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.

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.