Ready Or Not

Ready or Not follows the story of a young bride who is invited on the night of her wedding by her rich and eccentric in-laws to participate in a time-honored tradition that turns into a lethal game of survival with everyone fighting to stay alive.

This was exactly what you thought it would be.  Over the top violence and silliness throughout.  The story is simple as hell.  The movie is very quickly paced and short.  Honestly - you forget about it like 10 minutes after you are done watching it.

I wouldn'really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's not awful but it is extremely pointless.

Don't Let Go

The film focuses on a detective named Jack Radcliff, who receives a call from his niece Ashley … which is strange because Ashley was recently murdered. Together, the duo work across time and race to solve her murder before it happens.

This actually could have been a really good movie.  It did a great job of hooking you with confusion but wanting to see it play out.  The problem is that after a while the movie tried to be too smart.  Like it was three different movies in one and each of them were interesting but when they were all mushed together it just didn't work.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to see this.  It was an enjoyable watch until it got way too convoluted at the end but still not worth the time or money overall.

Angel Has Fallen

Gerard Butler is gearing up for his third big screen outing as Secret Service agent Mike Banning, following "Olympus Has Fallen" and "London Has Fallen." The third film in the series follows Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) as he becomes the target of a terrorist attack, this time while mid-flight on Air Force One. The original film, Olympus Has Fallen, saw the White House (codenamed “Olympus”) captured by a terrorist mastermind. With President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As our national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning’s inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President, and avert an even bigger disaster.

Don't get me wrong.  This is a watchable and somewhat enjoyable action and political espionage movie.  All the characters did what they were supposed to.  The story did what it was supposed to.  But I kept finding myself throughout the movie wondering how in the hell this is a three movie franchise over and over again.  Like you want want to talk about making sequels just for the sake of making them when there is literally zero demand for them . . . . this has got to be a prime example.

I would sort of recommend people checking this out.  Again - its not great.  Its not bad.  Its a decent watch that ends up just kind of being there.

Good Boys

The producers of "Sausage Party," "Superbad" and "Blockers" bring their signature R-rated twist to the classic coming-of-age story in Universal Pictures’ "Good Boys." The comedy stars Jacob Tremblay ("Wonder," "Room") as the mischievous leader of a group of 12-year-old boys whose day of skipped school will become an all-day odyssey of awesomely bad decisions.

I thought this movie was absolutely hilarious.  The trailer had me dying but I was scared that all the funny parts would have been given away in that.  They were not.  This movie was massively inappropriate like you would expect but I could not stop laughing.  The characters were awesome developed and all played their very realistic parts based on kids that age.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  I'm pretty sure it is the funniest movie of the year so far.

47 Meters Down: Uncaged

47 Meters Down: Uncaged takes place in the backpacking mecca of Brazil, against the backdrop of the country’s vibrant culture, party atmosphere and beautiful beaches. A group of five girls from different backgrounds and countries are united by their lust for life and adventure in the coastal metropolis of Recife. Looking to get off the well-worn tourist trail, they hear about a hidden underwater ruin from a local guide and seize the opportunity to discover their own Atlantis beneath the turquoise waves. Unbeknownst to them, the caves where the forgotten city lies are not completely uninhabited, and as they swim deeper into the submerged labyrinth of caves they enter the territory of the deadliest shark species in the ocean.

This was a total waste of time and a blatant money grab.  It spend the first half lamely building up a bunch of characters that you couldn't care less about and then the second half was all dark and hand held camera underwater stuff where you really were just watching people spin around and breathe heavily.  That is legit it.  The first one was a surprisingly enjoyable watch.  This one was not.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It's a pretty big waste of time and money.

Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark

This spooky addition to Alvin Schwartz's popular books on American folklore is filled with tales of eerie horror and dark revenge that will make you jump with fright. There is a story here for everyone -- skeletons with torn and tangled flesh who roam the earth; a ghost who takes revenge on her murderer; and a haunted house where every night a bloody head falls down the chimney. Stephen Gammell's splendidly creepy drawings perfectly capture the mood of more than two dozen scary stories -- and even scary songs -- all just right for reading alone or for telling aloud in the dark. If You Dare!

This is another exactly what you would expect from the trailer kind of movie.  It's a PG-13 horror movie so there is only so much that you can expect in terms of gore or frights.  This is basically a more edgy Goosebumps and was exactly what I expected.  It kept you interested in seeing how it would play out and was a decent watch.

Again - I wouldn't recommend anyone rushing out to see this.  It's not a must see by any means but if you want to it's not the worst thing you could see.

The Kitchen

The Kitchen is an adaptation of the DC/Vertigo female-fronted comic book series of the same name. The original series was written by Ollie Masters and illustrated by Becky Cloonan and Ming Doyle. The series takes place in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, in the 1970s and follows the wives of Irish mobsters. Ultimately, the wives step in and take over to start running the business after several men are arrested during a mafia sweep.

This movie is was pretty much exactly what you would expect it to be from the trailer.  Nothing special.  Not a bad movie.  Not a great movie.  Ultimately its just there and has some really strange casting for a dramatic movie.  It was tough to watch at times having to take two of the funniest women in Hollywood serious but it was still somewhat enjoyable.

I wouldn't recommend anyone rush out to see this.  Certainly not if you are fans of the two leads because this is NOT the type of performances that you would normally be going to see for them.  Its a decent watch but there is not too much more to say past that.

The Peanut Butter Falcon

The Peanut Butter Falcon tells the story of Zak (Gottsagen), a young man with Down syndrome, who runs away from a residential nursing home to follow his dream of attending the professional wrestling school of his idol, The Salt Water Redneck (Church). A strange turn of events pairs him on the road with Tyler (LaBeouf), a small-time outlaw on the run, who becomes Zak’s unlikely coach and ally. Together they wind through deltas, elude capture, drink whiskey, find God, catch fish, and convince Eleanor (Johnson), a kind nursing home employee charged with Zak’s return, to join them on their journey.

I can't really put into words how or why this movie hooked me but it massively did.  It is so random and some could think of it as pointless if not hooked but if you allow yourself to be this is such an amazingly enjoyable movie.  I never in a million years thought that I would enjoy it as much as I did.  It made you laugh, it made you cry and in some deranged way it made you feel good seeing this story play out.

I absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  Again - I can't necessarily put my finger on it but this is easily one of my favorite movies of this year.

Blinded By The Light

The film tells the story of Javed, a British teen of Pakistani descent growing up in the town of Luton, England, in 1987. Amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times, he writes poetry as a means to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the inflexibility of his traditional father. But when a classmate introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, Javed sees parallels to his working-class life in the powerful lyrics. As Javed discovers a cathartic outlet for his own pent-up dreams, he also begins to find the courage to express himself in his own unique voice.

Wow!  I'm once again stunned at how much I enjoyed this movie.  Didn't go into it with much expectations and figured it would be pretty formula based on the trailer.  And it was in fact pretty formula but still more than enjoyable enough.  It had a great and organic hook and the use of music was beyond perfect.  It actually managed to make me like Bruce Springsteen even more than I already did.  

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It's a very enjoyable watch and the way that "musicals" should be where everything is just goes kind of fluidly.  

Dora And The Lost City Of Gold

A live-action adaptation of the TV series “Dora the Explorer.” “Dora the Explorer” first launched on Nickelodeon in the year 2000 and aired over 170 episodes before ultimately concluding in 2015. The educational series followed the titular Dora and her monkey friend Boots going on interactive adventures with the audience. It was nominated for seven Daytime Emmy Awards, winning in 2011. The film would center around Dora as a teenager, who moves to the city to live with her cousin Diego.

This showed up online so I gave it a shot.  I lasted about 20-30 minutes in before she was singing a song about a poop shovel and I just couldn't do it anymore.  This is a blatant money grab and its insulting even to the parents of the young children that is the targeted audience.

I recommend nobody wasting their time or money on this.  It's another blatant end of summer money grab by Hollywood and it was too painful to even sit through and watch for free online.

The Art Of Racing In The Rain

Based on the best-selling novel by Garth Stein, "The Art of Racing in the Rain" is a heartfelt tale narrated by a witty and philosophical dog named Enzo. Through his bond with his owner, Denny Swift, an aspiring Formula One race car driver, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition and understands that the techniques needed on the racetrack can also be used to successfully navigate the journey of life. The film follows Denny and the loves of his life, his wife, Eve, their young daughter Zoe, and ultimately, his true best friend, Enzo voiced by Kevin Costner.

Wow!  This movie massively and blatantly pulled every possible heart string it could but I didn't care.  I absolutely loved this movie.  I don't know how any pet lover or animal lover would be able not to.  I completely enjoyed this movie.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  Its a massive tearjerker and punches you in the heart over and over again but I absolutely loved it.  This movie is a must see for anyone who loves or loved their pet.  

Playmobil: The Movie

After Charlie (Gabriel Bateman) disappears into the Playmobil universe, his sister, Marla (Anya Taylor-Joy), sets out to find him. During her adventures, she teams up with some unlikely new friends, including smooth-talking food truck driver Del (Jim Gaffigan), dashing and charismatic secret agent Rex Dasher (Daniel Radcliffe), a wholehearted misfit robot and an extravagant fairy-godmother (Meghan Trainor). Adam Lambert will voice the character of villain Emperor Maximus.

I made it about 30 minutes into this movie before pulling the plug on it.  It was just a blatant wannabe Lego movie and it was basically made for 6 year olds.  There is nothing else to say about this.

Even if I had a 6 year old - I would still wait until this was on tv or something for free.  I recommend that absolutely nobody bothers with this.

The Angry Birds Movie 2

"The Angry Birds Movie" slingshot to nearly $350 million in worldwide box office and launched a global movie brand.

This is literally just more of the first.  Decent laughs.  Pretty good voices.  Great use of music to make people laugh.  But you have pretty much forgotten all about it 10 minutes after seeing it.  Its more than decent enough for parents to watch if they are looking for something to do with their kids.  But it's not a must see.

Like I said - I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this out.  There is a reason this is coming out mid-August.  Its just an end of summer money grab for families looking to do something as the summer winds down.

Hobbs & Shaw

The "Fast & Furious" spin-off will be a team-up between Dwayne Johnson’s Agent Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw.

This was textbook summer popcorn movie.  Crazy over the top action, tons of banter and laughs, an awesome villain, great chemistry between all parts and lots of random surprises.  I will always love The Rock no matter what.  The guy has made some giant turds of movies but I don't care because. . . . . . he's The Rock.  But outside of Fast Five - this is probably my favorite movie he has ever done.  It was just a very enjoyable ride.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It is easily one of the more enjoyable movies to come out this summer.  

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

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

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

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

The Lion King

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

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

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

Crawl

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

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

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

Stuber

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

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

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

Midsommar

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

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

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

Spider-Man: Far From Home

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

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

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

Yesterday

Yesterday, everyone knew The Beatles. Today, only Jack remembers their songs. He’s about to become a very big deal. From Academy Award®-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting, 28 Days Later) and Richard Curtis, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually and Notting Hill, comes a rock-n-roll comedy about music, dreams, friendship, and the long and winding road that leads to the love of your life. Jack Malik (Himesh Patel, BBC’s Eastenders) is a struggling singer-songwriter in a tiny English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie (Lily James, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again). Then, after a freak bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack wakes up to discover that The Beatles have never existed … and he finds himself with a very complicated problem, indeed. Performing songs by the greatest band in history to a world that has never heard them, and with a little help from his steel-hearted American agent, Debra (Emmy winner Kate McKinnon), Jack’s fame explodes. But as his star rises, he risks losing Ellie — the one person who always believed in him. With the door between his old life and his new closing, Jack will need to get back to where he once belonged and prove that all you need is love.

This was a very enjoyable take on a relationship movie.  The whole Beatles being erased from people's memories and riding fake fame and the cost of that was a very original twist of the whole destiny and relationships ideal.  I really enjoyed this movie a lot.  The music was great.  The pacing was great - although the movie was a little bit long and the characters were all great.

I would recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see by any means but it was a very enjoyable watch.  And the music alone made it worth it.  

Annabelle Comes Home

The film will pick up with the Warrens bringing Annabelle to the place where it can really no longer wreak havoc, which is their artifact room, of course, it turns out she can also wreak havoc there. And she really awakens the evil within that room and they target the Warrens’ 10-year-old daughter, Judy.

This movie was pretty much a snoozefest - especially compared to the others in the "franchise".  There was a solid hour of pointless build in this before anything actually happened.  Strike one.   When stuff finally did start happening it honestly was not scary/creepy at all.  Strike two.  Once they did start with the traumatic sight gag type stuff it was honestly cheesy as hell.  Strike three.

I wouldn't really recommmend anyone bothering with this but my opinion is not much of a factor here.  Either you like the franchise and you will see it or you don't.  But it is a pretty lame entry compared to the others.

Child's Play

Chucky will be heading back to the big screen in a "Child’s Play" remake. The new version of the killer doll won’t be a doll possessed by a serial killer, but will be a defective ‘Buddy doll’ whose programming code was hacked so that he has no limitations to learning and also violence.

Oh my God this was atrocious.  Like just why?   It wasn't even scary at any point.  The doll looked lamer special effects wise than it did 30 years ago.  How is that possible!?!  Even the campiness of this one was just annoying and not enjoyable.  This is easily one of the worst remakes with this onslaught of them the last couple of years.   I can't believe I actually made it to the end of the movie.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.  Ever.  It is a blatant waste of time and a massive fail from a pretty enjoyable original.  

Toy Story 4

Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) has always been confident about his place in the world, and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. So when Bonnie’s beloved new craft-project-turned-toy, Forky (voice of Tony Hale), declares himself as “trash” and not a toy, Woody takes it upon himself to show Forky why he should embrace being a toy. But when Bonnie takes the whole gang on her family’s road trip excursion, Woody ends up on an unexpected detour that includes a reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep (voice of Annie Potts). After years of being on her own, Bo’s adventurous spirit and life on the road belie her delicate porcelain exterior. As Woody and Bo realize they’re worlds apart when it comes to life as a toy, they soon come to find that’s the least of their worries.

I was beyond the realm of skeptical of this movie because I really thought that Toy Story 3 was one of the best franchise ending movies ever.  That ending still messes me up.  They even flashed through it at the beginning of this movie and I got choked up.  Anywho - I kept bringing my expectations down for this movie hoping that they had not caved and just made a money grab type of sequel.  They 100% did not do that.  This movie was excellent on many levels.  The kids will obviously love it.  The cords that it pulls in the minds and hearts of adults though . . . . . . WOW!!!  This movie made me crazy emotional a couple of times.  They new characters introduced were all awesome.  There were TONS of laughs throughout the movie and had an incredibly heartfelt ending.  Not as tear inducing as Toy Story 3 but kind of close.

I would 100% recommend people checking this movie out.  It is an awesome watch for all ages and I feel very guilty for having doubted Pixar.  I am ashamed.

Shaft

He may be a cyber security expert with a degree from MIT, but to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death, JJ—aka John Shaft Jr. (Usher)—will need an education only his dad can provide. Absent throughout JJ’s youth, the legendary locked-and-loaded John Shaft (Jackson) agrees to help his progeny navigate Harlem’s heroin-infested underbelly. And while JJ’s own FBI analyst’s badge may clash with his dad’s trademark leather duster, there’s no denying family. Besides, Shaft’s got an agenda of his own, and a score to settle that’s professional and personal.

Keeping up with the why theme of the weekend.  Was there a demand for a continuation of Shaft and an expansion of the lineage that I was unaware of?  Like the movie was a decent watch but really don't understand the need for this movie to be made.  It really ends up just kind of there.  It even seemed kind of watered down and even campier than they had in the past.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's not a bad movie but its just kind of there.  You will forget about seeing this 10 minutes after you do.

Men In Black: International

Men in Black International will continue the same fictional universe without the involvement of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones’ Agents J and K. Agents H and M, played by MCU stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, are part of MiB’s London branch, which is run by Liam Neeson’s character. H and M’s latest case will call upon them to solve a murder mystery with global implications.

Why?  Just why?  Was there some kind of a need for this movie.  Not a reboot.  Not a sequel.  Just a similar storyline but international?  This movie mattered pretty much not at all in any way.  Like I forgot about everything I watched five minutes after the movie was over.  This movie is nothing more than a blatant money grab.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  Like I said - totally pointless waste of time and just a money grab that is beyond the realm of forgetful.  

Dark Phoenix

In DARK PHOENIX, the X-MEN face their most formidable and powerful foe: one of their own, Jean Grey. During a rescue mission in space, Jean is nearly killed when she is hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. Wrestling with this entity inside her, Jean unleashes her powers in ways she can neither comprehend nor contain. With Jean spiraling out of control, and hurting the ones she loves most, she begins to unravel the very fabric that holds the X-Men together. Now, with this family falling apart, they must find a way to unite -- not only to save Jean's soul, but to save our very planet from aliens who wish to weaponize this force and rule the galaxy.

Wow!  This was such a mailed in X-Men movie.  Like massively mailed in.  It was as if they tried to remake The Last Stand which is so the worst of all the X-Men movies.  This was massively disappointing and I'm not officially thrilled that Disney is taking it over and can reboot the whole thing since the last two entries were total crap after what was an amazing reboot with this new cast.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It really was just a massive waste of time.

Godzilla: King Of The Monsters

Following the global success of 2014’s “Godzilla” and this year’s “Kong: Skull Island,” comes the next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ cinematic MonsterVerse: an epic action adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history. The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

This was very enjoyable for what it was - a summer popcorn monster movie.  I enjoyed it just like the last Godzilla movie but nowhere near as much as Kong: Skull Island.  It's basically the same problem I have with all Godzilla movies.  Why is it that they are never able to film anything Godzilla close up?  Everything is always from far away and with a wide angle type of lens.  In Kong you actually believed that there was a giant ape doing all these things.  They way it was shot made you feel like he was there with the humans in the movie.  I never feel that way in Godzilla movies though and it's always kind of annoyed me.  This movie had that same problem.

I would still recommend anyone interested in these kinds of movies checking this out though.  It is a good summer popcorn movie watch and worth checking out.

Rocketman

Taron Egerton is set to star as Elton John, aka "Rocketman." The film will focus on Elton John’s beginnings, starting when he was a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music and carrying over to when he reached global stardom through his influential and enduring musical partnership with his songwriting collaborator Bernie Taupin. It will be a biopic that looks at the performer’s life past the glitter saturated image we have grown so accustomed to associating with the performer.

This was a tough one to review.  I like Taron Egerton's performance a lot.  I liked how true the movie was to Elton John's life and NOT like the holding back that they did in Bohemian Rhapsody with Freddie Mercury.  I love Elton John's music BUT the playing of it in this movie felt extremely forced.  Like it was a musical that was not fluid at all with the music and that always annoys me.

I would lukewarmly recommend this movie to people.  It's not bad.  It's actually pretty good but the forced music thing held it back from being truly great.

Ma

Everybody’s welcome at Ma’s. But good luck getting home safe. Oscar® winner Octavia Spencer stars as Sue Ann, a loner who keeps to herself in her quiet Ohio town. One day, she is asked by Maggie, a new teenager in town (Diana Silvers, Glass), to buy some booze for her and her friends, and Sue Ann sees the chance to make some unsuspecting, if younger, friends of her own. She offers the kids the chance to avoid drinking and driving by hanging out in the basement of her home. But there are some house rules: One of the kids has to stay sober. Don’t curse. Never go upstairs. And call her “Ma.” But as Ma’s hospitality starts to curdle into obsession, what began as a teenage dream turns into a terrorizing nightmare, and Ma’s place goes from the best place in town to the worst place on earth.

How in god's name was this a movie.  Better question - how in god's name did this movie have legit actors in it!?!  Like did they owe someone money?  I will never understand it.  Like ever.

I would absolutely not recommend anyone wasting their time with this.  Outside of joking with my friend about it who saw it opening day in theaters there is zero redeeming qualities to it.

The Secret Life Of Pets 2

The Secret Life of Pets 2 will follow summer 2016's blockbuster about the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day. Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy will produce the sequel to the comedy that had the best opening ever for an original film, animated or otherwise. "The Secret Life of Pets 2" will see the return of writer Brian Lynch ("Minions") and once again be directed by Chris Renaud ("Despicable Me" series, "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax").

This is pretty much just an extension of the first one.  There were some laughs.  There were some cute characters.  Not really much else to say about it.  I liked the first one but didn't think it was the greatest animated movie like the high quality stuff that has come out.  And I feel pretty much exactly the same about this as that one.

I would still recommend people check this out - especially pet lovers and parents with their kids.  

The Sun Is Also A Star

An adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s novel "The Sun is Also a Star." College-bound romantic Daniel Bae and Jamaica-born pragmatist Natasha Kingsley meet—and fall for each other—over one magical day amidst the fervor and flurry of New York City. Sparks immediately fly between these two strangers, who might never have met had fate not given them a little push. But will fate be enough to take these teens from star-crossed to lucky in love? With just hours left on the clock in what looks to be her last day in the U.S., Natasha is fighting against her family’s deportation as fiercely as she’s fighting her budding feelings for Daniel, who is working just as hard to convince her they are destined to be together. A modern-day story about finding love against all odds, “The Sun Is Also a Star” explores whether our lives are determined by fate or the random events of the universe.

This was a decent "young adult" book adaption about the debate of science verses destiny.  There was a lot of cute romantic moments but unfortunately the movie lacks a true hook that prevents you from forgetting about the movie mostly five minutes after you have finished watching it.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to see this.  It's not a bad watch necessarily.  It's just not really that memorable either.

Aladdin

The “Aladdin” cast includes: Two-time Oscar® nominee Will Smith (“Ali,” “Men in Black”) as the Genie who has the power to grant three wishes to whoever possesses his magic lamp; Mena Massoud (Amazon’s “Jack Ryan”) as Aladdin, the hapless but lovable street rat who is smitten with the Sultan’s daughter; Naomi Scott (“Power Rangers”) as Princess Jasmine, the Sultan’s beautiful daughter who wants to have a say in how she lives her life; Marwan Kenzari (“Murder on the Orient Express”) as Jafar, an evil sorcerer who devises a nefarious plot to unseat the Sultan and rule Agrabah himself; Navid Negahban (“Homeland”) as the Sultan, the ruler of Agrabah who is eager to find a proper husband for his daughter, Jasmine; Nasim Pedrad (“Saturday Night Live”) as Dalia, Princess Jasmine’s hand maiden and confidante; Billy Magnussen (“Into the Woods”) as Prince Anders, a suitor from Skanland and potential husband for Princess Jasmine; and Numan Acar (“Homeland”) as Hakim, Jafar’s right-hand man and head of the palace guards.

Aladdin is probably my favorite overall Disney movie.  Always has been since I've seen it.  So I was extremely nervous when I heard about this.  I was worried that it would never live up to the greatness that was the animated version.  I'm not going to say that this is awesome or must see BUT it was a pretty decent watch and they did a pretty impressive job with going live action on it.  The music was still there.  The laughs were still there.  I was pleasantly surprised.

I would recommend people checking this out.  But don't get too excited like I forced myself not to.  Because you will end up not liking it as much.

Booksmart

The story follows two academic superstars and best friends (Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever) who, on the eve of their high school graduation, suddenly realize that they should have worked less and played more. Determined never to fall short of their peers, the girls set out on a mission to cram four years of fun into one night.

This movie was really funny.  I was surprised at how much it had me laughing from beginning to end.  Big fan of Beanie Feldstein and think she has a huge future and she killed it in this.  Her and Kaitlyn Dever had incredibly believable chemistry and played off of each other so very well.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It was very funny and very much worth the time to watch it.  

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is on the run for two reasons… he’s being hunted for a global $14 million dollar open contract on his life, and for breaking a central rule: taking a life on Continental Hotel grounds. The victim was a member of the High Table who ordered the open contract. John should have already been executed, except the Continental’s manager, Winston, has given him a one-hour grace period before he’s ‘Excommunicado’ – membership revoked, banned from all services and cut off from other members. John uses the service industry to stay alive as he fights and kills his way out of New York City.

It's absolutely crazy to me that this is a three movie franchise at this point.  It's even more baffling how much I thoroughly enjoy this franchise.  The action - while insane levels of unbelievable - is so badass that you can't not enjoy the crazyiness of it all.  I will happily keep watching Keanu Reeves mowing down guys for several more installments.

I would absolutely recommend people check this movie out.  Action fans will love it and its a great continuation of a surprisingly enjoyable movie franchise.

Detective Pikachu

"Detective Pikachu" is the first live-action film based on the globally popular Pokémon franchise and will star Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith ("Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom") and Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies). Smith will star as a teen whose father is kidnapped which leads him to Reynolds’ Pikachu and Kathryn Newton as a young journalist who team up in order to find him.

I was never into Pokémon so I'll be honest here.  I have absolutely no idea what I watched.  It was cool visually and Ryan Reynolds as the voice of a smartass Pikachu was entertaining but I have legit no idea what I just watched.

I'm really not the one who should say yay or nay to this because again I have no Pokémon knowledge whatsoever.  This is one of the only pop culture phenomenons that I was just never able to wrap my head around.

BrightBurn

What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? With Brightburn, the visionary filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling, subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.

This was an awesome concept, the trailer looked great and the movie absolutely delivered.  I love when a movie goes superhero but on a simple budget like this.  It had you on the edge numerous times.  There was not crazy special effects throughout and the movie was that much more intense and creepy because of it.

I would definitely recommend both scary movie fans and superhero movie fans checking this out because it is a very original take on the whole Superman story.  

The Hustle

Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson are nasty women in the big screen update of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." They’ll play variations on the roles originally played by Michael Caine and Steve Martin in the 1988 original. The new version will update the story by putting the focus on two lady cons attempting to get money from a rich tech prodigy.

This movie was massively disappointing.  I am a big fan of both of the leads and the chemistry between them was really good but it was an absolute waste in this movie with zero substance around them whatsoever.  Like nothing.  It was just the two of them and garbage.  Very disappointing.

I would not recommend anyone bother with this.  It is absolutely not worth your time or money.

A Dog's Journey

Audiences are invited along on A Dog’s Journey, the next chapter of the beloved bestselling series by author W. Bruce Cameron. The family film told from the dog’s perspective serves as the much-anticipated follow-up to the soulful story of one devoted dog who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love.

This was literally just more of the same from the first movie like this.  Total heartstrings but very cute from beginning to end.  Any animal lover is guaranteed to love this movie and any fan of the first one should obviously check this one out.

I would recommend this to all animal lovers.  It's a very cute family film that plucks every right heartstring along the way.

Breakthrough

Based on the Joyce Smith novel “The Impossible: The Miraculous Story of a Mother’s Faith and Her Child’s Resurrection,” based on the true story. When Joyce Smith’s fourteen-year-old son John fell through an icy Missouri lake one winter morning, she and her family had seemingly lost everything. At the hospital, John lay lifeless for more than sixty minutes. But Joyce was not ready to give up on her son. She mustered all her faith and strength into one force and cried out to God in a loud voice to save him. Miraculously, her son’s heart immediately started beating again. In the coming days, John would defy every expert, every case history, and every scientific prediction. Sixteen days after falling through the ice and being clinically dead for an hour, he walked out of the hospital under his own power, completely healed.

Usually these religious/spiritual movies are a total joke to me.  Like they are usually so blatant and forced that I pull the plug less than halfway through.  But there was something about this one.  It kept my interest straight through and found a lot of spiritually dead parts of me getting triggered a bit as I got caught up in the story.  That was pretty impressive.

I never thought I would say this but I would actually recommend people checking this bad boy out.  It's actually a very enjoyable and pretty realistic story - especially with the interactions between all the characters and what not.

The Best Of Enemies

The Best of Enemies follows the story of Ann Atwater (Henson), a civil rights activist in Durham, N.C., who battled Ku Klux Klan leader C.P. Ellis (Rockwell) for a decade until 1971, when the two agreed to co-chair a two-week community meeting to deal with a court-ordered school desegregation decree. That event changed both of their lives immeasurably.

This is one of those biographical movies that you know is good.  It's well acted.  It tells a great story.  But for some reason the movie is just kind of there.  You pretty much forget having watched it five minutes after its over.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to see this.  There really is no reason to.  You can just wait to randomly catch this one on tv randomly.

Long Shot

Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen), an unemployed journalist battered by his own misfortune, endeavors to pursue his childhood crush and babysitter who now happens to be one of the most powerful and unattainable women on the planet (Charlize Theron).

Never in a million years did I think that this would be a good rom-com pairing.  Like it just didn't make sense whatsoever but that's obviously the hook.  This movie was very enjoyable.  You believe the chemistry between the two leads.  There are plenty of laughs throughout and you find yourself rooting for them and enjoying the ride.  By definition - this is a good rom-com.

I would surprisingly recommend people checking this bad boy out.  I enjoyed it very much and was pleasantly surprised.

Uglydolls

Unconventionality rules in UGLYDOLLS, the new animated musical adventure set in the adorably different town of Uglyville, where weird is celebrated, strange is special and beauty is embraced as more than simply meets the eye.

This is not even worth me reviewing.  This is blatantly a kids movie.  This is very much NOT one of those animated movies that older kids and the adults that take them can enjoy too.  It is just for kids.  The message to the kids is great but it is not an enjoyable watch for anyone outside of them.

If you have small children - take them to see it and hopefully its in a theater with reclining seats so you can take a nap.  Outside of that scenario though - I would pass on seeing this ever.

Avengers: Endgame

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.

Wow!  This is one hell of a massive wrap up to the 21 movie story that built up to it.  Like this movie was just an experience.  A massive experience that is so much bigger than seeing a movie.  Especially with the writing layers on top of layers in this movie.  Don't want to spoil anything but they really respect pretty much everything that came before this movie and then move forward effecting anything that will come out in the future.  This ride has truly been amazing.

I would of course absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a truly amazing watch and you really forget that you are sitting there and taking it all in for three hours.  

Little

The Universal Pictures comedy centers on a woman who gets the chance to relive the carefree life as her younger self (Martin), when the pressures of adulthood become too much.

Wow!  This movie was beyond unfunny.  I dozed off three times during an incredibly garbage first half of the movie and then decided to pull the plug.  Even without finishing it I have no doubt how the rest of the movie played out.  That's how formula it all was.

Nobody should bother with this movie.  Ever.  It was a really lame attempt at bringing back a beaten to death movie formula from the 80s and 90s that clearly should have been left alone.

The Curse Of La Llorona

La Llorona. The Weeping Woman. A horrifying apparition, caught between Heaven and Hell, trapped in a terrible fate sealed by her own hand. The mere mention of her name has struck terror around the world for generations. In life, she drowned her children in a jealous rage, throwing herself in the churning river after them as she wept in pain. Now her tears are eternal. They are lethal, and those who hear her death call in the night are doomed. La Llorona creeps in the shadows and preys on the children, desperate to replace her own. As the centuries have passed, her desire has grown more voracious…and her methods more terrifying.  In 1970s Los Angeles, La Llorona is stalking the night—and the children.“Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. Their only hope to survive La Llorona’s deadly wrath may be a disillusioned priest and the mysticism he practices to keep evil at bay, on the fringes where fear and faith collide. Beware of her chilling wail…she will stop at nothing to lure you into the gloom. Because there is no peace for her anguish. There is no mercy for her soul. And there is no escape from the curse of La Llorona.

This is one of those pretty watered down scary movies.  They had some good sight or moment scares but not really much past that.  The story was decent and had a pretty good build but it was just one of those watered down scary movies that could have been so much better if they really went all in for frights instead of making something for all audiences.  

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's just background noise and not really worth anyone's time or money.

Hellboy

Hellboy is back, and he’s on fire. From the pages of Mike Mignola’s seminal work, this action packed story sees the legendary half-demon superhero (David Harbour, “Stranger Things”) called to the English countryside to battle a trio of rampaging giants. There he discovers The Blood Queen, Nimue (Milla Jovovich, Resident Evil series), a resurrected ancient sorceress thirsting to avenge a past betrayal. Suddenly caught in a clash between the supernatural and the human, Hellboy is now hell-bent on stopping Nimue without triggering the end of the world.

Wow!  This was really, really bad.  Like really bad.  Like why did they bother doing this?  I was ready to pull the plug halfway through and it really just became background noise at that point.  I was a big fan of the original one and was even okay with the sequel.  I tried not to get excited about this one but I kind of did and that might have backfired on me because I thought this was total garbage

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It was a total waste of time.