The Cat In The Hat

Tasked by the Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration to help siblings Gabby and Sebastian settle into their new home, the Cat in the Hat must control his signature mischief and outsmart a time-scrambling creature known as the "Something" to save his job and his magical hat

I don't know if its just getting older and aging out of animated movies or what but this was another animated movie that I fully expected to enjoy (considering how attached I always was to Dr Seuss0 and came out feeling that movie was made for kids with A.D.D.   Like there was way too much going on at almost all times of this movie to be able to just kind of enjoy it play out.   I expected over the top but this was like next level.  I'm sure kids will like it but I just didn't find this to be a movie that the adults that take them will love as much as them.   It seemed more like a Minions movie with the Things being marketed as them.

I would still say its a great movie to take your kids to but it just definitely felt like too much right from the jump and never let up.

I Play Rocky

Facing constant studio rejections and severe financial strain, Sylvester Stallone fights to star as Rocky Balboa rather than just selling the screenplay. The biographical drama charts his relentless, high-stakes journey to bring the defining underdog story to the big screen on his own terms.

When I first saw this trailer I honestly thought it might be like a parody.   I was like wait . . . . . . the movie of Sylvester Stallone writing and playing Rocky?   I couldn't help but laugh.   That being said - this movie was great.   Great acting.  Great story.   Great details about the whole process of Rocky getting made.    Great everything.   Very, very enjoyable!

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.   Thought it was a joke and it ended up being one of my favorite movies of the year probably.

Wild Horse Nine

Chris is writing a revealing memoir about his dark covert past and decades of U.S. interventionism, making the agency anxious. While on Easter Island amidst the iconic Moai statues, Chris forms an unexpected bond with two rebellious local college students. His erratic behavior and refusal to stay quiet turn a quiet assignment into a chaotic, tragicomic reckoning with guilt, mortality, and friendship.

This movie was pretty much a if you saw the trailer you saw the movie kind of watch.   It's literally just chemistry and bickering between thee two leads that carry it to be a decent watch.   But like it's kind of forgettable right after you do watch it to be honest.

I would sort of recommend this to anyone that is a fan of either actor because they definitely pull their weight.   It's just not like a memorable movie in any way.

Clayface

Matt Hagen's meteoric rise from Gotham street kid to Hollywood leading man is tragically cut short when a local crime boss's actions leave him horribly disfigured.  Abandoned by his team and with nothing left, Matt seeks out an experimental, cutting-edge treatment from a mysterious scientist that miraculously returns him to his former self. However, the procedure has terrifying, unexpected side effects on his physical flesh and grip on reality, spiraling him down a destructive, monstrous path of all-consuming revenge as he struggles with his fading humanity.

This was a great great movie.   I tried to temper my expectations but was excited to see this and it very much did not disappoint.   This is the perfect formula for one of those prequel type movies to show you how someone becomes a known character.  It was done in a way that makes you understand and sympathize with a character that very much becomes a villain.   This was right up there with The Penguin show and Lanterns as the best stuff DC has done in a long long time.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  Its very well done and a very enjoyable watch.

Wicker

Wicker tells the wholly original love story of an ostracized fisherwoman (Colman) who commissions a husband to be made by the local basketmaker (Dinklage). When her wicker husband (Skarsgård) proves more spectacular than she ever imagined, his soulful spirit and unique prowess awaken something inside her, setting off a wave of jealousy, fascination, and upheaval that threatens the very fabric of village life.

I never in a million years thought I would very much enjoy this movie.  I saw the trailer and was like you have got to be kidding me.  But the honest and spot on social commentary about people paying so much attention to what others have - especially when they are different and either obsessing about having it or needing to ruin it massively hooked me.   It was a very enjoyable watch - well acted across the board - and it really makes you kind of look in the mirror about how you would be in the shoes of the different characters if you allow the thoughts in your head.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  Again - I'm completely shocked but I really liked this very strange concept of a movie because of the incredibly accurate social commentary.

Wildwood

After her infant brother is abducted by a murder of crows, a headstrong teenager named Prue McKeel launches a rescue mission into the Impassable Wilderness—a dangerous, enchanted forest hidden right beyond Portland, Oregon. Accompanied by her classmate Curtis, Prue is drawn into a secret world teeming with talking animals, bandits, and powerful, grieving rulers. As a brutal war begins to brew, Prue must find the inner strength to save her brother and protect the fragile future of the forest.

While this movie was definitely too long - like at least 30 minutes too long - it was still a very enjoyable watch.  The animation was different and great.  The morals of the story for kids were great and honestly could help parents with several teachable moments.   And the fantasy aspect of the movie while still keeping it grounded was very impressive.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.   It was a great movie that could have been even better if it was tightened up a bit but still great.

Klara And The Sun

Klara And The Sun introduces audiences to Klara (Jenna Ortega), an Artificial Friend who wants nothing more than to find the perfect home. When Klara meets Josie (Mia Tharia), each immediately senses a kindred spirit in the other. Josie has a fraught relationship with her mother (Amy Adams) and they’ve suffered great loss, but Klara’s innocent wonder and unwavering loyalty begin to heal the family and bring light to Josie’s complicated world.

This was a very quirky and enjoyable watch.  I was very surprised.  The way that the AF sees the world was so entertaining and really hooks you in to the story and the social commentary and most importantly dealing with health and loss.  This was a great throwback to the kinds of movies that made Taika Watiti so good.   It was nice to see him back in this wheelhouse.

I would actually recommend people checking this movie out.   Never thought I would be saying that about this movie but I enjoyed it a lot.

Street Fighter

Set in 1993, Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li face a deadly conspiracy during the World Warrior Tournament, forcing them to confront their pasts. You can find the full synopsis text in the referenced source.

I didn't really expect high quality here with this movie.  The expectations for corny and silly were through the roof.  They somehow managed to surpass that and it was even cornier and sillier than I thought it would be.   I could see this movie being good in the guilty pleasure kind of way but it was a really bad movie.   LOL

I would not really recommend anyone checking this out unless over the top and corny movies are your thing.   Then you should love it!

Whalefall

Following the death of his father, Jay Gardiner goes diving off the central coast of California in search of his remains, but is swallowed alive by a massive sperm whale. Trapped inside its belly with only one hour of oxygen left, Jay must rely on the painful memories and hard-earned survival lessons his father imparted to find a way out of the living prison before time runs out.

This movie is pretty much the definition of if you saw the trailer you saw the movie.   And it's based on a true story so you also know the end result.  That being said - they did a good enough job of going back and forth between him being stuck in the whale and flashbacks to lessons from his dad.   And this guy was more than capable of keeping you interested in his journey in very close quarters enough to make it watchable.

I would sort of recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must watch by any means but you could definitely find worse things than this too.

The Social Reckoning

Inspired by true events and the whistleblower who started the social media reckoning we're seeing play out today, this Aaron Sorkin original screenplay is a companion piece to the hit film The Social Network and a true David and Goliath story. Frances Haugen (Madison), a young Facebook engineer, enlists the help of Jeff Horwitz (White), a Wall Street Journal reporter, to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle on the social network's most guarded secrets.

This movie was just as well done and acted across the board as The Social Network was.   It definitely triggers a lot of emotions and had me super annoyed reliving a lot of things over the last 5-6 years.   Like it was done so well that it took me back to those exact dates in history that were so contorted then and have been so much ore so since.   The social commentary of this movie was off the charts accurate as far as I'm concerned.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It was a very well done movie in every way.

Other Mommy

Based on Josh Malerman’s bestselling horror novel Incidents Around the House, Other Mommy follows an eight-year-old girl named Bela who lives in a home strained by her parents' troubled marriage. Her life is further upended when a malevolent, shape-shifting entity she calls "Other Mommy" emerges from her closet. Taking on the exact physical appearance of Bela's mother, Ursula (both played by Jessica Chastain), the sinister presence becomes increasingly aggressive, demanding to "go inside her heart" and threatening the survival of the entire family.

This is one of those movies where the trailer was so good that it made the expectations for the movie too high.   This movie definitely delivered on jump scares and crazy visuals for the creepy scenes but like that was it.  There was very little substance behind it and the connecting story honestly seemed laughable as the movie went on.  And it made the lapses between the creepy scenes worse and worse as the movie went on.  It also didn't help how disjointed the movie kind of was because it literally started and you felt like you were in the middle of the movie already.   Very weird choice.

I wouldn't recommend anyone rushing to see this because like I said it ends up being kind of eh.   But if you just want to see the creepy parts they are very well done at least.

Digger

Digger stars Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell, an audacious and obscenely wealthy Texan oil tycoon who wields immense control over the United States government. When his aggressive, reckless deep-sea drilling operations in Greenland inadvertently trigger a catastrophic explosion and cause a massive ice shelf to collapse, humanity is put on a collision course with a global eco-disaster. Defiant and obsessed with his public legacy, Rockwell embarks on a frantic, larger-than-life mission to spin the crisis to his financial advantage and prove to the world that he is their ultimate savior before the damage destroys everything.

This movie ended up being even weirder than the trailer made it out to be.   There was a huge twist about 30 minutes in that I had no idea about and it honestly made the movie even weirder than it already was.   This movie really had a Wes Anderson why does everyone think this is so great artsy vibe to it.   And it honestly feels like a pretty blatant attempt for Tom Cruise to get award season recognition.   The social commentary parts and parallels were pretty accurate at times and it was the only thing that made me watch the full movie.

I would not really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's really out there at times and ends up being pretty forgettable regardless of Tom Cruise's aura.

Verity

Adapted from the best-selling novel, the film follows struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson) as she is hired by Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett) to ghostwrite the remaining books for his incapacitated wife, renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway).  Relocating to the Crawford estate, Lowen discovers a hidden, unpublished autobiographical manuscript filled with disturbing family secrets and dark confessions. As she grows closer to Jeremy, Lowen faces a web of psychological terror, questioning whether Verity is truly incapacitated or staging a chilling deception.

This was a really good watch.   Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson were both great and each kept you very hooked and invested throughout all the twists and turns of the movie.   Even when you think it was pretty formula while still being a decent watch the third small act made it even better thinking wise.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It was a fun suspenseful movie with great hooks.

Primetime

In 2006, ambitious NBC journalist Chris Hansen sets out to make television history, turning an undercover chatroom investigation into the controversial cultural phenomenon To Catch a Predator. Directed by Lance Oppenheim and starring Robert Pattinson, this dark media satire and psychological thriller explores the thin line between moral justice and sensationalized reality TV entertainment, tracking the explosive rise and ethical unraveling of a defining 2000s media spectacle.

This movie seemed like it could have been good if they had like an actual track that they wanted to follow.  Instead it was just three different stories about the people involved in the show.   You don't really care about any of them nor does any of the overdramaticness of their stories make much sense.  And the movie is just a pointless waste of time. 

I really wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their time with this.  It was very pointless and all over the place.

Forgotten Island

DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island is a fantasy adventure.  It follows inseparable high school graduates Jo and Raissa who, on their final night before parting ways, stumble through a portal in the neon-hued island of Nakali filled with creatures from their families' stories.  Guided by a hapless were dog named Raws, they face the feared Manananggal and discover they must sacrifice the memories of their lifelong friendship to return home. 

Story line and characters wise - this movie definitely was a Dreamworks Animation back to its glory day roots.  The animation was cool in that it alternated at times between being sketchy in nature and regular animation.   It definitely added to the story a lot.  The characters were all basically hyper as hell throughout and at times it felt very A.D.D. vibe like.  That could be a big hook for kids in today's age but I could also see that being annoying to some adults that take the kids to see it.  I was okay with it but it was definitely noticeable.

I would recommend people checking this out.   It was a very fun and quick watch.   Nice to see Dreamworks Animation getting back to relevance.

Heart Of The Beast

After a harrowing plane crash, retired Special Forces officer James Belmont (Brad Pitt) and his traumatized combat German Shepherd, Odin, find themselves stranded deep in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness. Forced into a brutal 58-mile trek to safety against the elements, dangerous predators, and their own physical limitations, they must rely on their unbreakable bond to survive.

This movie was beyond predictable from start to finish but it didn't matter.  If you are an animal lover I don't see how it would be possible to not love this movie.  If you are someone that has massive respect for veterans I don't see how it would be possible to not love this movie.   I am both so this movie was very very enjoyable.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It is paced well so there is no dragging and its a very enjoyable watch.

Resident Evil

In an all-new story, Resident Evil follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

This movie was just plain fun.   It wasn't overdone and explanatory.   It wasn't non-stop gore and over the top visuals.   They were definitely there but it wasn't constant.   There were a ton of laughs and the lead actor was honestly perfectly cast as the WTF is going on misfit.  It was done in a way where he pretty much represented people playing the video game and how they would react to see the things in the game.   And most importantly the pacing was awesome because the movie was barely 90 minutes long and so much actually happened in that time that there was no chance for dead time or lagging.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   This was a very fun watch and easily my favorite Resident Evil movie by far.  

Onslaught

Genetically altered super soldiers go wild in the desert and a female former sniper has to stop them while protecting her daughter.

I really don't know what this was.   It was just loud noises and gunshots it felt like.   LOL!   I made it about halfway through and was annoyed just listening to it.   Absolutely no reason for this to be made.

I would not recommend anyone watching this.  Ever.   The main character was loudness for no reason.

Hope

Na Hong-jin's 2026 sci-fi action thriller Hope follows police officers and local hunters in a remote South Korean village who must fight for survival against a destructive extraterrestrial threat.  

This is one of those banger Korean movies that you watch because it sounds good and then it ends up massively hooking you and it's awesome.  I had to break it into three parts watching because of the subtitles and each time I really didn't want to turn it off.  There was awesome action, great tension and pretty good effects sci-fi wise.   I really liked this a lot.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It is a very enjoyable watch and then when it kind of twists on you at the end from a sci-fi way it makes it even better.

The Uprising

Andrew Garfield stars as the leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.  Set against the true events of the 1381 Peasants' Revolt in England, a humble farmer forms an army of ordinary people to face the King's might in a desperate fight for justice, survival and freedom.   

I had a very hard time watching this and not thinking the entire time that I watching a watered down and low budget Braveheart.   Like there were even several scenes that felt taken right from Braveheart but done much less epic.   It was a decent watch considering but Garfield in this role just didn't really click for me and the movie ultimately ended up just kind of being there.

I would not really recommend people bothering with this.  It's not necessarily a bad movie but it not really much of a memorable one either.

Runner

A former soldier and an unlikely partner (Owen Wilson) face a dangerous cartel during a critical medical delivery in a race to save a little girl's life.

This was a pretty formula movie from the trailer.   There was really nothing that you don't see coming as the movie plays out.   It was Alan Ritchson playing the throwback Bruce Willis type of role with Owen Wilson for the straight man comic relief.  

I'd recommend this to anyone that likes mindless action movies simply because it is only 90 minutes long and definitely watchable enough.  

Practical Magic 2

Set twenty-five years after the events of the first film, the story follows the Owens family as they face a new crisis when a discovery regarding the family's history and the origins of their magic comes to light. When Sally's daughter (Kylie) begins to uncover hidden family secrets and develops her own dark abilities, the family is plunged into a multi-generational struggle to finally break the curse that has haunted their lineage for centuries. The Owens women (Sally, Gillian, and their aunts) must once again unite, traveling from their home in Massachusetts to the United Kingdom to confront the source of their magic and save the next generation of their family.

This was a decent nostalgia throwback.   I didn't remember much about the first movie but it came back to me when watching.   The cast was really good and they did a good enough job with story hooks to keep you invested.   I don't see how you wouldn't like this one if you were a fan of the first one and if you never saw the first one or don't remember the original it's still an enjoyable movie.

I would sort of recommend people checking this out.  It was a decent watch.  Not a must see by any means but also not a bad movie at all.

By Any Means

Set in 1966 Mississippi following Vernon Dahmer's murder, FBI agent Wayne Strider is paired with lethal mob enforcer Gregory Scarpa to uncover a Klan-tied conspiracy. Strider balances doing things by the book while handling a brutal criminal, testing both men's moral limits.

This was a decent watch and did a good job of taking you back to the times where it was based.  The two leads both put in good performances even if Wahlberg looks absolutely ridiculous with the fake nose.   What is the deal with him and absurd prosthetic makeup recently?    The movie overall really kinds of just being there because there was no massive point or need for the movie to be made but it was watchable.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this movie out.  It's not a must see by any means whatsoever (see what I did there?) but it is not a bad watch at all.

Fall 2: Deadpoint

In the survival thriller Fall 2: Deadpoint, a grieving woman named Jax connects with her late sister Hunter's fearless friend, Luce, to tackle a perilous climb across Thailand's Mount Kwan.  After a sudden rockslide leaves them stranded on a fragile plank high above the ground, the pair must face extreme vertigo and impossible odds to fight for survival.

Who in the blue hell was asking for this sequel?   Sure there were some cool action scenes and there were the same vertigo feeling heights shots from the first but like there was really a demand for this?   Very weak ass September sequel honestly.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's just there and is entirely pointless.

Idiots

Two rock-bottom drivers transport a wealthy teen to rehab, but their simple job spirals into a chaotic journey of drugs, danger, and crime as their passenger derails their plans.

This movie was exactly what you would think it would be.  A mindless, pointless, and horrible end of summer trash release.  Like there is no reason for anyone to ever watch this movie.   It's baffling as to how it was even made.   

I wouldn't recommend anyone ever watch this.  Like ever.   It's hot garbage.

Buddy

Buddy is a twisted supernatural horror-comedy set in 1999 where amnesiac children are trapped in a surreal '90s children's show hosted by a bright-orange unicorn voiced by Keegan-Michael Key. When a child defies his rules, Buddy's sweet facade turns malevolent, while a suburban mother in the real world is drawn into the dark mystery.

This was insanely bad.  I saw the trailer for this before the equally bad Ice Cream Man and was like I will maybe only watch that if it shows up online.  It then showed up online pretty fast so I said screw it and watched it while doing other stuff.   Thank God I didn't like dedicate and set aside time to watch this or I would have lost my mind and turned it off after like 10 minutes.   This is pretty much the definition of how does shit like this get made!?!

I would not recommend anyone bother even distractedly watching this movie.  Complete and total waste of time.

Coyote Vs Acme

After decades of failed attempts to catch the Road Runner due to chronically malfunctioning gadgets, Wile E. Coyote finally reaches his breaking point. Inspired by a television commercial, he enlists Kevin Avery (Will Forte), a down-on-his-luck billboard personal injury lawyer, to sue ACME, Inc. for pain, suffering, and catastrophic product liability.

This was easily one of the best Looney Tunes things to come out in forever.   I am shocked that WB had wanted to bury this movie for the insurance claim.   This is the type of movie that if handled/marketed right honestly could have breathed massive new life into the Looney Tunes world.   Lots of laughs.   Lots of Looney Tunes character cameos.   Lots of fun.   And honestly a GREAT story.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It's a very fun watch for both kids and adults.

Spa Weekend

The film follows three friends seeking relaxation on a Palm Springs spa break until their chaotic, uninvited childhood friend Mel arrives, turning a tranquil escape into an R-rated spiral of wild misadventures.

This was an under the radar wannabe Girls Trip kind of movie.   It's a shame that it didn't really get much marketing or publicity because it was a lot of fun with a great group of actresses/characters.   There were some really big laughs in this - especially from Michelle Buteau who I think is funny as hell.   With more exposure this could have made her get like a Tiffany Haddish type launch.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   The movie has plenty of good laughs and is an enjoyable watch.

The Dog Stars

After a world-devastating pandemic kills his wife and child—and marauding scavengers kill his dog—a guy named Hig is distraught. And he sets off in his battered Cessna aircraft to see if something better still exists. The Dog Stars takes time to examine both the good and evil natures of man.

This movie was horrendously paced.  It was an apocolyptic movie with pretty much zero action for the first like 3/4 of the movie.   It honestly kind of lulled you to sleep.   Then they ramped it up massively but at that point the level of investment in the characters and their stories were honestly non-existent.  Then they started to go completely off the rails for a bit only to go back to lulling you back to sleep.  Very strange and really ruined what could have been a good movie.

I would really not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It is a pretty big waste of time.

Insidious: Out Of The Further

A trio of stalkers infiltrate a quiet suburb and force a new family into the astral plane, where they uncover a terrifying truth: the Further is bleeding into the real world.

You know a franchise has gone on too long when you realize that it's the 6th movie in the franchise and you are shocked.   That's how I felt about this movie.   It's just an extension of what has already been done or happened.   There were some good jump scares.   There were one or two scenes that were pretty cool/creepy.   But there rest was just there and quite laughable.   

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this movie unless you are a fan of the franchise and want to see how it continues.   Its pretty random how they explained it but they did a good enough job of doing so in order to keep the story going.

Mutiny

In Mutiny, after witnessing his billionaire boss's murder and being framed for the crime, Cole Reed (Jason Statham) boards a cargo ship on a one-man crusade to avenge his boss's death only to discover an international conspiracy.

This was just Jason Statham 34.   Same exact movie with a different setting.   They really should just called his names by his name and the location.   Jason Stratham on a shipping vessel.  That's what this was.  You basically forgot about it as watching and honestly they all kind of blur together.  There were several times where I thought I was rewatching a movie of his I already saw.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's just more of the same and it's honestly pretty tired by now.

Tony

Tony is a biographical comedy-drama following a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain in 1976 as a transformative summer working in a Provincetown, Massachusetts kitchen helps shape the future culinary icon.

This was a decent autobiographical watch I guess.   It was more entertaining and catchy than I expected but honestly I didn't expect much at all.  I don't know where the demand really was for this movie as a whole.   But they made it kind of work interest level wise.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.   It's not a must watch by any means but it was not as big of a waste of time as I thought.

The End Of Oak Street

After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings.

This was a fun throwback summer popcorn movie.   Take a very random and not overwhelming premise and run with it.  Lots a great jump scares.  Believable family drama and chaos.   And it was a perfect 90 minute run time.   Just a fun ride experience at the movie theater.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It's what going to the movies in the summer used to be all about.

The Brink Of War

President Reagan races against time to salvage a deal with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that could dismantle nuclear arsenals--or ignite disaster. With pressure mounting from advisors, intelligence agencies, and history itself, every word spoken brings the world closer to peace... or destruction.

This is another of those historical moment movies to come out this year that I'm not sure what the demand was for it.   The cast was great.  They did a good job of capturing the moment in time.   But it's kind of forgettable instantly after you watch it unless you are a history buff.

I would not recommend this to anyone that isn't a history buff because of what I said above but if you are a history buff, you would likely very much enjoy this.

One Night Only

Set in a slightly fictionalized New York City, the 2026 romantic comedy One Night Only follows recently dumped pizza shop owner Owen and hopeful romantic jingle singer Allie. They navigate a chaotic 12-hour annual window when the government legally permits unmarried citizens to have sex, running into endless misadventures while trying to find a real connection.

This movie kept the very smart and laughs inducing premise of the one night only rule being a government mandate for single people being allowed to have pre-marital sex.   Kind of like a Sex Purge.  I had assumed it took place on New Years Eve from the trailer but the mandate thing became a whole important part of the movie that tons of laughs and predicaments came from.   The two leads were great and very believable as was their awesome chemistry that jumped off the screen.   As the night progressed you found yourself hoping more and more for them to get tothether and the payoff worked great.

I would absolutely recommend this movie to everyone.  It was an incredibly fun rom com with great chemistry that hooks the audience a lot and is full of laughs.

Ice Cream Man

In Eli Roth's slasher film Ice Cream Man, an idyllic suburban town descends into absolute madness when a mysterious ice cream vendor arrives in a vintage truck and serves sweet, magical treats that brainwash local children into becoming bloodthirsty, homicidal maniacs set on destroying the adult population.

My god this movie was awful.  It was honestly so bad that you couldn't even laugh at or enjoy how bad it was with good company.   I'm all for a bad movie that you can roll your eyes at and somehow turn into a fun experience but then there are movies that are so bad that you can't even do that.   This is very much the former.   Eli Roth continues his spiral into someone that should truly be on an international watch list because of the truly gross shit that goes on in his head.

I would absolutely never recommend anyone seeing this.  Ever.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see.

Wow!   My expectations for this movie were very high and they massively surpassed them.   This was the exact formula of what has worked for Marvel in the past.   Come back to an existing franchise from the overall Avengers one - do justice by the existing characters in this franchise - have a couple of great crossovers to advance connections and storylines - and introduce new characters that will be major players moving forward a la Black Panther (and Spider-Man technically) in Civil War.   This movie finally had the Hulk being Hulk again.  This movie had the whole crowd hanging on all sorts of emotional strings.   And Tom Holland continues to solidify himself as my favorite Spider-Man.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.   It was a very awesome watch and I can't wait to see it again.

Motor City

Set in 1970s Detroit, the film follows a man framed by a gangster for loving his girl, who returns from prison for revenge, featuring intense, stylized action.

I had no idea that this movie had next to zero dialogue going in.  That threw me for a bit of a loop but honestly - it kind of worked.   It was all body language, facial expressions and action and the three main cast members were all really good at expressing that.  

I would surprisingly recommend this movie to people.   It was a great action movie / revenge story with the weird hook of minimal dialogue.

Young Washington

Young Washington tracks an ambitious, 22-year-old George Washington (William Franklyn-Miller) in the mid-1750s. Denied a royal commission in the British Army due to his colonial background, he secures a role in the Virginia Militia through his half-brother Lawrence.  Tasked with surveying the Ohio territory, Washington confronts encroaching French forces. His early military miscalculations lead to harsh frontier defeats—including the Battle of Fort Necessity—which spark a wider global conflict. Guided by the counsel of his mother, Mary Ball Washington (Mary-Louise Parker), and mentors like Lord Fairfax (Kelsey Grammer), the young officer must learn from his heavy losses, overcome immense odds, and find the resilience required to forge a new American identity.

This was a decent idea and effort for a historical biopic.  That's just not really my thing so my interest in this while watching was always kind of eh.   I thought it was going to be more mailed in than it was so that was a bonus that they were definitely taking themselves seriously with zero known actors and what not.   

I would recommend this to history buffs so they could either enjoy it or point out and analyze what was accurate and what wasn't but I really wouldn't recommend it outside of that.  It's not a must see by any means even though it was a decent overall watch.

The Odyssey

The Odyssey follows veteran warrior Odysseus on his grueling journey home from the Trojan War.  Facing mythical monsters and divine wrath, he struggles to return to his kingdom, where his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) fight to save their home from ruthless suitors.

This movie was amazing on every level.   The acting from an incredible and massive cast.   The telling of two stories and bringing them together.   The set pieces and chapters of action.   And most of all the filmmaking of Christopher Nolan using no CGI in a movie that could have called for it throughout and made it much easier.   It really made the movie that much more genuine.   Did it need to be 3 hours long?   Of course not.   It could have been 15-20 minutes shorter but honestly I didn't care because it was a truly excellent movie.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It is filmmaking at its finest and really establishes Nolan as the second coming of Spielberg in my lifetime.

Moana

In Disney's live-action reimagining of the beloved animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean's call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the barrier reef of her island of Motunui. Accompanied by the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), she undertakes an unforgettable, action-packed voyage to recover the heart of Te Fiti, restore the prosperity of her community, and fulfill her ancestors' quest to become a master wayfinder.

This is by far Disney's biggest money grab of a live action remake.   First off - the original only came out 10 years ago and just had an animated sequel last year.   It is waaaaaaaaaay too soon to do the live action version of this and I can't help but think it was The Rock's ego needing to play the live action Maui that got this fast tracked like it was.   And then for the movie to be a carbon copy of the animated version that feels like it just came out makes it even more pointless.   But worst of all is that going from an animated movie to live action but still using so much CGI instead of all the location stuff feeling genuine at least makes it such a rip off.

I honestly wouldn't bother recommending this to people.  Just rewatch the original animated version that is much better in every way.

The Invite

Joe and Angela's marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for an evening dinner party to address the loud noises coming from their apartment, the night quickly spirals into unexpected places. What begins as a polite gesture turns into a hilarious puree of confessions, flirtations, and relationship revelations that forces both couples to confront uncomfortable truths about love, fidelity, and intimacy.

A very random and simple movies about two couples having dinner.   The chemistry between all of them felt very genuine and there were a ton of laughs coming out of the judging commentary like script.  The movie eventually got serious which knocked it down a bit because of how funny it was for a while but it still kept the genuine feeling of the couples and their relationships going.

I would recommend people checking this out.   It's a fun little watch that all seems very real.

Evil Dead Burn

After the tragic loss of her abusive husband, Alice seeks refuge and closure by joining her American in-laws for a post-funeral gathering at a dilapidated family home. Hidden away in the house is a collection of macabre occult books and artifacts left behind by the family patriarch.  When a dark, residual evil is inadvertently unleashed, the relatives transform into bloodthirsty Deadites one by one. Turning a routine family reunion into a nightmare from hell, Alice must fight the forces of darkness and gain the courage to survive until dawn.

This is quite honestly just more of the same.   Gruesome over the top violence.   The jump scares are pretty much gone at this point of the franchise and it's just the gore.   And this movie supplied plenty of it.   Even towards animals which I hate seeing.   So that was one of several times that I looked away because of how nasty it honestly got at times.   

If you are a fan of the franchise there is no reason for you not to watch this.  If you are not then there is also absolutely no reason to start now.