Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

On the cusp of global superstardom, New Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen struggles to reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past as he records the album "Nebraska" in the early 1980s.

I don't mean to be insensitive towards Springsteen's struggle with depression and his childhood but this movie was quite honestly like watching paint dry.   It was isolated to the creation of one album in Springsteen's career and harped heavily on a lot of technical stuff with creating the music and dragged massively.   

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  Jeremy Allen White's performance was great as expected but the pacing and entertainment level of it all left so much to be desired.

Regretting You

When a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal, Morgan Grant and her daughter, Clara, explore what's left behind as they confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover each other.

Pretty much a heart string pulling and extremely melodramatic movie where all the characters had some kind of struggles with a lot of things overlapping.  The acting was actually pretty decent for this kind of a movie but it wasn't enough to elevate it to being more than just a heart string puller of a movie.

I would not really recommend anyone checking this out.  The movie really does kind of end up just being there.

Good Fortune

A well-meaning but inept angel named Gabriel meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist.

The premise of the movie was really really good and very much hit home.   The movie wasn't that long but for some reason the pacing was kind of slow and made it feel longer and held the movie back from really taking off.   Still a good watch but could have been better with the pacing issues.

I would sort of recommend people checking this out.   Anyone who has struggled with professional life struggles and seeing others with the grass being much greener should definitely identify with it but again the pacing was just kind of off.  

Black Phone 2

Bad dreams haunt 15-year-old Gwen as she receives calls from the black phone and sees disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp. Accompanied by her brother, Finn, they head to the camp to solve the mystery, only to confront the Grabber -- a killer who's grown even more powerful in death.

I loved the first movie.  It was one of the better slasher movies to come out in a long time.   However . . . . .  the killer died at the end of the movie so when I heard they were doing a sequel I was a little confused how that was possible.   They tried to change the horror genre from slasher to like a spiritual horror kind of movie.   Like the guy became Freddy Krueger-esque.   The spiritual horror movies are pretty much my least favorite sub-genre.   Doing that made this movie lame as hell.   Like the polar opposite of the original.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.   Its a shame because the first one was so good.

After The Hunt

A college professor finds herself at a personal and professional crossroad when a star student levels an accusation against one of her colleagues, threatening to expose a dark secret from her own past.

Was a little excited to watch a suspense movie with this cast.   The problem is that there was little to no suspense whatsoever and I ended up getting so bored that I pulled the plug on the movie halfway through.  Very surprising considering the marketing and the cast but it ended up being a bunch of elitists just having convos.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.   Like I said - a suspense movie without any suspense is doodykins.

Kiss Of The Spider Woman

A political prisoner named Valentín shares a cell with a man named Molina. They form an unlikely bond as Molina recounts a Hollywood musical plot.

This was like just . . . . . .bad.   As far as a musical goes - this very much fell into the forced singing thing that usually ruins them for me.   And then the back and forth between the prison and the fantasy world was not done in a remotely fluid way and just made the movie even more disjointed.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.   It was nice seeing Jennifer Lopez in a musical but that was not enough to carry the rest of the movie.

Roofman

After escaping from prison, former soldier and professional thief Jeffrey Manchester finds a hideout inside a Toys "R" Us, surviving undetected for months while planning his next move. However, when Jeffrey falls for a divorced mom, his double life starts to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.

I am shocked at how much I enjoyed this movie.   I feel like I have been watching this trailer forever at theaters and just had it as a movie that needs to come out already so I won't see it any more.   Casually watched the movie and absolutely loved it.  It felt so down to earth, relatable and human in terms of desperation when you are at the end of your rope.   Channing Tatum was great in it and the hook really kept you hanging on to the movie as it played out.   Very pleasantly surprised.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It was a very enjoyable movie on many levels and absolutely one of the biggest surprises of the year.   

Tron: Ares

Mankind encounters AI beings for the first time when a highly sophisticated programme, Ares, leaves the digital world for a dangerous mission in the real world.

I'm really not sure who was asking for this sequel.   I have always said that even though I'm a big fan of sci-fi that there is good sci-fi and then there is too much sci-fi.  The Tron franchise definitely falls into the latter.  I don't remember much about them.  I didn't really care much about this movie.   The visuals and effects were cool but it really didn't have much else past that.   It was just more red in this one when I remember the others being more blue.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It is really just there besides the cool effects.   And they are not enough to carry the movie.

Anemone

Hidden secrets and long-buried resentments come to light when two estranged brothers reunite at a primitive cabin deep in the woods of Northern England.

This movie was quite honestly as boring as that synopsis made it out to be.   It was pretty much like watching paint dry.   If it wasn't for the cinematography and the general presence of the two main actors, I have no clue how anyone would be able to make it through this.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  Didn't think I would say that about a Daniel Day Lewis movie but this is a shame of a final movie for him regardless of his son directing it.

The Smashing Machine

MMA fighter Mark Kerr reaches the peak of his career but faces personal hardships along the way.

I don't know if it was all the advance hype about how great this movie was that raised expectations or just me watching it wondering what the hell was the story that warranted this biographical movie being made but this movie was beyond disappointing.   All the hype for The Rock's acting . . . . . . . . I mean he acted well using lots of makeup to not look like himself.  Is that what they were talking about?   Because honestly this movie was about too very overdependent people being miserable with each other.   How does that warrant praise for acting or movie making?

I would not recommend people watching this.  It was a massive disappointment and is honestly just there.  Any sort of awards buzz for this movie makes zero sense to me.

One Battle After Another

Bob is a washed-up revolutionary who lives in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited and self-reliant daughter, Willa. When his evil nemesis resurfaces and Willa goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her as both father and daughter battle the consequences of their pasts.

This movie was very well made.   For an over 2 1/2 hour movie to be paced so non-stop with all the characters spiraling through the whole thing and not have you looking at your watch or realize how long it is tends to be a sign of greatness.   The acting by everyone was awesome.  The constant score in the background added a level of tension that was awesome.   I am very surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie and how relevant it really was in today's world.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It is one of the better movies to come out this year.

The Strangers - Chapter 2

After learning that one of their victims, Maya, is still alive, three masked maniacs return to finish the job. With nowhere to run and no one to trust, Maya soon finds herself in a brutal fight for survival against psychopaths who are more than willing to kill anyone who stands in their way.

Same question after "chapter 1" . . . . . .  why in the blue hell is this a trilogy?   The original movie was a great horror movie that should have been left alone.  It did not need an origin story much less a trilogy horror story.  This is beyond pointless because you know that they are all still there for the original movie so it's like watching a suspense movie knowing that nothing will happen.  It's like The Walking Dead wrapping up AFTER they announced 6 characters getting spinoffs.  

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this and I hate that I know there will be a chapter 3.

Him

Cameron Cade is a rising quarterback who suffers a potentially career-ending injury after being attacked by an unhinged fan. Just when all seems lost, Cam receives a lifeline when his hero, Isaiah White, offers to train him at an isolated compound. However, as the training accelerates, Isaiah's charisma turns into something darker, sending Cam down a disorienting rabbit hole that may cost him more than he ever bargained for.

This movie was pretty much trash.   It used Jordan Peele's name since he produced it as if it was one of his movies - which it desperately wanted to be but was not.   It again was pretty formula and you knew everything just from the trailer.   It's just that time of year for movies pretty much.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.   It was pretty much trash and a waste of time.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

Through a surprising twist of fate, single strangers Sarah and David get to relive important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present.

The premise of this movie was great.   The trailer made it somewhat intriguing.  But they very much didn't stick the landing.   Like it started out good but then like halfway through it was just kind of going through the motions as if there was not an actual ending they were working towards.

I would somewhat recommend this movie only because the chemistry was believable and they did a good job of showing the whole getting to know somebody thing well.   It just didn't have a complete ending that would have probably made this much better.  

The Senior

At age 59, Mike Flynt may be too old to be on a college football field, but not too old to feel the weight of unfinished business. After nearly four decades, he returns to his alma mater to take the hit that changed everything. Bruised, doubted, and nearly broken, he pushes for one more game, not for glory, but for the teammates he lost, the family he fractured, and the ending he still believes is possible.

This movie was about as formula as you can get.   There is no way that you don't know everything that is going to happen just from the trailer.  But if you like formula sports movies then this will work for you and if you don't then it won't.  There is very little else to say about this movie.

I would somewhat recommend it.  It's not a great movie.  It's not a bad movie.   You could just watch the trailer and say you saw it but it was still a decent watch.

The Long Walk

Teens participate in a grueling high-stakes contest where they must continuously walk or be shot by a member of their military escort.

I'm very surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie.   It looked good from the trailer but I wasn't sure how hooked they would be able to keep you.   Turns out very much hooked.   They addressed most of the questions that came to mind when originally hearing about the premise very well.   And it didn't drag at all which was very important to the overall idea.   The only thing I would knock on it was literally the very last minute or two of the movie making no sense to me whatsoever.   

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It's pretty graphic at times and psychologically draining/traumatizing but it was a very well done movie.

Demon Slayer - Infinity Castle

Tanjiro Kamado and other members of the Demon Slayer Corps find themselves in an epic battle at Infinity Castle.

I loved everything about this movie except that it didn't really play like a movie.   What they have done here is take what would have been the last season of an anime show and make it into three movies.   Which is absolutely fine because this animation, action and story plays great in the theater.  The problem is that it didn't feel like a "movie" as much as it felt like 5 episodes of the show in order.   Like there was not a clear ending and set up for the second movie.  It was more just like okay we will stop here and see you at the next one.  LOL!

I would still recommend people checking this out.  I am not like a big anime watcher but this is one of the ones that I have and I have very much enjoyed it from the beginning.  

The Conjuring: Last Rites

In 1986 paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren travel to Pennsylvania to vanquish a demon from a family's home.

Quite honestly, I have never been a fan of these movies.   Like they just don't do anything for me.  The creepiness is eh.  The sight gags are just okay.  And I pretty much forget about them 5 minute after seeing them.  This one was very much no different than the previous entries.   

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie but again they never have been my thing.  If you liked the others I guess go see this and I would assume you would like it?

The Toxic Avenger

A horrible toxic accident transforms downtrodden janitor, Winston Gooze into a new evolution of hero: The Toxic Avenger. Now, Toxie must rise from outcast to savior, battling corrupt forces and corporate greed to protect his son, his friends, and his community.

No.

Just no.

Caught Stealing

When his punk-rock neighbour asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, New York City bartender Hank Thompson suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters who all want a piece of him.

This movie was exactly what you would think it was from the trailer that I must have seen before every movie for the last two months at least.   It was one of those crazy spiraling movies where you are able to enjoy the ride because of the off the wall characters and situations.

I would sort of recommend people checking this out.  It is very much not a must see but its a pretty decent watch for one of those out of control spiraling kind of movies.

The Roses

Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Theo and Ivy: successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. However, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentments soon emerge when Theo's career nosedives and Ivy's own ambitions take off.

This was a weird watch because of how as the couples marriage was falling apart it came across as funny because of their two witty personalities with the commentary they would do.  Like I would feel bad but be laughing at the same time.   It was well paced though, felt very real and the actors were perfect for this movie.

I would sort of recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see by any means but it was a better than average watch that I was able to enjoy.

Honey Don't!

Small-town private investigator Honey O'Donahue probes a series of strange deaths that are tied to a mysterious church.

This movie was so beyond pointless.  Like it's just there with a bunch of actors and actresses that I like.  There is no reason to care about any of it.   Even when things play out you are honestly just kind of like okay . . . .  is this done now?  

It's super short but still a massive waste of time.   Great cast but just really no hook or anything to care about at all.   Could have easily been called Honey Don't! . . . . . bother watching this.

Nobody 2

Workaholic assassin Hutch Mansell takes his family on a much-needed vacation to the small tourist town of Plummerville. However, he soon finds himself in the crosshairs of a corrupt theme-park operator, a shady sheriff, and a bloodthirsty crime boss.

The original was a decent watch for what it was and this is pretty much just more of the same.  It's short, has lots of mindless action and violence and that's about it.   If you enjoy that or the first one I don't see why you wouldn't feel the same way about this one.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend people checking this out because it is not a must see by any means whatsoever.  Its the definition of a decent watch for what the movie is.

Weapons

When all but one child from the same classroom mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

It is usually a massive trigger for me when thriller/scary movies are marketed as great as this movie was marketed because it never lives up to the hype.   The move I saw about this where they just kept telling you the incident that happened and not spoiling everything the more I dreaded the inevitable disappointment.   However, this movie totally delivered.   The way that they told the story from so many viewpoints was great.   The casting was great.  The creepiness level in both certain oh shit scenes and just overall building tension was great.  I very much loved this movie.  The tension was so good that you end up hysterically laughing at things that you really should not be laughing at simply because it is releasing the tension.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  Never in a million years did I think that this movie would be one of my favorites of the year.

Freakier Friday

Two decades after an identity crisis, Anna's blended family faces new challenges. Tess and Anna discover their past may be repeating with the next generation.

When I saw the trailer for this all I could think is that this would have been a better thing to just debut on Disney Plus.  Kind of like the nostalgia of Hocus Pocus 2.   After seeing the movie, I could not have possibly been more right.   Like it did a good enough job of doing the nostalgia thing but it felt much more like a streamer movie then a wide release in theaters movie.

I wouldn't really recommend people watching this but I don't think that will matter.  If you loved the first one you will certainly see this one and if you didn't or never saw the first one why would you watch this?

Sketch

Fantastical creatures come to life when a young girl's sketchbook falls into a strange pond. As the town starts to unravel, she and her brother try to track down the unpredictable, chaotic and dangerously real monsters before they cause permanent damage. Racing against time to find them, their father must navigate a community in crisis to reunite his family and stop the disaster they never meant to unleash.

This was a pretty instantly forgettable family movie.   It basically took the idea of drawing out your pain or issues and put it into animation.   The concept was decent but the execution honestly felt kind of mailed in even though it was a family/kids movie.  

I wouldn't really recommend people checking this out.   It's short and not terrible but not really worth the time.

The Bad Guys 2

Reformed criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula are trying very hard to be good. However, they soon find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes heist that's masterminded by a new team of delinquents they never saw coming -- the Bad Girls.

I liked the first movie.  I don't know that it was good enough for a sequel but it's animated so it was probably inevitable.   The great voice casting carried over and the story was paced fast enough that the adults are not over this movie before it ends.  

I would recommend families check this out.  It's a decent watch.  Not a must see but it's enjoyable enough for parents as well as the kids.   It's not up there with Dreamworks finest but still good enough.

The Naked Gun

Following in the footsteps of his bumbling father, Detective Frank Drebin Jr. must solve a murder case to prevent the police department from shutting down.

I was admittedly very annoyed when I saw that they were remaking this.   I always associate the Naked Gun series with my dad laughing so hard he cried.  Those movies were hilarious beyond words and would never be able to be made today.   So I was skeptical as hell.  The movie was definitely better than I expected.   Liam Neeson was actually great casting wise.  There were some really good laughs but it was not nearly as hilarious from start to finish as the previous ones were.  There were some badly forced jokes and parts where they let go of the laughs too.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It is not a must see by any means but there were some good laughs and it was better than I expected but to be fair I had super low expectations.

Together

Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie find themselves at a crossroads when they move to the countryside, abandoning all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.

When did "body horror" become like a genre?   This is like the 3rd or 4th movie I have seen in the last two years that just leaves me saying WHAT THE F#@K nonstop throughout.   There were some insane visuals in this movie and it was definitely disturbing enough to keep you hooked to finish.   But when it's over you are like . . . . . . .  I can't possibly think of recommending this weird ass shit to anyone.   

I would not really recommend anyone checking this out.   Unless you are into the whole what in God's name am I watching thing.  If that is your cup of tea then you will LOVE this movie.  LOL

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing face their most daunting challenge yet as they defend Earth from Galactus and Silver Surfer.

I have always been a big fan of The Fantastic Four and had very high hopes for this movie now that Marvel was finally behind it instead of the half assed attempts done prior.   And they very much nailed it.  The casting was great.  The chemistry was great.   And visually what I was afraid would come across as super cheesy totally did not.   The movie's look ended up being one of its biggest strengths.  Very excited to see them moving forward in the MCU.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It was a very enjoyable watch and another sign that Marvel is finally getting back on track hopefully.

Eddington

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbour is pitted against neighbour in Eddington, N.M.

This is a tough one to review.  2020 was very difficult for me on many levels as well as plenty of other people.   It might be too soon for a movie like that that very accurately shows the crazy spirals that things took that year and how 5 years later you can still feel all the changes.   

If this movie was going to strike a lot of nerves on a variety of topics to stem from that time then it was an incredibly good movie.   But if you are not ready to relive all of the crazy then you should probably steer clear of this movie.  

I Know What You Did Last Summer

When five friends inadvertently cause a deadly car accident, they cover up their involvement and make a pact to keep it a secret rather than face the consequences. One year later, the past comes back to haunt them as they learn someone knows what they did last summer. Stalked by a mysterious killer, they soon seek help from two survivors of the legendary Southport massacre of 1997.

Okay.  I'm going to kind of spoil something I guess to stress how incredibly dumb this reboot or whatever it was of a horror franchise that absolutely nobody was asking for was.   In the original - the teenagers hit someone with their car killing him and having to keep that secret.  At least that was a valid secret to base everything on.   In this one - they are on the road when a guy swerves and goes off the cliff all on his own.   There was no crime.  There was no murder.   There was no need for any secret at all of what they "did" last summer.   And this was like 15 minutes in.  Right from that I was kind of done with this movie since the title and whole premise were irrelevant.   Because last summer what they did was . . . . . absolutely nothing.   They witnessed an accident.  That's it.   No crime whatsoever.   From there it was just incredibly horrible acting and some of the cheesiest dialogue in a long time.  

I wouldn't recommend anyone watching this.   Like ever.   Because again - they didn't do anything last summer.   Just saying.

Smurfs

When evil wizards Razamel and Gargamel take Papa Smurf, the Smurfs embark on a mission to the real world to save him. With help from some new friends, they must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.

This movie was pretty much exactly what you thought it would be.   Another animated version of the Smurfs to keep them somewhat fresh and relevant in people's minds.  The voice casting added a little something to this but it was much more of an animated movie for kids than for the kids and their parents.  

I would recommend this for people with younger children but that's really it.  It was okay for what it was but not much more substance outside of that.

Superman

When Superman gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned, giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor the opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Superman's four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him before it's too late?

This was a great start to the new DCU.   The casting of the three main roles were PERFECT!   They didn't waste our time with the origin thing and just jumped in running.   The other heroes that were introduced didn't take away too much from the main characters but definitely got you intrigued to see where it will go next.   It was a little too sci fi in the middle but outside of that I very much enjoyed a not too heavy superhero movie and like I said - very interested for once to see where things will go with DC.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.   It was a very fun watch and what going to the movies is all about.

F1

In the 1990s, Sonny Hayes was Formula 1's most promising driver until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, the owner of a struggling Formula 1 team convinces Sonny to return to racing and become the best in the world. Driving alongside the team's hotshot rookie, Sonny soon learns that the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.

This movie was great!   It was very much a throwback kind of a movie with the good character development in terms of old friends, teammates overcoming stuff, romance, etc all balanced just right.   And the racing stuff was filmed in a way that made you feel like you were there in the car getting all tense throughout.   At no point did I think I would come into the summer movie season and as of the 4th of July very emphatically saying that this was my favorite movie of the year so far.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.   It was a great ride across the board and a throwback to what made going to the movies feel so rewarding / enjoyable.  

Jurassic World Rebirth

Zora Bennett leads a team of skilled operatives to the most dangerous place on Earth, an island research facility for the original Jurassic Park. Their mission is to secure genetic material from dinosaurs whose DNA can provide life-saving benefits to mankind. As the top-secret expedition becomes more and more risky, they soon make a sinister, shocking discovery that's been hidden from the world for decades.

This movie was great for what it was.   They didn't try to do a whole reboot thing.   They didn't focus on redoing stuff.   They just came up with a good enough reason to put the characters on that island and they focused on the scary aspect of the dinosaurs and what not.   They also tried to do lots of things with dinosaurs that had not been done before.   I was massively done with this franchise after that last entry that was so beyond terrible.   This was a great way to regenerate interest after that.

I would recommend people checking this out.   It's a good going to the movies kind of popcorn summer film.

Megan 2.0

Two years after M3GAN, a marvel of artificial intelligence, went rogue and embarked on a murderous rampage, its creator, Gemma, has become an advocate for government oversight of AI. Unbeknownst to her, a defense contractor has created a military-grade weapon known as Amelia, the ultimate infiltration spy. However, as Emlia's self-awareness increases, it becomes less interested in taking orders. Hoping to stop Emilia, Gemma decides to resurrect M3GAN, making it faster, stronger, and more lethal.

Wow.  I really don't have words to go over how silly this was.   Like . . . . .  it wasn't even scary.   Like they did a sequel to a scary movie about a killer doll and made it a spy comedy almost.   I'm not kidding.   Like as I write that I fully grasp how silly that sounds but it's very accurate.  Like zero scares at all and they just went action, espionage and laughs.   The only reason I was able to push through this was because like they were not even really taking themselves seriously and it was so over the top and silly.   It was still total garbage though.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.   It is insane how strange it was to watch a sequel that just straight up hopped genres.

Elio

Elio, an underdog with an active imagination, finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Mistakenly identified as Earth's ambassador to the rest of the universe, he starts to form new bonds with eccentric aliens while discovering who he's truly meant to be.

This was a textbook Pixar movie.  Great for kids and adults.  Great messaging for children.   Cute characters and a great flow of the story telling.  One of the rare movies nowadays that wasn't too long and didn't drag.   The only knock I can honestly make against this is that it won't stay with you like most of Pixar's classics.  It's really good but could end up being considered forgettable compared to the rest of their library.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  it's a nice and fun/simple watch for families, adults and kids alike.  

28 Years Later

It's been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped from a biological weapons laboratory. Still living in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amid the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway. When one of them decides to venture into the dark heart of the mainland, he soon discovers a mutation that has spread to not only the infected, but other survivors as well.

This was literally a movie of two halves.   The first half of the move was actually really good.   I liked the set up of the island and the mainland kind of thing with the limited option of how to get there, etc.  I was really digging it.  And then about half way through the movie turned into something completely different and dragged like hell and quite honestly sucked.  Then at the very end - like literally the last two minutes they did the most random connection to the start of the movie and I guess it was nothing but a set up for sequel?   It was all very disjointed and pretty disappointing - especially after how much I enjoyed the first half of the movie.

I would unfortunately not recommend anyone bothering with this.  It started so good but then just went waaaaaay off the rails.

How To Train Your Dragon

On the rugged isle of Berk, a Viking boy named Hiccup defies centuries of tradition by befriending a dragon named Toothless. However, when an ancient threat emerges that endangers both species, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

Part two of the greatest live action due of all time.  The original is a lock for my Top 5 movies of all time and just like Lilo & Stitch a month ago - this movie completely delivered.  It was not original at all and NOTHING was different from the animated version but I am honestly completely okay with that.   Why change perfection?   The movie still had the amazing emotional connections and it pulled all the same heartstrings.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.   It is an amazing watch and just as incredible visually as the animated version was.

Materialists

A young New York City matchmaker's lucrative business gets complicated as she finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.

So there are few things that annoy me more than advertising a movie as something and then it not being that.   This was hyped as a romantic comedy.   There was literally not one laugh in this whole movie.  And quite honestly there wasn't much romance in it either.   I give the movie credit for being a good character drama about how matchmaking has made dating life brutal with very realistic characters and situations.  BUT . . . . that was not what was advertised.  

I would somewhat recommend this movie for anyone who wants to feel more hopeless about dating in today's world than they might already.  But if you are looking for a comedy this is absolutely not one.

Dangerous Animals

A shark-obsessed serial killer holds Zephyr, a rebellious surfer, captive on his boat. Racing against time, she must figure out a way to escape before he carries out a ritualistic feeding to the sharks below.

How in the holy hell was this a wide theatrical release?   Better question - how in the holy hell was this a wide theatrical release IN THE SUMMER?   This was basically a made for tv movie.   It was a somewhat decent and out there premise that absolutely did not make an entire movie.  This movie was only 90 minutes long and that was honestly still an hour too long.   

I would definitely not recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's not even a movie that is so cheesy that it's a good silly watch.   There is basically one shark attack scene and then 85 minutes of blah blah blah.  

Ballerina

Ballerina is an upcoming American action thriller film that is the fifth film in the John Wick franchise, serving as a spin-off set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4.

I couldn't quite put my finger on it but like I found this movie kind of boring.  The action was great like in all John Wick universe stuff.  But like it just felt like there was no hook.   And that sounds absurd to say because the "hook" of John Wick was that they killed his dog.  Not a whole lot of substance there.  After talking it over with the bestie it was decided that maybe it was just the actress not having the same allure as Keanu Reeves?   Definitely could be possible but there just felt like something was missing.

It's still worth it for the action and stuff but it just really didn't have the same hook that the John Wick movies did.

Bring Her Back

A brother and sister witness a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother.

When it comes to these under the radar, low budget horror movies it feels like 1 out of 10 seem to hit me as good.  This was one of those.   I expected pretty much nothing and when the movie started it definitely seemed like it would be one of those trash ones.   As it went on though they did a really good job of sprinkling in some nasty visuals that hook you along with a good job of developing curiosity about what is wrong with the kid at the house.   As it played out it definitely kept you hooked and interested and made you cringe plenty of times.   I was very surprised.

I would surprisingly suggest people checking this out.   Just be warned that there are some really nasty and gory scenes that are difficult to keep your eyes on the screen for.

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

Ethan Hunt and the IMF team race against time to find the Entity, a rogue artificial intelligence that can destroy mankind.

I have been a big fan of all the Mission Impossible movies.   My only knock against some of them and definitely applies to this one is that they really don't need to be THAT long.  Like once you go past two hours you are running too long and can tighten them up.   Getting closer to three hours like the last two entries is definitely pushing it.  That being said - I still loved the movie.   It still had those crazy tense scenes where you don't even realize how tense you are until they are over.   It still had great action.  It still had great back and forth with the team members.   There were still plenty of laughs.  And since it seems like they are making this the last one I thought that they did a great job with flashbacks throughout the movie connecting all the nostalgia and what not.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It definitely is too long but it was also a very fun and enjoyable ride and honestly what I have always felt going to the movie theater was all about.

Lilo And Stitch

A tale of a young girl's close encounter with the galaxy's most wanted extraterrestrial. Lilo is a lonely Hawaiian girl who adopts a small ugly "dog," whom she names Stitch. Stitch would be the perfect pet if he weren't in reality a genetic experiment who has escaped from an alien planet and crash-landed on Earth. Through her love, faith and unwavering belief in ohana, the Hawaiian concept of family, Lilo helps unlock Stitch's heart and gives him the ability to care for someone else.

I could be a little biased because of emotional connections this movie generates related to my daughter and my cat and by the fact that Stitch is pretty much my favorite Disney character but I honestly thought that this was the best live action remake that they have made to date.  This movie perfectly captured the laughs and more importantly the massive heart from the original.   All of the connections came through, all of the characters were carried over and done great and the kid actor that played Lilo was awesome.

I would absolutely recommend everyone checking this out.  This movie is a lock for my Top 10 of 2025 and was such a really good time at the movies. 

Final Destination: Bloodlines

Plagued by a violent and recurring nightmare, a college student heads home to track down the one person who might be able to break the cycle of death and save her family from the grisly demise that inevitably awaits them all.

This was definitely much longer than it had to be.  But that really is the only knock I had against it.  They took the time to explain the story and develop the victims which was weird for a 6th movie into the franchise but it did work.  I felt like there was actually less deaths than usual which limited the oh my god stop feeling.   All in all - it was definitely a good and surprising entry.

I would definitely recommend fans of the franchise or horror movies watching this because there is plenty of good stuff in it.  If you have never seen one of these - why would you start now?

Karate Kid: Legends

After moving to New York City with his mother, kung fu prodigy Li Fong struggles to let go of the past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates. When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition -- but his skills alone aren't enough. With help from Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso, he soon learns to merge two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.

Wow.  Just wow.  This movie was such a pointless money grab.  I have not seen a money grab movie this blatant in a long, long time.  Chan and Machhio are barely in the movie.  And there is literally nothing new in this whatsoever.  It is the same story that has been redone a ton of times and for this to come out in theaters after Cobra Kai (which is actually nostalgia done right!) has ended is so ridiculous.

I would not recommend anyone ever bothering with this.  Please do not put your money towards such an insulting money grab of a movie.