Personal Shopper

I wanted to give Personal Shopper a chance because Olivier Assayas won the Cannes Film Festival’s award for Best Director and Kristen Stewart won the International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA)’s for best actress.

The story follows Maureen, played by Kristen Stewart. She is a personal shopper for a celebrity and a medium. After her twin brother dies of a heart attack in Paris, she goes there to connect with his spirit and, in an effort, to deal with her grief. That mourning triggers an internal struggle to decipher what is real and what is not, especially when she starts receiving random text messages from an unknown person.

I liked the idea of the plot but the way it was carried out lost me pretty quickly. I couldn’t feel a connection to any of the characters and wasn’t really impressed with any of the acting. Additionally, there were parts of the plot that were unrealistic and not very clear, this leaving you to your own interpretation. It was a physiological thriller that wasn’t very thrilling. The cinematography was cheap and the delivery of the story was boring.

Overall I would say that this was a waste of time and would not recommend watching this movie.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi picks up where Star Wars: The Force Awakens left off. The second of the sequel-trilogy had a couple of things that I really enjoyed, the visual effects and acting. The cast was quite diverse and the addition of some new familiar faces was also a plus. These attributes however, were not enough to detour my disillusionment for this movie.

The majority of my disappointment came from the fact that the film lacked any sort of story creativity. It’s just a repeat of the same story lines from 40 years ago. I’m so tired of the nostalgia, I just wish they would move on from the old characters and trying to re-create the Han Solos, the Lukes and the Vaders out of these new actors. The lack of originality not only came in the plot but also visually. I noticed that the imperial vehicles, especially the AT-M6 looks just like the AT-AT Walkers introduced in The Empire Strikes Back. Even some of the creatures, though not exact replicas, made me think they may have been inspired by Ewoks.

Along with the lack of creativity in the plot and the imperial vehicles, they were also trying to push too many story lines. I was not able to fully connect with any one character because of so many moving parts. There were also pieces of the story that made zero sense. Other than a couple of unforeseen twists, it was all very predictable and not as satisfying as I’d hoped it would have been.

I feel like these movies can be polarizing so I know that the die-hard fans will still find some joy in this film. For those that aren’t as committed, I think it isn’t worth spending the money in the theaters nor dealing with the crowds, to check this one out.

Finding Dory

Finding Dory is the sequel to Finding Nemo. It’s the story of Dory, the fish with short-term memory loss, who goes looking for her family with the help of Nemo, Marlin, and some friends she meets along the way.

This movie is super cute with so many touches of heart. I loved the themes of never giving up, the importance of family and how even though going out on your own can be scary; the benefits outweigh the costs. There were parts that really tug at the heartstrings and make you tear up, and other parts that were quite humorous.

All in all, I would say that this was an adorable, entertaining, family friendly sequel that I would definitely recommend checking out.

The Beguiled (2017)

The Beguiled is a re-make of the Civil War period drama that originally stared Clint Eastwood in 1971. The re-make stars Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman. It had an interesting premise of an injured Union solider who deserted his camp. He is saved by a young girl who brings her back to her home, a school for girls in Virginia. The solider is first met with distained but the longer the stays the more he intrigues the lonely, young women. His presence soon stirs lust and jealousy amongst the women and girls, which nearly causes them to turn against each other and eventually against him.

The acting from the entire cast was quite good, especially that of the main four (Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning). The costumes and the cinematography we good as well. The pieces used were able to transport you to the late 1800s and the filmography did a great job of capturing the vastness and loneness of the situation that the women were in. It all seemed very accurate for the time period.

In contrast, the movie was rather short and felt rushed at the end. There was a lack of character development so in quite a few scenes you had to deduct for yourself what was going on or why it was going on. One of the final scenes toward the end of the movie is a prime example of that. I was confused by the extremely drastic measures that were taken at the end, it almost didn’t seem warranted. By the closing I felt like I missed something and I needed more context. This movie could have really used the help of a fuller backstory.

Overall I felt indifferent about this one. It wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t really that great either. It’s probably one that I won’t see again. For those that are a fan of Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman or Kristen Dunst you might want to check it out, but everyone else, I’d suggest skipping it.

Justice League

Justice League is the sequel to Batman v Superman. In this story Batman is trying to put together a team of super heroes to defeat an enemy that is coming to destroy the world.

There were a lot of mixed reviews that had come out so I wasn’t really sure what I was going to get. The critics had issues with the cast chemistry and the character development. I however, thought that there was just enough character development to make you want more and that the cast chemistry was pretty good. I particularly enjoyed the new additions to the group - the stoic, serious Cyborg played by Ray Fisher, the quirky, youthful Flash played by Ezra Miller and the tough, cool Aquaman played by Jason Momoa. Ezra Miller, in my opinion, was the stand out star. I remembered him as Credence Barebone in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and he was able to portray something completely in this film. He had great comedic timing and was able to showcase a really likeable, eccentric character.

The plot was predictable and there were a couple of scenes that could have used a little more backstory and a little less CGI but overall I thought it was a great continuation of Batman v Superman. It also was a good jump off for Aquaman who will have a stand-alone movie in 2018.

For those looking for something that’s entertaining with some really great action sequences and a touch humor, I’d recommend checking this one out.

Thor: Ragnarok

Thor: Ragnarok is the 3rd in the Thor franchise and in my opinion the best. It had comedy, it had drama and it had action. In this story Thor is imprisoned and must fight for his life so that he can return to Asgard to save his people and his home from ruin by the villain, Hela.

I liked the themes of picking yourself up when you are down, having confidence in your own strength and what "home" means. I also really enjoyed the introduction of the strong female leads played by Cate Blanchet as Hela and Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie. I thought that both of them did an awesome job portraying the good and evil. I also thought that the rest of the cast did a great job playing off of one another. Additionally, the script was quite clever and funny and the plot was entertaining. 

For the most part the action sequences and the choreography were crisp, there were only a couple of scenes were it really did look like a green screen. I also found the Tron-like soundtrack and ending credits to be an odd choice but overall I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it.

Snatched

Snatched is the story of Emily, played by Amy Schumer, who gets dumped by her boyfriend right before their romantic vacation to South America. She convinces her restrained mother, Linda, played by Goldie Hawn, to go with her instead. After some poor decisions made by Emily, she convinces her mother that they should hang out with a man that she met the night before. The day trip quickly turns into a kidnapping and Emily and Linda have to set aside their differences to work together to escape their kidnapers and get back home.

Overall, the movie was okay. I liked the dynamic that Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn had and the script did have bits and pieces of comedy. I also liked that it wasn’t a very long movie and that it wrapped up quickly.

Where the movie lost me was that plot was unrealistic and at times some of the parts that were supposed to be funny came of as too raunchy, even for me. Also characters, who were supposed to be funny just translated as annoying, especially Emily’s brother, Jeffrey. All in all, I don’t think that I would want to see this movie again.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Dead Men Tell No Tales is the fifth in the Pirates franchise. If you’ve seen one Pirates movie you’ve seen them all. They are just fun little nuggets that don’t require a lot of deep thought. I always enjoy Johnny Depp was drunken Jack Sparrow and they brought back Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, which I appreciated. I also really liked the soundtrack and the new generation of young actors that joined the cast.

What was a bit disappointing was Javier Bardem’s character, Captain Salazar. Javier plays a great villain so the disappointment was not in regard to his performance, it was the CGI. The visual portrayal of his character was such a distraction. I felt like the cinematographers could have taken a different path in making him look undead without all of the slow motion camera shots and completely fake looking head. I’m also kind of disappointed that they set this movie up for another sequel. I felt like they could have easily wrapped this in the last movie so I’m really hoping the sixth one will be the last one.

Overall I’d say that this movie isn’t a must see but for those like me, who already feel invested in the franchise and just want to push through, then I say check this one out.

Going in Style

Going in Style is the story of three elderly friends who are struggling to pay the bills and after their pensions get frozen, so they decide to take back what they felt was theirs, by robbing their own bank.

It was a unique twist to the typical bank robber story. I liked that the movie was short and sweet with a good and clear vision. I thought it was funny and I also enjoyed all three lead actors, Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin and Michael Caine. They played well off of each other and were amusing to watch.

If you are looking for something easy going and entertaining, I’d recommend renting this little gem.

Moana

Moana is a family friendly story, set in Ancient Polynesia, of the daughter of the chief taking a leap of faith when she decides to go out on her own to save her people.

The only thing that I didn’t like about the movie was The Rock’s character, Maui. The Rocks typical personality didn’t really translate to an animated character. It came off as super obnoxious and annoying.

On the bright side I liked that the film promoted diversity, showcasing its first Polynesian family and using voice actors from the Polynesian triangle. It also had a catchy soundtrack and positive themes about female empowerment, going out on your own, bravery, and family. The CGI was also quite vibrant and colorful.

For those looking for something uplifting, light-hearted or cute  I’d recommend checking this out one.

The Bad Batch

The Bad Batch is a straight to DVD movie that was promoted as a dystopian love story. What seemed like a cool idea, unfortunately, didn't pan out as promised.

One of the major issues I had was with the plot. First, I didn’t see anything that could have qualified as a love story within the entire movie. Additionally, the film had no clear direction, so by the end, I had trouble even putting together what the point of this movie was. There were hints of an interesting story that could have paralleled Mad Max or The Book of Eli, but the ideas were never fully divulged into, thus leaving the viewer lost and disappointed.

The acting and the script also needed work. I like Jason Momoa as an actor, and I give him a lot of leeway in the projects her chooses but this has got to be one of the worst films I’ve seen him in. His character is supposed to Cuban but his accent is pitiful. A surprising addition to this movie was Jim Carrey, whose character is a huge departure from his traditional comedic roles. He is almost unrecognizable and even though he doesn’t have many lines, he does all right in the film. I however couldn’t really get invested in either of these characters, nor the main character, played by Suki Waterhouse, because the script lacked the necessary character development to help you feel connected.

All in all, I’d have to say that The Bad Batch was a complete waste of time. Save 2 hours of your life and avoid this one at all costs.

Florence Foster Jenkins

Florence Foster Jenkins is the true story of a New York socialite who, despite having a terrible singing voice, perused her dreams of being an opera singer.

This biographic, dramedy isn’t one that I would normally be excited to see or seek out in theatres, but since Meryl Streep was at the helm I decided to give it a shot once it became available for rent.

I found the plot to be interesting and the acting from the entire cast was pretty good, especially Meryl Streep. She was able to evoke the passion Florence had for music, the love she had for her partner and friends and especially the naivetés she had for her vocal quality, which did provide some laughs.

Overall though, the film itself was a bit dry, which made it feel longer than it was, and I didn’t think there was enough comedy throughout the film. If you are a Meryl Streep fan you will probably be able to get through this one but for most this movie won’t be for them.

Girls Trip

Girls Trip was everything I hoped for in a comedy. There was great chemistry with the leading ladies and hilarity throughout.

Newcomer, Tiffany Haddish,, brought most of the laughs as the character Dina. Her vulgarity, edgy delivery and comedic timing were spot on. It was also great to see Queen Latifa and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Set It Off alums, reunited for the first time in 20 years and they haven't aged a bit. Additionally, Regina Hall did a fabulous job as a first time leading lady.

All in all, even with a predictable plot, it was still an engaging and really fun movie. If you are looking for something light hearted and funny, I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.

The Mountain Between Us

This Mountain Between Us is about two strangers who end up being stranded on a mountain, during the dead of winter, after surviving a plane crash. It stars Academy Award Winner, Kate Winslet, and Golden Globe Winner, Idris Elba.

There was such potential within this film from the beginning with its suspense and vast and beautiful landscapes, but somewhere toward the end, the plot started to fall off and it was a struggle to tie it all up. It was only an hour and 40 minute long movie but it felt so much longer than that. Additionally, Kate Winslet and Idris Elba’s connection was good but not great. I felt like something was lacking in the character development. Because of these things I came away from this movie disappointed. I’d recommend saving your money and avoiding this one.

Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything was a really cute movie. It’s the story of a teenage girl that has an illness, so she is confined to her home, and unexpectedly ends up having a life changing relationship with the boy next door.

Even though it was clearly tailored for a younger audience I found it to still have a lot of heart and engaging content. Additionally, it had some great acting and character development. Though the plot was a bit predictable it was still a sweet, refreshing and entertaining story.

If you are looking for something that will tug at the heartstrings I’d recommend checking this one out.

Baywatch

I remember seeing the previews for Baywatch and thinking that there was a decent enough chance that the movie could actually be funny. I wasn’t able to catch it in theatres and now that I’ve rented it, I’m glad I didn’t waste $20 on this movie.

This movie was a complete disaster. The plot made absolutely no sense, the script was unoriginal and the majority of the film lacked any humor, honestly the only funny parts were in the previews. They tried to be self-deprecating, which can be really funny, but they did it so many times that in the end it started to fall flat.

Overall this movie was a disappointment and waste of time. Avoid this one, if you can, at all costs.

The Fate of the Furious

The Fate of the Furious was far from what I hoped it would be. It had potential with its signature high octane action sequences and strong female leads, Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren, in powerful roles.Where it fell off was the plot that lacked any sort of originality and the absolutely dreadful script that was void of comedic timing and was beyond corny.

Outside of Charlize and Helen there wasn’t much quality in the acting department. By far the worst in this category were The Rock and Tyrese. The lines they delivered were so bad it became a distraction and destroyed any redeeming quality left in this move.

In the end, I’m happy I didn’t waste $10 watching this movie in theatres and just wish I hadn’t lost 2 hours of my life with this rental. I honestly think this one might be the worst in the franchise. Sadly, because of how much it made, there will be another sequel. I really hope that the 9th will be the end to this terrible tornado of a franchise.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

I finally got to see Spider-Man: Homecoming and am happy to report that it was as good as I hoped it would be. This franchise has been rejuvenated with its fresh, young class. The new Spider-Man, Tom Holland, is so good. He’s the perfect amount of quirky and nerdy while still having a fun and likeable personality. This isn’t the dull and lack luster personality of Spider-Men of the past, this kid is a perfect fit.

In addition to the proper casting of Spider-Man I also really liked the diversity of the rest of the cast. They all played well off one another and were fun to watch. I also enjoyed the witty script, the plot was engaging and the action sequences were shot with some great quality. They didn’t look cheap or fake. The only thing that I would change would be to cut down some of the roll time because it took a bit too long to get to the point. Other than that. this film was very entertaining and I’d definitely recommend checking it out before it leaves the theatres. Also, as to be expected with any Marvel film, be sure to stay until the end to catch some sneak peaks for future films.

The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans is the fictional period drama set in post-World War I Australia. It is an incredibly emotionally charged story of a man and his wife who find a baby on their isolated shores.

Even though the film was about 30-45 minutes too long, what I really enjoyed were the cinematic, beautiful landscapes, the plot and above all, the acting from Michael Fassbender as Tom Sherbourne, Alicia Vikander as his wife, Isabel Graysmark Sherbourne, and Rachel Weisz as Hannah Roennfeldt. The way these characters interacted with one another was mesmerizing.

If you are looking for a dramatic tear-jerker I’d recommend checking this one out.

The Illusionist

Another 11 year old movie that I didn’t catch when it first came out but decided to give it a shot, thus wrapping up my magician themed movie watching marathon. 

What I liked about The Illusionist was the acting and the plot twist toward the end. What I didn’t like were the costumes, most of my distaste was for Edward Norton’s ridiculous mustache. There also felt to be a lack of necessary character development earlier on in the movie, which made it difficult for me to really connect and feel engaged with leads in this film. 

Additionally, the ending was cliched; the way it was wrapped up in a pretty little bow. It definitely lacked the desired climax that I was hoping for. All in all, it wasn’t a complete waste of time but definitely not a movie that I would seek to see again.

The Prestige

I can’t believe it has taken me 11 years to watch The Prestige. It’s the story of rivaling magicians who would do anything to one up each other. The magicians are played by a much younger looking Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, who still miraculously looks the same. 

This was a well-acted film with a really unique plot and great a script. The movie kept me engaged all the way to the end, were some twists and turns popped up. It was a interesting and unpredictable story, which I greatly appreciated and enjoyed. 

For those like me who missed this one I’d definitely recommend checking it out.

Annabelle

I’m not a huge fan of scary movies but I decided to give Annabelle a shot because it was during the day and I was surrounded by family.

What I found out very quickly with this movie was that where it lacked in fear it made up for in utter ridiculousness. The script was unrealistic, the villain looked like a complete joke and it was terribly filmed. The cuts and edits were choppy as if this were an amateur film and not a motion picture shown all over the world. 

Overall it was a huge disappointment so save your time and skip this one.

Serena

I had hopes that Serena might be a good movie because Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence were the leads, however to my dismay, the movie was complete disappointment and a waste of 2 hours of my life. 

I knew it was going to be a problem within the first 15 minutes but I decided to push through since I was already in it. The main issues that I came across was that there is a huge gap in the plot when it came to answering some of the more simple background questions and the character development was almost nonexistent. 

Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence did well with the little that they had and the cinematography was beautiful, with the landscapes and locations, however even these things couldn’t save this movie. I’d say avoid this one at all costs.

Sully

The first time I watched Sully I fell asleep on it. It's the type of movie you really have to sit through and pay attention to so it couldn’t really hold my attention at the time. I decided to give it another shot and I’m glad I did.

It was actually a very emotionally charged and an incredibly portrayed depiction of Captain Sully and what he did to save 155 people with his “water landing” on the Hudson back in 2009. 

Everyone knows the story of how he saved their lives with that landing but what I didn’t know was how many other people contributed to the saving of the airline passengers on hat cold winters day. If it weren’t for all of the men and women who helped those people, they could have easily died of hypothermia in that water. I also didn’t know how much scrutiny Sully encountered from The National Transportation Safety Board. 

Overall the acting was phenomenal, especially from Tom Hanks and Aaron Eckhart. The script was pretty dialogue heavy but the plot was interesting and all in all it was a very well made film.  

Gia

Gia was a made for TV HBO movie that is almost 20 years old. I was always curious about seeing this film but never got around to it until now. Gia is the story of the first supermodel, Gia Carangi. It shows her childhood, living in a broken home, her rise to stardom in the modeling industry, her dramatic fall and subsequent death due to drug abuse.

Angelina Jolie was the lead and she resembled Gia pretty well. I thought that her portrayal of Gia as troubled, obsessive, rebellious and, dangerous was also signature Jolie. Even through the plot was interesting and the acting was pretty good, it was slow moving and lacked a certain level of character development to really bring me in and keep me engaged all the way through. In the end, this is not a movie that I would be interested in seeing a second time.

The Danish Girl

The Danish Girl was an incredible film loosely based on the lives and marriage of Danish artists Einar and Gerda Wegener. When Einar made the brave transition to become a woman, Lili Elbe, she became one of the few pioneers for transgender awareness in the 1920’s. Her story is one that still inspires people to this day.

The character development and script were remarkable but what was the most moving about this film was the actor’s portrayals of these emotionally complicated characters. The passion and depth that that these two actors, Eddie Redmayne as Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe and Alicia Vikander as Gerda Wegener, were able to evoke was brilliant and quite mesmerizing. 

The Oscar buzz that this movie and these actors received was well deserved. Eddie and Alicia are quickly becoming a couple of my favorites to see onscreen. Both have had quite a few great movies as of late and this is just another added to their resume. I’d definitely recommend checking this one out. 

Split

Split seemed like a really interesting idea with a great actor at the helm, James McAvoy. Unfortunately, this psychological horror-thriller film couldn’t hold up to my expectations.

It is supposed to be the sequel to Unbroken but you wouldn’t have known that going in nor did it give any hints to that until the very end. James McAvoy’s acting was superb but even his acting couldn’t save this movie. The end was incredibly unrealistic and just straight up bizarre.

I should have known better, it was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The only movies that I have ever liked from him are some of this earlier works, The Sixth Sense and Signs. After that everything just gets really peculiar, downright unsatisfying and a complete waste of time. If only I had paid attention to who directed the film, I could have saved two hours of my life. 

The Runaways

The Runways is the biographical story of Joan Jett and the formation of The Runways, the first all-girls punk rock band. The leads in the movie were Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett, Dakota Fanning as Cherie Curry and Michael Shannon as Kim Fowley.

Though a bit long and dragged out at times, I thought that the story was intriguing and kept my attention for the majority of the movie. Additionally, the acting from the lead cast and the cinematography were great. I also recognized and rather enjoyed the soundtrack.  Overall I found this to be quite an entertaining movie.

Room

The drama, Room, was the fictional story of a boy and his mother who lived in a small shed that they called “Room”.

The plot was unique but a bit drawn out. I felt like the movie was about 30 minutes too long. 

What I did really enjoy was the character development. It was constructed very well, with the primary two actors in this role, Bri Larson as Ma and Jacob Trembla as Jack, giving extremely compelling performances. It’s clear why both actors received so much critical acclaim and why Bri won the Best Actress Academy Award & the Golden Globes.

If you are looking for a drama that keeps you guessing, with some great performances, I’d say check it out.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is the historical western drama that details the last year of Jesse James life and his relationship with Robert Ford, his admirer, turned murderer.  

Brad Pitt did a great job playing the ruthless yet mentally tormented Jesse James and Casey Affleck did a great job paying the socially awkward Robert Ford.

The plot at times was slow and by the end you just want it to wrap up; there was a long wait for the inevitable. Even though it did drag on a bit toward the end,  I did enjoy the character development and the narration, which helped to keep me mostly engaged.

I'm on the fence about giving this one a hard no, but I know I wouldn't watch this movie a second time.

Children of Men

Children of Men is about a dystopian, not so distant, future were women have become infertile, causing the entire world to revolt and London had turned into a militaristic state. At a certain point a miracle happens so Theo Faron, played by Clive Owen, gets tasked to protect someone on their journey away from imminent danger.

I’m not a huge fan of this type of movie because of how dark and depressing they get. However, with that being said, even though the plot caused a lot of anxiety, it did still keep me engaged, and there were some great acting performances from Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

I probably won't watch this one again, but if you are a fan of these types of movies, then you will enjoy this one.

Fences

Fences is a fictional story of Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball player who turned bitter after he was deemed too old to join the integrated MLB. Due to this, his behavior over time starts to negatively affect the rest of his family and his friends.
The film is based off of the play, of the same name. Because of that it was a bit slow, quite dialogue heavy and didn’t have a lot of variety in sets or scenes. It also had an ominous tone throughout; you are always wondering what Troy would do next to further destroy his relationships.
The acting from Denzel Washington, as Troy, and Viola Davis, as his wife, Rose, were as compelling as ever. The accolades that they received throughout the awards season were well deserved.
With everything considered, even though it wasn’t the most riveting of movies, I’d still say check this one out if you are looking for some really great performances.

Dunkirk

I was a little weary about seeing Dunkirk because of its PG-13 rating, I thought it might not be as intense or perhaps be lacking something that some of its R-rated WWII predecessors had, but after seeing this film, I am happy to say that I was wrong in that thought.

The only issue that I had with the film is that at times it would cut back in forth from past to present and it was sometimes hard to follow. Where this film lacked in gore and intense on the ground combat scenes, it more than made up for in the individual character development and on-edge anxiety of when the next hit from the Germans would come.

There was no one star in this film, it was the story of many men and women; civilians, fighter pilots, navel men, army, and what they had to sacrifice to survive one of the most lopsided battles of WWII.

It was amazing to see on film how so many people banded together to help get 400,000 men off of the beaches of Dunkirk and back home.

I would definitely recommend checking out this powerfully told and movingly acted WWII drama.

John Wick Chapter 2

I liked the first John Wick so I was looking forward to checking out to sequel, unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype.

This one was really over the top and at times the plot was hard to follow and didn’t make much sense. 

The acting is never great in these movies, its the fight scenes that people what to see, and they were a bit of a letdown as well. The scenes were not very believable nor creative. 

There were touches of entertaining and somewhat cute moments but overall I’d say pass on this one.

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Beauty and the Beast is a classic and it was one of my favorites as a child so I was pleasantly surprised with how well this movie turned out.

I liked that that it didn’t stray too far from the original cartoon. The soundtrack and the plot were very similar as well.  The visuals were crisp, beautiful and bright. There were bits of cute comedy and overall a really nice re-make. I'd definitely recommend this wonderful, family friendly film.

War for the Planet of the Apes

War for the Planet of the Apes is the final film in the Planet of the Apes trilogy. 

The plot was engaging and held my attention until the end. It was one of the more heartfelt and poignant films of the series. 
The acting was compelling and I thought that the nods to the original series were interesting. 

I wouldn’t qualify this as a Summer Blockbuster, per say, but I did find it entertaining and a proper ending to the series. 

Logan

Logan is a very different type of superhero movie. Based on the Old Man Logan comic book, it is the most unique and mature of the X-Men franchise, thus its R rating.

It was gritty and dark; unlike any of its predecessors. The acting was superb and the story was intriguing. You see a whole different side of Wolverine and Professor X, two of the most powerful superheroes deteriorating and desperate to survive.

For those who have never read the comic book you will have issues with the subtle plot lines. It leaves a lot of questions unanswered. If you are a fan of the franchise and are comfortable living in the grey I’d say check this one out. 

Out of the Furnace

Out of the Furnace is the story of working-class siblings, Russell and Rodney Baze. Russell is the older, more mature, brother who is trying to live his life on a straight and narrow path. Rodney, on the other hand, lives life more on the edge and ends up getting involved with the wrong people. When Rodney goes missing Russell takes it upon himself to find his brother and get justice for him.

This was a well written and intense story portrayed by some great actors including Woody Harrelson, Willem Dafoe and Christian Bale. I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.

Cinderella (2015)

The Cinderella story was one of my favorites as a kid. I’ve seen many different versions of this rags to riches tale over the years. 

I found this movie to be cute and entertaining. The acting from Cate Blanchett was the best part of this movie. She portrayed a really great evil stepmother. Also, the visual beauty and bold colors of this version were pleasing. It reminded me a lot of Mirror Mirror (2012), which was the live-action a take on the Snow White story. 

What was lacking, however, was the script, which was a bit weak and acting from the rest of the cast could have used some improvement. This is definitely no Ever After (1998), which, in my opinion, is still the best on screen, live-action version of Cinderella.

Life

Life is a sci-fi thriller about 6 astronauts who discover an extraterrestrial life form on Mars.

This plot was full of suspense that kept me on edge and the acting from the entire cast was spot on. The movie had some unpredictability which lead to great twists and turns.

This wasn’t a typical, boring lost in space movie and even though there were scenes that made me a bit squeamish it was a very entertaining movie. I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.

Daddy’s Home

Daddy’s Home is a comedy about Brad Whitaker, a mellow, unassuming radio host, played by Will Farrell. Brad has been trying to be the father his wife’s children never had but his plans are disturbed when their biological father, the much cooler and manipulative, Dusty Mayron, played Mark Wahlberg, returns. 

This movie was hilarious almost from start to finish. There were only a couple of parts that were really outside of the box but for the most part it was a hit. Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell have proven to be a really great comedic duo. I enjoyed them in The Other Guys and they didn't disappoint with this either. If you are looking for a comedy look no further than this gem.

Bessie

Bessie is a HBO made for TV movie starring Queen Latifah, Michael Kenneth Williams and Mo’Nique. It’s the story of blues singer Bessie Smith. Michael Williams played Bessie’s husband, Jack Gee, and Mo’Nique played Ma Rainey. 

All of the actors in this biography did an amazing job but it was Queen Latifah’s portrayal of Bessie that stole the show. This film gives great insight to the trials and tribulations that Bessie went through to become one of the most famous singers of the 1920s and 30s. It was a well told story with a great script that I would definitely recommend checking out.

The Handmaid’s Tale

I've heard how great the novel and the current TV show on Hulu of the same name were so I wanted to give this movie a shot. The plot was interesting but unfortunately that was all that was good about this movie. It was made in 1990 so it definitely has an outdated film-making strategy, the acting wasn’t the greatest and script could have used some work. For those reasons I feel like this movie unfortunately fell flat and was a waste of time to watch. I'd say skip this movie.

Hacksaw Ridge

Hacksaw Ridge was an incredibly powerful retelling of conscientious objector, Desmond Doss' life during WWI. He served as a medic and refused to carry a weapon or kill another individual during the Battle of Okinawa.

This true story showcased Desmond’s bravery and his relentless determination to be in the military and to save lives, when all others were against him.

The acting in this movie was quite good. Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of Desmond was by far the most compelling part of the film. There’s no surprise why he was nominated for so many awards for his performance. Vince Vaughn was a surprising yet quite impressive selection for the more dramatic role as Sgt Howell, Desmond’s superior. Overall this was a great film and a real American story that I am happy was told and definitely should be seen.

Wonder Woman

I’m happy to announce that Wonder Woman did not disappoint. I was concerned because the commercials didn’t all portray this movie in the most flattering light, but it actually turned out even better than I thought it would.

The plot was engaging and the CGI action sequences were really crisp and clean; made in a way that didn’t look cheap or fake. I think that Gal Gadot was the perfect Wonder Woman. Not only a great beauty but also a talented actor. She was able to convey humor and drama along with some outstanding athleticism. Overall I really enjoyed this movie and would recommend catching an early show because this is a popular one.

Arrival

 Watching Arrival turned out to be 2 hours of my life that I will never get back. Even Amy Adam’s compelling performance couldn’t save this movie. 

It had a Jodie Foster Contact (1997) vibe to it. Very heavy and dry dialogue with the suspense being mild at best. It literally took until the last 20 minutes of the movie to even figure out what the purpose of the film was. The fact that it lacked any sort of action or any other engaging quality until an hour and a half in really made it hard to get through this bore. For this one, I’d say save those 2 hours of your life and avoid this sci-fi stinker.

xXx: Return of Xander Cage

The latest xXx movie is more outrageous than the original. Now, I am a big fan of the first one, I thought it was the perfect combination of ridiculousness and fun. I wasn’t really into the Ice Cube spin off, so I was hoping that the return of Vin Diesel would reignite this franchise fire but I was wrong. It blew out quickly. The plot was unrealistic and not very engaging, the script was clichéd and the acting was terrible. Some of the action scenes were entertaining but overall it was a complete waste of time.

Get Out

I held out on watching Get Out in theaters because the previews made it seem as if it was going to be scary and I can’t really get with that. After watching it I came out with a completely different opinion than what I originally had.
It was a unique and thought provoking plot. There were touches of humor and also scenes that were quite unnerving at times. It kept my attention throughout and the acting was pretty good. If you are looking for something different check this one out.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

It took me three tries to finish Rogue One, always falling asleep during the same part, but as they say, the third time was a charm. Rogue One is a standalone film set within the Star Wars universe. It is supposed to be occurring during the time of the original Star Wars: A New Hope. I never watched the first 3 Star Wars movies but I think if I had seen A New Hope and its two successors from that trilogy, I would probably have had more of an appreciation for the little things in this one. With that said, even though I may not have caught all of the little nuances, I did still feel like I could stick with the story. It had a different tone than the newer Star Wars films, it was darker and had a different maturity. The script had touches or humor and all of the actors, even the relatively unknown ones, did a phenomenal job telling the story. If you aren’t a die-hard fan of this franchise, like me, I think you can still find Rogue One to be enjoyable, therefore I’d still recommend checking this one out.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword had such potential but unfortunately missed the mark. 

This Guy Ritchie directed film had his signature dialogue, cuts and edits. The soundtrack was fitting and the plot was entertaining. 

The acting from the cast was at best not a distraction. Where it really fell flat was the ridiculous amount of over the top fantasy sequences. I would have preferred a grittier, historical fiction, similar to the 2004 version of King Arthur. I’m also not super excited about the fact that they set this movie up for a sequel. 

In the end, this is one that I wish I would have waited to see outside the theater.