   You still have great musical numbers and songs that will stay with you long after the movie is over.  And you get a couple of new and interesting characters too.  Pretty much your textbook very enjoyable sequel.

I would fully recommend people checking this out.  Both adults and kids are sure to fully enjoy the break from the world and laughs while going to see this.

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.

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.