The Many Saints Of Newark

Young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark, N.J., history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters start to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, whose influence over his nephew will help shape the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss, Tony Soprano.

This movie would have been a million times better as a miniseries.  It honestly didn't work as a movie.  Like at all.  You got introduced to younger versions of all the character you had come to know on the show but I didn't really see the whole development of Tony Soprano.  The movie was much more about Dickie Moltisanti and the only character that I felt like I saw any development of was Junior.  

I'd still recommend people checking it out because it is not a bad watch.  Just really didn't work as a movie and could have worked a lot better as a miniseries.  

The Addams Family 2

Hoping to get closer as a family, Gomez, Morticia and the rest of the Addams clan embark on an adventurous road trip in a hideous and humongous camper.

This movie is pretty much exactly what is expected.  More of the first and a very decent watch for the family or kids.   There is literally nothing more to say about it.  These are the type of sequels that are just there and are decent distractions for 90 minutes or so.  

I would definitely recommend families with younger kids checking this out.  It is a fun, short watch with morals that get taught and all that stuff.  

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Venom springs into action when notorious serial killer Cletus Kasady transforms into the evil Carnage.

This franchise is a perfect example of having expectations for movies.   I was so pumped for the first one because of the Venom character and Tom Hardy playing it and that movie was absolutely trash.  Like DC Universe level trash.  Possibly one of the most disappointing movies for me ever.  So going into this I had bottom of the barrel expectations and I have to honestly say that it made the movie more watchable.  It's not a good movie by any means.  It is a very bad movie that is overly campy and what not but it was actually somewhat enjoyable because I expected nothing.  The tie in to other Spider-Man stuff at the end is a TBD because Sony has done this before and then never paid it off so I will go ahead and reserve any excitement about it whatsoever.  

I would not really recommend anyone going to see this in terms of it being a good movie.  But there is something about it being so bad that its entertaining.

Dear Evan Hansen

Evan Hansen is an anxious, isolated high-school student who's aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social media age. He soon embarks on a journey of self-discovery when a letter he wrote for a writing exercise falls into the hands of a grieving couple whose son took his own life.

Few musicals have ever owned my heart as much as this one did.  I have been waiting for this movie for years and heard all bad reviews - which I expected.  I very much enjoyed the movie though.  I don't care that Ben Platt is too old to play a high schooler.  He is Evan Hansen.  I don't care that he is more of the villain in this story to the common eye.  I totally understand that those who are not as aware of mental health issues or don't have anxiety or don't have depression not getting this but I'm not one of those people.  I identify with so much of this on so many levels and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

If you saw the musical and are a fan - go see the movie.  It is not as good.  How could it be?  But I still found it to be a great watch.  

The Eyes Of Tammy Faye

In the 1970s, Tammy Faye Bakker and her husband, Jim, rise from humble beginnings to create the world's largest religious broadcasting network and theme park. Tammy Faye becomes legendary for her indelible eyelashes, her idiosyncratic singing, and her eagerness to embrace people from all walks of life. However, financial improprieties, scheming rivals and a scandal soon threaten to topple their carefully constructed empire.

Kind of torn on this movie.  It was a really good biopic movie with great performances by all the actors involved.   Like end of year award nomination worthy performances.  My problem is that I can't stand the people the movie was about and hate that they continue to get attention years later because of a movie like this.  Like this clowns were essentially a pretend religious version of the Kardashians from years ago.  They are complete trash that just wanted all the attention in the world on them and I hate the amount they were given and that they are still getting it today because of this biopic.  

Like I said before - it is a good movie with great performances.  I just can't stand the morons that the movie was about so I can't fully recommend more people giving them undeserved attention.  

Cry Macho

A onetime rodeo star and washed-up horse breeder, in 1978, takes a job from an ex-boss to bring the man's young son home and away from his alcoholic mum. Crossing rural Mexico on their back way to Texas, the unlikely pair faces an unexpectedly challenging journey, during which the world-weary horseman may find his own sense of redemption through teaching the boy what it means to be a good man.

What in the blue hell was the point of this movie?   Like seriously one of the more pointless movies I have watched in a long time.  I have been saying for years that Clint Eastwood is one of the weirdest directors in Hollywood because for every movie that he makes that is an amazing award contender and basically one of the best movies to come out that year he will turn around and make one of these.  Like his name being plastered on it "directed by Clint Eastwood" either means the movie will be amazing or a giant turd.  This is definitely in the turd pile.  I will never understand how he can flip flop as a director like that.

No I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It is a complete waste of time and there was no reason for millions of dollars to be spent making something so pointless.

Malignant

Paralyzed by fear from shocking visions, a woman's torment worsens as she discovers her waking dreams are terrifying realities.

This movie was a very crazy watch because it changed up like three times.  For the first third you are really pulled in and think you are watching some kind of a victim of abuse kind of a psychological thriller.  For the second third you are like what the hell is going on but not in a way that you want to turn it off.  And then the big swerve at the end is like WHAT and you are completely hooked even though you know how over the top and silly it pretty much is.  Can't say much more without spoiling it.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It's very gory at times so be warned but really was an enjoyable watch and one of my more favorite ones from James Wan's body of work at this point.

Copshop

Screaming through the Nevada desert in a bullet-ridden car, wily con artist Teddy Murretto hatches a plan to hide out from lethal assassin Bob Viddick. He punches rookie officer Valerie Young to get himself arrested and locked up in a small-town police station. However, jail can't protect Murretto for long as Viddick schemes his own way into detention, biding his time in a nearby cell until he can complete his mission.

This movie is a throwback testosterone fest.  Every thing about it seemed like a late 80s/early 90s guys being tough and above the law kind of movie.  Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo were perfectly cast in this and both did a great job of playing their parts.  This movie was just a fun ride where you can turn off your brain and enjoy the over the top machismo oozing from the movie.

I would definitely recommend people who are into old school action movies to check this out.  If you like watching tough guys go against each other than this is pretty much a great watch.  

The Card Counter

William Tell is a gambler and former serviceman who sets out to reform a young man seeking revenge on a mutual enemy from their past. Tell just wants to play cards. His spartan existence on the casino trail is shattered when he is approached by Cirk, a vulnerable and angry young man seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel. Tell sees a chance at redemption through his relationship with Cirk.

This movie was exactly what I was afraid it would be when seeing the trailer.   It wanted to be a good and enjoyable, well done movie.  But it went all for style and not too much substance.   Like all effort was put into the movie looking good instead of actually being good.  It wasn't awful by any means.  It just wasn't really that good either.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  Especially not a trip to theaters or spending any money on it.  

Queenpins

A frustrated suburban housewife and her best friend hatch an illegal coupon-club scheme that scams millions from corporations and delivers deals to legions of fellow coupon clippers. Hot on their trail is an unlikely duo -- a hapless loss-prevention officer and a determined U.S. postal inspector -- both looking to end their criminal enterprise.

This movie is a perfect example of having little to no expectations for a movie helping to possibly enjoy it more.  I put this on because it showed up online and fully expected it to gradually become background noise while I did everything.  But the movie ended up completely keeping my attention.  I liked the progression of the whole the two leads dug themselves into, I really liked the part that Paul Walker Hauser played and he had me pissing myself from laughing at times, and I loved him and Vince Vaughn working together.  Just the scenes with the two of them and their characters evolving makes this movie worth watching.

Never in a million years did I expect to be suggesting people watch this movie.   It was a lot of very simple fun with great laughs throughout.  

Shang Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings

Martial-arts master Shang-Chi confronts the past he thought he left behind when he's drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.

Marvel simply does not fail.  I knew nothing about Shang Chi or the ten rings going in.  It was never in any of the comics I read as a kid and it didn't matter at all.  They did a great job of telling the origin story, a great job of building up new characters, had one of the craziest connections ever to the rest of the MCU, had amazing fight scenes and action and introduced us to a whole other world that can now be revisited.  The comparisons to Black Panther are very justified and I can't wait to see more of these characters in future movies.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a great watch and another awesome entry/character added to the MCU.

Candyman

In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, Anthony and his partner move into a loft in the now gentrified Cabrini. A chance encounter with an old-timer exposes Anthony to the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to use these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, he unknowingly opens a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence.

I am not sure how to feel about this movie yet.  Like it wasn't bad.  It wasn't trash like a lot of recent horror movies have been.  But it was alot more talking and psychological than the original was.  I'm not saying that I am all for gore and stuff but sometimes movies are better with more style and less substance if that makes sense.   And I definitely feel like Candyman falls into that.   Like comparing the two I definitely enjoyed the original alot more because it was less talking and more scares even if it was more of slasher movie.   It doesn't translate as well in this psychological context even though there were some creepy visuals.

I would kind of recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see and if you do see just be expected a very different version of Candyman with more talking and psychological thrills as opposed to the slasher gore that made the first one so good.

Respect

Following the rise of Aretha Franklin's career -- from a child singing in her father's church choir to her international superstardom -- it's the remarkable true story of the music icon's journey to find her voice.

This movie was you typical autobiographical music.  Covers a lot of time and a lot of material with the acting being top notch across the board.  That being said - this movie was definitely way too long.  And you feel it.  Not to say that the movie was bad but it definitely dragged alot.  There was also a lot of alluding to things or glossing over things that probably should have gotten more attention even though the movie was already too long.  

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this movie out.  It is not a must see by any means but it is a decent watch if you have the time.  

The Night House

Reeling from the unexpected death of her husband, Beth (Rebecca Hall) is left alone in the lakeside home he built for her. She tries as best she can to keep together-but then the dreams come. Disturbing visions of a presence in the house call to her, beckoning with a ghostly allure. But the harsh light of day washes away any proof of a haunting. Against the advice of her friends, she begins digging into his belongings, yearning for answers.

Was this movie a decent arthouse kind of psychological thriller?  Yes.  Was that what it was hyped to be.  Not really.  The trailer and ads for this definitely had it set up to be more of a fearfest than it was.  I hate when studios do that.  If you are not proud enough of your movie to market it right than don't make one.  Again - the movie wasn't awful.  It was a decent watch.  It managed to keep your attention enough but when you keep looking for something that was advertised its hard to enjoy the movie.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's not bad but its not great either.  Definitely not worth money at a theater and can wait until it shows up on cable or a streaming service.  

The Protege

Rescued as a child by the legendary assassin Moody, Anna is the world's most skilled contract killer. However, when Moody is brutally killed, she vows revenge for the man who taught her everything she knows. As Anna becomes entangled with an enigmatic killer, their confrontation turns deadly, and the loose ends of a life spent killing weave themselves ever tighter.

This was a pretty decent story with pretty good fight/action scenes but really didn't bring much else to the table.  It's basically your textbook August action release.  Something to watch but absolutely not a must watch by any means.

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this out.   I definitely wouldn't bother rushing to a theater and paying for it though.   Not worth that at all.  

Reminiscence

A scientist discovers a way to relive your past and uses the technology to search for his long lost love. Whilst a private investigator uncovers a conspiracy while helping his clients recover lost memories.

This movie was a pretty good watch.  I wouldn't say a great watch but I would say a pretty good watch.   The premise was great.  The cast was great and the pacing of it was pretty good.  My only issue is that they didn't completely hook the audience enough.  Like they got your attention and then just ran with it.  If they would have put a little more effort into really grabbing the viewer this movie could have actually been much better.  I know its not much details but its hard to talk about this movie without giving away spoilers.

I would still recommend people checking this movie out because it is a pretty good watch.  Just honestly could have been great.  

Don't Breathe 2

A blind veteran must use his military training to save a young orphan from a group of thugs who break into his home.

Honestly didn't even have to see this movie to write the review of it.  It's garbage.  Total garbage.  It's the definition of filming garbage and slapping a 2 on it.  Was anyone wanting a sequel to Don't Breathe?  Absolutely not.  And its not even a sequel.  It's a side character from the first movie that they decided more background was needed on it.  And in no universe was it.  It's a 90 minute total waste of time.

No I would absolutely not recommend anyone bothering with this.  The only reason I even watched it is because it showed up online and even then I started doing other things while watching it after about 7 minutes or so.

Free Guy

A bank teller called Guy realises he is a background character in an open world video game called Free City that will soon go offline.

This was a very enjoyable movie.   They did a great job of taking you into that world while massively mocking it at the same time.   It was an original summer popcorn movie which really is beyond a rarity these days.  Ryan Reynolds was himself which is honestly some of the best delivery of lines I have ever seen and there were TONS of laughs - especially after Dude showed up.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this one out.  It was a very enjoyable watch that you can just go along on the ride for.  

Joe Bell

The story of an Oregonian father who pays tribute to his gay teenage son, Jadin, embarking on a self-reflective walk across America to speak to heartland citizens about the real and terrifying costs of bullying.

Another really enjoyable character drama.  It was very weird watching this and Stillwater a day apart because there were so many similarities.  Mark Wahlberg did as good of a job as Matt Damon in playing a father dealing with massive regrets about their parenting or lack of.   This one was a lot more emotional considering the subject matter and you could very much tell how this was based on a true story because it felt incredibly honest and true.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a very good and eye opening watch.

Stillwater

An American oil-rig roughneck travels to Marseille, France, to visit his estranged daughter, in prison for a murder she claims she didn't commit. Confronted with language barriers, cultural differences and a complicated legal system, he soon builds a new life for himself as he makes it his personal mission to exonerate her.

This was a very enjoyable character drama.   Matt Damon really transformed into this character and kept you incredibly hooked to his journey and hoping that he would accomplish his goals after several speed bumps along the way.  It was also an incredible statement about American culture compared to other countries.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a surprisingly enjoyable watch.

The Green Knight

King Arthur's headstrong nephew embarks on a daring quest to confront the Green Knight, a mysterious giant who appears at Camelot. Risking his head, he sets off on an epic adventure to prove himself before his family and court.

This movie was incredibly disappointing for two reasons that kind of go hand in hand.  One - it was very falsely advertised.  It was made to look like an exciting fantasy kind of movie and it very much was not.  Like nothing about this movie was exciting in any way.  It was incredibly slow paced and was honestly an artsy movie not meant for mainstream audiences at all.  Two - this is one of those movies that was made more to be appreciated or respected from a filmmaking standpoint not for entertainment value.  Like you know you are watching a well made movie but you are honestly not enjoying it too much.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this movie unless those well done but not so much entertaining movies are you cup of tea.

Suicide Squad

The government sends the most dangerous supervillains in the world -- Bloodsport, Peacemaker, King Shark, Harley Quinn and others -- to the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Armed with high-tech weapons, they trek through the dangerous jungle on a search-and-destroy mission, with only Col. Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave.

This movie is a shining example of what a difference direction makes.  This movie was so much more enjoyable and better in every aspect than the Suicide Squad from a few years back.  The pacing, the character development, the bantering, the action and the costumes were all much, much better.  Even Harley Quinn was better in this one and honestly I enjoyed the swipe out of Idris Elba's character for Will Smith's even though I really did like Will Smith in the first one.   That was my biggest concern going in to this one and Elba was absolutely great and his character development was top notch.  I would easily say that this is DC Universe's best movie to date (because the ending of Wonder Woman annoyed me so much) and is definitely the most rewatchable of their movies right off the bat.  My only issue would be the need for the villain in DC movies to be so large and over the top continues in this one even though it probably fits more here than any of the other prior DC movies.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It is definitely a very hard R rated comic book movie with ALOT of graphic violence, nudity and language throughout so be warned for younger comic book movie fans.  But it is a very enjoyable watch.  

Jungle Cruise

Dr. Lily Houghton enlists the aid of wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff to take her down the Amazon in his ramshackle boat. Together, they search for an ancient tree that holds the power to heal -- a discovery that will change the future of medicine.

This movie was just plain fun.   Just great action, comedy, story, chemistry fun across the board.  This is the kind of movie that made me fall in love with them in the first place.   It felt very much like the first couple of Pirates Of The Caribbean or Indiana Jones films.  The Rock is always awesome.  So is Emily Blunt.  The chemistry between the two of them was perfect.  And they did a great job of actually telling you the story over the course of the film.  They didn't rush it.  They didn't drag it out.  They gave you the story piece meal as was needed.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was an incredibly enjoyable watch and just a very fun ride.  

Old

A thriller about a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly reducing their entire lives into a single day.

M Night Shyalalalalalamananan's movies are always decided by one simple thing . . . . . . the curveball towards the end.  Every one of his movies have it and I honestly can't think of a movie of his that didn't look like it good be good on the premise alone.  It was always that swerve payout that decided it.  So I went into this movie fully aware of that and very much prepared to hate it by the time it ended.  However, I was plenty surprised that I not only was not disappointed by the ending but actually liked it alot.  Are there a lot of unanswered stuff?  Yeah but everything doesn't always have to be answered.  Bottom line is that this movie did a good enough job of not screwing the pooch with the ending.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  The first 9/10th of the movie is more than watchable with you wondering how it will play out and the swerve only solidified this one.  

Snake Eyes

An ancient Japanese clan called the Arashikage welcomes tenacious loner Snake Eyes after he saves the life of their heir apparent. Upon arrival in Japan, the Arashikage teach him the ways of the ninja warrior while also providing him something he's been longing for: a home. However, when secrets from Snake Eyes' past are revealed, his honor and allegiance get tested -- even if that means losing the trust of those closest to him.

This is a weird movie to review.  Was it watchable?  Yes it was definitely a decent watch.   The pacing could have been much better and there was no reason for this to be 2 hours long.  But like . . . . . is this supposed to be the relaunch of the GI Joe franchise?   Because if it is then I think it was a super lame attempt.  Like this movie honestly didn't even feel like a movie theater blockbuster and would have played better as a streaming service series.  Like I'm not sure that this movie would be remotely successful to launch that whole franchise off of.   Just really left me with a weird vibe on that front.

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking it out.  It's not a must see by any means whatsoever but it is an entertaining enough watch.  Just not really sure it was good enough for what it looks like they are planning.  

The Comeback Trail

Indebted to the mob, two movie producers try to save themselves by setting up an aging actor for an insurance scam.

Had never heard of this movie and then saw the trailer for it the last 4 or 5 times I have gone to theaters since they reopened.  Looked watchable but there was no way I would pay to see it.  Then I realized that the movie is online and has been since last year when it was originally supposed to open wide so I checked it out.  This is a dictionary definition of a movie where if you saw the trailer - you saw the movie.  There is absolutely nothing that you don't know is coming or have not seen already through the ads.  I do like seeing that these actors can still get jobs at their ages but it is sad that it's not in something more worthwhile.

I would not really recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  Watch the commercial and just leave it as that because you have already seen the whole movie more or less.  

 

Space Jam: A New Legacy

Superstar LeBron James and his young son, Dom, get trapped in digital space by a rogue AI. To get home safely, LeBron teams up with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang for a high-stakes basketball game against the AI's digitized champions of the court -- a powered-up roster called the Goon Squad.

If you enjoy Looney Tunes and the first Space Jam, I'm not really sure how or why you wouldn't like this one.   They did a lot of fun stuff with other Warner Bros properties getting on screen and LeBron James wasn't bad at all.  Don Cheadle seemed pretty strangely cast in this but again - this is a Looney Tunes movie.  So many reviews were absolutely trashing this movie and I really don't get it.  Like what were you expecting.  Was the first Space Jam nominated for Best Picture and I missed that.  It's a Looney Tunes movie that is most importantly made for children.  If that is not your cup of tea than don't drink it, no?

I enjoyed the movie and like I said before - if you enjoy Looney Tunes or the first Space Jam I would definitely recommend that you check this out.  Its an entertaining watch for the family.

Escape Room: Tournament Of Champions

Survivors of previous escape rooms find themselves in a new and increasingly elaborate game filled with deadly traps.

Why?   Just why?   Why was this sequel made at all?  Why in the blue hell is it a summer release?  Why?  Why?  Why?  I cannot believe how many random horror sequels are being made.  It's as if regardless of the original if its a "scary' movie there will be a franchise.  The movie was sloppy, rushed and completely pointless across the board.  The original was not that bad but in no way ever was worthy of a sequel.

Hell no I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  Like at all.  Ever.  Never been so annoyed at how long an hour and 20 minute movie felt.

Black Widow

At birth the Black Widow (aka Natasha Romanova) is given to the KGB, which grooms her to become its ultimate operative. When the U.S.S.R. breaks up, the government tries to kill her as the action moves to present-day New York, where she is a freelance operative.

Marvel is honestly the most guaranteed thing that I know of.   I was a little skeptical about a movie randomly set in the already existing timeline that was not an origin story but they hit this one out of the park.  Black Widow got her due.  The new characters introduced were amazing and Yelena rocketed to the top of my MCU favorite characters.   The action was amazing.  There were a lot of great laughs.  And the story explaining origins while at the same time moving characters forward was perfectly done.   Possibly the most impressive part though is that the movie at the same time made it possible for more Black Widow movies if they want set in the past while bringing the surviving characters to current times too.   

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.   It is an incredibly enjoyable summer blockbuster and I'm so glad to see Marvel movies back.

The Forever Purge

On the run from a drug cartel, a Mexican couple battle vicious thugs who plan to continue the violent tradition of the now-outlawed Purge.

I have to say that this is probably the most legit of all the Purge movies.  By saying that I mean that it was rotating around the actual kills and the gore/crazy costumes of it all.   This movie was much more grounded in current events and honestly felt kind of like I was watching a bigger version of the January 6th insurrection.  People against immigrants and seeing them as these massive enemies in the name of America.  What more else is there to say?

I mean . . . .  it's a Purge movie.  Does my recommendation really mean anything?   If you have watched the others you will obviously see this.  If you have not - why in the blue hell would you start now?

The Tomorrow War

A man is drafted to fight in a future war where the fate of humanity relies on his ability to confront his past.

Wow!   Just when I was ready to deem this movie eh and understand why it went to a streaming service instead of theaters - they completely stepped on the gas.   Once you get through the first 20-25 minutes of story and character build up and the "soldiers" make the time jump this movie becomes an absolutely awesome roller coaster ride.  It slows down a bit at times but it's okay because it works with the flow better.  And even though it became somewhat silly towards the end at that point I didn't even care because I was very much enjoying the ride.   

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It was a very entertaining ride and anyone should be able to enjoy it.

The Boss Baby: Family Business

Now adults, Theodore Templeton and his estranged brother take a magical formula that transforms them into babies for 48 hours. Together, they must now go under cover to prevent an evil genius from turning fellow toddlers intro monstrous brats.

This was a better than average family movie watch.   If you like this first one I have no doubt that you will enjoy this one too.   They did a good job of getting the adults to be kids again and the voice additions were great to the already existing ones.  Dreamworks animation is not on Pixar's level but its a pretty good second best in terms of churning out animation movies that kids and adults can both enjoy.

I would recommend families looking for something to watch check this out.   It's definitely entertaining enough and teaches enough lessons along the way to the younger kids watching it.

F9

Dominic Toretto and his crew join forces to battle the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they've ever encountered -- his forsaken brother.

I have always enjoyed the movies in this franchise.   I am well aware of how far over the top the action is at times but I am able to just push that to the side and watch anyway.   These are just summer popcorn movies and I have no problem taking them for what they are.   That being said - this one went so far above and beyond over the top that anyone who had a problem with that stuff before is going to lose it with the silliness at times of this one.   But regardless - still find them entertaining as hell.   John Cena is a great addition to the franchise and really just makes me want to see The Rock come back to the franchise even more.

It's honestly just another crazy action entry in the very successful franchise.  If you like the others I have no doubt you will like this one.  If you don't - then you won't and honestly why would you start liking them now regardless?  

Luca

Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water's surface.

The two things that you can always count on is Marvel and Pixar not letting you down.  Even their less than excellent movies are still great.   Luca is yet another triumph for Pixar when you really don't expect it at all.   A movie about sea people that turn to humans and want to win a race to get a vespa with very heavy Italian culture involved.  Read that again.   That would sound like an absolute trainwreck to me.  Yet since it's Pixar, it was a very enjoyable ride with incredibly original and diverse characters that keeps you hooked right from the start.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and am eternally grateful for the excellence of Pixar.

In The Heights

In Washington Heights, N.Y., the scent of warm coffee hangs in the air just outside of the 181st St. subway stop, where a kaleidoscope of dreams rallies a vibrant and tight-knit community. At the intersection of it all is a likable and magnetic bodega owner who hopes, imagines and sings about a better life.

Had never seen the original musical and really didn't have any idea what it was about but almost instantly didn't care.  You get pulled in to this town and the different characters in it and automatically want to know their stories and how they will turn out.  The music from Lin Manuel Miranda is as great as his stuff always is and keeps you dancing in your seat throughout the movie.

I would definitely recommend people check this movie out.  It was a very enjoyable movie and just a great all around time watching it.

The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

The world's most lethal odd couple -- bodyguard Michael Bryce and hit man Darius Kincaid -- are back for another life-threatening mission. Still unlicensed and under scrutiny, Bryce is forced into action by Darius's even more volatile wife. Soon, all three are in over their heads when a madman's sinister plot threatens to leave Europe in total chaos.

Very difficult to think of a sequel that was less in demand than this one.  Adding to that it being a summer release that is supposed to help people get back to going to theaters and my mind is beyond baffled.  Not to say that the first movie wasn't enjoyable.  It very much was because of the off the wall banter and the fact that honestly they really didn't take themselves too serious with the movie.   And this one was exactly the same.  Even adding in a lot more of Salma Hayek.  She was perfect playing off the other two.  Just one of those sequels that makes you do the dog head tilt like "really?"

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this out.  It is not by any means whatsoever a must see.  But if you are a fan of Ryan Reynolds banter and want to see it going back and forth perfectly with the other two in this then you will enjoy it.  Just not sure its honestly worth money and a trip to the theater for it.

Dream Horse

The true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely racehorse bred by small-town bartender Jan Vokes. With very little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help raise Dream and compete with the racing elites. Their investment pays off as Dream rises through the ranks and becomes a beacon of hope for their struggling community.

This movie had no business whatsoever getting me hooked like it did.  But when the textbook underdog story hooks you then there is no point to fighting it.   The connection between the horse and the lead/town folk that I found myself enjoying and rooting for.   Sometimes that's all you need to make a movie enjoyable.

I would recommend people checking this out.  It was a very enjoyable watch with a lot of chemistry throughout the cast surrounding the horse that was kind of infectious.

Infinite

The hallucinations of a schizophrenic are revealed to be memories from past lives where he obtained talents that he still has to this day.

This was a very enjoyable action/sci fi movie and I can't for the life of me figure out why Paramount Plus would put this on streaming instead of in movie theaters in August.   It had awesome special effects throughout and I thought that Ejiofor was perfect in his role.  This is the type of movie that with the right build up had a chance to become a franchise starter because of the premise.  However, not sure that will happen with the under the radar marketing wise release of this on their streaming service.   Very, very strange.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It's a pretty good watch and does a great job pacing with the movie not being too long and the story still getting fleshed out.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one of the most sensational cases of their careers after a cop stumbles upon a dazed and bloodied young man walking down the road. Accused of murder, the suspect claims demonic possession as his defense, forcing the Warrens into a supernatural inquiry unlike anything they've ever seen before.

I have always been lukewarm at best about this franchise and its spinoffs.   I am all for quality scare spots and there is no shortage of them in the previous Conjuring movies or this one.  My problem is that I find myself only watching them for those.   Like as this franchise has gone on they have tried to make it more about the characters and I'm sorry but I just don't care about them and their character development.  These movies are just about the scares for me.   And this latest entry really went in on the two recurring characters and it very much watered the movie down for me.   Again - there were decent scares and its not a bad watch but character caring is not what these movies are about for me.

I would still recommend that any fan of the franchises check this out and I'm sure that they will enjoy it but if you were on the fence about it all along like I have been, this one continues the decline from movie to movie.

Peter Rabbit 2: The Getaway

Despite his efforts, Peter can't seem to shake his reputation for mischief among the other rabbits. Once he adventures out of the garden Peter finds himself in a world where mischief is appreciated, but soon his family come to bring him home.

There are times when you know that a movie is destined for a sequel.  And then there are others where you just kind of tilt your head like a confused dog and think really?   They spent millions of dollars on that?   Was there that big of a demand for this?  This one definitely falls into the latter.  Don't get me wrong.  I understand its a family movie and what not but like put that money into something good for families to watch.  Not just a retread of the original.  Literally - the same movie over again.  

I would not really people, including families, bothering with this.   This should not be the way that you get back to going to theaters.  That needs to be saved for something more worthy.

Cruella

A live-action feature film following the evil exploits of Cruella de Vil, the villain from the Disney film, "101 Dalmatians'.

I really like this concept of Disney's.   The Malificent movies were enjoyable but this one really opened the door of giving classic Disney villains origin story movies.   The movie was honestly Disney's version of The Devil Wears Prada but was a very enjoyable watch.  Emma Stone was great as Cruella.  My only complaint about the movie is that it was definitely too long.   This movie should have been at least 30 minutes shorter and then it would have been even better.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It's a very enjoyable watch with an awesome performance that should open doors to a whole new set of Disney live action movies.

A Quiet Place Part II

Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

Wow!  John Krazinski really has established himself off of these two movies as one of the best directors of massive amounts of tension and creating edge of your seat situations.  This movie was not as insanely intense from beginning to end like the first one.  There were a couple of breather moments here and there but when he turned it up holy crap.   And he managed to make things even more intense because of the single moment with the stress getting more and more - he would have three separate holy crap situations side by side and jumping from one to the other as the tension built up.   So well directed and acted.

I would definitely recommend people checking this one out.   It is an incredibly directed and acted movie and that makes it so much more than the alien invasion story.   I love these movies.

Army Of The Dead

After a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries takes the ultimate gamble by venturing into the quarantine zone for the greatest heist ever.

This was a very fun and entertaining zombie movie ride.   You had all the typical characters and story playing out like you thought it would but still in an enjoyable way.   The one issue I had with it is that there is literally no reason why any zombie movie should be 2 1/2 hours long.   You could easily remove the whole Batista and his daughter storyline and this movie gets under 2 hours, has better pacing and would be much much better all around.

I would still recommend this movie to zombie movie fans.  Even if it is too long and drags some times its still a fun ride to just turn your brain off and go on.

The Woman In The Window

Agoraphobic Dr. Anna Fox witnesses something she shouldn't while keeping tabs on the Russell family, the seemingly picture perfect clan that lives across the way.

I kept lowering my expectations for this movie there more it got delayed.  Even before the whole Covid thing started and the rights for the movie got sold to Netflix, this movie had been delayed over a year.   So watching this with zero expectations definitely helped make it watchable.   I would go with this being one of those "okay" movies.  There is no need to watch this but if you are doing nothing and want to put it on - sure.   It's not great.  It's not terrible.  It's really just kind of middle of the road and if you are psyched to see it then it will definitely fall to a less than average watch.

I would very lukewarmly recommend anyone checking this out.   Like I said - if you have free time knock yourself out but definitely don't go out of your way to watch it.

Spiral

Working in the shadow of his father, Detective Ezekiel "Zeke" Banks and his rookie partner take charge of an investigation into grisly murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city's gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer's morbid game.

Not going to lie.  I did not remotely see this as a franchise that needed to be brought back in any way.  Like it had pretty much run its course but if Chris Rock and Samuel L Jackson wanted to get involved for some reason I would still check it out.   Didn't really have any expectations on it and it was a better than average watch.  Very predictable but still a good story to follow and not as many of the gruesome nasty scenes.  Still plenty of them but it's not on screen essentially the whole movie because that was what it had pretty much devolved in to.  

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It is not a must watch by any means but if you are a fan of these kinds of movies it is entertaining.

Those Who Wish Me Dead

A smoke jumper and a 12-year-old boy fight for their lives as two assassins pursue them through the wilderness.

This is one of those movies that although it is watchable because of action stuff and the fire effects, you find yourself wondering the entire time why this movie was made.   I still don't know.  Like what was the need for this movie?   How does the title describe this movie in any way?   Again - it's a decent watch and entertaining at times but just overall an extremely pointless movie.

I would only recommend this movie to someone wanting to turn their brain off for 90 minutes and enjoy a pointless but watchable ride of a movie.

Here Today

When veteran comedy writer Charlie Burnz meets New York singer Emma Payge, they form an unlikely yet touching friendship that kicks the generation gap aside and redefines the meaning of love and trust.

This was a decent watch and the pairing of Crystal with Haddish actually felt like it worked.   That being said - this is really not much more than a massive heartstring pulling movie.  They don't try to hide it at all.  They are milking all sorts of emotions through this.  

I would very lukewarmly recommend people checking this out if they like heartstring dramas.   It's not a must see by any means but not the worst watch either.