The Black Phone

Finney Shaw is a shy but clever 13-year-old boy who's being held in a soundproof basement by a sadistic, masked killer. When a disconnected phone on the wall starts to ring, he soon discovers that he can hear the voices of the murderer's previous victims -- and they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn't happen to Finney.

This movie was awesome.  I had a hunch from the trailer - which terrified the hell out of me but the movie wasn't just another horror movie with a good premise that doesn't deliver.  Even with some supernatural elements involved this movie was very grounded in fear or those things that were pushed on all of us as a child.  Ethan Hawke killed it as The Grabber and I was very happy that even thought I jumped out of my chair several times that it didn't mess me up so much that I couldn't sleep that night.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was an awesome watch all around and very well done.

Lightyear

Legendary space ranger Buzz Lightyear embarks on an intergalactic adventure alongside ambitious recruits Izzy, Mo, Darby, and his robot companion, Sox.

This was a great set up.  Making it that this was the movie that Andy saw that made him want the Buzz Lightyear toy was such a simple but awesome launching point.  The characters were all great - especially Sox, who stole every scene it was in.  The story was a little overcomplicated with the time travel and what not but you are able to let go of it because Pixar is just so good at what they do.  

I would absolutely recommend everyone checking this out.  It's a very fun ride and a great family watch like only Disney/Pixar can do.  

Jurassic World: Dominion

The future of mankind hangs in the balance as humans and dinosaurs coexist following the destruction of Isla Nublar.

Ugh.  Just plain ugh.  This franchise has totally gone the way of the Transformers franchise.  The second Jurassic World was very cringey and then this one was off the charts.  The massive overacting, the way too long run time, the creation and forcing of new characters that we have not known from the previous 5 entries, and that damn hand thing to an oncoming dinosaur was just painful at times.  I went into this with super low expectations and it definitely met them.  Even the nostalgia stuff pretty much fell flat.  If it wasn't for making fun of a lot of the movie I probably would have left.  

I don't think my recommendation really matters at all.  People are gonna see this regardless but I definitely am happy that this franchise is allegedly closing its doors.  

Crimes Of The Future

As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. Accompanied by his partner, celebrity performance artist Saul Tenser showcases the metamorphosis of his organs. Meanwhile, a mysterious group tries to use Saul's notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.

What the hell was this?  I tried.  I really did.  I made it about halfway through but this shit was so weird that I just couldn't keep watching and pulled the plug.  

I wish anyone the best of luck that wants to finish this.  Incredibly strange watch that doesn't do a good enough job of hooking the viewer.  Or at least this viewer.  

Top Gun: Maverick

After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. Training a detachment of graduates for a special assignment, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past and his deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who choose to fly it.

Wow!  This movie was awesome in every way.  And for the record, I am not one of those people that thinks the original is one of the best movies ever or puts it up on a pedestal.  I liked it but this one was the old school kind of movie that made me fall in love with going to the movies in the first place.  It was fun, you got connected, you go emotional both sad and massively happy at times.   You were invested in all the characters and the respect paid to the original was just insane.   

I would absolutely recommend everyone checking this one out.  This is a lock for my top ten list at the end of the year and would currently be the best movie of the year so far with ease.

The Bob's Burgers Movie

A ruptured water main creates an enormous sinkhole right in front of Bob's Burgers, blocking the entrance indefinitely and ruining the Belchers' plans for a successful summer. While Bob and Linda struggle to keep the business afloat, the kids try to solve a mystery that could save their family's restaurant. As the dangers mount, these underdogs help each other find hope as they try to get back behind the counter.

I have always been a massive fan of Bob's Burgers so was very excited for the movie.  It did not disappoint.  It was a great watch that did justice by all the main characters and even a bunch of the side characters from the show.  I think the best part was that you could pretty much never have seen the show and would still be more than able to enjoy the movie and fall in love with the characters for the first time.

I would definitely recommend people taking in the joy of Bob's Burgers.  It is a lot of fun and a lot of laughs and a perfect escape at the movies.  

Men

In the aftermath of a personal tragedy, Harper retreats alone to the beautiful English countryside, hoping to find a place to heal. However, someone or something from the surrounding woods appears to be stalking her. What begins as simmering dread soon becomes a fully formed nightmare, inhabited by her darkest memories and fears.

What the hell was this?  This is another one of those movies that looks intriguing based off of the trailer and gets great reviews for its originality and creativity and blah blah blah but you sit down to watch it and from start to finish find yourself asking what the hell is this.   This movie was very artistic and very weird. I guess I could see how it was good from a filmmaking standpoint but I honestly thought it was just trash.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It was a weird waste of time that you will forget pretty soon after getting off the weirdness annoyance.  

Firestarter

A couple desperately try to hide their daughter, Charlie, from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her unprecedented gift for turning fire into a weapon of mass destruction. Her father taught her how to defuse her power, but as Charlie turns 11, the fire becomes harder and harder to control. When a mysterious operative finally finds the family, he tries to seize Charlie once and for all -- but she has other plans.

Couple of quick things because I refuse to spend a lot of time talking about this.  Was there a demand for this movie to be remade?   Did I miss Zac Efron's career going in the toilet that he is playing the dad in this?   Like wasn't he kind of a big deal?   That's really it.  This movie is complete garbage.  It's like a lame made for sci fi network remake of a movie that didn't remotely need to be remade.

I recommend that nobody bother with this.  Ever.   Like legit no reason at all.  

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Dr Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens a portal to the multiverse. However, a threat emerges that may be too big for his team to handle.

Marvel never fails.  It's like a given.  They are so good at storytelling and interweaving all the stories together.  This movie served as an awesome sequel to Doctor Strange and Wandavision while capitalizing on things started in Loki and the last Spider-Man movie.  The pacing was great.  The action was so intense that at times it felt like a legit horror movie with a couple of massive sight scares.  The cameos were not as crazy as expected but awesome.   No spoilers but they made me so beyond happy with a casting choice I had wanted to see forever.  

I would of course recommend everyone checking this out.  I will definitely be seeing this a couple more times in theaters.  

Memory

When Alex, an expert assassin, refuses to complete a job for a dangerous criminal organization, he becomes a target. FBI agents and Mexican intelligence are brought in to investigate the trail of bodies, leading them closer to Alex. With the crime syndicate and FBI in hot pursuit, Alex has the skills to stay ahead, except for one thing: he is struggling with severe memory loss, affecting his every move. Alex must question his every action and whom he can ultimately trust.

Yet another movie with Liam Nesson where he has a particular set of skills.  Only this time - he is also battling Alzheimers at the same time.  That is not a punchline.  That is actually the story of the movie.  Never in my life have I seen an actor doing a role and it completely taking over him in the most crazy type casting way.  This is just as forgettable as the 70 movies that he has made since the original Taken with him playing the same role over and over.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It's is about as forgetful as you can get the second you are done watching it.  

The Northman

Prince Amleth is on the verge of becoming a man when his father is brutally murdered by his uncle, who kidnaps the boy's mother. Two decades later, Amleth is now a Viking who raids Slavic villages. He soon meets a seeress who reminds him of his vow -- save his mother, kill his uncle, avenge his father.

This movie played kind of weird for me.  It was good BUT it felt too much like it should have been a tv series instead of a film and the movie was all about the filming style not the substance.  Don't get me wrong because the filming style was SO GOOD and made the movie worth watching just because of how it was done visually.  However, that being done led to the story not being as strong or making you care about the character's journey.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this movie out.  It a decent overall watch and a great watch filmmaking wise but was too lacking to get a total endorsement.  

The Bad Guys

After a lifetime of legendary heists, notorious criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula are finally caught. To avoid a prison sentence, the animal outlaws must pull off their most challenging con yet -- becoming model citizens. Under the tutelage of their mentor, Professor Marmalade, the dubious gang sets out to fool the world that they're turning good.

Dreamworks animation has always been known for very fun lead and side characters.   This movie was no different.  They did a great job of giving enough screen time to each of them while using the leads to move the story along.  I wouldn't put them on Pixar's level or even Disney necessarily but they have always been a very solid third animation option.  Great voice casting on everyone.

I would definitely recommend everyone checking this movie out.   Lots of fun and good for the whole family. 

The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent

Unfulfilled and facing financial ruin, actor Nick Cage accepts a $1 million offer to attend a wealthy fan's birthday party. Things take a wildly unexpected turn when a CIA operative recruits Cage for an unusual mission. Taking on the role of a lifetime, he soon finds himself channeling his most iconic and beloved characters to save himself and his loved ones.

This movie was ALOT of fun.  They didn't take themselves seriously and it made the movie so entertaining because of it. What should have honestly been a SNL skit or a punchline somehow turned into a pretty well done movie with a ton of laughs and the perfect role for Nicolas Cage at this point in his career.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.   It is a very enjoyable watch all around.  

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore

Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter an array of old and new beasts as they clash with Grindelwald's growing legion of followers.

These Fantastic Beasts movies are very hard to review.  The Harry Potter franchise is and will forever be in the upper echelon of filmmaking and no matter how hard they try to recapture that magic with this prequel kind of spinoff franchise, they are always just kind of there.  This one is no different and was even more cursed with the controversies of the cast and the creator leading to changes and recasting that ultimately takes away from the continuity.   It really is a shame that even using familiar characters from the Harry Potter franchise can't really help this one out.  

I would sort of recommend checking this out.  I mean if you saw the others then why not see this one.  But it's just not remotely up to par.  None of them have been and this one least of all.  

Father Stu

When an injury ends his amateur boxing career, Stuart Long moves to Los Angeles to find money and fame. While scraping by as a supermarket clerk, he meets Carmen, a Sunday school teacher who seems immune to his bad-boy charm. Determined to win her over, the longtime agnostic starts going to church to impress her. However, a motorcycle accident leaves him wondering if he can use his second chance to help others, leading to the surprising realization that he's meant to be a Catholic priest.

This was a surprisingly good watch.  Probably one of Mark Wahlberg's better overall performances.  Is it sometimes too heart string pulling?  Yes.  Is it beyond the realm of predictable?  Yes.   But even for someone who has very questionable levels of faith, this was a good watch and made you care about the character's and the side characters' journeys.

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.  

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove that he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns with a new partner, Knuckles, in search of a mystical emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

This was pretty much more of the same from the first one.  They didn't change anything that worked.  They perfectly introduced new characters from the video game series and they continued the story.  My only knock would be that there was no reason for this movie to be two hours long but any extra time seeing Jim Carrey be the Jim Carrey of old shouldn't be questioned.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It's entertaining family time for the kids and the adults.  

Ambulance

Needing money to cover his wife's medical bills, a decorated veteran teams up with his adoptive brother to steal $32 million from a Los Angeles bank. However, when their getaway goes spectacularly wrong, the desperate thieves hijack an ambulance that's carrying a severely wounded cop and an EMT worker. Caught in a high-speed chase, the two siblings must figure out a way to outrun the law while keeping their hostages alive.

This movie was just high octane and adrenaline fun.  This was a throwback to Michael Bay's pre-Transformers movies.   Well built characters through banter and over the top acting, crazy action with the right slow motion scenes at the right time to build drama/intensity, and you can just turn your brain off and enjoy the ride.  These have always been my favorite kind of movies to see in the theater.

I would definitely recommend people who like action movies checking this out.  It's beyond predictable and corny at times but if you just turn your brain off you honestly don't care.  

Morbius

Biochemist Michael Morbius tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease, but when his experiment goes wrong, he inadvertently infects himself with a form of vampirism instead.

Dear lord.  I think that the Sonyverse might be competing with DC for what can be a bigger joke.   The movie itself was just kind of there.  Felt like it was written by a 13 year old.  The editing job was horrible and it just jumped from random scene/location way too much.   The timeline made no sense with how important it was for him to keep drinking the synthetic blood.  And honestly there was just no reason to care about the character or anything.  Like at all.   And then the credit scenes just completely infuriated me because they will take the whole multiverse thing that Marvel is massively and specifically crafting and just kind of wing it with theirs with nothing making any sense whatsoever.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.  This movie was so lame that it managed to make Venom a better movie basically by default.  

Everything Everywhere All At Once

An aging Chinese immigrant is swept up in an insane adventure, where she alone can save the world by exploring other universes connecting with the lives she could have led.

WOW!   This was one weird ass movie.   And the weirdness along with the owning of how weird what we were seeing was by the director and actors make it very enjoyable.  The movie is worth seeing just because of the fanny pack scene but the crazy journey is an honestly enjoyable acid trip.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  You have to have a very open mind and just enjoy the weirdness of it all but if you can it is a very enjoyable watch.  

X

A group of actors sets out to make an adult film in rural Texas under the noses of their reclusive hosts, but when the elderly couple catches their young guests in the act, the cast finds themselves in a desperate fight for their lives.

This was a really good throwback horror movie.  Like you legit feel like you are in the 70s watching this and it captures all those sight scares, creepy music brewing intensity and then the violence/gore stuff.  The elderly couple was a little bit unrealistic but you pretty much don't care and just enjoy the scary journey.  

I would definitely recommend horror fans checking this out.  It was a great throwback with the style and camera work along with what I mentioned before.  

The Outfit

Leonard is an English tailor who makes suits on London's famous Savile Row. He must outsmart a dangerous group of criminals to survive a fateful night.

This movie was a pretty decent espionage film.  I mean you kind of know where its going and stuff but its still good because of the simple characters and the setting never leaving the shop.  It actually felt more like the movie could have easily been a play instead.  

I would somewhat recommend people checking this movie out.  Not a must by any means but it's a decent and short enough watch.

The Lost City

Reclusive author Loretta Sage writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan. While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes she can lead him to an ancient city's lost treasure from her latest story. Determined to prove he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her.

This was a total throwback romantic action comedy.   It was formula in every possible way but it didn't matter.  The chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum was perfect.  Sandra Bullock's physical comedy was priceless yet again.  Even Daniel Radcliffe's overacting as the villain was very enjoyable.  The movie was just a lot of fun with a bunch of huge laughs.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a very fun watch and just a good time while turning your brain off and enjoying the ride.  

Turning Red

Mei Lee is a 13-year-old girl who is torn between being her mother's obedient daughter and the chaos of her youth. As if that were not enough, when she gets too excited, she turns into a big red panda.

This was one of Pixar's weirder movies.  Not bad at all.  I mean they honestly don't know how to do bad.  This was just one of the most specific target audience movies that they have ever made.  Like this was legit for young teenage girls of Asian descent.  Does that mean it sucks for everyone else?  No.  Not at all. I enjoyed the movie alot but was definitely thrown for a loop with how targeted it was for that audience when Pixar has always done such an incredibly job of their movies being for all audiences.  Still very cute message and lots of laughs.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out because like I said Pixar doesn't make bad movies.  Just a heads up that it is very specifically targeted much more than all their other movies.  

Studio 666

Members of the rock band Foo Fighters move into a mansion to record their 10th album. Once in the house, singer Dave Grohl finds himself grappling with supernatural forces that threaten both the completion of the album and the band members' lives.

How is this a movie that was ever made?  Like honestly.  This was not only made but also got a theatrical release.  Few things will ever baffle me more than this.  The Foo Fighters are lucky that I will not hold this against them musically and will happily still keep rocking to that.  This movie was just a giant turd and not even worth any details.  

I would absolutely not recommend anyone ever watching this.  It is a total waste of time.

The Batman

Batman ventures into Gotham City's underworld when a sadistic killer leaves behind a trail of cryptic clues. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator's plans become clear, he must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued the metropolis.

First going to make the major knock against this movie.  There was ZERO reason for this to be 3 hours long.  That being said, I have no other complaints about this movie.  It was really really great.  The cast across the board was awesome - especially Dano as the Riddler.  The action was great.  The story was great.  The character development and setting things up for sequels was great.  This was probably my third favorite Batman movie after The Dark Knight and the original Batman with Nicholson.  Still could have used a bunch of editing to shorten it but when that is your only complaint about a DC movie is that it was too long that is so much better than the usual.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a great watch with great casting.  Definitely worried about how DC moves forward with any connections to the other pieces that they have in motion but as a standalone this movie was great.  

Dog

With a dog named Lulu by his side, Army Ranger Briggs races down the Pacific Coast to make it to a soldier's funeral on time. Along the way, Briggs and Lulu drive each other completely crazy, break a handful of laws, narrowly evade death, and learn to let down their guards to have a fighting chance of finding happiness.

This movie was exactly what you thought it would be from the trailer.  Dog and human bond over the course of the road trip and there is a lot of heart string pulling along the way.  What honestly made the movie was Channing Tatum's physical reactions to the dog.  He really nailed a lot of facial WTF moments that had me cracking up.  

I would very lukewarmly recommend this movie to people.  It couldn't possibly be less of a must see but its not a bad movie.  It ends up being a decently enjoyable watch and actually a must for any animal lovers.  

The Cursed

In rural 19th-century France, a mysterious, possibly supernatural menace threatens a small village. John McBride, a pathologist, comes to town to investigate the danger and exorcise some of his own demons in the process.

This was a surprisingly creepy horror movie.  I'm usually not a fan of anything 19th century.  I was skeptical even more about a good horror movie from that time period but this one kind of worked better than I thought it would.  Some good camera angle scares and then some really creepy effects at time too.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see by ay means but it is a decent watch.

Uncharted

Nathan Drake and his wisecracking partner Victor "Sully" Sullivan embark on a dangerous quest to find the greatest treasure never found while also tracking clues that may lead to Nate's long-lost brother.

This movie was great at being what it was supposed to be.  This was a over the top adventure movie like National Treasure with sarcastic dialogue and constant backstabbing.  This was just a fun, turn your brain off for two hours break from the world.  There will always be a big part of my movie fandom for movies like this.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out and just enjoying the ride.  Tom Holland continues to be one of the more enjoyable up and coming actors regardless of what he is doing.

Marry Me

Pop superstar Kat Valdez is about to get married before an audience of her loyal fans. However, seconds before the ceremony, she learns about her fiance's cheating ways and has a meltdown on stage. In a moment of inspired insanity, Kat locks eyes with a total stranger in the crowd and marries him on the spot. As forces conspire to separate the unlikely newlyweds, they must soon decide if two people from such different worlds can find true love together.

I was stunned by how much I enjoyed this movie.  Was it corny?  Yes.  Was it beyond predictable?  Yes.  But there was something about the cast that just made me let all that go and enjoy the ride that the characters went on.  Not going to remotely say that this is a well done or must see movie but it was very enjoyable.

It's been a long time since a rom-com came out that I enjoyed as much as this one.  I would very surprisingly recommend that people check this movie out.  

Blacklight

Travis Block, a shadowy government agent who specializes in removing operatives whose covers have been exposed, uncovers a deadly conspiracy within his own ranks that reaches the highest echelons of power.

There is honestly no reason to even bother reviewing this.  It's Taken 28 basically.  I don't know that Liam Lesson has done anything other than Taken knockoff movies since doing Taken.  They are the same movie over and over again and this one is really no different.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  The movie was barely marketed.  It's like even the studio is like whatever - just throw it out there and it will bring in the same shrunken base crowd.  

Death On The Nile

Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot's Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple's idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short.

So the movie has actually opened finally.  This movie has been delayed probably more than any other movie with the pandemic.  It was delayed so much that in the time while it's been on hold most of the cast have gotten themselves stuck in massive controversies to the point that nobody could even really market the movie.  But anyway - regarding the movie itself - it was pretty much a giant snooze fest.  It was like an hour before the death even took place.  The cast was good with som cool characters but definitely not enough to make the movie worth it.  

I would not really recommend anyone bothering with this.  The movie is ultimately just kind of there and you forget about it 2 minutes after watching it.

Jackass Forever

Celebrate the joy of a perfectly executed shot to the groin as Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O and the rest of the gang return for another round of hilarious, wildly absurd and often dangerous displays of stunts and comedy.

Does this really have to be reviewed.  It's Jackass.  Its a bunch of grown ass adults acting like fools.  You either find it funny or you don't.  I find it funny like 50% of the time because some of the stunts are legit funny as hell and then I wince through the rest.

My recommendation means absolutely nothing here at all.  You either see these or you don't.  If you never have why the hell would you start now?  

Moonfall

The world stands on the brink of annihilation when a mysterious force knocks the moon from its orbit and sends it hurtling toward a collision course with Earth. With only weeks before impact, NASA executive Jocinda "Jo" Fowler teams up with a man from her past and a conspiracy theorist for an impossible mission into space to save humanity.

This movie was even more of a joke than I expected from the trailer.   Like I'm always down for one of those end of the world kind of movies as long as the effects are cool enough and the story is somewhat digestible.  But this had neither of those things.  The effects were nothing that we have not seen a ton of times already.  And the story was absolute garbage with some of the lamest and unnecessary character development I have ever seen.  

I wouldn't recommend anyone remotely bothering with this movie.  It's a big giant turd and is pretty much the first lock for the Worst 10 Movies of the year list 11 months from now.  

Cyrano

On one side, the passion of a teacher seeking to pass on the beauty of the texts to his pupils, on the other the commitment of a director to his troupe. An in-depth look at the recreation of "Cyrano de Bergerac", Edmond Rostand's masterpiece, by the Théâtre de Carouge, Geneva. 

I really enjoyed this movie and that speaks volumes because these types of movies are usually my kryptonite.  They basically always put me to sleep so when I enjoy one so throroughly that is very impressive.  I loved the somewhat musical part of the movie at times and Peter Dinklage really was perfect for the role.

I would definitely recommend people checking out this version of the age old story.  It was a very enjoyable watch and I never thought I would be saying that about this.  

Scream

Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town's deadly past.

This was pretty disappointing because it really was just subpar casting that ruined it.  Enough time had gone by for it to be brought back.  The horror genre has changed so much that they were able to do new sarcastic commentary on how the movies are and this one was just like the original.  The problem is that there was no Matthew Lillard or Jamie Kennedy to deliver great scenes.  Words do no justice to how much that held this movie back.   

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It ended up being a pretty poooooooooooooooooooop watch.

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania

Van Helsing's mysterious new invention transforms Drac and his pals into humans, and Johnny into a monster. With their new mismatched bodies, Drac and the pack must find a way to switch themselves back before their transformations become permanent.

This movie is pretty much exactly what you would expect.  Continuation of a decent kids/family friendly franchise.  It's simple, short, has good characters that you are familiar with and comes together in a cute way.  Outside of that - you will most likely forget watching it 5 minutes after its done.

I would recommend families checking this out.  It came out on Amazon Prime instead of theaters so it doesn't cost anything.  It's short enough to not be considered a waste of time.

The 355

CIA agent Mason "Mace" Brown joins forces with a rival German agent, a cutting-edge computer specialist and a Colombian psychologist when a top-secret weapon falls into the hands of a group of mercenaries. Together, the four women embark on a breakneck mission to save the world while staying one step ahead of a mysterious figure who's tracking their every move.

There was a lot to like about this movie.  Great cast.  Great character development.   Great story build.  And great action when there was action.  The main problem with this movie is that I really wish that there was more action.  The pacing was kind of off overall and there was not enough action - especially not based on what all the ads for the movie showed.  That held the movie back.

I would somewhat recommend this movie to everyone.  Not a must watch.  It's a decent movie that could have been awesome if they stepped on the gas with more action.  

The Ten Best Movies of 2021

 Honorable Mention - Dear Evan Hansen

I understand that the movie version wasn't as good as the musical and the knocks against casting and what not but I don't care.  This musical was one of the most important and influential things I have ever seen and it was an absolute joy to finally see a movie version of it.  

10 - Black Widow

Marvel kills it again.  Even an after the fact, flashback and overdue solo movie for one of the characters from the start is beyond enjoyable.  Most importantly - it brought us the character of Yelena who will undoubtedly be one of the greatest additions to the MCU.

9 - American Skin

This movie was so incredible in that there was no way to watch this and not get triggered emotionally in some way.  It's social commentary is pretty spot on and it sticks with you for a very long time.  

8 - Luca

A very different kind of movie for Pixar but just like Marvel they don't disappoint.  Like ever.  This one was a tough sell on a couple of levels but completely roped you in and got you invested in the main characters voyage.  

7 - Don't Look Up

Incredible cast.  Incredible sarcasm.  Incredible social commentary.  It's insane how much this movie could be related to how so many things in the world today are addressed.   Very funny watch.

6 - Shang Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings

Again - Marvel doesn't fail.  This was honestly one of their better intro/first movies for one of their characters.  They managed to turn a pretty much unknown character into an instant favorite after one movie.  Very impressive.

5 - Jungle Cruise

Let's be honest - how the hell can you go wrong with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in a movie together?   This movie was just plain fun.  This is the type of throwback summer popcorn movie ride that made me love going to the movies in the first place.  Very very enjoyable.  

4 - Everybody's Talking About Jamie

This is one of the best movies about representation I have ever seen.  Felt so genuine and was really enjoyable with great acting throughout.  

3 - Monster

This movie massively messed me up.  It was the type of movies that keeps you so glued to the screen and hooks so many different emotions that it leaves an incredibly lasting impression.  This was very much one of those movies.

2 - Tick Tick Boom

I absolutely loved this movie.  Andrew Garfield easily put in his best acting performance to date in this.  The music was awesome.  The story progression was too.  I have always been a huge fan of Rent so this movie connected with me even more seeing how it came to be.  

1 - Spider-Man: No Way Home

This movie was not only beyond enjoyable with great action and story telling but it really is a once in a lifetime experience.   Still too soon to spoil anything but they really put a bunch of things on screen together that at no point did my imagination think would be possible . . . . . . . . . and hit a home run with it too. 

The Ten Worst Movies of 2021

 10.  Dune

I'm sorry.  Like I get how great this was visually and what not but this was one of the biggest snoozefests of an "epic" movie I have ever seen.  I purposely saved this to watch on a long flight so that I could watch it with no distractions and I still had trouble following and/or caring.  

9.  Cry Macho

Yet another example of how every other movie that Clint Eastwood directs is a giant turd.  I will never understand how this guy can go from directing best movie of the year contenders to absolute garbage.  Weirdest thing ever.

8.  Separation

The first of several lame ass horror entries on this list.  I can't even say too much about this one simply because there was nothing memorable about this outside of horrible side effects.  

7.  The World To Come

Like I get the need for more representation like this in film but the way that that they did it and the time period they chose was just so supremely silly to me.  

6.  Annette

I have no idea how this movie has been so well reviewed.  This is the type of movie that is so absurd that I almost want people to watch it just to see the confused dog look on their face's as they do.  

5.  Don't Breathe 2

Any time a movie is hyped as "Stephen Lang in .  . .  . " then it simply shouldn't be made.  The fact that a sequel nobody wanted was done using a side character from the original just adds more to that.   Sorry, buddy.

4.  Escape Room 2: Tournament Of Champions

Another sequel that absolutely nobody wanted.  This was just plain over the top and silly throughout.  

3.  Wrong Turn

The original is one of the most joked about movies of all time for me so I was stunned at the idea of them redoing it.  Yet somehow - they managed to make a movie even worse by taking away the stuff you could at least make fun of.  This was like a boring horror movie.  How the hell do you do that?

2 - The Unholy

Catching the vibe here of how bad horror movies were this year.  How do you put Jeffrey Dean Morgan into one of those Conjuring type of movies and basically hold back and make it boring?

1 - Antlers

Words do no justice to how hard I laughed when they finally showed the monster in this movie.  The buildup to it was not the worst and kept you kind of interested but then the big reveal was something that a toddler would make in a pottery class.   All credibility was instantly gone and it earned the glorious title of worst movie of 2021.  

A Journal For Jordan

Deployed to Iraq, First Sgt. Charles Monroe King starts to keep a journal of love and advice for his infant son. Back at home, Dana Canedy, a senior editor for The New York Times, revisits the story of her unlikely, life-altering relationship with King and his enduring devotion to his beloved family.

This was a very well done and nice movie but it was all about pulling heartstrings.  You cared about the couple.  You cared about their journey.  You cared about their story but it was kind of forced and there was nothing that you didn't know was going to happen.  But credit where its due - even with that it was still a very enjoyable movie/story.  

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this movie out.  It's not a must see by any means but it is a good heartstring pulling kind of movie.  

The Matrix Resurrections

Plagued by strange memories, Neo's life takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself back inside the Matrix.

This is a weird one to review.  The original Matrix is one of my favorite movies of all time.  The sequel had quite honestly one of the best long action sequences ever with the freeway scene.  The third one was very enjoyable although I had my issues with it.  I assumed that this movie would just be the fourth sequel but it was more of a reboot kind of.  Like it was weird.   They didn't really step on the gas with it too much and kept it grounded because honestly it played like more of a romance movie.  Like even writing that feels weird.  And all of that is not to say the movie was bad.  I actually liked it for the most part.  I could have done without the long talky talky stuff with the old Jada Pinkett Smith character but I really liked how they set it up.  I really liked the ending.  It just was more of a soft reboot as opposed to being a sequel or like the other Matrix movies.  

I would definitely still recommend people checking this out.  I mean it's a Matrix movie.  It's worth watching alone just because of the visuals.  Just be prepared that it's very different from the other Matrix movies.  

The King's Man

One man must race against time to stop history's worst tyrants and criminal masterminds as they get together to plot a war that could wipe out millions of people and destroy humanity.

This was strangely like two separate movies.  The first half dragged ALOT.  Had some very weird and funny moments with the over the top characters and acting but dragged overall.  The second half was alot better with the faster pace and what not and made the movie rebound nicely.  But honestly - this movie is just a prequel that nobody was asking for.  I would much sooner be excited to see Kingsman 3 instead of this kind of forced prequel. 

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see by any means but a worthy watch if you have the time.  Just no need to go out of your way to see it.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

With Spider-Man's identity now revealed, our friendly neighborhood web-slinger is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life as Peter Parker from the high stakes of being a superhero. When Peter asks for help from Doctor Strange, the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.

Wow!  Just plain wow!   This has to be the most surreal movie going experience ever.   I can't really go into too much detail without spoiling anything but to be watching characters or actors from different versions of Spider-Man interacting was truly mind-blowing.   It would have been awesome even in a small sample of it like I honestly expected but to see it on as grand a scale as it ended up being was amazing.   Tom Holland cemented himself more as my favorite Spidey.  The returning characters that you have grown to love were all awesome.  Doctor Strange made a great addition.  The action and overall story were great and then all that other stuff that I don't want to spoil for everyone.   A very very enjoyable watch that had a very high bar of expectations and completely surpassed said bar.  

I would definitely recommend everyone checking this out.  As much as the Avengers movies - especially the last two were mind blowing with all the people on screen together, this one took that idea and topped it in a way simply because it never should have been possible to see this stuff.  

Nightmare Alley

In 1940s New York, down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle endears himself to a clairvoyant and her mentalist husband at a traveling carnival. Using newly acquired knowledge, Carlisle crafts a golden ticket to success by swindling the elite and wealthy. Hoping for a big score, he soon hatches a scheme to con a dangerous tycoon with help from a mysterious psychiatrist who might be his most formidable opponent yet.

This is very much one of those movies where the cinematography makes the movies.   The overall appearance of everything was like an extra character.  Regarding the rest of the characters - there was some truly excellent acting in this movie across the board.  Very stellar cast delivered throughout.   And finally the direction of the movie really takes you there and sucks in the viewer to this world that. you feel like you are on the journey with them.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.   It was a very enjoyable watch and could definitely garner some year end award consideration.  

Rumble

In a world where monsters are tame and monster wrestling is a popular sport, Winnie seeks to follow in her father's footsteps as a manager by turning an inexperienced monster into a contender.

This movie was nothing more than one of those animated money grabs for parents/families.  Got bumped around a couple of times because of Covid and then Paramount Plus decided to use it to drive up family subscriptions instead of the lame box office it was guaranteed to make.  Some good voices in this and it had its connections to wrestling and stuff but honestly not worth watching at all for anyone including families.  Very subpar by today's animated standards.  

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It's 90 minutes that could surely be spent better in any other way.  

West Side Story

Love at first sight strikes when young Tony spots Maria at a high school dance in 1957 New York City. Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks -- two rival gangs vying for control of the streets.

This one is a little tough to review.  It was very excellently made.  Spielberg's camera work and using the background setting as a character in pretty much every shot was beyond top notch.  The performances were all great.  The singing and choreography were all great too.  I just have never been that big of a fan of the story.  I was hoping that maybe this would help me like it more but it didn't.  

Again - I would still recommend people checking it out because it is an incredibly well done movie.  Don't let my lack of enjoyment of the story be a downer.