A Working Man

Levon Cade left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life of working construction. However, when human traffickers kidnap his boss's daughter, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined.

Literally just Jason Stratham 17.   Like the same movie it has been every time.  Only new thing was a scene where he fought someone using construction site materials.  That is pretty much it.

If you like Jason Stratham movies then this is enjoyable.  If you don't then stay far, far away.

Black Bag

When his beloved wife, Kathryn, is suspected of betraying the nation, intelligence agent George Woodhouse faces the ultimate test -- loyalty to his marriage or his country.

For a movie that was dependent on espionage and suspense, this movie pretty much had neither.  The acting was great across the board but there was like ZERO hook whatsoever.  This basically just made the movie a 90 minute snooze fest because you just don't really care.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  Its a just kind of there movie that is not remotely interesting enough.

Snow White

A beautiful girl, Snow White, takes refuge in the forest in the house of seven dwarfs to hide from her stepmother, the wicked Queen. The Queen is jealous because she wants to be known as "the fairest in the land," and Snow White's beauty surpasses her own.

It's crazy how much this movie was doomed by woke and or actors' personal political opinions.   Like it was at the point where Disney just wanted to quietly release it and get it out of the way.  And sadly - I really thought this was easily one of their much better live action remakes since they started doing all of this.   Gal Gadot was definitely miscast as the Queen.  That just didn't really feel right but the rest of the movie was really good and enjoyable.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It is a fun watch and like I said - definitely one of the better Disney remakes that they have done.

Novocaine

When the girl of his dreams gets kidnapped, a man turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected advantage as he fights a bunch of thugs to get her back.

This movie would have been fine if it was like 40 minutes shorter.  If there was ever a movie that needed to be under 90 minutes it was this one.  Especially after it started so fast and just zoomed though the plot hooks.   But then the pacing just became brutal and the movie became trash because of it.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone checking this out.   You know damn well how all of it is going to play out and it's painful how slow it goes.

The Day The Earth Blew Up

Porky Pig and Daffy Duck become Earth's only hope when their antics at the local bubble-gum factory uncover a secret alien mind-control plot. Faced with cosmic odds, they must save their town and the world while not driving each other totally looney.

I have always been a huge fan of Looney Tunes.   Was somewhat excited to see that they were making a Looney Tunes movie in what seemed like forever.  That was a huge mistake.   This movie was honestly awful.  Like really really bad.

I would not recommend anyone ever bothering with this.   It was a massive disappointment for me.

Last Breath

The true story of seasoned deep-sea divers who battle the raging elements to rescue a crewmate who's trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface.

This movie was exactly what you would think it was going to be.   You really did see the movie by watching the trailer.   Luckily the actors were good enough to still keep you caring even though it was predictable and you knew how it turned out.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must watch by any means but was a decent enough watch and was definitely short enough.

My Dead Friend Zoe

Merit is a U.S. veteran who keeps seeing the presence of Zoe, her best friend who died in combat. When her estranged grandfather is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, she decides to become his caretaker while also trying to heal herself.

This movie was a pretty good heartstring pulling movie about mental health and dealing with loss - especially for veterans.  I didn't remotely expect to enjoy this movie as much as I did.  It was a really enjoyable watch with characters that you cared about.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a fun little watch that made you feel good ultimately.

Mickey 17

A disposable employee is sent on a human expedition to colonize the ice world Niflheim. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact.

This is a little of a weird movie to review.  Like the premise was interesting.  The characters were definitely interesting.   It did a great job of the sci fi rules of taking you there and making you think this world exists.   But like it just felt soooooooooooooo long.   Like this movie was already way too long at 2 hours and 15 minutes.  That was like at least 45 minutes too long.  But on top of that the pacing was sooooo slow that it felt like a three hour or longer movie.  It definitely took away from the enjoyment factor.

I would sort of recommend the movie because it was a decent watch from the story and character like of thinking.  The problem was that the pacing was just brutal and held this movie back massively.

The Unbreakable Boy

When Scott and Teresa learn that their son, Austin, is autistic and has brittle bone disease, they initially worry about his future. However, with Scott's growing faith and Austin's incredible spirit, they become unbreakable as they find joy, gratitude and courage in the most trying times.

Was this a massive heartstring pulling movie?  Yes.   Was it predictable in every way?   Also yes.   Even with that being said, was it still incredibly enjoyable if you allow yourself to get roped in?  Absolutely.   I don't mind movies like this when the hook is big enough.   I am not really spiritual in any way but when movies like this are done well enough it really is one of the few times that that stuff breaks through even if just for a few moments.   

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It honestly felt very real and genuine.   It was a very enjoyable all around watch.

The Monkey

When twin brothers find a mysterious wind-up monkey, a series of outrageous deaths tear their family apart. Twenty-five years later, the monkey begins a new killing spree, forcing the estranged siblings to confront the cursed toy.

This movie was a pretty good watch.  Had some really good jump scares, some WTF moments/kills and the monkey was definitely creepy as hell.   It just definitely ran way too long.   Like this was based off a short story and had no business being longer than like an hour for what pretty much equalled Final Destination with a monkey deciding who dies.

I would somewhat recommend horror movies fans checking this out.  It's not a must see at all but a decent watch if you have the time.

Captain America: Brave New World

Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident after meeting with President Thaddeus Ross. He must soon discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

This was a very enjoyable movie and defintely back to the roots of Marvel with not trying to do too much and connect too much.   You got to see further development of characters and are interested to see what is next for them.   The weird thing for me was that two of the three biggest things this built off of was The Incredible Hulk and The Eternals.   Just felt like really weird driving forces to build off of since they are probably the two most ignored Marvel entries.  The third building block that this built off of was obviously the Falcon And The Winter Soldier Disney Plus show.   That isn't a bad thing but it does bring up the theory of how you are kind of screwed if you only watch the movies and don't stay on top of all the shows.  Similar to The Marvels if you didn't watch the show prior you would very much be like um . . . who the hell are these people?   

I would still recommend people checking this out.  I enjoyed it a lot and both Anthony Mackie and especially Harrison Ford were great!

Heart Eyes

A masked maniac with glowing, red eyes returns every Valentine's Day to terrorize unsuspecting couples.

This movie was exactly what it was supposed to be.   A very predictable serial killer movie that blatantly did not take itself seriously.  It's kindly short and over the top gory.   And you will forget about it all very quickly after seeing it.

I would not recommend anyone rushing to see this at all.  If you like gory horror movies and have like 80 minutes to kill then go for it.  But if not - you are not missing much.

Dog Man

When a police officer and his faithful police dog get injured in the line of duty, a harebrained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together -- and Dog Man is born. As Dog Man learns to embrace his new identity, he must stop feline supervillain Petey the Cat from cloning himself and going on a crime spree.

This is one of those movies that was good for what it was supposed to be.  A short, fun, animated movie for families and younger kids.   It's from the same author as Captain Underpants and I remember reading those books with my daughter when she was younger.  Some good laughs and a quick watch.

I would recommend families checking this out.  It s a decent enough watch for the parents and the kids will definitely like it.

Love Hurts

Marvin is a Milwaukee realtor who receives a crimson envelope from Rose, a former partner-in-crime whom he left for dead. He now finds himself thrust back into a world of ruthless hit men and double-crosses that turn his open houses into deadly war zones. Hunted by his brother, a volatile crime lord, Marvin must confront the choices that haunt him and the history he never truly buried.

Wow.  This was really bad.  I'm all for mindless action movies with good fight scenes but like you have to have some kind of a story that I care about or at least take yourself like minimally serious.  This movie did not do this in any way shape or form.  I honestly spent the whole time either moaning about how bad it was or laughing at how bad it was.

I would not recommend anyone checking this out.  It's really short but still a pretty big waste of time.

Companion

A weekend getaway turns bloody and violent when a subservient android that's built for human companionship goes haywire.

This is honestly one of those movies that is a good concept and a was actually done decently well but like you just minimally care.  Like there wasn't a big enough hook.  Decent watch that ends up just kind of there and I will forget this movie entirely within a couple weeks.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone checking this out - which is not a knock on it because it's really not a bag movie.  But its just kind of there.

One Of Them Days

When her boyfriend takes her rent money, Alyssa and her roommate race against the clock to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact.

This movie was exactly what you thought it would be from the trailer.   Two friends down on their luck and a spiraling day with some pretty good laughs.  It was good for being exactly what it was supposed to be.  Turn your brain off and just laugh at the silliness.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for some pointless but enjoyable laughs.  It short enough that it doesn't really qualify as a waste of time.

Flight Risk

A U.S. marshal boards a small plane to transfer a government witness to New York. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions start to rise as not everyone on the flight is who they appear to be.

Sweet baby Jesus this movie was so horrible.  Like I sat there for 90 minutes just groaning at how bad it was and repeatedly saying this is such crap.  The story was crap.  The acting was some of the worst ever.  And the fact that Mel Gibson has fallen so far that his directorial list will include Braveheart, Passion Of The Christ and THIS is so insane.   To make matters worse I actually saw this movie in a 4D theater so I was thrown around in the seat due to the special effect while watching it.  Sore back, possible pulled hamstring and a massive 90 minute turd.   

I would absolutely not recommend anyone bothering with this.  Like ever.  It really is that bad.  Like a lock for worst movies of the year in the first month.  

Paddington In Peru

When Paddington discovers his beloved aunt has gone missing from the Home for Retired Bears, he and the Brown family head to the jungles of Peru to find her. Determined to solve the mystery, they soon stumble across a legendary treasure as they make their way through the rainforests of the Amazon.

This is a good movie for what it is.   If you are a family - especially with younger children you should absolutely go see this.  It checks all the boxes for what it is you are looking for.  The parents can be entertained and not worry about their kids seeing anything inappropriate and the kids can enjoy the cutesy story playing out.   Outside of that - not really sure why anyone would be bothering with this.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone with a younger side family.  Definitely a fun watch for them.  Outside of that you can go on not knowing that this movie is even a thing.

September 5

During the 1972 Munich Olympics, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes.

This was a really good movie that kind of took you into this historic moment in time and kept you hanging on to everything that was going on and all the characters involved.  It was also a very short watch and I appreciated no extra pointless run time very much.

I would recommend people checking this out.  It's one of those biographical movies that you can just feel is very well done all around.

Presence

A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they're not alone.

This was basically a decent premise with a horribly acted and directed movie around it.    Was this supposed to be scary?   Imagine like Paranormal Activity without the scares.   That would kind of be this where the camera was the "presence" that would shake things or flick lights.

I would definitely not recommend people checking this out.  Luckily it was super short but pretty much a massive waste of time.

Brave The Dark

When Mr. Deen discovers one of his students has been living out of his car and thrown into jail, he decides to bail him out. Determined to curb Nate's self-destructive behavior, Mr. Deen discovers a host of secrets that are slowly tearing Nate apart.

This was a very predictable heartstring pulling movie that ultimately makes you feel good and have faith in people.  It would like a made for tv movie that somehow got a theatrical release.  Anyone who is into those have faith kind of movies then you will definitely like this.  I thought it was definitely watchable.

It is not a must see by any means but it was a decent although beyond predictable movie that does its job of promoting faith.

Wolf Man

Blake and his family are attacked by an unseen animal and, in a desperate escape, barricade themselves inside a farmhouse as the creature prowls the perimeter. As the night stretches on, however, Blake begins to behave strangely, transforming into something unrecognizable that soon jeopardizes his wife and daughter.

I tried not to get roped in by the awesome trailer that this movie had but I will admit - they got me.   I was a little excited for this one.  Especially with how much I loved The Invisible Man.  But this one dropped the ball.  It dragged waaaaay too much and was much longer than it needed to be.  There was a very annoying mother daughter subplot thing that was completely not necessary like at all.  And most importantly the slow transformation looked cheesy as hell as did the appearance of the original wolf man when you saw him.  

I would not really recommend anyone wasting their time with this movie.  There were a couple of good jump scares but nowhere near worth it.

The Last Showgirl

A seasoned showgirl must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.

This movie was a decent watch about people aging and getting pushed out simply because of it.   There have been a couple of these movies to come out in all different genres the last couple years and they have become pretty repetitive because of it.  Not saying the movie was good or bad but ultimately it was just kind of there.   I actually liked Jamie Lee Curtis in it more than Pamela Anderson just because Anderson was never known for her acting.  Like at all.  

I would not really recommend anyone rushing to see this.  Again - its a decent watch but kind of ends up just being there.

Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera

Lawman "Big Nick" O'Brien gets embroiled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves as he pursues career criminal Donnie Wilson to Europe.

This movie was a pretty decent watch - just like the first one was.  The problem is like . . . . . you forget it very soon after watching.  Like I am windblown that a sequel was even made for the original.  Even more mindblown that it was made for theaters and not like a direct to blu-ray or streaming service or something.  

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to watch this.  I only did because it showed up online.  It's not a bad watch at all but its really not a good one either.

Better Man

The true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams.

What the absolute fuck was this?  I watched like 25 minutes and then had to stop.   A - is Robbie Williams worthy of a biopic pic?   Like honestly - who the hell is Robbie Williams?   Besides that very valid question . . . . um . . . . . . . . . . why is he being played by a CGI monkey?   Like I thought Pharell's story being told in legos was weird as hell but this one blows that out of the water and truly makes the movie beyond unwatchable because you can't get past the what the absolute f#@k feeling while watching.

I would not recommend anyone going anywhere near this.   Like ever.  This is a lock for the Bottom 10 of 2025 right out of the gate.

The Fire Inside

The story of Claressa "T-Rex" Shields, a boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in her country's history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport.

This was a really enjoyable watch.  Sure it was beyond predictable and pulled plenty of heart strings but pretty much all biopic sports movies do that.   The main thing is at least do it well.  This movie did it well.  You are definitely hooked by the characters and emotions and rooting for the story to go where it goes even though you already know.

I would recommend people checking this out who are looking towards an enjoyable and simple movie to just tune out for a while and maybe pick up some inspiration feelings.

Babygirl

A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with a much younger intern.

This was a weird watch.  Not because of Nicole Kidman being with a younger guy.  Zero judgement there.  You do you.  But like there was a lot of sexually related scenes with her where it was like um . . . . .  I feel weird watching this.   I'll just leave it at that.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to watch this.  It wasn't a bad movie but it wasn't a great movie either.  It was done really just to be provocative and it pulled that off very well but that was like really it.

The Ten Best Movies Of 2024

 Honorable Mention - Road House

I was not excited at all about this remake that Amazon Prime Video was doing but was beyond pleasantly surprised.   Like this movie was enjoyable as hell and completely campy and payed a lot of respect to the original and you are able to enjoy both of them.  

10 - Bad Boys: Ride Or Die

Credit to them for still being able to make movies in this franchise and barely losing a step.   Love how they worked in the them getting older stuff.   And loved even more them addressing Will Smith with the slap thing.  That is probably the hardest I have laughed at a movie all year.

9 - Furiosa

Nowhere near as epic as Fury Road was but still amazing in its own way.   Very much a fan even though it was paced much differently and told more of a story in that world.

8 - Gladiator II

I thought this was ridiculous being made like 25 years later but it worked like really well and was beyond pleasantly surprised.   Denzel talking with zero effort of a roman accent was a very weird choice to incorporate but even though it's joke worthy I really didn't care because of the story and action keeping you very invested.

7 - Arthur The King

I know that this movie honestly has no business being on this list but I didn't care about the heartstring pulling or the predictability of it - I was emotionally hooked and very much enjoyed this movie.  Like it was beyond a feel good ride.

6 - Deadpool & Wolverine

FINALLY on so many levels.   Deadpool in the MCU.  Wolverine in the MCU.  A multiverse movie that didn't leave me massively annoyed and bored.   A movie that had some of the most epic oh shit cameos that were not spoiled before the movie came out.   This is easily the best movie Marvel has probably done since Endgame and hopefully a good sign of them getting back on the amazing track that they were before.

5 - IF

I hate that this movie didn't do better at box office.   This movie was a classic throwback whimsical child imagination tale.  Like a Willy Wonka kind of movie.   I was beyond hooked by it and it left a hell of a stamp on me on so many different levels emotionally.

4 - Saturday Night

This movie was so much surprising fun.  Even though it was so simple and just literally 90 minutes prior to the first show starting but like the craziness spiraling and knowing the real life personas involved and being played.   This was a really good underrated movie.

3 - Dune Part Two

After seeing the first Dune I was so lost and so turned off by the franchise.  I legit had ZERO idea of who was who and why and what had actually happened.  So I saw this movie with very low expectations and LOVED it.   Like it made me go back and watch the first one and understand it so much more.   Name the last time that something like that happened.   That's a major testament to how great and enjoyable this movie was.

2 - Inside Out 2

Pixar killed it with this movie.   Taking the awesomeness of the original and adding in 5 new emotions as the girl got older?   Absolute genius!   Perfect mix of laughs and emotions.

1 - Wicked

I am obviously a little biased because I loved this musical so much.  I have been eagerly awaiting the movie for what feels like a decade at this point.   As more time went by I became a little more disenchanted expectations wise.   Then the marketing was insanely over the top.  Like an obscene amount of overexposure and overhype.   Then I finally saw the movie and did not care about all that because the movie was EXCELLENT.   The casting was EXCELLENT.   The movie was so good that you don't even care it is longer than the entire musical even though the movie only covers the first of two acts.   

The Ten Worst Movies of 2024

Dishonorable Mention - Terrifier 3

There was no way that this movie was not making this list.   The said thing is that there were actually 10 movies I would grade as worse than this.   This is the first of the franchise and hopefully the last that I saw in theaters.   This is just absurd gore for the sake of gore and the only plus is laughing at the horrendous experience of watching it.

10 - Imaginary

So like evil Ted?   Why?  Better question . . . . if you are going to make this why also make it PG-13 so that anything that might have had a shot of being scary was just mind numbing stupid or silly instead.

9 - Night Swim

Typical January release.  Lame ass horror movie that is released when nothing else is as an attempt at a money grab.  Film just barely enough good footage to make a trailer for the movie that grossly undelivers.

8 - Borderlands

This movie will easily go down in history as being one of the top movies where you ask yourself how in the blue hell did all the people involved in this sign on to this movie?

7 - Venom: The Last Dance

I don't know of any other other trilogies that I have more - very ironically by the way - venom towards.   These movies are quite honestly hella trash.    Thank god they are done and Sony will stop with these horrendous spinoff movies including 2 that made this list and one that barely missed this year.

6 - Lisa Frankenstein

This movie might be the winner this year for the most amount of time that I just stared at the screen with a confused dog face on like what in God's name am I watching.   Like . . . . . . this is a movie that was made and released wide in theaters?

5 - Megalopolis

What in the blue hell was this?   Like for real?   I made it about an hour in before I realized there was almost another two house and was like um. . . . . . . NOPE!

4 - Madame Web

Not gonna lie.  I cannot believe that this is not number one.   I saw this turd at the start of the year and figured it was a lock.  The only reason that it didn't make the cut will likely be because I went into it with complete trash expectations.  But this movie was like legendarily bad.   

3 - The Crow

This movie is just criminal.  How to you attempt to remake such a massive cult classic movie and do it this bad?   Like what made them think yeah this is good.  Not only good but worthy of being remade?

2 - The Front Room

Another one of those holy shit is this a legit horror movie?  Like just completely off the rails and also screams . . . . . .  This is Brandy's comeback!?!   

1 - In A Violent Nature

I only watched this because of all the reviews screaming about how original and different it was since it was through the killer's view.  What that means is 90 minutes of heavy breathing and crunching footsteps through like a parrot on the shoulder view while a killer walks around.   Literally.   For every over the top kill you then legit just walk around with the killer for 10-15 minutes.   Like no editing.  You keep taking the full walks.   Not kidding.

Nosferatu

In the 1830s, estate agent Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania for a fateful meeting with Count Orlok, a prospective client. In his absence, Hutter's new bride, Ellen, is left under the care of their friends, Friedrich and Anna Harding. Plagued by horrific visions and an increasing sense of dread, Ellen soon encounters an evil force that's far beyond her control.

This is one of those movies that you know as you are watching it that it's very well done from a cinematic filmmaking standpoint.  The look, cinematography and aesthetics really were great.   But like besides that it dragged waaaaaaaaaaaay too long and it's just kind of there story wise.  

I would not really recommend anyone bothering with this.   It's way too long and even though very well done visually it's pretty empty besides that.

A Complete Unknown

In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide.

This was a pretty good biopic movie.  The performances were really good - especially Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.  But like - was there really that big of a demand for this?   Like ultimately after it was over it was just kind of there.   I didn't have any newer found love for Bob Dylan or folk music and stuff so did it kind of fail?

I  would not really recommend anyone rushing to see this.  It's a decent watch but is also pretty forgettable after seeing it honestly.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Sonic, Knuckles and Tails reunite to battle Shadow, a mysterious new enemy with powers unlike anything they've faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, they seek out an unlikely alliance to stop Shadow and protect the planet.

I am honestly still shocked at how this is now a three movie franchise that has made a ton of money.   Like the voices are good and Jim Carrey always kills at Dr Robotnik but like every time I watch one of these I just feel like it's too long and they end up being very forgettable.  

I would still recommend families using this as an escape this holiday season to take the kids too but outside of Jim Carrey the movie is pretty much just there and pretty forgettable.

Mufasa

Lost and alone, orphaned cub Mufasa meets a sympathetic lion named Taka, the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destinies.

This movie was a good watch.  The story - even though you pretty much knew how it was going to play out - was good.  The characters were developed well during the course of it.  The big issue with it was honestly the music.  Not that the songs were bad.   The singing just felt really really forced and and even eye rolling at times.   

I would sort of recommend people watching this.  I'm sure that none of this will matter and that the movie will make a ton of money.  The movie is ultimately just kind of there because I'm not sure that there was that much a demand for a prequel like this and the music is very forgettable unlike the original.

Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim

A sudden attack by Wulf, a ruthless Dunlending lord, forces Helm Hammerhand and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation, Helm's daughter, Héra, must lead the resistance against a deadly enemy who's intent on total destruction.

This was a really enjoyable watch.  I've always been big fan of all things LOTR and this was right up there with the rest even though it was animated.  Introduced you to some good new characters, the story was good and paced pretty well.  Even though the movie was over two hours I didn't get the feeling of this is too long nearly as much as I have with others.  

I would definitely recommend people - especially fans of the franchise - check this out.  It's a very enjoyable watch and story.

Kraven The Hunter

Kraven's complex relationship with his ruthless father starts him down a path of vengeance, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.

And with this latest dud the Sony Spidey spinoffs universe is allegedly and hopefully done.   This movie was pushed back for over a year and that was for a very good reason.  The movie is craptastic in every way.   Way too long.  You don't care at all about the story or characters and it is ultimately just there with nothing happening moving forward related to it announce a week before it came out.  

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this . . . . or any of the Sony Spidey Universe movies.  They are all hot garbage.

Y2K

On the last night of 1999, two high school juniors crash a New Year's Eve party, only to find themselves fighting for their lives when Y2K becomes a reality.

This movie was essentially a decent SNL sketch that went waaaaaaaay too long.  Like it had some actually pretty funny parts for a while.  Maybe like the first half but then it just kept going.   I had bottom or the barrel hopes for this movie going in so it was a little bit better than I expected but regardiless it is a garbage movie.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.   Like at all.  

Moana 2

Moana journeys to the far seas of Oceania after receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors.

This movie was a decent watch with good animation but honestly felt kind of like a rushed money grab kind of sequel.   The first half felt very forced and just kind of mailed in with both the story and the songs.  The second half had much more action but like this felt a lot more like a straight to blu-ray kind of a sequel then a wide release if that makes sense.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.   It is not a must watch by any means at all and ultimately will be a pretty forgettable Disney animation movie which will land it as a disappointment overall I would think.

Wicked

Misunderstood because of her green skin, a young woman named Elphaba forges an unlikely but profound friendship with Glinda, a student with an unflinching desire for popularity. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths.

I loved this show and was pretty skeptical about seeing it turned into a movie.   It was also massively and excessively marketed that I was afraid I would be disappointed by it just because.   I was dead wrong on both accounts.  This movie was AMAZING and could easily be one of if not the best musical turned into a movie . . . . well at least the first part of a musical at least.   The casting was perfect, the singing amazing and it somehow did not bother me that part 1 of the movie was longer than the entire broadway show.   That is very impressive.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It was an amazing watch and easily one of the best movies of the year even after all the hype/marketing.  

Gladiator II

Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.

When I first heard about this movie I thought that it was total desperation to go back to the well 25 years later but they actually pulled it off excellently.  They did it in a way that actually made it make sense for the large time gap.  Only two knocks I could make against the movie iis that maybe they should have made Connie NIelson age like a day or so since it's been 24 years.  Also - maybe Denzel Washington could have attempted to try like a slight Roman accent?   Just seemed kind of out of place.  But outside of those two things the story was great, the acting was great (especially the one goofy twin emperor that stole every scene he was in) and the action was awesome.

I would definitely recommend that people check this movie out.  It was a very enjoyable epic movie just like the original.   Very pleasant surprise!

Red One

When a villain kidnaps Santa Claus from the North Pole, an E.L.F. (Extremely Large and Formidable) operative joins forces with the world's most accomplished tracker to find him and save Christmas.

This movie had been slaughtered by critics so I expected it to be completely horrendous.  But it was exactly what it was supposed to be - a Christmas spirit action movie and it was honestly fine for what it was.   The casting was pretty good and the messages that they wanted to send got across.  The action was a little bit much at times but it was a decent watch.

I wouldn't necessarily say it's a must see or that anyone should rush off to see this.  I also wouldn't say that it is horrible and should not be seen.  If you like Christmas movies then check it out.  It definitely is more testosterone filled than usual Christmas movies.

Anora

Anora, a sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.

This was a weird and artsy movie but also a very fun and pretty funny spiraling ride.  Mikey Madison was great.   The continuing turns were great and the random new characters that entered the story were great too.   The movie was a little longer than it needed to be but it was an enjoyable and very profane ride.

I would recommend people checking it out.  It's a very hard R rating because of the sex and nudity but was a great watch.

Heretic

Two young missionaries become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed. Trapped in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive.

This movie was boring as hell.  The trailer actually made it look kind of cool and creepy but none of that stuff really happened until the last 20-30 minutes.   Prior to that it was like 90 minutes of religious convos all theological and philosophical.  I nodded off like 4 times trying very hard to stay interested and it just was not happening.  

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.  Especially not if you were interested in watching based on the trailer.  That was complete false advertising basically.   LOL

Absolution

An ageing gangster tries to reconnect with his family and fix the mistakes from the past, but his criminal lifestyle soon threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.

So it's Liam Neeson playing the same role he has been doing for the last 15 years but with memory loss.   That's it.  Literally nothing else to say about it.

No - I would never recommend people checking this out.  Unless you love Taken 82 - Memory is no longer one of his particular set of skills concept.   

Here

Multiple generations of couples and families inhabit the same home over the course of a century.

Um . . . . .  this was a good premise . . . . . . for like a museum exhibit.   Like the filming of the same room no matter what through all those years and different times/families was a cool idea and I enjoyed the filming style that it created.   But like outside of that it was just a blatant series of heartstring pulls.  Like this would have been a much better 15-20 minute exhibit at a museum but did not remotely have the legs to be a quality movie.

I would not really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's not bad but it's really not too much more than an interesting filmmaking premise.  Very much lacking substance.

Conclave

Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with one of the world's most secretive and ancient events -- participating in the selection of a new pope. Surrounded by powerful religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, he soon uncovers a trail of deep secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church.

So like a suspense and intrigue movie about picking a pope?   Um . . . . . I'm good.   Like maybe if I remotely cared about any of this maybe this movie would matter but twists and turns and backstabbing about finding which dude to be named pope is about as interesting as watching paint dry.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.  Like there were good performances and stuff sure but not nearly enough to really hook you on the subject matter.

Venom: The Last Dance

Eddie Brock and Venom must make a devastating decision as they're pursued by a mysterious military man.

Dear lord this has been such a trash ass trilogy.   LOL!  The first movie was so bad that I was openly heckling the screen in the theater.  The second one was a joke but like a little bit more watchable.  This was just beyond mailed in.   Like Men In Black 2 level mailed in sequel.  Completely pointless.  Just kind of swept away all of the teases from the last one of continuity with the rest of the Spidey Universe.   Just seriously trash.

I would not recommend anyone ever bothering with this.   it was really really bad and so beyond pointless in every way.

Smile 2

About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins to experience increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and pressures of fame, she must face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.

This is kind of a tough one to review.   I was loving it for like two hours.  I actually liked it more than the first one.  Tons of great jump scares.  Lots of crazy and creepy as hell filming angles that added so much tensions to scenes.  I like the pacing even though the movie was a little bit too long.  It was easier to understand than the first one which kind of lost me at one point.  And you really were hooked by the lead character.   But then there was the last like 3 minutes.   I don't want to spoil it but like they did that one thing that I HATE in horror movies.  Like when you reveal what the evil entity looks like don't drop the ball.  The definitely did.  I loved the idea of what they were going for but the physical reveal was just complete trash.

It's a shame because I actually really would have recommended people checking it out but that last scene really annoyed the hell out of me so I'll go with a go see it but leave 10 minutes early.  

We Live In Time

Almut and Tobias are brought together by a surprise encounter that changes their lives. As they embark on a path challenged by the limits of time, they learn to cherish each moment of their unconventional love story.

This was kind of strange and disjointed way of telling their love story.  Like I got the premise but I felt like it hurt their story overall.  Outside of that it was a decent heartstring puller with good performances by both actors.  Just not really good enough to openly be saying it must be seen.

I would only lukewarmly recommend people check this out.  It is very much not a must see by any means but it is a decent watch for a romance with ALOT of heartstring pulling as well.

Piece By Piece

LEGO bricks tell the life story of singer/songwriter and record producer Pharrell Williams -- from his childhood in Virginia to his success in the music and fashion industry.

I'm very confused by this movie.  It was a great musical documentary.   The music was great too.   I actually probably would have enjoyed it as a regular musical documentary.  But like . . . . . . . . why was it animated and in legos?   Like it wasn't for kids.  It wasn't remotely supposed to be a comedy or a family film.   So then . . . . . why legos?   LOL

I don't know that I would really recommend anyone rushing to see this.  It was a decent watch and the music was great.   The lego animation was cool as always just have no idea why this movie was done in this style.

Saturday Night

Tensions run high as producer Lorne Michaels and a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers prepare for the first broadcast of "Saturday Night Live" on Oct. 11, 1975.

I can't really put my finger on why but I absolutely loved this movie.   I loved how hectic it was.  I loved how real it felt.  I loved the things touched upon and the people referenced.  I loved how they tried to build up the known characters enough even though it was a real time movie.   It really gave me so much more respect then I already had for Saturday Night Live as a production.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a very enjoyable movie and told in a great yet incredibly hectic way that very much prevented a minute of it dragging at all.