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.

Terrifier 3

After surviving Art the Clown's Halloween massacre, Sienna and her brother struggle to rebuild their shattered lives. As the holiday season approaches, they try to embrace the Christmas spirit and leave the horrors of the past behind. However, just when they think they're safe, Art returns, determined to turn their holiday cheer into a new nightmare.

What is there to say about this movie?   It is what it is and more just ridiculously over the top gore just for the sake of what you can get away with doing/showing.   Some extremely gross and absurd stuff.   And the Clown was campy as hell which always strangely entertains while watching complete grossness.   All advance words was about the opening scene but I was too numb for that to bother me.  There was a shower scene later on in the movie that actually made me stand up and threaten to walk out that actually made the whole theater laugh their asses off.   So gross.

Would I recommend people watching this?  Dear God NO!!!!   These movies are so completely gross.   LOL.   Main reason I go is because of it becoming a hilarious ball busting inside joke with my bestie.   Nobody should honestly ever see these movies.

Joker: Folie A Deux

Struggling with his dual identity, failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital.

I left feeling the same way about this movie as I did the first one.  It was a great movie with awesome acting but would have been so much better without the connection to known comic book characters.   Like that connection held this back and kept making you think other things would happen comic book wise.  Remove that connection and you would have an incredible story about mental health and love.

I would still recommend people check it out because it was a great movie with awesome acting.   It's just a comic book movie that is very much NOT a comic book movie.

Megalopolis

A conflict between Cesar, a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare.

What in the blue f'n hell was this?   I tried.  I really did.  I'm honestly shocked that I made it an hour into the movie.  It was waaaaaaaaay too much and waaaaaaaaaay too over the top.  I don't care who directed it or who was starring in it.   Overdone trash is overdone trash.

I wouldn't recommend anyone ever bothering with this.  It's insane how much was likely spend on this and what not to make.

Never Let Go

When an unspeakable evil takes over the world, the only protection for a mother and her twin sons is their house and strong bond. Needing to stay connected at all times -- even tethering themselves with ropes -- they must cling to one another and never let go. However, when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.

This movie was a great premise and actually started out pretty well with you slowly finding out why things are the way they are but then the pacing just kind of fell off and it got dull too many times for a suspense movie.  The kids were good and so was Halle Berry but it couldn't recover from the pacing gaps.

I would still somewhat recommend people checking this out.  Its not a must see and definitely could have been done better but it's an okay watch.

The Wild Robot

Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named Roz must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, Roz soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling.

This was the exact cute and very well animated movie that you would have expected from the trailer.   They focused on nature and the environmental aspects message wise and the robot was a great central character with the gosling that is able to pull all the right heartstrings throughout.

This was a very enjoyable and family friendly animated movie.  It's not a must see but its a very worthy watch.

The Front Room

Everything goes to hell for newly pregnant Belinda after her mother-in-law moves in. As the diabolical guest tries to get her claws on the child, Belinda must draw the line somewhere.

What the hell was this?  Like seriously.  What the hell was this?  This was a horror movie about taking care of a nasty old woman?    That's a plot line for a movie?   This is what Brandy has been up to?  This was total garbage.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.  Like ever.  It doesn't even pass as like a background noise kind of watch.

Transformers One

Brothers-in-arms Orion Pax and D-16 become sworn enemies Optimus Prime and Megatron.

This was easily the best Transformers movies since the original.  However that is not saying much because I am not a big fan at all of any Transformers movies outside of the first one.  This did have a good story and some pretty cool animation.  Giving us the origins was a pretty good idea but like at this point I'm just not sure how much anyone can really care any more.

I would kind of recommend people checking this out.  It is absolutely not a must watch but it is a much more decent watch than most of the live action offerings.

The Substance

Elisabeth Sparkle, renowned for an aerobics show, faces a devastating blow on her 50th birthday as her boss fires her. Amid her distress, a laboratory offers her a substance which promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself.

Okay.  This is by far one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen.  It had a great premise and great actors.  For the first 90 minutes even though there were some serious holy shit moments I was loving the movie.  And then it might actually take the cake for the most off the rails movies I have ever seen from that point on for the remaining 40 minutes.  Like you are just staring at the screen thinking WHAT . . . . THE . . . . . FUCK!?! 

Like I want to tell people to watch the first 90 minutes and stop and imagine how you would like it to end instead of ever suggesting someone watch the last 40 minutes of this insane movie.  

1992

Mercer is desperately trying to rebuild his life and his relationship with his son amid the turbulent Los Angeles riots in 1992. Across town, another father and son put their own strained relationship to the test as they plan a dangerous heist where Mercer works. As tensions continue to rise in the city, both families reach their boiling points when they collide.

This was incredibly formula in every way and I really don't know why this movie needed to be made.  Like what was the remote demand for this?  If you saw the trailer you saw the movie and it is just ultimately completely pointless.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.   It's just there pointlessly and beyond forgettable.

Speak No Evil

On a vacation in Toscana, a Danish family instantly becomes friends with a Dutch family. Months later, the Danish couple receives an unexpected invitation. It doesn't take long before the joy of reunion is replaced with misunderstandings.

I have pretty much been seeing this trailer before every movie for the last 2-3 months.   That was already annoying enough.  But after seeing it there was honestly next to nothing in the movie that was not part of said trailer.  Like nothing.  Extremely disappointing.  I will never understand why studios do that.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's a pretty big waste of time and again you have already seen it if you watched the trailer or ad for it.

The Killer's Game

Diagnosed with a terminal illness, top hit man Joe Flood decides to take matters into his own hands and take a hit out on himself. However, when the very men he hires also target his ex-girlfriend, he must fend off an army of assassins and win back the love of his life before it's too late.

This movie was pretty formula in every way.   Some of the action was good and some of the other the top characters were too.  But like if you saw the trailer you saw the movie because there was really no more substance than what was shown in that.  

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's just kind of there and pretty pointless overall.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River after an unexpected family tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia's life soon gets turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter discovers a mysterious portal to the afterlife. When someone says Beetlejuice's name three times, the mischievous demon gleefully returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

The original Beetlejuice was one of my favorite movies growing up as a kid.  And opposed to recent nostalgic bring backs of late I was definitely excited about this one because everyone was back.  Even though the story had a little bit too much to it, the movie definitely worked and nailed all the right nostalgic notes it needed to in order to hit home.  Tim Burton and Michael Keaton definitely have still got it.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was one of the better nostalgia projects to come out recently.  

AfrAId

Curtis and his family are selected to test a revolutionary new device, a digital assistant called AIA, that takes smart homes to the next level. As AIA begins to learn everyone's behavior and anticipate their needs, it soon makes sure nothing and no one gets in the family's way.

This is a classic end of summer/Labor Day weekend movie.  A "scary" movie that tries to capitalize on a forgotten holiday weekend release date that is completely forgettable and formula in every way.   Like you can actually forget this movie as you are watching it because that is just how unmemorable it was.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this even though it's like an hour and 15 minutes long.  Very pointless and forgettable.

Strange Darling

Nothing is what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer's vicious murder spree.

This was a very surprisingly enjoyable and smart movie.  It was told completely out of order and disjointed but definitely worked because you were hooked the whole time.  They kept the run time short and there were a whole bunch of oh shit moments and the movie really delivered.

I would actually recommend people checking this out.  It's a hard R movie and very deranged but actually really enjoyable.

Blink Twice

When tech billionaire Slater King meets cocktail waitress Frida at his fundraising gala, he invites her to join him and his friends for a dream vacation on his private island. Wild nights soon blend into sun-soaked days, but when strange things start to happen, Frida must uncover the truth if she hopes to make it out alive.

I honestly don't even know what the was.  First - it felt like bits and pieces from a bunch of other movies I have seen thrown together.  Second - it was trying waaaaaaaay to hard to be Jordan Peele like.  Third - even though it started off decent the tailspin of this movie in to weirdness was very much not done well at all and just leaves you looking at it like what the hell is this?

I would not recommend anyone really bothering with this.  There was some cool filming ideas and style but outside of that the substance just wasn't there.

The Crow

Soulmates Eric Draven and Shelly Webster are brutally murdered when the demons of her dark past catch up with them. Given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself, Draven returns to seek bloody revenge against the killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right.

This was a legendarily bad movie.  It would have been if it was an original movie.  But being such a bad remake of a movie that was so classic to me growing up honestly made it worse.  Who was asking for this?   Why was it done?  Damn you, Hollywood!   An actual line in this movie was asking "what is the hardest tea to swallow?"   The answer was "reality."   Nothing rings truer about how bad this movie was.

I would never recommend anyone watching this.  Ever.  Go watch the original.

Alien: Romulus

Space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life-form in the universe while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station.

I have not left a movie theater this annoyed in a long time.   The first two Alien movies are probably two of my favorite movies ever.   Both so well done for very different reasons.  There have been like 5 attempts since then and while some were good and some were bad I had just kind of accepted franchise fatigue.  The trailer for this one came out and I was like OH DAMN!  It finally looked like in the league of the original two.   I didn't even know this but this movie actually takes place after the original timeline wise and was full of very well done nostalgia.   And the movie was SO GOOD as it was going along.  They did an amazing job with the face hugger scenes.  They did an amazing job of the actual alien from chest busting to the actual alien.  And it was all legit stuff with no CGI.  Was loving it.  They did this awesome scene built off the continuity of the aliens blood being acid that was great.  I was ready to put this movie right up there with the first two.  I was psyched to go home and rewatch them too.  But then the movie didn't end.  Like it could have.  Easily.  They are at like an hour and 40 minutes I think.  Would have been great.  But it had to go an extra 15 minutes with a completely nonsensical twist that completely ruined the movie.  I legit sat there for the last 15-20 minutes just shaking my head and saying this is trash over and over again.  So beyond massively disappointed.  

I would recommend people seeing all the greatness of like the first 4/5 of the movie and then leaving.  It will then be an awesome watch.  But if you finish the movie it is a totally wasted effort and a textbook example of knowing when to end your movie.

Cuckoo

Seventeen-year-old Gretchen reluctantly leaves America to live with her father at a resort in the German Alps. Plagued by strange noises and bloody visions, she soon discovers a shocking secret that concerns her own family.

This was another high concept/artsy horror movie.   I liked this one.   It was creepy enough.  It kept you hooked enough and it didn't just mail in the ending like recent others have done.   They were vague all along so that you didn't think you were watching one thing but it turned out to be something else.   And the use of the annoying sounds when something bad was going to happen was an excellent tension builder.

I would recommend people checking this out since it really is a pretty good watch.  It is definitely not a mainstream horror movie though.   Very artsy but still really good.

It Ends With Us

Lily Bloom moves to Boston to chase her lifelong dream of opening her own business. A chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid soon sparks an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, she begins to see sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents' relationship. When Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan, suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with Ryle gets upended, leaving her with an impossible choice.

I had no idea how huge of a female following this movie had as it went from book to screen.  It is very much a "chick flick."   A lot of emotions.   A lot of heartstrings.   But it is still a very good watch.  There are plenty of hooks to keep you invested and the casting was really really good.   I have always been a fan of Blake Lively and this was a perfect vehicle for her.

I would definitely recommend all females seeing this as the message is very much needed.  I would also recommend most guys see it with them to understand certain things about what or how they do things to get a better understanding of their actions.

Borderlands

Returning to her home planet Pandora, an infamous bounty hunter forms an unexpected alliance with a ragtag team of misfits. Together, they battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to uncover one of Pandora's most explosive secrets.

Wow.  This movie was god awful.   Like really really bad.   And it wasn't even like a movie that was so bad you could actually enjoy how bad it is.  Like it was annoyingly bad with annoying characters and literally no hook to interest you in any way.  Total garbage.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.   Like ever.

Harold And The Purple Crayon

Inside his book, adventurous Harold can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. After he grows up and draws himself off the book's pages and into the physical world, he soon learns his trusty crayon can set off more hilarious hijinks than he thought possible. However, when the power of unlimited imagination falls into the wrong hands, it will take all of his creativity to save both the real world and his own.

There are kid's movies that are just as much fun for the adults.   There are kid's movies that are more for them but the adults can manage to make it through.  And then there are kid's movies that are just plain annoying and insulting to both the parents and the kids.  This falls into that group.  I couldn't even make it through the movie.  I stopped half way through because it was honestly unbearable.  

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  Ever.  It is painful.  Even for the kids.

Trap

A man and his teenage daughter realize they're at the center of a dark and sinister event while watching a concert.

Ugh.  Just ugh.  This is another miss by M Night Shymalalalalalalalalalan.  This movie was at least 30 minutes too long.   It would be have been a decent watch had it ended at a much earlier and more logical point.  But it just kept going and going and I found myself just wanting it to end so I could leave.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's way overdone and one of his more eh offerings.  Pretty disappointing even when going into it with low and reserved expectations.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth, Deadpool. They team up to defeat a common enemy.

I enjoyed this movie for several reasons.  1 - they did not water down Deadpool violence wise, language wise, innuendo wise or material wise.   That's a major win.  2 - The chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is on such an awesome level.  Words honestly do no justice.  3 - this movie easily served as the fans voice about all the annoyances of the whole multiverse thing with the commentary on it in real time and it actually helps make the multiverse thing more digestible in my opinion.  There was not too much of a story but like honestly - did there need to be?   And the cameos were most definitely not overhyped.   There were a couple of them that made me yell OH SHIT out loud.  

I would definitely recommend everyone checking this out.  Just the opening credit scene alone is something that I have always needed very much but didn't realize it until I saw it.  LOL!  It is definitely a hard R for those with kids though.

Twisters

Haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado, Kate Cooper gets lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi, to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. She soon crosses paths with Tyler Owens, a charming but reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As storm season intensifies, Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves in a fight for their lives as multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma.

This movie was EXACTLY what you would expect going in.   Disaster movie with great special effects.   You don't go to see this for the acting - even though they put together a pretty awesome young and upcoming cast.  You don't go for the story - although they definitely did a good enough job of trying to set one up.  You go for the effects and the movie definitely delivered on that.   This was a very enjoyable popcorn movie.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It's a big part of what going to the movies is all about.  

Fly Me To The Moon

Sparks fly between a marketing executive and a NASA official as he makes preparations for the Apollo 11 moon landing.  

This movie would have been great if they decided what it wanted to be.  If it was just a rom-com then it would have been great.   If it was just a sort of comedic take on a huge historical incident it would have been great too.   But trying to be both made the movie way too long and kind of eh for a long stretch of time in the third quarter of the movie.

It wasn't bad.  It was a better than average watch honestly.  It just could have been so much better.

Longlegs

FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes an unexpected turn, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.

This movie was REALLY good for the first like 3/4 of the movie.   Nicolas Cage was REALLY good.   The movie had a great creepy edge.   It honestly played very well like a low budget Silence Of The Lambs up until the payoff and then it really just kind of crapped the bed and lost me.   Don't want to spoil anything but it just really dropped off at the end.

I would still recommend people checking this out just because of Nic Cage but this movie could have been awesome with a better ending.

MaXXXine

In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. However, as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Los Angeles, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.

This was easily the worst of the three movies in the trilogy but that is NOT me saying that I didn't like it.  I  very much did.  It got a little eh towards the end with the reveal and stuff but everything up to that was still great and the trilogy as a whole is awesome.  All three movies were unique and different and all were great despite the eh reveal of this one.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a very enjoyable watch and a great addition to the trilogy.

The Exorcism

A troubled actor begins to unravel while shooting a horror film. His estranged daughter wonders if he's slipping back into his past addictions or if there's something more sinister at play.

So like this is all Russell Crowe does now?   Just lame and mailed in exorcism movies?   That is honestly pretty crazy.  Like Liam Neeson became a total senior bad ass but a total bad ass Russell Crowe became an over the hell priest type.  I mean in this movie he literally played a washed up actor playing a priest.  Like process that.  

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's nothing more than a waste of time.

Sound Of Hope: The Story Of Possum Trot

Donna and Reverend Martin ignite a movement of compassion in their East Texas church for 22 families to adopt 77 of the most difficult-to-place kids in the foster system.

This was a massive heartstring pulling spiritual kind of drama.  The movie wasn't bad for what it was.  But like that is exactly what it was.  So outside of being all into faith and what not this really isn't the movie for you.  

I would recommend any faith based person checking this out.  You will likely very much enjoy it.  If not - steer very clear of this movie.

Despicable Me 4

Gru welcomes a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who's intent on tormenting his dad. However, their peaceful existence soon comes crashing down when criminal mastermind Maxime Le Mal escapes from prison and vows revenge against Gru.

I am a huge fan of these movies and characters.   Will very likely never get sick of them.   Like did this movie have too many subplots going on?   Was there stuff there just for the sake of it?  Was the story nowhere near as good as the original?   Of course not.   It's a sequel.  But I laughed plenty and left the theater smiling and that is all I was looking for.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  Fans of the franchise will enjoy and its a great family film regardless.

A Quiet Place: Day One

When New York City comes under attack from an alien invasion, a woman and other survivors try to find a way to safety. They soon learn that they must remain absolutely silent as the mysterious creatures are drawn to the slightest sound.

This one was very different from the two ones prior but that was not necessarily a bag thing.  There were some moments of tension throughout it but it was not that frozen in place tension that made you get muscle cramps from the first two.   This one had a lot more action and crazy big scope scenes.  It also had two really good performances in great character arcs that I had not been expecting at all.

I am a huge fan of these movies and this one did not disappoint.  This is one franchise that I would be all for them to continue making movies for it.  

Horizon - Part 1

Families, friends and foes discover the lure of the Old West as the Civil War divides the country.

This movie was such a dragging and plodding snooze fest.  Three hours for nothing but a setup for Part 2?  Really?   This movie will go down as only being remembered for being the reason that Yellowstone wrapped up earlier than it should have.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.  Or Part 2 without even having to see it.  Like at all.  

The Bikeriders

Over the course of a decade, a Midwestern motorcycle club evolves from a gathering place for local outsiders to a sinister gang, threatening the original group's way of life.

This is a weird movie to review.  The acting was great.  The authenticity of it was great.  The narration of everything was great.  But like the movie's story progression was non-existent.  There were like zero ups and downs.  It was just like you were there for a random length of time with the characters.   Like instead of a story it was just go hang out with the biker gang and shoot the shit.  It was very strange and kind of ruined what could have been a really awesome movie had this not been the case.

I would not really recommend anyone rushing to see this.  Like I said - the acting was good but this movie is nowhere near a must see and it surely is not the epic it was advertised as.  Pretty disappointing.

Inside Out 2

Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust have been running a successful operation by all accounts. However, when Anxiety shows up, they aren't sure how to feel.

This was Pixar returning to what made it so great.   Granted it was a sequel but it wasn't lazy.  New emotions were perfectly introduced and connected to the audience.  The voices were great.  And the story was incredibly emotional and easily connects to all ages.   Just a really great movie for all ages.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It is an excellent watch and another Pixar classic.

The Watchers

A 28-year-old artist gets stranded in an expansive, untouched forest in western Ireland. Finding shelter, she unknowingly becomes trapped alongside three strangers who are stalked by mysterious creatures every night.

This was pretty much a textbook Shymalalalanalalalanaalanalan movie.  There was a lot of build.  At times it was kind of good.  At others it was eh.  And this one in particular was a lot more predictable than usual.  Regardless, it was not worth the payoff and you stop caring like before you get even halfway through the movie.  

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie because its really not worth the time or money.

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die

When their late police captain gets linked to drug cartels, wisecracking Miami cops Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett embark on a dangerous mission to clear his name.

This honestly has to be one of my favorite movie franchises.  It's just plain fun and a great summer popcorn movie.  The action is great even if it's over the top.  The laughs are in abundance.  They do right by even the smallest of side characters.  And this movie even had a pretty decent story.  Just a lot of fun and easily one of the better movies so far this year.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  Not as good as the first two but still great and I think I honestly liked this even more than the last one.   Just a lot of fun.  

Furiosa

Snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers, young Furiosa falls into the hands of a great biker horde led by the warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel, presided over by the Immortan Joe. As the two tyrants fight for dominance, Furiosa soon finds herself in a nonstop battle to make her way home.

Fury Road is one of my favorite movies in the last couple years and just such an absolute rush of pure adrenaline for 2 straight hours.  I was hoping for that and this was not as intense.  Normally that would lead to a disappointing review but this movie still massively delivered in a different way.   It had plenty of all out action but also put a lot more into character development and an actual story and delivered on those as well.  It made for the movie to be a little bit weird pacing wise and didn't need to be as long as it was.  It also used alot more CGI than Fury Road but like I said even with those comparison knocks it was still an awesome watch.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  I see it easily being one of the more enjoyable movies of the summer.

The Strangers: Chapter 1

After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple is forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.

This movie was flawed on so many levels.  It was advertised as a prequel but pretty much played 100000% as a remake.  There was no prequel like info giving background into why they were how they were.  Since it was "Chapter 1" there was zero suspense of the victims surviving.  And it was a million times less scary than the original.  

This was pretty much complete trash across the board.  Big waste of time.

IF

After discovering she can see everyone's imaginary friends, a girl embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.

This was a very enjoyable and heartwarming movie about growing up, imagination and family.   John Krasinski is pretty much becoming one of my favorite directors with A Quiet Place being perfection suspense wise and this being perfection whimsy and imagination in a Wonka like way.   The voices were awesome and the story and pacing were great too.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It was a great watch for people of all ages.